Exploration/Development news briefs, Jan. 12

Jan. 12, 2001
BP � ABB Singapore � TGS-NOPEC Geophysical � Unocal Rapak � Shell Brasil � BJ Services � TotalFinaElf Exploration UK


BP has awarded ABB Singapore, a unit of ABB Group, a $1.7 million contract for the integrated control system of the Lan Tay-Lan Do platform in the Nam Con Son project off Viet Nam.

TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. ASA has begun a non-exclusive 3D seismic survey covering a portion of the Carnarvon basin (Barrow sub-basin) of Australia's Northwest Shelf. TGS-NOPEC said the survey is "heavily pre-funded by oil companies who are major operators in the area."

Unocal Corp. subsidiary Unocal Rapak Ltd. drilled an oil and gas discovery on the Ranggas prospect in the southern portion of the Rapak Production-Sharing Contact area, off East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The Ranggas-1 well was drilled to 11,845 ft TD in 5,303 ft of water. It found 250 ft of gas pay and 40 ft of oil pay, said Unocal. Unocal holds 80% working interest, while Lasmo PLC holds the remaining 20%.

Royal Dutch/Shell Group affiliate Shell Brasil notified the National Petroleum Agency that indications of hydrocarbons have been found in the well 1SHEL-2-ESS currently being drilled in block BC-10. Shell Brasil with a 35% participation inked an exploration joint venture with Petroleo Brasileiro SA with 35%, and ExxonMobil Corp. with 30% in block BC-10.

TotalFinaElf Exploration UK PLC has awarded Aberdeen-based BJ Services Co. a contract for cementing, pumping, and related engineering services at the operator's Alwyn North and Dunbar fields in the North Sea. Work on the 3-year deal starts in September.