National Oilwell News

Chinese shipbuilder China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) has awarded NOV a contract to design and supply equipment for GustoMSC NG-14000XL-G wind turbine installation jack-up vessel to be built for OHT, a Norwegian heavy transport and installation contractor."In close collaboration with VIND Offshore Installation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of OHT, the design is specifically tailored to create a next-generation offshore wind installation unit with a significantly reduced carbon footprint," the company, which last year changed its name from National Oilwell Varco to NOV, said.

Offshore wind turbine installation company Cadeler, until recently known as Swire Blue Ocean, has ordered a new crane for its Wind Orca vessel, to prepare it for the giant offshore wind turbines of the future.The company has signed a contract with National Oilwell Varco to install a new crane on the wind turbine installation vessel Wind Orca and retains the option for delivery of a crane on vessel Wind Osprey.The new crane will have a lifting capacity of 1600 metric tons at a radius of 40 meters, with the main hook at a height of 159.7 meters above the main deck.

Dry bulk shipowner Scorpio Bulkers on Monday announced it has signed a letter of intent to purchase a newbuild wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) as a “first step in a transition towards a sustainable business in renewable energy”.Scorpio said it expects to sign a $265-$290 million shipbuilding contract with South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) in the fourth quarter of 2020. The deal would include options for up to three additional vessels to potentially be delivered within the following 18 months.The lead vessel…

Saudi-based International Maritime Industries (IMI) has announced that it had signed a licence agreement with GustoMSC, a subsidiary of Houston rig and equipment builder National Oilwell Varco (NOV).The agreement entails a new GustoMSC drilling jack-up design which will utilize the modern manufacturing capabilities currently planned for at IMI, said a press note.As a result of the agreement IMI will be fully prepared for its first production operations anticipated in 2021.Fathi K Al Saleem, CEO of IMI, said: "This is a major step for IMI in securing the required knowledge and getting the best rig design which will be tailored to our state of the art construction capabilities…

National Oilwell Varco (NOV) said that it was awarded a contract to design and build equipment for one of the world's largest offshore wind turbine installation vessels. Financial details were not disclosed.According to a press release, NOV, through its subsidiary GustoMSC, landed the contract from Japanese engineering and construction firm Shimizu Corp. to design and build a ship that will be used to install turbines for a 9 GW wind farm off the coast of Japan.The 28,000-ton ship will be constructed at the Japan Marine United shipyard in Yokohama, where it will be designed to accommodate 130 people and include a crane that can move cargo up to 2,500 tons.

National Oilwell Varco, a provider of equipment and components used in oil and gas drilling and production, announced new contract award for submerged turret production (STP) system.APL, part of NOV's Completion & Production Solutions segment, has been awarded the supply of another large STP system, said a press release from NOV.This follows a recent  contract award from Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. for Reliance Industries' FPSO on the MJ field.This time, the system will be provided to a joint venture between Shapoorji Palloonji Oil and Gas and Bumi Armada Berhad. The STP system will be used for an FPSO vessel that will be deployed on the East Coast of India.The STP system is a unique and flexible turret mooring system for FPSOs.The STP swivel…

OPITO, the global, not-for-profit skills body for the energy industry, has appointed Brandon Grosvenor to the new role of vice president of strategic development for the Americas region.He had previously spent more than a decade with National Oilwell Varco in Houston, most recently as a global business development manager. Mr Grosvenor also served in various roles within the global training organization where he created and implemented training programmes and developed skills assessments.More than 350,000 people are trained to OPITO standards ever year and Mr Grosvenor will further increase support to the oil and gas industry in the region.He said: “There is growing interest in increasing competency…

The first phase of the DNV GL’s Joint Industry Project (JIP) which focuses on the development of a new design and certification standard for equipment for pipeline and cable offshore operations has been completed. "The JIP, focussing on the development of a new design and certification standard for equipment for pipeline and cable offshore operations, aims to reduce uncertainty, cost, increase efficiency and safety throughout the lifecycle of the equipment," said a press release. Pipeline and cable operations is a dynamic field of technology, with multiple players, leading to a level of complexity and lack of standardisation in the most common terms used within the oil and gas industry. The building blocks and functional groups in the pipeline and cable operation deck spread.

GE’s Marine Solutions is showcasing its latest technologies and offerings to date at SMM 2016. Staggering oil prices, strict environment regulations and volatile economic conditions are among the key factors that add uncertainty to the marine industry. Calling for industry-wide collaboration, GE is taking up the challenge to build more cost-efficient vessels through close partnership with industry leaders. GE and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. Ltd. have received approval in…

National Oilwell Varco Inc., the largest U.S. oilfield equipment maker, said it will cut its Norwegian workforce by 1,500 by the end of this year as low oil prices have reduced investments. It plans to cut 900 permanent jobs and 600 contractors, the firm said in a statement on Wednesday. "The reason for the lay-offs is the big change in the market situation for our industry over the last year with reduced investments and reduced sale of new equipment," it said. "The uncertain market situation also means that we can't say how comprehensive the process of laying off people will be in the longer term". Norway's Statoil said on Tuesday it will cut up to 7 percent of its workforce and a third of its consultants by the end of 2016…

Statoil, on behalf of the Johan Sverdrup licence, has awarded two contracts at a total value of more than NOK 4.35 billion to Odfjell Drilling for drilling wells on the Johan Sverdrup field. Odfjell Drilling has been awarded contracts both for the Deepsea Atlantic semi-submersible rig and for drilling services on the fixed drilling unit to be installed on the Johan Sverdup field. The rig contract includes the charter of the Deepsea Atlantic rig for three years, starting from March 2016. In addition there are six 6-months options. The rig contract has a value of slightly more than NOK 2.5 billion. “This contract is an important milestone for the Johan Sverdrup project.

The CFO of Houston-based National Oilwell Varco Inc. (NOV) is stepping down to become CEO of Transocean Ltd. (RIG), one of NOV’s largest customers. Effective April 22, Jeremy Thigpen will become CEO of Switzerland-based Transocean, which has its main U.S. office in Houston. Thigpen succeeds Ian Strachan, who had been serving as interim CEO since Steven Newman stepped down in February. Strachan, who is also the company's Chairman of the Board of Directors, will retire from the Board at the end of his term at the 2015 Annual General Meeting following approximately 16 years of service. Prior to joining Transocean, Thigpen spent his career in various roles at  NOV and has served since 2012 as NOV's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Mermaid Maritime Public Company announced that it has marked the start of its new vessel / rig construction by participating in a steel cutting ceremony for its performance class tender rig ‘MTR-3’ and DP2 multipurpose subsea dive support and construction vessel ‘Mermaid Ausana’. The ceremony took place at the shipyards of China Merchants Heavy Industry in China in Nantong and Shenzhen, respectively. The ‘MTR-4’, which will be identical to the ‘MTR-3’, is scheduled to have its steel cutting ceremony two months later. The ‘MTR-3’ and ‘MTR-4’ will be state-of-the-art performance class tender assist drilling rigs incorporating the latest modern design features, and will be the most advanced tender rigs in the market when they are delivered in 2016.

Talks that could lead to oilfield services provider Halliburton Co buying rival Baker Hughes Inc may herald increased deal-making in the energy business as companies bet on a protracted drop in oil prices, industry bankers said. Competing service companies including National Oilwell Varco Inc and Weatherford International may also be targets, bankers and lawyers said. In any deal, the incentives will be the same: consolidation would allow them to better weather the downturn and resist pressure from oil producers to slash prices. The Baker Hughes/Halliburton talks have stalled after the companies weren't able to agree on issues including price, people familiar with the matter said Friday. As oil prices fall, oil field service companies get squeezed, one industry lawyer said.

Transocean Ltd. Assuming Miller is elected by shareholders at the EGM, the board intends to designate him as Vice Chairman. Transocean explained that Ian C. Strachan, the current Chairman of the Board, will reach 72 years of age before the 2015 Annual General Meeting (AGM). In accordance with the company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, it is anticipated thathe will retire from the board at the end of his term at the 2015 AGM. The board currently expects to recommend that shareholders elect Miller in his place as Chairman at the 2015 AGM. Miller is the Executive Chairman of NOW Inc., a spinoff of the distribution business of National Oilwell Varco, Inc., a supplier of oilfield services and equipment to the oil and gas industry.

National Oilwell Varco Inc, the largest U.S. oilfield equipment provider, said orders fell by nearly a quarter in the first quarter and it expects demand for new offshore rigs to slow during the second half of the year. The company's shares fell about 7 percent. Demand for contract drilling is softening as rigs ordered during boom times are being delivered now. Large oil companies are tightening spending after a decade of double-digit increase in budgets as oil prices stagnate and project costs rise.

Heavy lift operations offshore are an awe-inspiring feat, but an operation that requires consistent monitoring of man, machine and procedure to ensure they are conducted in as an efficient and safe manner as possible. Due to a growing focus on safety related to subsea lifting operations, DNV GL recently established a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop practical methods for reducing the risks and lifetime cost of steel wire ropes for subsea lifting applications, using an integrated systems approach.

Due to a growing focus on safety related to subsea lifting operations, DNV GL informs it has established a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop practical methods for reducing the risks and lifetime cost of steel wire ropes for subsea lifting applications, using an integrated systems approach. 14 diverse industry players have already signed up and more partners are welcomed, especially oil and gas operators, says project manager, Inger-Lise Tangen at DNV GL. Elisabeth Tørstad…

Service provider to the oil and gas industry, UK-based Petrofac, confirms placement orders to build its new proprietary design Petrofac JSD 6000 deepwater derrick lay vessel, which will be available for construction and installation activities in early 2017. Petrofac inform that the vessel is based on a unique design which integrates the J-Lay, S-Lay and derrick functions and will provide Petrofac with access to high-end turnkey opportunities in the high growth deepwater and SURF markets, and expand access to shallow water EPCI projects.

In its capacity as Focal - MOOG Components Group representative in Scandinavia and Holland, the MacArtney Group has recently passed a momentous system delivery milestone. Since the partnership was initiated, MacArtney has facilitated the sale and delivery of more than 40 Focal swivel solutions to offshore Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels operating across the world. FPSOs are offshore production facilities that house both processing equipment and storage for produced hydrocarbons.

Variable Bore Rams, Inc. (VBR), a global original equipment manufacturers (OEM) of blowout preventer components and ram provider, has named Cameron McCreary as sales account manager, announced President Hines M. "Chip" Marshall, Jr. Based in San Antonio, TX, McCreary will be responsible for expanding sales and revenue in the west and south Texas regions. He will establish productive, professional relationships with key personnel within his accounts while cultivating existing company relationships. McCreary’s role also requires management of tickets and invoices within his area.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced the delivery of the M/V HARVEY DEEP-SEA, the fourth of its Tiger Shark Class Offshore Support Vessels constructed for Harvey Gulf International Marine, LLC of New Orleans, LA. The HARVEY DEEP-SEA was delivered July 19, 2013. The vessel was launched at Eastern’s Allanton Facility in mid-December of last year. The HARVEY DEEP-SEA is Eastern’s second Multi-Purpose Light Construction Vessel (LCV) for Harvey Gulf. Eastern Shipbuilding Group has now constructed 11 vessels for Harvey Gulf since 2002.

After spending a day exploring the sprawling Açu Superport and Industrial Complex construction site far up the northeast coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro courtesy of LLX and OSX, Claudio Paschoa, Maritime Reporter’s Contributing Editor in Brazil, flew back to Rio for a conversation with Marcus Berto, LLX’s new CEO at the EBX Group headquarters in downtown Rio de Janeiro. “This is a not simply a port belonging to LLX. This is a port for Brazil,” he said. LLX is the logistics branch of the EBX Group, the company founded in March 2007 by Brazilian entrepreneur Eike Batista, born eying the strong demand for modern, efficient ports in Brazil.