Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

High Island News

21 Jun 2022

Worker Medevaced from Oil Platform in the Gulf of Mexico

(File photo: US. Coast Guard)

An ailing oil worker was medevaced from a platform 80 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, Tuesday.U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a medevac request stating a 36-year-old crew member aboard the High Island 442 was experiencing coughing, shortness of breath and tightness in his chest. Watchstanders consulted with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac.A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Houston launched to conduct the medevac.The helicopter crew arrived on scene…

01 Jun 2017

WCI Meets the Press, Addresses FY 2018 Budget Request

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017; FY 2017 Corps' Work Plan and Infrastructure Plan Addressed. Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) today held its annual briefing for the news media to address the President’s FY 2018 budget request, the FY 2017 Consolidated Omnibus Appropriations Act, the Corps of Engineers’ FY 2017 Work Plan, and the Administration’s infrastructure initiative. he event was held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The full FY 2018 budget request to Congress released by the Trump Administration proposes $5.02 billion for the Corps’ Civil Works program, representing a $382 million increase above President Obama’s FY17 request, but more than $1 billion below the $6.038 billion appropriated by Congress for FY 2017.

06 Mar 2017

OP/Ed: New Year, New Opportunity

The start of a new year often brings change, but in the nation’s capital, 2017 means a new President and Administration, and a new Congress. Waterways Council, Inc.’s objective remains the same as it has since our start in 2005: to advocate for a modern, efficient and reliable inland waterways transportation system. For WCI, achieving this means working from our “three-legged advocacy stool” approach to educating these new Washingtonians through direct lobbying, stakeholder support and outreach, and media relations.

26 Oct 2014

Drydocks World to Repair “High Island IV”

Drydocks World, the international service provider to the shipping, maritime, offshore, oil, gas, and energy sectors, has been chosen to carry out the drydocking and repairs of the jack-up “High Island IV” for Shelf Drilling, one of the major players in the shallow water drilling market, and owners of 40 rigs worldwide. Drydocks World-Dubai has a successful past with Shelf Drilling, previously completing a variety of work on six of their rigs, ranging from Saudi Aramco specifications to major upgrades and re-activation. The contract signing for the “High Island IV” was held in Dubai Maritime City in the presence of His Excellency Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman of Drydocks World and Maritime World, and Mr.

18 Aug 2011

Statement from BOEMRE on Loss of Life

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today confirmed that agency personnel responded on August 16 to a report of a fatality at Energy Resource Technology's High Island (HI) Block A557 Platform A. This is an oil and gas production platform approximately 75 miles offshore Texas, in about 224 feet of water. According to the operator's report, an incident occurred early on the morning of August 16 during a crane lift in which a large piece of equipment was being loaded from the platform to a workboat. An apparent failure of the boom hoist cable led to a collapse of the crane, which set off a series of events in which the crane's harness struck and fatally wounded an employee. There was no production ongoing at the time of the accident.

12 Aug 2009

Texas Barge Collision Halts Oil Traffic

According to a report from Reuters, two barge tows collided in the Intracoastal Waterway between Port Arthur and Galveston, Texas, halting oil industry and other traffic for more than 12 hours, All traffic was halted between mile markers 310 and 315 east of High Island after the accident just before midnight on August 11 at mile marker 312. One-way traffic resumed early August 11 afternoon, and the waterway fully reopened at mid-afternoon, a Coast Guard spokeswoman said. (Source: Reuters)

19 Feb 2008

Transocean Agrees to Sell Three U.S. GoM Jackups

Transocean Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement with Hercules Offshore, Inc. to sell three of its U.S. Gulf of Mexico jackup drilling rigs and related equipment for $320m. The sales of the GSF Adriatic III, GSF High Island I and GSF High Island VIII will mark Transocean's exit from the shallow-water area of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The sales are expected to be consummated at the conclusion of each rig's current contract commitment and are subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. The agreement has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies. Built in 1982, the GSF Adriatic III is a Marathon LeTourneau 116C design jackup with a water depth capability of 350 feet.

17 May 2004

MarAd Approves Six Transfers

The Maritime Administration approved six applications under section 9 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended. · GlobalSantaFe Drilling Company has received approval to transfer four mobile offshore drilling units to Vanuatu registry and flag without change in the ownership of said Vessels. The 4,976-gross-ton GLOMAR MAIN PASS I was built in 1982 in Pascagoula, MS. The 4,976-gross-ton GLOMAR MAIN PASS IV was built in 1982 in Pascagoula, MS. The 4,473-gross-ton GLOMAR HIGH ISLAND IV was built in 1980 in Quebec, Canada. The 4,473-gross-ton GLOMAR HIGH ISLAND VIII was built in 1981 in Quebec, Canada. · General Metals of Tacoma, Inc., Tacoma, WA has received approval to sell the 4,562-gross-ton barge TWIN HARBOR II to B.

12 Jun 2000

Global Marine Picture Brightens

As the offshore drilling picture continues to improve, companies such as Global Marine should experience a healthy market capitalization boost as shares fly high simultaneously with oil prices and rig utilization rates. Last week, for example, ABN AMRO raised its 2000 earnings estimate on offshore oil and gas drilling contractor Global Marine Inc. to 60 cents a share from 55 cents. A day previous to the upgrade, Global Marine agreed on contract extensions for three of its rigs at significantly higher daily rental rates. The extensions of 7 to 9 months are for jack-up rigs operating in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and capable of drilling in water depths of 250 to 300 ft.

08 Nov 2004

Freighter Collides with Offshore Platform

Crewmembers from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Galveston are investigating the early morning collision of an outbound freighter and an offshore platform located approximately 17 miles off the coast of Galveston. At 3:15 a.m., Coast Guard watchstanders at Group Galveston received reports of a platform fire in the Gulf of Mexico. At 3:30 a.m., the freighter SCM Athina notified the Coast Guard that it had struck the platform High Island 207. Substantial damage was sustained by the platform, resulting in a fire that could be seen from shore. Two offshore supply boats were in the area and immediately responded, fighting the fire and extinguishing the flames on the lower decks. The upper decks are still smoldering.

10 Jun 2005

Bisso Marine Salvages Crewboat

Bisso Marine salvaged a 110-ft. crewboat in Sabine Pass, TX. The crewboat which was involved in collision with a ship rolled over and sank in approximately 50 ft. of water with the stern of the capsized vessel ultimately resting on the bottom and the bow keel floating above the surface. The sunken crewboat was positioned in the middle of the channel such that the Sabine Pass was closed by the USCG creating a problem for inbound and out bound ship traffic whose cargos are loaded and discharged at the refineries in the Port Arthur, TX, area. Due to the emergency nature of the casualty, Bisso Marine was able to divert the D/B Boaz from an oilfield services project in the High Island Area to respond.

09 Nov 2007

Waterways Council Applauds WRDA Veto Override

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) expressed its gratitude for the aggressive work of the House and Senate this week to override the President’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. WRDA, delayed for more than seven years, is now law. It authorizes critically important projects on the inland waterways including the modernization of seven locks along the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway, and projects on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at Bayou Sorrel, Matagorda Bay and High Island to the Brazos River. Late Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted 361 to 54 to override the veto; the Senate voted 79 to 14 to override today. “This is an historic event in the improvement of America’s waterways and for the Nation overall,” said R.

03 Aug 2006

2Q Results for GlobalSantaFe

GlobalSantaFe Corporation reported net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, of $248.5m, or $1.01 per diluted share, on revenues of $773.4m. The results compare with net income of $85.1m, or $0.35 per diluted share, on revenues of $574.8m for the same quarter of 2005. During the second quarter of 2006, GlobalSantaFe recognized insurance recoveries totaling $66.4m. This amount includes a book gain of $63.7m, or $0.26 per diluted share, on two offshore drilling rigs, the GSF Adriatic VII and GSF High Island III, which were severely damaged during Hurricane Rita. Excluding this $63.7m gain, net income for the quarter was $184.8m, or $0.75 per diluted share.

23 Apr 2001

Chieftain Announces GOM Discoveries

Chieftain International, Inc. has participated in two recent offshore discoveries on West Cameron 300 and South Pass 38 in the US Gulf of Mexico. The No. 3 exploratory well on West Cameron 300 was drilled to a total depth of 11,900 ft. and logged 66 net ft. of natural gas bearing reservoir rock in Miocene sands. The well was completed and tested at 11.5 mmcf of natural gas and 300 barrels of condensate per day. Work is under way to connect the well to existing facilities that handle production from the No. 1 well. Production from the No. 3 well is scheduled to commence during the second quarter of 2001. Additional drilling on the block is planned during 2001 to further delineate the field and to test additional exploratory prospects on the block.

02 Mar 2000

MMS Announces Plans for Next GOM Royalty-in-Kind Sale

The Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) will offer for sale, to the public, this spring, additional natural gas royalty production from the Outer Continental Shelf. This initiative is a continuation of the royalty-in-kind (RIK) pilot programs MMS is pursuing to test the efficacy of taking royalties in kind as an alternative to the traditional cash basis for natural gas and crude oil royalty payments. The MMS plans to expand the RIK pilot in the central Gulf of Mexico to nearly double the amount of natural gas previously offered. MMS will offer royalty gas on two additional pipeline systems, the Bluewater and Sea Robin systems, with about 200,000,000 cu. ft.per day. The gas will be offered for sale to the highest bidder at or near the lease.

23 Aug 1999

Drilling Successes and Cost Reductions Offset Production Decline

Unocal Corporation's Spirit Energy 76 unit said its exploration drilling successes and aggressive development program on the Gulf of Mexico shelf area in the first half of 1999 should more than offset the natural production declines for the year. "We have a long record of low drilling and operating costs on the shelf, which enables us to enjoy returns that cannot be matched by the typical shelf operator," said Roger C. Beach, Unocal chairman and CEO. Beach noted Spirit Energy's GOM shelf prospects are predominantly natural gas and deliver production quickly, making them extremely attractive in the current capital-constrained environment.

25 Aug 1999

Completion of Offshore Wells

The Houston Exploration Company announced the completion of offshore wells that should provide additional production beginning in the second quarter of 1999. Because of drilling activity during the first quarter, the company shut-in certain production from its Mustang Island A-31/A-32 region. Due to this shut-in and other factors, the Company expects first quarter 1999 production levels will average approximately five percent higher than the prior quarter's level. In the company's three-lease complex in the Mustang Island region on the shelf of the Gulf of Mexico, the Company successfully drilled its first well since acquiring the property in the fourth quarter of 1998. The Mustang Island A-32 B-8 well, a development well, was drilled to a total depth of 9,900 ft.

13 Oct 2005

ATP Wins GOM Lease

Lease Sale held in New Orleans this past August. which were awarded at a total cost of approximately $0.6 million dollars. gas pay. water. planned drill site for ATP's High Island Block A-392 development. Stated Senior Vice President Gerald W.

30 Aug 2005

GlobalSantaFe Rigs Appear OK

GlobalSantaFe Corporation reported that it has accounted for all five of its drilling rigs that were in the direct path of Hurricane Katrina. All personnel on the five rigs were safely evacuated prior to the storm's arrival. GlobalSantaFe rigs in the path of Hurricane Katrina included the GSF Development Driller II and GSF High Island VIII, which showed no signs of damage during a preliminary aerial inspection. The GSF Celtic Sea and GSF Development Driller I were listing slightly, and crews and equipment are arriving on location today to assess the condition of the rigs. The GSF Arctic I drifted off its original location and was grounded in shallow waters near the mouth of the Mississippi River. Marine surveyors will be dispatched to determine the condition of the rig.

26 Aug 1999

CDI Installs First Reeled Riser In The Gulf Of Mexico

Houston-based Cal Dive International established another Gulf of Mexico first when it installed a reeled flowline/riser combination for Kerr-McGee in East High Island block A-379 in 350 ft. of water. Cal Dive utilized its newly established Pipe Spool Base at their Morgan City, Louisiana operational headquarters to: weld, x-ray, sand blast and coat 14,000 ft. of 4.5 in. 337 wall pipe with fusion bonded epoxy. The pipe was reeled directly onto an 28.2 ft. installation reel provided by CDI's strategic alliance partner Coflexip Stena Offshore. CDI's procedure is to secure reels on a barge during the spooling process, in order to expedite transportation to the staging area.