Drilling & production

Morocco’s power utility, ONE, has awarded a consortium led by UK company International Power the contract to build a 1300 MW coal-fired power plant

Murphy oil has acquired a 50% interest in the Central Dohuk block in Kurdistan.

South Korea, the second largest importer of Australian coal, will reduce its dependence on the fossil fuel as part of a wide-ranging plan to green its economy.

FMC Technologies has joined The National Subsea Research Institute’s (NSRI) industry steering group, which focuses on developing technologies to maintain the UK subsea sector’s leading position in global markets.

Latin America's goal for energy independence is tied to its offshore oil and gas reserves. Experts from the illustrious O&G LA 20 committee believe that the offshore sector will become even more important in the future as the industry shifts to deeper waters.

Fred H Bartlit, the chief investigator for the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, has sent a letter to the commission outlining some of the preliminary results learned from an analysis of the cement used in the Macondo well.

Arch Coal Inc. has announced a 42% growth in revenue for Q3 2010 at US$ 2.35 million compared to US$ 1.85 million in the corresponding period of last year. The results have been attributed to more favourable coal market conditions and the acquisition of Jacobs Ranch mine into its Black Thunder operations.

API provides expanded online access to its safety standards.

With players from the US and China seeking stakes in the Australian coal mining industry, Whitehaven Coal, an independent coal producer in the Gunnedah Basin, has put itself up for sale, announcing a formal process to identify potential buyers that will offer best interest to all share holders.

Adani has won a bid to develop and mine coal from the Chendipada coal block in Orissa, India.

According to Wood Mackenzie, a consultancy, Indonesia is well place to benefit for potential coal upgrading technologies, as low rank coal projects will achieve higher operating margins and increased market opportunities through an upgraded product. This means Indonesia will be competitive with bituminous coal producing countries, as well as increasing its commercial attractiveness for investors.

Petrofac has been awarded a £500 million contract to build a gas processing plant in the Shetlands for Total.

Massey Energy posts a loss in Q3, blaming it on production losses caused by the actions of the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

The latest EIC Monitor (Q3) shows encouraging levels of new projects emerging across the globe with China, India and the USA having some of the largest new projects.

A new underground coal mine is to be opened in Hamilton County, Illinois, creating approximately 300 construction jobs and 350 permanent jobs.