Euroports and BlueFloat Forge Strategic Offshore Wind Alliance
One of the largest port-infrastructure companies Euroports and Spanish offshore wind developer BlueFloat Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to foster cooperation in supply chain and ports infrastructure for the delivery of offshore wind in Europe.The strategic alliance marks a significant step forward in building capabilities and infrastructure critical to establish an offshore wind energy sector.Euroports, with its distinguished reputation as a premier offshore wind port operator…
BOEM Completes Environmental Review of Gulf of Mexico Wind Lease Areas
The United States' Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Tuesday issued a final environmental assessment (EA) on potential impacts from offshore wind leasing on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico, marking another step toward the potential first-ever offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf.The assessment, completed with the help of the Gulf of Mexico Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force—a collaboration between Tribal, Federal, state, and local government agencies—found "no significant impacts to environmental resources"…
New Monopile and Tower Fabrication Facility to Open in Maryland
Baltimore-based offshore wind energy development company US Wind, Inc. announced its plan to form a long-term partnership with Haizea Wind Group Management S.L. to manage and operate Sparrows Point Steel, Maryland’s first permanent offshore wind factory in Baltimore County, Maryland. The facility will be available to manufacture steel components for the U.S. offshore wind industry, including monopiles and towers.“The partnership between US Wind and Haizea to lead Sparrows Point Steel will create one of the premier offshore wind industrial facilities in the world…
U.S. Gov't Proposes First-ever Offshore Wind Lease Sale in Gulf of Mexico
The U.S. administration on Wednesday proposed the first-ever offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico, as part of the government's plan to spur offshore wind deployment beyond the East Coast.The proposed sale is part of the leasing path announced by Secretary Haaland in 2021 to meet the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to deploy 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030 and follows the Department’s approval of the nation's first two commercial-scale offshore wind projects.The Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) announced Wednesday includes a 102…
AMSC Takes Delivery of Construction Support Vessel. Leases it to Solstad Offshore
American Shipping Company ASA (AMSC) has completed the acquisition and taken delivery of the Normand Maximus construction support vessel.The vessel has already started a long-term bareboat charter with a subsidiary of the Norwegian offshore vessel operator Solstad Offshore upon delivery."The Normand Maximus is a premier offshore construction vessel and one of the most modern heavy duty subsea vessels. Solstad is a leading offshore services company with a large fleet of offshore vessels operating globally.
US Offshore Wind: Figuring Out the Business
If awards were given for dominating the sustainable energy spotlight, offshore wind (OSW) would surely be in line for top honors.Consider:Big money: BOEM’s February sale of New York Bight offshore wind development rights drew a record $4.37 billion in developers’ bids. Not only is that real money, but just as critically, “This week’s offshore wind sale makes one thing clear: The enthusiasm for the clean energy economy is undeniable and it’s here to stay,” exclaimed Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.Off Broadway: In January…
Rowan Reliance Awarded Fieldwood Contract
Offshore drilling contractor Rowan Companies plc announced Monday that its drillship Rowan Reliance has been awarded a contract in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico by Fieldwood Energy LLC.The contract is for a firm term of one year plus three 90-day options, and is expected to commence the first quarter of 2019. The R-Class ultra-deepwater Rowan Reliance is currently warm stacked offshore Louisiana in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.Tom Burke, Rowan's president and CEO, said, "We are excited to continue our long-standing relationship with Fieldwood, a premier offshore operator, and look forward to a successful, long-term partnership with this major player in the Gulf of Mexico."In addition, Cantium has extended its previously announced contract for the EXL III in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico by three months.
Huge Offshore Engineering Contract for CB&I
US-based CB&I wins a project contract worth US$250-million from Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co, Ltd. (DSME). CB&I's scope of work, which will commence in the first quarter, includes detailed engineering design services for the Mariner Topsides project that is part of the Mariner oil field development project being operated by Statoil in the UK North Sea. The Mariner heavy oil field is located on the East Shetland Platform of the UK North Sea, approximately 150 kilometers east of the Shetland Isles. Pending final approval of the field development plan by the UK authorities, Statoil expects to start production from Mariner in 2017. The field is estimated to produce for 30 years with an average production of around 55,000 barrels of oil per day.
TWMA Wins UKCS Contract with Premier Oil
Two-year agreement with potential for two further one-year extensions. TWMA, the leader in integrated drilling services and environmental solutions for the international onshore and offshore oil and gas industry, has announced it has secured a substantial contract with UK operator, Premier Oil (Premier), following a comprehensive tender process. The project, worth an estimated £2 million, is already under way with TWMA providing ‘skip and ship’ services to transport drill cuttings…
MSRC Completes Gulf of Mexico Expansion
The Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) announced that it has completed its Gulf of Mexico expansion program, known as Deep Blue. The new response capabilities created under this program are now ready to respond to an oil spill incident, if and when necessary. The key objectives of this expansion program include increasing the effectiveness of mechanical recovery through expanding the number of dedicated oil spill response and recovery platforms in the Gulf of Mexico; increasing the ability to utilize commercial Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs) and Multi-Purpose Support Vessels (MPSVs) to reinforce MSRC’s existing dedicated platforms…
OTC: Offshore Industry Barometer For More Than 30 Years
The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) annually attracts a global audience of leading engineers, managers, and scientists to the heart of the oil and gas industry. It was 1969 when OTC made its debut in Houston, a big year for the energy industry: oil was discovered in the North Sea; environmentalists were blocking the Trans-Alaskan pipeline that would bring North Slope oil supplies to the lower 48 states; oil rich countries in the Middle East and North Africa were demanding a bigger share of oil profits; and oil prices were positioned for takeoff. That inaugural event was modest by today’s standards, attracting just 4,200 offshore professionals and 125 exhibitors-less than one-tenth the turnout of recent years. Currently OTC is the offshore industry’s largest annual gathering.
