E&P Highlights: March 31, 2025

From the next iteration of the Petrojarl I to a new CFO for pipe maker Strohm, below is a compilation of the latest headlines in the E&P space.

Activity

CNOOC Discovers Oilfield in South China Sea

CNOOC has made a major oil discovery in the deep and ultradeep plays of the South China Sea’s Huizhou 19-6, which has an average water depth of approximately 100 m.

CNOOC’s discovery well, HZ19-6-3, was drilled and completed at a depth of 5,415 m, which encountered a total of 127 m oil and gas pay zones. The well was tested to produce 413 bbl of crude oil and 2.41 MMcf/d.

CNOOC said the proved in-place volume of Huizhou 19-6 oil field has exceeded 100 million tons of oil equivalent, or about 700 MMbbl of light crude.

Contracts and company news

Shell Awards Contract to Technip for Gato do Mato Development

TechnipFMC has been awarded an integrated engineering, procurement, construction and installation contract by Shell for its Gato do Mato greenfield development offshore Brazil. The company said the contract is worth more than $1 billion.

In addition to integrated execution, the project will use Subsea 2.0 configure-to-order subsea production systems.

Shell reached a final investment decision on the project earlier this year.

Aquaterra Energy Signs Subsea Contract with Intrepid Energy

Aquaterra Energy, an offshore engineering solutions provider, has secured a contract with Intrepid Energy (IEL)to deliver a custom subsea well intervention equipment package for a project in Nigeria.

Aquaterra’s turnkey well access package will enable IEL to conduct intervention operations across multiple mature oil wells in the region, supporting enhanced reservoir production.

The contract includes the supply of a complete seabed-to-surface intervention system and package, spanning from the subsea tree to surface intervention equipment. Key components include Aquaterra Energy’s TRT tieback tooling, which provides production bore and annular access, a lightweight well pressure control system, and an ISO 13628-7 qualified open water intervention riser with an integrated tensioning system. In addition to equipment provision, Aquaterra Energy will also deliver ongoing offshore engineering support throughout the project.

Amplus, V.Ships to Partner on Transition of Petrojarl FPSO

Amplus Energy Services Ltd has announced a strategic partnership with V.Ships Offshore to oversee the transition of the Petrojarl I, an FPSO vessel that Amplus acquired last month.

The Petrojarl I, considered one of the most versatile and frequently deployed FPSO in history, recently completed a successful deployment in Brazil.

EnviroKlean Sells Completions Division to Guide Energy Solutions

Guide Energy Solutions has acquired EK FracReady, EnviroKlean’s completions division, the companies said. At the same time, Guide has entered into a strategic supply agreement for exclusive access to EnviroKlean’s proprietary EK One chemistry platform and EK FlowPro™ operating system for the completions market. 

Sulzer Launches Energy Optimization Service

Sulzer has launched the Sulzer Energy Optimization Service, an energy efficiency and carbon reduction service to improve the operation of centrifugal pumps in industries such as power generation, oil and gas, chemicals and water desalination.

The solution combines digital analysis, machine learning and ongoing monitoring with Sulzer’s decades of engineering expertise.

Strohm Appoints Gerrit Stoelinga as New CFO

Strohm, a producer of thermoplastic composite pipe, has appointed Gerrit Stoelinga as CFO. Stoelinga, who has been on Strohm’s supervisory board since 2023, has stepped down from the board to take the position.

Strohm said it has increased its headcount significantly in the last 12 months.