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Damen to Revamp RV Marion Dufresne II

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Damen to Revamp RV Marion Dufresne II

The French research vessel, Marion Dufresne II has arrived at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque for a project that will extend her life by a further twenty years.

The work will span a total of 4 months. On March 30, the vessel went into dry-dock for a 6-week period, during which the yard will carry out an extensive scope of work.

The multi-purpose vessel is owned by Les Terres australes et antarctiques français (TAAF) and managed by CMA CGM. Marion Dufresne II carries out oceanographic research under the responsibility of the Institut Polaire Paul-Eimile Victor (IPEV).

Khalil Benjelloul, Head of Sales & Marketing at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque, said: “One of the major parts of the work will be the replacement of the vessel’s multi-beam sonar. For this we will scrap the existing equipment, rebuild the ship’s hull and install a new gondola and control room.

“Additionally, we will change the ILOT capstan – a system used to take samples – which involves a lot of access work, install a new sewage tank, modify the air-conditioning system and renew the A-frames.”

It’s not only equipment that the yard is refurbishing, however. Marion Dufresne II will also receive a visual overhaul. “We will completely blast and repaint the hull and some of the ballast tanks. Actually, almost the entire vessel will have a fresh look.”

This includes the vessel’s accommodation, which the yard is renewing in cooperation with the client’s subcontractor. Marion Dufresne II has accommodation capacity for 104 scientific researchers and 46 crew. Additionally, the accommodation areas of the vessel include laboratory facilities used by IPEV scientists.

Commercial Diving Organizations

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Commercial Diving Organizations

If you’re doing research on commercial dive training, it is always good to know what official organizations are associated with the school. Organizations do things like set training standards, oversee instruction, and ensure that you are receiving a high quality education. Below are a few of the major commercial dive organizations.

Association of Commercial Diving Educators – www.acde.us

The ACDE is a charitable organization that focuses on consistent and quality education for commercial divers. They oversee commercial diving schools to ensure that they meet national standards. There are 7 ACDE member schools in the United States.

Association of Diving Contractors International – www.adc-int.org
The ADCI is a worldwide organization that sets standards for commercial diving. There are more than 500 members from over 40 nations. The US Coast Guard writes that ADCI standards are “meeting or exceeding” federal regulations for commercial diving. ADCI members include businesses, educational facilities, and medical communities that are involved in commercial diving.

European Diving Technology Committee – www.edtc.org

The EDTC is the commercial diving regulatory body of Europe. It has medical, industrial, governmental, and union members from each of the European countries. These members oversee diving safety and medicine, technology, equipment, types of diving, and organizations in order to set a commercial diving standard for the region.

Health & Safety Executive – www.hse.gov.uk/diving/

A government body which has been setting the standards and ensuring stringent safety regulations within the commercial diving industry for many years, and an HSE Commercial Diving Certification is widely recognized internationally as a high quality certification to have.

International Diving Schools Association – www.idsaworldwide.org
The IDSA’s goal is to improve commercial diving education by promoting international training standards, having a collective industry voice, increasing diver safety, and expanding communication between training facilities.

International Marine Contractors Association – www.imca-int.com
The IMCA is a worldwide trade association that promotes safety standards for offshore, marine, and underwater companies. It has over 550 members that are conscious of the two main IMCA philosophies – Competence, Training, & Safety and Environment & Legislation. The IMCA’s diving section includes equipment suppliers, consultants, training establishments, employment agencies, oil companies, and regulatory bodies.

National Association of Commercial Divers – www.naocd.org
The NAOCD is an organization for the individuals who work in the commercial diving world. Their goal is to spread factual information to members and help organize and promote commercial diver wants and needs.

Commercial Dive Resources

Commercial diving resources can be hard to come by. There are lots of excellent books available, but online sources can be lacking. If you’re interested in commercial diving, here are a few website links where you can learn more.

Commercial Divers Safety Network – www.commercialdivingsafety.com
The CDSN is a group of active commercial divers focused on commercial diver safety, training, and education.

Commercial Diver Wiki – www.cdiver.net
This is one of the best online resources to learn about commercial diving. Includes links about history, branches, education, regulatory agencies, equipment, health and safety, employment, and much more.

Divework – www.divework.com
Register for a fee and post your resume or search for commercial diving jobs in places like the Middle East, UK, or the States.

Underwater.com – www.underwatermagazine.com
This is the official website for the Association of Diving Contractors International’s Underwater magazine.

US Department of Labor Statistics – www.bls.gov
This government link gives an official job description of a Commercial Diver and includes information on wages, employment outlook, number of jobs in each state, and more.

Commercial Dive School Directory
Below is a list of commercial dive schools divided by country. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it is a good place to begin your search. Remember to do your research before you commit to a commercial dive school.

Australia

Descend Underwater Training Centre
Address: Shop 1, 826 David Street, Albury, NSW 2640
Telephone: +61.2.60411405
Website: www.descend.com.au
Summary: Offers all four sequential levels of the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme that result in diplomas and certificates. Courses start about once a month.

Brazil

Divers University
Address: Av. Conselheiro Nebias, 536 Encruzilhada, Santos SP
Telephone: 13 3223.6967
Email: [email protected]

Website: www.diversuniversity.com.br
Summary: A member of the International Diving Schools Association with training and is one of the leading commercial dive schools in South America.

Canada

Canadian Working Divers Institute
Address: 4420 Hwy 507, Buckhorn, ON CANADA, K0L 1J0
Telephone: 1.800.924.1124
Website: www.canadianworkingdivers.com
Summary: A cost-conscious group that trains divers for both national and international work. Because of their high quality training, this company has good luck with job placement.

Commercial Diving College
Address: 4-10 King St. West, Saint John, NB, Canada, E2M-7Y5
Telephone: 506.672.DIVE
Website: www.diveschool.ca

Summary: During a 16 week course, students train in real work-like conditions for commercial diving certifications. Graduates work on every continent but Antarctica.

Divesafe International
Address: PO Box 342, 1003A Island Highway, Campbell River, BC, Canada, V9W 5B6
Telephone: 1.250.287.3837
Website: www.divesafe.com

Summary: Offers short commercial dive training courses for training in movie production, aquaculture, environmental surveys, and more. This is not the place if you want to work on an offshore oilrig.

Institut Maritime Du Quebec
Address: 53, rue Saint-Germain Ouest, Rimouski (Qc) G5L 4B4
Telephone: 418.724.2822
Website: www.imq.qc.ca
Summary: Commercial dive training in Quebec. Website is in French-Canadian.

France

Institut National de Plongee Professionnelle
Address: Entrée no 3, Port de la Pointe Rouge, 13008 Marseille, France
Telephone: +33 (0)4.96.14.09.40
Website: www.inpp.org/fr/
Summary: With an English and French website, the National Institute of Professional Diving of France certified to train commercial diving, survival rescue, destructive testing, and hyperbaric security. It is a member of the European Diving Technology Committee.

The International Diving Schools Association
Address: 47 Faubourg de la Madeleine, 56140 Malestroit, Brittany, France
Telephone: +332 9773 7261
Email: [email protected]

Summary: The body that oversees international diving standards and education. This is a good place to ensure your future education is in good hands.

Netherlands

Netherlands Diving Center
Address: Bureau NDC, Buitenhofdreef 280, 2625 RE DELFT
Telephone: 015 251 20 20
Website: www.ndc.nl
Summary: Commercial dive training in the Netherlands. Website in Dutch.

New Zealand

New Zealand School of Commercial Diver Training
Address: PO Box 9145, Hamilton, New Zealand
Telephone: (+64) 0274 460 555
Website: www.nzsos.co.nz
Summary: A career oriented group that meets national industry standards and helps with the post-training employment process. Training includes a combination of ADAS and NZQA qualifications.

Singapore

KBA
Address: No. 26 Changi North Crescent, 3rd Floor, Diethelm Keller Building, SINGAPORE 499637
Telephone: +65 6542.4984
Website: www.kbassociates.org
Summary: Focusing on the offshore drilling industry, KBA offers International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) courses year round.

South Africa

Commercial Diving and Offshore Consultancy
Address: PO Box 45, 40A Main Rd, Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
Telephone: +27 0.82.771.6351
Website: www.c-doc.co.za
Summary: The main focus of this group is commercial dive consulting, but they also offer diver medic courses.

Professional Diving Centre
Telephone: +27 31.466.6902
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.professionaldivingcentre.com
Summary: For 22 years, this school has offered training in saturation diving, surface mixed gas, hot water suits, and is recognized by the International Marine Contractors Association. Class size is limited to only 12 students.

West Coast Commercial Diving School
Address: 21 -23 Main Rd, Saldanha Bay, South Africa
Telephone: 022.714.0222
Website: www.divingschool.co.za
Summary: Offers several internationally recognized commercial diver certifications. Unfortunately, there are lots of dead links on website.

Thailand

Mermaid Maritime
Address: 789/55 Moo 1, Pinthong Industrial Estate, Nongkham, Sriracha, Chonburi 20230, Thailand
Telephone: (+66) (0) 38 318300
Website: www.mermaid-maritime.com

Summary: With a business focus on offshore services and oil drilling, Mermaid also offers training courses in welding, painting, blasting, inspection and much more.

United States

California

National Polytechnic College of Science
Address: Kearny Mesa Campus, 3580 Aero Court, San Diego, CA 92123-1711
Telephone: 1.800.432.3483
Website: www.natpoly.edu
Summary: One of the few diving schools associated with the National University System, offers programs focused only on Commercial Diving in three California locations – San Diego, Los Angeles, and Wilmington.

Santa Barbara City College
Address: Marine Technology Dept., 721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109-2394
Telephone: 805.965.0581 ext 2426
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sbcc.edu
Summary: Offers a 32-week community college course that offers commercial diving certifications from the Association of Diving Contractors and the Association of Commercial Diving Educators.

Florida

Commercial Diving Academy
Address: 8137 B North Main Street, Jacksonville, FL 32208
Telephone: 1.888.974.2232
Website: www.commercialdivingacademy.com
Summary: Low cost, 16-week courses give students internationally recognized certifications in Non-destructive testing, welding, medical specialties, and underwater burning. The campus has room and board available.

Florida School of Commercial Diving
Address: 2121 Old Hickory Tree Road, St. Cloud, Florida 34772
Telephone: 1.877.Fla.Dive (1.877.352.3483)
Website: www.floridadiveschool.com
Summary: You’ll learn about underwater construction, demolition, and inspection and obtain a commercial diving diploma and certification card from the Association of Diving Contractors International.

Minnesota

Minnesota Commercial Diver Training Center
Address: 712 Washington Street, Brainerd, MN 56401
Telephone: 1.800.216.5521
Website: www.minnesotacommercialdiving.com
Summary: While training in the lakes of Minnesota, graduates of the 8-week program earn nine commercial diving certifications.

New Jersey

Divers Academy International
Address: Lakeside Business Park, 1500 Liberty Place, Erial, NJ 08081-1139
Telephone: 1.800.238.DIVE
Website: www.diversacademy.com
Summary: This intense high quality 5 month accredited and approved course awards numerous certifications and propels its graduates to jobs in onshore, offshore, hazmat, nuclear, and scientific diving.

South Carolina

International Diving Institute
Address: 1400 Pier Side Street, Bldg 190, Suite C, North Charleston, SC 29405
Telephone: 1.888.SAT.DIVE
Website: www.internationaldivinginstitute.com
Summary: A licensed institute that teaches Commercial diver certification in four months. Financing is available.

Texas

Ocean Corporation
Address: 10840 Rockley Road, Houston, Texas 77099
Telephone: 1.800.321.0298
Website: www.oceancorp.com
Summary: Since 1969, commercial diver training has been top notch here. Training in welding, burning, rigging, HAZMAT, nuclear, offshore, tending, air mixes, ROVs, and decompression chambers is offered.

Washington

Divers Institute of Technology
Address: 4315 11th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Telephone: 1.800.634.8377
Website: www.diversinstitute.edu
Summary: Earn over 10 international certifications in rigging, offshore, inland, welding, cutting, burning, NDT, deep diving, hydraulic tools, salvage, air mixes, and HAZMAT in only seven months.

UK

Interdive
Address: Stoke Damerel Business Centre, 3A Church Street, Stoke, Plymouth, Devon, PL3 4DT, Great Britain
Telephone: + 44 (0)1752 558080
Website: www.interdive.co.uk
Summary: This school has courses in just about every aspect of commercial diving.

National Hyperbaric Centre
Address: 123 Ashgrove Road West, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, AB12 5FA
Telephone: +44 (0) 1224 698895
Website: www.nationalhyperbariccentre.com
Summary: Good place to get courses as dive technicians, life support technicians, diver medics, or dive supervisors.

Professional Diving Academy
Address: Unit 19, Sandbank Business Park, Sandbank, Dunoon, Argyll, Scotland, PA23 8PB
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +44 (0) 1369.701.701
Website: www.professionaldivingacademy.com
Summary: Offers a variety of shorter courses to continue your commercial diving education, which allows for careers in all aspects of commercial diving.

Specialty Welds
Address: Suite 18, Moorlands Business Centre, Balme Road, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, BD19 4EZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 1274.879867
Website: www.specialwelds.com
Summary: Expert training in both dry and underwater welding.

TH Diving Services Ltd
Address: 20 Westfield Av, Plymouth, Devon, PL9 9PF
Telephone: +44 (0) 1752 408200
Website: www.thdiving.co.uk
Summary: Website needs some work, but seems to offer very basic training for commercial diving.

The Underwater Centre
Address: Carmichael Way, Fort William, Highland, Scotland, PH33 6FF
Telephone: +44(0) 1397 703 786
Website: www.theunderwatercentre.co.uk
Summary: Industry-specific subsea training and trials; providing all levels of HSE Commercial Diver training and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) training.

 

 

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Ezra Slips in Q2, Rises in 1H

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Ezra Slips in Q2, Rises in 1H

Singapore-listed offshore O&G contractor, Ezra, saw its second quarter 2015 (2Q2015) profit after tax (PAT) drop 79% from $22.1 million in the corresponding period of 2014 to $4.7 million, after three months ended February 28, 2015.

Revenue for the quarter increased slightly (1%) to $302 million, compared to $300.4 million in 2Q2014.

However, for the six months ended February 28, 2015, or the first half of fiscal year 2015 (1H2015), the company saw its profit after tax rise 111% from $30.8 million to $65.3 million.

Ezra’s 1H2015 revenue decreased by $17.3 million (3%). According to the company, the decrease was due to a decrease in revenue of $26.8 million from subsea services division and $24.2 million from offshore support and production services division. The decrease was partially offset by an increase of $33.7 million from marine services division.

Namely, EMAS AMC was $26.8 million lower in 1H2015 revenues, EMAS Offshore’s revenues dropped by $24.2 million and the TRIYARDS softened the fall with a revenue increase of $33.7 million.

Ezra’s CEO and Managing Director, Lionel Lee, said that despite the challenging environment, which will cause volatility in Ezra’s results, the company remains cautiously optimistic that the long-term fundamentals of the oil and gas industry will remain encouraging.

Furthermore, Ezra reported backlog at approximately $2.3 billion, the majority of which the company expects to be executed over the next 24 months.

 

 

 

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Coast Guard officially stands up dive rating

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Coast Guard officially stands up dive rating

“The Coast Guard shall enforce or assist in the enforcement of all applicable laws on, under and over the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.”

This opening line from Title 14, U.S. Code, establishes the Coast Guard’s responsibility to protect our nation’s waterways. And recently, the Coast Guard has focused efforts on one particular area: under the high seas.

Although Coast Guard diving traces its roots back to the 1940’s, diving related to Coast Guard missions has primarily remained an interesting side path to a member’s normal career. And most of the time, Coast Guard men and women who perform these dangerous missions only spend four years building their proficiency in diving, and then move back into their established rating.

On April 1, 2015, 48 Coast Guard members began their journey towards proficiency in an entirely new career field by becoming the first Coast Guard men and women to be formally recognized by the Coast Guard’s 22nd rating.Until now.

Each new Coast Guard diver has undergone a 45-week training program to ensure they are well prepared for the challenging and dangerous missions that lie ahead.

The diving rating, which will commonly be known as DV for enlisted members and DIV for chief warrant officers, was implemented following years of research, analysis and training by the Diver Career Management Working Group following a diving accident that occurred aboard Coast Guard Cutter Healy in 2006.

“We revalidated the need for an organic diving capability,” said Ken Andersen, chief of subsurface capabilities. “The only solution that we could come up with was ‘How do we keep someone diving the rest of their career?’ Well it needs to be an occupation – and that means a rating.”

And building this new rating for Coast Guard men and women comes down to one thing – building proficiency.

“When you have an opportunity to build proficiency, it provides more safety and security to the taxpayer,” said Cmdr. Mick Mulligan, diver rating implementation chair. “If you have a diver that is only part time, you won’t be able to get the most out of that individual.”

These new Coast Guard divers will perform a myriad of operations that support all 11 statutory Coast Guard missions – ranging from aids to navigation to ports, waterways and coastal security.
So what does a “typical” mission look like for a Coast Guard diver? One of the main missions is what is referred to as ‘sanitizing a port.’Adding a dive rating also avoids cost that are normally contracted out to complete hull inspections on Coast Guard cutters. While this won’t be a primary mission for Coast Guard divers, this added benefit allows the divers to continue honing their skills and get used to operating in various areas and levels of visibility.

“We had a Naval ship commissioning” said Andersen. “It was a high profile event and they wanted to make sure there were no IEDs or underwater hazardous devices along the pier where this vessel would be coming in and their ceremony was held.”

While it is likely that the dive rating will continue to grow in scope as the years go on, one thing is for sure – adding this organic diving capability was an absolute must for the Coast Guard.

“It’s a big deal,” said Andersen. “We are the premier maritime service. There isn’t a major governmental maritime organization in the world that doesn’t have a diving capability. What would we be doing representing the United States if we didn’t have that.”

All 48 Coast Guard members who were recognized and officially rated as DV or DIV were presented a personalized certificate during the ceremonies. U.S. Coast Guard image.

Each Coast Guard member recognized and officially rated as DV or DIV were presented a personalized certificate during the ceremonies. U.S. Coast Guard image. 

 

 

 

 

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Colombia’s Ecopetrol To Focus On Offshore Exploration, Key Fields

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Colombia’s Ecopetrol To Focus On Offshore Exploration, Key Fields

Colombian state-owned oil company Ecopetrol will cope with falling oil prices by bolstering exploration offshore, as well as focusing on production of high-yield wells, the company’s new president said on Tuesday.

Ecopetrol will focus on about 20 oilfields that produce 80 percent of its onshore crude and have output costs of between $7 and $17 per barrel, leaving wells with higher extraction expenses to other companies, Juan Carlos Echeverry said in an interview with local Caracol radio.

The company, which is 88 percent owned by the government, also will focus its efforts in areas like the Gulf of Mexico.

“Obviously the marginal fields will be left to other companies and we’ll concentrate on our key fields,” Echeverry said, one day after taking the helm of the $55 billion company.

“We have to be very selective about where we invest – Colombia’s coast, the Gulf of Mexico and key production in the country to keep cash flow – are the three priority focuses at this moment,” said Echeverry, a former finance minister.

Ecopetrol’s net profits dropped 42.7 percent last year because of the global fall in crude prices, lower sales and guerrilla attacks against pipelines.

The company cut its 2015 investment plan by 26 percent, to $7.86 billion.

Ecopetrol is prepared to take over operating duties at Colombia’s largest oilfield, Campo Rubiales, after deciding not to renew the contract Canadian company Pacific Rubiales had to run it. That contract expires in mid-2016.

“We are completely capable of operating the field but the board, based on objective analysis and an evaluation of alternatives, will decide who will be the operator,” Echeverry said.

 

 

 

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MBARI’s Exhibit Takes Visitors on Virtual ROV Dive

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MBARI’s Exhibit Takes Visitors on Virtual ROV Dive

Visitors to the Monterey Bay Aquarium can find out what’s it like to explore the depths of Monterey Canyon using an underwater robot in a new exhibit and auditorium program that highlight MBARI’s deep-sea research.

The new exhibit, “Mission to the Deep,” features a virtual dive into Monterey Canyon using a replica of MBARI’s deep-diving robotic vehicle, the Doc Ricketts. In the new auditorium program, visitors learn how MBARI scientists use a variety of robots to study the diversity of ocean life, from microscopic algae to vampire squids, MBARI wrote.

Entering the new MBARI exhibit, visitors are immersed in a virtual underwater world. As a scale model of MBARI’s ROV Doc Ricketts rotates overhead, a 360-degree video projection system displays animals and underwater robots deep in Monterey Canyon. At the center of the exhibit, interactive displays allow visitors to perform their own ROV dives, stopping at different depths to learn more about animals and MBARI research equipment in the deep sea.

The new exhibit and auditorium programs, which opened on March 28, 2015, are the result of almost a year of planning and preparation by staff at the aquarium and at MBARI.

George Matsumoto, a marine biologist at MBARI, spent many hours planning the exhibit and the auditorium program. “Working with the talented aquarium exhibit team was a rewarding and engaging experience,” he said. “The aquarium provides us with an unparalleled outlet for education and outreach.”

Raúl Nava, a senior exhibit developer at the aquarium, commented, “MBARI is so much more than discovering unusual animals. This exhibit shows how the institute is studying the pulse of the ocean, as well as learning about its incredible—and fragile—biodiversity. We can’t protect the deep sea if we don’t know what’s down there.”

 

 

 

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Learning Mandarin In The Tundra: Russia Invites China Into Oil Business

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Learning Mandarin In The Tundra: Russia Invites China Into Oil Business

Russia’s freezing north has never been the most welcoming place for foreign travellers, and its onshore oil riches have always been state secrets. But when the order comes from the Kremlin to open up, people obey.

Last September, President Vladimir Putin, who has been seeking new markets in Asia for Russian energy exports to replace traditional customers in Europe, announced that he would welcome Chinese investment in Vankor, a vast new oil field in remote eastern Siberia owned by state firm Rosneft.

Since then, delegations from both China and India have been flown out to visit the field in the remote tundra.

Some of the workers, who spend four weeks at a time at the isolated station – where temperatures can fall as low as minus 60 Celcius (minus 76 Fahrenheit) – have duly taken up Mandarin.

“No problem. We will work with the Chinese workers if need be,” said Alexei Zyryanov, deputy head of an oil and gas production unit.

All of Vankor’s output of 440,000 barrels per day of crude is already shipped east, via the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline, which includes a spur feeding China’s northeast.

But a proposed Chinese investment in a stake in the project would go far further than Moscow has ever gone before to luring Beijing into its hydrocarbon industry.

Rarely has Moscow considered offering an ownership stake in such a big strategic onshore deposit to outsiders, despite decades of interest from Western majors. The offer is the more remarkable for being made to China, a rival for decades with which Russia nearly went to war in the 1960s over a border dispute.

Rosneft confirmed that it has reached a draft agreement to sell a 10 percent stake in Vankor to China.

PIVOT TO ASIA

The Kremlin has made much of its “pivot to Asia”, seeking new energy markets since Western governments imposed sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis last year.

Last year, China overtook Germany as Russia’s biggest buyer of crude oil, thanks to Rosneft securing deals to boost supplies via the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline and another crossing Kazakhstan.

Still, with prices for oil having halved over the past year and natural gas prices also plunging, the Kremlin may find that Beijing is now seeking tough terms for any investment.

Other energy projects that depend on Chinese demand have hit stumbling blocks. Reuters reported on Tuesday that a liquefied natural gas plant on the Pacific Ocean island of Sakhalin, intended to produce fuel for export to Asia, may be delayed by several years.

Last month Reuters reported that a flagship project to build a new pipeline for natural gas from giant new Siberian fields to eastern China may also be delayed.

Vankor is the largest oil discovery in Russia in nearly three decades, key to Russia’s policy to find and tap new regions, such as east Siberia, as reserves in west Siberia, the heartland of Russian oil production, are depleting.

“It is a new Kuwait,” said Alexander Cherepanov, chief engineer at Rosneft’s subsidiary Vankorneft.

Workers pride themselves in being able to operate under extreme conditions.

“Wrenches sometimes break because of the frost,” said an oil production operator, Gennady. “In summer, it’s fine. You just use a mosquito repellent.”

Few inhabited places on earth are as remote. It is an hour by helicopter to the nearest airport, Igarka, and Moscow is nearly 2,800 km (1,750 miles) away.

Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said last month Russia had overcome a “psychological barrier” and was ready to offer China control over hydrocarbon reserves.

The Energy Ministry predicts the share of oil and oil products sent to Asia will double to 23 percent by 2035, and the East Siberia – Pacific Ocean pipeline will be expanded to 80 million tonnes (1.6 million barrels per day) by 2020.

Still, in the insular world of Siberian oil work, outsiders are not yet quite embraced. When a native Russian reporter asked for a “sandwich” in the employees’ canteen, the woman working there was immediately suspicious.

“‘Sandwich’ is a foreign word,” she said. “Are you a spy?”

($1 = 56.7600 roubles)

 

 

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OMM Secures GROW Funding for New Subsea Tool

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OMM Secures GROW Funding for New Subsea Tool

Offshore Marine Management (OMM) has secured GROW:OffshoreWind funding to build an innovative subsea tool which will substantially reduce project costs and improve health and safety offshore.

The subsea tool, which is currently being constructed by Darlington-based Subsea Innovation, will see improvements during the installation phase by removing the need for deepsea divers and separate work class ROVs.

It is expected to be in operation from June 2015 following sea trials, the company informed.

George Birkett, Resources Manager at OMM, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this funding from GROW:OffshoreWind. It highlights their commitment to both British innovation and assisting UK businesses, to promote expansion into the offshore energy market.”

The design also took into account the need for the tool to be containerised to enable easy global transportation.

He continued, “We have a great team who have a really clear understanding of the needs and the added benefits this will bring to both the industry, our clients and to OMM. The collaboration with Subsea Innovation signifies the UK’s specialist subsea capability and our aptitude to deliver out of the box thinking.”

Matthew Shaw, Project Manager at Subsea Innovation, said: “We are thrilled to have been asked to deliver this tool for Offshore Marine Management. We have a vast amount of experience in constructing new technology which makes a real difference to the wider offshore industry.”

GROW:OffshoreWind is delivered by Grant Thornton and programme partners the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), Renewable UK and the University of Sheffield.

Shell, BG Merger Will Require Cost Savings to Work

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Shell, BG Merger Will Require Cost Savings to Work

Royal Dutch Shell plc’s $70-billion offer to buy out BG Group will involve job cuts in order to make the first “super merger” of oil companies in a decade work financially, according to industry observers and the two companies involved.

In a statement to the London Stock Exchange Wednesday, BG said that Shell – having offered to pay 52-percent more for BG’s shares than their average price over the previous 90 days – believes it could “generate attractive synergies and create additional shareholder value”. In particular, Shell has identified pre-tax synergies that would reach approximately $2.5 billion in 2018 and which would comprise operating cost savings of $1 billion and a $1.5 billion reduction in exploration expenditure.

Oil sector analysts at investment bank Jefferies pointed out in a research note that Shell’s offer for BG makes “sound strategic sense”, giving the enlarged firm the potential to surpass Exxon in size, but that the financial metrics “are strained unless synergies/cost savings can be achieved”.

Speaking to Rigzone Wednesday morning, a Shell spokesperson said:

“Inevitably, we expect synergies globally which would include job reductions and, potentially, office consolidations but the details will be provided at a later stage.”

Jefferies said that Brazil is the key strategic driver behind the deal, which would make Shell the leading foreign oil company in the country – combining Shell’s existing producing operations at the BC-10 (Parque das Conchas) offshore oil development and its share of the giant Santos Basin’s Libra field with BG’s pre-salt Santos position.

“We estimate that BG’s Brazilian portfolio will grow from 144,000 barrels per day in 2015 to 557,000 barrels per day in 2020, and will become the key underlying production growth driver for Shell. We expect that by 2018 Royal Dutch Shell will become the largest publicly traded oil & gas producer at 4.2 million barrels per day, surpassing Exxon,” Jefferies analysts said in their note.

Meanwhile, Jefferies noted that the deal would see Shell immediately increasing its leading LNG market position by about one-third.

A BG Group/Shell tie-up – which will still need approval from competition authorities in several countries – also raises the question of what the future holds for Helge Lund, the former Statoil boss who took over as BG’s CEO in February.

 

McDermott Nets Atlanta EPS Subsea Gig from QGEP

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McDermott Nets Atlanta EPS Subsea Gig from QGEP

McDermott announced that the consortium between McDermott and a consortium partner has been awarded the SURF engineering, product supply and installation scope for the Atlanta Early Production System (EPS) in the Santos Basin offshore Brazil by Queiroz Galvão Exploração e Produção S.A. (QGEP).

McDermott engineering and installation revenue from the large, green field project will be included in backlog for the first quarter of 2015. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2016.

The Atlanta EPS is phase 1 of the Atlanta field development, located in 5,085 feet of water in Brazil Block BS-4 of the Santos Basin southeast of Rio de Janeiro. QGEP recently announced that it expects to produce its first oil from the offshore Atlanta field in the first half of 2016.

“This joint award reflects the confidence that Queiroz Galvão Exploração e Produção has in McDermott and its consortium partner to deliver its scope of work on time and with the highest standards of quality and safety,” said David Dickson, McDermott’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“This award also represents an important step for McDermott’s strategic plan for Brazil, adding to the Company’s experience as a ‘Long Term Charter’ subsea installation contractor while demonstrating to the market our differentiated capabilities and technical expertise to perform EPCI work in this region,”Dickson said.

McDermott will be responsible for the engineering and offshore installation of all subsea hardware, including flexible pipes, umbilicals, umbilical termination assemblies, subsea pump skids, suction piles, and associated equipment. McDermott’s installation vessel NO102 will conduct on-site work as soon as QGEP’s floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit is available, providing the client with first oil at an accelerated pace, according to Dickson.

McDermott’s consortium partner will be responsible for the supply of all flexible risers, flowlines and associated equipment.

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