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阿根廷官方表示到2025年该国原油产量达到65.3万桶/天

震旦能源

阿根廷官方表示到2025年该国原油产量达到65.3万桶/天。阿根廷的目标是减少石油进口需求,同时在2025年将国内石油提高到65.3万桶/天,比2015年增加23%。这是该国能源部长周四做上述表示的。(路透社,Rigzone,5月27日消息)

Santos在Curtis岛的GNLG第二条生产线开始投产

震旦能源

Santos在Curtis岛的GNLG第二条生产线开始投产。Santos周四披露澳大利亚东部昆士兰的GLNG第二条生产线已经开始生产液化天然气。该项目2条生产线已经成功投产,已经生产了200万吨的LNG。Santos是该项目的运营商,并拥有30%权益,马来西亚国家石油公司拥有27.5%权益,道达尔拥有27.5%权益,Kogas拥有15%权益。(Rigzone,5月26日消息)

印尼将北加里曼丹海上的East Ambalat产品分成合同授予印尼国家石油公司

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印尼将北加里曼丹海上的East Ambalat产品分成合同授予印尼国家石油公司。美国雪佛龙公司退出的北加里曼丹海上的East Ambalat油气区块将由印尼政府授予给国有企业印尼国家石油公司,印尼能源与矿产资源部长周三做上述表示的。该区块距离Tarakan东50英里,水深6562英尺,在印尼与马来西亚交界地区。(Rigzone,5月27日消息)

BP谋求延长墨西哥湾注水的Thunder Horse油田生产周期的方法

震旦能源

BP谋求延长墨西哥湾注水的Thunder Horse油田生产周期的方法。BP公司正在谋求延长其运营的最大深水墨西哥湾油田之一的生产周期。该公司周三宣布其将提高Thunder Horse油田采收率。注水项目是BP在现有深水在产油田继续投资的战略一部分。BP 5月25日在一篇报道中如是说。BP过去三年翻修了平台设施和水下设备,钻探了两口注水井。Thunder Horse油田是BP五个重要石油项目的第二大项目,BP希望今年进行投产,也是其全球范围内2015~2020年新投产项目计划增加产量80万桶/天的一部分。Thunder Horse油田水深6000英尺,2008年开始生产,生产能力石油25万桶/天和天然气2亿立方英尺/天。(Rigzone,5月26日消息)

Rosneft 2016年出口欧洲的天然气可能达到创纪录水平

震旦能源

俄罗斯天然气工业股份公司(Rosneft)今年出口到欧洲的天然气计划达到1650亿方的创纪录水平,这是该公司副总经理Alexander Medvedev周四告诉记者的。该公司的一半收入来自欧洲,天然气价格的下降使得其天然气对欧洲消费者更有吸引力。该公司与欧洲客户建立长期交易关系,这更要感谢那些诸如海上运输的液化天然气等竞争气源,因为有了这些,该公司不得不降低天然气价格。(路透社,Rigzone,5月26日消息)

5月27日油气行业十大新闻

张弘引

1. Brent以及WTI原油首次突破50美元

周四早间,Brent原油到达每桶50.22美元,自去年11月以来,首次超过业内分析人士提出的50美元界限,美国也WTI原油自去年十月以来到达最高值,即每桶50.14美元。

2. OPEC会议一周后召开 石油市场风波不断

OPEC会议一周之后召开,自去年12月会议后,石油市场变化无常,伊朗回归,美国石油产量上升,沙特崛起了新的能源公司,石油冻产协议未果,2016年的石油市场风波不断。

3. Mark Harrington对石油市场的预测

OPEC新一轮会议将于6月2号在维也纳召开,Mark Harrington对本次会议提出几点预测及详细分析。

4. 专业预测今年北海六分之一油田或关闭

专家称,由于今年原油价格下降,石油市场前途未卜,油气公司很有可能关停北海六分之一的油田生产。

5. Inpex与MHI 合作展开技术研究

Inpex公司以及Mitsubishi重工有限公司(MHI)宣布,双方已经签订谅解备忘录,在能源领域合作展开技术研究。

6. 油轮行业蓬勃发展

油价下跌加之供过于求,油气各领域十分萧条,然而负责运输石油产品的油轮行业却获利颇丰。

7. Bibby Offshore获得北海合同

近日,Bibby Offshore与Apache北海公司签订合同,Bibby将为北海最大的油田提供提供水下工程服务以及远程潜水操纵服务。

8. 伊朗石油行业发展受阻

虽然国际上取消了对伊朗的制裁,但美国长期的银行贷款限制阻碍伊朗石油行业复兴道路,很多公司不得不得向小型贷款机构贷款。

9. Mubadala新探测油气井结果令人失望

Mubadala经营的Sri Trang-1号勘探井探测发现泰国Norther Kra区块存在油气资源,但是令人失望的是,该油气井不具备商业开发价值。

10. Petronas与中国续签LNG合同

Petronas表示,已经与中国广东九丰集团续签LNG供应合同。广东九丰集团经营广东东莞液化天然气公司。

来自/OilPro 5月26日消息  编译/张弘引石油圈原创www.oilsns.com

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Brent & WTI BOTH Top $50 For The First Time In 2016. Brent oil hit $50.22/bbl in early Thursday trading, surpassing what many analysts consider a psychological threshold for the first time since last November. U.S. crude likewise spiked to its highest level since October, rising to $50.14/bbl. [Oilpro]

OPEC's Next Meeting One Week Away: Here Are 6 Things You Need To Know... OPEC's next meeting is in one week. Since its last gathering in December, volatility has continued to define the oil market. Iran has returned, U.S. production has rolled over, a new power player has emerged in Saudi Arabia and production freeze talks have thawed. It has been a frenetic 1H16. [Oilpro]

...And Mark Harrington Discusses What To Expect From The Gathering. He writes, "Another field day is in store for oil traders- the June 2 OPEC meeting in Vienna is just around the corner. What to expect? What does it mean? What do I do?" [Oilpro]

Experts Warn: 1/6 North Sea Fields Could Be Closed Down This Year. Oil and gas firms could decide to close down around one in six fields in the UK North Sea this year as the crude price plunge leaves the future of the area hanging in the balance, experts have warned. [Herald Scotland, Oilpro]

Inpex, MHI To Study Technological Challenges. Inpex Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.(MHI) announced that they have concluded a memorandum to jointly study solutions for various technological challenges in the energy sector. [Oilpro]

Oil Tanker Segment Getting Boost. While much of the oil industry is bleeding from low prices and oversupply, one segment is getting a boost. Oil tankers, which are ships that carry oil and petroleum products, have benefited in recent years. [CNBC]

Bibby Offshore Wins North Sea Contract. Apache North Sea Ltd. has awarded Bibby Offshore a contract to provide subsea construction, ROV, and diving services at thelargest oil field in the North Sea. [Oilpro]

Iran’s Oil Deals Hit Banking Snag. Even after the lifting of international sanctions against Iran, long-standing U.S. banking limitations are impeding the country’s oil resurgence by forcing energy companies to use small lenders or barter to get their deals done. [Wall Street Journal]

Mubadala Well Disappoints. The Mubadala Petroleum-operated Sri Trang-1 exploration well validated the hydrocarbon prospecitivity of the Norther Kra Basin in the Norther Gulf of Thailand, but to the operator’s disappointment, the well is not commercial. [Oilpro]

Petronas Awarded LNG Contract Extension In China. Petronas says it has extended a contract to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China's JOVO Group. JOVO owns and operates the Dongguan LNG terminal based in Guangdong, South China. [Oilpro]

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Amec Foster Wheeler与KOC签订前端工程设计合同

张弘引

Amec Foster Wheeler与科威特石油公司签订前端工程设计合同,促进集油中心GC-24优化升级。

本工程包括三个新建集油中心以及科威特北部战略输油管计划,延续了Amec Foster Wheeler与科威特石油公司(KOC)自2004年起的合作关系。

Amec Foster Wheeler公司亚太、中东、非洲以及南美地区总负责人Roberto Penno表示:“KOC是公司的重要合作伙伴。公司长期以来提供优质的工程服务,同时GC-24项目提前六个月完工,因此公司得以继续与KOC保持合作伙伴关系。”

KOC计划到2020年石油产量增加到1百万桶,该产量维持10年不变。本次双方签订的合同对KOC计划顺利实施十分重要,提高GC-24储油能力,从每天5万桶增至16.5万桶,对已有的集油中心进行优化升级。

来自/WorldOil 5月26日消息  编译/张弘引石油圈原创www.oilsns.com

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KUWAIT CITY -- Amec Foster Wheeler has been awarded a front end engineering design (FEED) contract by Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) to upgrade Oil Gathering Center GC-24.

This project continues Amec Foster Wheeler’s work with KOC on major projects since 2004, which has recently included three new gathering centers and strategic pipeline projects in North Kuwait.

“Kuwait Oil Company is one of our key customers and this further strengthening of our working partnership follows our success in delivering projects for them and management of the original GC-24 Project, which was completed six months ahead of schedule,” ​Roberto Penno, group president of Amec Foster Wheeler’s Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe business, said.

KOC is planning to increase oil production by up to 1 MMbpd by 2020 and to maintain this for 10 years. Critical to the expansion, this project will enhance the existing GC-24 facility, increasing capacity by 50,000 bopd from the current level of 165,000 bopd, as well as optimizing existing facilities to cater for the expected high level of water in the mix of crude oil and gas.

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Wintershall Norge与六个公司签订完井合同

张弘引

Wintershall Norge与其他六个公司签订了一系列为期四年的合同,这六个公司将为Wintershall在挪威钻井活动提供完井设备供应及服务。六家公司分别是Halliburton,Tendeka,TCO,Schlumberger,PTC 以及Interwell,其中Halliburton所占比例最大。

合同主要为Wintershall公司在挪威海以及北海地区Maria工程提供完井设备及服务。同时还有可能涉及公司经营下的Skarfjell工程。

公司总经理Bernd Schrimpf表示:“本合同对Wintershall及其他公司来说都是双赢的合作,其他六家公司在未来几个月以及未来几年内为Wintershall提供完善的服务。同时还有可能涉及到未来其他项目的合作。在当前市场条件下,本次合同的签订意义重大。”

这些四年合同可继续延期四年,包括供应井底阀门、封隔器、衬管悬挂器、气举设备以及筛沙机等。

2017年,Wintershall及其合作伙伴将在挪威海Maria油田地区钻六口水下油井。

来自/Energy Pedia 5月26日消息  编译/张弘引石油圈原创www.oilsns.com

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Wintershall Norge has awarded a series of four year contracts for supply of well completion equipment and services for its operated drilling activities in Norway.

The contracts have been awarded to six companies including Halliburton which will provide the largest share of the work. Tendeka, TCO, Schlumberger, PTC andInterwell will supply the remaining equipment and services.

The contracts will be used for completion of wells on Wintershall’s Maria development in the Norwegian Sea as well as the North Sea. There is also an option to use the contracts for Wintershall’s operated Skarfjell development in the future.

'These contracts are a win-win business for Wintershall and our partners in Norway. They give us the certainty of a robust solution for our drilling activities in the months and years to come, as well as the flexibility to use them on our developments in the future. In a challenging market environment, these are also important contracts for the Norwegian supplier market,' said Bernd Schrimpf Wintershall Norge Managing Director.

The four year contracts, which can be extended for up to four additional years, include supply of downhole valves, packers, liner hangers, injection systems, gas lift equipment and sand screens.

Wintershall and its partners will drill six subsea wells on the Maria field in the Norwegian Sea in 2017.

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Technip获得沙特乙烯裂解工程合同

张弘引

近日,Technip与CTCI签订合同,为沙特朱拜勒Kayan石油化工公司的乙烯裂解设备提供基础工程设计服务以及专有设备等。

Technip将运用专业的USC裂解炉技术进行工程设计。Technip凭借高水平、高效率的天然气裂解技术赢得本次工程合同。

Technip公司总部位于英国Milton Keynes地区,本次工程合同由总部负责,预计于2017年完工。

Technip相关负责人表示:“我方很荣幸可以凭借USC裂解炉技术获得这个十分重要的工程合同,该项技术在过去十年中在60余个设备中成功应用。”

沙特Kayan石油化工公司是SABIC的子公司,总部位于沙特利雅得。沙特政府拥有公司70%的股份,私人投资者拥有30%股份。

来自/Your Oil and Gas News 5月26日消息  编译/张弘引石油圈原创www.oilsns.com

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Technip was awarded a contract by CTCI to provide basic engineering and proprietary equipment for a grassroots ethylene cracking furnace at the Saudi Kayan petrochemical complex in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

The furnace design will be based on Technip’s proprietary USC® furnace technology. Technip was awarded this project for its best proposal and because of its high-capacity, high availability, gas cracking applications.

Technip’s operating center in Milton Keynes, UK, will execute the project, which is scheduled for completion in 2017.

Stan Knez, President, Technip Stone & Webster Process Technology, commented: "As the largest ethylene licensor and contractor, Technip is pleased that our USC furnace technology was selected for this important ethylene expansion project. The technology has an outstanding track record with more than 60 installations for gas cracking in the last decade.”

Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company is an affiliate of SABIC, a public company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with 70% of the company shares owned by the Saudi Arabian government and 30% held by private investors. 

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Real Energy宣布完成Taramara-1压裂增产项目

张弘引

澳大利亚Real Energy是一家致力于Cooper区块的油气开发公司。该公司今天宣布,已经完成昆士兰地区Tamarama-1油气井压裂增产。

公司周五的新闻发布会表示,顺利完成深度为7546英尺的五级Tamarama-1油气井增产项目,没有出现安全以及环境方面的意外事故。

Real Energy欲实施回流工程,同时进行天然气流量测试,在第一时间公布测试结果。

来自/RigZone 5月27日消息 编译/张弘引石油圈原创www.oilsns.com

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Real Energy Corp. Ltd., an Australian junior oil and gas exploration company focused on the Cooper Basin, reported Friday that it has completed a fracture stimulation program at Tamarama-1 well in ATP927P, Queensland.

The company successfully completed the five-stage Tamarama-1 well stimulation program, without any environmental and safety incidence, at depths of 7,546 feet (2,300 meters), it said in a press release Friday.

Real Energy intends to carry out the flow back and test the gas flows shortly and will provide the initial results as they become available.

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雪佛龙、壳牌多家公司竞标卡塔尔油田的开采权

任伟伟

卡塔尔多哈(彭博社资讯)两名熟知内情的人士表示,雪佛龙、荷兰皇家壳牌、道达尔、康菲和马士基石油卡塔尔分公司都参与了卡塔尔最大海上油田开采权的竞标。

卡塔尔石油公司收到了五家石油公司的提议,建议签订一份开发Al-Shaheen油田的产量分成协议,该油田目前的产能是30万桶/天,说这话的人不愿透露姓名,因为这个问题是私人化的。他们还说今年国营的卡塔尔石油公司将最终决定一家合作方。

雪佛龙、道达尔、康菲和卡塔尔石油公司的领导们没有立刻回应评论,壳牌拒绝评论,然而马士基公司对卡塔尔石油公司提了一个要求。

Al-Shaheen约占卡塔尔日产油量的一半,与Maersk的产量所占份额相同。根据彭博社统计的数据显示,卡塔尔四月份的产量达到670000桶。这个国家是世界上最大的液化天然气出口国,它也是石油出口国组织中第三小的石油生产商。根据世界银行的数据显示,销售石油和液化天然气已经使这个国家250万的人民成为世界上人均购买力最富有的人。

马士基石油卡塔尔分部,位于哥本哈根的AP Moeller-Maersk A/S的子公司,是目前的运营商,并且自1992年以来一直在开发和管理该油田。它与卡塔尔石油公司的协议到2017年中期截止。

来自/Bloomberg 5月26日消息 编译/任伟伟

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Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, Total, ConocoPhillips and Maersk Oil Qatar submitted bids to operate Qatar’s biggest offshore oil field, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

Qatar Petroleum received proposals from the five oil companies to enter a production sharing agreement to operate Al-Shaheen field, which currently produces 300,000 bpd, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private. State-run Qatar Petroleum will choose an operator this year, they said.

Officials at Chevron, Total, Conoco and Qatar Petroleum didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Shell declined to comment, while Maersk referred a request to Qatar Petroleum.

Al-Shaheen accounts for about half of Qatar’s daily crude output and the same share of Maersk’s production. Qatar pumped 670,000 bopd in April, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The country, the third-smallest oil producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is the world’s biggest exporter of LNG. Sales of oil and LNG have made the state of 2.5 million people the world’s richest per capita by purchasing power parity, according to the World Bank.

Maersk Oil Qatar, a unit of Copenhagen-based AP Moeller-Maersk A/S, is the current operator and has developed and managed the field since 1992. Its agreement with Qatar Petroleum ends in mid-2017.[/collapse]

雪佛龙公司发布年度业绩

震旦能源

雪佛龙公司发布年度业绩。2015年归属于雪佛龙公司净收入为45.87亿美元,同比下降76.2%。销售与其它运营收入1299.25亿美元,同比下降35.2%。2015年,液体净产量(原油、凝析油、天然气液)174.4万桶/天,同比增长2.0%;天然气净产量52.69亿立方英尺/天,同比增长2.0%;炼油能力170.24万桶/天.同比增长0.7%;截止到年底探明油气储量本公司42.62亿桶,关联公司20亿桶。截止到年底员工数58178人。(雪佛龙年报,5月25日消息)

德国2015年可再生能源发电量持续增长 但是煤炭仍占主导地位

震旦能源

德国2015年可再生能源发电量持续增长,但是煤炭仍占主导地位。2015年,德国可再生能源发电量增加到1940亿千瓦时,占整个发电量的31%。在过去十年里,2015年的可再生能源发电量增长无论是比例还是绝对量(19%和320亿千瓦时都是最大的。德国的目标是到2050年,温室气体排放在1990年水平上减少80~95%,到2022年逐渐减少核电。2015年,德国煤炭发电量占总发电量的44%,其它化石燃料发电量占11%,核电占15%。(EIA,5月24日消息)

坦桑尼亚计划到2025年在能源项目上每年投资19亿美元

震旦能源

 

坦桑尼亚计划到2025年在能源项目上每年投资19亿美元。坦桑尼亚总理说,该国计划到2025年每年在能源项目上投资19亿美元,以消除电力短缺、刺激工业增长。坦桑尼亚的目标是将发电量从目前的1,500兆瓦增加到10,000兆瓦,主要使用天然气和煤炭发电,组建减少对水力发电的依赖。(路透社,Rigzone,5月25日消息)

挪威国家石油公司认为欧洲天然气价格已经探底

震旦能源

挪威国家石油公司(Statoil)认为欧洲天然气价格已经探底。挪威国家石油公司不希望欧洲天然气价格再进一步下跌,因为天然气发电需求的增加将抵消了液化天然气供应的增加。该公司官方周三做上述表示的。2015年,挪威封井石油公司销往欧洲的天然气为850亿方,仅次于俄罗斯。(路透社,rigzone,5月25日消息)

阿尔及利亚In Amenas天然气处理厂预计6月份达到满负荷

震旦能源

在受到攻击3年以后,阿尔及利亚In Amenas天然气处理厂开始测试并将很快达到满负荷。预计在6月份可以达到满负荷的年产90亿方的能力。该厂在攻击前产量占阿尔及利亚整个天然气产量的11.5%。阿尔及利亚和欧盟正在精选商谈能源合作以使欧洲能源供应多元化。(路透社,Rigzone,5月25日消息)

BP、Shell等投标卡塔尔油田运营

震旦能源

BP、Shell等投标卡塔尔油田运营。据透露,包括BP、Shell等6家国际石油公司投标运营卡塔尔最大海上油田。其它投标者有Maersk、Total、Chevron和ConocoPhillips。国有卡塔尔石油公司(QP)将与中标者签署油田运营合同,该油田距离海岸80km,目前产量为30万桶/天。Maersk、Chevron、Conoco 和QP并没有立即回应此事,Shell和BP也拒绝对此评论。(路透社,Rigzone,5月25日消息)

埃克森美孚股东通过决议可能任命气候专家进入董事会

震旦能源

埃克森美孚股东通过决议可能任命气候专家进入董事会。周三举行的年度会议上,投票同意少数股东推荐的气候活动家进入公司董事会。同时选举Angela Braly为公司董事,至此公司有14名董事,其中12位为公司外部董事。(路透社,5月25日消息)

投资者担忧欧佩克不减产 26日油价下跌

国际油价观察

5月26日,国际原油期货价格下跌。油价下跌的主要原因是投资者担心油价强劲上涨可能鼓励产量增加,从而加重全球供应过剩局势。周四,原油期货价格盘中一度运行至50美元/桶整数心理大关上方,为逾半年来首次,不过好景不长,油价得而复失。分析师称,油价攀升至每桶50美元之上可能刺激生产商,特别是美国页岩油开采商恢复已停滞的产能,这将增加供应,激发新一轮抛售。CMC Markets首席市场策略师Colin Cieszynski表示,从技术面来看,油价已严重超买,而50美元/桶是一个很重要的心理阻碍关口。同时,当油价涨到某个时候,会迎来一个平衡点,那就是美国页岩油停止削减产量,然后随着油价继续上涨,此前关闭的石油项目会得到重启,产量再度回升。花旗能源期货专家Tim Evans表示,更高的油价会削弱欧佩克成员国对于减少原油产量的动力,随着油价上升,欧佩克产油国反而会加大原油产出。7月交货的WTI原油期货下跌0.08美元/桶,收盘价报每桶49.48美元;7月交货的布伦特原油期货下跌0.15美元/桶,收盘价报每桶49.59美元。布伦特与WTI价差为0.11美元/桶,较前一日缩窄0.07美元/桶。布伦特与迪拜价差为3.17美元/桶,较前一日扩大0.34美元/桶。

挪威国家石油公司取消挪威海上钻机合同

吴海君

挪威能源公司挪威国家石油公司在延迟了从加拿大到挪威海转移钻机后又决定取消该计划。

West Hercules平台过去18个月间在纽芬兰海岸地区从事勘探工作,准备转移到挪威海上的Aasta Hansteen油田,挪威国家石油公司取消了该平台上与钻井公司Seadrill的租赁合同,该合同最初计划在2017年1月31日到期。

挪威国家石油公司表示勘探活动原计划在7月1日在Aasta Hansteen许可海域进行。

该公司解释道:“2015年秋天,决定将Aasta Hansteen油田的开发推迟一年到2018年下半年,导致了钻井的推迟,原因之一是投产前不能将井钻完的太早”。

在市场低迷可用资金减少,能源公司正重新考虑发展计划的形势下,作出了取消钻井的决定。Seadrill获得了每日补偿和在West Hercules上遣散成本的一次性补偿6100万美元。

去年,由于在Aasta Hansteen地区发现了一系列天然气,挪威国家石油公司将该地区定义为进行主要开发的地区之一。

去年铺设了一条总长300英里,从挪威海Aasta Hansteen油田穿越北极圈到挪威天然气处理厂的Polarled管道。挪威国家石油公司表示,作为第一条铺设在4150英尺深水域的大口径管道和穿越北极圈的天然气管道,该项目具有里程碑意义。

Seadrill公司租赁给挪威国家石油公司的钻机日租费为445000美元,相比于之前中国客户,租费降低了10%。

来自/Upi 5月26日消息 编译/吴海君

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Norwegian energy company Statoil said it canceled relocation plans for a drilling rig from Canada to the Norwegian Sea following field delay decisions.

Statoil canceled its lease contract with rig company Seadrill for the West Hercules platform, deployed for the past 18 months for an exploration campaign off the coast of Newfoundland and set for relocation to the Aasta Hansteen field offshore Norway. The contract originally was planned to expire on Jan. 31, 2017.

According to Statoil, a drilling campaign was set to start July 1 under the terms of the original plans for the Aasta Hansteen license area.

"In the autumn of 2015, it was decided to postpone the Aasta Hansteen field startup one year until the last half of 2018, and consequently the field drilling program will also be postponed," the company explained. "One of the reasons is that it is not preferable to complete the wells too early before production startup."

The rig cancellation comes at a time when energy companies are reconsidering field development plans because less capital is available in a weakened market. Seadrill receives a lump sum payment for $61 million plus day-rate and reimbursements costs for demobilizing the West Hercules.

Last year, Statoil characterized the Aasta Hansteen reserve area as "one of the main projects" in its portfolio after making a series of natural gas discoveries there.

A process to lay the 300-mile long Polarled pipeline from the Aasta Hansteen field in the Norwegian Sea across the Arctic Circle to a gas processing plant in Norway began last year. Statoil said the project marked a regional milestone as the first large-diameter pipeline of its kind to be placed in waters of up to 4,150 feet deep and the first pipeline to take gas across the Arctic Circle.

Seadrill leased the rig to Statoil for a day rate of $445,000, 10 percent less than the contract for its previous Chinese customer.
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