Orange Business Services has appointed Martin Denari as global director of the company’s industry sector focused on oil, gas and mining. With more than 25 years of international experience and executive leadership, Denari oversees the development of Orange’s communications and vertical-specific solutions for large exploration and production companies that operate on an international scale.

Oil, gas and miningare core vertical industries for Orange. With offices, refineries, extraction sites, ships and pipelines widely dispersed across the globe, sometimes in hard-to-reach places, both on and off shore, companies need to rely on a connected IT infrastructure and advanced communication services to support their development across the globe.

Exploration makes up the majority of costs for oil, gas and mining companies as they try to meet a growing demand for resources that are becoming scarce. These exploration regions present challenges in access, safety, retrieval and costs. In his new position, Denari will leverage Orange’s global reach covering 220 countries and territories and deep solution portfolio to design an ICT sustainable environment in which these companies can operate and develop. 

The Orange portfolio includes high-speed VPN and satellite connectivity, unified communications, cloud services, video conferencing, mobile access, M2M connectivity, data analytics and 40-plus years of industry expertise delivering these services to a number of isolated regions. For customers, this translates into more accurate tools for exploring resources, real-time collaboration between workers, fewer accidents, precise asset tracking, and better amenities for an onsite crew.


“The true value-add of Orange Business Services to the oil, gas and mining industry is making remote, isolated regions more hospitable and accessible for exploration and production,” said Denari, global director, oil, gas & mining vertical, Orange Business Services. “Customers can rely on Orange to expand beyond their environmental limits in pursuit of new opportunities”

Denari has a thorough background that mixes international business with a sophisticated grounding in engineering, communications and information technology. He has a successful track record, initiating start-ups in a number of different countries. Prior to coming to Orange, Denari served as CEO for such technology service providers as T-Systems Argentina, gedas Argentina (Volkswagen Group), and the Latin American unit of Baan. In the U.S., he served as an IT and business development manager for Halliburton energy services based in Houston, Texas. He also worked in several countries for Schlumberger in close contact with real-time data delivery activities between well sites and interpretation centers.

As SEA CON® continue their growth they are also continuing to find new ways to better serve their expanding market.  A prime example of this is SEA CON’s new Encapsulating & Molding facility in the West Houston area, opening to develop even greater levels of support both to the Gulf Coast region and internationally.

“There is clear evidence that the market is growing” says SEA CON’s Marketing Manager Melanie Harrison. “The demand on suppliers to increase manufacturing, design, support and customer service also grows in line with this upturn. This new facility is just one of a number of steps we will be taking to achieve our mission”.

Concurrent to this growth in demand is the need for suppliers to exhibit great flexibility and the ability to react quickly to customers needs both planned and unforeseen, while still maintaining high levels of quality and innovation.  Part of this solution is seen by SEA CON to include holding increased stock of most popular connectors to help fill an increasing need for short order custom assemblies.

SEA CON is passionate about the important issue of ensuring the needs of their clients are dealt with quickly and efficiently and the new installation will certainly enable them to meet growing needs and higher expectations. 

SEA CON currently has five main production facilities geared to the delivery of a mass production of subsea connectors. At times this can make it difficult to provide customers with short order custom assemblies. The new work shop will specialize in these short order needs of SEA CON clients, current and future.

The workshop will allow SEA CON to carry more stock of their most popular connectors to mainly benefit their existing customers who don’t necessarily need a molded assembly. Some of the product lines will include the Rubber Molded, WET-CON, ALL-WET and 55/66 series assemblies. Stocks of these are already held, but this new facility will see these stock levels increase.

Craig Newell, Vice President of Sales & Corporate Business Development said “Consistency throughout the business is paramount to our success and the launch of a new Encapsulation and Molding Workshop is just another example of our commitment to over deliver on the promise and work with an overt focus on the changing needs of our clients.” 

Blade Offshore Services have opened an office in Macaé, the centre of the oil industry in Brazil. The Company wishes to establish a permanent administrative base in Brazil to take advantage of the fast expanding energy market, and the growing demand for the Company's services in the region.

John Swingler, Drilling Services Director, is a Brazil resident and is delighted to oversee the latest BOS development. 'The move demonstrates the company's commitment to the region and it will help enormously to manage our activity in Brazil, which has expanded rapidly over the last few years to become a significant part of our global business. We are definitely now ''open for business'' in Brazil and look forward to developing our relationships with existing clients and partnering with new ones'.

Blade Offshore Services Brazil: Adress: Avenida Rui Barbosa, 1725 – 2nd Floor, Loja44F, Alto dos Cajueiros – Macaé/RJ Phone: +55 22 2765 7344

Fugro Chance Inc. recently performed non-typical acoustic metrologies on four proposed jumpers in the Gulf of Mexico. By industry standards the measurements were completed in a substantially short time frame.

A typical metrology takes approximately 12 hours for one measurement, resulting in an anticipated operational time of around 48 hours in total. However, these non-typical acoustic metrologies were completed with accurate results in just 33 hours.

Two standard Sonardyne Compatt 6 transponders and two Sonardyne Lodestar GyroCompatts (LGCs) were used to acquire tilt magnitude and direction from manifold pressure caps to wellhead casings. Four Compatts were used to ensure repeatable results.

The LGC technology integrates acoustic positioning, attitude and heading reference, and sound velocity technologies all in one instrument. It provides wireless updates and extremely accurate measurements of attitude, heading, heave, surge, sway, pressure and acoustic positioning of any subsea object. By utilizing these LGCs, Fugro saved the client both time and money while providing highly accurate data.

Aker Solutions won a contract from Statoil to conduct an extended concept study for the floater for the Johan Castberg oilfield development in the Barents Sea. The contract, worth NOK 250 million, includes options for further work.

"This is an exciting opportunity to take part in the development of a major new oil field in northern Norway," says Per Harald Kongelf, regional president for Norway at Aker Solutions.

Aker Solutions has previously conducted concept studies for the Johan Castberg field, which is estimated to hold between 400 million and 600 million barrels of oil. The Statoil-operated field is located about 240 kilometres north-west of Hammerfest.

Executive Chairman of Marathon Oil Corp. and former Executive Vice President of Development & Production of Statoil ASA join the FMC Technologies Board of Directors

FMC Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: FTI) announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors.

The new board members are Clarence P. Cazalot, Jr., Executive Chairman of Marathon Oil Corp., and Peter Mellbye, former Executive Vice President of Development & Production of Statoil ASA.

Mr. Mellbye will join the Board on October 1, 2013, and Mr. Cazalot will join the Board on December 1, 2013.

Clarence P. Cazalot, Jr., Executive Chairman of Marathon Oil Corp.

Mr. Cazalot has been in leadership positions at Marathon Oil Corp. for the past 13 years, recently serving as Chairman, President and CEO. He currently serves as Executive Chairman. Prior to joining Marathon Oil Corp. in 2000, Mr. Cazalot served in various roles at Texaco, Inc. for 28 years. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Marathon Oil Corp. and is a member of the Board of Directors of Baker Hughes, Inc. Mr. Cazalot has a bachelor's degree in geology from Louisiana State University.

Peter Mellbye, former Executive Vice President of Development & Production of Statoil ASA

Mr. Mellbye served in leadership positions at Statoil ASA for 30 years. He most recently served as its Executive Vice President of Development & Production, International. Prior to joining Statoil, Mr. Mellbye worked for the Norwegian Trade Council and the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Ocean Installer, A/S, and is on the Board of Directors of Axis Offshore Pte. Ltd. Mr. Mellbye has a master's degree from the University of Oslo and a bachelor's degree from the University of Bergen.

Falmouth Scientific, Inc. (FSI), a global leader in precision oceanographic instrumentation and marine systems integration, is pleased to announce the addition of Unique System, L.L.C. to its family of manufacturer’s representatives.

Unique System has office locations in New Iberia, Louisiana and Houston, Texas. The company has achieved significant success over the years specializing in the supply of equipment for sale and rental to the diving and offshore industries in the Gulf of Mexico region. Unique System also extends the capabilities of the global Unique Maritime Group to companies operating within the North American subsea oil and gas, mining and construction sectors.

The partnership allows Unique System to expand their product portfolio and capabilities in these marketplaces, and will give FSI a local presence in the area. “We are excited to partner with Unique System as we grow our technology portfolio and customer base in these important segments” said an FSI spokesman.

Falmouth Scientific offers sensor based products such as portable low frequency seismic systems; current, wave, and tide meters; solutions for drilling & vortex induced vibration monitoring; portable sidescan sonar system; and other acoustics-based underwater instrumentation. Service areas include custom design, development, integration, and production of marine systems and acoustic transducers; and manufacturing services such as prototyping, product assembly, encapsulation (potting), calibration, and pressure testing.

BMT Group Ltd, a leading international design, engineering and risk management consultancy, is pleased to announce that Wendy Barnes has joined the Board of Directors as a Non-executive Director.

Wendy is presently a Non-executive Member of the main Board of OFWAT, the economic regulator of the water industry in England and Wales, a Non-executive Director of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Services and a Non-executive Director at the Met Office.

She was Interim Chief Operating Officer for the UK Government’s Department of Energy & Climate Change with responsibility for corporate services and nuclear decommissioning and security policy until December 2012.  Wendy was also previously a member of the main Board of the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support organisation (DE&S) and a Non-executive Director of two Government security departments.  Prior to this, Wendy spent eleven years with United Utilities and previously ten years with British Nuclear Fuels in a wide range of roles including customer service, marketing and business development.

On her appointment, Wendy commented: “I am delighted to be joining BMT at a time when the business is enjoying significant success and growth.  I am looking forward to the challenge of contributing to a group that is diverse in both its geographical spread and in its markets.  Having served on a number of boards, I am keen to use my past experience to the benefit of the group.”

Neil Cross, Chairman of BMT Group said: “I am very pleased to welcome Wendy to the Board of BMT.  She will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the company and will help drive our continued growth and development.”

Unique System FZE, a Unique Maritime Group company, which is one of the world’s leading integrated turnkey subsea and offshore solution providers, has announced the joining of Martin Bolton as the new Division Head for its Oil & Gas Division for the Middle East Region.  He will be based at Unique’s head office in Sharjah in the UAE.

His main responsibilities will include leading and developing the Oil & Gas Division’s team and to ensure that the high product quality, technical and customer service continues to fulfill customer expectations. His main role will be to further expand the Oil & Gas division amid offering a new range of services to the existing clients as well as a new set of clients in the Middle East Region. A few of these services would be Well Head maintenance, Refurbishment of Wellheads, internal and external casing cutting, Slot recoveries, Permanent Abandonments, Supply of High Pressure High Temperature Risers ( HPHT ) ,Supply of Low Pressure Risers, Supply of Double Studded Adapters ( DSA ), tension systems/ tension rings, Overshots, etc. With his primacy, we would soon be targeting a geographical expansion by exploring the competitive Middle Eastern territories of KSA and Kuwait to offer our portfolio of products and services.

Martin started his early career by working as a Service Technician and then as a Field Service and Subsea Service Engineer, for companies such as Weatherford, Vetco Gray and Dril-Quip which acquainted him to the running, installation and maintenance of equipment, and to the overall project completion. He rapidly advanced in his career and worked as a Business Development Manager and General Manager (Sales) over the past 9 years with Claxton, an Acteon Group company. All through his career, Martin has actively managed sales activities and opportunities, while also providing valuable technical and engineering assistance to clients.

On this occasion, Sahil Gandhi, Director @ Unique Maritime Group said, “We are extremely delighted to have Martin Bolton on board to further expand our Oil & Gas Division. He has remarkable experience in the Middle East region and his phenomenal sales, engineering and business development skills will invigorate our market share in the Oil & Gas sector which till date has not been deeply explored.”

Martin Bolton asserted, “I am delighted to be offered this challenging role to help develop Unique’s Oil & Gas division in the Middle East region. I hope to use my expertise to target new clients in this important market sector and target new products too, also add value to the services that the company already has to offer, and focus on customers’ needs and satisfaction.”

McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE: MDR) (“McDermott” or the “Company”) announces that John T. McCormack, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has advised the Company of his intention to retire, effective in the fourth quarter of this year. Mr. McCormack (age 66) has been with McDermott for ten years and has held his current role since 2011.

“I would like to thank Jack for his decade of contribution to McDermott,” said Stephen M. Johnson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of McDermott, “His commitment and knowledge of the business have earned him the respect of employees and customers around the world, and we extend our best wishes to Jack for his retirement.”

An internal and external search effort is underway for a successor, whom the Company expects to name in the near-term to provide for a smooth transition

Wood Group Mustang names Bob Lindsay CEng MIMechE president of the Offshore Business Unit, leading its global strategic direction and development.

A native of Australia, Lindsay brings to the table 35 years of management experience in international offshore business operations, having held various senior and executive management roles. His expertise includes design, construction, project management and business development of oil & gas production facilities that have included assignments in the UK, Brazil, Korea, South Africa, US and Australia.

Lindsay holds a Master of Business Administration from The Open University in the UK, a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Western Australia Institute of Technology and an Associateship in mechanical engineering (Bachelor of Science equivalent) from Western Australia Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Institute of Petroleum, the Institute of Engineers (Australia) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Wood Group Executive Vice President Michele McNichol shared, "Bob's personable and team-focused style, combined with his depth of offshore business operations, makes him a natural fit at Wood Group Mustang. It was of paramount importance to find a leader who not only has the technical and international business talent required for the job, but who also embodies our people-oriented culture."

Seatronics do Brazil, an Acteon company, announces the appointment of Thiago Montanari as sales manager.  Montanari is based in Rio de Janeiroand will report directly to Seatronics vice president, Fabio D’Agostino.

Montanari has six years of experience in the offshore industry, working extensively in the Caspian (Kasakhstan), Mediterranean, Adriatic and Caribbean (Cuba) seas, as well as in Angola, Patagonia and Libya.

Montanari will be responsible for maturing existing relationships while growing and developing global business opportunities with existing and potential clients.

Before joining Seatronics, Montanari worked at Ambipetro, where he was an operations supervisor and party chief for its offshore operations. Prior to this role, he spent four years at GASITALY as an offshore surveyor, responsible for MBES, Side Scan Sonar and Sub-bottom profiling data acquisition and positioning.

Montanari holds a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography from Vale do Itajai University in Brazil.

“This is a key role at Seatronics, and I am pleased to have Thiago join the team,” said vice president Fabio D’Agostino. “Thiago’s international expertise and industry knowledge will provide guidance and leadership to our Brazilian sales team while enhancing customer relations in the region.”

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) [NYSE: SAI] announced it was awarded a prime contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to provide deep ocean acoustic detection for Transformational Reliable Acoustic Path Systems (TRAPS). The single-award cost-plus fixed-fee contract has a fourteen-month base period of performance, one six-month option, and a total contract value of approximately $10 million if the option is exercised. 

 TRAPS is a fixed passive sonar node designed to achieve large-area coverage by exploiting advantages of operating from the deep seafloor.  Under a previous contract, SAIC completed the initial TRAPS prototype design under the Deep Sea Operations Program Phase 1B, part of the Distributed Agile Submarine Hunting program, and continued validation of the underlying scientific approach through the further analysis of available Navy datasets. In Phase 2, SAIC completed a highly successful deep ocean acoustic data collection using the primary sensor intended for the TRAPS prototype that validated key foundational hypothesis for this breakthrough approach.

 Under Phase 3 of the contract, SAIC will expand the number of prototype nodes to demonstrate a scalable distributed system prototype system to detect quiet submarines.  SAIC intends to supply DARPA with a capability to use systems of configurable technology to achieve Antisubmarine Warfare surveillance needs over large, operationally relevant deep ocean areas.

 "We're excited to continue to work with DARPA on this program, maintaining our commitment and focus on offering innovative solutions that will lead to a final sea test demonstration employing multiple long endurance nodes modified and tested for improved power efficiency, information assurance, enhanced signal processing and manufacturability," said John Fratamico, SAIC senior vice president and group general manager. 

 NorSea Group, Norway’s leading supplier of base services and integrated logistics systems to the oil and gas industry, has appointed Kim Christensen as its first UK General Manager to lead the group’s future developments in Scotland.

 He will head up NorSea Group (UK) Ltd, a new company within the Group, which has been established to reinforce the Group’s commitment to enhance its business activity in the UK. To support this, NorSea Group will open its first UK office in Aberdeen.

 The move follows NorSea Group’s recent announcements that it had signed an agreement with the Scrabster Harbour Trust in Caithness and formed a strategic working partnership with local logistics firm Hugh Simpson (Contractors) Ltd to develop Scotland’s most northerly mainland port as a one-stop supply base servicing the oil and gas industry.

 Mr Christensen’s initial focus will be to build on the existing Scrabster relationships and to move proposals forward to establish a base which will particularly benefit offshore operators and developments in the northern North Sea andEast/West of Shetland. He will do this through working closely with the local community to maximise benefits for the area.

 Alongside that, he will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities in the UKCS with an emphasis on North-East Scotland right up the coast to Orkney and Shetland.

 “NorSea Group (UK) Ltd anticipates expanding operations in Scotland by establishing a presence in additional strategic ports within the next two years.Many of the Norwegian companies we work with already have existing relationships with companies operating in the UK North Sea sector so there is already a good fit there,” says Knut Magne Johannessen, director of international and project operations in NorSea Group.

Jon Holvik has taken over as President of the Houston headquartered Kongsberg Maritime Inc.; the US subsidiary of the world’s leading supplier of Dynamic Positioning (DP) and Automation/Control systems for offshore vessels, rigs and merchant shipping.

Norwegian born Jon, an electronics graduate from the Technical College in Kongsberg, Norway has been a Kongsberg Maritime employee since the late eighties. Starting his career as a Service Engineer he became part of Kongsberg Maritime when it acquired his then employer, Shipmate Norway. Jon became a DP Hardware and Software Engineer in 1990, and in 1993 through 1995 served as Service Manager for KONGSBERG in Singapore, responsible for service of all KONGSBERG products in SE Asia.

 He moved into sales in 1996 upon returning to Norway. As Sales Manager for Kongsberg Maritime his responsibility was for Scandinavia,  Middle East and Brazil from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, Jon moved to Houston to become, Vice President of Sales for Kongsberg Maritime Inc.. After 10 years, he had an 18 month guest appearance as VP Rig Broker for RS Platou in Houston from July 2008 until February 2010 but returned to Kongsberg Maritime Inc. as Vice President of Sales in February 2010. As of June 24, 2013, he became President of Kongsberg Maritime Inc. in Houston.

“I’m delighted to takes the reigns at Kongsberg Maritime Inc. during an exciting period of industry growth,” comments Jon. “Kongsberg Maritime’s Integrated DP and Automation/Control Systems, Safety Systems and Navigation Systems feature on over 90% of all deepwater MODUs ordered over the past 3 years and are a mainstay of critical exploration and production operations throughout the Gulf of Mexico. We are key partner to a large number of operators in the region and I am keen to strengthen and expand on our existing customer relationships.”

In addition to managing sales of the diverse and highly regarded KONGSBERG portfolio of technology for offshore applications, the Kongsberg Maritime Inc. Houston HQ is also home to the largest Dynamic Positioning and Automation Training center in the USA. Over 1400 students took courses in 2012, and with new instructors on board, this number is expected to increase in 2013.

“Through our position as a leading Dynamic Positioning training organization in North America, Kongsberg Maritime Inc. in Houston is providing a vital service to the offshore industry, where demand for skilled DP operators is higher than it has ever been,” continues Jon.

As company President, Jon also takes responsibility for the US Customer Support and project office, located in the Kongsberg Maritime Inc. New Orleans office, which celebrates its 10 year anniversary in August 2013.

The office is positioned to support Kongsberg Maritime customers in the burgeoning offshore industry in GoM and Mexico and has recently become part of a world-wide Customer Support revamp that has made it a major point in a new Kongsberg Maritime follow-the-sun approach to global support.

Follow-the-sun means that whilst supporting customers in the region, support staff at the Kongsberg Maritime Inc. New Orleans office also handle global customer requests, ensuring they have a human to deal with even if it is out of office hours in their location.

CSA Ocean Sciences, Inc. are currently seeking an Applications Developer and a Database Administrator for the GIS group, a Marketing Associate, and a Ph.D. Marine Biologist/Biological Oceanographer. Check out the postings on the www.csaocean.com careers page.