Mexico PEMEX Reports Shallow-Water Discoveries
PEMEX has reported discovery of four new fields in shallow water of the Gulf of Mexico. Multiple news reports, including Bloomberg, cite Petroleos Mexicanos CEO Emilio Lozoya as saying the new fields have potential production of 200,000 b/d of oil and 170 MMcf/d of natural gas.
The discoveries are GoM blocks that PEMEX maintained last year as part of the non-competitive bid Round Zero. The finds are close to 14 shallow-water blocks that private companies will bid on next month.
“This is the first tangible result of the energy reform,” Lozoya told reporters following the inauguration of the Oil Workers’ Conference in Guadalajara.
Tanzania to Get Shallow-Water Rig
Orca Exploration Group has started the first phase of the Songo Songo development program offshore Tanzania.
This follows World Bank’s approval for International Finance Corp.’s (IFC) investment.
Orca has entered into a drilling contract with Paragon Offshore for the use of its M826 mobile drilling workover rig and associated services for the offshore phase of the Songo Songo gas field program.
The rig can operate in the shallow water operating environment around Songo Songo Island, which Orca describes as “somewhat unique.” However, the company still needs to obtain certain regulatory and contractual approvals related to certain aspects of the development program.
Norway Approves Two Sea Wells
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has authorized two exploration wells in the Norwegian Sea.
Repsol Exploration Norge will use the semisubmersible Bredford Dolphin to drill well 6306/5-2, the first on license PL642, which was awarded early in 2012. The location is 64 km (40 mi) northeast of the Ormen Lange field and 34 km (21 mi) south of VNG Norge’s 6406/12-3 S (Pil) discovery.
Operations will begin after the rig has completed wildcat well 16/4-9 S in PL359 for Lundin Norway.
NPD has also sanctioned use of the semisubmersible Transocean Arctic for VNG’s well 6406/12-4 S in PL586, after completion of the rig’s current exploration well for Wintershall in PL378.
VNG’s well will be drilled 33 km (20.5 mi) southwest of the Njord field. It will be the fourth well to date on the license.
Thailand Oil Field Comes Online
Mubadala Petroleum has delivered first oil from the Nong Yao field in the G11/48 license in the Gulf of Thailand.
Production currently flows from three wells. This also represents the first field development onstream for partner KrisEnergy.
Keith Cameron, the company’s CEO, said: “We are currently working on a further four oil developments in the Gulf of Thailand including the KrisEnergy-operated Wassana oil field in the adjacent G10/48 concession, which we expect to go into production shortly.”
Eventually up to 23 wells will be in service at Nong Yao, connected to a wellhead processing platform and a minimum facility wellhead platform with crude exported via a floating storage and offloading vessel.
Offshore Australia Decommissioning Planned
Chevron is planning to decommission several installations offshore Australia following production declines at the Saladin, Cowle, Yammaderry, Crest, Roller, and Skate fields.
Beyond the onshore production plant, decommissioning should include platforms at Saladin and shallow-water monopods at Roller, Skate, Yammaderry, and Cowle. Subsea flowlines from the fields to the onshore installation are included in the decommissioning plans.
The company plans to use a jackup and construction vessel with a crane for the offshore work and a workover rig for the task of plugging the wells.