Continental Shelf
UN -Limit of Continental Shelf
The United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) issued a release stating that the governments of France, Ireland, Spain, and the United Kingdom submitted information on the limits of the continental shelf adjacent to those nations. According to the Joint Submission, evidence indicates that a portion of the seabed underlying the Celtic Sea and the Bay of Biscay more than 200 nautical miles from the shoreline should be considered as part of the continental shelf of the adjacent coastal nation. The submission will be considered at an upcoming session of the CLCS. Source: HK Law
CG Proposed Rulemaking: Notice of Arrival, OCS
On June 22 the U.S. Coast Guard announced the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register to enhance maritime domain safety and security awareness on units and personnel planning to engage in Outer Continental Shelf activities. The proposed rule begins the process of implementing section 109 of the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006. The rulemaking proposes that owners and operators of United States flag and foreign flag floating facilities
Senate: Bill on South Carolina OCS Leasing Debuts
Senator Graham (R-SC) introduced the South Carolina Offshore Drilling Act (S. 3284) to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to provide for the inclusion of areas off the coast of South Carolina in the outer Continental Shelf leasing program for fiscal years 2012 through 2017, and for other purposes. Senator Graham issued a press release explaining the measure. (6/11/12). Source: Bryant's Maritime Consulting Newsletter (http://brymar-consulting
MMS to Hold Public Hearing in Mobile
The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) will hold a public hearing in Mobile, Alabama on Wednesday, November 1, 2006 to solicit comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Proposed 5-Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2007-2012. The hearing will be held at the Riverview Plaza Hotel, 64 South Water Street, Mobile, Alabama at 1:00 p.m. Statements on the DEIS, both oral and written, will be recorded
Senate Hearing, Liability for Offshore Oil Production
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources conducted a hearing to receive testimony on the liability and financial responsibility issues related to offshore oil production. The committee also considered the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments act of 2010 (S. 3346) to increase the limits on liability under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) testified. Mr. Thomas Perrelli, Department of Justice
Aker Solutions Awarded Troll Extension
Aker Solutions wins a Statoil contract to deliver three subsea trees, tubing hangers & a tool package to the Troll field, Norwegian continental shelf. The extension, estimated contract value NOK 250 million, is a call-off from a contract signed with Statoil in February 2012. The spare tubing hangers will be utilized on several parts of the Troll field. The Troll field is the world's biggest subsea development with regards to the number of subsea wells
CG Proposes Safety Zone Around Drillship
The U.S. Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone around a drillship while it is anchored on location in order to drill exploratory wells at various locations over the US outer continental shelf in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas between July 1 and October 31. Comments on this proposal should be submitted by February 5. 75 Fed. Reg. 803 (January 6, 2010). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)
Major Offshore Tracts to be Opened
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced a major federal initiative to boost oil and natural gas production on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico and off Alaska. The program could produce 10 billion barrels of oil and 45 trillion cubic feet of natural gas over 40 years, generating almost $170 billion. “The Outer Continental Shelf is a vital source of domestic oil and natural gas for America
Turkey, Egypt to Discuss Oil Crisis in Mediterranean
Turkish and Egyptian foreign ministers agreed to set up delegations to discuss an Egyptian-Greek Cypriot deal that paves the way for oil and gas exploration by Greek Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean, diplomatic sources said yesterday. The agreement came during a meeting between FM Abdullah Gül and his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abdul Gheit. In 2005, Egypt signed a deal with Greek Cyprus to delineate their undersea borders in the Mediterranean and the limits of Greek Cyprus' continental
New Recommended Practices for U.S. BOP Compliance
In order to support the oil and gas industry in complying with the US Department of Interior’s new regulations for immediate re-certification of subsea BOP (blow-out preventer) stacks, DNV has issued a Recommended Practise guiding owners and operators through requirements and technical aspects. As one of the responses to the Deepwater Horizon accident, the US Department of Interior former Minerals Management Service issued increased safety measures for energy development on the outer
Fabricom Expands, Makes Two Senior Appointments
Oil and gas engineering company Fabricom Offshore Services announced its relocation from Aberdeen's Riverside House to larger office facilities at Berry Street in the city center. The move, which comes less than a year after the company established a base in Aberdeen
Scrabster to Partner with Hugh Simpson
NorSea Group, a supplier of base services and integrated logistics systems to the Norwegian oil and gas industry, has followed last month’s announcement that it is to develop a supply base at Scrabster Harbor, by signing its first strategic working partnership with local logistics firm Hugh
104,800 Attendees at OTC 2013
Experts from the offshore energy industry around the world came together May 6-9 for the 2013 Offshore Technology Conference at Reliant Park in Houston. Attendance at the conference reached a 30-year high of 104,800, the second highest in show history and up 17% from last year.
Coast Guard, BSEE to Share Offshore Safety Duties
U.S. Coast Guard ond Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement sign agreement to improve offshore oversight. U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Joseph Servidio, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director James Watson and
U.S. DOJ: Pollution Settlement Nets $1 Million
$1 Million Settlement Enhances Land and Sea in the Eastern District of Texas. BEAUMONT, Texas — U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced a settlement reached with a European shipping corporation has resulted in significant enhancements to nature conservation groups in the Eastern
Deep Sea Mooring Acquired by HitecVision
HitecVision acquires 100% of Deep Sea Mooring, a subsidiary of Odfjell Drilling, a privately owned international drilling contractor. Deep Sea Mooring is a significant provider of rented mooring equipment, pre-lay mooring solutions and ancillary services to E&P companies and drilling rig
Obama Admin. Announce 21 Million Acre Oil and Gas Lease Sale
August Auction to offer all Unleased Acreage in Western Gulf of Mexico As part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to continue to expand domestic energy production, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals
NorSea Group Invests in Scotland Supply Base
NorSea Group, a supplier of base services and integrated logistics systems to the Norwegian oil and gas industry, and the Scrabster Harbour Trust in Caithness signed an agreement which will result in major investment and new job prospects for the local economy.
Statoil Makes Gullfaks Discovery
Statoil and partner Petoro have proven additional resources in the Shetland Group/Lista Formation in the Gullfaks license. The Shetland Group and the Lista Formation are younger and slightly shallower deposits with different properties compared to the deposits of the Brent Group where the
Vroon Offshore Win Long-term BP ERRV Contract
Vroon Offshore Services contracted by BP for emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV) services on the UK continental shelf. Netherlands' Vroon say that these services will be undertaken by A- and B-Class field-support vessels and a platform-supply vessel
U.K. Mariner Platform Contract for Odfjell Drilling
Statoil has awarded the contract for drilling services on the Mariner platform on the U.K. continental shelf to U.K.-based Odfjell Drilling. Odfjell Drilling will perform drilling services, maintenance of the drilling facility and drill pipe logistics for the Mariner field development
ConocoPhillips Put Arctic Drilling Plans on Hold
Regulatory uncertainty leads ConocoPhillips to call a halt to its 2014 Chukchi Sea exploration drilling plans. ConocoPhillips say it will put its 2014 Alaska Chukchi Sea exploration drilling plans on hold given the uncertainties of evolving federal regulatory requirements and operational
BSEE Completes Final Rule
As part of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s (BSEE) commitment to promoting offshore safety at all levels, at all times, Director Jim Watson has announced another step in a series of efforts to further identify, address and manage operational safety hazards and impacts
Dogger Bank (UK) Cable Route: OMM Completes Assessment
Offshore Marine Management (OMM) completes a feasibility study for Forewind’s planned North Sea wind energy development. The study was undertaken to assess route feasibility options along one of the development’s 160km long export cable corridors
GSP Offshore Dips a Toe in Barents Sea
Romania's Grup Servicii Petroliere (GSP) to start drilling in June, admitting it has no experience of drilling operations in the Arctic. Operations are scheduled to start at the beginning of June and will be carried out in Dolginskoye oil field, located in the Pechora Sea