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Marvels of the deep

January 20, 2023 by offshoreenergy

A rare photo of a Big-Fin Squid, caught on camera on November 11th 2007 by a Shell Oil company ROV, at a depth of 2,386 meters (1.5 miles). This species of Squid dwell at extreme depths, and are characterised by their long, thin tentacles. They can reach almost 20ft long when fully grown.

Hasan Jasim

ROV video:

Of course, much of our knowledge about deepwater biology is attributable to oil and gas exploration and the associated environmental studies. This includes the discovery and study of chemosynthetic communities in the Gulf of Mexico:

Some of the same conditions responsible for petroleum deposits also provide the basis for biological communities that receive energy from chemicals through a process called chemosynthesis (in contrast to photosynthesis that provides energy to terrestrial and shallow-water communities through processes in which sunlight is the basic energy source).

NOAA
An aggregation of ice worms inhabiting methane hydrate. These worms eat chemoautotrophic bacteria using chemicals in the hydrate. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2012

Posted in Gulf of Mexico, Offshore Energy - General, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve losing streak continues: 70 consecutive weekly losses

January 19, 2023 by offshoreenergy

This week’s loss was by a small margin, only 800,000 barrels (down to 371.58 million barrels total), suggesting that the record losing streak may end soon. EIA data

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So you can drill near the Isle of Man (and almost everywhere else in or adjacent to the North and South Atlantic), but the entire US Atlantic is off-limits

January 19, 2023 by offshoreenergy

A firm with a licence to drill for natural gas in Manx waters expects to begin exploratory works in October, its chief executive has said.

Crogga has appointed Three60 Energy to drill an appraisal well to understand how much gas is under the seabed 17km (10.5miles) off Maughold Head.

BBC
Isle of Man

Posted in drilling, energy policy, Offshore Energy - General, UK | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Preliminary NTSB report on the tragic 12/29/2022 Gulf of Mexico helicopter crash at the West Delta 106 A platform

January 18, 2023 by offshoreenergy

The attached NTSB report includes details on the timing of the accident, observations from personnel remaining on the platform, condition of the helipad, nature and location of the debris, and the recovery of the fuselage and separated tail boom. The engine control unit (ECU) was recovered and sent to an NTSB lab for data extraction.

report_cen23fa071_106511_1_18_2023-11_11_44-amDownload

Link to previous posts on the crash.

Posted in accidents, Gulf of Mexico, Offshore Energy - General | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Guyana gas for Guyana’s future

January 18, 2023 by offshoreenergy

Only 3 years after first oil, Guyana’s offshore production has soared to nearly 400,000 BOPD, and that rate should triple by 2027. If you want to see the production details, Guyana is doing a good job posting their oil and gas production data.

The startup and compressor issues that contributed to high gas flaring volumes seem to have been resolved, and the recent flaring record is exceptional. Over the month of November 2022, the volume flared averaged less than 0.2% of the gas produced, better than the 1.0-1.5% flaring/venting rate for oil-well gas in US GoM from 2015-2021. Using the World Bank’s flaring intensity metric (m3/bbl), the current flaring intensity for Guyana is a remarkable ~0.07 m3 flared per bbl of oil produced.

The next step is to use the associated offshore gas to power Guyana. The two videos embedded below, while promotional, provide good information on plans to use natural gas for onshore power generation, new industry, and other beneficial purposes. This step will only use 50 million cu ft/day, leas than 1/8 the volume that is currently being reinjected. Increased use of the associated gas resource will be dependent on expanded pipeline and power generation capabilities, and LNG facilities to provide for gas exports.

Posted in Guyana, Offshore Energy - General, pipelines | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

GoM oil production and the 5 year leasing plan

January 17, 2023 by offshoreenergy

As is evident from the first table below, the EIA’s new short-term production forecast for the Gulf of Mexico differs significantly from the optimistic BOEM forecast.

The EIA 2022 figure is spot-on, as it should be given that 10 months of 2022 production data are now in hand. However, BOEM’s 2022 forecast (published in July) missed the mark considerably. (In fairness to BOEM staff, their work was probably completed months before publication pending internal reviews.)

Of greater concern, given the policy implications, is the rosy BOEM forecast for the out-years. Despite historically low levels of leasing and exploratory drilling, BOEM forecasts oil production to exceed 2 million BOPD through 2027 and to remain well above the current (2022) level through 2031 (second table below).

As previously noted, the authors of the proposed 5 year OCS leasing plan have used the BOEM forecasts to justify a skeleton leasing plan that is unprecedented in program history. Contrary to the OCS Lands Act’s mandate and EIA projections regarding future oil and gas consumption, the proposed leasing plan not so subtly announces the intention to phase out the offshore oil and gas program.

202220232024
EIA1.751.871.85
BOEM1.8922.0002.013
Notes: (1) forecasts are for average daily production – millions of barrels
(2) actual 2022 production averaged 1.74 million BOPD through Oct.

Posted in energy policy, Gulf of Mexico, Offshore Energy - General | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Remembering Dr. King on MLK day: passion, courage, and leadership

January 16, 2023 by offshoreenergy

I was a freshman at Penn State when MLK was assassinated, and I very clearly remember when a fellow resident of Shunk Hall came into my room and told me what happened. Dr. King had spoken at Penn State a few years earlier, shortly after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, and was much admired at the university.

Dr. King’s passion, leadership, courage, and communication skills were extraordinary, and his commitment to non-violence set him apart. Truly a great man.

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Worth 7 minutes of your time

January 15, 2023 by offshoreenergy

Konstantin Kisin

Posted in climate, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

7 NJ/NY whale deaths in just over a month

January 14, 2023 by offshoreenergy

OCNJDaily

While it’s unlikely that the whale strandings are the result of pre-construction activities for offshore wind development, greater transparency on the part of the developer and regulators would be helpful:

  • What surveys and other offshore activities are being conducted? Where?
  • What is the timeframe for these activities?
  • Any sightings of distressed whales?
  • Other anomalous observations?

Absent regular activity updates, accusations and protests are likely to continue and intensify.

Posted in Offshore Wind, Wind Energy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Weekend wisdom

January 14, 2023 by offshoreenergy

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