Newsletter
Some of America’s best scientists are helping develop an innovative scenario-building technique to plan environmental and economic recovery from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, according to an article in this week’s Science.
Shortly after the April 2010 spill, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar created an inter-disciplinary Strategic Sciences Working Group of scientists from federal, academic, and non-governmental organizations to develop a science-based assessment of the long-term effects of the spill on the ecology, economy, and people of the Gulf of Mexico.
The results of the working group are designed to provide information useful to decision makers, resource managers and other professionals developing and managing the existing response plans--such as the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) leaders and staff. The results are not designed to replace or direct these pre-existing procedures.
The first results of the working group are outlined in the Science essay, “Scenario-Building for the Mississippi Canyon 252/Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill,” was published in the magazine on August 27. The essay was co-authored by Dr. Gary Machlis, Science Advisor to National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis, and Dr. Marcia McNutt, Director of the U.S Geological Survey. Dr. Machlis serves as Lead Scientist on the Working Group, and Dr. McNutt oversees the group’s activities.
The focus of the Science article is the scenario-building technique. The scenarios in the article are considered preliminary results and have already changed since the article was written based on new information on parameters such as flow rates and time periods, which have changed with events in the Gulf and continuing research by scientists. The technique, however, is helping to identify possible policies and actions to reduce negative impacts of the spill and speed up and sustain the recovery process.
“We are treating the ecology, economy, and people impacted by the spill as a whole,” emphasized Team Leader Machlis, “and our challenge has been to understand what is happening and what might happen from that broad perspective.”
One scenario in the Science article examined how long-term decline of plants, particularly in the wetlands, is a probable consequence of the spill, and if extensive, could impair both fisheries recovery and resistance to hurricane damage, with further consequences from the re-release of “sequestered” oil. Other scenarios dealt with impacts upon the oyster fishery, health issues of workers, impacts on the tourism industry, and more.
“Team members come from many scientific disciplines, with experience on oil spills and other environmental events, and many are from the local region”, said USGS Director McNutt. “All of those on this DOI team have worked hard to understand the long-term impacts—what we call ‘cascading effects’ –of the spill and opportunities for sustainable recovery.” (The team includes modelers, ecologists, oceanographers, social scientists, and other experts.)
The group first met in Mobile, Alabama for five intense days in May 2010, for scenario-building based on expert opinion and the available scientific literature; the group will reconvene in New Orleans in September.
Since its first session, the working group has briefed the Mobile Unified Command, Department of Interior officials, NRDA staff, and others involved in Gulf restoration and recovery.
Secretary Salazar has directed the group to continue its work. Scenario-building sessions of the working group will continue at the September meeting, and additional, updated scenarios will be prepared. Work will be ongoing at least through the fall. Hence, it is a “work in progress.”
Global Industries, Ltd. (Nasdaq: GLBL) announced today that its Brazilian business unit (Global Industries Brasil) has been awarded a project for design, engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation and pre-commissioning to be performed in the Northeast region of Brazil. The project, worth approximately US$90 million, will be mainly performed by the DLB Iroquois, a pipelay and offshore construction vessel, with the support of a diving vessel. Engineering, procurement, and fabrication for the project will begin in Q4 2010, with execution of the project beginning in 2011.
John Reed, Global's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Brazil continues to be a very promising market. Our past successes there and an increased effort to secure new business through strong relationships are helping solidify our presence in the region. We look forward to continued success in the area over the long term."
Keppel AmFELS L.L.C., the U.S. wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited (Keppel O&M), is on track to deliver the second of four EXL rigs to Rowan Drilling Companies, Inc. (Rowan) on time, within budget and with zero lost-time incidents.
The rig, christened Rowan EXL-II last Friday, was scheduled for delivery on 31 August and will depart the Keppel AmFELS yard within the next month. It is expected to be deployed to Trinidad for three years under contract with BP Trinidad and Tobago.
Mr David Russell, President of Rowan Drilling Companies, said, “We continue to see a strong demand for higher-specification jack-ups worldwide. The Rowan EXL rigs, built to distinction with Keppel AmFELS’s experienced project management and production capabilities, solidly augment our premium fleet.
“Once again, we are pleased with Keppel AmFELS’s repeat delivery of a rig with the highest standards in quality and safety. We have every confidence that the Rowan EXL-II will do very well when it is in full operation.”
Construction for the Rowan EXL-II began in April 2008. Built as an enhancement of the LeTourneau Super 116E design with leg lengths of 511ft. and a capable hook load of 2,000,000 lbs., the ABS-classed rigs employ the latest state-of-the-art technology to drill high-pressure, high-temperature and extended-reach wells in jack-up markets throughout the world. They are capable of operating in 350 ft. of water or more and drilling to a depth of up to 35,000 ft.
Keppel AmFELS is currently constructing two other similar new build jack-up rigs for Rowan. The construction of these rigs is progressing well and is within schedule and budget.
Located in Brownsville, Texas, Keppel AmFELS reinforces Keppel O&M’s presence in the Gulf of Mexico.
Mr. G.S. Tan, President of Keppel AmFELS, said, “Keppel O&M’s Near Market, Near Customer strategy gives us the leverage to better understand and support our customers in the local markets where they operate.
“The Rowan EXL-II is another well-executed project, proving our track record in this region and strengthening the partnerships with our repeat customers such as Rowan.”
Since its establishment in 1990, Keppel AmFELS has built up its facilities and equipment to become the most well equipped offshore shipyard in the Gulf of Mexico. The yard engages in the construction, refurbishment, conversion, life extension and repair of a complete range of mobile drilling rigs and platforms. Its comprehensive facilities are first class, with a drydock capable of docking the largest semisubmersible drilling units and a modern steel processing plant.
Backed by the resources and competencies of the Keppel O&M Group in design and engineering, Keppel AmFELS is strategically positioned to serve the region’s growing needs in the wind energy industry, both onshore and offshore, as well as for other kinds of marine support vessels such as spill response vessels.
Rowan Companies, Inc. is a major provider of international and domestic contract drilling services. The Company also owns and operates a manufacturing division that produces equipment for the drilling, mining and timber industries. The Company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. www.rowancompanies.com.
- New service brings reliable voice, high-speed Internet services to oil cleanup effort -
Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, has announced it has begun deployment of its new StratosMAX II broadband service across the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) region.
The new StratosMAX II service provides last-mile radio connectivity accessing Stratos' industry-leading digital microwave network. It connects customers back to shore through diverse shore crossings and onshore Stratos interconnection facilities.
StratosMAX II now is providing reliable voice service, high-speed Internet connectivity, Stratos Hot Spot WiFi service and a wide range of mobile communications applications to oil rigs, platforms, offshore vessels and professionals managing the Gulf Oil Disaster containment and cleanup efforts.
The IP-based StratosMAX II service is consistent with the high-bandwidth, low-latency features of Stratos' microwave services and it is competitively priced against VSAT and legacy radio technologies.
Stratos MAX II is based on WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) standards. WiMAX technology is provisioned by Stratos over licensed spectrum across the GoM. Data rates with StratosMAX II are comparable to land-based DSL and cable-modem service.
"Stratos has more than a decade of experience serving the demanding communications requirements of the energy and transportation industries in the often harsh GoM environment," said George V. Head, Stratos Senior Vice President, Broadband Services. "The introduction of StratosMAX II provides our customers with another significant advancement in GoM remote communications to complement the Stratos microwave network. The new service maximizes performance, flexibility, scalability and ease of use while minimizing communications costs for drilling rigs, platforms and offshore vessels."
About StratosMAX II
Stratos is deploying StratosMAX II to more than half of its planned sites this year and will complete the initial deployment by the middle of next year. StratosMAX II will significantly expand market coverage from Stratos' already extensive microwave network in the GoM. StratosMAX II service levels will range up to 10Mbps and provide ultra-low-latency communications not available from VSAT alternatives. This low-latency feature enables superior service quality and customer experience for lag-sensitive applications such as corporate VPN access, voice and video communications.
In addition to the high-quality connectivity back to the Internet, voice services, and corporate networks, StratosMAX II provides a VSAT-based, service-continuity feature to ensure that mission-critical communications are not impacted by short-duration service interruptions in the GoM. This feature provides customers with a level of performance and reliability that is unparalleled in the GoM.
WorleyParsons is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a contract by ExxonMobil Canada Properties for the topsides on the Hebron Project. The contract is for front end engineering and design (FEED), with the option at ExxonMobil’s discretion to subsequently provide detailed engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services.
Hebron Offshore Platform Contract
The Hebron Field is an oil and gas development in the Atlantic Ocean located 350 kilometres offshore from St. John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ExxonMobil has approved US$61 million for FEED to be completed through 2011. WorleyParsons estimates the services revenue under the full FEED / EPC contract to be US$285 million over five years. WorleyParsons will provide overall project management of the contract with subcontracts to be awarded to multiple third parties, with a special emphasis on performing work in Newfoundland and Labrador in accordance with Hebron Project benefits commitments. WorleyParsons will work with ExxonMobil to deliver on this and other benefits commitments, including those related to procurement, supplier development, education and training, research and development, and gender equity and diversity. Commenting, WorleyParsons’ Chief Executive Officer Mr John Grill said: “WorleyParsons is excited to be selected by ExxonMobil Canada Properties for the complex Hebron Project which will utilize our proven expertise in sub-Arctic floatover topsides”. WorleyParsons
Technip has announced that it has agreed with MISC(1) and MHB(2), subsidiaries of the Malaysia National Oil Corporation Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) to establish a long-term strategic collaboration.
The areas of collaboration would initially involve working jointly on onshore and offshore projects, designing and building offshore platforms, exchanging expertise and developing technology.
To cement this collaboration, Technip, as a strategic investor, would take a minority stake in MHB representing between 8 and 9.9% on its proposed listing during the second part of this year.
Technip and MHB’s subsidiary MMHE(3) have worked together previously and are currently co-contractors for PETRONAS' onshore and offshore facilities in Asia.
For Technip, this investment and collaboration would further expand its portfolio of activities and services, in line with its strategic goals. This would also extend Technip’s local content and reinforce its position in the fast growing Asia Pacific region.
(1)MISC: MISC Berhad is a world leading international maritime corporation and one of the top three shipping conglomerates in the world by market capitalisation. The company provides energy transportation solutions to customers in the LNG, petroleum and chemical industries. MISC owns and operates more than 100 vessels with a combined tonnage of more than eight million deadweight tonnes, trading in various corners of the globe. MISC is also a growing player in the offshore industry, offering floating facility solution mainly for FPSO/FSO.
(2) MHB: Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad is a holding company held 100% by MISC.
(3)MMHE: Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn Bhd (MMHE), a 100% subsidiary of MHB, provides a wide spectrum of oil and gas production facilities and services in marine repair, marine conversion and engineering & construction.