Drilling & production

FMC Technologies will provide Petrobras with a subsea oil-water separator system for the Marlim field, located in the Campos Basin, offshore Brazil.

OPITO – The Oil and Gas Academy, is focusing on attracting skills and talent to the oil and gas industry, through its ‘Energise Your Future’ event, which took place at this year’s Offshore Europe in Aberdeen.

British companies can be found in all aspects of the energy industry all over the world. A track record of more than 40 years of expertise in exploring and developing oil and gas as well as nuclear energy has created a wealth of experience that is now being used globally.

The article looks at the prospects for the continuing availability of hurricane insurance in the offshore energy markets, discusses some of the problems with the products offered, reports on efforts to improve these products and the effect that low product take up is having on the energy insurance market. Windstorm premium makes up 15 to 20% of the offshore energy insurance portfolio.

Joint ventures focused on unconventional natural gas opportunities and related capability transfer will require effective governance to be successful.

With a commitment from US policymakers to domestic renewable energy, the US wind energy industry will continue to grow and provide manufacturing jobs at home, and investment opportunities to the global financial community.

December sees the UN climate talks in Copenhagen. Tasked with developing a new climate agreement to replace Kyoto post-2012, government negotiators, NGOs, industry, media, and other interested parties will convene to try to work out how the world can meet the challenge of climate change. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) from coal mining activity should be an important part of the discussions.

The US electric utility industry must quickly find ways to acquire and integrate a large percentage of its electricity from clean renewable sources in order to meet existing and anticipated state and federal requirements.

With the long-term prospect of increasing global energy demand, securing future energy supplies has become a common global issue. For those countries with dwindling production rates or low hydrocarbon reserves, the pressure for energy security is set to increase.

Pipeline integrity: lessons learnt from across the globe can prevent unnecessary failures and lead to improved long-term pipeline durability.

In March 2009, Brazil adopted the much-awaited Gas Law; regulating the transportation of natural gas. The Gas Law establishes a 30 year concession regime, bringing enhanced security for private companies to enter the market for transportation and storage of natural gas.

South America has an impressive total of gas reserves and is increasing its production, however, the region is continually facing problems despite its desire to expand and develop.

Subsea 7 has been awarded a pipeline engineering, construction and installation contract by BP worth approximately US$ 150 million. In addition, the company has opened a new pipeline fabrication spoolbase in Texas.

BP and Martek Biosciences Corp. have signed a joint development agreement to develop biodiesel production using sugar feedstocks.

One of the key technologies for the realisation of eco-society is the production of biofuels.