Tuesday 28 August 2012

Scomi seen as front runner for the Tembikai and Cenang marginal fields

Scomi Group Bhd is believed to be the front runner for two risk-service contracts (RSCs) to be awarded by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) for the Tembikai and Cenang marginal fields off Peninsular Malaysia.

Sources said besides Scomi Group, the other bidders for the contracts included Bumi Armada Bhd, Daya Materials Bhd and Sydney-based AWE Ltd.

A source said Petronas was close to announcing the winners for these two fields with contracts valued at between US$200mil (RM620mil) to US$400mil (RM1.2bil) each.

Scomi Group, in the midst of a restructuring exercise, is said to be partnering another Australian company, Cue Energy Resources Ltd, for this bid. Cue Energy is an oil and gas exploration and production company with a presence in South-East Asia and Australasia.

The source added that bidding for these fields were extremely competitive, with some bidders aggressively showcasing technical capabilities and financial muscle to seal the deal.

“The value of Tembikai and Cenang of between US$200mil to US$400mil is based on capital expenditure and operating expenditure.

“Tembikai and Cenang are the juiciest marginal oilfields, as they are in shallow waters and have the most reserves,” said the source.

On Thursday, Scomi secured a RM130mil contract from Qatar's state-owned petroleum company Qatar Petroleum for the supply of drilling fluids and engineering services over three years. The contract was secured via Scomi Oiltools (Cayman) Ltd.

In June, Scomi's group managing director Shah Hakim Zain told reporters that the company was looking to tender for about US$1bil (RM3.1bil) in oil and gas services contracts within the next year. Scomi presently has an orderbook of about RM1.3bil.

Scomi's restructuring exercise involves a merger between the Eastern Hemisphere business of oilfield services and its associate company, Scomi Marine Bhd's offshore support services.

In February, the company announced a corporate restructuring, which would see its businesses and those of Scomi Marine merged under a new, full-fledge integrated oil and gas marine and drilling services provider.

Meanwhile, Daya Materials' plans to participate in RSCs was announced to the market when the company said it was teaming up with Australia-based Hydra Energy Pty Ltd to jointly bid for a RSC contract covering the development of certain identified fields in Malaysia.

Floating production, storage and offloading operator Bumi Armada currently has five existing FPSO contracts and is tendering for five more - one each in Malaysia, India and Indonesia, and two in Nigeria.

AWE is an Australian oil and gas exploration and production company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Based on its website, AWE's focus is on exploration and appraisal-type assets, in regions of proven prospectivity and where there is a high chance of commercial success.

This focus includes currently marginal fields, whose worth may be improved by innovative appraisal and development approaches.

AWE currently has six main producing assets which are in New Zealand, Australia and the US.