Microsoft Corp.,
Redmond, Wash., has announced relocation of the headquarters for its global oil and gas industry business to Dubai. Albrecht Ferling, managing director, worldwide oil and gas industries, previously directed the company’s oil and gas unit from Vienna. He cited Dubai’s central location in light of growing energy demand from China, India, and the Middle East and the shift of power from consumer to producer in the global energy equation among reasons for the move.
Microsoft, the worldwide leader in software and related services, has oil and gas initiatives in more than 70 countries.
McJunkin Red Man Corp.,
Tulsa, has opened new executive offices in Houston, at 2 Houston Center. Pres. and CEO Andrew Lane cited the company’s intent for executive management to focus more time helping its major customers meet their North American pipe, valves, and fittings (PVF) supply chain challenges and assisting them in optimizing their global PVF supply chain needs. In addition, the Houston office expansion will allow MRC management to work more closely with the large concentration of its key suppliers located in Houston. Lane and several MRC senior executives will divide their time between Houston and the company’s dual headquarters in Tulsa and Charleston, WVa. Houston is home to MRC’s largest distribution center in North America, with a combined 200,000 sq ft of warehouse space, 40,000 sq ft of office space, and 80 acres of pipe yard.
McJunkin Red Man is the largest North American distributor of PVF and related products and services to the energy industry, based on sales.
Tri Drill Inc.,
Broussard, La., has earned certification from Det Norske Veritas (DNV) to perform nondestructive testing (NDT) on offshore drilling rigs and drilling components, a step that will help enhance Tri Drill’s NDT heavy-lift inspection program. After a DNV audit in October 2008, Tri Drill’s NDT Level II and III inspectors proved to be in compliance. The DNV certification program ensures suppliers are using appropriate procedures, have qualified and certified personnel, and are using written procedures for training, performance, application, control, verification, and reporting. DNV surveyors also consider whether suppliers are furnishing appropriate equipment and facilities. Tri Drill also is certified according to ASNT guidelines.
Tri Drill performs NDT inspections on drill pipe, tubing, bottom hole assembly tools, heavy-lift components, and handling equipment.
Aker Solutions,
Oslo, has announced the extension of its modification and maintenance support contract with BP PLC for the operator’s platform facilities in the Norwegian North Sea. BP declared its option to extend the duration of the existing framework agreement with Aker Solutions by 2 years to Mar. 31, 2011. The value of the contract extension is expected to represent about 1-1.5 billion kroner (Nor.). The original framework agreement was signed with BP in 2005. This is the second option for extension being declared by BP and comprises engineering, procurement prefabrication, offshore installation, commissioning, and documentation. The agreement includes all of BP’s current offshore facilities in the Norwegian sector, totaling 12 platforms.
Meanwhile, Aker has entered into an agreement with Total SA for additional work on the Frigg decommissioning project. The scope of work has increased beyond the fixed price contract Aker signed in 2004. The most critical phases of the project have now been completed, and the project is scheduled to be concluded by summer 2010. The agreement removes uncertainties regarding Aker Solutions’ future results. The agreement will have a positive cash effect of about 1 billion kroner (Nor.), but will result in an accounting loss for fourth quarter 2008. For the same quarter, Aker Solutions also recognizes losses on the H-6e drilling rig project. The construction of the two H-6e drilling rigs, Aker Spitsbergen and Aker Barents, is in the completion phase. By the current schedule, Aker Drilling was to take delivery in February and second quarter 2009, respectively. The sea trials for Aker Spitsbergen were completed in January with good results. However, some damage to the drilling equipment’s heave compensators was discovered, resulting in some components needing to be replaced.
Aker Solutions is a unit of Aker Solutions ASA, a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products, and integrated solutions to the oil and gas, refining and chemicals, mining and metals, and power generation industries.
Saipem America Inc.,
Houston, has announced that the HOS Mystique, the company’s new 250-ft, Class II DP ROV support vessel, has completed its first job and is currently mobilized in Fourchon, La., for immediate work. The HOS Mystique completed a pod change on a well located in the Gulf of Mexico Green Canyon area in 2,600 ft of water. Saipem America recently signed a 3-year charter agreement with Hornbeck Offshore Services for the newbuild HOS Mystique. The HOS Mystique is a US-flagged, Class II DP ROV support vessel with 4,354 sq ft of usable deck area and a permanent 70-ton, active heave compensated NOV knuckle-boom crane.
Saipem America is the US unit of Saipem SPA, which provides turnkey EPIC/EPC and drilling services to the worldwide onshore and offshore oil and gas industry.
Global Tubing,
Dayton, Tex., has begun producing coiled tubing at its manufacturing and service complex in Dayton. Global Tubing manufactures the widest selection of coil tubing in the industry. Sizes range from ¾-in. to 5-inch OD, with wall thicknesses ranging from 0.080 to 0.337 in. The company also provides a broad array of testing, repair, and other services to users of coiled tubing. The Dayton complex includes two mill operations buildings, with laboratory facilities to ensure product quality and promote continued innovation, and two service operations and training facilities.
Global Tubing was formed in April 2007 to meet growing worldwide demand for coiled tubing products and related services. Global Tubing’s majority shareholder is Calgary-based ARC Financial Corp., one of the world’s largest energy-focused private equity firms.
CGGVeritas,
Paris, has announced that it was awarded two long-term seismic acquisition contracts by BP PLC to undertake multiple high-end marine 3D, wide-azimuth, and 4D seismic surveys. The first BP contract encompasses an exploration 3D survey in the Canadian Beaufort Sea. This project, with an option to extend for a second season, is expected to commence in summer 2009. The second long-term contract comprises multiple wide-azimuth and 4D reservoir management surveys in the Gulf of Mexico. The gulf program is expected to commence early in 2009, with part of the program being acquired in 2010, and includes options for further extensions. The total value of these new BP contracts, not including optional extensions, is expected to be about $130 million. CGGVeritas has also received a letter of cancellation from Petroleos de Venezuela SA relating to a previously announced, 6-month land 3D seismic survey in Venezuela.
CGGVeritas is a leading international pure-play geophysical company delivering a wide range of technologies, services, and equipment through Sercel, to its broad base of customers mainly throughout the global oil and gas industry.
StealthGas Inc.,
Athens, has announced delivery of the Gas Shuriken, a 2008-built, 5,000-cu m, fully pressurized LPG carrier. The vessel was immediately deployed to an international gas trader under a 2-year time charter that expires in October 2010. The company also recently took delivery of the Gas Natalie, a 1997-built, 3,213 cu m, fully pressurized LPG carrier. Upon her delivery, she continued to be deployed with a major international gas owner/operator, under an existing bareboat charter that expires in September 2011. In addition, StealthGas canceled sale of the Gas Amazon, a 1992-built, 6,526 cu m, fully pressurized LPG carrier, due to buyer nonperformance. The company intends to pursue legal remedies in seeking compensation from the buyer.
StealthGas is a ship-owning company serving primarily the LPG sector. It has a fleet of 39 LPG carriers with a total capacity of 173,499 cu m and two medium-range product tankers.
Subsea 7 Inc.,
Aberdeen, has announced award of a contract by Venture Production PLC to manage the integrity of its subsea assets in the North Sea. Subsea 7 will provide Venture with a team of specialist personnel to support the integrity management contract. The work scope includes data management, system review and development, engineering analysis, and specialist services such as field life extension and feature assessment (the technical assessment of inspection results). The integrity management services contract sits alongside existing contracts that Subsea 7 has with Venture for inspection, repair and maintenance, and engineering, procurement, installation, and commissioning projects. This is the first integrity management services contract that Subsea 7 has won.
Meanwhile, Subsea 7 has been recognized for excellence throughout its business and operations when it was named “Subsea Company of the Year” at the 2009 Subsea UK Business Awards. Finalists in the “Subsea Company of the Year” category were judged on a number of factors, including growth in the last year, national and international profile and reputation, business and technical excellence, commitment to staff training and development, and commitment to safety and the environment.
Subsea UK is the industry body and focal point for the entire UK subsea industry and aims to increase business opportunities at home and abroad for the sector. Its annual business awards ceremony coincides with its flagship annual Aberdeen exhibition and conference, Subsea 09.
Subsea 7 is one of the world’s leading subsea engineering and construction companies.
OMNI Energy Services Corp.,
Carencro, La., has announced the award of a significant seismic drilling contract in Louisiana from a leading seismic data acquisition company. The project, expected to commence Mar. 1, 2009, encompasses more than 5,000 holes, 85% of which are in the transition zone in Louisiana, and the balance being highland activity. The contract will generate about $2.5 million in revenue in first half 2009.
OMNI offers a broad range of integrated services to geophysical companies engaged in the acquisition of onshore seismic data and to oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico as well as the major oil and gas producing regions of the continental US. OMNI provides seismic drilling services (including drilling, survey, and permitting services), environmental services, equipment leasing, fluid and transportation services, and other services.
Baker Hughes Inc.,
Houston, has opened Phase II of its new Center for Technology Innovation (CTI) in northwest Houston. CTI consists of 209,000 sq ft of research and engineering space. Phase I, comprising research laboratories, extreme high-pressure/high-temperature (xHPHT) test facilities, and advanced machining and rapid prototyping shops, was inaugurated in April 2008. Phase II consists of additional office buildings and research facilities. About 600 scientists, application engineers, and laboratory technicians are conducting research, engineering, development, and testing at the $42 million complex. CTI is the only center of its kind in the oil and gas industry, capable of testing full-size prototypes of the next generation of completion and production equipment in a test environment with gas pressure up to 40,000 psi and temperature up to 700 °F. It is designed to enable Baker Hughes research and engineering teams to achieve breakthroughs in technologies focused on deepwater wells, xHPHT applications, production optimization, and large-diameter completions.
Baker Hughes provides reservoir consulting, drilling, formation evaluation, completion, and production products and services to the worldwide oil and gas industry.
