Golar LNG – World’s first FSRU goes into operation

Golar LNG is pleased to advise the successful start up of its first Floating Storage and Regasification Vessel (FSRU), the Golar Spirit.

‘The Golar Spirit is the world’s first FSRU conversion project which was awarded to Golar by Petrobras in April 2007. The FSRU gives Petrobras the ability to receive LNG from standard LNG Carriers and provide natural gas ashore for domestic consumption. The successfully completed commissioning and performance test runs form part of the delivery protocol for the vessel. The vessel will now be placed in FSRU service and will continue to operate at the direction of Petrobras. The commissioning tests performed involved running each of the 3 regasification trains in turn at different regasification capacities for an agreed period of time. Following the initial performance tests, DNV issued a Statement of Approval of the Regasification Plant and Interim Class Certificate confirming the REGAS-2 Class notation. Gary Smith, Golar Management’s CEO, commented that “it was particularly pleasing to see the FSRU delivered into service following a short, flawless start up and commissioning period. The execution and delivery of this project is testimony to the technical capability and experience of Golar’s staff and its technical partners to deliver new and innovative solutions to the LNG industry.

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StatoilHydro makes small discovery in Oseberg area

OSLO: StatoilHydro ASA (NYSE: STO) has made a small oil discovery at an exploration well in the Curran prospect.

‘The prospect is in the western part of the Oseberg area in the North Sea. Exploration well 30/8-4 S was drilled by Transocean semisubmersible Transocean Winner. Hydrocarbons were struck in the upper parts of the Brent group. Drilling was terminated in Middle Jurassic Rocks. Well water depth is around 308 feet (93.8 m). StatoilHydro Vice President for Exploration Ton Dreyer said that the field was not quite commercial at current oil prices, but added that the company was pleased to have proven more resources near its Oseberg installation. The size of the find is within the range of 3 to 15.7 million BOE, mostly oil. The drilling was intended to test a petroleum trap south of the Tune field, below a north-south running fault in the Oseberg area. No wells had been drilled in this type of trap in the area before. The well has been plugged and abandoned. A possible tie-back from the discovery to installation in the area will be considered. Transocean Winner will now drill well 30/5-3 in the northern part of the Oseberg area.

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IHC Merwede launches ‘Hos Iron Horse’

IHC Merwede, The Netherlands, will launch a multi purpose OSV for Hornbeck Offshore Services in USA.

‘IHC Merwede Offshore & Marine was granted the order to design and build the new vessel in 2007. The keel was laid on July 23, 2008. The naming ceremony of the ‘Hos Iron Horse’ will take place officially upon delivery in the third quarter of 2009. The ‘Hos Iron Horse’ is a versatile vessel and suitable for worldwide operation. Hornbeck Offshore Services intends to use the vessel in the shallow waters of the Mexican Gulf. With her deepwater cranes, deck cranes and moonpool, the vessel can be used in a wide range of offshore construction activities. But the vessel can also easily be adapted to a charterer’s specific wishes and requirements. The moonpool facilitates subsea operations. Subsea operations can be supported by two work class ROVs which are housed in a hangar. The vessel is equipped with a 400-tonne heave compensated mast crane capable of working at a 3,000-metre water depth and a 120-tonne heave compensated offshore knuckle boom crane.

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