ExxonMobil Makes 10th Discovery Offshore Guyana

By

-

December 6, 2018

ExxonMobil Corp. and partners have added a 10th discovery to its blossoming exploration success story offshore Guyana, where discovered recoverable resource estimates have now surpassed 5 billion barrels of oil equivalent (Bboe).

The Irving, Texas-headquartered company said Dec. 3 the Pluma-1 well, which was drilled by the Noble Tom Madden drillship, hit about 37 m (121 ft) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone reservoir. The well is located about 27 km (17 miles) south of the Turbot-1 well.

Drilled to a depth of 5,013 m (16,447 ft) in a 1,018 m (3,340 ft) of water, the well-targeted Upper Cretaceous reservoirs.

“The discovery of a resource base of more than 5 billion oil-equivalent barrels in less than four years is a testament of our technical expertise and rigorous evaluation and pursuit of high-potential, high-risk opportunities in this frontier area,” Neil Chapman, ExxonMobil senior vice president, said in the release. “We will continue to apply what we’ve learned to identify additional exploration prospects and potential future discoveries that will deliver significant value to Guyanese people, our partners and shareholders.”

The drillship is set to drill the Tilapia-1 prospect next. Tilapia is located about 5.5 km (3.4 miles) west of the Longtail-1 well, ExxonMobil said.

The Pluma-1 discovery followed news in August of the Hammerhead-1 discovery, which opened a new play concept for potential development.

So far, ExxonMobil has announced five discoveries in the Stabroek Block this year with the latest bringing the total count to 10. Others include Liza, Liza Deep, Payara, Snoek, Turbot, Ranger, Pacora, Longtail and Hammerhead, proving the hydrocarbon-prolific nature of the 26,800-sq-km block.

OPT finds battery supplier for subsea storage solutions

By

-

December 6, 2018

0

US-based ocean energy developer Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) has signed a letter of intent to enter into long-term supply agreement with NEC Energy Solutions for its subsea battery products.

Under the terms of the supply agreement, NEC Energy Solutions will supply lithium ion batteries for OPT’s subsea storage solutions which complement the company’s core PowerBuoywave energy technology.

Last month, OPT expanded its product line to include subsea battery solutions that will provide sea floor energy storage for offshore operations.

NEC Energy Solutions is engaged in the business of designing, manufacturing, and integrating smart energy storage solutions for the electric grid and for applications with critical power needs, with an interest in providing their energy storage solutions for remote marine applications.

George H. Kirby, President and Chief Executive Officer of OPT, said: “As we actively market our battery solutions with recharge capabilities from our PowerBuoy products, NEC Energy Solutions provides us the confidence in offering what we believe will be a very high quality and desirable subsea battery technology.”

Steve Fludder, Chief Executive Officer of NEC Energy Solutions, added: “We are excited to be partnering with OPT in powering their subsea battery solutions, which represents a new frontier for NEC into marine applications.”

OPT’s subsea battery solutions will enable the powering of subsea equipment, sensors, and communications, and the recharge of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) and electric remotely operated vehicles (eROV), according to OPT.

They can power sensors, chemical injection systems, and even electric trees and control systems, which regulate the flow of oil, chemicals, and water and gas injection and disposal, the company claims.

Singapore lodges ‘strong protest’ over extension of Johor Bahru port limits

By

-

December 6, 2018

0

Singapore has lodged a “strong protest” with the Malaysian government over its move to extend the Johor Bahru port limits “in a manner which encroaches into Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas”, said Singapore’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) in a media statement on Tuesday (Dec 4).

Changes to the port limits were announced through Malaysia’s Federal Government Gazette on Oct 25, 2018, in a document published by the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Singapore said it has requested that Malaysia refrain from taking any further unilateral action, and to amend the gazette notification “to reflect the sovereignty of Singapore over the waters in question”.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has also issued a circular on Nov 30, instructing ship masters and owners of vessels to disregard Malaysia’s gazette notification.

Singapore’s Transport Ministry added that Malaysian vessels – from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Marine Department Malaysia – have repeatedly intruded into Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas over the past two weeks.

“Singapore has protested the unauthorised movements of, and purported assertions of sovereignty by these vessels, which are inconsistent with international law,” said the MOT statement.

“The Republic of Singapore Navy and the Police Coast Guard are safeguarding the sovereignty of Singapore territorial waters and enforcing the security of these waters on a 24/7 basis. Singapore will not hesitate to take firm action against intrusions and unauthorised activities in our waters.”

The statement added that the actions by Malaysia are “a serious violation of Singapore’s sovereignty and international law”.

“These actions are unconducive to good bilateral relations, cause confusion for the international shipping community, and lead to increased navigational and safety risks for all parties,” MOT said.

Singapore stands ready to engage with Malaysia to resolve these matters amicably, in accordance with international law.

“WE HOPE GOOD SENSE WILL PREVAIL”: KHAW BOON WAN

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Singapore’s Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said he had raised the issue with his Malaysian counterpart Anthony Loke.

Minister Anthony Loke told me it was a move on the part of their foreign affairs (ministry), and that their ministry will reply to us. But while waiting for the response, which didn’t come, in fact, they escalated actions.

“They went on to publish a port circular and a few weeks later, a mariners note – instructions to the shipping community about their new boundaries – so we issued a second TPN (Third Person Note),” said Mr Khaw.

“We hope that good sense will prevail because if we carry on like this, certainly it’s not conducive.”

Singapore on Tuesday also responded to remarks by Mr Loke who said that Malaysia wants to reclaim its “delegated airspace” in southern Johor.

The current airspace arrangements over southern Johor have benefitted both Singapore and Malaysia, and any changes will impact many stakeholders, said Singapore’s Transport Ministry.

It also pointed out that procedures for aircraft landing at Seletar Airport were designed to align with existing flight profiles into the airport which “have been used for decades”.

The procedures take into account existing structures at Pasir Gudang and “do not impose any additional impact on other airspace users as well as businesses and residents in Johor”, said MOT.

Source:hellenicshippingnews

Orsted backs extra 20GW in Germany

By

-

December 6, 2018

0

Orsted has welcomed Germany's plans to consider adding up to 20GW of new offshore wind capacity by 2030, and called on the government to allow developers to build their own grid connections.

“It is certainly a good sign: 20GW would be a notable step in the right direction,” Orsted managing director for Germany Volker Malmen

However, Malmen said industry would need to see legislation backing the target before making development plans. He also suggested even more capacity is needed.

If we look at the target of 65% renewables in Germany by 2030, one could argue that even 20GW is not ambitious enough.

Germany last week disappointed the offshore sector by passing legislation supporting 8GW of onshore wind and solar.

Lawmakers, however, said in a preliminary declaration accompanying the legislation that they would ask the country's maritime authority to investigate the possibility of an extra 15GW to 20GW of offshore capacity by 2030.

Malmen said Orsted would also like to see an overhaul of Germany's current auctioning system to allow developers to pursue new supply opportunities.

The current model, he said, was a “blocker for sector-coupling ambitions” that could, for example, help decarbonise the transport sector. There was a lot of untapped potential in storage and power-to-gas options, he added.

“Offshore wind can be used for more than power production,” Malmen said. “One key aspect would be for developers like us to have the right to build the grid connection ourselves.”

Source:renews

NTSB installs navigation simulator system

By

-

December 6, 2018

0

The US National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) Office of Marine Safety (OMS) installed a navigation simulator system. The simulator enables the user to participate in a number of 'what if' scenarios, that aims to improve training, forensic analysis and reflective learning.

BMT's Rembrandt navigation simulator system can automatically read VDR and AIS to deliver 3D reconstruction. It also allows users to change from its scene reconstruction mode into full manoeuvring simulator mode.

Thus, they take full control at any time within the reconstruction replay to explore 'what if' scenarios. This is key to improve training, forensic analysis and reflective learning.

Other than NTSB, the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch, the Australian Transport Safety Board and the Dutch Safety Board, also have the same in-house simulator system.

Moreover, operators are also using it to train deck officers and provide:

Port navigational risk assessments;
Pilot training;
Plan complex manoeuvres;
Ship to Ship transfers.

Source:safety4sea

BHGE Inks 3-year Contract with Saudi Aramco

By

-

December 6, 2018

0

Saudi Aramco has awarded major stimulation and well-testing contract to Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE).

BHGE will deliver a comprehensive well services solution including all cased-hole wireline logging, perforation, well testing, stimulation, fracturing and associated intervention services.

By integrating discrete products, services and capabilities into a single offering, BHGE will help Saudi Aramco reduce time, costs and complexity while increasing efficiency.

The three-year contract includes the option of two one-year extensions and the project is expected to commence in December 2018.

The work is expected to create more than 200 new engineering, field services and project management jobs, and indirectly supports an additional 300 existing jobs, further demonstrating BHGE’s ongoing commitment to support Saudi Aramco’s In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) initiative.

Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Senior Vice President of Upstream at Saudi Aramco, said: “The contract further reinforces our integration efforts across conventional fields in Saudi Arabia, helping maintain capacity and meet domestic and global demand. We are pleased to work with BHGE as a partner with proven expertise in country.”

“The contract underpins the strength of our portfolio and demonstrates our ability to deliver comprehensive well solutions to improve productivity, reliability and efficiency for our customers,” said Lorenzo Simonelli, chairman and CEO of BHGE.

“As a long-term partner supporting the Kingdom’s oil and gas sector, we are committed to bringing advanced technology and service solutions that will help deliver significant levels of upstream productivity and support Saudi Arabia’s strategy to increase gas production for both local consumption and export,” Lorenzo said.

Source:marinelink

Guangzhou Launches World’s First Icebreaking LNG Tanker

By

-

December 6, 2018

0

The world's first liquid natural gas (LNG) carrier tanker was named 'Boris Sokolov' and delivered by Guangzhou Shipyard International in Guangzhou City.

According to Chinese state media, the Arctic condensate tanker carrier designed to traverse the world's icy northern polar region.

With a load capacity of 44,550 tons, the vessel, which is built for for Dynacom of Greece, can sail in the Arctic region without icebreaker-piloting, it said.

The vessel is mainly used for transporting condensate oil for the Yamal LNG project in northwest Siberia, which is the largest LNG project in the world.

Boris Sokolov is designed to cope with the extreme cold of the Arctic, where the temperature can fall below minus 50 degrees. It meets the highest rating of ice-breaking ability, as defined by Russia's Maritime Register of Shipping. This means it can sail to and from the project at all times of the year.

The Arc7 ice class ship is named after Captain Sokolov who commanded the world’s first nuclear-powered icebreaker for almost 40 years, according to China Daily. The vessel is able to break ice layers 1.8m (6ft) thick, the newspaper reported.

In the coming days, the Boris Sokolov will join Dynacom Tankers Management’s fleet and begin its voyage from China to the Arctic along the Northern Sea Route.

Earlier, in November, Novatek Gas and Power Asia Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of the Russian gas producer Novatek, made the first delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Yamal LNG project to the Chinese company China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).

Source:marinelink

DSME Bags $370 mln Order for 2 LNG Carriers

By

-

December 6, 2018

0

The world's second-largest shipbuilder by orders Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co (DSME) has clinched a US$370 million deal to build two LNG carriers.

A report in Yonhap said that under the deal with an unidentified customer, the South Korean shipbuilder is set to deliver the 174,000-cubic-meter ships by the first half of 2021.

The Korean shipyard has an option to build four more vessels as well, it said. The company informed that the deal on the options would be finalized in 2019.

DSME has won deals valued at a combined $5.64 billion to build a total of 41 ships, including 16 very large oil tankers so far this year.

According to Yonhap, with the latest deal, Daewoo Shipbuilding has met some 77 percent of its annual order target of $7.3 billion.

Source:marinelink

ClassNK opens new survey office in Reggio Calabria

By

-

December 6, 2018

0

Reggio Calabria – Leading classification society ClassNK has opened a new exclusive survey office in Reggio Calabria, Italy with operations beginning 5 December, 2018.

Reggio Calabria, located in Southwest Italy, faces the Strait of Messina which crosses through the Italian Peninsula and Sicily. In recent years, the number of surveys and audits required in the southern part of Italy and Malta has been increasing. Through the opening of its latest office, ClassNK will improve the efficiency of its ship surveys and audits in these areas.

ClassNK will continue to improve its worldwide survey offices network in order to meet its clients’ requests and provide timely and high quality services.

Danish designs on Hornsea 2 topsides

By

-

December 6, 2018

0

Danish companies ISC Consulting Engineers and Semco Maritime have completed the detailed design of two topsides that will feature at Orsted's 1400MW Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm off the east coast of England.

The project will deploy a single 7500-tonne HVAC topside and a 1200-tonne reactive compensation unit to help bring power to shore, ISC said.

The larger unit will be supported by a six-legged jacket foundation, while the smaller platform will be mounted on a four-legged structure.

Both topsides will be fabricated by Sembcorp Marine at facilities in Singapore and are due to be delivered to Orsted in early 2021.

Hornsea 2 will feature 165 Siemens Gamesa 8MW turbines with rotor diameters of 167 metres.

The project is due online in 2022.

Source:renews