The Goktepe field will be connected to Phase 3 FPO. (Image source: Subsea7)

Turkish Petroleum Offshore Technology Center AS has secured extension contract with Subsea7 on the Sakarya field development in the Black Sea offshore Turkiye

Building on the original contract announced on 27 August 2025 for the third phase of Sakarya, the extension will ensure connecting the recently discovered Goktepe field to the Phase 3 floating production unit.

The scope of work comprises engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) of approximately 20 kilometres of flexibles, 120 kilometres of umbilicals, a rigid production riser and associated subsea equipment in water depths of 2,200 metres.

Project management and engineering will be coordinated through the Subsea7 office in Istanbul, Turkiye, before offshore activities begin in 2027 and 2028.

David Bertin, Senior Vice President of Subsea7’s Global Project Centre – East, said: “We are proud to continue to support TP-OTC in their ambitions in the Black Sea with the development of the Goktepe field, which will enable increased production through the Sakarya Phase 3 facilities and support Türkiye’s gas needs.”

Hulya Ozgur, Business Unit Director Subsea7 Türkiye, said, “We look forward to continuing our long-term relationship with TP-OTC, which is making a significant contribution to the development and growth of the Turkish energy industry.”

The acoustic MP-FWI imaging implementation has demonstrated significant uplifts. (Image source: DUG)

Technological advancements in geoscience are often incremental—small steps that help refine our ability to understand the subsurface. But occasionally, we witness a genuine leap. DUG Technology’s Chief Geophysicist, Tom Rayment, considers the impact of elastic MP-FWI imaging and asks, "Is traditional seismic processing finally a thing of the past?"

For the past century, seismic data has been an invaluable tool for detecting hydrocarbons. Although methods have become more sophisticated, the fundamental workflow for turning acquired data into interpretable products largely remains the same. The advent of elastic multi-parameter full waveform inversion (MP-FWI) imaging represents a significant shift away from the traditional approach.

The acoustic MP-FWI imaging implementation has demonstrated significant uplifts without needing conventional time-processing, model-building, or depth-migration techniques. Elastic MP-FWI imaging is a further step-change, also deriving rock properties and effectively rendering the amplitude variation with angle (AVA) inversion workflow redundant. The approach will soon make conventional workflows obsolete, if it hasn't already.

Despite this monumental leap, the technology is still young, with ample room for more progress. Most FWI implementations use a single component of the acquired data (hydrophone for marine, vertical geophone/accelerometer for land). However, additional components offer complementary information that can further constrain results. Recent developments show that two-component towed streamer and ocean-bottom seismic MP-FWI imaging can further improve results and accelerate convergence.

The logical next step is to include horizontal components. Shear waves provide valuable subsurface information, especially in areas of strong P-wave absorption like gas bodies. Recent DUG projects are already demonstrating that the benefits of converted-wave processing can be realised with elastic MP-FWI imaging. Furthermore, on land, exploiting shear waves in the form of ground roll is now viable. What was once noise is now a useful signal, inverted via elastic FWI to provide high-resolution shear-wave-velocity models. Capturing near-surface complexity is crucial for successfully illuminating deeper targets.

Another benefit is the seamless integration of expertise. Processing, imaging, and quantitative interpretation geophysicists can now work simultaneously on a project, abandoning the siloed conventional workflows. Closer collaboration fosters better understanding, which translates to optimal results. This will soon extend beyond AVA inversion into reservoir characterisation and modelling. Elastic MP-FWI imaging will produce a suite of outputs, providing a rich model space for reservoir engineers to make probabilistic predictions that honour both seismic and well data.

This technological leap was first conceived by the FWI pioneers in the 1980s. Its reality today is thanks to the skills of research and development teams and modern high performance computing. This essential work continues in earnest at DUG; as the technology evolves, it will continue to extend what is possible with seismic data, ultimately allowing the industry to make better, faster decisions.

The tool ensures consistency for sizing across regions. (Image source: WEG)

Manufacturing company, WEG, has introduced a digital tool called Gear ProSelect, that will simplify and standardise the selection, configuration and documentation of gearboxes and gearmotors

Developed as a single global solution, the tool ensures consistency for sizing across regions while reducing the time typically required for manual calculations or engineering support. 

As the gearbox market expands alongside industrial automation, it can shoot up to US$33.4bn this year. To match the market dynamism, clients require standardised and digitally-driven selection methods.

With this thought, WEG has developed Gear ProSelect (GPS) which lets users size and configure gearboxes directly through a web-based platform using application-specific data. By entering parameters such as mass, speed and inertia, users receive product recommendations supported by integrated mechanical and thermal validation.

The thermal validation feature represents a unique differentiator in the market. Thermal validation analyses heat generation and dissipation under defined operating conditions, ensuring the selected gearbox can operate within acceptable temperature limits and reducing the risk of overheating or premature wear.

“Gear ProSelect represents a major step forward in WEG’s digital transformation strategy,” said Marcio Yoshikazu Ematsu, European marketing manager at WEG. “By combining intelligent validation, real-time visualisation and global standardisation, we are providing customers with greater autonomy while strengthening operational efficiency across our worldwide network.”

The contract will advance in-country value. (Image source: SLB)

SLB has signed two five-year contracts by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) to deliver wellheads and artificial lift technologies for operations in Block-6, which is known to be Oman’s largest oil and gas concession

To enhance recovery rates and ensure maximum productivity from the Block 6 assets, SLB will be providing low-pressure, high-pressure, and thermal wellheads, as well as electric submersible pumps (ESPs) and progressive cavity pumps (PCPs). The contract also has scope to advance in-country value (ICV) by supporting the expansion of local manufacturing capabilities and introducing made-in-Oman gate valve production within six months of commencement.

“These awards reflect our deep commitment to Oman’s energy future and advancing in-country value through local manufacturing and talent development,” said Jesus Lamas, president, Middle East and North Africa, SLB. “By producing more equipment in country and investing in Omani expertise, we are ensuring that PDO’s strategic goals are met with sustainable, locally driven approaches. Our focus is on delivering innovative wellhead and artificial lift solutions that drive production efficiency and maximize recovery. Through our ongoing investment in advanced technologies and tailored services, we support our customers’ production and recovery goals with capabilities designed to meet their evolving operational needs.”

SLB will be producing the wellheads at SLB’s Rusayl production centre, and ESPs will be assembled at its Nizwa assembly, repair, and testing centre, generating significant local employment. SLB's advanced technologies such as the 15k SOLIDrill modular compact wellhead system, ESP surveillance systems, and ESP permanent magnet motors will be deployed to reduce power consumption and enhance sustainability.