Brad Parro News

PetroCom LLC has begun construction and testing of the first digital cellular network in the Gulf of Mexico. Working with partners Siemens and Ericsson, PetroCom is introducing GSM technology to provide secure and high-speed communications for companies in the multi-billion dollar offshore industry. With offices in Houston, New Orleans and Lafayette, La., PetroCom is a cellular provider in the Gulf, with a coverage area stretching from Brownsville, Texas to Mobile, Ala. and as far offshore as 180 miles. For oil and gas companies, maritime operators and government agencies in the Gulf, secure and reliable communication is indispensable for remaining competitive.

As technologically advanced as communications have become, the bottom line, particularly for business applications, remains basically the same: the need for clear, reliable and cost-effective means to communicate. Trends in the transmission of data, voice and e-mail from ship-to-shore are much like that of land-based operations. The need for more speed and increased reliability are never ending, and the companies that excel are the ones that not only continually innovate, but those that consistently stay on the front of the curve to deliver real-world technologies that deliver benefits in the unique maritime operational environment. In parallel, price pressures are ubiquitous, as shipowners are keen to exploit every outlet to cut costs and generate revenue.

Ocean Specialists, Inc. has been awarded a consultancy contract from Unocal Thailand, Ltd. to study Unocal’s offshore communication network alternatives in the Gulf of Thailand. The study will involve assessment of Unocal’s existing network, forecasting future network capacity requirements and analyzing and recommending the most appropriate telecommunication solution to meet those requirements. “Unocal’s decision to award this contract to Ocean Specialists underscores our vast experience in offshore communication networks”, stated Brad Parro, Managing Director of Ocean Specialists. “Our management team has served as investors, owners…