SERVICES | SUPPLIERS

Cameron International Corporation,

Houston, opened its CAMSERV™ aftermarket drilling facility in Singapore to serve primarily major shipyards and offshore drilling contractors across Asia and to provide support for its global customer base to reduce maintenance cost and extend the life of Cameron equipment. The new facility is part of a $120 million multi-year global investment by Cameron in its aftermarket drilling business and joins a network of more than 65 global service centers providing around the clock world-class service. It will increase Cameron's workforce in Singapore to more than 1,200 by year-end. This is Cameron's second major location in Singapore. The first, operational since 1973, serves its surface, process and compression systems, valves and measurement, and corporate services.

Holland Services,

Fort Worth, Tex., involved in all aspects of acquiring, selling, and developing land and mineral rights, received an unspecified "strategic investment" from an affiliate of Miami-based H.I.G. Capital LLC, a private equity firm. Robert Gaudin, founder and chief executive of Holland, said the investment will allow the company to capitalize on growth potential. Financing for the transaction was provided by THL Credit Inc. This is the second time THL and H.I.G. have partnered to invest in the oil field services sector, officials said.

CHC Helicopter,

Richmond, BC, Canada, signed a £29 million 3-year contract, with options for a 2-year extension, with Centrica Energy and Centrica Storage Ltd. to provide helicopter service in key oil and gas fields in the North Sea. In the southern sector, CHC will operate an AW139 aircraft out of Humberside Airport starting November to support the York and Rough platforms. In the northern and central sectors, aircraft out of Aberdeen will serve the Kittiwake platform starting in June on a part-exclusive basis. CHC will invest more resources in Humberside while maintaining its current base in North Denes where it will continue service to other energy sector customers.

Rowan Cos. Plc,

Houston, said the Rowan Resolute, one of four ultra-deepwater drillships being built for the company by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., received a 3-year contract through the third quarter of 2017 with Anadarko Petroleum Corp. in the Gulf of Mexico. Analysts at Barclays Capital Inc. reported the day rate is "in the high $600,000" and above market rates. "The award substantially de-risks Rowan's four-unit newbuild program," the analysts said at the time of Rowan's announcement. "The company now has two uncontracted drillships under construction (deliveries in fourth quarter 2014 and first quarter 2015). We expect the third newbuild to receive a commitment this year (and potentially over the summer), particularly if momentum builds around the [recent] series of ultra-deepwater awards." They said day rates for ultra-deepwater units in June "have plateaued in the $550,000-600,000 range as the market awaits clarity on the 30 uncontracted newbuild floaters coming to the market, but there appears to be some momentum." Barclays Capital analysts said, "We think there is scope for nearly half the uncontracted newbuilds to be absorbed this summer and are encouraged by recent contract announcements."

Wison Engineering Ltd.,

Shanghai, a subsidy of Wison Engineering Services Co. Ltd., signed a cooperative agreement with Tianjin University to establish a research and development center in Tianjin, China, for energy and chemical technologies. The primary objective of the center is to develop leading synthesis gas-to-ethanol technology in China and to promote relevant technology in international markets. In the next 5 years, the center expects to complete "development and engineering of various synthesis gas-to-ethanol roadmaps," officials said. Meanwhile, the two parties will jointly conduct exclusive research on innovative and cutting edge technologies. The center will leverage Tianjin University's R&D capabilities and Wison Engineering's extensive research capabilities and expertise in engineering services to expedite development, research and commercialization of synthesis gas-to-methanol technology. In addition, the collaboration is expected to boost Wison Engineering's competence in its core technological development and overall competitive edge in the coal-to-chemical industry, opening "immense opportunities" through the government's strategy to utilize China's abundant coal reserves as alternative resources.

Wison Engineering also signed a cooperation agreement with a subsidiary in Foster Wheeler AG's global engineering and construction group and Clariant International AG to build a pilot plant in China to demonstrate Foster Wheeler's VESTA substitute natural gas (SNG) technology. Wison Engineering will provide engineering and construction services, Foster Wheeler will license the technology, and Clariant will supply proprietary developed catalyst. The plant will be operated by Wison Engineering. The cooperation agreement also sets out a framework for long-term cooperation to deliver and build methanation plants in China based on VESTA technology. Foster Wheeler's VESTA SNG technology is a novel methanation process to produce SNG from synthesis gas obtained from gasification of either coal or petroleum coke.

Aker Solutions ASA,

Oslo, won a frame agreement from Statoil ASA to supply, refurbish, and store compensation equipment used to stabilize and control production risers on the Heidrun platform in the North Sea. The contract value was undisclosed. The contract includes delivery of new equipment as well as maintenance and storage of existing materials. Aker Solutions will provide new tapered stress joints and a complete tension system for the Heidrun tension leg platform. The job also includes refurbishment and preservation of numerous stress joints, tensioning cylinders, tensioner frames, and associated components. The work will be carried out by Aker Solutions' drilling technologies business in Horten, Norway, and the storage will be in Kristiansund on the Norwegian west coast. The 4-year contract can be extended for an additional 4 years.

BGP Kenya Ltd.,

Nairobi, was awarded a contract for a 2D seismic survey on Block L14 in Kenya's Lamu Basin by Lamu Oil and Gas, a joint venture between Edgo Energy and Qatar First Bank. Data acquisition will cover up to 850 line km in the block largely situated in the Tana River and Delta Districts in Kenya. Work is expected to begin in the third quarter with initial results expected in the first quarter of 2014. The objective of the 2D seismic survey is to identify prospective targets for further seismic with subsequent exploration drilling to prove the hydrocarbon accumulations.

Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS),

Trondheim, Norway, and TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. ASA in Asker signed an agreement to jointly invest in a 3D electromagnetic (EM) multi-client survey program covering 11 blocks, or approximately 3,300 sq km in the Hoop area of the Barents Sea. Data currently being acquired by EMGS's vessel Atlantic Guardian will be sold by both EMGS and TGS. The two companies will split revenues according to their respective investments. Under the terms of the previously announced collaboration agreement, EMGS will have access to TGS's 2D seismic data for survey planning and integration purposes, while TGS will obtain access to 3D EM data to evaluate and plan subsequent multi-client work over the area.

EMGS also received a Letter of Intent for an extension of an ongoing contract in Asia. The value of the contract extension is "at least $15 million," company officials said, and will bring the total contract value to at least $50 million. The vessel BOA Thalassa is expected to complete the entire work program, including the contract extension, in October. Final confirmation and award of the extension is subject to the customer's internal tender board approval.

Seatronics Ltd.,

Aberdeen, an Acteon company, purchased more than $1.5 million of advanced sonar imaging systems and associated equipment from EdgeTech in West Wareham, Mass., The purchase is part of a multi-million dollar investment by Seatronics to expand its marine equipment rental fleet. Purchases included shallow water side scan sonars, multi-purpose survey systems, sub-bottom profilers, combined side scan sonar and sub-bottom profilers, ROV-based sonar systems and bathymetry side scan sonar systems. Seatronics also announced non-exclusive sales representation for EdgeTech products in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Seatronics Pte Ltd. moved its Singapore operations to a facility with triple the capacity within the recently upgraded Toll Offshore Supply Base. The new location offers nearly 1,000 sq m of specialist engineering and electronic preparation workshops and warehousing space. It extends Seatronics' capabilities by placing cable molding and hydraulic testing under one roof; this makes it possible to offer a wider range of products and services to clientele in the region.

InterMoor Inc.,

Houston, another Acteon company, said it is the first US-based company to achieve certification under Det Norske Veritas (DNV) 413 for service suppliers engaged in renewal survey examination of mooring chain for mobile offshore units. InterMoor can now inspect, certify, and recertify mooring chains and related components such as connecting links and wire rope for mobile offshore units that have or will have DNV classification. Included are water blasting of chain, visual inspections, measurements, and mechanical and non-destructive testing. The service will be available in the Gulf of Mexico, Central and South America, and West Africa and will be headed by operations coordinator Bruno Amann. InterMoor currently has five qualified inspectors with plans for more in the near future.

Schlumberger Ltd.,

Paris, acquired Gushor Inc., a Calgary-based petroleum geochemistry and fluid analysis company that provides production and exploration solutions in the heavy oil and oil sand industry. Details of the transaction were not provided. A University of Calgary spin-off formed in 2006, Gushor specializes in the integration of geology, fluid properties, petroleum geochemistry, and reservoir engineering information. Gushor operates worldwide, with knowledge of geochemical and physical properties of fluids in production optimization by describing and capitalizing on heterogeneous fluid property distribution in reservoirs.

Cooper Valves,

Stafford, Tex., has partnered with Houston-based Industrial Logistics Ltd. and its LAVISA SA pipe, valves, and fittings subsidiary in Mexico to expand operations in Mexico, Central America, and South America. "We consider them the experts of the region and together we hope to be able to better serve the nickel alloy valve needs of the entire Latin American market," said Ginger Restovic, president of Cooper Valves. The Stafford company will conduct training with Industrial Logistics-LAVISA staff at both their Houston and Mexico offices in coming months to promote expansion of Cooper products in the Latin American market. Industrial logistics and LAVISA are leading PVF suppliers for the Americas.

ABB Group,

Zurich, Switzerland, appointed Ulrich Spiesshofer, the head of its discrete automation and motion (DM) division, as chief executive officer to succeed Joe Hogan, who is to continue as senior advisor to the board of directors. Spiesshofer joined ABB's Executive Committee in 2005 and was named head of the DM section in 2009. A successor to that position will be announced in due course, officials said. Spiesshofer previously was responsible for corporate development, leading strategy development and implementation across the power and automation businesses in close collaboration with all of ABB's teams. Before joining ABB, Spiesshofer spent 3 years at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants and 11 years at A.T. Kearney management consultants, where he built successful consulting businesses in oil and gas, utilities, telecoms, and automotive sectors in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He has a master's degree in business administration and engineering and a doctorate in economics from the University of Stuttgart, Germany.

Oiltanking GmbH,

Hamburg, with its joint-venture partner Gunvor Group Ltd., will construct a green- field terminal on the island of Karimun, Indonesia, with initial storage capacity of 760,000 cu. m to meet incremental storage needs of the Singapore trading area. The terminal will be managed and operated by Oiltanking as an independent commercial storage facility. Gunvor will take a minority equity stake and rent part of the capacity. With the dynamic and robust growth of the developing Asian countries, petroleum demand in the region is growing steadily, and expanding refining capacities are fueling incremental flows of petroleum products. This growth in supply and demand has increased the flow of products through the Malacca Strait. This trend is projected to persist. Increasing storage demand in the area, officials said. Oiltanking selected Karimun in the Riau Islands as the optimal location for a terminal due to its proximity to Jurong Island, Singapore's industrial petroleum and petrochemical hub; the existing ship-to-ship operations off Karimun; favorable nautical conditions; and available land. The terminal is expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2015 and will store both clean petroleum products and crude. Oiltanking is a subsidiary of Marquard & Bahls AG, Germany.

Jaya Holdings Ltd.,

Singapore, agreed to sell a second new state-of-the-art anchor-handling tug and supply vessel, Jaya Sovereign, to Canadian-based Atlantic Towing Ltd. Delivery is expected by year-end. The Jaya Sovereign is a sister ship of the Jaya Supreme, which was delivered to Atlantic Towing last November. Both vessels are among the most sophisticated anchor-handlers ever built at a Singapore shipyard. Jaya officials said growing interest in Arctic Sea drilling is increasing demand for the Jaya Sovereign type of vessels. Recent licensing of 35 million acres of Russian Arctic to a Russian and international joint venture indicates drilling could extend to 2020 on a seasonal basis. Leading international oil companies are planning programs off Greenland in 2014 and 2015. The vessel is fitted with a 400-tonne line-pull Brattvaag anchor handling and towing winch. It has additional spooling capacity for deepwater work, twin sets of shark's jaws, towing pins, and two remote-control travelling cranes.

J&J Technical Services LLC,