:: How busy is the GCC market?
Posted: 25 January 2006
WHILE growth in the Middle East oil and gas business today is incredible, 2006 will simply be unbelievable, a senior energy analyst tells Pipeline. Tony Bury, Chief Executive of Contax Management, says: “How busy is the market place? I say very busy.”

:: Statoil writes down Iranian gas project
Posted: 25 January 2006
Due to considerable cost increases and delays in the development of phases 6-7-8 in the Iranian South Pars gas field, Statoil has concluded to write down the book value of its share in the project by NOK 2.2 billion before tax (US $329 million) corresponding to NOK 1.6 billion (US $237 million) after tax, Statoil says in written a statement.

:: The oil and gas sector in Saudi Arabia faces unprecedented growth in 2006
Posted: 25 January 2006
High energy prices and strong global oil demand are fuelling a significant upturn in construction activity in Saudi Arabia , with almost $160 billion-worth of large-scale projects planned in the kingdom according to MEED projects, the online business tracker.

:: 2006 to reach new highs
Posted: 24 January 2006
This represents the highest annual figure of all time for the region and reflects on the startling growth experienced in the GCC across all sectors, including energy and construction.

:: Saudi Arabia and China signs energy deals
Posted: 24 January 2006
China and Saudi Arabia on Monday signed a broad agreement that included energy cooperation in oil, mining and natural gas.

:: Halliburton gets service contract in Oman
Posted: 24 January 2006
The $40 million multi-service contract was awarded by Occidental Mukhaizna, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum for the Mukhaizna Field in Oman.

:: Saudi’s King Abdullah pursues Asian ties
Posted: 23 January 2006
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah will visit New Delhi on 24 January to build ties between the world's top oil exporter and India. The visit is prompted by India’s continuous economy growth.

:: Thule uses private placement to build two jackups
Posted: 23 January 2006
Thule Drilling has made a private placement of 15.75 million shares at a price of NOK 33.75 per share totalling NOK 531.6 million of new equity (approximately $80 million).

:: Sky Petroleum hires rig for work in Mubarek field
Posted: 23 January 2006
Sky Petroleum says that Buttes Gas and Oil Co. International, the operator of the Mubarak Field, has signed a contract with P.T. Apexindo Pratama Duta Tbk, to drill the first of two obligation wells using the Rani Woro jackup. The Rani Woro can operate to a water depth of 350 feet and has a 25,000 foot drilling capacity. The company expects BGOI to begin initial drilling operations prior to the end of January 2006.

:: GE completes tests for world’s highest pressure gas re-injection train
Posted: 23 January 2006
GE’s Oil and Gas business has successfully completed tests on the highest pressure sour gas re-injection train ever built, which is scheduled for installation at the Kashagan oil field of the North Caspian Sea, off the coast of Kazakhstan.

:: Shell awards well services contarct to BJ
Posted: 23 January 2006
BJ Tubular Services said it has been awarded a contract by Shell Brasil Ltd to provide a range of well services offshore Brazil. The contract provides for casing and tubing running services for Shell operations offshore Brazil, including ongoing drilling campaigns in the Campos Basin.

:: New GM for BJ
Posted: 23 January 2006
Kenny Watt was appointed general manager of BJ Tubular & Completion Assembly Services. Watt will oversee all operational, financial, business development and personnel activities on behalf of the division worldwide.

:: OMV’s three companies transferred to Petrom
Posted: 23 January 2006
OMV is transferring its business in Romania , Bulgaria , and Serbia and Montenegro to its subsidiary Petrom.

:: Keppel’s jack-up rig delivered ahead of schedule
Posted: 23 January 2006
Keppel FELS Limited said it has delivered ENSCO 107, a KFELS B Class design jack-up drilling rig to ENSCO International one month ahead of contractual schedule and within budget.

:: Statoil awards $128 million worth of well contracts
Posted: 23 January 2006
Contracts for drilling and well services with a total value of $128 million (NOK 855 million) have been given by Statoil to Aker Kværner Well Service, Welltec and Schlumberger. The agreements will run for three years, Statoil said in a statement.

:: Emerson appoints new Project Pursuit boss
Posted: 23 January 2006
Emerson Process Management appointed Raoul Mercer to Emerson’s global PlantWeb project pursuit organisation as project pursuit manager based in Europe.

:: Longest 12-1/4" ERD Section in the Middle East drilled
Posted: 23 January 2006
The job was delivered in one run using the 8-1/4" AutoTrak G1.5 system. Real-time data was transmitted to end-users via the WellLink(SM) RigLink service. A total section of 1421 metre was drilled TVD control in notoriously difficult formations, of which 3200 ft was the record-breaking horizontal length.

:: Technip, Hatch to construct nickel smelter in Koniambo
Posted: 23 January 2006
Technip, in joint venture with Hatch, has been awarded by Falconbridge Limited the project for the construction of the Koniambo nickel smelter unit located in the New Caledonia’s Northern Province, near Kone. Koniambo is one of the world’s largest and highest-grade undeveloped nickel and laterite deposits. The planned smelter will have an annual production capacity of 60,000 tons of ferrous nickel alloy.

:: Oil marketing companies prepare for tanker accident
Posted: 23 January 2006
UAE’s three major oil marketing companies had, for the first time, conducted a vocational training regarding road tanker roll over incidents.

:: Middle East telecommunications to peak this year
Posted: 23 January 2006
The technology investments of the past two years will bear fruit in the telecommunications markets of the Middle East and North Africa in 2006.

:: Apache completes sale transaction
Posted: 22 January 2006
Apache Corporation said it has completed the sale of its 55 per cent interest in the deepwater section of Egypt's West Mediterranean concession to Amerada Hess Corporation for $413 million.

:: Plexus wins first major tender in Egypt
Posted: 22 January 2006
Plexus Holdings won its first major tender in Egypt to supply wellhead equipment on a rental basis to BP Egypt for a High Pressure/High Temperature (HP/HT) exploration drilling programme which is due to commence October 2006.