Drilling & production

A new type of continuous barge unloader (CBU) from ThyssenKrupp Fördertechnik will be put into operation at the Bontang Coal Terminal this Spring.

A brief overview of two of the latest refining projects

An overview of the North American natural gas industry

Newfield Exploration Co. has achieved record gross operated production of 323 million ft3/d of natural gas equivalent from the company's Woodford Shale play in the Arkoma Basin of southeastern Oklahoma.

India Resources Ltd has signed a Letter of Intent with Bankura DRI Mining Manufacturers Co. Private Ltd for a 30 year contract worth about AU$ 500 million to develop and operate the Biharinath coal mine.

Weatherford International Ltd has reported Q4 2009 income from continuing operations of US$ 15 million, or US$ 0.02 per diluted share, excluding an after tax loss of US$ 0.06.

In my last column of 2009, I ended on a positive note cautiously claiming that all sectors across the energy supply chain were beginning to see signs of a recovery. Let’s take a look at some of the sectors in more detail.

ExxonMobil has announced the successful completion of the first two extended reach wells at the Odoptu field offshore eastern Russia, employing one of the world's most powerful land based rigs. ExxonMobil subsidiary Exxon Neftegas Ltd (ENL) is operator on behalf of the five company international Sakhalin-1 Consortium.

Nord Stream has commissioned three steel producers to supply a total of 1 million t of pipes, to be used on its second pipeline.

Total and ConocoPhillips have announced the sanction of the Surmont Phase 2 SAGD (steam assisted gravity drainage) development in Canada. The project will increase Surmont’s production capacity from 27 000 - 11 000 bbls of bitumen per day.

Cirrus Energy Corp. has announced an operational update regarding ongoing activities in its wholly owned subsidiary, Cirrus Energy Nederland BV in The Netherlands. The company’s 2010 drilling programme is expected to include a total of four to five wells.

The Ministry of Oil of the Republic of Iraq, Shell and Petronas have signed a 20 year contract to provide technical assistance in the development of the Majnoon oilfield.

EXCO Resources, Inc. confirmed that its Marcellus Shale exploration and production activities, including drilling, are proceeding as planned with no interruption of its 2010 business goals.

GAIL India’s profits are up; the company invests heavily in pipelines in the next three years

An overview of recent developments in carbon capture and storage