E&P Highlights: March 15, 2024

From a North Sea gas find to a contract awards for offshore projects, below is a compilation of the latest headlines in the E&P space. 

Activity headlines

North Sea Well Confirms Gas Discovery

Harbour Energy and its partners have confirmed a gas discovery in well 15/9-25 in the North Sea, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate announced March 13.

Gas was first proven in wells 16/7-2 and 16/7-10, drilled in 1982 and 2011, respectively. The 15/9-25 well is the first one to be drilled in PL 1138, which was awarded in 2021.

The overall gas volume is calculated at between 1 MMcm and 3 MMcm of recoverable oil equivalent. 

Licensees Harbour Energy, Sval Energi and Aker BP will consider whether to tie the discovery into existing infrastructure in the area.

Water depth at the site is 84 m. The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.

Tyra Nearing Production Start Up

The Tyra 2 redevelopment project in the Danish North Sea is on track to begin production by March 31 following successful methanol loading, partner BlueNord announced March 12.

The Tyra redevelopment includes decommissioning and recycling the old Tyra platforms; recycling and extending the current platform legs on six of the platforms by 13 m, which will have new topsides; and a new process module and a new accommodation platform.

TotalEnergies operates the Tyra field with 43.2% on behalf of partners BlueNord with 36.8% and Nordsøfonden with 20%.

Contracts and company news

Subsea 7 Wins Trion Installation Contract

Woodside Energy awarded Subsea 7 a contract valued at between $300 million and $500 million to provide subsea installation services for the Trion development in the Mexican Gulf of Mexico, Subsea 7 announced March 14. 

The field, in 2,600 m water depth, involves a wet tree subsea system connected to an in-field production semisubmersible. 

Subsea 7 will be responsible for the engineering, construction and installation of the subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines, as well as the associated subsea architecture.

Project management and engineering will begin immediately from Subsea 7’s offices in the U.S. and Mexico, with offshore activities expected between 2026 and 2027.

Woodside operates the Trion project on behalf of partner Pemex.

LLOG Taps ABL for Salamanca Services

LLOG Exploration awarded ABL a contract for marine warranty survey (MWS) services for the subsea development of the Salamanca development project in the Gulf of Mexico, ABL announced March 12.

ABL will review technical documents and approve critical procedures, drawings and documentation and suitability inspections of the proposed fleet for subsea operations. ABL will also be onsite to review and approve transportation and mobilization operations of project assets.

The Salamanca project includes the build-out of the Leon and Castille fields in water depths of 5,900 ft to 6,560 ft. The subsea portion of the project includes three infield subsea pipeline systems, as well as the design and fabrication of subsea structures. The pipelines will run from the wellsite to the Salamanca floating production facility.

Equinor Awards Shearwater 4D Monitoring Work

Shearwater GeoServices Holding announced March 13 it had won two 4D monitoring projects from Equinor for the Mariner Field in the U.K. North Sea and the Heidrun field in the Norwegian Sea.

Shearwater will deploy its Isometrix technology for both surveys, applying 4D seismic monitoring to detect reservoir dynamics over time for optimizing reservoir management and enhancing production efficiency. This will be the fourth Isometrix deployment for Mariner, following surveys in 2020 and 2022, and the third for Heidrun, following surveys in 2018 and 2021.

The surveys are expected to take two months and will be carried out by the SW Amundsen and an undershoot vessel. 

Parker, TDE Team up to Deploy tde powerline

Parker Wellbore and TDE entered into an alliance to perform pilot projects and commercialize TDE’s proprietary tde powerline downhole power and data highway services globally, the companies announced March 13.

Tde powerline is a downhole high-power, high-bandwidth data highway enabling intelligent digital drilling systems, which enables AI-driven solutions and drilling automation. Tde powerline wired drill pipe technology provides electric power from the surface via the drill string to the BHA and increases downhole data streaming while drilling to levels not seen today, the companies said. 

Under the deal, Parker Wellbore has exclusive rights to deploy tde powerline. A pilot project is planned in the Middle East, a Parker Wellbore spokesperson told Hart Energy.

Archer Scoops Equinor, Trident Contracts

Equinor and Trident Energy do Brasil have awarded Archer contracts.

Under a four-year contract extension valued at $764 million, Archer will provide platform drilling services to nine out of Equinor’s 19 installations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, Archer announced March 14. Archer will service Gullfaks A, B and C, Sleipner A, Snorre A and B, and Statfjord A, B and C.

The extension begins on Oct. 1, in direct continuation of the current contract. Until then, Archer will operate under the current Equinor contract, serving 12 rigs on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

The Trident platform drilling contract is valued at $20 million over two years and includes an additional one-year option, Archer announced March 12.

The contract calls for Archer to provide platform drilling services, including well interventions for regulatory requirements, workover and drilling operations, well maintenance and drilling facilities engineering offshore Brazil. Platform drilling services are set to begin during the second quarter this year, initially on the Pampo PP1 platform, which follows a period of rig reactivation and recertification managed through Archer’s Platform Operations group. 

KCA Wins Equinor Drilling, Maintenance Work

KCA Deutag announced March 14 it has secured new contracts and extensions from Equinor worth more than $450 million.

In addition to a four-year extension for its existing contract scope covering five platforms across the Oseberg and Kvitebjørn fields, KCA Deutag has also been awarded additional work to deliver drilling, maintenance and engineering services to the Njord and Heidrun platforms.

DOF to Recover Subsea Kit from Knarr, Gaupe Fields

A/S Norske Shell awarded DOF Subsea a substantial subsea engineering procurement removal and disposal (EPRD) contract in the Norwegian North Sea, DOF announced March 12.

The scope includes recovery and recycling of umbilicals, risers, rigid spools, manifolds and other subsea structures and infrastructure at the Knarr and Gaupe Fields.

Under the contract, the Skandi Hera and Maersk Installer will have more than 100 combined days of utilization.

DOF will provide an integrated solution of project management, engineering, design, analysis and survey. Preparations have commenced and the project will be run from DOF’s offices in Bergen and Aberdeen with offshore execution planned in the second and third quarters of 2025. 

Archer Buying Majority Stake in Vertikal Services

Archer is acquiring 65% of Norwegian company Vertikal Services AS, which provides inspection, installation and maintenance services for $2.36 million in cash and the contribution of Archer’s offshore drilling facilities construction business in Norway, Archer announced March 15. 

“Vertikal's business aligns well with Archer's core oil and gas capabilities while opening avenues for growth in renewable sectors such as wind and hydropower. We anticipate significant long-term synergies and growth potential from the acquisition,” Archer CEO Dag Skindlo said in a press release.

The remaining 35% of Vertikal will be owned by existing management and key employees.