E&P Highlights: Dec. 4, 2023

From awards for the Manatee, Whiptail and Raia projects to seismic contracts, below is a compilation of the latest headlines in the E&P space. 

Contracts and company news

Manatee Go-ahead for McDermott

Shell Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. gave McDermott a limited notice to proceed with engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) for the Manatee gas field project, McDermott announced Nov. 28.

While subject to Shell taking a final investment decision, the project scope includes design, procurement, fabrication, transportation, installation and commissioning of a wellhead platform and offshore and onshore gas pipelines.

Saipem Scoops Up Whiptail, Raia Work

Saipem said Nov. 29 it won contracts valued at $1.9 billion for work offshore Guyana and Brazil.

Exxon Mobil Guyana Ltd. awarded Saipem the contract for design, fabrication and installation of subsea structures, risers, flowlines and umbilicals for a large subsea production facility for the Whiptail development in 2,000 m water depth in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. Saipem will perform operations using its FDS2, Constellation and Castorone vessels and will deploy as key fabrication site for its execution model Saipem’s Guyana Offshore Construction Facility located at the Port of Georgetown. 

The award remains subject to the necessary government approvals, the project sanction by Exxon Mobil Guyana Ltd. and its Stabroek Block coventurers and an authorization to proceed with the final phase. However, Saipem can now begin detailed engineering and procurement activities.

Equinor awarded Saipem a contract to carry out the offshore transport and installation of a subsea gas export line and associated equipment in water depths of around 2,900 m, as well as the horizontal drilling activities for the shore approach for the Raia pre-salt gas and condensate project in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil. Saipem will deploy its Castorone pipelay vessel for the installation.

Teesside Training Centers Opens

Training company 3t opened its new Teesside, U.K., facility, the company announced Nov. 28.

The center features facilities and classrooms tailored to support trainees in roles across the energy and renewables sector. The new center has a 24-ft-high training tower along with climbing and rescue platforms that mirror the working environment of a wind turbine, a rigging frame to deliver OPITO-approved rigger training courses, a range of mechanical and electrical training facilities to equip delegates with necessary technical skills. The center is part of a joint-venture (JV) agreement with Vital Fire Solutions (VFS), the trading arm of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS),  the facility will also support key training courses required for offshore firefighters.  

Gulf Island Wins EPCI Work for GoM Projects

Gulf Island Fabrication Inc. said Nov. 29 it won multiple subsea fabrication projects valued at $5 million from an integrated subsea EPCI company.

The awards are for procurement, fabrication, coating and testing of subsea structures for multiple developments located in the Gulf of Mexico. The fabricated components include pipeline end terminations, jumper kits, jumpers and sleepers that will be fabricated at Gulf Island’s Houma fabrication facility in Louisiana. 

Petrobras Awards PXGEO 4D OBN Work

PXGEO said on Dec. 4 that Petrobras awarded it a contract for a 4D monitor ocean bottom node (OBN) survey in the Santos Basin offshore Brazil. The survey is to be acquired in water depths up to 2,200 m and last about seven months.

AGR Snags Well Management Contract

AGR, a division of the U.K.’s ABL Group, announced on Dec. 4 that it won a well management contract from Apus Energia Guinea-Bissau SA for a deepwater exploration well.

The Ocean BlackRhino ultra-deepwater drillship is slated to begin drilling operations on the well in the Sinapa license offshore Guinea-Bissau in summer 2024.

Petronas Taps Envana for Emissions Management    

Petronas Upstream Business contracted Envana Software Solutions, a JV between Halliburton and Siguler Guff, to support emissions management, Envana announced Nov. 29. 

Under the deal, Envana will measure, track and report Petronas’ greenhouse-gas emissions. Envana will also enhance the operator’s data-driven approach using Envana’s emission management product, Envana Catalyst. The product offers a centralized and integrated digital solution to facilitate the provision of granular, accurate and transparent emissions data from Petronas’ global assets base. 

Strohm’s TCP Earns Deepwater OK from DNV

Strohm’s 6-inch EGF-PE pipe earned a Statement of Qualified Technology from DNV for use as a flowline or jumper in deep waters, Strohm announced Nov. 29.

Starting in 2018, nearly 40 tests were carried out on Strohm’s thermoplastic composite pipe (TCP) subsea flowlines. According to Strohm, this is the first time DNV has granted an accreditation of this kind.