Petroleum Review - September 2010
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Editorial – Sailing into smoother waters?
NORTH SEA – E&P
Powering up the Nordic Sector
Progress was visible on a number of new projects offshore Norway over the summer, providing optimism for the region’s energy sector, reports John Bradbury.
NORTH SEA – E&P
Activity now recovering steadily
All sectors of the North Sea are now putting the recession behind them with exploration and development activity increasing steadily. In the recovery seen this year, drilling activity has picked up strongly in the second quarter, but new development proposals are only just beginning to emerge, writes Chris Skrebowski.
CONFERENCES – ENERGY IN TRANSITION
Energy in transition 2010 – moving to a low carbon economy
Energy in transition (EIT), the Energy Institute’s conference focusing on sustainable energy solutions, will be held from 12–14 October. Conference chairs Professor Matt Leach CEng FEI and Dr Joanna Wade FEI describe what’s on offer this year.
NORTH SEA – E&P
Wave of change
For the recent renewal of activity in the North Sea to be sustained, access to UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) infrastructure must be improved, as Deborah Mills, Partner and Head of the Projects Team at London law firm Howard Kennedy, explains.
ALTERNATIVE FUELS – BIOFUELS
Palm oil prospects
Palm oil is a highly efficient feedstock for biofuels production, but at what cost? And what are the future prospects? Mark Rowe explains.
ALTERNATIVE FUELS – BIOFUELS
Pond scum to the rescue
Gordon Cope reports on how research is helping solve biofuel shortcomings.
BRAZIL – GAS
New era of gas for Brazil
Start up of the Mexilhao platform will usher in a new era for gas in Brazil. Supply may soon exceed demand, if prices are not cut. Patrick Knight reports.
LATIN AMERICA – GAS
LNG’s first step forward
Latin America’s first ever LNG export cargo was dispatched in June from Peru’s new, Hunt Oil-operated, LNG export terminal at Pampa Melchorita, south of Lima. Scheduled initially for Mexico, the cargo ended up in eastern Canada. Future development of the western Latin American gas market may be just as convoluted. Maria Kielmas reports.
ARCTIC – E&P
The final frontier
In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon accident, the oil industry has had to take a long hard look at the environmental challenges and costs of Arctic frontier exploration. Though there is already a catalogue of positive experience in the near Beaufort Sea, Baltic Sea and other sub-Arctic areas like Sakhalin, there are concerns to ensure the Arctic offshore environment is safe, as well as significant cost hurdles to overcome. Brian Davis reports.
ENVIRONMENT – OIL SPILL RESPONSE
Preparedness and response
For a quarter of a century, Oil Spill Response has been charged with providing a global oil spill response capability to the oil industry. Established in 1985, the company has transformed from a single site operation with a handful of staff to being an international industry leader in oil spill preparedness and response, employing a large number of qualified spill response specialists.
SHIPPING – HYDROCARBON MANAGEMENT
Marine crude oil transport – global voyage losses steady for 2009
This article by Paul Harrison – Consultant to the HMC-4(A) Marine Oil Transportation Database Committee – presents findings from analysis of the 2009 data, updating the 2008 analysis which was reported in Petroleum Review in September 2009.
TECHNOLOGY – PIPELINES
Expanding coating capability
Corus Tubes recently completed its first installation coating pipeline project after several years of development and investment in its joint venture coating facility, BSR Pipeline Services, located at Corus’ pipe mill site in Hartlepool, UK. Paul Collier, Coatings Manager for Corus Tubes, explains how the process works.
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