Drilling & production

Xavier Prevost, XMP Consulting, South Africa, provides a brief overview of the McCloskey Coal Conference 2011, which took place in Cape Town.

The Colombian Government has hinted that its suspension of new requests for mining concessions may last longer than the initial six months.

Funding for small-scale solar, biomass and other carbon reduction projects in the UK could rise significantly if consistent reporting guidelines for these schemes can be agreed, a study from BRE Trust, owner of the UK’s leading building research body BRE showed.

Rio Tinto profits rose to US$ 14.3 billion in 2010 on the back of rising commodity prices and strong growth in developing markets. Of that, the energy group, which includes coal and uranium, increased its underlying earnings to US$ 1.187 billion, a 2% increase on the previous year.

Chevron Corp. has announced further drilling success in the Carnarvon Basin offshore Western Australia.

Paul Bright, SRK (UK) Ltd, UK, provides an introduction to the Colombian coal industry.

A state mining company will be established in South Africa by the end of this month, although much of its work will be contracted out to private companies.

E.on has been granted permission to construct a 230 MW wind farm off the coast of Humberside, possibly bringing jobs and investment to the Yorkshire and Humber region.

From 9 July 2011, a new African state will emerge from Sudan, as the North and South are reconciled via a January referendum declaring the independence of the southern part of the country.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel is prepared for possible disruptions in its natural gas supplies from Egypt, following the recent unrest in the country that supplies a quarter of its energy needs.

The South African Chamber of Mines has hit back after Eskom, the country’s state-owned utility, criticised coal quality and supplies, accusing the miners of chasing higher profits by favouring exports.

The disruption to coal production in Australia is prompting power producers to seek elsewhere for their coal supplies.

Canadian Quantum Energy Corporation announces that the Company and its partner have successfully finished the drilling of the horizontal well, DRUMLIN CD QUANTM CYN-PEM 14-2-52-11.

AGR Petroleum Services has confirmed it has entered into a Letter of Intent with Awilco Drilling Limited to provide well management services in the UK North Sea.

GE Oil & Gas has announced two contracts to supply subsea systems in the North Sea and Brazil