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The new standard represents an important step towards optical modem interoperability for subsea systems. (Image source: SWiG)

Technology

Oil and gas industry network Subsea Wireless Group (SWiG) has released a new industry specification for free-space optical communications, providing a common protocol for modems from different manufacturers

SWiGoptical Level 1 defines a simple protocol to satisfy interoperability and interchangeability requirements for subsea free-space optical communication devices. It supports applications including, but not limited to, process control, equipment and process monitoring, diagnostics and maintenance, and data exchange and harvesting across autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and other connected subsea systems.

Systems working together

SWiG, a joint industry project (JIP) managed by OTM Networks (part of R&D consultancy Sagentia Innovation), was established to enable vehicles, infrastructure and equipment from different suppliers to work together seamlessly. It has 27 members representing all parts of the supply chain, from major energy operators to subsea service providers and integrators to specialist instrumentation companies. Its objectives include:

• Promote interoperability between users of subsea wireless communications.
• Raise industry awareness and acceptance of subsea wireless communications.
• Identify areas (within subsea wireless communications) where open standards are needed, and develop them.
• Encourage the integration of subsea wireless communication technologies.
• Share best practices across the industry.
• Promote knowledge transfer across the industry.

Shreekant Mehta, senior vice president, Energy Sector at Sagentia Innovation, said SWiGoptical Level 1 represents an important step towards optical modem interoperability for subsea systems.

“SWiG’s goal is to create a common subsea ecosystem where devices from different manufacturers interact seamlessly,” Mehta explained. “As subsea communication technologies continue to mature, a collaborative approach to developing open standards supports cost management and provides a common framework, reducing deployment risk, simplifying integration and supporting scalability. Achieving interoperability across subsea operations is essential if the industry is to realise the full benefits of autonomy.”

The new specification builds on the earlier SWiGacoustic standard and is the latest in a family of complementary SWiG standards that also cover radio frequency (RF), inductive data and power and hybrid communications. SWiGoptical Level 1 is now available to the wider industry, with Level 2 and Level 3 specifications for higher-performance protocols already under development.

The TESCOM RC-X motorised injection rate control valve. (Image source: Emerson)

Technology

Emerson has launched the TESCOM RC-X motorised injection rate control valve, which helps offshore refineries achieve accurate, repeatable chemical injection, reducing chemical waste, downtime and overall operating costs

Flow assurance is critical for offshore production facilities, especially as the industry moves to deeper water, longer tiebacks, deeper wells and higher temperature and pressure reservoirs, where conditions such as hydration, corrosion or the buildup of wax, asphaltene, scale and emulsion can restrict flow.

Chemical treatment can help mitigate these blockages, but there are dangers with over or under injection of chemicals. Over injection increases chemical consumption and resulting costs as well as additional field trips to replenish chemical storage tanks. It can also adversely impact downstream processing or treatment programmes and result in contamination penalties. Under injection can be ineffective, risking mechanical integrity and production output.

“Proper chemical dosing in deepwater and high-pressure/high-temperature refining environments can prevent blockages and flow instability, helping to ensure optimum fluid behaviour, protect asset integrity and stimulate production,” said Julia Villa, product marketing manager with Emerson´s fluid and motion control business, noting the TESCOM RC-X control valves enable accurate dosing that reduces downtime and chemical waste associated with over injection.

The value is specifically designed to work with Micro Motion Coriolis flow meters in offshore chemical injection processes, which deliver reliable flow measurement for liquids, gas or slurries.

Product features

  • Precise flow assurance - With a short-stroke design (less than 1/8 of an inch), TESCOM RC-X control valves are accurate up to 15,000 pounds per square inch (psi) and offer ultra-low flow rates of 0.02-500 liters per hour and repeatable function with 4-20 milliampere (mA) control
  • Electric actuation eliminates air requirements, an advantage when compressed air is unavailable or unreliable.
  • Available in medium- and high-pressure models
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Fewer moving parts than comparable products, reducing risk of mechanical failure over time, performing more consistently and requiring less maintenance.
  • Explosion-proof, waterproof (IP67-rated) and corrosion resistant (compliant to NACE MR0175).

 

Petrobras secures several PSCs with Petroci. (Image source: Petrobras)

Exploration

With deepwater knowledge gathered over several decades in pre-salt basins, Brazil's national energy company, Petrobras, is now looking towards Africa because of its mirror image geology 

Being conjugate basins, Brazil and Africa share very similar geological patterns, making it structurally and technically easier for Petrobras to explore and generate production.

Alternative to declining pre-salt reserves

While Petrobras' massive pre-salt fields off the coast of Rio de Janeiro are highly lucrative today, these are gradually declining in production count and might stop producing by the 2030s. The Brazil oil major is thus strategising resources diversification to replenish its oil resreves. It keeps seeking new frontiers to expand exploration portfolio, generating long-term value and sustainability for the company. 

Eight blocks in Ivory Coast

After closing major exploration deal in Ghana, Petrobras has signed production sharing agreements (PSCs) with Petroci Holding to secure exploration interests across eight offshore blocks in Ivory Coast.

The PSCs were formalised through the major's wholly-owned subsidiary Petrobras Netherlands BV during a signing ceremony in Abidjan, where Petrobras' executive director of exploration and production, Sylvia Anjos, was present. This gives Petrobras a 90% stake as operator of Blocks CI-513, CI-600, CI-601, CI-602, CI-603, CI-605, CI-701 and CI-702. Petroci, on the other hand, retains a 10% stake in all these blocks.

African Atlantic margin potential

"With this acquisition, Petrobras assumes a significant presence in Ivory Coast, a country located in a region of high exploratory potential, with geological characteristics similar to those of our sedimentary basins. We will apply our experience and technical capacity to these blocks and we are confident that, with them, we will be able to uncover all the possibilities that we believe exist on the African Atlantic margin," said the president of Petrobras, Magda Chambriard.

This is in line with Petrobras' business plan for exploration portfolio diversification, focusing on new prospects not only in Brazil but internationally. It will promote value creation and long-term business sustainability for the major. 

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Exploration

Essar lies in the concession area C 103.

Exploration

While carrying a history of severe geopolitical instability, Libya's resilience in still being able to attract global investment interests speaks volumes about the richness of its reserves

Known to hold Africa's largest proven oil resources, Libya moves North African supply dynamics. International oil companies are increasingly returning to reactivate dormant fields and tap into high-potential basins. Central to this resurgence is the Sirte Basin, a historically prolific region offering significant infrastructure proximity.

Recently, the country has reported several successful appraisals, marking a critical turning point for international investment, signaling restored commercial confidence and renewed momentum in Libya’s long-term energy output goals.

Resource discovery and infrastructure integration

OMV has classified the Essar well in Libya’s Sirte Basin as commercially viable following technical and economic evaluations. Previously, the Libya NOC too approved the discovery's commercial viability. 

The well lies in the concession area C 103, where OMV holds 12% interest.

With an indication of total recoverable resources reaching up to 45 million barrels of oil, the reservoir is being prepared for development by Zueitina Oil Company. It will be easier to hit production timelines from thew concession sooner as it lies adjacent to existing production and processing facilities, ensuring cost-efficiency as well. The discovery highlights Libya’s potential as one of Africa’s most important energy regions and marks another milestone in the long-standing partnership between OMV and the NOC.

“The Essar discovery is a major milestone for OMV and our partners at the NOC. It confirms not only Libya’s considerable potential, but also the value of long-term partnerships, technical excellence, and our unwavering commitment on the ground. Strategic collaborations such as this are essential to providing the energy the world needs. I am proud of what we have achieved together and look forward to the next chapter in Libya”, said Berislav Gaso, OMV executive vice president for energy.

Upstream strategy in North Africa

OMV holds Libya strategically important as part of its upstream growth interests in North Africa. The company has been an active player in Libya for around 50 years and is among the country’s long-standing international energy partners. It resumed operations in the country in 2024, after a hiatus of more than ten years.

OMV has extensive experience in the exploration and production of oil and gas in North Africa and relies on close cooperation with local partners as well as the continuous optimization of existing assets. Libya holds Africa’s largest proven oil reserves and ranks among the world’s most significant oil-producing countries.

The Ima gas field will be connected to Nigeria LNG.

Eni has invested in Ghana Blocks in line with IILX strategy.

Geology & Geophysics

MegaSurveys are 3D seismic datasets synchronised across large contiguous areas. (Image source: TGS)

Geology & Geophysics

Energy data and intelligence provider, TGS, has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Hydrocarbon and Mining Development of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to create MegaSurvey, a large-scale multi-client seismic product for offshore exploration

Beginning with the post-stack reprocessing of approximately 27,273 kilometers of 2D seismic data and around 35,000 square kilometers of 3D seismic data, the project is set to be completed in Q3 2026.

3D seismic datasets synchronised across large contiguous areas, MegaSurvey eliminates uncertainty by enabling nearly accurate geological interpretation, with clarity in structural and stratigraphic frameworks.

The agreement marks the first phase of a broader plan to create a harmonized and seamless seismic data product across Equatorial Guinea’s offshore basins. The full product vision includes approximately 46,343 line kilometers of 2D seismic data and more than 59,000 square kilometers of 3D seismic data.

David Hajovsky, Executive Vice President, Multi-Client at TGS, commented: “The Equatorial Guinea MegaSurvey is the first of its kind in the country and will apply TGS’s latest imaging technology to address key subsurface challenges and support exploration risk reduction across the Rio del Rey and Rio Muni basins. The product is designed to provide customers with a basin-wide regional screening tool, supporting prospect identification, prospect ranking and planning for future work commitments.”

By integrating and reprocessing legacy datasets into a consistent regional framework, the MegaSurvey will provide new insight into the prospectivity of Equatorial Guinea’s offshore basins and support informed exploration decision-making.

Offshore Sao Tome and Príncipe is a challenging subsurface environment. (Image source: TGS)

The survey will span across 34,000 kms offshore Egypt. (Image source: TGS)

Technology

PipeSense deployed PipeScan, a pressure-pulse technology, to locate obstructions in two offshore pipeline networks. (Image Source: PipeSense)

Technology

PipeSense, a pipeline leak detection specialist, has expanded its capabilities to support offshore operations, following a successful project off the coast of Angola

Working with a multinational operator, PipeSense deployed PipeScan, a pressure-pulse technology, to locate obstructions in two offshore pipeline networks. PipeSense’s team of experienced operators, engineers, and data scientists monitored a 20-inch natural gas pipeline and a 16-inch offshore crude and multiphase pipeline that was flooded with seawater.

With the natural gas pipeline, the company completed repeated pressure pulse testing to identify an obstruction approximately 11km downstream. For the second project, PipeSense installed instruments on both ends of the offshore crude and multiphase pipeline. Controlled pressure releases generated repeatable reflection signatures that identified the obstruction within approximately 700m of the launcher.

The projects highlighted how induced pressure pulse testing, high-speed pressure acquisition, and dynamic pressure wave reflection analysis can accurately determine obstruction location in offshore environments, all without interrupting normal pipeline operations or requiring specialised tools.

Josh Holmes, PipeSense’s VP of Business Development, said, “This project is a clear and concise demonstration that our approach to obstruction locating can provide a practical addition to the pipeline integrity toolkit for locating stuck pigs, hydrate plugs, debris, and other flow restrictions across a wide range of offshore pipeline applications.    

Offshore and subsea pipeline operators undertake highly complex work every day to safely operate, maintain, and protect critical infrastructure in some of the world’s most challenging environments. This requires a continued focus on asset integrity, operational reliability, and the ability to identify and respond to changing pipeline conditions with confidence.  

Our goal is to support operators in that mission by providing advanced technologies that deliver greater visibility into pipeline performance and help teams make faster, more informed decisions. Having demonstrated our capabilities across a range of onshore applications and complex flow conditions, we are excited to bring that experience into offshore and subsea environments. This project in Angola represents an important first step in what we believe will be a strong and exciting future supporting offshore operators around the world.” 

The new standard represents an important step towards optical modem interoperability for subsea systems. (Image source: SWiG)

The TESCOM RC-X motorised injection rate control valve. (Image source: Emerson)

Gas

TechnipFMC to support Eni's Baleine project offshore Ivory Coast.

Gas

As Eni SpA works to expand production from the Baleine Phase 3 fast track development offshore Ivory Coast, it has signed a significant contract with TechnipFMC to secure its support services

Known as one the largest hydrocarbon discoveries in the region, the fast track development will be supported with a network of flexible flowlines and risers that will be designed and build by TechnipFMC to connect wells in water depths of approximately 1,200 meters to a new floating production unit.

Jonathan Landes, president-subsea for TechnipFMC, said, “This award marks the continued expansion of our collaboration with Eni. We are excited to apply our expertise to provide a robust flexible pipe solution with schedule certainty in support of this fast-track project.”

Previously, TechnipFMC bagged a engineering, procurement, construction, and installation contract offshore Mozambique for the Coral North development in water depths of approximately 2,000 m.

“We are excited to once again work with Eni and their consortium partners in Mozambique. We will leverage our experience gained from the successful delivery of Coral South—the world’s first FLNG project in ultradeep water—by replicating our proven playbook with an enhanced approach,” said Landes. 

The contract will require TechnipFMC to manufacture and install flexible flowlines and risers, alongside subsea manifolds and umbilicals. 

TechnipFMC has secured the contract from the project's operator, Eni, who reached the final investment decision of the Coral North project in October this year, and aims delivery by 2028. 

While Eni is leading the venture with a 50% share, other partners include CNPC (20%), Kogas (10%), ENH (10%) and ADNOC-subsidiary XRG (10%). Eni will be investing on the development of a state-of-the-art floating LNG facility in the Rovuma Basin, where it will be generating gas volumes from the northern part of Area’s 4 Coral gas reservoir. 

The Coral North development follows the success of the Coral South project, which effectively continues to be in production. 

First gas from NT-1 and NT-2 is targeted for December.

Reservoir properties were above pre-drill estimates.

Downstream

The consistent market launches come from optimised production.

Downstream

In line with Nigeria's strategy to expand reach in export market, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has globally released its new crude grade – Cawthorne 

With an API gravity of 36.4 that denotes the light and sweet kind, the Cawthorne crude rules global market demand because of its unmatched petrol and diesel yields. Comparable to Bonny Light, Cawthorne crude blend is the latest from Nigeria’s basket of crude grades, building on recent additions such as Nembe and Utapate. 

The consistent market launches come from optimised production, helping Nigeria to solidify its base in the export market with diverse offerings. The Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel, which is strategically positioned offshore Bonny, Rivers State for enhanced energy security and operational efficiency in easy crude evacuation from OML18, comprised the maiden 950,000 barrels cargo for export. Loaded on an MT Eburones vessel, it headed to the Netherlands, and unto the global market. 

As Nigeria aims to attain crude production of three million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030, the international launch of Cawthorne will unlock value from its asset base and deepen market competitiveness.

“This milestone reflects the direction we have set for NNPC Limited—one anchored on execution, partnership, and value creation. We are moving decisively from resource potential to resource monetisation, ensuring that every asset delivers measurable commercial outcomes.

"The successful export of the Cawthorne crude grade is not an isolated achievement; it is part of a broader, deliberate strategy to grow production, deepen market relevance, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a reliable global energy supplier. We remain firmly focused on delivering sustainable growth in line with national objectives and global market expectations,” said Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, as he acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership and OML 18 partners' strong collaboration in achieving the milestone. 

Technological innovation, strategic partnerships, and operational discipline will remain central to NNPC Limited's vision as the organisation works towards value creation from Nigeria's vast hydrocarbons resources.

 

 

The MoU was signed in China. (Image source: NNPC)

Africa’s refining landscape is diverging.

Event News

Lucia Witbooi, Vice President of the Republic of Namibia at NOGC 2026. (Image source: NOGC)

Event News

Local content in Namibia was first considered at a policy level in 2021, until back to back Orange Basin discoveries the year after pushed the Cabinet to formally sanction the structured development of a comprehensive framework

Thanks to high-profile discoveries like Shell's Graff-1 and TotalEnergies' Venus-1X fields, the sudden inflow of substantial foreign capital required channelising in a way that keeps benefiting Namibian locals across generations; this was addressed in the new framework. Following years of nation-wide consultations at both ministerial and industrial levels, the Cabinet has now approved the National Upstream Petroleum Local Content Policy. This will ensure legal security for local participation across the upstream petroleum value chain.

Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition

Local content set the tone for the recently held Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition (NOGC) in Windhoek, and factors that drove the sessions and conversations included: 

  • Capitalisation of petroleum opportunity

  • Generation of long-term national value

  • Advancing investments and businesses

  • Skills and jobs creation

“Discovery is not the destination. A resource beneath our waters becomes a national success only when it is responsibly developed and translated into tangible improvements in the lives of our people. It must become employment for Namibians, opportunities for our enterprises, skills for our young people, technology for our institutions, infrastructure for our economy, revenues for national development, and savings for future generations. This is why the theme of this conference is particularly appropriate,” said Lucia Witbooi, Vice President of the Republic of Namibia.

From Decision to Dividend: Making Namibia’s Oil Work for Namibians was the theme for the three-day conference hosted by the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), with strategic partners the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) and SNC Incorporated. The conference was officially endorsed by the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy.

“Our strategic plan for 2026 to 2030 carries one organising idea, which is to move this country from exploration to readiness, so that Namibia is ready onshore when production begins offshore. Namibia expects Namibian employment to be maximised, Namibian suppliers prioritised, skills and technology transferred, and meaningful Namibian participation, ownership and financing across the value chain.

"Fiscal certainty is a stable and transparent framework for petroleum revenues. Namibia does not move the goalposts. To our international partners: local content, properly done, is not a tax on your investment. An industry surrounded by capable Namibian suppliers, skilled Namibian workers and invested Namibian communities is an industry with social licence, political stability and a future measured in generations. That is what the policy builds, and my ministry will implement it with you, not against you. I am happy to state that our local banks have informed me that they are ready to receive bankable proposals from the oil and gas sector for their consideration,” said Modestus Amutse, the Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy. 

From exploration to development

Namibia is currently transitioning from exploration towards development, and local content remains the core of this journey. The administration is increasingly focusing on:

  • Enterprise participation

  • Skills exchange and development

  • Infrastructure building

  • Financing and investment

“Oil is not the point; oil is actually the how. Our people are the why,” said Jason Kasuto, chairperson of the Economic Association of Namibia and managing director of Monasa Advisory & Associates. 

The event saw Namibian business persons and policymakers strategising on ways to advance local participation at the Local Content Masterclass segment. There was also the NIPDB Local Content Pitching Session, where entrepreneurs pitched concepts and sought partnership opportunities with industry leaders and investors. Supplier workshops educated domestic businesses on international industry standards as the means to expand influence. 

The event will convene the global energy industry in Abu Dhabi. (Image source: dmg events)

Energy leaders from across Africa will participate in the Strategic Conference. (Image source: dmg events)

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