Energy

While the excitement and glamour of oil and gas production centres around the wells themselves, nothing would ever get done without the support of experienced service providers.

Elsewhere in this publication there is an account of what the South African Oil and Gas Association (SAOGA) is doing to coordinate and encourage South African based businesses to be part of the overall development of Africa’s oil and gas industries.

In the midst of South Africa’s emergence as a centre of oil and gas activity, the opening of One Eighty Engineering Solutions’ new materials testing centre will provide local specialised services. 

South Africa-based Filcon Filters has set an ambitious target of 25 percent annual growth over the next three years. Directors Vernon Clarke, Tony Henfrey and George Canning talk about running a knowledge-based business.

With more than 40 years of ship repair experience, this SAOGA member is looking to expand into the oil and gas sector. General manager James Wrensch explains.

The next big expansion of Africa’s oil and gas production will be on the east, and South Africa is ideally placed to play a key role in its support and development.

For all South Africa’s undoubted bounties in terms of minable minerals, the same can’t be said for its oil & gas resources—at least not yet.

Abengoa has begun construction on two concentrating solar power (CSP) plants in South Africa.

The 50 MW solar power tower Khi Solar One and the 100 MW parabolic trough plant KaXu Solar One were two of the 28 renewable energy projects announced in late 2011 by the South Africa Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE intends to bring 17,800 MW of renewable energy online by 2030.

TransCanada Corporation today announced that its Mexican subsidiary, Transportadora de Gas Natural del Noroeste, has been awarded the contract to build, own and operate the El Encino-to-Topolobampo Pipeline in Mexico.

TransCanada expects to invest approximately US$1 billion in the Topolobampo Pipeline project, which is supported by a 25-year natural gas transportation service contract with the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), Mexico's federal power company.

At the hub of Iraq's oil and gas infrastructure regeneration, SCOP shows how complex engineering projects can be delivered in a challenging environment through innovative contracting and creative partnership models.

A total of 224 applications covering 418 blocks were lodged, the most ever in one round, with 330 new licenses awarded and a further 61 facing environmental assessment.

The strong level of interest that continues to be shown in the North Sea, together with the wide range of companies that have successful gained new acreage in recent years, supports the views of experts that substantial value remains in the region for well-funded explorers and producers.

A joint venture between BP and a group of Russian billionaires, represented by the Alfa-Access-Renova consortium, TNK-BP is currently recognised as the country’s third-largest oil producer in terms of reserves and crude oil production. BP’s stake in TNK-BP is believed to be worth between $25 billion and $28 billion. It is thought that, as part of any deal, BP would receive a stake of up to 20 percent in Rosneft.