Offshore Technology Conference News

Classification society ABS announced it has launched a new set of requirements to guide the burgeoning maritime aspects of the space flight industry in the safe design and construction of offshore assets.The new requirements, launched this week at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston amid growing global demand for offshore spacecraft launch and recovery, are said to be the first of their kind internationally.Spaceports are marine or offshore assets that conduct spacecraft launch or recovery.

Guyana is in "no rush" to draft a new production sharing agreement (PSA) for offshore oil development, its Natural Resources minister told Reuters, reversing a year-long drive to devise new rules for future output.The government of South America's newest crude oil producer said in 2021 it was planning a new agreement to revamp terms and boost royalties for future oil and gas projects. The proposed document was expected to improve terms for Guyana of a 2016 contract with Exxon Mobil and its partners for the prolific Stabroek block.But the tiny nation…

One of the world's largest conferences and exhibitions dedicated to the offshore energy industry will be postponed next year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.The Offshore Technology Conference, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Houston annually, will be postponed from May 3-6 to August 16-19, the event's board of directors announced Monday, citing continued challenges and health and safety concerns presented by the pandemic."By postponing OTC to the second half of 2021…

The 2020 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic."While OTC’s purpose is to provide an opportunity for those in the offshore petroleum industry from around the world to meet and share knowledge, our first priority is to the health and safety of our attendees and exhibitors. Therefore, OTC has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s conference," Stephen Graham, OTC Executive Director, wrote in a letter to exhibitors.The major offshore energy conference…

Offshore Technology Conference 2020, one of the world's largest conferences and exhibitions dedicated to the offshore energy industry, will be postponed this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.The OTC 2020 organizers said on Friday that the conference, originally scheduled for May 4-7, 2020, would be delayed.“The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) recognizes the unprecedented global challenge associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic. The health and safety of our partners…

Thrustmaster of Texas acquired the ICON Dynamic Positioning business from Rolls Royce earlier this year, a DP product addition to the Thrustmaster product portfolio. In addition to the rights to produce and sell future units of the DP products, Thrustmaster also has responsibility for the maintenance, service and upgrades of existing DP systems presently in operation. To support this addition, Thrustmaster has added Jon Holvik to the Thrustmaster team as the Executive Vice President for Business Development of Dynamic Positioning Systems.

C-Job Naval Architects will expand its business to the United States by opening a dedicated branch office in Houston, Texas this summer.Basjan Faber, CEO at C-Job, an independent ship design and engineering company in the Netherlands, said “At C-Job we believe clients should be closely involved in the entire ship design process as it benefits the design which is why we work in close cooperation with ship owners and shipyards.“Opening an office in Houston, Texas allows us to be…

ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki explored the transformational potential of digital technologies in the offshore industries at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) 2019 in his presentation ‘Demystifying Digital’.“The digital oilfield is a complex ecosystem of technologies, structures, people and processes operating in harmony. The development and operation of offshore oilfields is being greatly enhanced by digital technologies through improved data collection, analysis and real-time decision making. Performance and predictive analytics made on data-in-motion can dramatically improve safety, reduce cost, and enhance operational visibility and decision support…

As the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) celebrates its 125th Anniversary, the new executive director shares his thoughts on the path forward for a successful future.I’m Gene Sanders, and I have been given the enviable opportunity to take SNAME into its next phase in one the most important industries in the world! In my first few months as SNAME’s new Executive Director, I’ve been working with the Board and various committees on new ventures and directives…

The Japan Ship Machinery and Equipment Association (JSMEA) and Maritime Reporter & Engineering News hosted a reception on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at Minute Maid Park in Houston in conjunction with the Offshore Technology Conference. More than 200 guests from around the world enjoyed hospitality at the ballpark in downtown Houston, and a highlight of the evening was Nippon Foundation Chairman Yōhei Sasakawa delivering the first pitch of the game with a perfect strike down the middle of home plate.

DNV GL announced it has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with shipyard China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd (CMHI) for the classification of two multi-activity jack-up units at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston.Ordered by OOS Energy B.V., which is affiliated with Netherlands-based Overdulve Offshore Services (OOS) International, these 96 m long units will be purpose-built for the decommissioning market. Construction is scheduled to start later this year.The two identical four-legged…

For thousands of years sailors have looked out to sea, anticipating the motion of their craft from the waves they see coming. The nature of this constant motion, phasing in and out with the groups of waves, influences the safety of operations, from moving about the deck or rigging to transferring people and materials between craft. Waves and the resulting motions are a key factor in deciding whether to perform an operation. Could you do better than your eyeball for predicting when that next big wave is going to knock you off your feet? When the U.S.

Power train specialist REINTJES will demonstrate its new BAE HybriGen Zero system at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston. The recently developed hybrid step-up gearbox for retrofit offers reduced operating costs, reduced emissions and reduced maintenance costs, REINTJES said. This latest product line in REINTJES’ portfolio features a front-engine mounted gearbox combined with a permanent magnetic electric generator up to 300 kWe. With its high torque, this electric motor/generator can also be used as a starter to substitute the air-starting system.

Classification society ABS convened industry partners at the Offshore Technology Conference on Wednesday, May 4, to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing a unified joint industry project (JIP) for standardization. The goal of the JIP, which includes participants from Korean shipyards, operators, drilling contractors, engineering companies and classification societies, is to develop offshore design standards that will help to improve safety and increase efficiency for offshore projects. ABS COO Tony Nassif praised participants for their willingness to join this milestone JIP, stepping out of their comfort zone to enter into this unique collaborative effort.

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director Brian Salerno and U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Paul Thomas participated in a luncheon panel discussion today ​at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC)  in Houston. The discussion focused on topics relevant to joint inspections of offshore facilities and other offshore regulatory issues. Center for Offshore Safety Executive Director Charlie Williams hosted and moderated the session on the final day of OTC. The Director and Rear Admiral discussed their coordinated approach to joint inspections and incident investigations and how they’re carried out. They described the protocol for sharing information on worst case discharge scenarios, as well as how joint working groups and quarterly meetings enhance collaboration.

The Barge Master T40 motion compensated knuckle boom crane has been recognized for technological innovation, winning the Spotlight on New Technology Small Business Award at this year’s Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston. Barge Master develops motion compensation systems for the maritime industry that compensate vessel motions, creating a platform that is not moving with respect to the stationary fixed world. The systems are developed to increase the safety and workability of offshore lifting operations.

Unfamiliar specifications and processes often result in rework, delays and misunderstandings, and are adding thousands of engineering hours to the design and construction of offshore oil and gas installations. Cost savings are delivered by addressing variations in owner, operator, and regulatory requirements during engineering and construction phases. Phase one, led by DNV GL, established new proposed international standards for offshore oil and gas projects and a second phase…

Today, a team of eight students from West Side High School in Houston emerged victorious from the first annual High School Offshore and Technology Stars Challenge, which was co-hosted by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the Ocean Energy Safety Institute (OESI) at the University of Houston. Other participating schools include Energy Institute High School, Charles H. Milby High School and Young Women’s Preparatory Academy. BSEE Director Brian Salerno welcomed the students to the Technology Challenge, with a strong message of encouragement for the young competitors. “Experts have projected that there will be a workforce need of one million additional science, math and engineering graduates by 2022,” said Salerno.

The 2016 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) will honor this year’s Distinguished Achievement Award recipients on Tuesday, 3 May, in Houston. As part of the OTC Distinguished Achievement Awards Luncheon, the conference will recognize Robert (Don) Vardeman of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation for individual achievement, the Marine Technology Society Dynamic Positioning Committee for institutional achievement, and both George Hirasaki and Yuri Makogon with its Heritage Award. Founded in 1969, OTC brings together industry leaders and professionals from more than 120 countries. Its large international participation provides excellent opportunities for global sharing of technology, expertise, products, and best practices that address current and future industry conditions.

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director Brian Salerno will be traveling to Houston for the 2015 Offshore Technology Center May4-7 at NRG Park. The annual conference is an international gathering showcasing leading‐edge technology for offshore drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection. Director Salerno will be discussing the bureau’s advancements in reducing risk offshore. 1:00 p.m. 7:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m. What: OTC Luncheon with the Center for Offshore Safety: Improving Effectiveness of Safety and Environmental Management Systems and Recognizing Contributions. 12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Multi-pronged program promotes safe jackup operations. ABS, a leading provider of maritime and offshore classification services, is investing in research and development (R&D) that will provide industry-critical data to promote jackup safety. "The research work ABS is carrying out will be valuable to drilling contractors that are looking for guidance on improving the safety of their jackup fleets," says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. Jackup issues constitute…

Petrobras’ Exploration and Production Director, Solange Guedes, received the OTC Distinguished Achievement Award for Companies, Organizations and Institutions, the highest recognition that an oil company can be given as an offshore operator. The awards ceremony took place during a dinner in Houston, USA, at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), the world’s largest event dedicated to the area of offshore oil exploration and production. Accepting the award on behalf of Petrobras, Guedes highlighted the importance of this recognition for the company’s technical staff and partnerships, as well as the roles performed by suppliers and the academic community.

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director Brian Salerno made two announcements during a press conference in Houston Tuesday at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) - each aimed at reducing the risks associated with offshore oil and gas operations. First, Director Salerno announced the launch of the SafeOCS program, an initiative aimed at collecting and analyzing “near miss” data. Second, he released BSEE’s first-ever Annual Report, which presents the agency’s analysis of offshore activities, trends, indicators, incidents and other key data points. Salerno said BSEE is working to identify methods to learn more about the causes of all serious offshore incidents.