Energy: Industrial energy efficiency

This is an excerpt from EERE network news, a weekly electronic newsletter.

On 16 November explains Dr. Kathleen Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for energy efficiency, industrial energy efficiency to a video live chat energy issues.

Dr. Hogan answered questions, written by professionals and the interested public via email, Facebook and Twitter, on as commercial building efficiency, advanced manufacturing and corporate partnerships can American competitiveness.

The manufacturing industry is 12 million American jobs and exports 60% of the United States. DOE programs such as the American manufacturing partnership and the better buildings, better plants create jobs, help companies in improving their competitiveness and economic situation of the country to strengthen. Read the energy blog post.

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Innovative energy storage technologies enable more renewable energy

This is an excerpt from EERE network news, a weekly electronic newsletter.

Solar and wind power provide for America the opportunity to strengthen the security of energy supply, jobs in the growing markets and improve the environment. Thanks to breakthroughs in the energy storage systems including the first grid tied solar and storage facility which is closer to potential to reality. The combination of energy storage systems with smart grid technology, utilities can output of power automatically "smooth". This enables intermittent energy sources be available even if the Sun is not or is not the wind is blowing.

In the United States, the American reinvestment Recovery Act is the financing so that 32 demonstration projects, including the large energy storage, smart meters, distribution and transmission system monitoring devices and a range of other intelligent technologies to explore the provision of integrated smart grid systems widely.

Recently, three of these projects for their progress recorded in the development and implementation of energy storage systems. How to extend the worldwide market for clean energy, such projects are continuing the tradition of American leadership in the development of next-generation technologies. See energy blog-post.

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$7 Million help trim "Soft" costs of DOE's of solar systems

This is an excerpt from EERE network news, a weekly electronic newsletter.

DOE is $ 7 million of the SunShot incubator program to help reduce the not hardware costs of living and solar energy installations such as installation required.
IMG credit: Craig Miller Productions

DOE announced on 15 November up to $7 million as part of the initiative to reduce the not hardware costs of residential and SunShot solar energy installations. The Fund supports the development of tools and approaches, the non-hardware - or "soft" costs such as cost for installation, allows to reduce interconnection and inspection. Turnout may total less than half of the cost of a residential system. This work is supported by the SunShot incubator program, and make the process of the purchase, installation and maintenance of solar energy systems faster, easier and less costly.

The incubator focused to solve previously to hardware challenges. This new funding round applies to the soft costs for the installation of solar systems and confirmed the great potential for cost savings in this area. The balance of system soft costs through this funding opportunity all non-hardware aspects of an installed photovoltaic system, such as work, approval and control, customer acquisition, financing, and the award of contracts are fixed. Funding will be awarded in two stages. Level 1 includes prices up to $500,000 with a cost share of 20% over 12 months to speed up the development of innovative approaches non-hardware-. DOE awards in this category can deliver about 3-5. Level 2 prices includes more than 18 months transition innovative systems and solutions the demonstration stage, and finally full deployment million with a cost of 50% up to $5. DOE awards in this category can provide approximately 1-3.

The DOE SunShot initiative is a collaborative national effort to reduce the cost of solar energy by about 75% by the end of the Decade. A key objective of the program incubator SunShot is to start new start-up companies and new business units within the existing commercial entities. Concept paper applications for the financing of soft costs are by January 16 2012. finding you the DOE press release ©, the funding opportunity announcement, one energy blog post and the SunShot initiative Web site.

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DOE, EPA release of 2012 annual fuel economy guide

This is an excerpt from EERE network news, a weekly electronic newsletter.

2012 Full electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV was after the year 2012 fuel economy guide most economical with a 112 miles per gallon average rated.
Credit card: Mitsubishi

DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published on 16 November 2012 fuel economy guide. The manual contains information with which consumers can choose one of more efficient vehicles that save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Operate during fuel-saving vehicles in a variety of fuel types, classes and sizes come many new technology advanced vehicles debut at this year's each year a list of the top fuel economy performers. 2012 Full electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV top this list after a conversion from gas electric account was in a 112 miles per gallon (mpg) average type. The electric vehicle Nissan leaf, the Azure Dynamics transit connect electric van, the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt and last year's leader, the Toyota Prius hybrid, the top five spots rounded.

Fuel pump industry leader within each category - of two-seater to large SUVs - widely available products, such as traditional gasoline models and clean diesel. Some models 2012 be voluntarily a new fuel economy show and eco-label, fuel consumers of comprehensive efficiency provides information, including the five year fuel costs or savings when compared to the average vehicle as new greenhouse gases and smog reviews. These labels are 2013 model year will be required.

The online rankings are the vehicles with the lowest fuel consumption. Each vehicle offers an estimated annual fuel costs of listing in the Guide. The estimate is calculated based on the vehicle of mpg rating and national estimates for annual mileage and fuel prices. The online version of the Handbook allows consumers to enter of their local gas prices and the typical driving habits get personalized fuel cost estimates. See the DOE press release ©, the complete manual and 2012 fuel economy heads of State and Government.

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BP awarded exploration blocks in Indonesia

BP received two oil and gas product sharing contracts (PSCs) from the Government of Indonesia.

The company received 100 percent interests in the offshore West of Aru I and II PSCs in the Arafura Sea, Indonesia.

The West of Aru are I and II PSCs is approximately 500 kilometers southwest of the BP-operated North Arafura PSC and 200 km west of the Aru islands of the Moluccas in Indonesia.

The West of Aru I comprises an area of about 8,100 km2 PSC and the West of Aru II PSC covers an area of approximately 8,300 km2.

The two blocks have water depths between 200 metres and 2,500 metres. BP expects that begin in the near future seismic activity in these blocks.

"In the last two years BP's position in Indonesia by access to four Coalbed Methane PSCs in Kalimantan and three conventional gas blocks in Papua, deepened", said William Lin, BP President Asia Pacific regional.

"These two new blocks are strong complements this portfolio and benefit from expertise in BP Exploration in the deep sea." "We appreciate the continued support and confidence of the Government of Indonesia."

Including the award of these blocks BP access blocks in 11 countries around the world on 69 new license since October 2010, including Kalimantan Coalbed Methane and North Arafura blocks in Indonesia won. The company plans to double worldwide spend his exploration in the next few years.

View the original article here

First oil at Aseng the PA increases resource production

Started production of oil I has field in block on the Aseng in Equatorial Guinea. The field is about 3,000 barrels of oil per day net to PA resources contribute.

The Aseng project was delivered before schedule and under budget.

First oil flowed from the field of Aseng floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel on the 6 November 2011. The rate of oil production has steadily ramped up, how have 4 subsea wells online has been turned. The field produces around 50,000 barrels of oil per day gross and has around 3,000 barrels of oil per day PA resources on a working basis interest.

"The Aseng field increases our production and is a significant additional cash flow,", said Bo Askvik, President and CEO of PA resources

"The field is 500 million after costs in the first year, which increased our financial flexibility SEK about." "We are very pleased with this successful project, which was delivered before schedule and under budget and congratulations to reach the operator on this important milestone."

First production was achieved less than 2 years sentence, some seven months ahead of schedule and about 13 percent below budget. The first tanker oil from the Aseng field is expected to be paged in December 2011.

The Aseng infrastructure provides a hub, other developments back in the future be bound can with the Alen area is developing on schedule for the first production in 2013.

PA resources has, 5.7% participation interest in the Aseng area, the operator of noble energy 38%, Atlas petroleum 27.55%, Glencore exploration 23.75% and on petroleum 5%.

View the original article here

Iraq natural gas joint venture gets final approval

The Iraqi Cabinet approved with Royal Dutch Shell and Mitsubishi Corporation, formation of joint ventures to the raw gas from three large oil fields to collect an agreement.

The joint venture, Mitsubishi Corporation, 51% of Iraqi South gas company, are called held 44% of shell and 5% Basrah gas company (BGC) and come together is raw gas that is currently due to lack of infrastructure, flared to collect it.

Shell offers project management and technical expertise with the intention that learn and step-by-step key positions in the management of the company take over development of our Iraqi employees to facilitate.

"Recording this gas is a reliable energy supply for the Iraq while reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said shell Chief Executive Officer Peter Voser.

"This sends a positive signal about the investment climate in the country."

The joint venture collect and process raw gas from the fields of Rumaila, Zubair and West world's largest 1 and Majnoon, in the southern part of the country. The primary market for the gas is Iraq, but any surplus can potentially be exported.

Some 700 million standard cubic feet of gas is currently burned every day in the South of Iraq. At current prices is the gas valued at approximately $1.8 billion per year.

Burning created it, how much per year than 3.5 million cars greenhouse gases.

In September 2008, shell signed a preliminary agreement with the Iraqi Ministry of oil for a gas project collect. The agreement established the commercial principles: a joint venture between shell and the South gas company. An official signing of the agreement is scheduled in the near future.

In the Iraq shell, the operator of the Consortium is providing technical assistance in the development of the Majnoon field.

View the original article here

Production potential raised at Carioca discovery, offshore Brazil

BG Group reported an extended well test (EWT) had increased the production potential of the Carioca discovery located on the BM-S-9 concession in the Santos Basin, offshore Brazil.

Results from the EWT in progress at the well 3-SPS-74, known as Carioca Nordeste, indicate potential production of approximately 28 000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), above initial expectations. The well, which is connected to the FPSO Dynamic Producer, is currently producing 23 400 bopd, constrained by facilities.

The potential of the Carioca area was further underlined by results from the 4-BRSA-973A-SPS well, informally known as Abare, located 35 kilometres south of the discovery well 1-BRSA-491-SPS (Carioca) and 293 kilometres off the coast of Sao Paulo state.

Wireline samples showed good quality oil at Abare, about 28 degrees API, in carbonate reservoirs at a depth of about 4 830 metres. A drill stem formation test is planned to evaluate the productivity of the interval.

Five wells have now been drilled in the Carioca area in addition to the completion of two formation tests. This fulfills the evaluation commitments required by the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).

Given the promising results at Carioca, the consortium intends to do more appraisal work to further evaluate the area's full potential.

To allow this, the ANP has approved a revision of activities and has extended the deadline for a Declaration of Commerciality from November 2011 to 31 December 2013. There is no change to the consortium's plans and schedule for development and production.

BG Group has a 30% interest in Block BM-S-9 which is comprised of two appraisal areas - Guara and Carioca (Petrobras 45%, operator and Repsol Sinopec 25%).

View the original article here

Lundin Petroleum: PDO approval for Brynhild

Lundin Petroleum reported the approval from the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy of the Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) for the Brynhild field in PL148, located in the Norwegian North Sea.

First production from the Brynhild field is expected in late 2013.

The Brynhild field is located adjacent to the Norway-United Kingdom border, some 210 km from the Norwegian mainland. The development of Brynhild will be a three well subsea tie-back to the Pierce FPSO located in the United Kingdom, 38 km south of the field.

The estimated gross reserves are approximately 20 million barrels of oil equivalents (MMboe) with net peak production of approximately 12,000 barrels of oil equivalents per day (boepd). The hydrocarbons will be processed at the Pierce FPSO before being offloaded for further transportation.

Lundin Petroleum has a 50 percent working interest in the Brynhild field and is operator. Partners are Talisman with 30 percent and Noreco with 20 percent.

View the original article here

Tullow signs new PSC as operator offshore Mauritania

Tullow Oil reported new Production Sharing Contract (PSC) arrangements have been agreed with the Government of Mauritania and its joint venture partners.

These arrangements will enable the Group to progress the appraisal and development of existing discoveries and pursue exploration in a new contract area covering 10,725 square kilometres with Tullow as operator.

The new arrangements, reached through transactions with partners and PSC awards from the Government, result in the exploration areas of the PSCs previously known as PSC–Area A and PSC–Area B being replaced by a new, single Exploration PSC called C-10. Tullow will operate this new PSC with a 59.15% interest.

The existing Banda, Tevet and Tiof discoveries have been ring-fenced under their original PSC terms and extensions of up to 18 months have been granted to allow appraisal and development activities to be completed.

Petronas will continue to operate Chinguetti Field on the basis of the original equities.

Tullow will work closely with the Government of Mauritania and its Joint Venture partners on the near-term commercialisation of the existing discoveries and the initiation of a high-impact exploration programme.

The development of the Banda gas and Banda oil rim discoveries will be prioritised and it is expected that the results of initial development studies will be presented to the Government in early 2012. The high impact exploration programme is expected to include a minimum of two wells over the next three years.

View the original article here

PA Resources discovery on Lille John prospect

PA Resources has completed its sidetrack of the Lille John well to a Chalk target but did not encounter effective reservoir.

The sidetrack provided a second penetration of the Miocene sandstone level encountered in the original well, again oil-bearing and with improved reservoir quality compared to the initial penetration.

"We have now ended our successful Danish drilling campaign as operator, with two discoveries from two exploration wells," said Bo Askvik, President and CEO at PA Resources.

"The sidetrack at Lille John has shown improved reservoir quality in the Miocene sandstone which gives us further encouragement that the Miocene seismic anomaly reflects yet better reservoir. We are very satisfied with this result of the campaign and have commenced a comprehensive evaluation to progress Broder Tuck towards development. Additional studies will be conducted to progress the further exploration of the Lille John area and appraisal of the exciting Miocene discovery, made at a reservoir level which has not been widely explored in Denmark."

The exploration sidetrack at the Lille John prospect in Danish Licence 12/06 has been drilled to a total depth of 1,307 meters below mean sea level. It encountered a modest thickness of highly-cemented Chalk with weak hydrocarbon indications, but no effective reservoir.

The sidetrack also penetrated the Miocene sandstones some 180 meters away from the Miocene interval that was found to be oil-bearing in the initial Lille John well in October. Again the Miocene sandstones were oil-bearing in the sidetrack at a depth approximately 930 meters below mean sea level, with improved reservoir quality compared to the original well which confirmed oil of gravity 34-35 degrees API. Both penetrations were primarily located for the Chalk target and as such lie outside of the well-imaged Miocene seismic amplitude anomaly interpreted to reflect better developed oil-bearing sandstone. The sidetrack was not located to allow the secondary Middle Jurassic target to be drilled and so is now being plugged and abandoned.

The Lille John well is located approximately 17 kilometres south of Gorm Field and 8 kilometres from PA Resources’ gas and condensate discovery at the Broder Tuck prospect made in July of this year. The License 12/06 partners will formally declare both Broder Tuck and Lille John as discoveries, which triggers the commencement of further technical and commercial evaluation of the finds and allows a request for a licence extension to be submitted. A comprehensive re-evaluation of the nearby Miocene exploration prospectivity and the Chalk and Middle Jurassic potential which remains in the Lille John prospect will also be conducted using the new well results and reprocessed 3D data.

The following companies participate in Licence 12/06: PA Resources UK Limited (64%), Nordsofonden (Danish North Sea Fund) (20%), Danoil Exploration A/S (8%) and Spyker Energy APS (8%). PA Resources is operator of the licence.

View the original article here

Heritage Oil awarded Tanzanian acreage

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Posted: 1 November 2011

Heritage Oil has been awarded a further Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) in Tanzania and is the operator with 100% interest.

"We are delighted to have signed the Rukwa PSA which shares many geological similarities with the Albert Basin in Uganda where we have had previous success," said Tony Buckingham, Heritage CEO

"We established a new play fairway in East African rift basins with our exploration success in Uganda and believe this previous experience provides Heritage with a unique advantage in accessing the potential of this exciting new area."

Heritage has now licensed virtually the entire Rukwa Rift Basin split into two separate areas; Rukwa North Basin and Rukwa South Basin. These blocks cover areas of 10,175 square kilometres and 8,745 square kilometres respectively.

Limited exploration activity was undertaken in the blocks in the mid-1980s which resulted in the acquisition of c.2,300 kilometres of 2D seismic data and the drilling of two wells.

The historical gravity and seismic data highlight the potential in the Rukwa Rift Basin with over seven kilometres of sedimentary section in some places. Heritage recognises that the Rukwa Rift Basin shares certain similarities with the Albert Basin of Uganda, thereby providing the Company with a key advantage in assessing the blocks.

The work programme will commence shortly and Heritage has committed to acquire c.600 kilometres of new 2D seismic data and will also reprocess and reinterpret the legacy seismic database. The new seismic programme will focus on exploration plays in potentially prospective areas of the blocks not previously considered, covering structures that were poorly defined on the legacy data. Heritage will draw on its considerable operational experience of working in remote environments to drill any prospective targets it identifies.

In the event of an oil discovery, the Rukwa Rift Basin lies less than 100 kilometres from the railhead at Mbeya and economic scoping shows the commercial viability of either rail export to Dar es Salaam or export by pipeline depending on exploration success.

Posted by Richard Price, Editor, energyme.com. Follow energyme.com on Twitter @energyme. Information supplied by companies or PR agencies who are responsible for content. Send press releases in Word format to richard@energyme.com

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Montserrado-1 plugged and abandoned

Tullow Oil reported that the Montserrado-1 exploration well, offshore Liberia, has made a non-commercial oil discovery in Late Cretaceous reservoir sands.

This result is an important exploration breakthrough, establishing a working hydrocarbon system in the Liberian basin.

"Whilst this wildcat well made a sub-commercial discovery at this location, we have gained critical insights which we will now integrate with our extensive 3D seismic data for follow-up drilling in our highly prospective Liberian acreage," said Angus McCoss, Exploration Director.

"We now look forward to the drilling of the high-impact Jupiter and Mercury-2 wells in Sierra Leone."

The well was drilled in block LB-15 to a total depth of 5,400 metres and encountered good-quality, water-bearing sands in the main objective. In a deeper secondary objective, approximately 8 metres of hydrocarbon pay was intersected and a sample of light oil was recovered.

The well is being plugged and abandoned and the drillship is being mobilised to Sierra Leone to drill the Mercury-2 appraisal well and the Jupiter exploration well on block SL-07B-11.

Tullow has a 25.00% working interest in the licence and is partnered by the operator, Anadarko Petroleum (47.5%) and Repsol (27.5%).

View the original article here

B.C. residents to $5 K in clean energy cars

B.C. residents get 1 up to $5,000 from the sticker price of a legitimate clean energy vehicle from Dec.

Environment Minister Terry Lake said Saturday that the discount includes qualified new vehicles, the electrical battery, fuel cell-electric, hybrid electric plug in and those who work with compressed natural gas.

Andrea Mercer, a spokeswoman of the Ministry, said that it currently up to 30 vehicles for fleets Basso continuo, and 10 to 20 for residential use.

During the 17 - million-dollar program, the province is funding for new charge also providing stations and updated on hydrogen refuelling stations in our sites.

House and homeowners who want to install charger get a mail-in rebate of $500 for eligible units, beginning December 1.

Mercer said home charging stations cost up to $1,500 and the Environment Ministry will publish a list of qualified providers and eligible.

"Be installed in your garage, or they can outside, depending on what is your Setup provided."
Hydro low cost

Similar discount programs on vehicles and charging stations are in Quebec and Ontario, she said, adding that both provinces provide only E-mail-in for clean energy new vehicles discounts.

Blair Qualey, President of the new car dealers Association of b.c.., said that the sector with automakers to new clean energy vehicles market has worked on the province.

"Vehicles, who searched for the rebate expected to be less than $300 a year in hydro costs above $1,500 per year to a gas-powered car fuel,", he said.

On Saturday, the scrap-it program was also expanded, so that qualified 1995 or older can get rid of the pass, car sharing memberships, or $300 more British Columbians gas guzzlers for incentives, such as bus.

Repsol makes its largest oil find

Repsol has confirmed its biggest ever oil discovery following the first exploratory efforts in the Vaca Muerta formation in Argentina’s Neuquen province, one of the world’s largest non-conventional reservoirs.

The company has confirmed recoverable resources of 927 million barrels of oil equivalent of non-conventional hydrocarbons, of which 741 million are high quality oil (40-45? API), in an area of 428 km2 of the Loma La Lata Norte formation in the Neuquen province.

A total of 15 vertical wells were drilled, and they produced an initial 5,000 boepd of high quality shale oil.

Repsol YPF has also begun exploratory and production activities in another discovery, in a 502 km2 producing area in the same Vaca Muerta formation. The well is producing 400 boepd of high quality shale oil (35° API).

This new area has significant potential for large volumes to be developed in the future once the appropriate studies and preliminary work to determine resources is completed.

Until now, the company has concentrated its exploratory efforts for non-conventional resources on an area of Loma La Lata Norte. This 428 km2 area is part of the 12,000 km2 to which YPF owns rights in the Vaca Muerta area, site of one of the world’s largest (30.000 km2) and highest quality non-conventional resources.

Wood Mackenzie identified the Vaca Muerta shale as one of the best in the world in its “Unconventional Gas Service,” describing the formation as “excellent” after evaluating areas in Australia, China and various European countries.

The evaluation included the development of the hydrocarbons market, infrastructure, regulation, availability of water, fiscal terms, quality, comparative volume, potential for enhanced recovery and organisation of the supply chain.

Wood Mackenzie said in its report that YPF is the world’s second largest company in non-conventional acreage, with 3 million acres (12,000 km2) in the Vaca Muerta formation.

Repsol in December 2009 launched its “Exploratory Programme 2010-2014” which begun in the middle of 2010. One of its objectives was the creation of a non-conventional resources exploration plan.

Additionally to the reported 428 km2, studies are being carried out to quantify the additional resources in a new 502 km2 area, where results obtained so far allow the company to estimate similar potential to the aforementioned area.

View the original article here

Repsol new gas find in Brazilian post-salt

Repsol Sinopec Brazil and its partner Petrobras have made a new offshore gas discovery in the Brazilian post-salt.

The find was made 135 kilometres from the city of Vitoria, in the Espiritu Santo basin.

The well, known as Malombe, was drilled in the southeast of the Peroa field, in 980 metres (3,215 feet) of water. The find was confirmed after several tests detected gas at a depth of 2,600 metres.

The consortium, which will continue to carry out work on the block, will present an evaluation plan to Brazil’s National Oil Agency (ANP), which aims to demarcate the new deposit that has been discovered, and result in an estimate its volume and production capacity.

Repsol Sinopec Brazil has an 11.9% share in the consortium and Petrobras, which is the operator, holds the remaining 88.1%.

View the original article here

PA Resources discovery on Lille John prospect

PA Resources has completed its sidetrack of the Lille John well to a Chalk target but did not encounter effective reservoir.

The sidetrack provided a second penetration of the Miocene sandstone level encountered in the original well, again oil-bearing and with improved reservoir quality compared to the initial penetration.

"We have now ended our successful Danish drilling campaign as operator, with two discoveries from two exploration wells," said Bo Askvik, President and CEO at PA Resources.

"The sidetrack at Lille John has shown improved reservoir quality in the Miocene sandstone which gives us further encouragement that the Miocene seismic anomaly reflects yet better reservoir. We are very satisfied with this result of the campaign and have commenced a comprehensive evaluation to progress Broder Tuck towards development. Additional studies will be conducted to progress the further exploration of the Lille John area and appraisal of the exciting Miocene discovery, made at a reservoir level which has not been widely explored in Denmark."

The exploration sidetrack at the Lille John prospect in Danish Licence 12/06 has been drilled to a total depth of 1,307 meters below mean sea level. It encountered a modest thickness of highly-cemented Chalk with weak hydrocarbon indications, but no effective reservoir.

The sidetrack also penetrated the Miocene sandstones some 180 meters away from the Miocene interval that was found to be oil-bearing in the initial Lille John well in October. Again the Miocene sandstones were oil-bearing in the sidetrack at a depth approximately 930 meters below mean sea level, with improved reservoir quality compared to the original well which confirmed oil of gravity 34-35 degrees API. Both penetrations were primarily located for the Chalk target and as such lie outside of the well-imaged Miocene seismic amplitude anomaly interpreted to reflect better developed oil-bearing sandstone. The sidetrack was not located to allow the secondary Middle Jurassic target to be drilled and so is now being plugged and abandoned.

The Lille John well is located approximately 17 kilometres south of Gorm Field and 8 kilometres from PA Resources’ gas and condensate discovery at the Broder Tuck prospect made in July of this year. The License 12/06 partners will formally declare both Broder Tuck and Lille John as discoveries, which triggers the commencement of further technical and commercial evaluation of the finds and allows a request for a licence extension to be submitted. A comprehensive re-evaluation of the nearby Miocene exploration prospectivity and the Chalk and Middle Jurassic potential which remains in the Lille John prospect will also be conducted using the new well results and reprocessed 3D data.

The following companies participate in Licence 12/06: PA Resources UK Limited (64%), Nordsofonden (Danish North Sea Fund) (20%), Danoil Exploration A/S (8%) and Spyker Energy APS (8%). PA Resources is operator of the licence.

View the original article here

Origin and Sasol Botswana JV

Origin Energy and Sasol reported a joint venture to explore for coal seam gas (CSG) in Botswana.

The 50:50 incorporated joint venture, established through wholly owned subsidiaries of Origin and Sasol, brings together Sasol's gas development capability and strong position in southern Africa with Origin's proven CSG development experience in Queensland.

The joint venture will be known as Kubu Energy Resources (Pty) Ltd (the Kubu Joint Venture).

The Kubu Joint Venture has signed an agreement with Sekaname (Pty) Ltd to acquire three prospecting licences in the central province of Botswana covering an area of approximately 3,000km2: PL134/2010, PL135/2010, PL136/2010. Sekaname is a local CSG exploration company based in Gaborone, Botswana. The transaction is subject to final approval by the Botswana government.

"We are pleased to be working in joint venture with Sasol in Botswana," Mr Grant King, Origin Managing Director.

"Sasol's long history of operating in southern Africa, complements Origin's CSG experience as the upstream operator of Australia Pacific LNG, the largest producer of CSG in Australia.

"Establishment of the Kubu Joint Venture is consistent with Origin's strategy to target greenfield resources close to markets at low entry prices.

"The delineation of a large CSG resource in Botswana could be used for power generation and liquid fuels production in southern Africa."

Origin and Sasol, as joint venturers, plan to conduct a number of exploration activities in the Botswana prospecting licence areas during the next two years to determine the potential quantity of CSG available and the feasibility for future commercial development. The first phase of the planned exploration will include an airborne magnetic survey, extraction, sampling of borehole cores and the drilling of test wells. Origin and Sasol will evenly share the permit acquisition and work program costs over the next two years.

Based on the success of the first exploration phase, the Kubu Joint Venture may consider committing to a more extensive exploration program in Botswana.

View the original article here

Heritage Oil awarded Tanzanian acreage

Heritage Oil has been awarded a further Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) in Tanzania and is the operator with 100% interest.

"We are delighted to have signed the Rukwa PSA which shares many geological similarities with the Albert Basin in Uganda where we have had previous success," said Tony Buckingham, Heritage CEO

"We established a new play fairway in East African rift basins with our exploration success in Uganda and believe this previous experience provides Heritage with a unique advantage in accessing the potential of this exciting new area."

Heritage has now licensed virtually the entire Rukwa Rift Basin split into two separate areas; Rukwa North Basin and Rukwa South Basin. These blocks cover areas of 10,175 square kilometres and 8,745 square kilometres respectively.

Limited exploration activity was undertaken in the blocks in the mid-1980s which resulted in the acquisition of c.2,300 kilometres of 2D seismic data and the drilling of two wells.

The historical gravity and seismic data highlight the potential in the Rukwa Rift Basin with over seven kilometres of sedimentary section in some places. Heritage recognises that the Rukwa Rift Basin shares certain similarities with the Albert Basin of Uganda, thereby providing the Company with a key advantage in assessing the blocks.

The work programme will commence shortly and Heritage has committed to acquire c.600 kilometres of new 2D seismic data and will also reprocess and reinterpret the legacy seismic database. The new seismic programme will focus on exploration plays in potentially prospective areas of the blocks not previously considered, covering structures that were poorly defined on the legacy data. Heritage will draw on its considerable operational experience of working in remote environments to drill any prospective targets it identifies.

In the event of an oil discovery, the Rukwa Rift Basin lies less than 100 kilometres from the railhead at Mbeya and economic scoping shows the commercial viability of either rail export to Dar es Salaam or export by pipeline depending on exploration success.

View the original article here

Tullow signs new PSC as operator offshore Mauritania

Tullow Oil reported new Production Sharing Contract (PSC) arrangements have been agreed with the Government of Mauritania and its joint venture partners.

These arrangements will enable the Group to progress the appraisal and development of existing discoveries and pursue exploration in a new contract area covering 10,725 square kilometres with Tullow as operator.

The new arrangements, reached through transactions with partners and PSC awards from the Government, result in the exploration areas of the PSCs previously known as PSC–Area A and PSC–Area B being replaced by a new, single Exploration PSC called C-10. Tullow will operate this new PSC with a 59.15% interest.

The existing Banda, Tevet and Tiof discoveries have been ring-fenced under their original PSC terms and extensions of up to 18 months have been granted to allow appraisal and development activities to be completed.

Petronas will continue to operate Chinguetti Field on the basis of the original equities.

Tullow will work closely with the Government of Mauritania and its Joint Venture partners on the near-term commercialisation of the existing discoveries and the initiation of a high-impact exploration programme.

The development of the Banda gas and Banda oil rim discoveries will be prioritised and it is expected that the results of initial development studies will be presented to the Government in early 2012. The high impact exploration programme is expected to include a minimum of two wells over the next three years.

View the original article here

How to buy a pipeline? Buy Congress.

As the White House tomorrow to President Obama the keystone XL pipeline gathers thousands rejection, let us look at one minute to some of the ways, political support has so far accumulated the project.

Because at the end, this is a political decision. A Yes shows support for big oil and the dirty energy status quo and a no. supports the clean energy future, which we so urgently to need quickly track.

The first card, it is the energy security is national security, always a good out of the hat to card. It gives the air of patriotic righteousness to your project, which could give a family with generations of military service. It is as if you must just in it for the most of the nation and someone do it.

The fallacy in this argument is not better exposed than when genuine military brass go the issue of the publication of a report that argues, the real energy security only is achieved by a reduction of oil demand no continuation of the business as usual. Or if one while coming top General Petraeus helpers in the Iraq directly against the project, that States that it would be our enemies "Comfort". Trust given the choice, would you have on security, big oil?

As soon as the security card energy the next card is dealt so the job card. You hire some little-known outfit in Texas to write an economic analysis of the project with a proprietary model, which can penetrate any other economist, which makes your jobs numbers look great, and I mean great Texas.

It's a shame, and bubbles in your analysis but when some economists at Cornell University, who really know what they're talking about, go the size, good Texas holes.

So, if it goes all West in a cart, your credibility is wasted, and citizens begin to really a stench elevation, it always a case back are you guaranteed, can results to achieve.

Get passed a Bill in the House of representatives. A slam dunk, if you most of them himself.

This is what happens when a law (279-147) directed by the President approval of the keystone XL pipeline to speed up the House, in late July.

According to the figures that we have compiled to the DirtyEnergyMoney.org, the representatives were money from the oil, gas and coal industry, for the invoice received from nine times as much campaign during the Congress as those who voted against it.

She had received more than $ 5 million from companies in these sectors in the past, less than two years. The average 'yay' voters get 3.8 times more of this dirty energy money than the average "voters.

The law passed the House, but it not in the Senate.

This is promised the President Obama exactly the kind of Washington politics, that would be a thing of the past in his presidency. It is now time for him to live up to that promise by the rejection of the keystone XL pipeline.

Nuclear claims - sources support IAEA Iran

Vienna, Nov 6 Reuters - A report of the United Nations nuclear watchdog next week support claims, the Iran built a large steel container could be used to perform tests with explosives, nuclear weapons, sources that said about the document informing on Friday.

Satellite images of the container on Parchin, near the city of Tehran, was awarded the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other evidence that believe claims by Member of the IAEA has explained that explosives test installation for connection with nuclear material, the sources said.

The IAEA show performed also evidence the Iran, the computer modelling of a nuclear weapon, said a source.

Western diplomats say that the voltage expected report strengthens suspicions that Tehran seeks a capability to make nuclear bombs, but stop which explicitly say that it does this to develop.

It was unclear if the container has been created, or whether it was actually used for nuclear-related work.

Iranian officials were not immediately available for comment.

Suspected of nuclear weapons date work on the Parchin military complex Southeast of Tehran back at least until 2004 as a prominent nuclear expert said that satellite images showed that it can be a page for research, test, and production of nuclear weapons.

Iran, which says that its nuclear program is peaceful, has previously denied the accusations. In 2005, Iran allows UN nuclear inspectors to visit Parchin.

The IAEA in the may listed seven areas to the military dimensions to the nuclear program of Iran, including explosives manufacture and testing and development, manufacture and testing of explosive components.

One of the main obstacles in a nuclear bomb designs a ring of conventional explosives used nuclear material in the warhead core, Kindle to compress a chain reaction. Experiments must be carried out, to the effects of explosions to test bomb components.

The IAEA report is expected to include other evidence to research and other activities, the little point if not relating to weapons, Western diplomats said to make.

Iran think Western powers secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons, but Tehran denies this, saying that it is enriching uranium for nuclear power plants to generate electricity.

Signs of nuclear weapons would activities calls for further sanctions against the Iran strengthen.

Electric Vehicle and Lithium-ion Battery Investing For Imbeciles

Her 1969 best-seller "the Peter principle" student named Caesare quoted in Laurence Peter and Raymond hull Latin American Innocente, the defendant, "Professor Peter, I am afraid that what I want to know by my studies will be answered." "I do not know if the world is run, by intelligent men who say Americans like you put us on, or from idiots who really mean it." After just the events of recent weeks, think I agree with most of my regular readers that the idiots are steering clear of the ship.
In March of this year, I went at the Geneva Motor Show press day, a chance gave me that up to see cars up close and personal without a struggle of the masses. While I'm generally skeptical when it comes to electric cars, I left Geneva convinced, that which was Fisker karma of the most beautiful car I had ever seen. I promised even my inner geek, I secretly one would for a test drive once that began production. The last remaining mid-October was granted hurdle to the EPO its official fuel economy rating 52 MPGe for the electric field of 32 miles and 20 MPG for gas travels with the 2.0 litre onboard generator powered by.

I was crushed. How could such terrible fuel industry something so gloriously and green review?

The answer, it seems is that when the Karma on a scale it a few hundred pounds more than a Hummer H3 and a few hundred pounds less than a Cadillac Escalade weighs. That's right folks: it's a 5,300 pounds-behemoth, developed ATVM loan guarantees in California with $ 169 million from the Department of energy. While most of the long-term economic benefits from the production of this shocking green monstrosities outsourcing to Finland, at least, that the batteries in the United States from A123 systems (AONE) the car is a $ 23 million investment in Fisker to establish a strategic partnership and the battery supply contract.

If journalists and political experts questioned the appropriateness of the loan guarantee Fisker in question, the DOE says:

"The Fisker loan consists of two parts." In the first part to the Fisker 169 million to support the Fisker Karma developed the tools, equipment and production processes for Fiskers first vehicle, the engineers. The work took place Fisker of U.S. equipment, headquartered in Irvine, California, employs 700 employees and plans to continue setting. While the vehicles even in the Fisker overseas form workshop are mounted, the funding of the Department was used only for the US operations. The money may not be, and was not spent business. "The karma is also an extensive network of hundreds of suppliers in more than a dozen States."

To use to fund specific project jobs in California, while in the long term, jobs in production in Finland is of course create the sophistry taxpayer money. The problematic questions in my mind are:

How many $100,000 Karma must sell Fisker enough profit to 169 million in DOE loan pay back to earn?
A123 must as many battery packs Fisker to sell to, if it wants to recover his 23 million US dollar investment?
Gets just as sexy and expensive the lackluster sales and margins, Motors (TSLA) has carried out from his Roadster Tesla either result even in the remotest possible?
This was clearly a range of offerings from idiots who really mean it negotiated. The most outrageous defense of the penultimate paragraph of that says was part of the DOE:

"Keep in mind that plasma TVs, mobile phones, PCs, and many other common products were fabulously expensive luxury, but quickly became a staple for middle class Americans." "These price declines would be commercial marketing as premium products not have been possible without the scale of the first."

MUMPITZ! I expect that this type of Bafflegab of EVangelicals but not from government officials.

There is no way the electric vehicles always types of cost reductions that we deliver in the information and technology revolution to experience, since the basic scientific completely different. There are to move a 2.65-ton van on the road no Moore's law of physics. There is no Moore's law for electrochemistry. It is no good fairy world production of non-ferrous metals or increase control commodity prices. But discussing science, supply chains and energy instead of rational, reasonable questions we have with the DOE's path-folding mirror

A little over three years ago I started cautioning readers that Ener1 (HEVV.PK) was a disaster in the making. My cautions got more strident when Ener1 made a substantial venture capital investment in Th!nk Motors to strengthen their strategic relationship and retain a battery supply contract that was jeopardized by Th!nk's insolvency. While some readers took my words of caution to heart, many did not. This week they learned that analyzing battery and electric vehicle companies through rose colored glasses is a great way to end up with a stock that's listed on the Pink Sheets. While I generally like to be right, I hate being this right.

I wonder how the DOE feels about that $118.5 million ARRA Battery Manufacturing Grant they gave Ener1 in August of 2009.

My graph for this week is courtesy of Lux Research and appeared in their recent report "Using Partnerships to Stay Afloat in the Electric Vehicle Storm." The graph is particularly instructive because it overlays their forecasts for the electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery markets in a single graph.

The yellow lines represent total demand for lithium-ion batteries in automotive applications through 2020 using three different oil price scenarios. The blue shaded area represents the total planned production capacity of the global lithium-ion battery industry for the same period. The inescapable conclusions are that (1) without $200 oil, growth in electric vehicle sales will be tepid at best and certainly not robust enough to justify nosebleed market capitalizations for companies like Tesla, and (2) the glut of lithium-ion battery manufacturing capacity will be a crushing burden for all but the most efficient and financially sound battery manufacturers.

While Pike Research recently reported that demonstration projects have deployed 538 MW of lithium-ion based storage on the grid, all of the facilities I've read about report power based on a 15 minute discharge. That means the demonstration projects have used about 135 MWh of batteries to date, or less than 1% of the expected annual capacity glut. While grid-based storage may have significant long-term potential, it's not a big enough short-term opportunity to make a difference.

The takeaway for investors who are willing to remove their rose colored glasses is that the industry leaders in the electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery sectors are run by imbeciles who really mean it and their companies are doomed to underperform the market for years. Molly Ringwald was Pretty in Pink, but it's an ugly color for stock listings

Little more than three years began I warns readers that Ener1 (HEVV.)(PK) was a disaster in the making. More have my notes strident, if Ener1 is a significant venture capital investments in th! NK engines to strengthen their strategic partnership and keep a battery supply contract, which was endangered by th! NK insolvency. While some readers my words of caution to heart began, many do not. They learned this week that the analysis of the battery and electric vehicle is through rose colored glasses a great way to end up with a stock that is listed in the pink sheets. While I generally may be true, I hate this right.

I wonder how the DOE on this $ 118.5 million feels ARRA battery manufacturing grant she gave Ener1 in August 2009.

My chart for this week is courtesy of Lux Research, and appeared in their recent report "using partnerships stay afloat in the electric vehicle storm." The diagram is particularly instructive because it overshadowed their predictions for the electric vehicle and lithium battery markets in a single chart.

The yellow lines represent the demand for lithium-ion batteries in automotive applications by 2020 with three different oil price scenarios. Blue shaded part represents the planned production capacity of industry of global lithium ion battery for the same period. The inevitable conclusions are (1) excluding $200 oil, electric vehicle sales are lukewarm at best and certainly not robust enough, to nosebleed market capitalization for companies like Tesla, and (2) the tide of lithium-ion battery, the production capacity is a heavy burden for all but the most efficient and to justify financially sound manufacturer battery.

During Pike research recently reported that demonstration projects, 538 have deployed MW lithium ion-based storage on the grid, all the facilities I, the report on the basis of 15 minutes discharge read about the power. This means that the demonstration projects about 135 MWh batteries to date, or less than 1% of the expected annual capacity used glut have. Grid based storage have long-term potential, is not a large enough short-term way to make a difference.

The food for investors who are ready to remove their rose-coloured glasses is that the industry leader in the electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery run by idiots who really mean it and are their businesses to damn, exceed the market for years. Molly Ringwald was pretty in pink, but it's an ugly color for has offers

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What To Think About Kinder Morgan's $38B El Paso Deal

Kinder Morgan‘s $38 billion takeover of El Paso Corp. will create the world’s biggest pipeline company, with 80,000 miles of conduits for natural gas, petroleum and refined products. The deal will link pipeline networks from Florida to California to Illinois, New York and Montana. It is also likely to set off a round of consolidation among the nation’s other pipeline operators.

What’s the significance for the average American? Hard to tell. If Kinder Morgan can squeeze efficiencies out of the combined network and pass along lower costs to its customers, primarily natural gas drillers, then the result might be lower energy prices. If, however, Kinder decides to use its market dominance and greater heft to increase the prices it charges to move gas from fields to market, it could mean higher gas prices.

Whichever way this dynamic goes, it appears that the primary beneficiaries of this deal will be the natural gas traders of Kinder Morgan, Goldman Sachs (which owns 19% of Kinder) and Barclays (which is providing $11.5 billion in loans for the deal) who will be in a position to enjoy better knowledge of the pricing differentials of gas produced in America’s various basins.

Variable prices can yield profitable trades. Natgas may go for $3.60 per mmBTU at the NYMEX, but it’s worth less in places like North Dakota, where producers in the Bakken shale (predominantly an oil play) still flare some 20% of produced gas because there’s not enough pipelines to take it. Traders can profit by buying Bakken gas cheap, then selling it at a premium into Florida or New York.

Hopefully Kinder Morgan, with its added heft, will be willing to build pipelines to the Bakken. Getting more gas into pipelines would be good for the average consumer, bringing more supply and lower prices.

Another wrinkle in the deal is taxes. Kinder Morgan Inc. (NYSE:KMI) is buying El Paso. But Kinder Morgan Inc. owns the general partner and 11% of limited partner interests in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE:KMP). The latter is set up as a master limited partnership, which means all profits from the company flow through, untaxed, to unit holders (who then pay taxes on the income at individual rates). Many of El Paso’s assets, in contrast, are held, and taxed, on the regular corporate level. Profits from those assets are still subject to both corporate taxes then individual taxes when passed on to shareholders. Kinder can unlock a lot of value for existing unitholders just by moving El Paso’s assets from “Inc.” over into the MLP.

The deal is a vote of confidence by Chief Executive Rich Kinder and his team that America’s natural gas renassiance is real, that the shale plays across the country really do contain the trillions of cubic feet necessary to fill old pipelines and to justify building out new ones.

“We believe that natural gas is going to play an increasingly integral role in North America,” said, Richard Kinder, in a statement. “We are delighted to be able to significantly expand our natural gas transportation footprint at a time when it seems likely that domestic natural gas supply and demand will grow at attractive rates for years to come.”

The merger, assuming it’s approved by the Federal Trade Commission, will likely set off a slew of other deals among pipeline operators. Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD), cobbled together over decades by the late billionaire Dan Duncan, would now be looking for deals. As would Williams Cos., which this summer lost out in the bidding for Southern Union. Energy Transfer Equity, controlled by billionaire Kelcy Warren, appears to have won Southern Union, itself controlled by billionaire George Lindemann, in a $5.7 billion deal.

Other tycoons whose pipeline assets suddenly look more valuable include Trevor Rees-Jones, whose Chief Oil & Gas has a sizable network in the Marcellus shale, and Rod Lewis of Lewis Energy, who five years ago sold half of his pipelines in south Texas (Eagle Ford shale territory) to Enterprise for some $400 million. MarkWest Energy Partners L.P. (NYSE:MWE) would also be in play.

The terms of Kinder Morgan’s bid for El Paso is kind of unusual. It amounts to $26.87 a share, a 37% premium to Friday’s close. For each share Kinder is offering $14.65 in cash plus a 42% of a Kinder share plus 64% of a Kinder warrant that allows the holder to buy a Kinder share for $40 within five years. KMI is currently at $26.90 a share.

For more details on the deal, you can look here or here or here or here. My pet peeve: contrary to what many headlines say, this is not a “$21 billion” deal. It is a $38 billion deal. Kinder is buying $21 billion in equity and taking on $17 billion in debt.

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Iran Set To Issue Bonds For Gas Field Locally

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California Has 1 In 4 U.S. Solar Energy Jobs, Study Says

In August, California had an estimated 25,575 solar-related jobs out of 100,237 for all 50 states, according to the National Solar Jobs Census 2011. Above, a worker at the Solar Micro Generating Facility at Victor Valley College in Victorville last year. (Mark Boster, Los Angeles Times / October 17, 2011)
Reporting from Sacramento
One in every four solar energy jobs in America is held by a Californian, and growth in the clean-tech industry is burgeoning nationwide, a new study said.

In August, California had an estimated 25,575 solar-related jobs out of 100,237 for all 50 states, according to the National Solar Jobs Census 2011. The census is scheduled for release Monday by the Solar Foundation, a research and education organization in Washington.

California's solar jobs tally was more than four times greater than runner-up Colorado, which had 6,186 solar jobs.
The Golden State ranked first in the nation for generating electricity from both photovoltaic solar panels and concentrated solar power systems that use mirrors to create steam to run turbines, the study said.

"This report shows that the solar industry is not only creating green jobs across California but that the industry is forecast to continue growing at a much faster pace than the overall U.S. economy," said Michelle Kinman, a clean energy advocate for Environment California. "California industry and policymakers have a tremendous opportunity to build on this solid foundation and make solar a centerpiece of the state's energy policy."

Nationally, employment in all parts of the solar industry, including manufacturing, installation, residential, commercial and large-scale power generation, grew 6.8% in the 12 month period ended in August. Overall U.S. job growth was less than 1% for the same period, the census said.
Growth is expected to accelerate 24%, creating 24,000 jobs, over the next year, based on a survey of solar employers.

The industry's momentum should continue despite bad publicity from a political scandal surrounding the bankruptcy of Northern California solar panel manufacturer Solyndra, industry advocates said. The Fremont, Calif., company recently closed after getting a $535-million federal loan guarantee.
"We have to look beyond the failure of one company and see the tremendous success that's occurring here," said Arno Harris, chief executive of Recurrent Energy, a San Francisco solar developer.

David Hochschild, vice president of Fremont-based Solaria Corp., said the technology "is on the cusp of playing a large role in mainstream markets."
Here's a list of the top states ranked by the number of solar industry jobs, according to the solar jobs census:
1. California 25,575
2. Colorado 6,186
3. Arizona 4,786
4. Pennsylvania 4,703
5. New York 4,279
6. Florida 4,224
7. Texas 3,346
7. Oregon 3,346
8. New Jersey 2,871
9. Massachusetts 2,395
marc.lifsher@latimes.com
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Stricken New Zealand Ship May Break Apart Or Sink

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Salvage crews raced Monday to pump oil from a stricken ship teetering on a reef off the New Zealand coast, while also preparing for the worst: Authorities believe the vessel will break apart or sink soon.

The salvage work resumed late Sunday after a halt of about a week due to severe weather. Progress has been limited — just 82 tons of oil have been removed while an estimated 1,400 tons of fuel remains aboard.

The Rena grounded Oct. 5 on the Astrolabe reef 14 miles (22 kilometers) from Tauranga Harbour on New Zealand's North Island, setting off what officials have called the country's worst maritime environmental disaster. An estimated 350 tons of oil have spilled into the sea near beaches on New Zealand's North Island, killing more than a thousand sea birds.

And with the weather expected to worsen again late Monday, New Zealand's transportation minister Steven Joyce said he didn't think there was much chance of getting off all the oil before the ship fell apart or sank.

"I think it's a case of getting everything off that you can," Joyce said Monday.

The ship has major structural cracks and experts say it could break apart or slip from the reef at any time.

Joyce said only the bow of the ship is jammed onto the reef while the stern remains in the water, held there by its natural flotation.

"So it's variable and very dangerous," he said, adding that should salvage crews be evacuated from the ship, they would try to put caps on the tanks and close valves to minimize future oil spillage. Joyce said that if the vessel came apart, crews might be able to maneuver the pieces closer to shore to make subsequent oil recovery easier.

Crews first began pumping oil from the ship Oct. 9 but quickly abandoned that effort due to bad weather.

The latest attempt has proved more complicated because of the ship's deteriorating condition — a crack now extends the width of the ship — and steeper lean — the ship now has a list of 21 degrees.

Preparations took several days, with crews needing first to construct four wooden platforms on the side of the ship to provide a level base for pumping.

"This is a hugely challenging and risky operation even in full daylight," Bruce Anderson, who is heading the salvage operation, said in a news release. "These are incredibly brave and dedicated people."

Maritime New Zealand, the agency heading the response, estimates about 1,290 sea bird have died in the spill. Another 207 oiled birds and three New Zealand fur seals are being treated at a wildlife center.

The Rena is owned by Greek-based Costamare Inc. Both the captain and an officer on the ship have been charged under New Zealand maritime laws with operating a ship in a dangerous or risky manner. If found guilty, the men, whose names have been suppressed under New Zealand law, face up to a year in jail or a fine of ten thousand New Zealand dollars ($8,000).

The New Zealand weather agency MetService is forecasting strengthening Northerly winds for the Tauranga area late Monday.

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