E&P Highlights: Sept. 18, 2023

From expanded production numbers in Mexico to new product launches, below is a compilation of the latest headlines in the E&P space.

Activity headlines

Arena Energy Awarded Seven Blocks in Lease Sale 259

Arena Energy LLC was awarded seven leases by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in Lease Sale 259, the company announced Sept. 14.

Arena was the successful high bidder on seven leases in Lease Sale 259 held on May 29. These leases—totaling 34,965 acres—range in water depth from 62 ft to 217 ft in the Gulf of Mexico off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana in the Eugene Island, Main Pass and Matagorda Island areas.

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E&P Highlights: July 24, 2023

Production safely began at the DHIBM-6H well, BW Energy’s fourth well in the Hibiscus/Ruche Phase 1 development. The well, which is in the Dussafu license offshore Gabon, is expected to produce 6,500 bbl/d. The well was drilled as a horizontal well from the MaBoMo production facility to a total depth of 4,125 m into Gamba sandstone reservoir at the Hibiscus field.

With the completion of the 6H well, drilling operations have begun on the development’s fifth production well, DRM-3H, the first Ruche Gamba well in this drilling campaign.

The drilling campaign targets four Hibiscus Gamba and two Ruche Gamba wells, with a goal to bring the total oil production up to approximately 40,000 bbl/d by early 2024. The oil produced at Hibiscus/Ruche is transported by pipeline to the BW Adolo FPSO for processing and storage before offloading to export tankers.

PRIO Brings Campos Wells Online with MDL Support

As part of its field revitalization plan, independent Brazilian operator PRIO has engaged MDL to progress its field development program in the Campos Basin. The scope covers the installation of six reels, including production flowlines, umbilicals and TCP jumpers in the deepwater field. This project is expected to raise production levels to over 40,000 Boe/d.

The Maracana prospect, which PRIO encountered in May, is located in a water depth of approximately 1000 m and is a part of the Frade deepwater field, PRIO’s largest asset.

Working with a Brazilian engineering company, subcontracted by PRIO, MDL provided a complete package of support, including deck layout, supply of the flex-lay spread and personnel and load testing with the product during equipment mobilization.

Contracts and company news

Nauticus Robotics Announces Offshore Service Agreement with Shell

Nauticus Robotics Inc. announced on Sept. 14, its entry into an offshore service agreement with Shell Plc with a scope of work that includes inspection services on a Shell subsea field development in the Gulf of Mexico.

Aquanaut, Nauticus’ flagship autonomous subsea robot, will perform noncontact and contact inspections across a subsea complex in water depths exceeding 1000 m. The project also features what Shell calls “a force multiplier” solution with multiple scopes of work to be executed simultaneously from a smaller class of service vessel not typically chosen for IMR services. Nauticus and Shell are also in talks for a potential multi-year service pipeline plan.

Baker Hughes Unveils Industry’s First Acoustic-set Liner Hanger System, Sonus

Baker Hughes launched Sonus, the industry's first acoustic-set liner hanger system. By using Baker Hughes' XACT downhole acoustic telemetry platform, Sonus allows operators to selectively set and release from the liner hanger with precision.

Liner hangers play a role in anchoring and suspending a liner within the previous casing string. They facilitate the cementing process, enabling well control during drilling or transitioning to the completion phase.

Unlike traditional hydraulic methods, which are set using a ball and seat mechanism, XACT's applied acoustics technology enables realtime data transmission from previously inaccessible environments, regardless of fluid, flow, formation or depth. With an acoustically actuated liner hanger and running tool, operators gain the flexibility to set and release at their discretion, independent of hydraulic events such as fluid loss or well control issues. The acoustic-set method also eliminates the reliability concerns associated with pressure differentials created by a ball and seat mechanism.

ProSep Deploys Produced Water Treatment Technology for AkerBP

ProSep announced Sept. 12 it secured a contract to deploy its CTour technology for produced water treatment on Aker BP’s Valhall central processing and wellhead platform (PWP).

This follows an initial successful installation of the CTour technology on the first Valhall production platform in 2010. The CTour process equipment removes both dispersed oil and water-soluble organics through condensate injection into produced water streams.

Valhall, a major field situated in the southern part of the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, has been responsible for the production of over a billion barrels of oil equivalent since the field first opened in 1982. Aker BP hopes to continue developing the area following its significant investment in revitalizing the field.

Forum Energy Technologies Launches ROV Tooling Rental Service

In response to changing demands in the subsea sector, Forum Energy Technologies (FET) announced on Sept. 12 its new ROV tooling rental offering. FET’s new rental offering is designed to address the need for available tooling equipment in the development, operation and maintenance of upcoming offshore projects.

FET will continue to design, manufacture and sell its established line of standard tooling while also developing customizable tooling products specific to client needs. Torque tools, linear actuator override tools, isolated hydraulic power units and associated accessories are available for rent immediately.

The fleet of tooling will initially be manufactured and managed at FET’s U.K. facility in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire. FET, which has an existing rental fleet in Brazil, will also expand the availability of equipment to Europe, Asia and elsewhere in the Americas.

FET’s Kirkbymoorside and Aberdeen offices will service the U.K. and European markets, its U.S. offices for North American inquiries and its Singapore office for pricing, deliveries or to schedule a more detailed discussion of the available offering in the Asia-Pacific region. For clients in Brazil, local partner UnderOcean will provide rental service and support.