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First gas from Geographe wells

Beach Energy is pleased to announce the first two wells of its offshore Otway Basin campaign – Geographe 4 and 5 – have been connected to the Otway Gas Plant and are now delivering gas into the East Coast market following the completion of the commissioning phase.

The new wells effectively double the Otway Gas Plant production capacity which now has the well capacity to deliver ~180 TJ/d. Actual production rates will depend on customer nominations which vary on a seasonal and daily basis.

Connecting the remainder of the wells from the offshore campaign and connecting the nearshore Enterprise discovery is required to attain plant nameplate production capacity of 205 TJ/d.

Beach Energy Acting CEO, Morné Engelbrecht said the connection of the Geographe wells is an important step towards delivering on Beach’s growth targets at a time when the East Coast Gas market is potentially facing shortfalls as early as 2023.

“Achieving first gas from these Geographe wells is an important milestone for Beach as it represents the first gas from our first ever offshore drilling campaign,” Mr Engelbrecht said.

“This represents one of the first key building blocks towards our production growth target of 28MMboe in FY24.

“We know that the East Coast market needs this supply of natural gas and this is why Beach is continuing its development campaign in the Otway Basin and we are focussed on delivering that program.”

Drilling and testing of Thylacine North 1 well, the third well in the 6-well development campaign, was also recently completed with the rig preparing to move to the Thylacine West 1 well location which will be followed by two more Thylacine development wells.

For more information on the Beach Energy Offshore Otway campaign, visit www.beachenergy.com.au/vic-otway.

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FUGRO’S QUICKVISION® TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT SAFE SUBSEA OPERATIONS IN BRAZIL’S MERO 2 PROJECT

Maersk Supply Service has awarded Fugro a subsea survey and positioning contract to support installation of an anchoring system for the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel Sepetiba in Petrobras’ Deepwater Mero 2 project, offshore Brazil.

These operations are scheduled to begin in Q1 2022 and last approximately 4 months. Fugro will accomplish the work using their Quick Vision augmented reality camera, a touchless, vision-based approach proven in Petrobras’ Mero 1 Deepwater project last year.

Quick Vision® is part of Fugro’s strategy to make offshore operations safer, more efficient and more sustainable. Integrated with Fugro’s Starfix® navigation suite, the camera system eliminates the need for staff to mount sensors on subsea assets, which in turn reduces offshore personnel needs, vessel time and carbon emissions. For the Mero 2 project, Fugro will use the technology to help guide installation of 24 subsea torpedo piles and mooring lines, as well as to support real-time positioning for additional subsea installation and construction activities.

John Chatten, Business Development Manager for Fugro’s marine operations in Brazil stated, “We are delighted to be working with Maersk Supply Service on their Mero 2 project for Petrobras following the successful deployment of our Quick Vision® technology on the Mero 1 project. It is Fugro’s goal to be the partner of choice for subsea services, delivering innovative solutions for complex installation and construction projects that contribute to the responsible development of Brazil’s energy assets.”

Mero 1 and Mero 2 projects are part of the Mero field under Libra Consortium responsibility, in which Petrobras is the operator (40 %) with the following partners: Shell Brazil (20 %), TotalEnergies (20 %), CNODC (10 %) and CNOOC Limited (10 %), together with stated owned company Pré-sal Petróleo S.A. – PPSA – as the manager of the production sharing contract.

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WOODSIDE COMPLETES PLUTO TRAIN 2 SELL-DOWN TO GIP

Woodside has completed the sale of a 49% non-operating participating interest in the Pluto Train 2 Joint Venture to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).

This follows Woodside’s announcement on 15 November 2021 that it had entered into a sale and purchase agreement with GIP. On 22 November 2021 the Pluto Train 2 Joint Venture announced its final investment decision, contemporaneously with the final investment decision for the Scarborough development.

Pluto Train 2 is a key component of the Scarborough development and includes a new LNG train and domestic gas facilities to be constructed at the existing Pluto LNG onshore facility. The estimated capital expenditure for the development of Pluto Train 2 from the effective date of 1 October 2021 is US$5.6 billion (100% project).

The joint venture arrangements require GIP to fund its 49% share of capital expenditure and an additional amount of construction capital expenditure of approximately US$822 million. Woodside’s capital expenditure will be reduced accordingly.

The first LNG cargo from Pluto Train 2 is targeted for 2026.

Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill said she looked forward to developing Pluto Train 2 in close collaboration with GIP.

“GIP brings established, global capabilities to the Pluto Train 2 Joint Venture which will support delivery of a world-class project.

“The development of Scarborough gas through Pluto Train 2 is expected to deliver significant value to our shareholders, create thousands of jobs and deliver energy to domestic and international customers for decades to come,” she said.

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Petrofac Bolsters Offshore Wind Capabilities with Senior Appointment

Petrofac, a service provider to the energy industry, has appointed Phaedra Pritchard as New Head of Wind Operations and Maintenance (O&M), boosting its global offering in the wind sector.

Pritchard will be responsible for building and supporting Petrofac’s O&M service capability within the offshore wind sector, both in the UK and globally.

“Formerly of Semco Maritime, Phaedra brings more than 14 years’ industry experience and has a varied background in O&M, project management, and business support roles,” Petrofac said.

Petrofac, best known for its oilfield services, has a 10-year track record in offshore wind, and, according to the company, currently 3,000 of its UK personnel support the operations and maintenance of clients’ offshore energy assets.

Pritchard will be based in Grimsby, recognizing the growth around Humber and Yorkshire in offshore wind and growing demand for Petrofac’s capabilities in this area, the company said Wednesday.

The UK government has committed to installing 40GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, four times current capacity. According to Renewable UK, this target could see offshore wind meeting half of the UK’s electricity needs in the same time period, meaning the sector will be a major driver of the energy transition, the company stressed.

John Pearson, COO, Petrofac New Energy Services, said: “We have been deploying our expertise in support of renewable energy projects since 2008 and our teams are expertly placed to leverage this experience and help advance the energy transition.

“Working alongside our O&M team, Phaedra will play a key role in leveraging our existing strengths and capabilities to grow our presence in the offshore wind market. Not only does she have a wealth of industry experience, but her extensive knowledge of working in the sector means that she is perfectly positioned to help support our goals for the region and beyond.”

Petrofac has built a name for itself in the offshore wind, with the design and fabrication of offshore wind substations, and in 2020 was appointed to design, supply, and install the High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) onshore and offshore substations for the Seagreen offshore wind farm project in Scotland.

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Aquaterra Energy expands APAC team as regional revenue doubles year-on-year

Aquaterra Energy, a leader in global offshore engineering solutions, today announces the strategic appointment of David Barber as Australian Country Manager to help drive the company’s expansion in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The appointment follows a significant period of growth in the region, which has seen the company’s revenue double year-on-year since 2017.

Based in Aquaterra Energy’s Perth, Australia, office, Barber joins the team with more than 20 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry, including 7 years previously with Aquaterra Energy in the UK. In addition to overseeing local operations, Barber will support Aquaterra Energy’s expansion across APAC with a focus on growing demand for its riser system and Well Start solutions, Sea Swift offshore platform and the company’s offerings in the carbon capture and storage (CCS) and green hydrogen space.

James Larnder, Managing Director at Aquaterra Energy, said: “Dave’s appointment signals our commitment to building our presence within APAC. Since establishing our Perth office in 2019, we have secured a number of significant contract wins including a recent multi-million-dollar riser project for a marine vessel owner and operator. Now we’re ready to expand into countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia and build on our burgeoning renewables offering, which we see being a key driver of growth.”

Since opening its Perth office in 2019, Aquaterra Energy has increased its head count year on year. The company plans to further bolster its team with new hires over the next couple of years, including the recruitment of local sales agents to drive expansion in new territories. In addition, Aquaterra Energy has set its sights on establishing a new regional office in Malaysia, with Kuala Lumpur earmarked as a potential location.

Barber adds: “We have established a strong track record in Australia and now it’s about cementing our presence and expanding on it. Aquaterra’s long history of developing solutions for drilling operations globally, backed by our large engineering team, allows us to offer a new approach for clients in the region.  We’re pushing forward with renewable and CCS technology in other regions and it’s this type of intelligent engineering that we hope to bring to the market here. Delivering clever, cost effective, low carbon solutions is where we see a vast opportunity within APAC.

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SPECIAL ELECTRIC ARMOURED CABLE FOR DATA BUOY

NOVACAVI has recently been asked by Mobilis to design and manufacture a special electric data cable for their new DB 24000 EOL data acquisition buoy.

This specially engineered armoured cable presents a copper four-conductor configuration and a double armour made of high tensile 316 stainless steel, preformed and prestressed wires. Conceived to guarantee reliable data collection while withstanding the hostile environment in which it will operate, this cable solution is part of NOVACAVI’s extensive range of dynamic armoured cables for oceanography, seismology, hydrography, defence, aquaculture, marine renewable energy, oil and gas exploration and production, and any other shallow and deep-water applications the company has been supplying since 1975. Reliable and durable electromechanical armoured cable solutions for underwater and harsh environments tasks can be in various configurations, with or without overall sheath, in a wide spectrum of diameters, with tightest size tolerance and high breaking strength in fit for purpose quantity and lengths.

 Specialist in custom cable design & manufacturing for advanced technology since 1975, NOVACAVI develops any cable solutions with engineering expertise, comprehensive knowledge of materials and a high degree of manufacturing.

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EnerMech appoints new regional director for Asia Pacific

EnerMech has appointed Garry Ford as regional director for Asia Pacific to drive further business growth across the energy, industrial and infrastructure sectors and strengthen its existing oil and gas operations in the region.

Mr Ford joins the company from SNC Lavalin where he was most recently executive vice president – Americas and Europe. He brings more than three decades of senior industry experience with expertise in engineering, construction, commissioning and modular build oil and gas processing.

Based in Perth, Australia, Mr Ford has a proven track record in leading multi-million-dollar projects across Europe, Russia, Asia, Caribbean, Middle East, Australia, and the Americas. This includes some of the most significant liquified natural gas (LNG) developments in the world including the landmark Ichthys’ and globally recognised Gorgon projects in Australia.

In his new role, Mr Ford will be responsible for building on EnerMech’s established presence in Asia Pacific with a key focus on expanding the business’ increasingly diverse project portfolio.

He takes over the reins from current regional director for Asia Pacific, Paul McCarthy, who has been instrumental in the region’s success. Paul has elected to take up a newly created role, VP Projects for Asia Pacific, where his vast cross-sector experience will be utilised to lead and focus on EnerMech’s most significant contract in the region, Australia’s WestConnex motorway development. Mr McCarthy will remain a key member of EnerMech’s senior leadership team from the company’s base in Sydney, Australia.

Mr Ford said: “EnerMech has an unparalleled reputation globally and it’s an exciting time to be joining the company as it continues to drive forward its diversification strategy in Asia Pacific. The business has a strong understanding of the markets it operates within, and I look forward to enhancing our current offering while expanding our existing footprint in the energy and infrastructure sectors.”

EnerMech CEO Christian Brown said: “Despite the challenges of the last 18 months, our operations in Asia Pacific, and particularly Australia, have continued to gather pace with a number of significant, multi-million-dollar project wins. This success is a testament to our experienced teams in the region who continue to deliver an exceptionally high quality of work to ensure safety and efficiency are gained at all stages of operations.

“The addition of Garry to our leadership team will significantly strengthen our expertise and place us in a robust position for securing new business this year. His breadth of experience combined with his commitment to high safety standards and continuous improvement will be a huge asset to EnerMech.”

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Shearwater GeoServices awarded North Viking Graben multicomponent survey by CGG

Shearwater GeoServices announced the award of a large multicomponent seismic survey over the North Viking Graben area offshore Norway by CGG.

The five-month project is expected to start in the second quarter of 2022 and will be conducted by the SW Amundsen. The survey will expand and enhance CGG’s data library of the area.

“We have a strong working relationship with CGG and look forward to returning to the North Viking Graben to acquire multicomponent seismic data,” said Irene Waage Basili, CEO of Shearwater. “Our partner has found diverse applications for its data library of the area, including for the insight it can bring to growing industries, such as carbon storage, demonstrating that seismic is an important contributor to the energy transition.”

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Wood and FutureOn collaborate to provide an integrated technical and digital service to operators

FutureOn, the global software company specialising in the energy sector and creator of the award-winning, SaaS field design applications, FieldTwin Design and its API-centric collaboration platform, FieldTwin, has formed a strategic collaboration with global consulting and engineering leader Wood, to provide an enhanced service to its client base of global asset operators.

Wood’s expert technical services specialising in the early field development studies for subsea and ocean-based energy systems, will integrate with FutureOn’s unique field design applications, and proven API-centric collaboration platforms, resulting in significant efficiency gains across the design phase.

Having previously trialled FutureOn’s technology in 2019, the latest agreement will see Wood provide technical and integration services to operators using FutureOn’s software. In addition, the company will offer the software as part of its suite of technical services to new and existing customers across the world.

FutureOn’s open and collaborative approach to field design is based on data-rich 2D and 3D visualisations. The inclusion of metadata on assets and costs will enable reliable early-stage production and financial forecasts. It also provides a real-time visual blueprint of a field development allowing project teams and contractors to collaborate remotely, development of options at pace and a shared project workspace for timely delivery.

Looking to the future, Wood and FutureOn are committed to supporting the world’s major asset operators’ efforts to build a sustainable economic recovery from their existing infrastructure, optimising asset performance and extending productive field life whilst accelerating the move towards net-zero. The agreement will support these initiatives by combining the power of FutureOn’s FieldTwin technology for the streamlined design of renewable energy systems with Wood’s Automated Design product for pipeline systems that address key aspects of the global net-zero challenge.

Darrell Knight, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships, said:

“Wood has established excellent credentials having become the trusted consulting and engineering partner on the world’s largest and most complex energy projects. It is testament to the transformative impact of our collaborative web-based platform solutions that Wood has chosen to work with FutureOn.

“The collaboration is the perfect fit as we place the same importance on bringing innovation to the fore to solve the most critical challenges, including the improved communication and increased collaboration necessary to achieve the shortest possible path to energy generation, the best returns over the life of any asset, and minimising the impact on the environment. We’re looking forward to building on this collaboration, and bringing this new, integrated solution to our customers to support their goals.”

Matt Kirk, Senior Vice President, Specialist Engineering and Consulting at Wood, said:

“FutureOn is one of the best software solutions companies in the energy sector, and we are delighted to collaborate and serve the dynamic needs of our global client base. Asset operators everywhere are recognising the need to completely transform their existing infrastructure as part of the shift towards a net-zero future. Together, Wood and FutureOn will harness its collective expertise to help them make it happen.

“The opportunities to influence project economics and optimise the CAPEX on energy developments remains highest at the conceptual and early phases of a project.  This collaboration brings together the smart and efficient field development visualisation delivered with FutureOn’s FieldTwin with the automated design and deep domain expertise from Wood.  This powerful combination will provide faster and more predictable project outcomes for our clients.”

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Hydrogen Optimized Signs Letter of Intent with Industrial Company to Supply More Than 40 MW of Large-Scale Hydrogen Production Capacity

Unique cost-effective scalability of Hydrogen Optimized’s RuggedCell(TM) water electrolyser cited as key factor leading to agreement

Hydrogen Optimized, a subsidiary of Key DH Technologies Inc., today announced that it has entered into a confidential Letter of Intent (“LOI”) with a large industrial company to provide more than 40 MW of RuggedCell(TM) water electrolyser capacity for hydrogen production.

The LOI provides for high current unipolar RuggedCell(TM) systems to be deployed at one or more sites by the company, which plans to roll out hundreds of megawatts of electrolyser capacity over time. It also specifies that the installed systems could be scaled up as demand for hydrogen grows.

“The signing of this LOI is a significant step forward in our commercialization process,” said Andrew T. B. Stuart, President and CEO of Hydrogen Optimized. “A key factor underlying the agreement is our system’s unique capability to double or more in capacity without requiring the installation of costly additional electrical and other equipment.”

Stuart added, “More and more potential clients tell us they are looking for a water electrolysis system that can be economically deployed in the tens of megawatts and can be expanded at a relatively low incremental cost as the MW rating of the project grows. The RuggedCell(TM) system makes this possible as it requires fewer power conditioning units to accommodate expansion. This contrasts with small module systems that must be fully replicated to increase output, and therefore cannot gain economies of scale.”

RuggedCell(TM) water electrolysis technology was designed from the start to offer important capabilities which were missing in the market. These include:

– The use of low-cost materials that, unlike many other electrolysers in the market today, are free of iridium and other highly expensive platinum group metals;
– Ease of mass manufacturing;
– High-current architecture that uniquely enables individual hydrogen production modules in the hundreds of megawatts each; and
– The proven capability of RuggedCell(TM) electrolysers to ramp from zero to 50,000 amperes in under 10 seconds and then very quickly reduce the current to any level, even down to zero amperes. This capability supports the system’s integration with intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind or solar, and with use on grids or micro-grids with widely varying power availability.

The main driver behind the mass deployment of water electrolysis is the need to reduce the carbon intensity of hard to abate industries such as ammonia, cement, methanol, steel, heavy duty transportation and other fossil fuel-intensive applications. Hydrogen produced with low to zero carbon dioxide emissions is widely recognized as key to achieving “net zero” emissions by 2050. To that end, recently the World Hydrogen Council called for hydrogen to contribute over 20% toward global carbon abatement by 2050.