December 03rd, 2023

ONCE UPON A TIME AT YENANGYAUNG IN BURMA

December 03, 2023

Burma today Myanmar, has experienced oil exploration since the first hand-dug wells were drilled in the Central Burma Basin around 900 BC. In 1795, Michael Symes, Irish soldier, diplomat and politician was sent to Burma by the Governor General of India. Visiting Yenangyaung he reported the existence of a well-developed oil industry that has existed probably for centuries, including the export of oil by boat. In 1796 up to 520 wells were registered by the local government. Yenangyaung is located in central Myanmar on the Irrawaddy River, 363 miles from Yangon. The origins of this indigenous industry remain uncertain, with some claiming that it began as early as the 10th century AD. In 1827 British Geologist John Crawford visited the oil field and described hand-dug wells and estimated the annual output at the equivalent of 250,000-300,000 barrels. He also noted up to 200 boats waiting to load oil.
In 1886 the Burmah Oil Company was founded. The company drilled the first cable tool wells in 1889, which resulted in the official discovery of Yenangyaung Oil Field. Burmah Oil Company held a colonial monopoly in the country, until the Standard Oil gained the first lease in 1901.
During World War II, Yenangyaung was the location of a strategically and tactically important oil refinery. As a result of the speed and success of the Japanese advance through Burma during the Burma Campaign and the Battle of Yenangyaung, the retreating Allied forces were forced to blow up the oil fields and refinery to prevent them falling into the hands of the Japanese. The oil facilities were destroyed at 10 pm on 16 April 1942. The Japanese were able to continue using the oilfields, but in the last year of the war as the Allies advanced eastward toward Burma, the oil fields were attacked and badly damaged by Allied bombers.
In 1963 Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) was formed taking over all operations. Today Singapore listed Interra Resources and MOGE continue to drill by the Irrawady River. The long saga of oil and gas production in Yenangyaung continues.
(Source: SEG Library/Search and Discovery/Wikipedia – Image: Oil wells in Yenangyaung around 1915)

ENBRIDGE JOINS EDF RENEWABLES WITH SOLAR INVESTMENT IN OHIO

November 17, 2023

Enbridge has signed a definitive agreement to participate in the construction and operation of the Fox Squirrel solar project, through a 50% interest...

Read More+

CADELER TO BOOST OFFSHORE WIND INSTALLATION

November 16, 2023

Cadeler has entered into an unsecured green term loan facility in an aggregate amount of EUR 50 million with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation...

Read More+

VESTAS WILL POWER THE 67 MW VELINGA WIND PROJECT IN SWEDEN

November 16, 2023

Vestas has received a firm order from Vattenfall Vindkraft AB, part of the Vattenfall AB group, to power the 67 MW Velinga wind project in Sweden.The...

Read More+

EXXONMOBIL STARTS PRODUCTION AT PAYARA ON THE STABROEK BLOCK

November 16, 2023

ExxonMobil started production at Payara, Guyana’s third offshore oil development on the Stabroek Block, bringing total production capacity in Guyana...

Read More+

JACKUP RIG KINGDOM-1 DELIVERED TO ARO DRILLING

November 15, 2023

International Maritime Industries (IMI), the largest shipyard in the MENA region, and ARO Drilling, a prominent player in the offshore drilling sector...

Read More+

OCEAN INSTALLER WINS SUBSEA CONTRACT OFFSHORE ANGOLA

November 15, 2023

Petro Services and its main Subcontractor Ocean Installer announced they have been awarded a contract from TotalEnergies EP Angola and it’s Block...

Read More+

KINDER MORGAN ACQUIRES STX MIDSTREAM FOR $1.815 BILLION

November 15, 2023

Kinder Morgan has agreed to acquire NextEra Energy Partner’s South Texas assets, STX Midstream, for $1.815 billion. The STX Midstream pipeline system...

Read More+

EXXONMOBIL DRILLS FIRST LITHIUM WELL IN ARKANSAS

November 14, 2023

Exxon Mobil Corporation announced plans to become a leading producer of lithium, a key component of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Work has begun...

Read More+

DIAMOND OFFSHORE AWARDED NEW CONTRACT FOR THE OCEAN BLACKRHINO

November 14, 2023

Diamond Offshore Drilling has entered into a drilling contract with an independent operator to utilize the ultra-deepwater drillship Ocean BlackRhino...

Read More+

TOTALENERGIES ACQUIRES THREE GAS-FIRED POWER PLANTS IN TEXAS

November 14, 2023

As part of its development as an integrated power player, TotalEnergies has signed an agreement with TexGen, a U.S.-based company to acquire for $635...

Read More+

CGX AND FRONTERA DISCOVER OIL IN THE CORENTYNE BLOCK OFFSHORE GUYANA

November 14, 2023

CGX Energy and Frontera Energy, the majority shareholder of CGX and joint venture partner of CGX in the Petroleum Prospecting License for the Corentyne...

Read More+