Top Energy/Automotive News As Reported; Latest Rig Count: U.S. – 8 to 687 Canada + 23 to 159
London, 17 June, 2023, (Oilandgaspress) : Vortexa data as of 16 June shows around 20mb across 10 VLCCs floating off Egypt’s Ain Sukhna with another two VLCCs currently heading to the same location. All 10 VLCCs currently floating have been stationary for seven days or more and most of these cargoes loaded during or after the second half of May.
Saab pilot next Swede in space
Sweden’s new astronaut is Saab’s Chief Test Pilot Marcus Wandt. Saab is one of the co-financiers of the project that makes a space flight possible and ensures that Sweden is at the forefront of space research. it was presented that Marcus Wandt, Chief Test Pilot for the fighter jet Gripen at Saab, will participate in a space flight to the International Space Station, ISS. ”We are very happy for Marcus and of course very proud that a Saab employee will be the next Swede in space. It shows our capability to attract talented employees to Saab. This is important for Swedish industry and Swedish innovation,” says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
In November 2022, Marcus Wandt was selected as a member of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) astronaut reserve. In April 2023, it became clear that Sweden’s goal is to get a new Swedish astronaut into space. “It feels fantastic and I am very proud to become the next Swedish astronaut in space. As a Gripen pilot at Saab I am used to flying at very high speeds and pushing my limits. I look forward to taking these experiences to space,” says Marcus Wandt. Saab is the biggest contributor from the Swedish business sector to this space flight. Saab has for many years supported a large number of Swedish research and development projects. With a focus on innovation and advanced technology, Saab wants to contribute to keeping Sweden and Swedish industry at the forefront, even within the space area. Read More
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team returns to the legendary Safari Rally Kenya on June 22-25, aiming to continue its proud record of success on the epic African event. Marking its 70th anniversary this year, the Safari is known as one of rallying’s toughest challenges and made a welcome comeback to the FIA World Rally Championship calendar in 2021. TGR-WRT has won both editions held since – doing so in style last year with an incredible 1-2-3-4 finish that also secured a record-extending 10th victory for Toyota on the event. All four drivers who played a part in that historic result return this year. Reigning world champion Kalle Rovanperä (who leads the current standings by 25 points) took victory last year ahead of Elfyn Evans, and they are joined by 2021 winner Sébastien Ogier to form the team’s manufacturer line-up. Takamoto Katsuta, who claimed his first WRC podium finishes in Kenya in ’21 and ’22, drives an additional GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID with the support of the TGR WRC Challenge Program. Read More
Bentley Motors and H.R. Owen have officially opened the doors to its brand-new Bentley Hatfield showroom. To celebrate the new flagship site, Bentley introduces the de Havilland Collection, a line-up of bespoke Bentley models inspired by the famed British aviation manufacturer, which previously occupied the Hatfield site.
Designed and created in collaboration with Bentley Mulliner, the de Havilland Collection includes a Continental GT S and GTC S, Flying Spur S and Bentayga S and is inspired by the iconic de Havilland aircrafts such as the Comet Racer.
Speaking from the unveiling of the new showroom and Collection, Richard Leopold, UK Regional Director of Bentley Motors, said: “The connection between Bentley and de Havilland is one that runs through history, with many de Havilland aircrafts powered by the Crewe-manufactured Merlin engines. So to stand on this very site today and strengthen this link, and show glimpses of Bentley’s bright future, is a milestone moment for our UK operations. It is a demonstration of our joint commitment with H.R. Owen to our home market and our ambition to continue to lead the luxury car sector in the UK for many years to come.” The de Havilland Collection features Tornado Red accents in homage to the red paint of the de Havilland Comet Racer, winner of the 1934 England-Australia air race. Inside, the subtle exterior theme is emphasised with a bespoke Mulliner colour split across the front of the cabin that pairs a Hotspur red main hide with a Beluga secondary hide, contrasted by Mulliner White piping. The fascia and door waistrails feature a split of Beluga and Cambrian grey, intersected by a chrome pinstripe. Bespoke de Havilland details complete the Collection, including DH.88 black treadplates, featuring a Comet Racer motif and illuminated de Havilland treadplates. Read More
First UN testing for sodium cell
AMTE Power has become the first European business to receive UN38.3 transportation testing certification for a sodium-ion cell. The accreditation for its Ultra Safe sodium-ion product marks another important step forward in AMTE Power’s commercialisation plans, allowing it to access global markets.
UN38.3 certification has been adopted by regulators and competent authorities around the world as an essential standard for the safe transportation of cells. The protocol includes identifying/classifying cells; testing/qualification requirements; design guidance/conditions and packaging/shipping obligations. Read More
Senex Energy and AGL sign deal to deliver energy security for Australians
Senex and AGL have entered into a conditional gas supply agreement for the supply of up to 42 petajoules (PJ) of natural gas from January 2025 from its proposed Atlas expansion in Queensland’s Surat Basin.
Senex Chief Executive Officer Ian Davies said Australian energy customers would benefit from the additional supply to the domestic market represented by this agreement, and from the more than $1 billion investment in Queensland’s Western Downs region.The new gas deal between Senex and AGL and the commencement of gas supply in 2025 is conditional only on the timely recommencement of Senex’s Atlas expansion which was put on hold in December 2022 following Government intervention in the gas market. Project recommencement requires the satisfactory resolution of regulatory arrangements and the receipt of certain Commonwealth approvals. Read More
Tower Resources, the AIM-listed oil and gas company with a focus on Africa, has provided an update on activity in respect of license PEL 96 in Namibia, covering offshore blocks 1910A, 1911 and 1912B and, in particular, the recent basin modelling work undertaken over the license area.
Tower is the operator of license PEL 96 with an 80% working interest.
Highlights
A basin and thermal maturity study has been undertaken within PEL 96 which has significantly progressed the understanding of the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the license. This basin modelling study has been carefully integrated with seismic sequence stratigraphic interpretation of the large 2D seismic datasets and integrated with the well data within PEL96 and available well data elsewhere in the Walvis Basin region.
The integrated analysis of the seismic, wells and the basin modelling results shows clear evidence of a working petroleum system present within the Dolphin Graben in PEL 96; in the form of oil recovered from cores in the 1911/15-1 well and direct hydrocarbon indicators (DHIs) observed on seismic. The objectives of the basin modelling study were to assess the critical elements of the hydrocarbon charging system, i.e. thermal maturity, distribution of generative source kitchens, volumetric estimation of generative capacity of mature source rocks, timing of generation/expulsion of hydrocarbons and mapping of migration pathways. Read More
Gulf Keystone 2023 AGM, Operational & Corporate Update
Ahead of today’s 2023 Annual General Meeting (“AGM”), Gulf Keystone, a leading independent operator and producer in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, provides an operational and corporate update.
Production from the Shaikan Field remains shut-in following the suspension of exports and closure of the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline on 25 March 2023
The suspension has resulted in a gross production deferment to date of around 4.3 million barrels, or approximately 11,800 bopd on a full-year basis (2023 gross average production guidance prior to suspension: 46,000 – 52,000 bopd)
Almost all operational activity in the Shaikan Field has stopped since the pipeline closure in order to preserve liquidity
Production facilities currently ready to resume production
All drilling and well workover activity halted, with the drilling rig released following the completion and hook-up of SH-18
All expansion activity suspended, including the installation of water handling
Progressing critical safety upgrades and maintenance activity
No Lost Time Incidents for over 150 days
Currently exploring opportunities to sell Shaikan Field crude to local buyers
Potential opportunities to initially sell a portion of PF-1 production at prices in line with the local market
Logistics in place to quickly restart trucking operations.
The Company continues to engage with the KRG regarding outstanding receivables for the months of October 2022 to March 2023 totalling $151 million net on the basis of the KBT pricing mechanism
Net capital expenditures to the end of May 2023 are estimated at $49 million, including completion of SH-17 and SH-18, well workovers, well pad preparation, long lead items and expansion of production facilities
Cash balance of $93 million at 15 June 2023 Read More
Wind energy on the rise globally
Wind energy has seen significant growth in recent years, with global installed capacity passing impressive milestones and being one of the most competitive sources of energy. According to the International Energy Agency, of the total 830 gigawatts (GW) of wind capacity installed in 2021, 93% were onshore and 7% offshore wind farms. Wind energy must be significantly expanded in order to reach the ‘Net Zero Scenario’ with an annual wind generation goal of 8,000 terawatt hours (TWh) by 2030. For comparison, electricity demand in Europe and North America in 2021 totalled around 8,500 TWh. RWE operates more than 200 onshore wind farms worldwide. In Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the US, 17 projects with a total capacity of over 600 megawatts (MW) are under construction. These include the 200-MW project Montgomery Range in Texas. Read More
RWE connects utility-scale battery storage to California grid
RWE continues to expand its renewables portfolio in the U.S., connecting its first utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) to the California Independent System Operator. The project, named Fifth Standard, also includes a 150-megawatt (MWac) solar PV facility, expected to be complete in August. The BESS facility, at 137-MWac and located in Fresno County, California, is the company’s largest to date.
“Projects like Fifth Standard, with its co-located battery storage system, will become increasingly important to help ensure that as renewables form a bigger part of the energy mix, the electricity produced can be used when it is needed most,” said Mark Noyes, CEO of RWE Clean Energy. “In our case, future growth is backed by project development pipeline comprising more than 24 gigawatts in onshore wind, solar and battery storage, one of the largest in the U.S.”
Fifth Standard is located approximately 45 miles southwest of Fresno, California, and will consist of 369,334 photovoltaic panels and cover approximately 1,600 acres. The solar farm which will have the capacity to generate enough green electricity to power more than 26,000 homes, supports California’s clean energy goals as the state works toward its net zero goal of 2045.
The solar panels onsite will leverage a racking system with solar trackers, designed to follow the sun’s path and increase energy output. Excess energy not sent to the grid will be stored in an on-site lithium-ion battery energy storage facility. This storage system, which has up to 548 megawatt hours (MWh) of capacity, will allow the plant to maximize value by releasing solar energy when electric demand is highest. It can discharge 137 MW into the grid over a four-hour period. Read More
U.S. Rig Count is down 8 from last week to 687 with oil rigs down 4 to 552, gas rigs down 5 to 130 and miscellaneous rigs up 1 to 5.
U.S. Rig Count is down 53 rigs from last year’s count of 740 with oil rigs down 32, gas rigs down 24 and miscellaneous up 3.
Canada Rig Count is up 23 from last week to 159, with oil rigs up 18 to 103, gas rigs up 5 to 56.
Canada Rig Count is up 3 rigs from last year’s count of 156 with oil rigs down 1, gas rigs up 4.
| Region | Period | Rig Count | Change from Prior |
| U.S.A | 16 June 2023 | 687 | -8 |
| Canada | 16 June 2023 | 159 | +23 |
| International | May 2023 | 965 | +18 |
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OilandGasPress Energy Newsbites and Analysis Roundup | Compiled by: OGP Staff, Segun Cole @oilandgaspress.
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