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JL Daeschler, North Sea pioneer and BOE contributor, met this week with Jim Fraser, an Aberdonian PhD Researcher working at the University of Edinburgh.
Jim is investigating how North Sea oil and gas has transformed social and cultural life in Aberdeen, and what the future holds for the region considering the current uncertainty within the North Sea industry. Who better to learn from than JL, an important figure in North Sea oil and gas development?
Our best to Jim as he pursues this important research.
Posted in energy policy, Offshore Energy - General, UK | Tagged Aberdeen, Jim Fraser, JL Daeschler, North Sea oil and gas, Univ. of Edinburgh | Leave a Comment »
- In July, German state prosecutors accused Ukrainian “state authorities” of ordering the attacks on the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 lines: “The aim was to permanently halt gas supplies via the pipelines and prevent Russia from using the revenue from natural gas trade to finance its war effort.”
- Wednesday (10/14) was day one of the trial of Serhii Kuznetsov for leading the pipeline sabotage.
- The trial will resume on 10/27.
- Kuznetsov’s lawyers argued that the trial should not be taking place at all. They said the defendant had been held almost entirely in solitary confinement for 11 months, and that he was being treated “like a pawn on a chessboard.”
- The attorneys argued that he could not defend himself in the conventional manner because he was an army officer, which forbade him from speaking.
- The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, which has soared in popularity and is currently leading in German polling:
- Argues that German aid for Ukraine must cease and the pipeline be reinstated.
- Asks why Germany poured billions of euros into a political regime that deprived them of cheap energy.
- Calls this an attack on German sovereignty.
- Has requested the establishment of an investigative committee to clarify what the federal government knew and to what extent Ukrainian authorities were involved.
- AfD’s energy policy (p.77) highlights:
- The AfD supports “Protection of the Environment”, but not the “German Climate Protection Policy” and plans for “decarbonization” and the “Transformation of Society”. They want to end the perception of CO² as an exclusively harmful substance and stop Germany’s maverick policy in the reduction of CO² emissions.
- Because the average output is so variable, renewable energy generators are not viable replacements for conventional large power stations.
- Renewable sources necessitate a massive expansion of the electric grid systems and jeopardize grid stability.
- Fracking: Explore Opportunities and Risks, Involve Citizens
- Nuclear Energy: Explore Alternatives, Grant Lifetime Extensions in the Interim
Posted in energy policy, natural gas, pipelines | Tagged AfD, energy policy, German trial, Nord Stream sabotage, S. Kuznetsov, Ukraine | Leave a Comment »
MMA discontinues daily hurricane activity reports when <10% of production is shut-in. Yesterday, oil production reached that threshold (9.92% shut-in) and gas fell just short (11.07% shut-in), so it is assumed there will be no further production updates for Isaias.
Posted in Gulf of Mexico, hurricanes, Offshore Energy - General | Tagged Gulf of America, Hurricane Isaias, shut-in production | Leave a Comment »
There have been many BOE posts about the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, but most of our 2023 summary still stands.
Yesterday, the trial of a Ukrainian officer began in a Hamburg courtroom. See the X post and video below.
The big issue, of course, is the extent of Ukrainian govt involvement in the sabotage.
Posted in accidents, energy policy, natural gas, pipelines | Tagged German trial, natural gas, Nord Stream sabotage, pipeline, Ukraine | Leave a Comment »
Posted in Gulf of Mexico, hurricanes | Tagged Gulf of America, Hurricane Isaias, oil production, production shut-in | Leave a Comment »
The attached order by Kern County Superior Court Judge Bernard C. Barmann Jr.:
- Declares the California Geologic Energy Management Division (“CalGEM”) 2021-2024 policy of denying all well stimulation treatment (WST) permit applications invalid.
- Declares the 2024 Rule (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 1780, subd. (d)) invalid because CalGEM’s determination that the categorical ban is reasonably necessary is not supported by substantial evidence and lacks a rational connection to the statute’s GHG-reduction purpose.
- Directs CalGEM to set aside the 2024 Rule and the challenged permit denials; reconsider the denied applications; and consider the pending applications under section 3160 and applicable regulations, without reliance on the invalid underground policy or the invalidated Rule.
- The Court does not direct issuance of any permit or impose additional denial-letter or deadline requirements.
The ruling could unlock oil resources in in Kern County’s diatomite formations estimated at up to a billion barrels.
Will this decision have any effect on the dispute related to the California Coastal Commission’s prohibition against the resumption of hydraulic well stimulation at Platform Gilda?
Posted in California, Regulation | Tagged California Coastal Commission, court ruling, hydraulic fracturing, Kern County, Platform Gilda, well stimulation | Leave a Comment »
To date, there have been no public reports of any significant damage to offshore facilities.
Per MMA’s update as of noon today:
Posted in Gulf of Mexico, hurricanes | Tagged Gulf of America, Hurricane Isaias, production shut-in | Leave a Comment »
The world’s first floating production unit and the North Sea’s first production facility was in the Argyll field in the UK sector of the North Sea.
JL Daeschler made a presentation on the project at Offshore Europe 1977. See the attached summary.
As JL highlights in the attachment, the press focused on the the perceived negative – the rather high water cut. JL addressed the water production issue by carefully designing the deck handling facilities.
Per JL, “we had some fun for 2 years getting the separator to work in +/- 3 degree pitch and roll, then had the additional water handling challenge.”
The team worked it out. JL can laugh about the challenges now. He proudly notes that “the field produced for 20 years + thanks to evolving technology and first class engineers and contractors.” Such was the life of a pioneering offshore engineer.
Posted in Offshore Energy - General, UK | Tagged Argyll field, first production, JL Daeschler, North Sea, UK North Sea | Leave a Comment »
Posted in Gulf of Mexico, hurricanes, Offshore Energy - General | Tagged Gulf of America, Hurricane Isaias, oil production, production shut-in | Leave a Comment »
Attached is the Sale Notice for the 3/3/2027 Cook Inlet oil and gas lease sale.
“The proposed sale would make approximately 1.05 million acres available for leasing in the northern portion of the Cook Inlet Planning Area, the same area offered in the Big Beautiful Cook Inlet 1 sale, held in March 2026.” ZERO bids were received at this sale!) Sale summary:
There are currently no active Federal leases in the Cook Inlet. The last well was drilled in 2007. That well was drilled directionally from shore into the Cosmopolitan Unit, a State Unit that included 2 Federal leases at the time.
BlueCrest Energy is operator of the Cosmopolitan Unit. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources threatened to revoke BlueCrest’s Cosmopolitan leases for not meeting the gas drilling requirements, but BlueCrest has reported that they have secured the financing to meet that obligation.
Hilcorp Energy is now the largest oil and gas operator and the largest gas supplier in Alaska. They were the last Federal leaseholder in the Cook Inlet area.
Below are the 8 leases that Hilcorp still held in 2024:
Will Hilcorp participate in the 2027 sale? BlueCrest? Anyone?
Posted in Alaska, energy policy, Offshore Energy - General | Tagged BlueCrest Energy, Cook Inlet, Hilcorp Energy, oil and gas lease sale | Leave a Comment »
