Eni producing 25,000 bopd from offshore Alaska field

Eni has achieved the important production goal of 25,000 bopd at the Nikaitchuq field, in which the company is operator with a 100% interest. The field, located offshore the North Slope of Alaska in a water depth of 3 m, holds reserves estimated at 200 MMbbl of crude oil. Nikaitchuq production, which began in January 2011, is the first operated by Eni in the Arctic.

Development of Nikaitchuq includes the drilling of wells and the construction of facilities both on land and on an artificial island built by Eni in the Beaufort Sea. The location’s extreme climate and environmental constraints required the application of Eni’s proprietary technologies and expertise to drill multilaterals horizontal wells and to build one of the most advanced production facilities in the North Slope, with maximum environmental compatibility and high operating efficiency.

Nikaitchuq horizontal wells are the most complex wells drilled by the industry to date in Alaska, with a lateral displacement that extends up to 22,000 ft. The field treatment plant is able to handle 40,000 bpd of crude oil and up to 120,000 bpd of water. Nikaitchuq production is transported through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline to be sold on the market without the need for further treatment. Eni is now working toward achieving the new production target of 30,000 bopd in the next 12 months.

In the United States, Eni owns interests in 200 leases in the Gulf of Mexico and 530 leases in unconventional plays (shale gas and shale oil) onshore Texas. In addition, Eni owns interests in 100 leases in the North Slope of Alaska, which include Nikaitchuq and 30% of the Oooguruk oil field, which has been in production since 2008. Total Eni’s daily net production is approximately 100,000 boe (75% operated).

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Aubrey McClendon acquires stake in Oklahoma shale pipeline

Aubrey McClendon, the U.S. shale wildcatter who’s raised $10 billion in capital since getting fired from Chesapeake Energy Corp. last year, acquired a stake in an Oklahoma pipeline project.

An affiliate of McClendon’s American Energy Partners LP contributed natural gas lines in exchange for a minority interest in Tall Oak Midstream LLC’s planned 250-mi pipeline and processing network, Oklahoma City-based Tall Oak said in a Business Wire statement today, June 25.

McClendon’s company also dedicated drilling prospects spread throughout six Oklahoma counties to the new network, according to the statement. Casey Nikoloric, a Tall Oak spokeswoman with the public-relations firm Ten 10 Group, said the size of the acreage commitment wasn’t disclosed.

American Energy, also based in Oklahoma City, has an option to increase its stake to as much as 50%. McClendon announced plans on June 18 to expand his growing shale empire into the pipeline business, with backing from buyout firm The Energy & Minerals Group.

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MedcoEnergi buys oil and gas blocks in Tunisia

Medco Tunisia Petroleum, has entered into an agreement, effective 1 January 2014, to acquire 100% of the shares of Storm Ventures International from Storm Ventures International “Seller” for a base purchase price of $ 114.03 million, excluding an amount payable forworking capital (which is subject to a customary post-closing adjustment). The Seller is a subsidiary of Chinook Energy, which is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. SVI (together with its subsidiaries) is one of the leading active exploration and production companies in Tunisia, with a participating interest in eight working areas.

SVI’s interest in Tunisia comprises four exploration areas, two development areas and two production areas with concession periods of either 30 or 50 years. Out of these eight areas, five are located onshore and three are offshore. All of SVI’s blocks are located in prolific hydrocarbon areas. Five onshore blocks (Adam, Sud Remada,Bir Ben Tartar, Jenein and Borj El Khadra) are located in the Ghadames Basin, while the remaining three offshore blocks (Cosmos, Hammamet and Yasmin) are located in the Pelagian Basin off the northeast coast of Tunisia.
The completion of this acquisition is conditional upon, amongst other things, approval from the Government of Tunisia and the consent of certain existing partners in the blocks. Upon completion of the acquisition, MedcoEnergi anticipates adding 2P reserves and oil-and-gas production (net working interest before royalties, taxes and Government take) by 12.3 MMboe and 2,800 Boepd, respectively.

Production is envisaged to increase to approximately 16,000 Boepd from in fill well drilling of the existing producing block (Bir Ben Tartar) and the development of the Cosmos and Yasmin blocks (scheduled for completion in 2018) is expected to add a further 12.6 MMboe of 2P reserves.

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Lamprell to deliver modules for Upper Zakum field in UAE

Lamprell reports that it has received a new contract award from Petrofac Emirates (Petrofac) for the fabrication and delivery of 29 modules.  

The modules are being constructed for use in connection with the Zakum Development Company’s (ZADCO, one of Abu Dhabi Oil Company (ADNOC) group of companies) landmark Upper Zakum, UZ750 (EPC-2) field development  n Abu Dhabi. The estimated total weight for all of the modules will be approximately 10,000 t.

Lamprell is scheduled to deliver the first shipment of modules in second-quarter 2015, with the final pipe rack expected to be delivered in first-quarter 2016.

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CGG to acquire multi-year 3D land seismic in Saudi Arabia

CGG has announced that ARGAS, its joint venture with TAQA in Saudi Arabia, has been awarded a major contract by Saudi Aramco for an extensive, high-density land seismic program across the Kingdom. Sercel, CGG' s equipment division, will supply all the seismic equipment deployed on this survey program.

The three-year contract provides for two optional extension periods of one year each. The program is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2014 and cover a wide variety of terrain. It will be acquired by a 50,000-channel mega-crew operating with the Sercel 428XL acquisition system, Sercel SG-10 geophones and a fleet of 24 Sercel Nomad 65 Neo vibrators. A mix of high-productivity and conventional acquisition techniques will be deployed depending on survey requirements. CGG' s broadband UltraSeis technology portfolio will be deployed to acquire the high-resolution data.

Jean-Georges Malcor, CEO, CGG, said: "We are delighted that Saudi Aramco is continuing its long-term relationship with CGG by awarding what is one of the world' s largest land seismic survey programs to our ARGAS joint venture with TAQA. With Sercel also supplying the new seismic equipment, this program marks a key milestone in our 2014-2016 strategic roadmap to benefit from the expansion of ultra-high-channel-count surveys in the Middle East region."

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