Transas has signed a contract with Lerwick Port Authority to install a new Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to cover Lerwick Harbour, in Shetland. The new Transas system is required to replace Lerwick Harbour’s existing system.

Lerwick is a major commercial port in Britain, strategically situated at the crossroads of the North Sea and North-East Atlantic. Handling more than 5,000 vessel arrivals, totalling over 12,000,000 gross tons, annually, the deep-water port’s users include fishing, oil and gas support, cargo, sailing, ferries and cruises.

The contract signing, with Sandra Laurenson, Chief Executive, Lerwick Port Authority, and James Woodward, Area Sales Manager, Transas.

The new VMS will be based on the high-end Navi-Harbour software solution from Transas. Hardware equipment scope consists of Class A AIS Transponders, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine Vision Master radars, a Jotron VHF Communication System, Gill Meteorological sensors, general IT hardware platform and an APC Power Backup System. This will be installed across four sites covering the port’s area: the main port operations building and three remote stations (Rova Head, Maryfield and Kirkabister, monitoring the northern approaches, inner harbour and southern approaches, respectively).

As part of the project, Port Control, located in Albert Building, will be fully renovated and Transas will closely collaborate with the Authority to design a new layout for the service within this building. Transas has contracted local support from H Williamson & Sons for installation and ongoing maintenance.

As part of its comprehensive customer support program, Transas will provide the client with Operator Training Course and Maintenance Service Plan.

The Port Authority’s Deputy Harbourmaster, Captain Alexander Simpson, said: “The new system will modernize Lerwick Harbour’s monitoring system, improving real-time information available to the Controllers handling shipping movements and the navigational assistance provided by Port Control.

“The investment is another important step in our ongoing development program which is adding to the port’s capacity and competitiveness.”

The project, costing around £450,000, including the Transas contract, telecommunications and civil works, is scheduled to be fully completed and delivered by May 2016.

Caption: The contract signing, with Sandra Laurenson, Chief Executive, Lerwick Port Authority, and James Woodward, Area Sales Manager, Transas.

NYC-based PIRA Energy Group believes that Brent crude prices will continue to struggle due to a large global commercial oil stock surplus. In the U.S., the commercial stock surplus increased. In Japan, crude runs resume rising and product demands improve. Specifically, PIRA’s analysis of the oil market fundamentals has revealed the following:

European Oil Market Forecast

Brent crude prices will continue to struggle due to a large global commercial oil stock surplus which PIRA estimates will total 500 million barrels above normal levels by end 2015. Oil markets are likely to run out of onshore crude storage in 1Q16. Brent will perform better than WTI over the very short term. Gasoline cracks will stay reasonably firm this winter due to relatively tight inventory coverage which will underpin a strong 2016 gasoline season. For middle distillates, stocks are very high and will stay well above average next year, capping distillate cracks. Europe has effectively assumed a larger role as swing regional refiner supplying gasoline to the Atlantic Basin as required but limited by oversupply and softer pricing for middle distillates.

Nearly All Prices Struggling Under Weight of High Storage, Especially Henry Hub (HH)

The debut of Jan-2016 futures as the NYMEX nearby contract was greeted with a wave of selling that resulted in new contract lows, albeit amidst light volume. Even so, it is still nearly 10% above cash Henry Hub (HH) prices, as well as many all other regional prices that are also near the $2 mark. More material heating loads would help HH cash reconnect with the NYMEX contract, but the benchmark may continue to exhibit weakness relative to other markers to promote gas burn that would absorbs residual supply surpluses in the region abetted by bloated South Central storage. While the MW was at the heart of the regional flow changes that unfolded this month, the South has been impacted as well — directly and indirectly. And more changes loom.

Western Grid Market Forecast

Spot energy prices fell at all hubs in November with on-peak price declines from October ranging from ~$3/MWh at Mid-Columbia to ~$4/MWh at Palo Verde and NP15 and $5/MWh at SP15. Off-peak markets saw smaller price declines with the largest drop about $2 at Mid-Columbia. Weaker gas prices and a sharp seasonal decline in the call on gas-fired generation were the major factors. In the Northwest, near term forecasts indicate above normal temperatures which will limit seasonal increases in heating loads and may lead to stronger runoff (i.e., rain vs. snow). As a result we have revised down near term heat rate projections. In the Southwest, the call on gas through the winter months is expected to increase year-on-year due to lower net imports from the Northwest and some gains from coal. Heat rate projections remain up year-on-year (by ~10%), but we have revised them down relative to last month.

Asian LPG Prices Roll Over Despite Higher CPs

Cash LPG prices cratered in Asia as the trading window transitioned to January arrivals. Propane cargoes were called an astonishing $66/MT lower at $457/MT while butane was felled by $61 to $481/MT. Such was the response to a hard to understand increase in Saudi contract prices, which were increased by $65 (to $460/MT) for propane cargoes loading in December. With spot VLGC tanker freight from the Middle East gulf to Japan around $70 currently, and the Asian propane premium to CP’s negative, contract holders can’t be too happy about these latest developments.

California Carbon: Reserve Price Guiding Prices

CA set the minimum auction reserve price for 2016, which was also the level at which the Nov. auction cleared. With 13 MT of offsets used for compliance, an allowance bank after CP1 of 50 MT will likely double after 2015 year results. The role of the cap and trade price signal post-2020 will depend on the Scoping Plan update and cost containment is a key issue. Linkage potential has been prominently discussed, with plans for Ontario coming into focus, and with WA state, Manitoba, and Northeastern U.S. states on the horizon.

OPEC Breakevens Flat at $100/Bbl in 2016, But Still No Impact On Oil Price

PIRA estimates OPEC budgetary breakeven prices will remain flat to slightly down at $100/Bbl in 2016. Breakevens are down $10/Bbl from 2014 levels, mostly due to currency depreciation and government spending cuts. Many OPEC countries still face significant budget deficits. Yet the widening gap to Brent oil prices (PIRA forecasts $49/Bbl in 2016) highlights the limitations of budgetary breakeven analysis in general. Breakevens provide interesting insight into countries’ budgetary pressures. However, we have long argued that breakevens are not a useful predictor of oil prices, or a price level (or floor) that OPEC will support. Countries are more likely to adjust to the reality of low oil prices by cutting spending or drawing on reserves, just as we’ve seen over the past year.

Biofuels Weekly Update

U.S. ethanol prices rose Monday and Tuesday November 23 and 24 boosted by higher corn and petroleum values. Assessments then declined before the Thanksgiving holiday, pressured by record production that led to the highest inventory in 16 weeks.

U.S. Job Growth Is Solid; the Euro Is Stronger After ECB Easing

U.S. job growth in November exceeded market expectations, though details were somewhat mixed. Latest data on the good-producing sector (the ISM index and exports) were disappointing, though the current U.S. industrial slump is not yet particularly severe from a historical perspective. The European Central Bank expanded its quantitative easing programs, yet the value of the euro area currency strengthened – apparently, some speculative financial positions for a weaker euro had to be unwound quickly after the action fell short of expectations. India’s economic growth was faster than China’s during the third quarter. Brazil’s recession deepened.

North American Midcontinent Oil Forecast

Crude stocks rose in November in Cushing, as well as in West Texas and Western Canada. Differentials vs. WTI were stronger for northern grades from Alberta to Clearbrook, in advance of two new pipeline start-ups. Differentials weakened in Midland and Guernsey – two locations where prices had been well above pipeline parity for several months.

Will Switching Economic Be Broad Enough to Offset Weather-Related Losses?

Coal-to-gas switching will remain the hot topic in Europe, as temperatures continue to cool. The problem for sellers is that temperatures are not cooling fast enough, so what is being gained in terms of demand growth from the power sector is being handed right back in terms of losses in the R/C sector. The dynamic is well under way in the U.K. and continues to spread to other markets. November was even warmer than normal than the previous year and the 10-day outlook is serving up more of the same in the early part of the month.

Exports to Southern Markets Underpin French Prices

While weather conditions have been milder than normal over the Continent, pockets of price strength have emerged. In France, nuclear output is now recovering, but stronger flows toward Switzerland and the Southern markets, in part due to drier weather and lower plant availabilities, are preventing French prices from moving lower.

Are RGGI Allowances Like “Forever Stamps”?

The December RGGI auction exceeded secondary market pricing on the day of the auction, with bullish implications for the market. Price increases are not tied to current program balances - PIRA projects RGGI to be oversupplied through 2020. Rather, they are tied to this year's Program Review to result in stricter post-2020 caps. RGGI representatives confirmed at the November Stakeholder Meeting that currently-traded RGGI allowances will carry forward at full value – potentially more similar to U.S. Post Office "forever stamps."

U.S. Commercial Stock Surplus Increases

Another overall U.S. inventory increase this past week pushed the stock surplus to last year up by 3 million barrels. The crude stock surplus hit a new 2015 high as inventories quickly approach last April’s all-time weekly high. The gasoline inventory surplus narrowed to just 8 million barrels (4%), as it remains the one standout in a rather glutted market.

Production Lags, Export Opportunities Narrow

Canadian dry gas production declined sequentially in 3Q15, a likely sign of things to come. The quarter-on-quarter loss was symptomatic of a shrinking export market, as gas from Appalachia displaces traditional TransCanada (TCPL) markets in eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S. These conditions are exacerbated as storage in eastern Canada is near capacity, leaving less appetite for new gas from Alberta or B.C. Consequently, production in Canada is expected to decline through 4Q15 and into next year.

Japanese Crude Runs Resume Rising, Product Demands Improve

Japanese crude runs rose in broad agreement with our turnaround schedules. Crude imports increased from very low levels, but crude stocks still posted a modest draw. Finished product stocks declined with all the products other than kerosene posting draws. Refining margins remain strong with gasoline, naphtha, and fuel oil cracks posting gains.

Chennai Refinery Flooded

Flooding has closed the Indian Oil Corporation’s Chennai refinery in southeast India. It is too early to determine the duration of the outage. Production lost is roughly 50 MB/D of naphtha/gasoline and 120 MB/D of middle distillates. However, with the new Paradip refinery (300 MB/D) now in the process of starting up, its production should cover some of the Chennai shortfall, particularly if it were to last into 2016.

What Will Paris Talks Mean for Gas Demand?

In the near term, Chinese gas growth has slowed significantly and LNG imports remain down YTD by around 3% or 2-mmcm/d. It’s not a large amount, but does help explain many of the supply tenders popping up around Asia for 2016. Since so much LNG demand growth hinges on new supply dedicated to the Chinese market, this lack of buying does not bode well for sellers. China, being the largest producers of solar panels in the world, also undermines the use of gas as a power generation fuel in the future, as the largest incremental buyer of LNG in the world is also trying to solve environmental problems at multiple levels. Gas will play a role in solving these issues, but it has moved from a starring role to being more of a supporting cast member.

Aramco Pricing Adjustments for January – Europe Tightened, Asia and U.S. More Generous

Saudi Arabia's formula prices for January were just released. The adjustments made to differentials against their key regional benchmarks suggests Saudi Arabia is striving to maintain volumes and liftings. European pricing was tightened, but terms for Asia and the U.S. were generally made more generous.

More Bearish Momentum

Weather is proving to be the prime driver in fundamentals as the market waited past the traditional start of the heating season for the first reported weekly withdrawal. Now, the latest mild turn in forecasts has rocked the prompt contract, bringing it to new lows. In line with these recent forecasts, PIRA has adjusted its GWHDD assumption for December to 12% milder than the 10-year normal.

EPA Finalizes Renewable Fuel Standards Through 2016

After long delay and under court order, the EPA on November 30th issued a regulatory announcement finalizing the overall renewable fuel requirements for 2014, 2015 and 2016 as well as the 2017 mandate for biomass-based diesel (BBD). Those looking for the EPA to match its earlier May 15th proposal, were disappointed. The mandates are significantly higher than proposed in May.

The information above is part of PIRA Energy Group's weekly Energy Market Recap - which alerts readers to PIRA’s current analysis of energy markets around the world as well as the key economic and political factors driving those markets.

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Aberdeen Section Board has elected Ian Phillips, chief executive of the Oil and Gas Innovation Centre (OGIC), as its new chairman.

Mr Phillips assumes the position from Shankar Bhukya, who has stepped down ahead of a move to Singapore.

Mr Phillips, an MBA qualified Chartered Petroleum Engineer with more than thirty years’ experience in the oil and gas industry, has played an instrumental part in the growth of the SPE Aberdeen Section over the last 30 years. With the SPE Aberdeen Section he has held positions including chairman, treasurer and Continuing Education committee chair. In addition, he has served as the North Sea Regional Director on the SPE International Board. Most recently, he has been the director on the SPE Aberdeen board and held responsibility for the Section’s prestigious Offshore Achievement Awards.

New SPE Aberdeen Chairman Ian Phillips

Prior to his current full-time role of chief executive of the Oil and Gas Innovation Centre (OGIC), Mr Phillips has held a number of positions in the UK oil and gas industry, including vice president of project development at Ramco Energy and project director at BP. Latterly, his career has focused on innovation in carbon capture and storage with roles including founding director of CO2DeepStore and business development director at Pale Blue Dot Energy.

Mr Phillips is also an external lecturer in Oil and Gas Management at Robert Gordon University giving students an insight into the industry.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Phillips said: “I have been a member of SPE for nearly thirty years and I am honoured to have been selected as chairman of the Aberdeen Section.

“The oil and gas industry has experienced huge change in recent months. The survival of the North Sea industry depends on effective collaboration, technology innovation and knowledge sharing. To support this, SPE provides opportunities for professionals to network, learn and realise their technical and professional potential.

“The focus of my work at OGIC is bridging the gap between industry needs in the UKCS and the knowledge pool of Scottish universities. I believe this background will be extremely beneficial to the Section’s activities moving forward.

“I’m looking forward to working with the SPE Aberdeen board and committees to ensure our Section continues to be known as one of the most effective in the world.”

New SPE Aberdeen Chairman Ian Phillips

By Julia Schweitzer

Lack of properly assessed and defined wear limits for jacking systems can lead to significant downtimes with financial implications for jackup operations. DNV GL, supported by leading global industry players in the jackup industry, has established a joint industry project (JIP), to provide guidelines on determining relevant wear criteria for self-elevating units.

The ‘Wear acceptance criteria for jacking systems’ JIP, is expected to begin early 2016 with eleven partners already confirmed. The JIP is building on a DNV GL Recommended Practice (RP) issued last year to address maintenance and inspection challenges of a jackup system. It will document relevant design arguments, considerations and calculations to enable the industry defining acceptance criteria and giving guidance on the correct assessment of jacking systems in a RP.

“Defining maximum limits of wear across all parts of a jacking system is technically complex,” says Michiel van der Geest, product manager offshore classification, DNV GL – Maritime. “It not only involves the interaction of all elements of the system, including the different materials applied, but also relevant operational and maintenance strategy considerations.

Incorrect or unclear assessments can increase cost and also the reliability and availability of jacking systems. By creating a clear guidance this JIP will ultimately improve asset management and reduce delays and maintenance costs.

”Several partners have expressed the need for this JIP: “There is a clear benefit in participating in this JIP, taking into consideration the need of users, class authorities, and OEM to have a common language when talking about jacking systems. The recommended practice which will be issued from this JIP will give the users confidence in long term predictive operation, supported by OEM diagnosis,” says Philippe Gadreau, Chairman and CEO of NOV-BLM.

Another partner adds: "Allrig is delighted to extend its participation in this next phase of the JIP and continue to share its extensive knowledge of jacking systems best practice,” says Mark Hannigan, CEO, Allrig Group. “Through collaborations of this nature the offshore industry as a whole can emerge from the downturn stronger, safer and more efficient to face the challenges of the future."

Thomas Burley, CEO of David Brown Gears, comments: “David Brown Gears has received strong support from our growing customer base in the UAE to participate in the DNV GL JIP on jacking system wear criteria. We believe that the JIP offers the right forum to define best practice for the industry.”

“This new JIP on wear acceptance criteria for jacking systems is the latest offspring from our successful collaborative initiatives to improve jackup operations,“ adds Michiel van der Geest. “We are constantly looking into improvements for the jackup industry.”

On 23 November 2015, Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ) celebrated its first 5 years of operation. With 40 vessels delivered or under construction, the yard has proven its capability to support Qatar’s national strategy for economic diversification.

“The success of NDSQ is a credit to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, The Father Emir of Qatar, as original founder of the Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma shipyard complex,” says Damen Chief Commercial Officer Arnout Damen. “On this occasion we’d like to thank the State of Qatar and our partner Nakilat, and congratulate the NDSQ team for their achievements.”

“We are proud to be delivering Damen vessels for the Hamad Port Project due to open next year, including four ASD Tugs 2913, three Stan Tugs 1606 and four Stan Pilot 1505 boats. We now also have a Letter of Intent in hand from the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces for one diving support vessel and six naval patrol boats.”

For the superyacht industry, NDSQ has one of the biggest facilities in the world for paintwork and refit with two dedicated 180-metre long fully climate-controlled covered halls. The yard is currently building two 71-metre fast diving vessels with full yacht finish, and has already performed a number of yacht refit/repair projects.

“We are proud to announce that we currently have over 9 million hours without a Lost Time Incident since the start of our operation.”

Mr Damen is also keen to highlight how NDSQ’s products contribute to Qatar’s sustainability objectives. “Damen’s designs have not only proven effective for their functions, but they are also engineered with low Total Cost of Ownership in mind. So our clients benefit from Damen’s R&D efforts into fuel efficient sustainable innovations as well as expertise in hybrid and LNG power alternatives.”

In November, Energy Secretary Amber Rudd announced her vision for the energy system: to put consumers first, increase competition and secure electricity generation for the UK. In addition to a proposal to end unabated coal-fired power stations and prioritise gas-fired power stations, the Energy Secretary disclosed a commitment to offshore wind (OW) whereby the government will support the target of 10GW of capacity by 2020, if costs reduction conditions are met.

According to Rudd, the cost of contracts for OW have reduced by 20% over the last two years, but costs need to reduce further to secure government support. If the government’s conditions are met, there will be funding for three auctions by the end of 2016.

This is good news for companies involved in the OW supply chain who have already seen the benefits of increased activity in the sector in recent years. OW projects have been delivered on schedule and on budget: 3.7GW of capacity has been installed over the past five years, whilst costs have been reduced, resulting in a 38% reduction in government subsidy.

Given the current downturn in O&G activity, many companies are looking to diversity into the OW sector. Halfan Brustad, VP of Statoil recently noted that OW can learn from the O&G industry, and vice versa:

“Project management for OW farms can be learnt from O&G as well as marine & logistics"

“Renewables has a strong commercial mind set to specifications and materials choice which is key to keep low margins - we could take this back to oil and gas [during this period of cost-cutting]."

In addition to O&G companies moving into the OW supply chain, a number of start-ups are entering the OW sector. This has been evident to DW, who in addition to covering this sector via our Offshore Wind Market Forecast series, have recently provided bespoke consulting for new companies looking to take advantage of this growing sector. Given the announcement by the Energy and Climate Change secretary recently, the opportunities for investors wishing to cash-in on this rapidly growing sector are significant.

BMT Designers & Planners, a subsidiary of BMT Group, the leading international maritime design, engineering and risk management consultancy, has named Rick Cox as its newest Vice President of Business Development.

Rick fills a key role in the firm’s growing business development organization, responsible for leading client relations, capture, and market strategy for the firm’s diverse range of environmental services, which include testing & remediation, environmental health, site assessment, permitting & regulatory compliance, IT management, and related services.

With decades working for large government contractors, Rick brings senior-level experience, knowledge, and contacts. He has managed multi-million-dollar programs for military, civilian, and commercial customers, and has advised US Government representatives operating in locations throughout the world.

Kai Skvarla, President, BMT Designers & Planners commented: “I’m excited to have Rick as a part of our business development team. His quality-minded, results-oriented demeanor will drive higher performance and help us achieve the ambitious goals we’ve set for our environmental markets.”

HARKAND and its local consortium partner TOS Angola Lda has secured a three-year contract to deliver inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) services in Angola for a major international oil company operating in the West Africa region.

The recently upgraded multi-purpose dive support vessel (DSV) Swordfish has been mobilized to support the project and provide air, surface gas and saturation diving services for the work in Cabinda, Angola.

Following the recent $10.5million upgrade to the diving systems, the DSV Swordfish is fully compliant to the highest standards of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) including a 15-man diving system, 3-man bell, self-propelled hyperbaric lifeboat (SPHL) and a dedicated hyperbaric rescue facility (HRF).

Harkand’s managing director for North America and Africa, AJ Jain said: “This is a new consortium for Harkand in another West Africa region; we are extremely proud to have been selected by our client to support their IRM activities offshore Cabinda.

“The block we will be working in is of extreme importance to Angola’s petroleum industry therefore we understand the importance of maintaining production to our client and expect to fully support all their subsea inspection, repair and maintenance needs in the safest and most cost efficient manner utilizing the DSV Swordfish.”

Harkand’s recently appointed general manager for Africa, Doug Fieldgate has extensive experience in this region and has a clear understanding of the challenges involved in delivering a world class safe service to the block as well as the region.

Doug said: “Harkand is working closely with our consortium partner and client to ensure we develop local capacities by maximizing the use of nationals and implementing skills transfer programs. Our efforts to achieve this goal has been demonstrated in the execution of projects in Ghana and Nigeria and will remain a top priority as we move into Angola.

“Group TOS Lda is a local Angolan company which specializes in marine and offshore sectors. TOS will provide all local logistical efforts, including all local personnel required to complete this work program safely.”

Harkand has a global fleet of IMCA compliant multi-purpose subsea construction vessels which are equipped with active heave compensated (AHC) cranes, heavy duty workclass remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and full survey spreads – each of Harkand’s vessels is exceptionally proficient in providing IRM and light construction work in the harshest environments including the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Africa.

Statoil has delivered its application for the 23rd licensing round on the Norwegian continental shelf to the Norwegian authorities.

It is expected that the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy will announce the awards late first half of 2016.

The round represents the first opening of new acreage on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) since 1994. Statoil’s application aims to significantly contribute to the company’s ambition for 2030 and beyond.

The acreage that is offered in this round includes the south-east of the Barents Sea, which is an area that was clarified as Norwegian territory under the border agreement with Russia that came into effect from 2011. In addition acreage in the Hoop-Wisting area, opened in the 22nd round, is on offer.

“Statoil has been the guarantor for exploration and development in the Barents Sea since the mid-1980s and we have a clear ambition to remain in that role. The acreage offered is interesting and important and we hope we will earn the opportunity to drill as early as in 2017,” says Jez Averty, senior vice president Exploration Norway.

“Acreage in the 23rd round has significant volume potential, but never-the-less there is a debate where some say that these resources will not be commercial. We believe otherwise and our application is proof enough of that. Statoil’s preparations for our 23rd round application have included developing technology solutions that will reduce the break-even price per barrel for the significant discoveries we hope to make in the Barents Sea.”

In the run up to this license round, the cooperation within the industry has been unprecedented. In the Barents Sea Exploration Collaboration project, 16 companies are cooperating to find common solutions for exploration operations in the Barents Sea and to ensure cost-effectiveness and good safety standards.

In 2014, Statoil was operator for a group of 33 companies cooperating on seismic surveys in areas included in the licensing round.

The NCS is the backbone of Statoil and Statoil has an ambition to maintain production at current levels through to 2025-2030 and beyond.

Leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) has released its Guidelines for Floating Offshore Facilities for LNG/LPG Production, Storage Offloading and Regasification (Third Edition).

The first edition of the guidelines laid out specific technical requirements for gas FPSOs and was released in 2011. In February 2015, the guidelines were revised and the second edition was released to clarify the application to FSRUs.

Key industry players, as well as ClassNK and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism recently gathered to discuss how to further enhance the safe design of FLNG. Based on the outcomes of this discussion, ClassNK has developed the third edition of its guidelines. Updates include specific requirements of mooring analysis of single-point mooring systems, such as turret mooring systems*. The combination of environmental conditions to be considered and statistical analysis methods using tension evaluation are set out in detail in the guidelines. Requirements for fire protection, fire extinction and so on have also been partly revised.

*Turret mooring uses the connection of bearings joining the mooring cables and hull structure to automatically rotate the hull structure in the direction where external forces such as waves, wind and tidal currents are minimized.

Danos has added to its leadership team by promoting James Callahan, Mark Danos, Stacey Gisclair and Reed Peré to executive roles within the company.

“These four outstanding individuals bring a wealth of talent and more than 70 years of industry experience to our executive leadership team,” said CEO and President Hank Danos. “I am confident that James, Mark, Stacey and Reed will enhance the strategic direction of Danos.”

As vice president of finance, James Callahan is responsible for overseeing the company’s domestic and international administration, finance and accounting activities. Prior to joining Danos in 2013, Callahan served as chief executive officer for Superior Shipyard and Fabrication, as well as chief operating officer for SJI LLC, a privately held telecommunications company.

Mark Danos serves as vice president of project services, supervising the company’s project management, construction and fabrication divisions. He is responsible for all domestic and international deepwater, subsea, shelf and onshore projects. Prior to joining the company, he worked in project management for ExxonMobil, supporting large capital projects around the world. Mark Danos is a third-­‐‑generation owner of the company and member of its board of directors.

Stacy Gisclair brings over two decades of human resources experience to her position as vice president of human resources. Through her oversight and management of the company’s human resources and recruiting activities, Gisclair ensures that Danos continues its commitment to a high‑performance culture. In 2015, she received the company’s “Quality Person of the Year.” Gisclair worked for Edison Chouest Offshore prior to joining Danos in 1999.

Vice President of Production Services Reed Peré is responsible for the quality of work and adherence to safety policies of the company’s global production workforce. He has been with Danos since 2006, and in 2012 received the “Quality Person of the Year” award. His background in secondary education and 10 years in the energy industry make Peré well suited to managing Danos employees in locations around the world.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has won an order for substructure connection mooring systems for the world's first floating offshore wind farm: Statoil's Hywind pilot park in Scotland.

MacGregor will be responsible for the delivery of the Pusnes substructure mooring connection system for the pilot project's five floating wind turbines. Delivery of equipment is planned from the second through the fourth quarter of 2016 and installation of the wind turbines is scheduled for 2017.

"This contract represents a step change for MacGregor in terms of entering a new industry sector," says Jan Martin Grindheim, Director, Sales and Business Development, MacGregor Offshore Mooring Systems. "The project hinges on applying proven technology in new applications. MacGregor was chosen for the task because of its long history of designing and delivering very reliable mooring solutions for offshore floating production units for the harsh conditions in the North Sea."

MacGregor will deliver a total of five sets of Pusnes substructure mooring connection systems including instrumentation for load monitoring. The ballast-stabilized turbine structures will each be equipped with a three-point mooring system employing site-specific anchors.

"Statoil is proud to develop the world's first floating wind farm, further increasing the global market potential for offshore wind energy. We are very pleased with this contract awarded to MacGregor. We are excited that high quality oil and gas suppliers in both Norway and Scotland are able to capture the growing opportunities offered through new renewables growth," says Stephen Bull, Statoil's Senior Vice President for Offshore Wind.

Statoil's floating offshore wind farm will cover an area of about 4.2km² near Buchan Deep, approximately 25km off Peterhead in Aberdeenshire on Scotland's North Sea coast. The 6MW wind turbines will provide enough electricity for 20,000 UK homes. They will operate in waters over 100m deep, that experience an average wave height of 1.8m.

"To give some idea of the scale of the project, the wind turbines will stand at an overall height of around 258m, which is nearly three times the height of the Statue of Liberty in New York," adds Mr. Grindheim.

The Hywind project is part of Statoil's activities in New Energy Solutions, the company's business area developing profitable renewable energy and low carbon solutions. It is designed to demonstrate cost-efficient solutions that will enable the commercial capture of wind energy in deep-water environments. Statoil says that the technology to be used in the project has been tested for six years with excellent results in a demonstration project off the coast of Norway.

Xodus Group has landed a project to a deliver a suite of more than 40 offshore operating manuals for the Ichthys LNG project operated by INPEX and located off the coast of Western Australia.

The Ichthys field was the largest discovery of hydrocarbon liquids in Australia for 40 years. The Ichthys LNG project is currently under construction and includes some of the largest offshore facilities in the industry, a state-of-the-art onshore processing facility, with an 889 km pipeline uniting them.

Specialists from Xodus Group’s Perth operation are drafting these key training and reference materials to be used by the offshore operations crew. The project is on track for completion by the end of the year.

Neil Coutts, Process & Facilities Manager of Xodus Group

Neil Coutts, Process & Facilities Manager, of Xodus Group said: “Our dedicated team of engineers brings extensive hands-on experience from UK North Sea and Australian oil and gas facilities and is focused on ensuring that the Ichthys manuals are of the highest quality and will help to assist the offshore crew to carry out their work safely. We are proud to be supporting Ichthys as it transitions to the operational phase. Xodus has a track record of producing clear, concise and robust operations documentation and has been involved in a number of similar projects covering subsea systems, offshore facilities and LNG plants in Western Australia.”

Xodus provides independent, integrated thinking to solve complex challenges. From field development planning to supporting asset integrity, operations and maintenance, the team works as trusted advisors at every stage of the asset lifecycle. The Perth based team is focused on helping clients to achieve operational excellence on new and existing assets.

First production from Ichthys is scheduled for 2017 and the project is expected to produce 8.9 million tonnes of LNG and 1.6 million tonnes of LPG per annum, along with approximately 100,000 barrels of condensate per day at peak. Gas and condensate from the Ichthys field will undergo initial processing on the offshore facilities, prior to being transported to the onshore LNG plant near Darwin. Most of the condensate will be directly shipped to global markets from an FPSO facility permanently moored near the Ichthys field in the Browse Basin.

Ingen Ideas, an Amec Foster Wheeler company, announces today the award of a contract worth approximately £8million by Marathon Oil. The five-year multi-discipline engineering contract covers Marathon Oil’s Brae Complex in the North Sea.

The contract started in October 2015 and will run for five years, with the potential for two further five-year extensions. It covers subsea and topsides, including onshore operations support, projects and modifications engineering, as well as technical consultancy.

Ingen will call upon engineering services from across the Amec Foster Wheeler group. This will provide the ability to rapidly mobilize and demobilize engineering resource with the flexibility to suit the workload needs as well as access to alternative similar high quality resources when availability, timing and duration demands.

Ingen General Manager, Wayne Strachan said: “This is the first contract award of this scale for Ingen. It signifies how in the current economic climate, Ingen’s approach to consultancy engineering, with the global support of Amec Foster Wheeler, can add value by being agile, responsive and proportionate to the exact requirements of the project.”

Some 20% of the remaining UK oil reserves are expected to be West of Shetland, a challenging environment on the surface and subsea.

In February 2013, Bibby Offshore was awarded a contract by Premier Oil to provide subsea support during the installation phase of its Solan field development project, in Block 205/26a of the UK Continental Shelf, in 135m water depth.

The facility at the Solan field has been designed to produce a flow rate of 28,000 b/d, peaking at up to 35,000 b/d across a 20-year lifeline.

The production facility has been developed as a not permanently manned installation (NPMI), and will be operated remotely from an onshore control room in Aberdeen. The topsides facility supports produced fluid separation, gas treatment, all necessary utilities and power generation.

The field infrastructure also includes a 10,000-tonne subsea oil storage tank (SOST) capable of storing 300,000 bo. Produced oil is sent to the SOST before being exported, via a single anchor loading system (SAL), to shuttle tankers.

Bibby Offshore was brought in to perform installation of the subsea infrastructure and, recognizing the challenging environment, came up with a plan to minimize downtime caused by short weather windows.

Preparation is Key

To mitigate the impact of this, Bibby Offshore completed detailed weather analysis prior to mobilisation to allow a realistic expectation on the potential downtime that could be experienced. The project team also gathered regular forecasts from various sources to help build an accurate picture in the short term on how the weather would impact over a two to five day window.

Bibby Offshore was also able to take a flexible multi vessel approach to the project, making use of several of the vessels in its fleet. The Dive Support Vessel (DSV) Bibby Polaris was used extensively to complete much of the dive works. The DSV Bibby Sapphire and DSV Bibby Topaz and the Construction Support Vessel (CSV) Olympic Ares also made a significant contribution to the project. Further to this the company used short term chartered Remotely Operated Vehicle Support Vessel (ROVSV) and a third party DSV.

This multi vessel approach helped Bibby Offshore tailor the various vessel capabilities to the technical challenges presented by the development and the flexible timeline required to complete the task in line with the clients programme. Crucially, it also helped to prevent any schedule slippages in order to maintain progress towards achieving first oil.

A Phased Approach

The subsea aspect of the project was planned in two phases. Phase one saw the Olympic Ares carry out installation activities for the single anchor loading system (SAL), metrology, lay through spool removal, flexible and umbilical installation and wet storing of fabricated spools, . Phase two consisted of the diving support operations to complete installation, tie in, stability/protection and recommissioning of the flexible, umbilicals, spools and storage tank.

Each phase of the project had its own challenges. Due to adjustments in the schedule, Bibby Offshore successfully change managed the scheduled fleet workloads to accommodate its client’s requirements, resulting in the project becoming multi phased with, as mentioned previously, additional vessel support.

During the campaign, a 72” structure pile was installed which required a large ninety ton ‘Fast Frame’ to be deployed to the seabed. The loading hose itself presented a range of engineering considerations to the project team due to the inflexibility of the product and the fact it could not be pre-installed on a deployment reel onshore prior to installation on this occasion.

After completing the acoustic metrology, the Bibby Polaris was deployed to connect the pipeline to the SAL spool and the SAL to the offloading hose.

During the offshore operations, the project team configured an optimised deck layout on the Olympic Ares, thus creating the required working space. This was necessary due to a multi reel drive system taking up a significant amount of deck space and also the additional equipment required to install flexible and umbilical products before completing metrology between the newly installed platform and subsea oil storage tank. In subsequent campaigns, two DSVs and one ROVSV were mobilised to carry out spool installations, flexible and umbilical tie-ins, mattressing and general storage tank works.

Bibby Offshore’s track record meant it was ideally positioned to execute the work. However, this particular project posed a number of environmental and installation challenges that allowed the

Key facts

Fugro has been awarded a contract by Ophir Equatorial Guinea (Block R) Limited for the provision of survey services for the development of large scale assets and infrastructure offshore Equatorial Guinea.

Under the contract Fugro will deploy three of its specialist vessels - Fugro Searcher, Fugro Scout and Fugro Frontier – to perform autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) surveys as well as geotechnical, environmental and metocean surveys.

The 65-meter high spec. survey vessel, Fugro Searcher, is one of three specialist vessels deployed by Fugro on the contract at the Fortuna Project

The significant survey programme will take place at the Fortuna Project to the west of Bioko Island, where Ophir is planning a large FLNG installation and associated subsea structures. With the surveys beginning in November, the offshore operations are scheduled for completion in January 2016.