E&P Highlights: Oct. 21, 2024

From a Baker Hughes contract offshore Brazil to a new inflow technology, below is a compilation of the latest headlines in the E&P space.

Contracts and company news

Transocean Announces $193MM Drillship Contract

Transocean announced a one-year contract for their Deepwater Conqueror with an undisclosed operator in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The contract, announced Oct. 17, is expected to contribute $193 million to the company’s backlog.

Work on the contract is expected to begin October 2025.

Baker Hughes to Provide Compressor Technology for Kaminho Deepwater Project

Baker Hughes said Oct. 15 Saipem has awarded it a technology order for low-emissions advanced compression solutions. The technology will be used on TotalEnergies’ Kaminho FPSO project in Angola.

The all-electric Kaminho project is the first large deepwater development in the Kwanza Basin, with the project involving the conversion of a very large crude carrier to an FPSO.

Baker Hughes’ centrifugal BCL compressor and integrated compressor line (ICL) technology were selected because of their capacity to minimize emissions, eliminate routine flaring and reinject associated gas into the reservoir for storage, the company said in a press release.

Production on the Kaminho project is set for 2028 and is expected to reach 70,000 bbl/d of oil.

ABS to Lead Digital Twin Project for Petrobras FPSOs

ABS has secured a contract to provide and test a digital twin solution for real-time condition monitoring for a Petrobras FPSO unit, ABS said in an Oct. 17 press release.

ABS selected Akselos’ Structural Performance Management software to provide the digital twin services. The software will be evaluated over the course of a year by monitoring one of the four FPSO units in the Cessão Onerosa oil field offshore Brazil.

Acuvate and Kongsberg Digital Form Strategic Partnership

Kongsberg and Acuvate announced Oct. 17 a partnership to integrate Kongsberg Digital's Kognitwin platform with Acuvate’s data platform. The partnership will enhance data management, delivering dependable, validated and accessible data across all platforms.

The DataOps features, integrated with Kongsberg Digital’s Industrial Work Surface, speed up business value by ensuring predictable data and model delivery and change management, according to a press release. DataOps automates data design, deployment and management with proper governance. The software uses metadata and enrichment techniques to boost data usability and value in the dynamic, real-time digital twin environment.

TAQA Launches Next Generation Inflow Control Technology

TAQA said Oct. 21 it launch the M4 Inflow Control System, enabling operators to optimize reservoir performance while sustainably managing fluid production.

The M4 Inflow Control System dictates the flow of the undesired fluid (water and gas) and avoids any open and close effects that can cause instability or halt production. The M4 Inflow Control System controls water in ultra-light and light applications and enhances gas production control, providing stability and flexibility in diverse reservoir conditions.

The M4 Inflow Control System technology uses a density-sensitive pilot control system making it suitable for a wide range of oil types and also features advanced multi-phase control, allowing the device to perform independently of its orientation in the wellbore.

TAQA’s product offers plug and play integration with its full portfolio of inflow systems and has been built to optimize performance in all types of wells in all reservoir types, the company said. TAQA has also incorporated last-minute capacity change and the ability to circulate to the bottom into the design for ease of installation at the rig site.

Micron Eagle Hydraulics Announces New FROG Monitoring Technology

Micron Eagle Hydraulics launched of their Fluid-fitness Remote Online Guardian, or FROG, technology, the company said on Oct. 15. FROG offers a digital transformation solution providing live remote monitoring that reshapes fluid management and industrial maintenance.

FROG offers predictive intelligence and customizable alerts to monitor these fluids in real-time, enabling proactive asset management. By detecting contamination issues, FROG prevents costly downtime, improves operational efficiency and reduces the need for frequent handling and disposal of fluids.

FROG is the first product developed under Micron Eagle’s Fluid Fitness Technology (FFT) program, which is designed to transform how industries monitor and manage fluids and extend the lifespan of equipment, Micron Eagle said. FFT also prioritizes fostering collaboration and open dialogue within the industry, ensuring that solutions are responsive to both current needs and emerging challenges.

Baker Hughes and Repsol to Develop Digital Capabilities With Leucipa

Baker Hughes and Repsol will collaboratively develop and deploy next-generation artificial intelligence capabilities through the Leucipa automated field production solution, the companies said Oct. 14.

The Leucipa automated field production solution uses AI to help oil and gas operators proactively manage production and reduce carbon emissions. The program focuses on specific operator outcomes and leverages data to drive intelligent operations, the companies said. Repsol has used Leucipa across their operations since its introduction, helping to optimize their digital infrastructure and operational capabilities.

Through the collaboration, AI-powered automation workflows will be developed and implemented throughout Repsol’s assets worldwide to unlock new operational capabilities. This collaboration will leverage the shared knowledge and technical expertise of both companies to optimize production, improve efficiency, reduce emissions and recover the millions of barrels that would otherwise remain in the ground.