The revolutionary website and GeoPortal are meant to encourage robust and expanded public engagement through innovative processes and pathways.

CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. (CSA) has successfully assisted the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in the development of a public engagement website and online GeoPortal associated with the preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program (www.BOEMoceaninfo.com). BOEM's vision for the Programmatic EIS scoping process is to engage a wide range of stakeholders and promote a dynamic stakeholder interaction that will comprehensively capture relevant and diverse input as it relates to local expertise and perspectives. The primary website provides access to information regarding the public involvement process, Programmatic EIS education, GeoPortal access, and best practices for formulating comments.

CSA, in association with Kearns & West, supported BOEM in the development of an improved method for collecting useful scoping comments to inform the Programmatic EIS process. Users of the website and GeoPortal are encouraged to provide comments that are specific, geographically-focused, concise, and supported by scientific evidence or sound reasoning. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the process by submitting comments online, creating maps on the GeoPortal site to support their comments, or uploading relevant geospatial datasets. Utilizing new web development toolsets, BOEM will be able to capture a broader, national range of stakeholder feedback while funneling comments and suggestions through an evaluation process aimed at collecting those most relevant to the scoping of the Programmatic EIS.

Understanding the need for insightful visualizations, BOEM commissioned CSA to design, develop, and construct a GeoPortal built around spatial data focused on the conditions and features of the OCS within the areas under possible consideration of potential new leases in Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico, and Mid- and South Atlantic. Stakeholders will be able to investigate areas being considered, identify data gaps, create maps to submit with comments, and enhance their knowledge of resources that may be affected. The GeoPortal provides a variety of data sets that range from bathymetry contours and commercial fishing areas to critical habitats for protected species and managed areas. Interactive features such as drawing, measurement, and identification tools allow users to create customized maps to support their comments or suggestions.

Poojan Tripathi, BOEM's Project Manager, said, "Both the public engagement website and GeoPortal will be extremely useful tools in presenting relevant and up-to-date information to stakeholders in the decision-making process and ensuring that the comments we receive directly inform the NEPA analysis we are presently embarking upon. We hope this innovative approach will set a new standard for the Bureau in engaging stakeholders in a meaningful and substantive way."

CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. specializes in consulting services for Federal, State, and private industry clients in multidisciplinary projects, integrating science and technology to evaluate environmental activities throughout the world. CSA offers a wide variety of services related to environmental management and community planning to support clients working in marine, estuarine, wetland, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats throughout the United States and overseas.

Sætre has been acting as president and CEO since October, and assumes the role with immediate effect. He has 35 years of experience from Statoil and the oil and gas industry.

"Eldar Sætre was our first choice. The industry and company are facing demanding challenges. Eldar stands out with his long experience and ability to create change. Those are qualities we need in times like these. I am extra pleased that we were able to recruit the next CEO from within Statoil," says Statoil board chair Svein Rennemo.

Eldar Sætre, new Statoil president and CEO. (Photo: Harald Pettersen)

Sætre has extensive operational and financial experience from Statoil. He has been a member of the corporate executive committee since 2003.

He started as chief financial officer, and later became executive vice president for the Marketing, Processing and Renewable Energy (MPR) business area.

"Statoil is well positioned for the future. We have a solid financial platform, and a highly competent organisation. Our industry is currently experiencing large uncertainty. Statoil started the work to improve our competitiveness early. We have our work cut out for us, but we are well prepared to tackle these challenging times," says Eldar Sætre, Statoil's new president and CEO.

"Statoil is changing, but one thing remains firm: My first and foremost responsibility is for safe and secure operations," Sætre says.

"Statoil´s strategy is future oriented and well anchored. Three areas stand out to me as of particular importance: On the Norwegian continental shelf we will strengthen and extend our position. Internationally we will invest where we can create material and profitable positions. We will also strengthen our efforts in the transition to a low carbon society. Competitiveness and sustainability is of critical importance, either in oil and gas production or future projects in renewable energy," Sætre says.

Board chair Svein Rennemo has headed a subcommittee of the board that, following the resignation of Helge Lund in October of last year, has been responsible for the search for Statoil's next CEO.

"We have conducted a comprehensive search. We have evaluated Norwegian and international candidates, both inside and outside the company," says Rennemo. He points to three main challenges for the next CEO:

• Improving Statoil's competitiveness, through a strengthened efficiency and improvement agenda.
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• Navigating a macroeconomic situation with larger uncertainty and stronger pressure on industry margins.
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• Increasing the speed of the company's transition towards a low-carbon society.

"The candidate we were looking for needed in-depth knowledge of the oil and gas industry, and a strong understanding of Statoil´s challenges and opportunities. Those are non-negotiables for succeeding in this role," says Rennemo.

When Sætre was appointed as acting CEO, he expressed to the board that he would not be a candidate for the job on a permanent basis.

"We are glad he changed his mind. At the same time, we wanted the benefit of carrying out a broad search. Statoil needs the best candidate," Rennemo says.

"When I came into the job, I fully experienced how inspiring and energising this position is. I enjoy the challenges, and look forward to taking on the job with an even longer perspective," says Sætre.

Sætre.fixed salary will be NOK 7.7 million, whereof 5.7 will be pensionable income. He will participate in Statoil's programs for annual variable pay and long-term incentives, as previously established for the CEO position and described in the board's statement on executive remuneration.

Sætre will keep his existing pension agreement, which entails a right to resign at 62.
"I take on the job with a long-term perspective on the tasks and challenges. I will do it for as long as the board and I agree that I am the right man for the job," says Eldar Sætre.

Eldar Sætre played a key role during Statoil's IPO and the merger with Norsk Hydro's oil and gas division. He was responsible for the updated strategy for marketing of natural gas to the European market. He has also led the improvement work at Statoil's onshore facilities.

McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE: MDR) ("McDermott") announces that Darcey Matthews has joined McDermott as Vice President, Investor Relations, effective 2 February 2015. Matthews is based in Houston.

"Matthews' fast-paced, global and client-service focused career, combined with her diverse background in trading, sales, business development, the New York Stock Exchange, and the energy business provide her with a strong foundation on which to develop positive relationships with the investor and analyst communities," said Stuart Spence, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Matthews joins McDermott from her most recent position as Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications at Houston-based Endeavour International Corporation. Prior to Endeavour, Darcey spent ten years at the New York Stock Exchange, as Senior Managing Director of Client Service and Business Development, where she covered domestic and international companies and markets. During this time, Matthews worked extensively with executives at more than 250 public companies on investor relation initiatives related to capital markets, trading, media, crisis communication and SEC compliance. For part of her tenure she was based in Paris.

Darcey graduated with her Bachelor of Science in International Business and Finance, from New York University. Since 2014, Matthews has been president of the Houston Investor Relations Chapter, and served on its Board from 2010. She is also a member of Financial Executive International and National Investor Relations Institute.

PIRA Energy Group, a leader in global energy market analysis, announced today that Gemma Postlethwaite, the company's current COO, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. Dr. Gary N. Ross, PIRA's founder and current CEO, will become Executive Chairman and will continue to lead the company's oil group.

"Since Gemma came on board as COO in early 2014, she has had a transformational impact on the business," said Dr. Ross. "She has a keen sense of how clients' needs are changing and how best to address those needs. In a short period of time, we've rebuilt our online platform and created a roadmap for better delivering data and analysis to more types of energy professionals. With Gemma onboard and with our newly expanded management team, the future is extremely bright for PIRA and its clients. I am now able to focus primarily on making our oil group and its products even stronger."

Dr. Ross built PIRA to help clients understand the entire energy market through rigorous fundamentals analysis. Today, PIRA has grown into one of the world's leading energy analysis companies, covering all energy commodity areas. Its "total view of the energy market" takes a bottom-up, fundamentals analysis of supply and demand as well as a top-down macroeconomic approach. PIRA's team of experts and comprehensive data tools serve a full range of worldwide clients, from upstream to downstream companies, physical players to investors, government to private entities, and those focused on the short term to those that need long-term perspectives.

"As PIRA approaches its 40th year of operations, I am thrilled to move into this new role," said Ms. Postlethwaite, who over her 15-year career has held leadership positions at major information-services companies. "Gary's vision and passion for the business have made PIRA the leader in our industry and an invaluable source of information and advice to our clients. I firmly believe no other entity understands the complexities of this market better than the incredible team of experts at PIRA.

At a time when our clients face very volatile market conditions, we are renewing our commitment to them — the commitment to provide the most expert, objective and integrated analysis of worldwide energy markets. We take this commitment seriously. It shapes the way we work every single day. I am excited to share what's coming next with our clients."

The state-of-the-art facility is scheduled for completion in late 2015.

Seanic Ocean Systems Inc. is pleased to announce that construction of a new, state-of-the-art facility will soon be underway in west Houston. The company's relocation and expansion, a result of evolving customer needs and expectations, will provide extensive space for manufacturing of subsea hardware and tooling, equipment storage and client collaboration. The new campus, slated for occupancy in late summer, will also be home to a state-of-the-art in-ground test tank large enough for on-site System Integration testing of ROV tooling and other related hardware.

Located on 10.5 acres, Seanic's new facility will include a 55,000 square-foot shop and operations building, 18,000 square feet of which will be dedicated to manufacturing, testing and assembly. An additional 6,000 square-foot area devoted to welding operations will enhance Seanic's ability to design and build custom subsea hardware for seamless interface with its line of tooling and equipment.

The building will also include 18,000 square feet of indoor storage space that will allow clients to store and maintain their own equipment, whether purchased from Seanic or elsewhere. A detailed inventory and maintenance program, already in place at Seanic's current facility, will ensure that stored equipment is both operational and available when needed. A large outdoor storage area will also be available for on-site storage of larger equipment.

Taking place within Seanic's testing and assembly space, Factory Acceptance Testing and System Integration Testing will provide clients with the assurance that their purchase meets all required specifications and will function properly upon deployment. The pinnacle of Seanic's testing facility, a 50' x 50' x 30' in-ground wet test tank, will enable on-site testing of Intervention Tooling and system integration of subsea hardware. The tank will be outfitted with multiple underwater cameras and allow for real-time performance monitoring.

"Seanic has continued to grow since its inception in 2007, and the capabilities of this new facility will allow Seanic to expand upon the products and services that our customers have come to expect from us," commented Tom Ayars, President of Seanic. "An easily accessible test tank of this size is long overdue in the Gulf Coast region. Houston is the hub for creating new deep water concepts and this tank will allow us to efficiently develop and test new systems and applications in a state-of-the-art, convenient and user-friendly facility."

Seanic Ocean Systems, headquartered in Houston, Texas, engineers and manufactures customized ROV subsea hardware and tooling products. A team of highly specialized engineers and staff bring decades of experience in the subsea industry and can help create a hardware or tooling package to suit any project needs, incorporating custom engineered solutions as well as standard lines of industry products. From initial concept development to the final factory acceptance test, Seanic Ocean Systems engineers and delivers quality that lasts.

As a result of a £300,000 investment in its ground breaking armoured cabling line earlier this year, Hydro Group Plc has secured £2million worth of new defence contracts for 2015.

Successor submarine

The Aberdeen headquartered company, a global design and manufacturer of underwater cables and connectors for the subsea and defense sector, is showcasing its new machinery and extensive product offerings to the industry at the Underwater Defense & Security Conference in Portsmouth this month.

Graham Wilkie, Sales Director at Hydro Group said: "We are currently one of few companies in the UK to offer this cutting edge technology. The new armouring line demonstrates a significant advancement in our capabilities and skill set, and further enhances the scope of work we can offer the industry."

The recent six-figure investment extends Hydro Group's product line, equipping the company with armouring expertise, to offer custom-designed single and multi-layered steel armoured cables in galvanised improved steel and corrosion resistant steels.

Mr Wilkie continued: "The Underwater Defense and Security Conference is a key platform for showcasing our capabilities to the defence sector, providing the underwater community with a unique opportunity to understand evolving threats, as well as emerging and future technologies."

Last year, Hydro Group was awarded a prestigious £2million defense contract to aid BAE Systems in equipping the UK Royal Navy with its future long term nuclear submarine deterrent capability. The Group's expertise and experience resulted in it being selected to design, develop and qualify a range of connector zed through hull penetrators, highlighting the significant capabilities of Hydro Group's engineers, and the extensive product range the company offers.

"The demand for complex and challenging designs has grown in the last few years. This has resulted in our engineers applying their extensive knowledge and capabilities in materials and applications, developed over 30 years, to provide the highest quality solutions, designed for each environment," concluded Mr Wilkie.

Hydro Group's cable and connectivity solutions are developed to withstand the harshest environmental conditions, including salt water, solar effects, storm force winds and dynamic tidal and wave motion. These factors place extreme loads on the subsea systems, connectors and cables, resulting in the company's connectors being designed and manufactured for flexibility and environmental endurance.

The state-of-the-art labs will be deployed to minimize oil spill response time.

New Industries, Inc. has announced the delivery of two laboratories and two operational modules to CSA Ocean Sciences, Inc. (CSA). The mobile laboratories, outfitted with oil spill water monitoring equipment, instrumentation, and supplies, are designed to minimize response time for marine environmental operations and enable rapid mobilization of required equipment to an oil spill incident.

New Industries is an industry frontrunner in the development and manufacture of state-of-the-art service modules that provide laboratory, storage, and operational space for offshore use. The modules are certified structurally to Det Norske Veritas (DNV) 2.7-1 standards, the most stringent in the world, as well as American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) container safety standards, ensuring the highest quality in offshore safety and handling.

The mobilization-ready modules, commonly referred to as "vans" or "cabins," are manufactured at the New Industries facility in Morgan City, La. In addition to meeting DNV and ABS container safety standards, the modules are A60 fire rated and have been outfitted with a fire and general alarm system that complies with the latest U.S. Coast Guard standards. Due to the potential hazards posed by a laboratory environment, New Industries supplemented customary module construction with the inclusion of loss of oxygen sensors and the assurance of proper air changes for personnel in order to maximize safety.

"This was an exciting and challenging project to take on," said New Industries Project Manager John Flores. "It's comforting to know we provided CSA with more than just standard laboratories and operational vans. We provided them with units they can feel safe in while operating in harsh environments offshore."

"New Industries has the level of expertise and sophistication required to incorporate both functionality and safety into these mobile units," said CSA Senior Scientist Jodi Harney. "This program will

With a strong focus on health and safety, Aquatic Engineering & Construction Ltd, an Acteon company, has achieved 1,000 consecutive days without a lost-time incident.

The photo shows a typical mobilization of an 11.4 m reel. This is a contract lift carried out under strict supervision, and as such there would be a lift plan in place prior to the start of the lift operation. In addition, there would be a method statement prepared, a risk assessment and tool box talk, which would be signed by all participants in the activity.

Aquatic's president, Chris Brooks, said, "I am proud to announce that, on Sunday, 14 December 2014, Aquatic reached the health and safety milestone of 1,000 days without a lost-time incident. This remarkable achievement is the result of the hard work and commitment of everyone at Aquatic. Both the professionalism of our health, safety, environment and quality team and the dedication of everyone who receives training and support from them have enabled us to reach this milestone.

"1,000 days without an incident means we have consistently safeguarded all our people, on- and offshore, and the people we work with on clients' vessels," he continued. "We are diligent about safety, and we work with awareness at all times to stay safe. We are committed to avoiding any incidents in our global operations."

Aquatic will share the news with customers and suppliers in a special issue of HSEQ e-AquatiCall; Aquatic's corporate newsletter. This will highlight the company's health and safety focus across a range of projects and achievements.

BG Group has signed a global alliance with KBR enhancing the company's capacity to deliver commercially attractive oil and gas projects around the world.

The single-partner alliance, which has been signed for six years initially with options to extend to up to 10 years, will involve KBR's experienced engineers and specialists providing technical support, services (in both the pre-FEED and FEED stages), and project management expertise across BG Group's global upstream portfolio.

Under the agreement, KBR will provide a flexible resource that can be scaled to match the specific requirements of each project. In a lower oil price environment this is an important aspect of the alliance which enables BG Group to help minimize its fixed costs whilst retaining access to high value technical expertise and support.

BG Group operates in more than 20 countries and is pursuing material opportunities and projects in Brazil, Australia, Tanzania and USA.

Sami Iskander, BG Group, Chief Operating Officer commented:

"We are pleased to announce our upstream alliance with KBR, which represents a significant evolution in the way we work with contractors. We will be taking a more integrated and collaborative approach in which we can fully capitalize on the high caliber of people and the knowledge that our partner KBR can bring to our business.

"The alliance will provide us with access to dedicated and proven third-party expertise and resources that can be tailored to specific projects. Importantly, it will focus on enhancing BG Group's productivity and agility as we develop projects that will deliver the next phase of the company's growth."

Stuart Bradie, KBR President and Chief Executive Officer commented "We are excited about this opportunity to continue our relationship with BG Group while continuing to demonstrate our track record of safety, quality personnel and experience in the upstream market sector".

ESS Support Services Worldwide (ESS), part of Compass Group UK and Ireland, has retained its contract with Wintershall Noordzee B.V. for a further three years.

The deal continues six successful years of ESS providing catering and hygiene services at Wintershall's offshore platforms, operating across eight sights in the Netherlands.

The latest contract will see 42 ESS colleagues supply to 130 Wintershall workers across these platforms, one of the largest producers of natural gas in the region.

ESS business director Ronnie Kelman said: "We're looking forward to continuing and further building our relationship with Wintershall. The successful renewal of this contract is testament to our strong operational performance, consistent service delivery and our enthusiastic and motivated teams that work with the client every day."

In line with recent changes to European allergen regulations, ESS has developed a service solution that will give customers important allergen information. The food offer encompasses a tailored menu, which advises guests on which dishes to eat more, eat moderately or eat less, based on nutritional information.

In addition to its on site teams, ESS has a team operating from Den Helder in The Netherlands, overseeing the day to day running of the account.

Marco Snoeij, senior buyer at Wintershall Noordzee B.V. said: "During our co-operation from 2009 until the present, ESS has proved itself a valuable partner with a good cost/quality comparison. We're delighted to announce we'll be working with them for a further three years."

Wintershall prides itself on managing the demands of environmental protection, alongside strong economic performance.

Winches are available for individual rental or part of a Launch and Recovery Package.

Okeanus Science and Technology, LLC (Okeanus) is pleased to announce the addition of three types of DT Marine winches to its fleet of oceanographic and marine scientific rental equipment. The winches can be outfitted with various types of cable and synthetic rope to perform nearly any job requiring the launch and recovery of subsea equipment and assets.

With three horsepower options available for rental (25, 50 or 125 hp), Okeanus' selection of winches feature line pull capacities ranging from 4,000 to 20,000 pounds. The 25 and 50 hp winches, typically included in rental packages with smaller equipment, can be spooled with 2,000 m and 6,000 m of ½-inch line respectively, while the 125 hp model can be spooled with 6,000 m of .680-inch line for dependable towing and launch of large pieces of equipment.

Each model is highly reliable and simple to operate, and can be outfitted with a variety of coaxial cable, wire rope or synthetic rope to tow survey equipment or perform sampling operations. Winches are available for rental individually or as part of one of Okeanus' customized Launch and Recovery packages, which includes an accompanying A-Frame, Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU), hydraulic hose and valve kit, and appropriately sized block to match the cable type in use. A Launch and Recovery equipment rental package can be tailored to suit nearly any project's specifications.

"We at Okeanus are pleased to add this fleet of DT Marine winches to our equipment rental catalog as another way to continue to serve the subsea and oceanographic research and survey markets," said Benton LeBlanc, Vice President and General Manager of Okeanus. "By providing all critical components necessary for the successful launch and recovery of underwater assets, Okeanus creates value for its customers from the deck to the seafloor by giving them the ability to lease these assets rather than having to purchase them."

he world's largest ship and offshore classification society DNV GL has opened up a new office in Nanjing. It will support business growth in the area and be the centre for operations in Central China. Headed by Area Manager Chen Keng, DNV GL Central China covers most of the Jiangsu Province and follows the Yangtze River upstream to Chongqing and Sichuan.
"Central China is home to dozens of shipyards, many industry manufacturers and is therefore one of the most important areas for DNV GL to focus on in China. The launch of our expanded new office demonstrates our commitment", says Torgeir Sterri, Vice President and Regional Manager for Greater China at DNV GL.

"More expertise and competence in all ship types and offshore units as well as a strong focus on research, technology and innovation enables DNV GL to support the transformation and development of Central China's maritime industry more effectively. Together with our customers, we will contribute to a safer, smarter and greener future", Sterri adds.

The expanded office accommodates all staff from both legacy DNV and legacy GL. "Our customers now have easier access to our services. This puts us in a much better position to support them, strengthen our existing cooperations and generate more business in the area", says Area Manager Chen Keng.

DNV GL has been involved in many advanced newbuilding projects in China, such as 10,000 TEU container ships, 25,000 DWT Duplex chemical tankers, high-end OSVs and multi-purpose dry cargo vessels.

"We are proud and grateful for the trust and good cooperation built and maintained with our customers and partners in the area. With the support from our regional and global resources, I am very confident that we will be able to meet the even higher expectations from our customers on quality, technology and innovation development", concludes Chen Keng.

DNV GL in Central China
The Nanjing office was established in 2008 to support China's fast development in the maritime sector. With 130 professionals in three stations in Nanjing, Wuhan and Jiangyin, DNV GL provides a complete maritime service portfolio to more than 20 shipyards carrying out newbuilding and repair projects, over 100 manufacturers requiring certification services, and many shipowners, requiring fleet in service and newbuilding support

DNV GL, the technical advisor to the oil and gas industry, has been selected by Wintershall Norge AS as the sole supplier for the combined role of Independent Verification Body (IVB) and Third Party Design Verification scope for the subsea, umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF) part of the Maria field development project.

The contract is expected to run until the end of 2018, with a value of potential 30 million NOK (US$ 3.95 million).

Sture Angelsen , Business Development Manager in DNV GL, says: "We are delighted to be part of Wintershall's first field development in Norway. By being able to deliver both the IVB and Third Party Design Verification, we are able to help streamline the project execution. Our aim is to ensure quality and contribute to a timely project execution and start-up, drawing on our broad technical expertise.

The IVB model will be used for verification of the safety critical elements, in addition to traditional third party verification of subsea production systems (SPS), pipelines, umbilical and risers. The IVB role covers all phases from design through commissioning, while the third party verification role covers design and options for involvement in the fabrication/-manufacturing/installation and commissioning phase. "This approach to handling verification is well known in the UK sector, but less used in Norway," adds Angelsen.

The Maria oil discovery is located in 300 to 350m of water in the Haltenbanken region of the Norwegian Sea. Maria will be developed using a subsea facility tied via rigid flowlines and flexible risers to Kristin with gas lift being supplied from Åsgard B via Tyrihans and sulphate reduced sea water supplied with injection pressure from Heidrun. The discovery is expected to produce around 188 million barrels of oil equivalent oil and gas. First oil is planned in Autumn 2018.

LQT Industries, LLC, a full-service provider of high quality accommodation facilities, design-build construction services, and support services to the oil and gas industry, has completed the sale of the company's subarctic aluminum accommodations facility to a global energy company.

The subarctic facility was being leased to the client by LQT to house 96 personnel on a platform located off the coast of Sakhalin Island, Russia. After three (3) months of utilization on the platform, the client finalized the agreement with LQT to acquire the facility.

The construction of the facility was completed in June 2014 at LQT's fabrication facility in Abbeville, LA and reassembled in Russia in September of 2014. The facility consists of ten (10) modular units made up of living quarters, recreation rooms, and utility rooms. The exterior stairs and walkways included with the facility are completely enclosed with aluminum enclosures to protect the occupants from the harsh weather environments the subarctic region produces.

The weight of the facility was significantly reduced due to LQT's aluminum design and construction. The facility was designed and built to comply with Russian regulatory groups, including certifications from GOST (Russian State Union Standard) and IPEIG.

The International Well Control Forum (IWCF) has launched a new training standard in drilling and well intervention for top achieving candidates and is urging operators to get involved.

The move is in direct response to the Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) guidelines following the Macondo and Montara incidents and aims to drive up competency standards and improve safety for those working with wells. Thousands of contractors and workers have to pass exams in drilling and well intervention every two years to enable them to work at offshore and onshore well sites.

Photo: Dave Price, CEO IWCF

The Enhanced Standard is only available to candidates who have achieved at least an 80% pass mark on previous exams and demonstrate significant experience of undertaking well control training in their past. The content is primarily based on real industry well control incidents involving simulated exercise, team work and peer-to-peer review and feedback.

It focuses on enhancing technical knowledge using case studies in a team based environment. Candidates are assessed in a similar manner as on a standard course and can be expected to achieve higher results.

IWCF is the independent organization that sets global training standards for well control.

David Price, CEO of IWCF said: "Introducing the enhanced training will encourage candidates to strive to be the best and will challenge them in new ways in a replicated well site environment. After a successful pilot scheme, we are now looking for operators and training providers to sign-up as ultimately it will help create a safer environment at offshore and onshore well-sites. We are making strides to create a step change in well control competency to help the industry avoid another significant well-related tragedy, but we need operators and contracting companies to get behind these changes."

Founded by the oil and gas operators in 1992, IWCF administers well control training, assessment and certification programs and is committed to creating a step-change in well control knowledge. Since then, IWCF has certified over 160,000 people in almost every continent through more than 220 accredited training centers.

IWCF is investing in new facilities at its headquarters in Montrose, UK to improve training for well control assessors and instructors who address drilling operations and well intervention activities. The organization is also introducing new levels to well control training including a new level 1 introductory online course, which will be available free to anyone with an interest in the industry.

To help enhance users' online experience, IWCF has re-launched its website this week which includes a fresh design, easier navigation, better functionality and will also be fully responsive to mobile devices so it can be viewed on the move.

Deep Casing Tools is pleased to announce the establishment of new branch office in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) area in the United Arab Emirates. Local sales and operational services have contributed to the company's success and the establishment of a new regional base underpins the commitment to new and existing customers.

John Rider, Vice President, Middle East and Asia Pacific for Deep Casing Tools

As well as serving the company's established Middle East market, the combined office and warehouse facility will also provide a supply base for the growing demand for tools in the Far East, where supply agreements have recently been signed with major contractors in Malaysia and Vietnam.

The facility underpins the strong reputation that the company has established with major operators in the Middle East and reinforces its ambitious growth plans. To support this growth, a new post has been created and John Rider has been appointed as Vice President, Middle East and Asia Pacific, based in UAE. John has previously worked in the UAE, USA, Caspian, Russia UK and Africa.

Deep Casing Tools' CEO Lance Davis said: "I am delighted that John has decided to join us. His considerable industry knowledge of field operations and his global commercial and technical sales experience will be invaluable in strengthening Deep Casing Tools' growth strategy."

Deep Casing Tools doubled its revenue year-on-year to £9m in 2014.