StatoilHydro, Fire at Mongstad extinguished

The Mongstad refinery was evacuated after a fire in a coupling flange at around 14.35, Wednesday 23 January.

The fire was soon brought under control and the flames were reduced to a controlled spurt of flame while the facility was being shut down. Shortly afterwards the fire was put out.

The damages were limited and the fire will have little impact on the facility's production. No personnel were injured during the fire. The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway was notified about the incident. An internal investigation will be initiated.

Crosstex Energy Opens Regional Office in Fort Worth

The Crosstex Energy, L.P. team recently celebrated the opening of the company's new regional office, a 12,000-square-foot facility located in the International Plaza building in Fort Worth, Texas. Crosstex's expansion into Fort Worth results from the growth of its business in the Barnett Shale region in north central Texas, the most prolific natural-gas formation in the United States today.

Crosstex provides natural gas gathering, processing, transmission and other services to natural gas producers drilling in the Barnett Shale. Crosstex has approximately 50 employees in Tarrant, Denton and Parker counties, and a companywide employee population of nearly 700 people. Barry E. Davis, Crosstex President and Chief Executive Officer Crosstex, and a small group of only nine employees founded the company 11 years ago.

Sibir and Gazprom agreed on Moscow Refinery

OAO Gazpromneft and Moscow Oil and Gas Company (MOGC), with the approval of their respective parent companies Gazprom and Sibir and with the further approval of The City of Moscow, jointly announced today that they have agreed the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which provides for a board and management structure of Moscow Refinery acceptable to all concerned.

The MOU further provides for the steps and mechanisms to ensure a long term and transparent relationship between the parties as shareholders at Moscow Refinery.

The underlying principle of the MOU is that of parity and transparency in respect of all key issues. The new structure, when implemented following the formal documentation of the MOU into a shareholders' agreement, will also allow the parties as key shareholders in Moscow Refinery to participate fully in the implementation of the planned upgrade of the refinery and ensure the highest quality of product. Shareholders in Sibir will be kept advised of progress made in due course.

Commenting on the announcement Henry Cameron Chief Executive of Sibir Energy plc said "I am delighted that months of negotiations between MOGC and Gazprom Neft have led to an accord which is satisfactory to both parties. From a much publicised and troubled history hard work, careful and measured co-operation and good will on the part of Gazprom Neft and MOGC have combined to create a mutual confidence and trust to the point where an equitable accord could be achieved, the full details of which will be finalised in the very near future"

StatoilHydro submitted PDO for Yttergryta gas field

The plan for development and operation (PDO) of Yttergryta was submitted to the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. The gas field is located around five kilometres north-west of Åsgard B in the Norwegian Sea.

Expected production from Yttergryta is approximately 1.75 billion standard cubic metres (Sm3) of gas with very low carbon dioxide (CO2) content. It will be developed with a subsea template tied back to the Åsgard B platform.

Start-up is scheduled for the first quarter of 2009. The production period will be between three to five years with a maximum anticipated production of 3.5 million Sm3 per day.

The exploration well that was drilled in June 2007 will be converted to a production well in 2008. The template for the subsea production facility has already been installed. Development costs will total around NOK 1.2 billion, including drilling expenses.

StatoilHydro is operator for Yttergryta with a 45.75% interest. The other licensees are Total with 24.5%, Petoro with 19.95% and Eni with 9.8%. The PDO for Yttergryta is a “simplified” version. The Ministry’s processing is expected to take maximum eight weeks.

Petrofac to open training center in Dubai

Petrofac and the Dubai Petroleum Establishment (DPE) have entered agreement to invest in and develop a safety and technical training center in Dubai.

The Dubai Petroleum Training Centre (DPTC) will be managed and operated by Petrofac Training. The facility will meet the safety and technical training needs of the oil and gas industry throughout the Middle East as well as servicing the other industries within the energy sector, the joint venture says.

The center will be at DPE's headquarters in Dubai and is due to open this summer.

Premier Oil: Execution of shareholder agreements for EIIC JV

Premier Oil Plc and Emirates International Investment Co. LLC (EIIC) have formed two new joint venture companies to pursue the acquisition of upstream oil and gas assets across the Middle East and North Africa region. The new companies will be headquartered in Abu Dhabi.

The first JV, to be known as PREMCO, will be owned 49% by Premier and 51% by EIIC, and will hold all JV assets acquired in the UAE. In the event of a change of control of Premier Oil Plc, EIIC will have a pre-emptive right to purchase Premier's 49% of this JV at fair market value.

The second JV, to be known as PREMBV, will be owned 50% by Premier, 50% by EIIC, and will hold all JV assets acquired elsewhere in the Middle East and also in North Africa.

Senergy Ltd announce acquisition of Aberdeen-based Floyd & Associates

Leading oil and gas consultancy, Senergy Limited, has merged with Aberdeenshire-based Floyd & Associates. This continues the growth of Aberdeen-based Senergy as a diversified energy services organisation providing a holistic approach to field development. The new combined company will have a turnover in excess of £50 million and employ over 220 people.

Senergy Holdings chief executive, James McCallum, said: “The combination of the two companies will further develop Senergy’s extensive core skills in the global oil and gas sector and also enhance our diversification into alternative energy sectors such as offshore wind. We welcome such a highly respected organisation into our group.”

Floyd and Associates is one of the UK's leading independent project management consultancies in geohazard assessment, marine site surveys and rig positioning. In future Floyd & Associates will be known as Senergy Floyds and will operate under their existing management as a Senergy Group company alongside Senergy Oil and Gas, Senergy Alternatives and Senergy Investments. Daren Wallwork will continue as managing director of Senergy Floyds and will join the Senergy Holdings board.

This acquisition represents an exciting addition to Senergy's capabilities, linking further the subsurface and wells elements of the business and continuing Senergy’s development of its offering in integrated field development solutions. It is expected that there will be significant opportunity for worldwide growth and diversification for the combined group, including further acquisitions that will enhance the development of Senergy Floyds’ business.

Floyd & Associates managing director, Daren Wallwork, added: “We are delighted to be joining Senergy and this represents an exciting development for both companies. During the last five years Floyd & Associates’ market presence has rapidly expanded. The merger of our business with Senergy will enable us to fulfill our international aspirations and allow further expansion into other areas of business such as the energy alternatives market. The joining of the two companies will further enhance the services that we can offer our clients".