Exploration/Development news briefs, Mar. 13

March 13, 2001
Varco International ... Seneca Resources...Kelman Technologies ... Double Eagle Petroleum ...FX Energy


Varco International, Houston, said Tuesday Hyundai Heavy Industries has ordered a harsh environment offshore dilling rig. The contract for the Maersk XL2 order is worth more than $25 million. The supply package will utlizie Varco proprietary equipment to automate the drilling process. Maersk Contractors and Varco jointly designed the Maersk XL2 drilling system. Automated applications include shale shakers, centrifuges, and pipe-handling equipment.


Seneca Resources Co., Buffalo, NY, said its Canadian subsidiary, National Fuel Exploration Corp. completed two exploration wells in Alberta�s Slave Point formation. The Dawson 8-15 and the Dawson 2-16 were producing more than 200 bo/d. NFE had two rigs drilling in the Dawson area and expected to drill two more wells this winter.

Statoil of Norway plans to drill the first exploration well on the Sarsfield prospect off Ireland this spring. The Sovereign Explorer rig is slated to arrive at the field in May. The Sarsfield prospect is in 650 ft of water in the Porcupine basin. Other partners in the exploration license included Conoco UK, Enterprise Energy Ireland, and Dana Petroleum.

Kelman Technologies Inc., Calgary, said its Houston based subsidiary, KTI Houston, won two seismic contracts worth a total of more than $5 million. The first contract is a 2D reprocessing contract involving several thousand miles of seismic data across South Texas and East Texas. Seismic Exchange Inc. has exclusive marketing rights and controls the data. The second contract is a series of large 3D land processing projects for JEBCO Seismic Ltd., Houston, covering more than 400 sq mi in Oklahoma.

FX Energy Inc., Salt Lake City, announced its Kleka 11 in Poland started began production at 2 MMcfd in February. It will be produced at the 4 MMcfd for 2 years, when pressure and production data will be evaluated and the rate will be adjusted. This is the first production by a western company in Poland. The Polish Oil and Gas Co. was operator with 51% and FX Energy had 49%.