Develop Offshore

Russia Cancels Offshore Drilling Rig Import Duties

Reuters reported that Russia has abolished for two years import duties and customs taxes for offshore drilling rigs temporarily imported to Russia for exploration work, the government said on Tuesday. The measure is the first step toward a long-discussed reduction of taxes for energy companies exploring offshore fields, which are expected to contain massive oil and gas reserves but are more expensive to develop than onshore fields. The government said it had cancelled customs duties and taxes for offshore rigs to be rented by a Russian citizen from a foreign owner for five months. The government has also been discussing the idea of mineral resource tax breaks to develop offshore fields -- a benefit similar to that introduced last year for the underdeveloped but resource-rich region of East Siberia. Among the companies most interested in the benefits are state-controlled oil firm Rosneft and gas giant Gazprom which are developing major projects offshore the Pacific island of Sakhalin. Also concerned is privately owned Lukoil the country's second biggest oil producer, which is developing deposits in the Caspian Sea. Russia has said its offshore deposits could contain billions of barrels of oil and gas reserves, but has signaled all major blocks will be awarded at closed tender to state-owned companies, such as Rosneft and Gazprom. (Reporting by Tanya Mosolova) Source: Reuters

Shell Moves Forward with Floating LNG

Shell announces final investment decision on Prelude Floating LNG project in Australia. The Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell) has taken the final investment decision on the Prelude Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) Project in Australia (100% Shell), building the world’s first FLNG facility. Moored far out to sea, some 200 kilometres from the nearest land in Australia, the FLNG facility will produce gas from offshore fields, and liquefy it onboard by cooling.

Cuba Offers 59 Offshore Oil Blocks In Joint Venture

The Cuban government is reportedly offering 59 offshore oil blocks for joint venture projects with foreign companies as part of its bid to develop the local hydrocarbon industry and remedy national fuel shortages.

Teekay, A2SEA to Develop Windfarm Installation Vessel

Teekay Corporation TK +0.42% (Teekay) today announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with A2SEA A/S (A2SEA) to jointly develop an innovative vessel design for the installation of offshore wind foundations. A2SEA is a leading service provider to the offshore wind sector.   The MOU encompasses the key terms of cooperation between Teekay and A2SEA for the design, delivery and operation of floating transportation and installation vessels for offshore windfarm foundations

Prysmian to Develop Offshore Wind Power

Prysmian Group, a leader in the energy and telecom cables and systems industry, is participating in the creation of Norstec, an association uniting the main players in the energy industry at the global level with the aim of supporting the production of renewable energy using offshore wind farms in the Northern Seas. Norstec, supported by British Prime Minister David Cameron, brings together more than 40 entities operating in the energy transmission infrastructure and technology industry

Nicolaisen Joins TWG

TWG said that Kirk Nicolaisen has joined its sales team, taking on the role of Offshore Energy Account Manager. Kirk is based out of Gulfport, Mississippi, and brings more than 16 years of experience developing business and serving customers in the offshore energy market. Kirk has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and has extensive experience specific to winches and offshore equipment. In this position, Kirk will be managing sales and growth within our offshore energy accounts for all brands

US Explores Future Offshore Drilling Plans

The U.S. Interior Department asked the energy industry, environmental groups, state officials and others for suggestions on how to develop a federal energy leasing plan through 2012 for all areas of the Outer Continental Shelf, according to a Reuters report. However, Interior Secretary Gale Norton said she would uphold a White House promise and not offer any federal leases through 2012 within 100 miles of Florida's coast. The new U.S. energy law requires the Interior Department's

Floating Concept Testing for Offshore Wind Farms

The major limitation in offshore wind farms tapping the stronger, more consistent winds that lie farther out is the depth required to install the footing for the turbine foundations. The Norway-based company Hydro is developing a new concept that would use floating concrete construction technology developed for the North Sea oil industry and apply it to offshore wind turbines, according to Renewable Energy Access reports.

Offshore-Inland Completes Repairs on Celebrity Millennium

Offshore-Inland Marine & Oilfield Services completed a repair job for Celebrity Cruise Lines in November 2003. Celebrity’s Millennium required replacement of a 20-ton main propulsion transformer during a planned port visit at Port Everglades, Fla. Offshore Inland responded in spite of the strict time frame requirement to cut a large access opening in the vessel’s side, remove the existing transformer, install a new Celebrity provided transformer and close the access opening all in less

Offshore Wind Turbine Design DNV Certified

Gamesa's 5 MW offshore turbine obtains design certification, a milestone in its offshore wind farm sector progress. Gamesa secures IEC 61400-22 design certification for its G128-5.0 MW offshore wind turbine from independent organisation Det Norske Veritas (DNV). This achievement represents a major milestone in the certification process for Gamesa's offshore turbine, ensuring the timely launch, sales and manufacturing potential of the company's offshore turbine systems in coming years.