Category Archives: Oil And Gas

Oil and Gas News

KYIV, Ukraine, May 13, 2012/Coal Geology/ –

Two of the world’s largest oil companies, Royal Dutch Shell plc and Chevron Corp, obtained the right to develop Ukrainian shale gas fields Yuzivske and Oleske, respectively, informed Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov in his interview with Euronews. The fields are expected to provide Ukraine with up to ten percent of domestically consumed natural gas by 2020.

The estimated investment in the fields will amount to at least USD 370 million, with the number growing significantly should the gas reserves prove to be commercially viable. Notably, Ukraine exempted companies that would produce shale gas in the country from equipment import tax and shale gas export duty.

Industrial extraction of gas at the sites will begin in 2018-2019. Ukrainian state geological service estimated the amount of both conventional and unconventional, as well as condensed gas deposits at the 6,000 square kilometer Oleske at three trillion cubic meters. As for the Yuzivske field, it may offer up to four trillion cubic meters of gas.

Ukraine announced the public bid for the development of the prospective seven trillion cubic meters of gas in the fields in February 2012. Exxon Mobil, Shell, and TNK-BP placed their bids for the right to develop the Yuzivske field in eastern Ukraine (Donetsk oblast), while Chevron and Eni competed for the right to establish gas production at Oleske, Lviv region.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration assessed the total of Ukrainian gas resources at 1.2 trillion cubic meters. This secures Ukraine the third spot among the European countries (after France and Norway) that have largest shale gas reserves, reported Reuters.

Ukraine began reforming its energy system, adopting the State Program on Energy Efficiency 2010-2015. According to the document, Ukraine will reduce domestic energy consumption through increasing energy efficiency, as well as developing domestic gas reserves, introducing green energy production technology, and diversifying gas export.

Previously, the Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine, Yuriy Boyko, stated that Ukraine planned to set up domestic shale gas extraction in five years. Comparatively, it took the U.S. 20 years to accomplish a similar goal. By 2020, Ukraine plans to extract four to five billion cubic meters of shale gas annually. The country prospects to consume 53.7 billion cubic meters of gas with 26 billion of total domestic consumption.

Source: Worldwide News Ukraine

For information, contact Maria Ivanova +380443324784 news@wnu-ukraine.com, Project Manager at Worldwide News Ukraine.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2012 /Coal Geology-PRNewswire/ – The U.S. natural gas market is going to have to change dramatically for pipeline developers to salvage their plan to ship gas from Alaska to the Lower-48 states, a key federal official said today at the Platts Energy Podium.

“It is going to take a big turnaround in the market, no doubt about it,” Larry Persily, federal coordinator of Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects, said at the newsmaker event in Washington, D.C.

TransCanada and ExxonMobil have been working with state and federal officials on plans to build a $40 billion, 48-inch-diameter pipeline from the North Slope to the Canadian border, where Canadian pipelines would carry gas to the Lower-48.

However, shale gas development has dampened U.S. demand for the gas, and North Slope producers BP, ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil met with Alaska Governor Sean Parnell last week to discuss alternatives to the project, including a pipeline to a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project.

After the meeting, BP CEO Bob Dudley and ConocoPhillips CEO Jim Mulva said the LNG project seemed to be a better way to get the gas to market, casting growing doubts on the viability of the pipeline.

On Tuesday, Persily acknowledged that the pipeline’s future hinges on the producers. “It is going to take concurrence of the three producers. They are the ones that control the vast majority of the leased acreage, the production coming out of there. They are the ones that are going to have to sign 20-year firm shipping commitments on the pipeline worth more than $100 billion.”

Persily said he thought the project had a 50-50 chance of being constructed by 2020. “I haven’t given up on the project. … What it would take is the companies believing the market is there at a sufficient price.”

He also noted that there are key benefits to building the pipeline instead of the LNG project. The Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act provides federal loan guarantees for the pipeline, and $21 billion worth of guarantees are currently authorized, he said. The law also allows for accelerated depreciation for the pipeline and an enhanced oil recovery investment tax credit for the gas treatment plant, which together are worth more than $1 billion in tax savings, he added.

“All that applies if you build a pipeline to move gas to the Lower-48. If it is an exclusively export-only line, unless federal law is changed, you don’t get those benefits,” Persily said.

Meanwhile, the United States Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes, also speaking at the Podium event, said the U.S. is working to give Shell an answer on the company’s plans to drill several exploratory wells this summer in Alaska’s Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.

Hayes, who was appointed by President Obama to chair an interagency task force on Alaska energy development, said meetings at both a secretarial and staff level are being held regularly on Shell’s plans.

“We are committed to give them a timely up or down,” Hayes said.

The Interior Department has already given conditional approval to Shell’s exploration plans for the Beaufort and Chukchi. But the company has yet to submit applications for individual permits to drill specific wells, Hayes said.

Hayes also said Interior will not budge on a condition that Shell end its drilling program about 38 days short of the time the company had requested. Hayes said the time was needed for the drilling of a relief well in the event of a blowout.

A recording of the Hayes-Persily session is available via podcast at this link:

http://platts.com/PodcastsDetail/EnergyPodium/energypodium/.  You may be asked to complete a one-time-only cost-free Platts website log-in if you haven’t filled one out previously.

Sponsored by Platts, a leading global energy, petrochemicals and metals information provider, Platts Energy Podium provides an ongoing forum for prominent newsmakers and the press to address important energy and environmental issues.

For more information on energy and energy policy, visit the www.platts.com .

HOUSTON, Dec. 28, 2011 /Coal Geology-PRNewswire/ — Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL) announced today a natural gas discovery at the Cyprus Block 12 prospect, offshore the Republic of Cyprus. The Cyprus A-1 well encountered approximately 310 feet of net natural gas pay in multiple high-quality Miocene sand intervals.

The discovery well was drilled to a depth of 19,225 feet in water depth of about 5,540 feet. Results from drilling, formation logs and initial evaluation work indicate an estimated gross resource range(1) of 5 to 8 trillion cubic feet (Tcf), with a gross mean of 7 Tcf. The Cyprus Block 12 field covers approximately 40 square miles and will require additional appraisal drilling prior to development.

Charles D. Davidson, Noble Energy’s Chairman and CEO, said, “We are excited to announce the discovery of significant natural gas resources in Cyprus on Block 12. This is the fifth consecutive natural gas field discovery for Noble Energy and our partners in the greater Levant basin, with total gross mean resources for the five discoveries currently estimated to be over 33 Tcf. This latest discovery in Cyprusfurther highlights the quality and significance of this world-class basin.”

Davidson went on to say, “We would like to thank the Government of Cyprus for their productive cooperation and support in achieving an important outcome for the people of Cyprus and Noble Energy. We look forward to working closely with the Government of Cyprus to develop this discovery in a manner that maximizes value for all stakeholders.”

Noble Energy operates the well with a 70 percent working interest. Delek Drilling and Avner Oil Exploration will each have 15 percent, subject to final approval by the Government of Cyprus.

(1) Range of resource estimate based on 75th and 25th percentile probabilities.

Noble Energy is a leading independent energy company engaged in worldwide oil and gas exploration and production.  The Company has core operations onshore in the U.S., primarily in the DJ Basin andMarcellus Shale, in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, offshore Eastern Mediterranean, and offshore West Africa.  Noble Energy is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol NBL.  Further information is available at www.nobleenergyinc.com.

This news release includes projections and other “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “should,” “may,” and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Such projections and statements reflect Noble Energy’s current views about future events and financial performance. No assurances can be given that such events or performance will occur as projected, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions involving a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include, without limitation, the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas, the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves, drilling and operating risks, exploration and development risks, government regulation or other action, the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals, competition, the ability to replace reserves, environmental risks and other risks inherent in Noble Energy’s business that are detailed in its Securities and Exchange Commission filings.   

Cautionary Note to Investors — The Securities and Exchange Commission prohibits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, from disclosing estimates of oil or gas resources other than “reserves,” as that term is defined by the SEC. We use certain terms in this news release, such as “estimated resource range” and “gross mean resources,” which describes quantities of oil and gas that may not meet the SEC’s definitions of proved, probable and possible reserves, and which the SEC’s guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC. These estimates are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved reserves and accordingly are subject to substantially greater risk of being recovered by us. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures and risk factors in our Forms 10-K and 10-Q, File No. 1-07964, available from Noble Energy’s offices or website,www.nobleenergyinc.com . These forms can also be obtained from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

SOURCE Noble Energy

 HOUSTON, Dec. 28, 2011 /Coal Geology-PRNewswire/ – Hyperdynamics Corporation (NYSE: HDY) today announced it has resumed drilling operations on the Sabu-1 exploration well in its concession offshore the Republic ofGuinea in West Africa.

Drilling recommenced from a point 1,440 meters subsea and is planned to continue to a total depth of 3,600 meters.  Hyperdynamics plans to continue to provide progress updates.

Hyperdynamics operates the Guinea concession with a 77 percent participating interest, with the remaining 23 percent held by Aberdeen-based Dana Petroleum, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Korean National Oil Company. The well is operated through AGR, a well management company.

 

About Hyperdynamics

Hyperdynamics is an emerging independent oil and gas exploration and production company that is exploring for oil and gas offshore the Republic of Guinea in West Africa.  To find out more, visit our website at www.hyperdynamics.com.

 

Forward Looking Statements

This news release and the Company’s website referenced in this news release contain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding Hyperdynamics Corporation’s future plans and expected performance that are based on assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “projects”, “estimates”, “plans”, “may increase”, “may result”, “will result”, “may fluctuate” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will”, “should”, “would”, “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements, including without limitation, funding and exploration efforts, fluctuations in oil and gas prices and other risk factors described from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the issuance of this news release or to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect to these forward looking statements.

HDY-IR

Contacts:
Dennard Rupp Gray & Lascar, LLC
Ken Dennard, Managing Partner
Jack Lascar, Partner
(713) 529-6600
Anne Pearson, Sr. Vice President
(210) 408-6321

 

SOURCE Hyperdynamics Corporation