Offshore SeisNews©


••• 15.02.21 Antibiotics search to focus on sea bed.
Researchers are embarking on an GBP 8m project to discover new antibiotics at the bottom of the ocean.
A team, led by scientists at Aberdeen University, is hunting for undiscovered chemicals among life which has evolved in deep sea trenches.
Prof Marcel Jaspars said the team hoped to find "the next generation" of infection-fighting drugs.
England's chief medical officer has warned of an "antibiotic apocalypse" with too few new drugs in the pipeline.
Few samples have ever been collected from ocean trenches - deep, narrow valleys in the sea floor that can plunge down to almost 6.8 miles (11km).
Yet researchers believe there is great potential for discovering antibiotics in these extreme conditions.
Life in these incredibly hostile environments is effectively cut off and has evolved differently in each trench.
The international team will use fishing vessels to drop sampling equipment on a reel of cables to the trench bed to collect sediment.
Scientists will then attempt to grow unique bacteria and fungi from the sediment which can be extracted and refined to discover new antibiotics.
Starting in the autumn with the Atacama Trench in the eastern Pacific Ocean - about 100 miles (161km) off the coast of Chile and Peru - the EU-funded research will also search deep trenches off New Zealand as well waters off the Antarctic.
Arctic waters off Norway will also be explored.
Source: BBC-news

••• 15.02.21 PGS boosted net income sevenfold in the fourth quarter on the back of booming exploration activity.
The company reported profits of $40.1 million versus $5.5 million a year earlier as quarterly revenue rose 4% $360.1 million, fuelled by more multi-client pre-funding cash.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation for the quarter of $162 million, up from $145 million a year ago, were however shy of a reported market forecast of $172 million due to weaker multi-client sales and delayed project start-ups.
Full-year net income increased to $185.5 million from $33.7 million a year earlier, on 21% higher revenue of $1.52 billion, while operating profit more than doubled to $293.8 million from 2011 due to stronger demand for seismic.
PGS expects EBITDA to increase in 2013 to between $940 million and $980 million, compared with $776.2 million last year, with multi-client investments targeted at $300 million to $350 million this year.
Source: Upstreamonline

••• 14.02.21 SeaBird contract award.
SeaBird Exploration Plc announced that the Osprey Explorer has been awarded a contract with estimated duration of about 30 days in West Africa.
Estimated contract value is approximately USD 2.6 million.
Commencement is within the next days. Osprey Explorer is currently in Las Palmas.
Source: SeaBird

••• 14.02.21 Armed guards on Norwegian ships.
The Norwegian government has decided to allow armed guards on Norwegian commercial vessels on a permanent basis.
What started as a trial period in 2011 to help decrease the number of attacks on Norwegian vessels by Somali pirates has now become permanent.
"So far we have good experiences with this arrangement. It was not a desired goal for us to introduce armed security guards, but it was necessary based on the threat level Norwegian vessels were faced with. Now we have seen a dramatic decline in the number of attacks," says Minister of Trade Trond Giske.
The Norwegian Association for Ships Engineers emphasize that armed guards should not become a replacement for the Norwegian military's presence in the waters where pirates operate.
However, their members say that the introduction of armed guards has mainly been positive, and made the voyage feel safer, says the secretary general of the association, Hilde Gunn Avloyp.
The government was initially worried that the use of guns would get out of control if less serious, private security companies were granted access to Norwegian ships.
"So far we have avoided any unwanted use of guns", Giske tells NRK, and explains that the arrangement does not seem to have escalated the use of violence on either side.
Source: Maritime-connector

••• 14.02.21 GC Rieber Shipping contracts a new build and enters into long-term time charter agreements.
GC Rieber Shipping has entered into an agreement with Kleven Verft to build a new 22 streamer 3D seismic vessel with ice-class 1A.
The seismic company Dolphin Geophysical has contracted the vessel for a fixed period of five years, and the high end vessel will enter this contract directly upon delivery from the yard in March 2015.
In addition, GC Rieber Shipping has entered into an agreement with Dolphin for a 3.5 years time charter for the seismic vessel "Geo Atlantic".
Both agreements are subject to board approval and the total time charter value is approximately NOK 950 million. As part of the agreements above, the existing contract for "Polar Duchess" has been extended by 2 years, giving a total fixed term charter of 5 years.
Through decades, GC Rieber Shipping has acquired a unique competence in offshore operations under harsh environments, as well as design, development and maritime operation of seismic vessels. The newbuild represents an investment of approximately NOK 700 million and the vessel will be delivered from Kleven in the first quarter of 2015. Dolphin has options to extend the charter for up to 6 years after the firm period.
The advanced seismic vessel will have ice-class 1A, which enables it to navigate in and out of ice infested areas. The vessel will be 113 meters long and 21.5 meters wide, and will have the capacity to accommodate 70 people. The vessel will be equipped with the capacity to tow 22 streamers. The contract with Kleven also includes an option for one additional vessel. The option expires in August 2013.
"This investment is part of our ongoing fleet renewal, and a plan to pursue more advanced vessels. Recently, we sold the older 2D vessel "Polar Explorer", and still consider new investment opportunities. The seismic segment is strategically important for GC Rieber Shipping, and the newbuild supports our ambition to strengthen our position in the value chain in terms of complexity and capacity. In addition, we confirm our position as a leading and highly experienced player in challenging offshore operations. We look forward to cooperating with Kleven. This cooperation will contribute to the strengthening of the maritime cluster on the Western coast of Norway", says CEO Irene Waage Basili in GC Rieber Shipping.
In addition to the new building contract, GC Rieber Shipping has entered into a time charter agreement with Dolphin for the 3D seismic vessel "Geo Atlantic" for a fixed period of 3.5 years. The vessel is on a contract until October this year, and will then be upgraded from 10 to 14 streamers, as well as change its name. This agreement includes an option for up to 4 years extension.
"GC Rieber Shipping has a strong financial position with good liquidity. With the new agreement for "Geo Atlantic", our fleet is fully booked until end first quarter next year. Overall, this enables us to consider new investments. We know Dolphin well, and we are impressed with their performance record. We look forward to strengthening our commitment to advanced seismic vessels for the benefit of both companies", says Irene Waage Basili.
The agreement is subject to final Board approval in GC Rieber Shipping. A final agreement is expected to be in place by the end of February 2013.
Source: GC Rieber Shipping

••• 13.02.21 Statoil plans to bring oil from the Skrugard and Havis fields in the Barents Sea ashore by pipeline to Finnmark.
Statoil and its partners have chosen a development concept for the twin Skrugard and Havis discoveries in the Barents Sea. The concept includes a floating production unit with a pipeline to shore and a terminal for oil from the Skrugard field at Veidnes outside Honningsvag in Finnmark. The field is scheduled to come on stream in 2018.
In 2011-2012 Statoil and its partners discovered Skrugard and Havis, which are two independent structures within the same licence and represent the Skrugard field development. 400-600 million barrels of recoverable oil have been proven in this area.
"The decision to bring Skrugard oil ashore at Veidnes is a key element of the further development of Norwegian oil and gas industry. This may spark off a new industrial era. This concept choice will facilitate further exploration and help make any future discoveries profitable," says Oystein Michelsen, executive vice president for Development and Production Norway.
The Skrugard and Havis assets will have a common infrastructure. Production from Skrugard and Havis will be tied in to a semi-submersible floating installation through a subsea production system located in about 380 metres of water. The production is estimated at almost 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
The oil will be transported through a 280-kilometre pipeline from Skrugard to Veidnes outside Honningsvag. It will be piped directly to an oil storage facility and stored in two mountain caverns. The oil will be sent from there in a pipeline to the quay for transportation by tankers. Some 50-100 crude tankers per year are estimated to call at the terminal.
"This is part of the ambition of making Northern Norway the country's next big petroleum region. We are pleased to have selected a good concept and hope that this may form the basis for a valuable partnership with local authorities and industry also in the future," Michelsen says in a press release.
The terminal is expected to create 30 new jobs and thrice as many through spin-of effects, Finnmarken writes.
Skrugard is located in the Barents Sea, about 100 km north of Snohvit, 150 km from Goliat and nearly 240 km from Melkoya. The water depth is 360-390 metres. The distance between Skrugard and Havis is 7 kilometers. The partners' ambition is to select the concept in 2013, deliver a PDO in 2014 and start production in 2018. Partners in the project are Statoil operator (50%), ENI 30%, Petoro 20%.
Источник: BarentsObserver

••• 13.02.21 Spectrum acquires Carmot Seismic and Carmot Processing.
Spectrum ASA announced the signing of Share Purchase Agreements to acquire the Norwegian companies Carmot Seismic AS and Carmot Processing AS.
The acquisition establishes a significant footprint for Spectrum on the Norwegian Continental Shelf adding 3D seismic data cubes covering approximately 125,000 square kilometers of the Norwegian Continental Shelf and more than 80,000 kilometers of merged and matched 2D data in the Barents Sea.
"The vast amount of 3D data acquired by the industry on the NCS over the past 3 decades is one of the most valuable assets in the Petroleum National Data Set and has contributed greatly to the exploration success in mature areas offshore Norway over the past few years. Spectrum recognizes the high quality of the 3D cube compilations processed by Carmot Seismic and Processing and we are pleased to be able to offer these products and derivatives of it to the O&G companies through the Spectrum organization. The Carmot products will be a valuable tool/platform in Spectrum's growth plan in Norway", says Rune Eng, CEO.
Source: Spectrum

••• 13.02.21 Polarcus recorded a much improved fourth quarter with a 34% rise in revenue to US $140.4 million.
For the three months to December Polarcus recorded $140.4 m of operating revenue, up 34% from $104.9 m in the fourth quarter 2011.
For the full year operating revenue was up to $529.3 m from $298.6 m in 2011.
But Polarcus still reported a net loss for the fourth quarter last year of $3.3 m, up on the $2.2 m loss in the same period in 2011. But for full year the company's net profit was $9.8 m, bettering the $31.5 m net loss in 2011.
During the last year the company has added two new Arctic seismic vessels to its fleet, Polarcus Amani and Polarcus Adira, as part of an Arctic development strategy, which it says realises its ambition of operating a global footprint, "...pole to pole."
"The timely addition of two additional vessels in the first half of 2012 allowed us to take full advantage of the strengthening market and through intelligent bidding to realise a significant increase in day rates," stated company chief executive Rolf Ronningen.
Ronningen said his company has also benefited from its new multi-client business which picked up up late sales worth $15.1 in the fourth quarter, including the UK Catcher multi-client project.
Source: Offshore.no

••• 12.02.21 MPRL E&P awards Seismic Survey Contract to Polarcus (Myanmar).
Polarcus UK Ltd, has secured a contract from MPRL E&P Pte Ltd for a 3D seismic survey offshore Myanmar.
The survey, which will be conducted the MV Polarcus Adira, will cover 1,720 km 2 in water depths from 1,600 to 2,000 m.
The some 40-day 3D survey is due to start during the last week of this month. MV Polarcus Adira will deploy 12 solid steerable streamers, 7 km long in continuous recording down to 9 sec twoway-time. Polarcus will apply their latest technology to minimize time spent in filling in acquisition gaps.
This new 3D survey is to be merged with the adjacent 3D cube acquired by MPRL E&P in 2010 after both surveys incur 3D Pre-Stack Depth Migration (PSDM) processing.
MPRL E&P, now operating Block A-6 with partner Woodside Energy (Myanmar) Pte Ltd, has also obtained from Myanmar Oil & Gas Enterprise a one-year extension to the PSC Initial Exploration Period until 8 June 2014. This will allow the Joint Venture enough time to assess whether the size of potential prospects warrants exploration drilling in subsequent Exploration Extension Periods.
Source: Offshore Energy Today

••• 12.02.21 Shell-operated rigs to leave Alaska for repairs.
Two Shell-operated offshore rigs will move from Alaska to Asia to undergo repairs and upgrades, the Anglo-Dutch supermajor said on Monday night.
According to a statement by Shell spokesman Curtis Smith published in the Anchorage Daily News, the company had not made any final decision about the 2013 Alaska offshore drilling programme.
Pending an approved tow plan, the first rig Kulluk, which was damaged after breaking free of tow ropes and running aground near Kodiak Island on New Year’s Eve, is expected to be moved to Dutch Harbour in Alaska then dry towed to an Asian shipyard with a suitable dry dock.
According to Reuters, Smith said Shell decided it could get better services in Asia than the Seattle-area shipyard where Kulluk had been headed originally.
"A number of shipyards in Asia have the drydock facilities and capacities to better execute these types of projects," the news wire quoted him as saying. The second rig, Noble Discoverer, will also be dry towed from Seward, Alaska to a shipyard in Korea for repairs, Shell said.
This drillship had been docked in Seward for several weeks after inspections by the US Coast Guard had discovered deficiencies in its environmental and safety systems.
"The outcome of further inspections for both rigs will determine the shipyard schedule and timing of their return to service," Smith said in the Anchorage Daily News statement.
Source: Upstreamonline

••• 11.02.21 Polarcus completes sale of Polarcus Samur.
Reference is made to the stock exchange notice published by Polarcus Limited on 02 January 2013 regarding finalization of agreements with the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) for a long-term collaboration arrangement.
Polarcus announced that the Company has completed today the sale and delivery of the 8-streamer 3D seismic vessel POLARCUS SAMUR to TPAO. The vessel is to be repainted red and white in the design of the new vessel owner and renamed Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa.
Polarcus has simultaneously commenced the 3 year support services agreement with TPAO covering seismic data acquisition, fast-track data processing, management and crewing for Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa.
Source: Polarcus

••• 11.02.21 Five die and three injured in incident during emergency drill on Thomson Majesty moored at Santa Cruz, La Palma.
Five crew members have died on a cruise ship operated by the British holiday firm Thomson after a lifeboat fell from the vessel during an emergency drill at La Palma in the Canary islands.
Three other crew were injured in the incident on the Thomson Majesty, a 20-year-old ship owned by Cyprus-based Louis Cruises and leased to Thomson, which was moored at the island's capital, Santa Cruz. Testing lifeboats has a history of accidents, and a seafarers' union said it advised members not to sit in lifeboats being lowered during drills.
Government officials quoted emergency services as saying crews were sent to the dock just after midday local time (12pm GMT) after "a lifeboat with occupants had fallen overboard from a cruise ship docked at the pier".
According to Spanish reports those killed were believed to be three Indonesians, a Filipino and a Ghanaian. Two Greek nationals on the lifeboat were seriously injured, with another Filipino slightly hurt. It is believed the boat dropped 17 metres into the water before overturning. It was not known what caused the boat to fall.
According to the report about 2,000 passengers were on board the Majesty, though none were involved in the drill. The ship is based in the port and usually operates cruises around the Canaries and Madeira.
Source: Canaries News

••• 11.02.21 SOCAR completed seismic survey in "Bahar-2" area of Caspian sea.
3D seismic survey provided by Marine Expedition N1 of SOCAR Exploration Geophysics Department for Emirati company "Bahar Energy Operating Company Ltd" has been successfully completed in "Bahar-2" area of Caspian sea, Azerbaijan. Conducted seismic survey employed "Aram Aries" seismic station, appropriate sea-bottom telemetry streamers and equipment, "Geofizik-1" and "Geofizik-3" research vessels, "Aura" and other types of boats.
Acquired data are of satisfactory quality and fully approved by the Client. Similar seismic services are planned for the future to cover other areas of the Caspian sea.
Source: Oilnews

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