al for Clipper South Gas Field Development Plan

al for Clipper South Gas Field Development Plan

RWE Dea’s subsidiary in the United Kingdom, RWE Dea UK, announced today that the field development plan for the Clipper South gas field has been approved by the Secretary of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). RWE Dea UK is the operator and 50% partner in the Clipper South development project along with Fairfield Acer Limited (25%) and Bayerngas UK Ltd (25%).

The Clipper South gas field lies in the UK continental shelf (UKCS) blocks 48/19 and 48/20, 100km (60 miles) east of the Lincolnshire coast and was discovered in 1982. The gas is located in a tight Permian age Rotliegend reservoir which contains approximately 500 billion cubic feet of gas in place. The field will be developed using latest technology which is relatively new to the Southern North Sea. This will involve drilling up to five extended horizontal wells, and undertaking up to seven hydraulically induced fractures in each well.

“We are delighted to have achieved this key milestone in the development of Clipper South. Since acquiring the stake in this field in 2009, we have vigorously pursued the development of Clipper South through the planned deployment of cutting edge well technology,” said Ralf to Baben, Chief Operating Officer of RWE Dea AG. “We believe our familiarity with this technology will provide us with the confidence to successfully make the transition to the Southern North Sea.” RWE Dea’s commitment to the long term future of the UKCS is further demonstrated by its leadership in both the Clipper South development and the Breagh field development, which is following a similar development time frame.

First gas from the Clipper South field is expected in the first half of 2012 and field peak rates are expected to reach a maximum of 100 mmscf/d. Production will be via a new wellhead platform and pipeline connected to the LOGGS offshore complex then on to the Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal in Lincolnshire. Clipper South gas will be transported and processed through LOGGS under the terms of a Gas Transportation and Processing Agreement with the LOGGS owners.

All contracts for the new facilities have been awarded. The platform engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract is in progress with Heerema Vlissingen BV. The platform will be installed by Seaway Heavy Lifting Contracting Ltd., and the 12” and 3” pipeline connections (gas and chemical supply respectively) to the LOGGS complex will be installed by Technip UK Ltd. Necessary modifications to the LOGGS complex are being undertaken by the LOGGS Operator, ConocoPhillips. Development drilling will commence in the fourth quarter of 2011, once the Clipper South platform is installed this summer.

Baker Hughes announces revolutionary conformable Sand Control System

Baker Hughes announces revolutionary conformable Sand Control System

Baker Hughes announced that the commercial launch of its GeoForm™ conformable sand management system with shape memory polymer (SMP) technology. A completely new approach to sand control, the GeoForm system reliably conforms to the borehole in an openhole environment—radically reducing complexity versus traditional gravel pack systems while improving efficiency, reducing rig time and mitigating risks associated with conventional techniques.

The system uses shape memory polymer (SMP) that is manufactured to a desired shape and size, placed on the outside of base pipe—similar to conventional screens—and then “compacted” to a smaller shape conducive to running in hole. When exposed to bottomhole temperatures and a catalyst, this “smart” material expands to its original shape to fully contact the borehole wall; conform to borehole abnormalities; and provide a positive stress on the formation. This positive stress stabilizes the near wellbore region and controls sand migration.

“We believe that the GeoForm system is a revolutionary technology that can deliver a step change in reliable performance for our offshore and deepwater markets,” says Derek Mathieson, president of products and technology for Baker Hughes. “We developed the ‘smart’ materials used in the shape memory polymer in the GeoForm system while researching designer materials, and particularly how those materials from other scientific disciplines can be applied or modified for hydrocarbon exploration and production.

“We are especially encouraged by the commercial launch of our first product using this new technology and look forward to developing new products based on cutting-edge material science.”

The ability of the GeoForm sand management system to conform to abnormalities and provide a residual borehole strain is designed to offer superior protection vs. standard gravel packs and expandable screens and to reduce the likelihood of plugging or loss of sand control due to compaction. These advantages can mitigate the risk of costly workovers. The system also affords better sand filtration efficiency covering a wider range of sand grains and requires a smaller installation footprint than traditional technology, which reduces equipment, manpower and rig time requirements.

to press ahead with nuclear tender

to press ahead with nuclear tender

Egypt's Electricity Minister said the country would go ahead with a tender for the construction of its first nuclear power plant despite recent political unrest, a government Facebook page reported.

The Arab world's most populous country is aiming to shift away from oil and gas to other energy sources and has said it wants to build four nuclear plants by 2025, with the first to start operating in 2019.

"Electricity and Energy Minister Hassan Younes reaffirmed that current events have not had much effect on the nuclear program and that contacts with international companies have been underway over the past few days," the official page of the chairmanship of the Egyptian cabinet said.

"These companies have confirmed their willingness to participate in the tender as soon as it is put forward," it added.

Younes told Reuters in mid-January, shortly before the eruption of protests, that the tender would be issued by the end of January.

The plant will be located at Dabaa, on the country's Mediterranean coast.

Orascom Construction Industries, Egypt's biggest listed builder, said in January it had formed a joint venture with state-owned Arab Contractors to bid on nuclear projects in the Middle East, including Egypt's first nuclear power plant.

(Source: Reuters)

Egyptian minister questions gas agreements with Israel

Egyptian minister questions gas agreements with Israel

New petroleum minister Abdallah Ghorab said that amending the agreements would not be complicated.

Ghorab said that the agreements signed in the period of the previous minister include mechanisms enabling amendment of the gas supply agreements with Israel, Kuwait newspaper "Al Qabas" reports.

Ghorab said that amending the agreements was not a complicated process. He added that the oil sector was connected by agreements with foreign partners from all over the world, and expressed the hope that the cooperation with them would continue. Ghorab did not say explicitly whether he meant Israel as well. The petroleum minister stressed that the energy sector was a strategic industry for Egypt, of interest to all its citizens, particularly the aspect of long-term supply agreements.

(Source: globes)

what is oil?!!!

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For other uses, see Oil (disambiguation).

An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and is hydrophobic but soluble in organic solvents. Oils have a high carbon and hydrogen content and are nonpolar substances. The general definition above includes compound classes with, and uses, including vegetable oils, petrochemical oils, and volatile essential oils. All oils can be traced back to organic sources.