The global oil and gas industry gathers a large amount of data on HSE incidents, which is shared both within companies and amongst peers. Despite this, similar types of incidents occur again and again – why?

Next month’s SPE International Conference and Exhibition on Health, Safety, Security, Environment, and Social Responsibility (HSSE-SR) will be an excellent opportunity for oil and gas professionals to hear HSE best practice in other industry sectors, and discuss how this can be applied in the oil and gas industry.

HSSE-SR, to be held at the Stavanger Forum in Norway from 11 to 13 April 2016, will take place under the theme ‘Sustaining Our Future Through Innovation and Collaboration’. This year’s event will include a number of presentations from other relevant sectors and stakeholders, aimed at reaching beyond the oil and gas industry.

The airline industry, for example, has well-developed processes for sharing and learning from their incidents and near misses. At HSSE-SR, attendees will hear about these processes from airline industry experts. This will be followed by a discussion on how these processes can be applied in the oil and gas industry, in order that it better learns from past incidents and establishes a culture of learning that runs from top to bottom within companies.

Session Chair Claudine Gorman, SSH&E Manager at ExxonMobil said, "I have tremendous respect for the improvements that the airline industry has made in their safety performance, and am excited about the opportunity to learn from their experiences. I think that their ability to connect with their people has facilitated their ability to truly learn from their incidents and near misses".

Robert Schroeder, Check-Captain/Flight Safety Specialist, Lufthansa is more succinct, “In the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery ‘there is only one true joy: interacting with people’”.

HSSE-SR is expected to draw a wide range of delegates to share new ideas, process improvements, technological advances and innovative applications to enhance HSE performance. As well as plenary and panel sessions, there will be a multi-stream technical programme, which will include oral and Knowledge Sharing ePosters.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to visit more than 20 exhibitors, who will be demonstrating the latest solutions to HSE challenges facing stakeholders in oil and gas exploration and production, as well as attend a variety of networking events, which will be an opportunity to share experiences with peers and build fruitful relationships with stakeholders.

HSSE-SR will be hosted by Statoil, Platinum Sponsors are Baker Hughes, ExxonMobil and Shell, and ERM is the Gold Sponsor. The event is endorsed by the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) and International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP).

For more information, and to register, click here.

William Jacob Management Inc. (WJM) has secured its initial contract to complete the detailed engineering and design of its first Mobile Offshore Support Services Vessel; the MOSS V. Northport Marine LLC will be the first client to receive delivery of the new concept vessel, scheduled for completion in Q1 2018.

The MOSS V is a heavy-duty jack up drilling rig, converted to a self-propelled vessel. Potential applications include rigless plug and abandonment (P&A), construction support, floatel, storm damage repair, decommissioning, wireline, workover, support of a skid off rig and maintenance. WJM will provide the engineering design and construction management for the conversion and refit of a candidate vessel, several of which have been identified.

By removing pre-existing drilling equipment from the top deck during the conversion, a 10,000-square-foot open deck serves to create a utility vessel that allows for the accommodation of a number of different services. The equipment below deck (pumps and tanks) is left in place, for potential use in P&A applications.

Typically, a standard jack-up rig is equipped with two or three cranes with limited capacity of only 10 to 30 tons. The MOSS V adds a new heavy-duty 500-ton crane, which extends the vessel’s capability to comfortably handle platform maintenance, coiled tubing offloading, the decommissioning of platforms and the rigless P&A of wells. The MOSS V hosts a large 85-person living quarters, which means it can also jack up next to a platform and be used as a floatel.

The MOSS V is a far more robust vessel in comparison with smaller, lighter lift boats. Whereas existing lift boats can only work up to a maximum of 200-feet water depth and cannot operate in heavy seas, the MOSS V is designed for 350 to 400-foot water depth capability, and can endure substantial adverse weather conditions due to its size and weight.

A 2,000-square-foot enclosed machine and welding shop is also located on the deck of the MOSS V. This means that workers can safely perform construction tasks for repairs in an environment shielded from the elements whilst offshore on the vessel. Another feature that enhances the safety of its workers is the inclusion of a helideck on the MOSS V. This means that workers can be safely transported on and off the vessel; eliminating the risks inherent with basket transfer of personnel typically used with smaller lift boats.

Michael Duffy, president, William Jacob Management, said, “In the current industry climate, an increasing number of plug and abandonment and decommissioning projects are coming online in the GOM, and the MOSS V is currently the only vessel sufficiently equipped to fully serve this target region. For an extremely competitive day rate, the MOSS V offers a unique set of multi-functional characteristics, eliminating the need for clients to hire multiple expensive vessels to perform various tasks, and delivering significant time and cost savings offshore. The MOSS V is a self-propelled vessel, with all the advantages of a heavy, robust standard jack-up drilling rig, but with the added design benefits of self-propulsion, 10,000-square-foot deck space and ability to undertake a wider variety of work in deeper water. Its versatility makes the MOSS V a one-stop shop for a variety of offshore requirements.”

One of the UK’s largest oil producer’s employee development and competency system has been recognized as amongst the best in the world after it secured coveted approval from industry skills organization OPITO.

Designed to ensure high quality performance and safe working practice, the Competence Management System (CMS) approval guarantees personnel working on all three of Nexen Petroleum UK Limited’s North Sea assets - Buzzard, Scott and Golden Eagle - are performing their roles to global best practice criteria.

Nexen fully embraced the opportunity to implement the OPITO scheme by deploying around a third of its UK-based workforce to deliver the challenge – this reduced the overall timeframe to achieve OPITO’s high standards of excellence. The workscope involved developing and enhancing Nexen’s own in-house process and led to more robust roles and responsibilities being identified and created within the organization.

To gain approval, OPITO carried out a series of audits covering 15 different safety critical roles across the business, including offshore installation managers, superintendents, supervisors, lead technicians and technicians.

Achieving full approval demonstrates Nexen’s commitment to mitigating risk and ensuring the continual development of its workforce.

John McDonald, managing director of OPITO UK, said: “Having a system for managing workforce competence independently approved to industry best practice not only ensures there is measured development of employees' skills sets, it helps to set and maintain a framework for continuous improvement and performance management, driving efficiencies and delivering cost benefits across a business.

“The assurance of a skilled and competent workforce is a vital tool in helping companies succeed in the current climate, but more importantly, it ensures that we continue to build a sustainable industry for the future. It is extremely encouraging to see an operator like Nexen raising the bar for the rest of the industry by investing in its North Sea workforce in this way.”

Ray Riddoch, UK Managing Director UK and SVP Europe said: “This was a tremendous team effort involving several departments across Nexen collaborating together and involved around 135 personnel who carried out this challenging task with diligence and integrity over an extended period ensuring that a Best In Class system was delivered and one can be sustained long term.”

Nexen has plans to develop the OPITO approved CMS further and extend it throughout its global operations in the near future.

Sparrows Group has secured an initial five-year contract to deliver cranes and maintenance services at one of the North Sea’s largest and most prestigious new developments in over a decade.

The firm will supply Statoil’s Mariner development on the UK Continental Shelf with crane operator personnel to support drilling, operations, maintenance and logistics, and will deliver maintenance and engineering services to ensure the availability and reliability of the Mariner A platform’s two pedestal cranes.

Options to extend the contract mean it could potentially run for a total of nine years.

Stewart Mitchell, chief executive officer at Sparrows Group, said: “As the longest-established North Sea crane engineering company, it is an honor to be involved as work begins on one of the most high profile projects the region has seen in many years. We hope Mariner has a long and successful life ahead of it.

“The platform will be subject to high levels of lifting activity with both the north and south cranes working to support the drilling operations, so our experienced operators and maintenance personnel will be integral to ensuring optimal operational performance.”

Statoil has already engaged Sparrows Group’s engineering team to support them with the integration of the cranes’ and mechanical handling equipment during the platform’s construction phase which is currently ongoing in South Korea.

Mariner A will be equipped with A-frame, lattice boom cranes mounted on fixed pedestals. The two crane capacities are 50 ton capacity at 40 meter radius and 17 ton capacity at maximum radius of 60m.

Full provision of training and competency services is included in the contract, along with equipment modification, upgrade and replacement components, as well as repair and maintenance of equipment onshore.

The Mariner Field is located approximately 150 kilometers east of the Shetland Isles and consists of two shallow reservoir sections. The Maureen Formation sits at 1492 meters with the Heimdal reservoir at 1227 meters.

Due to begin operation in 2018, it is expected that the field will contribute more than 250 mmbbls reserves with average plateau production of around 55,000 barrels per day. Mariner is expected to have a 30-year field life.

‘Next Generation Marine Power & Propulsion’ is a fast moving networking event that focuses on viable solutions for vessels of all sizes. Over 20 expert speakers will highlight a range of unique opportunities.

The program covers three phases; ‘Here and Now Technology’ - considers how the UK and global marine industry can utilize the latest engineering. ‘Next Generation Systems’ - are within a few years of commercial release. ‘Innovation and Future Possibilities’ - are pushing the boundaries far and wide.

The event is being held at the Grand Harbour, Southampton from 26 to 28 April 2016. Attendees at the two day Conference and one day Workshop include commercial and military end-user organizations, boat builders, engine manufacturers, mechanical & electrical engineers, naval architects and legislators.

The unique style of this event brings together an international group of experts armed with the latest knowledge to highlight the potential use of innovative power and propulsion systems. The objective is to identify a range of genuine solutions for workboats, pilot boats, wind farm support vessels, survey vessels, scientific research craft, fishing vessels, superyachts, patrol craft, military and unmanned craft.

Alan Priddy is a world leader in offshore expeditions who has powerboated and sailed around the world in both directions. He holds 37 records and knows what type of craft is required to break the World Powerboat Circumnavigation Record of 61 days. His presentation captures that spirit, ‘They said it could never be done - the scientific and engineering approach to the manufacture and use of emulsified fuels.’

Captain Don Cockrill, Secretary General of the UK Maritime Pilots Association, looks at ‘Powering the modern port - ships, tugs and the hidden fleet of support vessels.’ Johnny Lindstrom, Chairman of the National Marine Electronics Association, is flying in from the US with technical support globally for the fast emerging technologies, ‘Integrating vessel management systems using the NMEA 2000 protocol’.

Conference organizer, John Haynes, said, ‘Most people in the marine industry are time poor and know that their job list grows when they are out of the office, plus a lot of information can now be gathered from the internet. We have to innovate and use people’s time effectively.’ Next Generation events are dynamic and relevant, with focus on long breaks to encourage networking. John Haynes added, ‘We know that having the right people onboard is essential and there is no substitute for meeting the experts face to face.’

BAE Systems HybriDrive, XALT Energy and Southampton Marine & Maritime Institute (SMMI) are lead supporters of the event. Day two of the conference ends with a guided tour of the SMMI facility, located alongside Lloyd's Register, at the new £140m Boldrewood Innovation Campus at Southampton University. SMMI is a unique centre of excellence, bringing together a research, innovation and education community.

The workshop day looks at ‘new marine energy’. Fast moving sessions focus on informal discussion and industry experience from subject matter experts including Lloyds Register and DNV-GL. A relevant topic is high energy battery installations, including Lithium-ion. The ‘hybrid’ sessions focus on simple and viable business cases for next generation vessels of all sizes. This is not just green energy for the sake of it as presenters highlight how fuel can be saved, maintenance costs reduced and engine life extended.

Boat builders, engine OEMs and specialist component manufacturers now recognise that they need to work together to develop next generation systems that fit the changing requirements of modern fleets. The unique knowledge gained from presentations and networking sessions will help to shape long term decisions that lead to improvements for in-service systems and procurement of next generation vessels.

Next Generation Marine Power & Propulsion Conference

Marsol International, an UAE-based global marine solutions provider focused on the offshore oil terminal market and related infrastructure, has been awarded two contracts in Oman.

The first contract involves a Single Point Mooring (SPM) change out, including the removal of the existing aging structures followed by installation of new buoys. The second contract involves providing and managing all marine and offshore activities related to tanker loadings via an SPM offshore marine terminal, including marine works, vessels, equipment and manpower.

Marsol personnel during the SPM change-out in Oman

Mike Young, Director of Marsol International, said: “We’re delighted to have secured these contracts in Oman, which allow us to utilise elements of our long-term asset integrity management service. By assessing the operational environment and integrity of assets, combined with our robust project management and engineering capabilities, we can retain and enhance the value of our customers’ assets.

“We have always worked closely with clients to ensure we develop holistic marine solutions that drive forward efficiencies in capital and operating expenditure, and these contracts allow us to further extend our offering in the region.”

Since 2005, based on experienced gained over 47 years, Marsol International has provided operational engineering and management solutions to clients, consultants and EPC contractors for new offshore terminal facilities, and operational integrity management and IRM services of existing facilities to offshore terminal owners and operators.

Okeanus Science and Technology (Okeanus) has introduced the FlexSEA Modular Flotation System (FlexSEA) as part of its portfolio of flotation equipment available for rent. Okeanus will be the exclusive provider of FlexSEA, engineered by SeaRobotics Corporation (SeaRobotics).

FlexSEA modules are configurable to supply different amounts of buoyancy for a variety of payload sizes and weight conditions. The mounting arrangements are designed so that standard Remotely Operated Vehicle manipulators can be used to remove, untether or detach some or all of the temporary flotation modules after use; this allows for recovery and re-use. The modules can be of equal size, or modules of different sizes can be configured to be attachable and detachable to form arrays. The arrays provide buoyancy to a wide variety of subsea modules, tools, instrumentation packages, vehicles and submersibles. Depth ratings of 2000 to 4000 meters of seawater are available.

“Listening to experts in the field of subsea equipment deployment, we were able to address some of the shortcomings of current products. The FlexSEA modules will provide improved efficiency and flexibility, enabling more cost effective equipment deployments”, commented Don Darling, President of SeaRobotics.

“The addition of the FlexSEA buoyancy line of products to our existing portfolio of flotation rental equipment is very exciting, as these modules were engineered and designed to take a ‘building block approach’ to a very critical component when working with ROV’s in a subsea environment” stated Benton LeBlanc, President and General Manager of Okeanus. “Being a fully customizable solution, we at Okeanus can put together a buoyancy package to fit the exact needs of our customer, eliminating waste and allowing our customers to realize a considerable cost savings.”

Ship owners will need to act now to ensure they comply with new firefighting rules brought into force on January 1, 2016 for all new buildings warns WSS.

New amendments to the safety of life at sea convention (SOLAS), which are now in force have laid down extensive ground rules for firefighting on ships designed to carry containers on or above the weather deck and built on or after January 1, 2016.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service’s (WSS) Unitor lance and X-flow water monitor have been specifically designed to meet all the requirements of the new SOLAS rules.

Lance1. Photo credit: Wilhelmsen Ship Service

“As container ships have increased in size, so too has the need for effective measures to ensure the safety of the crew and cargo when substantial numbers of containers are carried on deck,” says Andrew Sheriff, Business Manager, Safety, WSS.

“Given the sensitive cargos carried on many container ships, crew members need to be able to respond quickly and effectively in an emergency situation.”

Containership fires have presented many challenges for the industry in recent years, with recent casualties like the MSC Flaminia in 2012 and the 18,000 teu Barzan in 2015 underlining the importance of a swift response in critical circumstances.

SOLAS Regulation II-2/10.7.3 requires at least one water mist lance to be carried on the vessel. In addition, ships designed to carry five or more tiers of containers on or above the weather deck must carry mobile water monitors – the number needed depending on the breadth of the vessel. This regulation is for new vessels delivered in 2016, but WSS also encourages owners to consider the package for existing vessels. One thing to remember is the lance package can easily be utilized with existing systems, however the fire pump sizes for the water monitor will need to be checked.

Under the new rules, monitors have to fulfill a number of requirements, including having a discharge nozzle of the dual-purpose spray or jet type, to be equipped with a coupling for hydrant connection as well as a minimum capacity of 60 m3/h (1000 l/min) and a minimum horizontal throw of 40 meters at 4 bar, when discharging at a horizontal elevation of 30-35 degrees. They must be able to operate both horizontally and vertically, with a range of up to 90 degrees, and be capable of one man or unattended operation. All systems need to be approved by the relevant administration.

Sherriff explains that the Unitor water mist lance is swift to deploy, thereby reducing fire damage. The lance, which has been tested and type approved by classification society DNV-GL, has a purpose selected hose of small diameter and low weight, ensuring ease of use. It is fitted with a 25 meter hose for flexible reach, with separate equipment for penetrating container walls enabling reliable means of wall penetration, short drilling time and, most importantly, less exposure to fire.

The equipment is stored in a small and practical suitcase, ready for use and ease of inspection during fire drills. “Although the water mist lance is specifically designed for use for containers on and above the weather deck, it can also be used in accommodation and deck areas to fight fires without having to enter the confirmed areas where a fire has started.” Sherriff explains the unit is designed not only to dampen the fire through the water spray but also eat up the oxygen in the confirmed area through a clever design feature, which creates steam and also means a faster containment of the fire.

Benefits of WSS’s Unitor X-flow water monitor include its low water requirements that can save on extra installation costs linked to higher water supply demand. The monitor can mitigate fire damage with fast connection to a hydrant as the unit requires only one hose.

The system has also been tested and type approved by DNV-GL. Weighing less than 23 kg, it is fitted with a dual-purpose spray/jet type nozzle with a nominal capacity of 80m3/h and meets the SOLAS requirements in terms of a throw length of 40 meters and a throw height of 28 meters at 4 bar (discharging at 30-35 degrees) as well as horizontal and vertical operation of up to 90 degrees. The equipment can be operated unattended.

As far as costs are concerned, both systems represent good value for money when taking into consideration the risk factors.

Veripos, a leading global supplier of high-precision GNSS positioning services to the offshore oil and gas industries, has extended its ranges of proprietary software with introduction of Quantum, a new all-purpose suite of visualization modules providing a state-of-the-art user interface for delivery of next-generation services and features.

Designed to operate with all current Veripos positioning options including its latest Apex5 multi-constellation PPP service, the new software has been developed with significant input from a wide range of users by way of simplifying any system configuration while easing methods of interpretation. Other advances include integral diagnostic functions for simple identification of any operational problems together with indications of likely solutions.

Visualization modules can also be operated independently without affecting concurrent positioning calculations which might otherwise be feeding critical survey or vessel systems. At the same time the Quantum framework comprises a series of different modules to meet a variety of specific operational tasks such as those necessary for hydrographic and seismic surveying as well as dynamic positioning. Its versatility also extends to providing a basic foundation for accommodating new modules or features.

BOURBON has become a leader in offshore marine services after a long development program consisting of significant investments in innovative vessels built in series, enabling greater operational and cost control for its clients.

In the very difficult market facing the offshore services sector, BOURBON is particularly resilient due to its operational performance and cost control but also due to the end of its investment program which is enabling free cash flow generation.

However, the direction taken by its customers towards the energy transition that is underway is driving BOURBON to seek the diversification of its activities to support these new directions and open real growth prospects.

Therefore, BOURBON has decided to acquire the activities of the global leader in ethane transportation, with a market share greater than 50% in a market expected to have strong growth.

It comprises the following companies who are currently owned by their majority shareholder, JACCAR Holdings:

100% of Greenship Gas, a Singaporean owned “shipping trust” comprising directly or indirectly of:

A fleet of 17 vessels (of which 13 vessels are currently in service) dedicated to the transport of Ethane gas, Ethylene and LNG and having an average age of 3,5 years;

100% of EVERGAS, operator and contractor of gas transportation services;

100% of Greenship Gas Manager Pte. Ltd, manager of the Greenship Gas “shipping trust”;

80 % of JHW Engineering & Contracting limited. This company encompasses the design and engineering of vessels, the technology and control of a manufacturing platform for mega-tanks as well as procurement activities and contracting and management of gas projects.

The final completion of the acquisition, which was authorized by the Board of Directors on March 28, taking into account the opinion of an ad hoc committee and the opinion of an independent expert, is subject to ratification by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on May 26, 2016, during which related parties will vote their shares in a manner so as to not influence the decision.

The purchase price for these companies is US$320 million with a net debt as of December 31, 2015 of US$389, the financing of the vessels being transferred as part of the transaction.

BOURBON will benefit from a seller’s credit of US$100 million with no interest for a maximum period of three years. It is anticipated to have in place a US$220 million bridge loan for a maximum period of three years. In fact, BOURBON will proceed, once the transaction is completed, with the resale of 80% of the ownership of the vessels, which will then be retained on bareboat charter for a minimum period of ten years. The bridge loan signed at the time of the acquisition would then be reimbursed and the impact on BOURBON’s debt decreased significantly.

Following approval of the transaction at the end of the Annual General Meeting on May 26, 2016 at which time he will be at the end of his mandate, M. Jacques de Chateauvieux would be named Chairman and CEO of BOURBON.

The perspectives “BOURBON Beyond BOURBON” will be presented in Paris and will be available on BOURBON’s web site on March 30, 2016.

Damen Shipyards Group has developed a committed response to the increasing number of laid up Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs) resulting from the current predicament facing the offshore oil and gas industry. The Dutch company’s solution involves converting idle PSVs into vessels capable of taking on roles in alternative sectors such as aquaculture, shipping and defense.

The situation that the offshore oil and gas industry is experiencing is having serious consequences throughout the sector. Compounding factors include historically low oil prices, halted exploration projects and reduced production. This vicious circle is completed by a substantial drop in support vessel day rates.

LFC 3000 artist impression

Damen has a solution to get these vessels active and profitable once again. “Our design teams have come up with workable ideas across several industries. For example, we can convert a laid up PSV into a profitable Container Feeder or, for naval operations, a Logistic Support Vessel,” informs Damen Sales Manager Remko Hottentot. “The possibilities are numerous. It will also be possible to transform a PSV into an accommodation and O&M vessel”

The ship conversion know-how stems from Damen’s worldwide network of fifteen repair and conversion yards. “With a strong reputation for engineering, craftsmanship and project management skills, Damen’s conversion teams are highly experienced in giving vessels a new lease of life, while staying on schedule and on budget,” states Mr. Hottentott.

One example of an already developed proposal is the Damen Live Fish Carrier 8916 for the aquaculture industry. “Here, the concept of using the existing PSV platform is ideal, yielding many advantages for live fish carrying situations.”

In addition to permanent conversion concepts, Damen can also create temporary designs. These can be applied to vessels originally built by Damen or other shipbuilding companies.

Based in Damen’s Stavanger office, Sales Manager Norway Remko Hottentot has witnessed the sight of ports and harbours dotted with laid up PSVs. “We can offer significant design and conversion expertise to owners and operators looking for effective solutions,” he says. “In combination with reliable financing support, this makes up a unique combination of activities that can be translated into realistic conversion packages.”

Crowley Maritime Corporation reached another critical milestone with the recent setting of the main engine onto El Coquí, the first of two new, Commitment Class ConRo (combination container and Roll/On-Roll/Off) ships that will be powered by liquefied natural gas for use in the ocean cargo trade between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico.

“This state-of-the-art engine technology will add efficiency while continuing to reduce impacts on the environment, one of Crowley’s top priorities,” said John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager, Puerto Rico services.

“Utilizing this green technology is just another way we are demonstrating our commitment to the people of Puerto Rico, our customers and the environment. It also bears mentioning that neither of these ships, which have been design specifically for the Puerto Rico trade, gets built without the Jones Act – a federal statute that provides for the promotion and maintenance of a strong American merchant marine.”

A video showing the progress of setting the engine may be viewed online here.

The engine was placed using a series of heavy lifts by 500-ton cranes in the shipyard of VT Halter Marine, a subsidiary of VT Systems, Inc., where El Coquí (ko-kee) and sister ship, Taíno (tahy-noh), are under construction. The engine has a total weight of 759 metric tons and measures 41 feet high, 41 feet in length, and 14.7 feet wide.

“Customers will not only be able to experience the same reliable and dedicated service they have with Crowley today, but also will have the added benefit of lower emissions once these two ships join the Crowley fleet,” said Jose “Pache” Ayala, Crowley vice president, Puerto Rico. “Crowley is making a significant investment in the Puerto Rico trade to provide faster transit times while continuing with the ability to carry and deliver the containers, rolling cargo and refrigerated equipment our customers count on.”

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a stable gas that is neither toxic nor corrosive and is lighter than air. It is the cleanest fossil fuel available, netting a 100-percent reduction in sulphur oxide (SOx) and particulate matter (PM), and a 92-percent reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx). LNG also has the ability to significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2), a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, as compared with conventional fossil fuels.

Designing, building and operating LNG-powered vessels is very much in line with Crowley’s overall EcoStewardship© positioning and growth strategy. The company formed an LNG services group in 2015 to bring together the company’s extensive resources to provide LNG vessel design and construction management; transportation; product sales and distribution, and full-scale, project management solutions.

These Commitment Class, Jones Act ships are designed to travel at speeds up to 22 knots while maximizing the carriage of 53-foot, 102-inch-wide containers. Cargo capacity will be approximately 2,400 TEUs (20-foot-equivalent-units), with additional space for nearly 400 vehicles in an enclosed Ro/Ro garage.

The Jones Act is a federal statute that provides for the promotion and maintenance of a strong American merchant marine. It requires that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried on U.S.-flag ships constructed in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents.

Crowley has served the Puerto Rico market since 1954, longer than any other carrier in the trade, and occupied the 75-acre Isla Grande Terminal the entire time, making it the longest continual occupant of any Jones Act carrier in the trade. The company, with over 250 Puerto Rico employees, is also the No. 1 ocean carrier between the island commonwealth and the U.S. mainland with more weekly sailings and more cargo carried annually than any other shipping line.

Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Janice Schneider and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Abigail Ross Hopper announces that the March 23rd, oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico garnered $156 million in high bids for 128 tracts covering 693,962 acres in the Central Planning Area of the Outer Continental Shelf offshore Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

A total of 30 offshore energy companies submitted 148 bids. The sum of all bids received totaled $179,172,819. No bids were received in the Eastern Planning Area.

“The Gulf remains a critical component of our nation’s energy portfolio and holds important energy resources that spur economic opportunities for Gulf producing states while reducing our dependence on foreign oil,” said Assistant Secretary Schneider. “Though these sales reflect today’s market conditions and industry’s current development strategy, they underscore the President's commitment to create jobs and home-grown energy through the safe and responsible exploration and development of our offshore energy resources.”

The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) offered nearly 45 million acres covering tracts in the Central and Eastern planning areas of the Gulf of Mexico.

Today’s lease sales build on the first eight sales held under the Obama Administration’s Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017 (Five Year Program) that offered more than 60 million acres for development and has garnered, to date, $3 billion in bid revenues and awarded 1,071 leases. The Five Year Program makes available all offshore areas with the highest resource potential and includes 75 percent of the nation’s undiscovered, technically recoverable offshore oil and gas resources.

“As one of the most productive basins in the world, the Gulf of Mexico continues to be the keystone of the Nation’s offshore oil and gas resources,” Director Hopper said. “The decline in oil prices and low natural gas prices obviously affect industry’s short-term investment decisions, but the Gulf’s long-term value to the nation remains high and the President’s energy strategy continues to offer millions of offshore acres for development while protecting the human, marine and coastal environments, and ensuring a fair return to the American people.”

Central Planning Area (CPA) Sale 241 attracted $156,385,610 in high bids on 128 blocks covering 693,962 acres. A total of 30 offshore energy companies participated in submitting 148 bids totaling $179,172,819. The CPA encompasses 8,349 unleased blocks, covering 44.3 million acres, located from three to 230 nautical miles offshore Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, in water depths ranging from nine to more than 11,115 feet (three to 3,400 meters).

Sale 226, the second of two lease sales proposed for the Eastern Planning Area under the current Five Year Program, encompasses 162 whole or partial unleased blocks covering 595,475 acres in the Eastern Planning Area not subject to congressional moratorium. The blocks are located at least 125 statute miles offshore in water depths ranging from 2,657 feet to 10,213 feet (810 to 3,113 meters). The area is south of eastern Alabama and western Florida; the nearest point of land is 125 miles northwest in Louisiana.

Though the sale did not receive any bids, continued interest in this area is evidenced by ongoing and planned activity on existing leases from past sales as well as from similar activity on existing leases immediately adjacent to this area within the Gulf's Central Planning Area.

Most of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area (EPA) cannot be offered for lease until 2022 as part of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006.

BOEM established the terms for these sales after extensive environmental analysis, public comment and consideration of the best scientific information available. These terms include measures to protect the environment, such as stipulations requiring that operators protect biologically sensitive features as well as providing trained protected species observers. The observers would monitor marine mammals and sea turtles to ensure compliance with protective measures and restrict operations when conditions warrant.

The lease terms also include a range of incentives to encourage diligent development and ensure a fair return to taxpayers.

Following the sales, each bid will go through a 90-day evaluation process to ensure the public receives fair market value before a lease is awarded.

Statistics for Lease Sale 241 are available. Statistics for Lease Sale 226 are available.

BOEM oversees 160 million acres on the OCS in the Gulf of Mexico. Approximately 24 million acres (4,348 blocks) are leased for oil and gas development; and 4.1 million of those acres (840 blocks) are producing oil and natural gas.

Harris CapRock Communications will install its Harris CapRock One system on Transocean’s entire fleet as part of a multi-year contract renewal for complete managed communications services. The contract provides satellite communications services and includes the industry’s most intelligent communications service on all current vessels, as well as pending new builds.

Image credit: Harris CapRock Communications

“Harris CapRock is providing us with a complete communications solution founded on breakthrough technology that delivers robust, always-on service anywhere in the world,” said Steve Fraser, IT director, Transocean. “They offered us the flexibility to control our costs and the ability to be more agile in responding to the market.”

The managed end-to-end communications solution includes teleport and satellite services, backhaul, dedicated bandwidth for crew internet, traffic optimization and cyber security services. The upgrade to Harris CapRock One will provide improved system performance while reducing downtime and maintenance costs. The new solution will more than double available bandwidth for the Transocean fleet, while providing a single worldwide bandwidth price. The pricing model simplifies forecasting and planning for the fleet situated in locations such as the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea, Brazil, Asia Pacific, Africa’s West Coast and United Arab Emirates.

“We are delighted with Transocean’s decision to upgrade to the Harris CapRock One solution as part of their contract renewal,” said Tracey Haslam, president, Harris CapRock. “Harris CapRock One will not only improve reliability and lower costs, but provide future-proof technology for Transocean’s operations moving forward.”

Asset Guardian Solutions Ltd (AGSL), which specializes in protecting companies’ process control software assets, announced that it has been awarded a contract by TAQA.

A subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, TAQA’s UK operations include five platforms that produce from 13 fields spread across the Northern North Sea and the Central North Sea.

TAQA Eider Platform

As a result of this contract award, AGSL is providing its Asset Guardian software management toolset to TAQA for use on its North Sea offshore assets.

Ensuring integrity and availability of process control software data and files

Asset Guardian can ensure that backups of new and modified software are securely stored and easy to access from any location, making certain that effective version control is in place. This reduces associated downtime caused by a potential process system software failure. As part of the project, AGSL is also helping TAQA to electronically migrate its existing process control software files and data into Asset Guardian.

Effective training

AGSL is also delivering an online computer-based training (CBT) program so that employees can learn to use the Asset Guardian toolset.

“We are proud to have been selected by TAQA to provide them with our method of securing and managing process control software assets,” said Sam Mackay, Chief Executive Officer of Asset Guardian Solutions Ltd. “We look forward to working with them.”

Building on success

Since 2004, AGSL has been supplying the process control industry with the Asset Guardian toolset. Total E&P UK, Nexen Petroleum U.K. Limited, Woodside Energy, GDF Suez, Inpex, Dolphin Drilling, Stena Drilling, BP, McDermott and nuclear energy provider EDF Energy are among those using Asset Guardian to protect and enhance management of their critical process control software assets.

Turner Designs now offers a C6P Submersible Sensor package enabling up to six sensors in a corrosion resistant, highly durable, Delrin plastic housing able to withstand even the harshest of environments.

Modeled after the popular C3, the C6P can be configured with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 optical sensors ranging from deep UV to IR. An antifouling copper plate and a mechanical wiper are available as options to minimize bio-fouling on and around the sensors.

Each C6P comes with a factory installed temperature sensor; factory-installed depth sensors are available. A large internal data storage capacity, low power requirements, and a high capacity external submersible lithium ion battery allow for long-term deployments. Specialized firmware is available when integrating the C6P with continuous sampling systems that require 24/7 data collection via data streaming.

Standard optical kits are available for detecting: in vivo Chlorophyll (blue or red), Crude Oil, Refined Fuels, CDOM/FDOM (dissolved organic material), Blue/Green Algae, Fluorescein Dye, Rhodamine Dye, PTSA Dye, Optical Brighteners, Tryptophan, and Turbidity. The C6P can also be configured with custom optics for specific applications. The C6P is rated to a depth of 600m.