The global leader in life saving equipment, Viking Life-Saving Equipment is now open for business in Webster, Texas. The facility provides Viking customers with a direct sales presence in the Houston area.
The new office and warehouse facility will allow the company to cater to the needs of its offshore oil and commercial cargo clients. For over 50 years, Viking has produced a high quality line of life rafts, evacuation chutes and slide systems for the passenger and offshore industries, as well as personal protection equipment such as life jackets, immersion suits, and fire suits.
The new Texas office is located at 16920 N. Texas Ave, Suite C-14, Webster, Texas 77598. It can be contacted by phone at 281-724-0934 and by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Deep Down, Inc. (OTCQX: DPDW) ("Deep Down"), an oilfield services company specializing in complex deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil production distribution system support services has announced it has received a contract from a major international controls manufacturer for the manufacture of Loose Steel Tube Flying Leads (LSFL) worth in excess of $1.7 million. Additionally, there is an option to purchase additional distribution and installation equipment worth in excess of $2 million. The contract is for the first phase of a large gas project on the Northwest coast of Australia; delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2013.
Ron Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Deep Down, Inc. stated, "This award reaffirms the significant engineering and capital investments we have made in our core steel flying leads product line. Customers have realized that our steel flying leads are superior to those offered by the competition with respect to quality, cost, reliability and ease of installation."
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Newpark Resources, Inc. (NYSE: NR) has announced that it has been awarded two deepwater contracts. In Brazil, the Company was awarded a two-year contract from a subsidiary of Total S.A., to provide drilling fluids and related services for a series of wells planned in the Campos Basin. The Company was also awarded a contract by another supermajor to provide drilling fluids and related services for a series of wells to be drilled in the Black Sea. Work under both contracts is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Bruce Smith, President of Newpark Drilling Fluids, stated, "These deepwater contract awards represent significant milestones in our continued penetration of the offshore market and our expanding global presence. Partnering with these two world-class organizations on these offshore drilling campaigns further solidifies our position as a leading global provider of high-performance fluids systems and engineering."
.Interest in Tritech’s industry-standard products has grown over recent years, prompting the company to hold live in-country product demonstrations.
Tritech is to showcase its anchor chain and riser monitoring system RAMS™ on Wednesday 8 May at LabOceano, COPPE, Rio de Janeiro. Subsea engineers, naval architects and subsea maintenance and inspection personnel as well as publishers and editors are encouraged to attend in order to gain first-hand experience of the real-time monitoring capabilities RAMS™ offers Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Unit (FPSO) assets.
The company is also pleased to announce its partnership with MACSea Ltda, who will provide support for future in-country deployments of Tritech’s RAMS™ systems.
Angus Lugsdin RAMS™ Business Development Manager, comments:
“This is a significant demonstration of Tritech’s FPSO monitoring system and comes at a time where there is notable shift change in industry requirements to have asset monitoring in place. Tritech is also committed to delivering localised support to our South American customers and our partnership with MACSea provides Tritech with a local presence in Macaé, to ensure our Brazilian customers receive the high levels of professional customer after sales support Tritech is renowned for.”
Antonio Silva, the Commercial Manager for MACSea Ltda, comments:
“We look forward to assisting Tritech with the demonstration of their proven RAMS™ technology and to supporting Brazilian customers with the deployment of this unique technology.”
Participants are invited to a presentation on the RAMS™ technology from 1130 to 1300 where a complimentary buffet lunch will be provided; the presentation will be followed by a live demonstration in the LabOceano test tank.
Places are strictly limited, to register to attend Tritech’s RAMS™ demo, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 1 May.
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The new company is to be called Gardline Marine Sciences do Brasil S.A, and is a 50/50 joint venture between Gardline Marine Sciences (South America) Ltd and OceanPact Serviços Marítimos Ltda. This strategic alliance will see the two companies sharing their marine expertise and resources in order to pursue marine survey projects in Brazilian waters.
Gardline Marine Sciences do Brasil S.A will focus on fully integrated survey packages including geophysical, hydrographic, environmental, oceanographic and geotechnical surveys. The company will provide a wide range of integrated marine science services including: 2D seismic exploration, 2D/3D high resolution data acquisition and interpretation, shallow gas hazard analysis, seabed mapping, shallow to deep water soil investigation, near shore and coastal surveys, water flow measurement and water quality.
Gardline has been providing clients with a comprehensive set of offshore integrated survey services for over 40 years. By combining this expertise with the significant Brazilian market presence of OceanPact, the joint venture will provide clients with the global experience, knowledge and resources needed for any marine survey.
Both companies have a strong reputation for health and safety, ensuring that projects are delivered safely, without incident or impact on the environment, on time, on budget and to the highest industry standards.
Gardline & OceanPact already have a proven track record of working together to provide services to the Brazilian energy sector. The two companies undertook a pioneering project for Petrobras in 2012 in which for the first time, mini-CPT data and vibrocorer samples were acquired for pipeline route design instead of using traditional Piston Coring which has no efficiency in sand.
The Petrobras project drew on the extensive industry experience of Gardline and OceanPact to successfully meet the needs of the client. The joint venture aims to continue upon this success by providing world-class services to more clients in Brazil.
John Wenlock, Director of Gardline Marine Sciences (South America) Ltd said “As a leading service provider in the Brazilian energy sector, OceanPact is the ideal partner to help spearhead our expansion into the burgeoning Brazilian market
Wenlock added “We are very excited about the growth opportunity for Gardline in Brazil, and we are confident that this joint venture with OceanPact will bring important synergy and expand our service offering in the Brazilian market”.
Flavio Andrade, CEO of OceanPact and of Gardline Marine Sciences do Brasil, also shared his vision: "OceanPact invests heavily in continuous innovation and improvement. This new joint venture is an important part of the growth strategy of OceanPact Group."
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The facility’s Deepwater capability will complement Clariant’s Deepwater Center of Excellence recently opened in Rio
de Janeiro
Clariant Oil Services announces that it’s investment in a new laboratory facility is on track for completion in Q3 2013. The facility will be in the new Clariant
Oil and Mining Services global headquarters campus, located in The Woodlands, Texas.
“The 64000 square foot complex, including offices, laboratories, and training suite, will utilize innovative design concepts to promote a stimulating and safe work environment,” said Robin McClure, Vice President, North America Region, Clariant Oil Services. “The dynamic look and feel
of the laboratories will create an environment that will allow staff to cross-train, share strengths and fully engage in their roles supporting our customers, whether onshore, offshore shelf, or located
in deepwater.”
The new facility will have several separate laboratories with robust capabilities, including:
“This equipment, housed in a state-of-the-art facility and staffed with some of the leading figures in the industry, will result in a first class service delivery for Clariant Oil Services’ clients,” said Robin, he continued “ In particular, we are pleased to be able to benefit from our company‘s experience supporting deepwater and pre-salt production in Brazil to bring these capabilities to our Gulf of Mexico customers.“ Clariant Oil Services announced the ground breaking for the new facility September 7, 2012.
.Hertel Offshore have signed a €70 million contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries for the engineering,design and construction (EPC) of the new accommodation for Statoil’s Aasta Hansteen platform. This is another big Norwegian contract for Hertel Offshore and follows on from the award for Statoil’s Valemon Living Quarter (LQ) project in 2011 and the Shell Norge Draugen Additional Living Quarter project in 2012, both currently under construction in the Rotterdam facility. The project is on a lump sum EPC basis and will draw on the in-house capabilities of Hertel Offshore. Work has already started and delivery is scheduled for April 2015. Design will be based on the stringent Norsok standards and Statoil requirements. Several Hertel innovations will be used including prefab cabins to facilitate an efficient construction process.
Peter van Aken, Managing Director said: "We are very proud to work alongside Hyundai Heavy Industries and it is a privilege to build such a state of the art LQ. This project will also further strengthen Hertel’s presence on the Norwegian Continental Shelf."
The Aasta Hansteen Living Quarter will be made of steel and will accommodate 108 persons. The five storey building weighs approx. 2,600 tonnes and will be fully equipped with everything required for offshore operations, such as galley, recreational area, medical room, control room and heli deck.
The Aasta Hansteen gas field is located on Blocks 6706/12, 6707/10, roughly 186 miles (300 kilometers) from land in 4,265 feet (1,300 meters) of water in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Statoil serves as the operator, holding a 75% interest; OMV holds 15%; and ConocoPhillips holds the remaining 10% interest.
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Knowledge Reservoir, a leading global energy consulting company, announces its acquisition by RPS Group plc (RPS).
RPS is a global, multi-disciplinary consultancy providing advice upon the exploration and production of oil and gas and other natural resources; and the development and management of the built and natural environment. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, RPS employs more than 5,000 people in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Africa, the Middle East Australia and Asia.
The acquisition of Knowledge Reservoir by RPS creates a substantially enlarged geoscience and engineering consulting group with global reach and one that is better equipped to meet the challenges posed by complex, multi-disciplinary projects. The new organization will be known as RPS Knowledge Reservoir.
Dr. Ivor Ellul and the Knowledge Reservoir management team, along with all current staff, will remain with the business which will continue to operate from its existing office locations.
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BP and federal and state Natural Resource Damages (NRD) Trustees have reached agreement in principle on two additional proposed early restoration projects in Louisiana that are expected to cost approximately $340 million. The projects are part of BP's unprecedented commitment to provide up to $1 billion in early restoration funding to expedite recovery of natural resources injured as a result of the Deepwater Horizon accident.
BP has been working diligently with the Trustees to develop additional projects to meet BP's commitment to early restoration. In fact, for several months now BP had an agreement in principle with the Trustees to proceed with a number of projects, including those announced today by Louisiana. The Trustees made a decision to hold such announcements until months after our agreement in principle.
“We are extremely pleased to have reached agreement with the Trustees on the new projects, which will provide significant long-term benefits to the environment and the people of Louisiana,” said Laura Folse, BP’s Executive Vice President for Response and Environmental Restoration. “With the help of the extensive cleanup efforts, early restoration projects, and natural recovery processes, the Gulf is returning to its baseline condition, which is the condition it would be in if the accident had not occurred.”
BP and the Trustees have now agreed to a total of four early restoration projects in Louisiana expected to cost approximately $370 million, including two projects that were approved in 2012 and are already underway. BP stepped up to make funds available, enabling restoration projects to begin before the ongoing NRD assessment is complete.
The new Louisiana projects will create a fish hatchery facility and will rebuild and restore beach, dune and marsh habitat on a number of coastal Louisiana islands.
The Agreement between BP and the Trustees is unique in that it makes it possible for restoration to begin at an earlier stage of the NRD process. NRD restoration projects are typically funded only after a final settlement has been reached or a final court judgment has been entered. The Agreement allows the parties to expedite projects to restore, replace or acquire the equivalent of injured natural resources in the Gulf soon after an injury is identified, reducing the time needed to achieve restoration of those resources.
Under the Agreement, BP provides the funding and the Trustees implement the projects. Funding is provided from the $20 billion trust BP established in 2010 to pay claims, final judgments in litigation and litigation settlements, state and local response costs and claims, and natural resource damages and related costs.
In addition to the early restoration projects, to meet its commitments in the Gulf, BP has spent more than $14 billion in operational response and clean-up costs; has paid $10.7 billion to individuals, businesses and government entities for claims, settlements and other payments; and has agreed to a settlement with the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee that will resolve the substantial majority of outstanding private economic loss, property damage and medical claims.
Louisiana early restoration projects announced April 30, include:
• Louisiana Outer Coast Restoration Project will restore beach, dune and marsh habitat on Whiskey Island (Calliou Lake Headlands), Chenier Ronquille Island, the east and west lobes of Shell Island, and North Breton Island. Restoring these barrier islands will help protect Louisiana’s wetlands and slow coastal erosion. The project will create beaches, dunes and marshes; repair breaches in the shoreline; and revegetate the islands using appropriate native species. Estimated cost: $318,363,000
• Louisiana Fish Hatchery Project will build a hatchery facility for the production of three important species of recreational fish: speckled trout, red drum and southern flounder. The facility will be located on a 90-acre site and will include 3 one-half acre ponds; 14,000 square feet of building space; a reservoir and pumping station; and a youth fishing pond and kayak launch. The building space would include hatchery production as well as a lobby with educational displays, a classroom/conference room, and production touring areas for visitors. Estimated cost: $22,000,000
Projects approved in 2012 include:
• Louisiana Lake Hermitage Marsh Project will create 104 acres of marsh within the Barataria Hydrologic Basin in Plaquemines Parish. Sediment will be dredged from the Mississippi River and pumped via pipeline to the project area. This is designed to produce the desired elevation and the ability to plant native vegetation in the sediment. Base cost: $13,200,000 (final payment complete; Base cost + contingency cost: $14,400,000 (contingency cost pending)
• Louisiana Oyster Cultch Project will create productive oyster cultch areas on public oyster seed grounds in six locations across 850 acres throughout coastal Louisiana. In addition, improvements will be made to an existing oyster hatchery on Grand Isle, which will produce larvae to be released over the cultch material. Base cost: $14,874,300 (final payment complete); Base cost + contingency cost: $15,582,600 (contingency cost pending)
.Smit Lamnalco has passed a significant milestone in Oman after celebrating 14‐years of continuous marine and offshore support services with no Lost Time Incident (LTI).
The 5,100 day record covers support to Single Point Mooring operations 10 km off Muscat Cove for the Petroleum Development of Oman (PDO). The services, which have run since 1998, are offered by a joint venture between Smit Lamnalco and Omani partner Suhail Bahwain Group.
Pictured (left to right): Anwar Al Mukhaini, HR Manager, Bahwan Lamnalco S.A.O.C.; Mukund Rajamani, Commercial Manager Middle East and Indian Subcontinent, Smit Lamnalco; Vivek Seth, Managing Director Middle East & Indian Subcontinent Smit Lamnalco and Alex Borges, General Manager Suhail Bahwan Group.
14 years of zero LTI
Suleiman Al‐Maany, PDO Pipeline Infrastructure and Oil Terminal Manager, said: “To reach 14 years ozero LTI is indeed a remarkable achievement.” The occasion was marked by a celebration at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Muscat, attended by key officials from PDO, Suhail Bahwan Group and Smit Lamnalco employees including vessel crews, and other Oil & Gas and Ports industry representatives. The joint venture’s SHE‐Q Manager, Abdullah Al Maamari paid tribute to the skills demonstrated by the diving crews supporting PDO’s Single Point Mooring operations. “This record could not have been set without their outstanding efforts,” he said.
Developing local resources
Vivek Seth, Smit Lamnalco Managing Director Middle East & Indian Subcontinent, said: “This milestone is a source of particular pride, given Smit Lamnalco’s continuous commitment to developing excellence locally to match the standards we set across our organisation. Our company is fully committed to maximizing the local content of our operations. Nearly 90% of our local employees are Omanis."
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Parker Drilling Company (NYSE-PKD), an international drilling contractor and drilling services and rental tools provider, announces the acquisition of International Tubular Services Limited and certain affiliates (ITS), subsidiaries of ITS Tubular Services (Holdings) Limited, a privately held international rental tools and well services company. In line with Parker's strategic goal to offer additional integrated products, services and expertise to international energy exploration and production (E&P) operators and drilling contractors, the acquisition significantly expands Parker's Rental Tools business to include ITS' strong customer base in growing international markets and additional well services. The business combination also creates opportunities to increase financial performance by leveraging operating costs and realizing tax benefits.
ITS is a leading independent provider of rental tools and well services with 2012 annual revenues of $119 million. Principal activities are renting drilling tubulars and pressure control equipment and providing casing running and fishing services. ITS serves an extensive customer base of E&P companies, drilling contractors and service companies from 22 operating facilities primarily located in the Middle East, Latin America, U.K. and Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Under the terms of the agreement, Parker paid $125 million for ITS. An initial purchase price of $101 million was paid at the closing and an additional $24 million was deposited into an escrow account, which will either be paid to ITS Tubular Services (Holdings) Limited as additional purchase price when certain consents are obtained or, in certain circumstances, released to Parker. The transaction was financed with a $125 million term loan provided by Goldman Sachs Bank USA.
"Today we are further investing in a business segment we know well and an international rental tools growth strategy that we've focused on for some time," said Gary Rich , president and chief executive officer of Parker Drilling . "ITS is one of the industry's leading independent international rental tools and well service companies with a broad footprint and a strong portfolio of products and service capabilities. By expanding our geographic presence and services offering, we are positioning ourselves to better serve the growing needs of international E&P operators and drilling contractors."
Joe Chandler , previously chief executive officer of International Tubular Services (Holdings) Limited and now vice president of Parker's International Rental Tools business unit, commented, "This is an exciting combination. With the support of Parker, ITS is now in a better condition to provide the best solutions for our customers. As part of Parker, a company with a respected reputation, financial strength, process discipline and dedication to people, we expect to continue to grow our ability to deliver premier rental tools services on a global scale."
"This acquisition creates immediate advantages for Parker," Mr. Rich said. "It increases our geographic and product line diversity and enhances our ability to deliver innovative, reliable and efficient results to our customers. We are confident this transaction will provide attractive financial returns and compelling cost and tax benefits that will improve profitability and drive increased value for our shareholders."
For this transaction, Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as financial advisor, Ernst &Young LLP provided advisory services, and Baker Botts LLP acted as Parker's legal advisor.
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Fugro GeoServices is pleased to announce several recent promotions within the company, including two key management appointments: Mr. Ted Hampton, president, and Mr. Adam Jackson, senior vice president.
Mr. Hampton is a licensed geologist and former vice president of the company. He replaces longtime leader Mr. Tom Hamilton, who will retire this spring after nearly 30 years of service with Fugro. Together, Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Hampton led the formation of Fugro GeoServices in 1999 to provide oil and gas clients in the Gulf of Mexico with high quality marine geophysical surveys. Under their leadership, the company has developed from a conventional survey company for the Gulf of Mexico to a high-tech survey organization with expanded reach into South America and Alaska markets.
Mr. Jackson also enjoys a long tenure with Fugro, having worked in field and management positions in the United States and abroad. For the past decade, he has served as business development manager for Fugro GeoServices, helping to win new projects and manage their successful completion. As senior vice president, Mr. Jackson will work closely with Mr. Hampton to support the company’s goals while having direct oversight of marketing and project management functions. Mr. Jackson works from the company’s Houston, Texas, office, which allows close contact with the company’s oil and gas clients.
In addition to the senior management appointments, the Lafayette office announces the following promotions:
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Deep Down, Inc. (OTCQX: DPDW) ("Deep Down"), an oilfield services company specializing in complex deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil production distribution system support services is pleased to announce the formation of Deep Down Brasil, Ltda., confirming their interest in supporting the dynamic offshore oil and gas industry in Brazil. Deep Down Brasil will offer the full range of innovative subsea products and services currently offered by Deep Down Inc., expanding our efforts already underway in Brazil.
Ron Smith , Chief Executive Officer of Deep Down, Inc. stated, "We are very excited about the opportunities available to us in Brazil and, by forming Deep Down Brasil, have made a serious commitment to this market. Our experience in providing technical solutions to virtually every worldwide oil and gas venue situates us well to support the ever increasing challenges in the deep waters of Brazil. Our expertise, in conjunction with local, strategic partners, will position Deep Down for long term success in this important market."
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Songa Offshore SE has announced the recruitment of Jan Rune Steinsland as new Executive Vice President of Songa Offshore SE. Steinsland will report to interim CEO Jens A. Wilhelmsen and work alongside CFO Geir Karlsen to strengthen the company's financial control and reporting structures.
- "As we have been quite open about, Songa is presently pursuing several different options for financing of our new Category D rigs, currently under construction by DSME in South Korea. Such work requires competent and time consuming efforts from our financial management. At the same time, we need to strengthen financial control and improve our reporting structures. Through the appointment of Jan Rune Steinsland, we will significantly strengthen our financial team whilst freeing up time and capacity for Geir Karlsen to focus on the funding side of the company", says chairman and interim CEO, Jens A Wilhelmsen.
Mr Steinsland will be based in Limassol at the company's corporate headquarter and take up his position on the 20th May 2013.
Jan Rune Steinsland has significant international industry experience and a strong track record from executive positions. From 2006, he has held the position as CFO at Ocean Rig, in period of great expansion and development, including an IPO and listing on NASDAQ. Prior to that, he was CFO at Acta Holding ASA, a position he held for six years. From 1988 to 2000, Jan Rune Steinsland had several management positions at ExxonMobil, including Financial Analyst, Financial Reporting Manager, Vice President Accounting and Audit Advisor
.MacArtney Norge has a long standing relationship with ROV manufacturer SAAB Seaeye - and the two companies have worked together on numerous projects related to the production, maintenance and sale of the versatile Sea Owl 500 observation class ROV system. Now MacArtney and SAAB Seaeye have developed an upgraded XTi version which, while staying within the realm of the original and proven Sea Owl 500 design, features significant upgrades of all system facets.
The Sea Owl
The Sea Owl system was developed by SAAB in the early 90’s and has since proved itself as an extremely reliable and also a very popular ROV among its users. Applications include observation and inspection of subsea installations and light work tasks in challenging environments.
The primary market for the Sea Owl is firmly rooted on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and the XTi has been developed to meet the requirements of operators who perform subsea work on behalf of, for instance, Statoil. Among the new features, the XTi boast a 360 degree control programme (6 DOF), a 3000 metre depth rating and a 400 metre tether length on the top-hat TMS. In addition, the SAAB Seaeye ICON control system enables easy integration of sensors. Finally, tooling package application is made even more flexible and user-friendly.
To realise this exciting system upgrade, MacArtney Norge has worked closely with the MacArtney Group HQ in Denmark - to develop a complete launch and recovery system that meets customer demands for ‘No Manuel Handling’ and HSR requirements.
For more information on MacArtney launch and recovery systems visit www.macartney.com/systems/launch-and-recovery
The entire Sea Owl XTi solution is marketed by MacArtney Norge AS and is now available for delivery. Already, MacArtney is experiencing significant interest among existing as well as new customers.
.Offshore Installation Services (OIS), an Acteon company, has named Mike Earlam as president.
Based in the company’s Aberdeen office, Mike will be responsible for driving the development and growth of OIS and will play a key role in exploiting opportunities to work together with other Acteon companies.
Earlam has wide experience of the subsea market and joins OIS from his position as managing director with Fugro Salt Subsea. In that role, he was responsible for establishing and building the company’s subsea construction and trenching business in the North Sea and Europe. Previously, he was the global chartering manager for Subsea 7 and played a key role in developing the company’s fleet. His other career experience includes 10 years with ASCO running marine operations and logistics and managing a subsea construction contractor in Australia and the Far East.
“OIS has a very encouraging start to 2013 and is well-positioned to take advantage of the growing markets in the North Sea and further afield,” said Acteon Group vice president Neill Kelly. “The company is heading for a period where we anticipate significant opportunity and growth in the areas of offshore installation, inspection, repair and maintenance and suspended well abandonment. I am confident that Mike’s experience will be of great benefit to OIS.”
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