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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PTP retains Malaysian container port crown

Kuala Lumpur: The Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Johor has retained its status as the country’s leading port for the sixth year in a row, having handled 5.6m teu in 2008.

According to new PTP ceo Captain Ismail Hashim, despite the global economic slowdown in 2008, PTP still managed to grow its “local” throughput volume by approximately 43%, up by 94,000teu from the 218,000teu recorded in 2007. Hashim attributed the growth to factors including increased import and export shipping services available at the port. In particular he mentioned the new services between PTP and Australia, New Zealand and Philippines that have been introduced by Malaysia’s leading shipping company, MISC, when they moved their hub from Singapore to PTP in June 2008. He also spoke of the new hapag Lloyd service linking PTP to Europe and the Far East. “The various forms of shipping line arrangements such as joint services and slot exchange arrangements between the different shipping lines calling at PTP has made it possible for local cargo owners to move more cargo through PTP in 2008” Hashim said.

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NaiKun and Haida Nation partner for offshore wind project

Vancouver, B.C.: British Columbia-based renewable energy company NaiKun Wind Energy Group and the Council of the Haida Nation have formed a partnership to support the development of Canada's first offshore wind energy project.

The NaiKun project is located in British Columbia's Hecate Strait, between the mainland and the Haida Gwaii, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. The area is the traditional territory of the Haida, the indigenous people of the area. The partnership will be a commercial limited partnership that will operate and maintain the NaiKun wind energy project after construction. The agreement provides benefits to the Haida Nation from the project, including revenue sharing, environmental stewardship and employment and economic development opportunities. The agreement formalizes the relationship between the Haida Nation and NaiKun, and builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in May 2007. The Haida Nation and NaiKun subsidiary NaiKun Wind Operating Inc. will participate equally in the partnership in terms of ownership and economic value.

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