Cable laying vessel Living Stone has started the first inter-array cable installation campaign at the 950 MW Moray East wind farm offshore Scotland.

The wind farm will feature 100 66 kV inter-array cables and two offshore substation interconnector cables supplied by JDR Cable System.

The installation campaign will be carried out in three phases. The first campaign started on 29 September and will continue for eight weeks.

Boskalis is in charge of supplying and installing the inter-array cables for the 100-turbine project.

Export Cables

Cable laying vessel NKT Victoria is expected to lay the wind farms three export cables by 3 October. Havila Phoenix is burying the cables.

The first export cable made landfall at Inverboyndie in late August.

Cable burial and trenching work is ongoing, with the trenching expected to continue until early November.

This will be followed by a separate campaign to install remedial protection over the cables on any remaining unburied or unprotected sections.

NKT is in charge of delivering and installing the wind farms export cables.

Foundations

As of 28 September, 35 out of the 100 turbine jacket foundations were installed at the site some 22 kilometres off the Aberdeenshire coast by Seajacks Scylla.

The wind farms three Offshore Transformer Modules (OTMs) have been in place since mid-September.

DEME isthe EPCI contractorfor the wind farms turbinefoundationsand three offshore substation foundations, as well as for the transport and installation of the OTMs.

Moray Eastwill feature 100 MHI Vestas 9.5 MW wind turbines scheduled for full commissioning in 2022.

Moray Offshore Windfarm East Ltd (MOWEL), the developer of the project, is a joint venture company owned by Diamond Green Limited (33.4%), Ocean Winds (56.6%) and CTG (10%).

Link:

Moray East Offshore Construction Ramps Up - Offshore WIND

The jacket foundation for the offshore substation at the Hornsea Two offshore wind project in the UK has been installed.

The installation of the 4,800-tonne jacket marks the start of the projects offshore construction.

Six weeks ago,10,000 tonnes of steel framework for the pin piles, reactor compensation and offshore substation jacketssailed from Batam, Indonesia, towards the wind farm site in the UK.

Sembcorp Marineis in charge ofthe construction of the offshore substation and RCS at its yard facilities in Singapore.

Were delighted to announce that weve now officially commenced our offshore construction for Hornsea Two with the installation of our offshore substation and reactor compensation jackets, said Patrick Harnett, rsted Senior Programme Director for Hornsea Two.

Through a remarkable feat of engineering together with our partners, weve overcome COVID challenges and are on track for fabricating the worlds largest AC offshore substation, which will be supported by this gigantic steel structure.

Hornsea Twowill comprise165 Siemens Gamesa 8 MW turbines located some 89km north-east of Grimsby. The 1.4 GW project is scheduled to be commissioned in 2022.

Read more here:

Hornsea Two Offshore Construction Begins - Offshore WIND

The home secretary, Priti Patel, has reportedly been exploring a range of outlandish plans for sending refugees who arrive on British shores to very faraway places.

The week began with a Whitehall leak that revealed officials had been asked to consider setting up an immigration centre on Ascension Island, over 4,000 miles away in the South Atlantic. When that idea was kiboshed, further leaks identified other territories being considered for extraterritorial processing, including Moldova, Morocco and Papua New Guinea.

Britain has a long and rather grubby history of sending people to faraway territories in order to solve political problems. The principle that out of sight is out of mind first underpinned the establishment of penal colonies where hundreds of thousands of criminals and other undesirables were banished throughout the British empire.

Other European states have followed suit, the most famous example of such a place being Devils Island, in French Guiana. More recently, in 2002, the United States started using Guantnamo Bay, a US naval base on the southern tip of Cuba, as a detention centre for handling hundreds of unlawful combatants that it refused to put on trial in the US.

In the past two decades governments have toyed with this extraterritorial solution to try to look tough in the face of small numbers of desperate people arriving in Britain. In so doing, asylum seekers who share with you and me the legal right to seek refuge are being treated as criminals.

It was a Labour government in 2003 that first came up with the idea of using offshore immigration processing centres. The context was a rise in asylum applications to the UK, which had seen a 20-fold increase over 15 years. Having already considered both harsh clampdowns and amnesties for deterring asylum seekers, the then home secretary, David Blunkett, enthusiastically supported by Tony Blair, floated a number of proposals for immigration centres outside the UK.

He suggested creating regional protection zones, which would be in, or next to, areas witnessing major flows of people. These zones would offer a safe haven to those fleeing persecution but keep them within touch of their home countries.

His second proposal was to create transit centres on the fringes of the European Union, which would hold all applicants heading west and handle applications for those seeking to enter the UK. The list of proposed sites for these centres has a rather familiar ring, and included nations on the major transit routes such as Turkey, Somalia and Morocco.

Blunketts ideas received the welcome backing of a number of thinktanks, including Demos. But, not to be outdone by New Labour, the Tories followed up a few months later with their own proposals.

The then shadow home secretary, Oliver Letwin, went to the Conservative party conference in October 2003 promising that all asylum seekers arriving in Britain would be immediately deported to a far-offshore processing island. Letwin told the conference in Blackpool: We will replace the present asylum system, in its entirety, with a system of quotas for genuine refugees and the offshore processing of all claims, to deter all but genuine claims for protection from persecution.

And he made clear that under this policy all asylum seekers who reached Britain would find the door closed firmly in their faces. There will be no applications in the United Kingdom, he said.

Asylum welfare groups reacted to the plan with horror ,and there followed an instant chorus of disapproval on human rights grounds. The Refugee Council said it was unlawful, inhumane and ridiculous. Its deputy chief executive, Margaret Lally, said: The UK is committed under international law to providing a safe haven for those fleeing persecution. Others compared the policy to plans more associated with wartime emergencies

But the Tory idea turned out to be half-baked when Letwin admitted that he did not have the slightest idea where the island would be.

However, it is the immigration policy of a former British colony that has given new life to the current home secretarys offshoring designs. Asylum seekers stopped in boats in Australian waters are held in facilities on the offshore islands of Nauru and Manus Island under a policy called Operation Sovereign Borders. There is another one, on Christmas Island. The government seems to believe that if this can work for Australia, there is no reason to stop Britain doing the same.

But these notorious facilities have been a source of much controversy during their time of operation. There have been a number of riots and escapes, as well as accusations of human rights abuses from organisations including Amnesty International, the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Human Rights Watch and the United Nations.

The British governments reliance on the Australian solution to a refugee crisis risks once again dangerously muddling refugees rights with those of people convicted of criminal offences. This is a slippery constitutional slope that could cast us adrift from well-established international law. Instead of adopting humane policies for the processing of asylum seekers, the government seems keen to create legal black holes for people who have the right to a fair hearing on British soil.

Robert Verkaik is an author and journalist specialising in extremism and education

More:

British plans to 'offshore' asylum seekers have a long and grubby history - The Guardian

TOTAL SE TOT announced that it has entered into a 50/50 partnership agreement with Macquaries Green Investment Group (GIG) to build a 2-gigawatt (GW) floating offshore wind project in South Korea. This offshore wind project will aid South Korea to meet the goal of developing renewable energies, which shall reach at least 20% of the power mix by 2030, including 12 GW of offshore wind capacities.

TOTAL has expertise and knowledge in developing offshore wind projects, which will be useful for the development of this mega wind project offshore South Korea. The companies aim to launch the construction of the first project of around 500 megawatts by 2023-end.

Equinor ASA EQNR, a Norway-based energy company, has already started ground work to find out the possibility of developing and constructing an 800-MW floating offshore wind project in South Korea.

TOTAL is gradually building the clean electricity generation portfolio. It has also made strategic acquisitions, tie-ups and entered into JVs to expand the renewable portfolio. The company now plans to scale up the renewable generation capacity to 25 GW by 2025. TOTAL also targets to generate 40% of revenues in 2050 from low-carbon electricity sales.

It also strives to be a net-zero carbon emission company by 2050 and has been taking steps to achieve the target. The company has maintained planned investment in the range of $1.5-$2 billion annually in low-carbon electricity generation. To further expand operations in the solar business, TOTALs unit SunPower Corporation recently completed the spin-off of Maxeon Solar Technologies into a separate entity.

Per a report from Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), 2019 was the best year for global offshore wind project addition, with a total of 6.1 GW new capacity being added in different regions across the globe. Per GWEC, the rising ambition of various governments to increase the offshore wind portfolio is expected to lead to an annual growth rate of 18.6% until 2024 and 8.2% up to the end of the decade. As a consequence, new annual installations are expected to sail past the milestones of 20 GW in 2025 and 30 GW in 2030.

GWEC expects that more than 205 GW of new offshore wind capacity will be added in the next decade. Per the council, 23 GW of offshore wind is predicted to be built in North America region this decade. The transition toward clean energy production is quite visible among the U.S. utility operators. Utilities like Dominion Energy D and AVANGRID Inc. AGR, among others, have taken initiatives to develop offshore wind projects in the United States.

In the past three months, TOTALs shares have outperformed the industry.

TOTAL currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a GenerationBe among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, its expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.

A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.

See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free reportTOTAL S.A. (TOT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportDominion Energy Inc. (D) : Free Stock Analysis ReportAvangrid, Inc. (AGR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportEquinor ASA (EQNR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research

See the rest here:

TOTAL Joins Macquarie to Build 2GW Offshore Wind Project - Yahoo Finance

Technavio has been monitoring the offshore wind cable market and it is poised to grow by $ 655.89 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 7% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200903005037/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Offshore Wind Cable Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. ABB Ltd., Brugg Kabel AG, Hellenic Cables SA, Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Co. Ltd., Leoni AG, Nexans SA, NKT AS, Parker Hannifin Corp., Prysmian Spa, and Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Growing offshore renewable energy installations has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, higher investments needed in offshore projects might hamper market growth.

Offshore Wind Cable Market 2020-2024 : Segmentation

Offshore Wind Cable Market is segmented as below:

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR43314

Offshore Wind Cable Market 2020-2024 : Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our offshore wind cable market report covers the following areas:

This study identifies the innovations in the wind industry as one of the prime reasons driving the offshore wind cable market growth during the next few years.

Offshore Wind Cable Market 2020-2024 : Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the offshore wind cable market, including some of the vendors such as ABB Ltd., Brugg Kabel AG, Hellenic Cables SA, Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Co. Ltd., Leoni AG, Nexans SA, NKT AS, Parker Hannifin Corp., Prysmian Spa, and Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the Offshore Wind Cable Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports.

Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform

Offshore Wind Cable Market 2020-2024 : Key Highlights

Table Of Contents :

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Product

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Vendor Landscape

Vendor Analysis

Appendix

Explore Technavio

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200903005037/en/

Contacts

Technavio ResearchJesse MaidaMedia & Marketing ExecutiveUS: +1 844 364 1100UK: +44 203 893 3200Email: media@technavio.com Website: http://www.technavio.com/

Read more from the original source:

COVID-19 Impacts: Offshore Wind Cable Market will Accelerate at a CAGR of over 7% through 2020-2024|Growing Offshore Renewable Energy Installations to...

Annual maintenance of the wind turbines at the Nordsee Ost offshore wind farm in Germany, which was planned to take eight weeks, has been completed two weeks earlier.

A total of 75 wind turbine technicians have finished the inspection and repair campaign on all 48 Senvion 6 MW units, installed some 35 kilometres north of Helgoland, within six weeks, according to RWE.

For the campaign, which included inspection of both the electrical and mechanical components, the technicians came from Cuxhaven to the wind farm on board the offshore service vessel Stril Server, after submitting proof of a negative coronavirus test.

For the first time, we carried out the entire annual maintenance of the turbines at our Nordsee Ost offshore wind farm ourselves and we have done that under the difficult conditions of the corona pandemic. It makes me all the more proud that our team on Helgoland, together with our service provider Rosch Industrieservice, completed this maintenance campaign successfully and well ahead of schedule, said Enrico Schfer, who is responsible for the operation of the offshore wind farms in continental Europe at RWE Renewables.

Work was carried out in shifts around the clock and on up to three wind turbines at the same time. An individual service team was always at the wind farm, with each team being there for two weeks and then leaving for another maintenance crew to take over the work.

According to the wind farm owner and operator, work on one turbine took around 48 hours on average.

The company added that, as part of a proactive maintenance concept, other components of the Nordsee Ost offshore wind farm are also being subjected to inspection and maintenance, including the foundations and the substation.

The 295 MWNordsee-Ostwas fully commissioned in May 2015.

The wind farm can provide enough electricity to cover the needs ofsome 320,000 average German households.

Read this article:

Nordsee Ost Annual Turbine Maintenance Done Ahead of Schedule - Offshore WIND

Source: Offshore Energy

The Houston-based W&T Offshore, Inc. (NYSE:WTI) released its second quarter of 2020 on August 5, 2020.

The company managed to report a narrower-than-expected adjusted loss of $0.02, but it has been brutal nonetheless. Revenues were cut by more than half sequentially.

In terms of production, it isn't easy to compare in the second quarter of 2019 and this quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2019, it was a significant rise in production due to the companys Mobile Bay area assets acquisition from Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM).

CEO Tracy Krohn said in the conference call:

We all know this is a cyclical business. Our success has always been based on maximizing free cash flow generation, operating efficiently and striving to constantly improve the profitability of our assets at any commodity price, this time has been no different.

The company produced oil, NGL, and natural gas and had a revenue of $55.24 million in the second quarter of 2020, mostly generated from oil, representing 55.5% of the revenues, as the graph below is indicating:

The investment thesis is relatively straightforward. I do not recommend investing long term in small or medium domestic E&P companies like W&T Offshore.

Oil and gas prices are too volatile and unpredictable, and the risk of a bust like we had this quarter is too high. However, the same volatility can be rewarding short term, and trading WTI based on oil and gas prices makes sense.

I often compare WTI to Chevron (NYSE:CVX), which is the poster child in the oil-producing business in the US, and we can see that the stock has underperformed Chevron quite significantly.

Data by YCharts

Source: Company PR and Morningstar

1 - Total Revenues of $55.24 million in 2Q'20

Revenues decreased by 59% to $55.24 million in the second quarter from $134.70 million a year ago and down 55.5% sequentially. The company had a net loss in the second quarter of 2020 of $5.90 million or $0.04 per share. Second-quarter 2020 adjusted earnings (excluding one-time items) were $2.2 million or $0.02 per share.

2 - Free cash flow was a profit of $4.3 million in 2Q'20

W&T Offshore free cash flow annually ttm is now a loss of $61.74 million, with a profit of $4.33 million for 2Q '20.

3 - Oil-equivalent production and other consideration

Total oil equivalent production averaged 42,037 Boepd in the second quarter of 2020. It was up 20.1% from 35,045 Boepd in the year-ago quarter. Liquids (oil and NGL) represented 48% of the total production in the quarter. Lease operating expenses shrunk to $7.40 per Boe in the second quarter from $12.65 a year ago.

For the second quarter of 2020, the average realized crude oil sales price was $21.67 per barrel. The Companys realized NGL sales price was $4.67 per barrel, and the realized natural gas sales price was $1.78 per Mcf.

The Companys mixed average realized sales price for the quarter was $14.10 per Boe (a new record low), which represents a 66% decrease from $41.83 per Boe the same quarter a year ago.

W&T Offshore projects 2020 production at 43.8-46.5K Boepd, implying a small rise from 40.6K Boepd in 2019. For the third quarter, the company expects production in the range of 40.9-45.1K Boepd.

For 2020, W&T Offshore is e lease operating expenses between $158 and $165 million.

4 - Net debt is now $587.71 million in 2Q'20. The net debt is about $587.71 million, with a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 2.01x as of June 30, 2020.

As of June 30, 2020, borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement were $80.0 million and letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement were $6.1 million. Availability under our Credit Agreement as of June 30, 2020 was $128.9 million. The Credit Agreement matures on October 18, 2022.

Total liquidity on June 30, 2020, was $165.4 million, including $128.9 million of availability under W&Ts revolving bank credit facility. The revolver has been reduced from $250 million to $215 million, with an increase of the margin by 25 points.

Note: In the 10Q, W&T indicated that it "complied with all applicable covenants of the Credit Agreement and the Senior Second Lien Notes indenture as of June 30, 2020."

The second-quarter results have been overly severe for this small US offshore E&P. The combined price per Boe has never been so low, and revenue was cut by more than half sequentially, as I said earlier. However, on a positive note, I believe the second quarter will set the rock bottom in terms of production and revenues.

The COVID-19 pandemic disruptions will probably fade away with the discovery of a vaccine, which is expected at the end of 2020. The economy will recover slowly from this catastrophe, and the demand for oil and gas will be substantial again.

Already, oil prices have managed to stay above $40 a barrel, and we are now around $45-$44 a barrel. Some analysts are talking about higher prices with a significant breakout.

WTI is forming a descending triangle pattern (bullish) with resistance and support very close, indicating a potential resistance breakout.

I expect WTI to re test the 50MA and, potentially, the 200MA around $3, at which point it would be wise to take the profit off your position. However, if oil prices can hold above $40, WTI may eventually breakout support instead and drop as low as $1.20.

Watch oil prices like a hawk.

Author's note: If you find value in this article and would like to encourage such continued efforts, please click the "Like" button below as a vote of support. Thanks!

Join my "Gold and Oil Corner" today, and discuss ideas and strategies freely in my private chat room. Click here to subscribe now.

You will have access to 57+ stocks at your fingertips with my exclusive Fun Trading's stock tracker. Do not be alone and enjoy an honest exchange with a veteran trader with more than thirty years of experience.

"It's not only moving that creates new starting points. Sometimes all it takes is a subtle shift in perspective," Kristin Armstrong.

Fun Trading has been writing since 2014, and you will have total access to his 1,988 articles and counting.

Disclosure: I am/we are long CVX, XOM. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Additional disclosure: I trade WTI short term occasionally

Excerpt from:

W&T Offshore: Volatility Is A Curse And A Blessing - Seeking Alpha

Temperatures are going to be 15 to 20 degrees higher than normal for this time of year. Visitors from the valley are being warned that they might not find much relief from the heat in the South Yuba River Canyon over the Labor Day holiday.Elias Funez/efunez@theunion.com

Multiple groups of people can be seen enjoying the South Yuba River at Edwards Crossing last weekend from the historic Edwards Crossing Bridge. Many more people are expected to flock to Nevavda County's waterways to seek relief from the coming heat wave this Labor Day weekend.Elias Funez/efunez@theunion.com

Show CaptionsHide Captions

A heat wave is headed this way and the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch through the entire Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys up to the Sierra crest.

Temperatures will be highest over the holiday weekend, with high to very high heat risk forecast for Sunday and Monday.

The reason for this unseasonable heat wave for this time of year is the level of high pressure in the upper ridge is forecast to strengthen, the sinking air associated with that will cause temps to rise 15 to 20 degrees above normal for this time of year, National Weather Service Meteorologist Scott Rowe said.

Today, the warming trend begins with highs around 90 degrees, 92 on Friday, 97 forecast for Saturday, 102 Sunday, and 99 Monday.

Its unexpected to see heat waves of this magnitude late in the season, Rowe said. We are in September now.

Looking ahead to the extended forecast, temps do tend to decline on Tuesday, when we start the new work week, Rowe said.

Wildfire smoke wafting over areas of Northern California will also play a part in high and low temperatures, potentially keeping daytime highs from reaching their forecasted extremes.

Smoke acts as a cloud, Rowe said in reference to the ability for smoke to reduce high temperatures. On the other hand, for the overnight lows, it would help keep temperatures in. It mutes the extremes a little in the end.

Overnight lows are expected to stay in the upper 70s and low 80s, providing little overnight moisture recovery and increased wildfire risk.

A potential offshore north wind event is being eyed for Tuesday or Wednesday, though confidence at this point is low.

We may be transferring from heat concerns to fire weather concerns rather quickly, Rowe said.

Its still a little bit early to tell, Rowe said of the potential north to northeast wind event. It may be a little too early to discern. Depends on how cool it gets in the great basin.

If the offshore wind event were to materialize, the weather service foresees anywhere from 15 to 20 mph winds on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Going to have to get through the heat wave to see what kind of models we will have, Rowe said.

With the holiday weekend coming up the National Weather Service wants to remind people to stay hydrated and take care of themselves in the heat.

If folks do decide to go out on a hike or any trails or area waterways, there may not be that much relief from the heat for those coming up from the valley.

Elias Funez is the Multimedia Reporter for The Union, a sister publication to the Sierra Sun. He can be reached by email at efunez@theunion.com or by calling 530-477-4230.

Read the original post:

Heat wave on the way: Potential for offshore wind event next week - Sierra Sun

It appears anglers are going to get a break in conditions this weekend, as the wind should not be an issue and the threat of thunderstorms is slight. That is a great combination for offshore fishing.

Except for the daytime heat, conditions should be inviting for the mosquito fleet of small seaworthy boats to make it to fishing grounds in the Gulf of Mexico.

There was some good news for offshore anglers earlier this week when NOAA Fisheries reopened the recreational harvest of gray trigger fish Tuesday. The reopening will last until Oct. 26.

The reason for this is a survey indicated the recreational quota had not been fully taken, and this extension should allow the remainder of the recreational allocation for 2020 to be harvested.

Red snapper anglers are hoping for a similar situation, as many feel that the 2020 quota was not met when the season closed last month.

It appears most of the bait shops are back in business following repairs from the effects of Hurricane Laura.

Galveston Bait and Tackle, one of those damaged, has reopened. It had supplies of live croaker, but no live shrimp was available Thursday. A spokesperson for the bait camp was not sure it would have any live shrimp for the weekend.

The shortage of live shrimp has been an ongoing problem for most bait camps during the siege of dangerously high daytime temperatures and constant southwest wind.

If you need live shrimp, it would be best to check with the bait camps before you head out on your fishing trip.

On the fishing scene, red fish continue to dominate the catches, while a number of over-sized black drum known as big uglies also are being caught.

This weekend, there should be a wider variety of fish landed, as the water clears up under light winds.

Here is the original post:

Conditions looking good for offshore fishing this weekend - Galveston County Daily News

The Offshore Lubricants market study added by Market Study Report, LLC, exhibits a comprehensive analysis of the growth trends present in the global business scenario. The study further presents conclusive data referring to the commercialization aspects, industry size and profit estimation of the market. The study also illustrates the competitive standing of leading manufacturers in the projection timeline whilst incorporating their diverse portfolio and regional expansion endeavors.

The Offshore Lubricants market study report provides an extensive assessment of the business landscape while elaborating on pivotal production and sales aspects. The drivers, trends, opportunities as well as the challenges that may hinder the market growth are cited in the report. The document encloses Porters Five Force Analysis of this industry. The study also provides thorough details pertaining to the market segmentations.

Request a sample Report of Offshore Lubricants Market at:https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/2894963?utm_source=thedailychronicle.in&utm_medium=TS

The report also comprises of detailed supply chain analysis with information related to major suppliers, and consumers. The report also assesses the influence of COVID-19 pandemic on the growth of the market over the study duration.

Detailing the regional expanse of Offshore Lubricants market:

Takeaways of the application scope:

Ask for Discount on Offshore Lubricants Market Report at:https://www.marketstudyreport.com/check-for-discount/2894963?utm_source=thedailychronicle.in&utm_medium=TS

An insight into the competitive dynamics:

The Offshore Lubricants market report provides an analysis on the industry chain and supply chain relationship. Also, the report encompasses a new project feasibility analysis that withholds data pertaining to investment budget, project product solutions, and project schedule.

Highlights of the Report:

For More Details On this Report: https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-offshore-lubricants-market-research-report-2020-market-size-competitive-landscape-regional-outlook-and-covid-19-impact-analysis

Related Reports:

1. Global Biogas and Biomethane Market Report 2015-2026, Market Size, Competitive Landscape, Regional Outlook and COVID-19 Impact AnalysisRead More: https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-biogas-and-biomethane-market-report-2015-2026-market-size-competitive-landscape-regional-outlook-and-covid-19-impact-analysis

2. Global Anhydrous Hydrogen Chloride Market Report 2015-2026, Market Size, Competitive Landscape, Regional Outlook and COVID-19 Impact AnalysisRead More: https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-anhydrous-hydrogen-chloride-market-report-2015-2026-market-size-competitive-landscape-regional-outlook-and-covid-19-impact-analysis

Read More Reports On: https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/heat-meter-market-competitors-analysis-overview-growing-trends-and-business-opportunities-by-2025-2020-09-03?tesla=y

Contact Us:Corporate Sales,Market Study Report LLCPhone: 1-302-273-0910Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150 Email: [emailprotected]

Read more:

Offshore Lubricants Market Analysis, Size, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts to 2026 - The Daily Chronicle

Offshore staff

ATHENS, Greece Shell subsidiary BG International has contracted Corinth Pipeworks to supply steel pipes for the block 22 and NCMA-4 (Colibri) gas field development offshore Trinidad and Tobago.

Corinth will manufacture 93 km (58 mi) of 16-in. HFW and LSAW coated linepipe for the pipeline which will export gas from the facilities to the Shell-operated Poinsettia platform in Trinidads North Coast Marine Area (NCMA).

Trinidad and Tobago state-owned Heritage Petroleum Co. is the other partner.

This will be Corinths first offshore project involving supply of pipes in 24-m (80-ft) lengths. This should lead to a reduction of almost 50% in the number of offshore pipe to pipe welds, the company said, resulting in capex savings and an associated reduction in offshore vessel installation time.

Pipe manufacture and coating will start in Greece later this year, followed by offshore pipelay in 2021.

09/03/2020

Read more:

Shell contracts long-length steel pipes for offshore Trinidad and Tobago gas tieback project - Offshore Oil and Gas Magazine

Ten years ago, in June 2010, I stood on a Florida beach that I had played on as a child and watched thick globs of oil wash ashore and taint the sugar-white sands.

The oil had traveled up from beneath the Gulf of Mexico, then spewed into the water through what was left of the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig, 5,000 feet below the surface and about 150 miles off the Louisiana coast. It floated for days across the Gulf before finally showing up at Pensacola Beach. The glistening blobs mingled in the surf line with broken sand dollars and calico shells, looking like a cross between chocolate pudding and dead jellyfish.

Before Deepwater Horizon, some Florida politicians were talking about allowing oil companies to drill for oil in the eastern Gulf as long as they stayed three miles offshorefar enough from the beaches that the tourists wouldnt notice the rigs, they said. After the 2010 disaster, and the damage it did to the beach-based tourism industry, you couldnt find a single one to admit they ever supported it.

Thus, when the Trump Administration announced in 2017 its plans to expand drilling off Floridas shore, even pro-Trump Florida politicians objected. In 2018, the Interior Department promised it would drop Florida from its plans.

But in June 2020, Politico reported that the Interior Department was laying plans to put Floridas beaches at risk all over again. Knowing the political ramifications for his re-election campaign, the story said, the Trump Administration would hold off announcing this until after the November election.

The eastern Gulf is the golden trophy for the industrybecause it could be producing oil within 10 years using existing infrastructure from the Gulfs western portion, wrote Politico reporter Ben Lefebvre, who has covered the energy industry for nearly a decade.

The Interior Departments press office called the Politico article fake news, contending that current offshore plans do not expire until 2022, and Interior does not plan to issue a new report in November. However, as a highly skeptical editorial in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel pointed out, What about December, or January, or any of the other 48 months of a second Donald Trump term?

Interiors original plan to open the eastern Gulf to drilling was drawn up under then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. The Zinke plan called for sinking wells not just in the eastern Gulf, but also along 90 percent of the U.S. coastline. Then-Gov. Rick Scott asked Zinke to take Florida off the table. When Zinke said yes, other governors jumped in to request their states be exempted, too. Zinke pulled back his plan.

Zinke was forced to resign in late 2018 while being investigated for making a land development deal with the chairman of energy giant Halliburton, which in 2014 agreed to a $1.1 billion settlement for its role in the Deepwater Horizon disaster. He was replaced by David Bernhardt, a former lobbyist for the oil and gas industry.

In 2019 the Wall Street Journal reported that Bernhardt had decided to sideline the new offshore drilling plan indefinitely, but Bernhardt said that story misinterpreted his intentions. He just meant he wasnt in a big rush to roll out a new five-year drilling plan.

When Trump visited Tampa in early August, a reporter from Bay News 9 asked him about offshore drilling in the eastern Gulf. The people of Florida just dont want it, he said. You know, there are some states that dont mind it, but Florida does. And I live here too, and I vote here. And I will tell you thats not going to be happening.

Environmental experts and watchdogs around the state and U.S. are skeptical. Its no surprise to see President Trump change his tune about oil drilling off Florida coasts with a close election in a key state looming, says Susan Glickman of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. But there is no guarantee he will keep that promise if re-elected. Trump rolled back key safety measures to avoid disasters like the Deepwater Horizon blowout, and it devastated Floridas tourism and seafood industry.

In August, the Trump administration approved oil drilling in the pristine Artic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, overturning 60 years of protections. My guess is Trump would move to drill in a second term, Glickman says.

Congressman Vern Buchanan said in an email he would fight any plan to drill, and Sen. Marco Rubio is proposing an amendment to extend the ban through 2032.

One thing has not changed in the decade since the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Despite attempts to clean it up, oil from the sunken rig continues polluting the Gulf and affecting fish and other marine species, according to findings by USF scientists.

That oil is likely to stick around. USF scientists surveyed areas in Mexico that were affected by a 1979 oil spill from a rig called Ixtoc 1, a spill that mirrored the circumstances of the Deepwater Horizon spill. Thirty years later, they still found pockets of oil that the spill had left behind.

Original post:

Ten Years After Deepwater Horizon, the Possibility of Offshore Oil Drilling in the Gulf Has Resurfaced - Sarasota

The Danish Energy Agency has sent a draft permit for preliminary offshore and onshore studies related to the Hessel offshore wind project for consultation with the relevant authorities.

The feasibility study permit will give the transmission system operator Energinet, which is to be responsible for the investigations, the right to collect relevant information about the proposed site in the Danish Baltic Sea.

The feasibility studies consist of environmental biological, geophysical, and geotechnical investigations with boreholes, as well as the 3D mapping of the seabed.

Hessel is the second of the three offshore wind farms proposed in theEnergy Agreement 2018, the first being theThorproject.

The wind farm is located north of Sealand in Kattegat, in Hessel Bay, at a distance of 30 kilometres from Sealand and around 20 kilometres from the Hessel island.

Initially, Hessel was scheduled for commissioning in 2028, but according to therecently approvedClimate Action Plan, both Hessel and Thor will be commissioned in 2027.

Denmark plans to start the tendering procedure for the development of the wind farm in 2021 and select the winner in 2022.

The wind farm will have an installed capacity of between 800 MW and 1,200 MW and can thus potentially become the largest offshore wind farm in Denmark, depending on the capacity that the winner of the tender chooses to install.

The authority consultation includes parties with interests at sea as well as municipalities with a view of the wind farm, or those which could be affected by land cables. The deadline for comments is 17 September 2020.

The short deadline is due to Energinet having to have the feasibility study vessels sent out quickly before the weather becomes too harsh, the Danish Agency said. With the climate agreements goal that Hessel must be completed in 2027, it is a prerequisite that the schedule for feasibility studies and tenders is compressed, the agency said.

Two Possible Land Cable Routes

The permit applies to surveys for the areas at sea where the offshore wind farm itself is to be located. The permit also applies to studies of two possible routes to the cable that carries the power from the offshore wind farm to the Danish grid.

The two possible landing routes that are being considered are a route from the offshore wind farm past Rrvig and Hundested at the mouth of Isefjord and down through Isefjord to the landing point at Kyndbyvrket; and a route from the offshore wind farm to the landing point at Gilbjerg Hoved west of Gilleleje Harbor.

The wind farm will in both cases be connected to the transformer station in Hove.

In parallel with the authority consultation of the feasibility study permit, the Danish Energy Agency and Energinet will analyze which of the two landing points is the best solution overall. This means that the Danish Energy Agency will probably issue the final permit with only the selected landing route. Energinet can then begin the preliminary investigations.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Later in the year, Energinet will initiate an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the cable corridor and technical facilities on land, as well as prepare the overall strategic environmental assessment of the project. The hearings on these assessments are scheduled to take place in mid-2022.

Go here to see the original:

Danes Seek Permits to Start Hessel Investigations - Offshore WIND

New Delhi: Debt-ridden IL&FS has proposed to initiate bankruptcy proceedings for two of its offshore firms - ITNL Infrastructure Developers LLC (IIDL) and ITNL International DMCC (IIDMCC) - in the courts of the UAE. IL&FS had request the Mumbai-bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to take on record its proposal to initiate the bankruptcy proceedings before the Dubai Courts under UAE Federal Decree.

The tribunal consented with the decision of the newly constituted board of the IL&FS and observed that the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings was the best option for the two firms.

"After hearing both the sides and on perusal of records, this bench is of the view that the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings is the best option in the given scenario. The same is recorded as prayed for. In the circumstances, the proposal of the applicant for initiation of insolvency proceedings of IIDL and IIDMCC is taken on record," the NCLT said.

The tribunal also observed that the Regional Director (WR), MCA, Mumbai representing the government has also no objection.

"There is no objection from the Petitioner (MCA) for the proposal of the Applicant," it said.

Justice D K Jain, who is supervising the assets, has already accorded his approval for initiation of bankruptcy proceedings for both - IIDMCC and IIDL - in May this year.

The IL&FS board decides on the resolution of the offshore entities under the supervision of Justice D K Jain, appointed by the NCLAT to conduct the asset resolution of the company.

It has to inform the NCLT only about the actions taken for the resolution of offshore IL&FS Group Entities which places it in on the record, unlike the domestic entities, whose sale has to be approved by the tribunal.

IIDMCC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITNL International Pte Limited (IIPL), which is a step-down firm of IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd (ITNL). IL&FS holds around 73 per cent in ITNL.

IIPL holds 49 per cent shareholding in IIDL and the balance 51 per cent is held by one MAK Holdings LLC. IIDL was incorporated for implementing Transport Infrastructure Projects in UAE on public private partnership (PPP), including a car park project.

IIDMCC was incorporated for providing support services to ITNL offices globally and for implementing transport infrastructure PPP projects in the Middle East/Africa.

IL&FS had earlier recommended divestment of IIPL's stake in IIDL, however, the said proposal could not be carried out successfully and the negotiations with the investors failed.

Moreover, on account of default on the part of IIDL to discharge its financial obligations, the Dubai Courts had on October 7, 2019, issued the default notice to IIDL.

The outstanding liabilities of IIDL as on December 31, 2019, stands 59.60 lakh AED (United Arab Emirates Dirham), which mostly comprise of unpaid salaries of employees, service benefits and vendors payments.

The liability of IIDMCC is 30.08 lakh AED and has virtually no assets.

Go here to read the rest:

Debt-ridden IL&FS to file bankruptcy for its offshore firms IIDL, IIDMCC in UAE - Economic Times

Myles Mantle and Shu Shu Wong, Haynes and Boone

In early August, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) published its final report on the Energy Integration Project in collaboration with Ofgem, the Crown Estate and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The report highlights that the integration of offshore energy systems, including oil and gas, renewables, hydrogen (both blue and green) and carbon capture and storage (CCS), has the potential to contribute to approximately 30% of the UKs total carbon reduction requirements that is needed to meet the 2050 net zero target.

Significantly, the report also reveals that additional offshore renewable power generation in the form of wind, wave and tidal energy could contribute a further 30% towards the UKs net zero target. What this means is that activities in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) could support in total around 60% of the UKs decarbonization requirements.

The key findings of the report include:

* Current energy integration projects there are currently already over 30 energy integration projects in progress across the UKCS, such as HyNet (blue hydrogen and CCS repurposing oil and gas infrastructure) and DolpHyn (integrating floating wind power and green hydrogen).

* Platform electrification oil and gas platform electrification will play a crucial role in cutting sector production emissions in the short-term and is critical to the industrys social license to operate. Electrification can reduce operational emissions by 2-3MtCO2 p.a. by 2030 which is equivalent to reducing 20% of todays production emissions, increasing to 40% by 2030.

* Expansion of offshore renewables oil and gas capabilities, infrastructure and supply chain are crucial to energy integration, and can potentially support further offshore renewables expansion, including floating wind power.

* Acceleration of CCS re-using oil and gas reservoirs and infrastructure can accelerate CCS, connecting to onshore net zero hubs and saving 20-30% Capex on certain projects. It is worth noting that to reach the CCS scale in support of net zero, the UK needs to develop around 20 individual CO2 stores for a total capacity of over 3GtCO2 by 2050 (with large CCS projects featuring multiple stores).

* Potential of blue hydrogen blue hydrogen, which is produced by steam reforming natural gas into hydrogen with carbon dioxide as a by-product, has the potential to decarbonize around 30% of the UK natural gas supply by 2050. The development of blue hydrogen therefore has the potential of accelerating CCS ramp-up by supporting more scalable business cases. In addition, a faster growth timeline could support more opportunities to reuse oil and gas assets, such as terminals, pipelines and natural gas resources.

* Potential of green hydrogen green hydrogen, which is produced by the electrolysis of water into hydrogen with oxygen as a by-product, can support and enable the significant expansion of offshore renewables in the 2030s and beyond, primarily by addressing energy intermittency through the power to gas idea (production of hydrogen through electrolysis powered by renewables when capacity allows it), thereby providing an efficient storage solution, as well as ultimately an energy transportation solution (potentially through use of chemical media, such as methanol or ammonia). The report identifies that costs of electrolysis technology needs to come down in order to facilitate wider uptake.

Achieving net zero

The report sets out a clear path towards achieving net zero in the UK and demonstrates that activities in the UKCS, including offshore energy integration and the development of offshore renewable power generation, have the potential to deliver significant and long-lasting carbon reductions.

In particular, the sharing of existing skills, expertise and infrastructure from the oil and gas industry and its supply chain will be vital in the development of the renewables energy sector and in unlocking opportunities for the integration of the offshore energy system. The oil and gas sector therefore has an important role to play in supporting the UKs transition to a future with net zero greenhouse emissions.

Next steps and looking ahead

The expansion of offshore wind, the growth of hydrogen as an alternative fuel and the development of CCS infrastructure no doubt offer opportunities to diversify and expand the UKs supply chain, and to create new jobs and new export opportunities and ultimately making a crucial contribution to the UKs 2050 net zero targets.

However, the report identifies a number of key actions and areas that must be addressed in the coming months and years in order to maximize the potential of activities in the UKCS:

* Support energy integration pioneering projects there are currently around 60 projects (including international projects) in the pipeline of energy integration activities in the North Sea and it will be important to (a) help identify key economic hurdles and define approaches to improve project viability, (b) raise cross-industry awareness and promote awareness to realize synergies, (c) have timely communication with key regulators regarding potential barriers and enablers, and (d) ensure that learnings from individual projects are widely leveraged across industry and government.

* Enhance regulatory processes and coordination there are at present regulatory regimes in place covering the different sectors operating in the UKCS and energy integration projects would require close cross-regulatory co-ordination to understand and manage requirements and timeline dependencies optimally. For instance, further clarity is required on aspects such as seabed leasing over oil and gas acreage and consenting of shared cables and transformers; and for hydrogen projects, there is currently no guidance on requirements over local planning. The report recommends aligning planning and consenting regimes to support cross-industry opportunities (e.g. oil and gas, carbon capture storage and blue and then ultimately green hydrogen).

* Promote greater data availability and ease of access data consolidation in putting together the report helped to identify cross-industry opportunities and optimal build-up scenarios. Going forward, better information access, data quality and the enhancement of data sets will be critical to support government and industry decision-making. Greater industry data sharing would also support planning and operational efficiencies.

The close coordination and integration of the technologies in oil and gas, renewables, hydrogen and CCS is valuable not only in terms of energy production and cutting greenhouse gases, but also in terms of improving the economics of these technologies. Provided that the challenges and hurdles identified in the report are addressed, the impact of offshore energy integration and offshore renewable power generation in the UKCS on the UKs targets to achieve net zero by 2050 is significant and far-reaching.

Read more:

Online excusive: Offshore energy integration could deliver 30% of the UK's 2050 net-zero target - Offshore Oil and Gas Magazine

8/31/2020

Ocean Installer turbine installation vessel

Ocean Installer and Vard are entering into a partnership to develop one of the world's most advanced turbine installation vessels for offshore wind.

We will jointly be developing one of the world's most advanced vessels for installation of future offshore wind turbines, which are too large for the existing turbine installation fleet, says Erik Haakonsholm, General Manager of Vard Group Offshore & Specialized Vessels. By being able to install wind turbine components above 1,000 tons more than 150 meters above sea level, this ship is expected to be highly attractive for construction of big international wind farms in the coming years.

International wind farm developers are due to develop many large offshore wind projects in Europe and Asia, as well as on the American east coast. The wind turbine installation market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, and vessel capacity will be insufficient. This all-Norwegian collaboration between subsea contractor Ocean Installer and the Vard shipyards builds on experience, quality standards and efficiency developed over years of work on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, states Odd Strmsnes, CEO of Ocean Installer.

The new vessel will be able to install future giant wind turbines offshore. Vard has extensive experience in design and construction of complex offshore construction vessels and advanced special purpose ships. The current project portfolio includes the REV Ocean research and expedition vessel as well as other highly specialized and autonomous zero-emission vessels.

On the basis of Norwegian advanced ship design and construction capabilities, as well as experience from complex subsea projects, were now ready to take a piece of the growing global market for installation of offshore wind turbines, the two explains. Energy companies in Norway are winning large international tenders for offshore wind farm construction, so it is natural for us to get into the game.

Strmsnes reports that Ocean Installer is already prequalified for certain large offshore wind projects and is participating in tenders in the USA and Europe for both Norwegian and international energy companies.

Such change of direction is very important for traditional Norwegian oil and gas supply chain, which long term will have to replace its existing business with something else, he says. We currently have

high expertise and solid revenues from oil and gas, and these resources are now dedicated to establish

us as a leading player within the offshore wind space.

To lead this initiative, Ocean Installer has recruited several key people from the sector. These include

Even Larsen, former CEO of Fred Olsen Ocean, and Olav Hetland, former Senior Vice President for

offshore wind power at Statkraft.

Read more from the original source:

Ocean Installer and Vard team up to develop offshore wind installation vessels - WorldOil

Siemens Gamesa has partnered with Acteon to jointly provide a fully integrated turbine operations and maintenance package for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) pilot project.

Under the agreement, the two companies will work together to fully optimize the wind turbine service and Balance of Plant O&M work scopes to provide integrated asset management services at the 12 MW project.

Siemens Gamesa will provide all above waterline asset integrity inspection and Acteon Group companies TerraSond, Seatronics, Deepwater, and Clarus, will inspect the subsea components, including general visual, marine growth and anode inspection.

The low-logistics inspection class remotely operated vehicle Seatronics VALOR will be used to provide an overview of the structural integrity of the asset.

We are utilizing our advanced experiences across our global offshore presence to be the first OEM to package these capabilities for the U.S. offshore market, said Michael Hughes, Head of Americas Offshore Operations, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.

By delivering the full O&M package, we provide numerous benefits such as a streamlined and optimized maintenance plan during the most ideal weather periods, full utilization of the projects existing O&M workforce and more efficiently share the projects logistical assets across these work scopes. Ultimately driving down the cost of offshore wind energy.

The CVOW demo project comprises two Siemens Gamesa SWT-6.0-154 units located 27 miles off Virginia Beach, representing the first wind turbinesinstalledin U.S. federal waters. First power is expected shortly.

More:

Siemens Gamesa and Acteon Ink CVOW O&M Deal - Offshore WIND

Dominion Energy has selected Huisman to deliver the crane for what will be the first U.S. Jones Act compliant offshore wind installation vessel.

The crane will be able to lift 2,200 tons and will allow the installation of the new generation of offshore wind turbines.

The vessel is expected to enter service by December 2023 and to be based out of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia with a U.S. crew.

A Jones Act compliant offshore wind installation vessel is vital for the continued growth of the U.S. offshore wind industry, said Mark D. Mitchell, Dominion Energys vice president of generation construction.

Huisman is a global leader and brings years of experience to this venture and will further enable the offshore wind industry to bring clean, renewable energy to customers in the U.S.

Dominion Energy announced in May it is leading a consortium to build the Jones Act compliant installation vessel which will service U.S. offshore wind projects.

The company expects the vessel to be used on a pipeline exceeding 5 GW of offshore wind construction through 2027, enabling the investment needed for this first of its kind vessel.

Read the original here:

Crane Ordered for First Jones Act Compliant Offshore Wind Installation Vessel - Offshore WIND

Meteorologist help offshore operators make time-critical decisions about evacuations, especially ... [+] days out when the storm is still developing. It requires advanced prediction models accounting for weather and maritime data, such as sea heights and wave intensity, and frequent communication.

Due to the vulnerability of offshore operations during hurricane season, most operators in the Gulf of Mexico begin planning months in advance with tabletop exercises and drills. These are necessary to ensure that all members of the organization are aware of protocols and procedures ahead of a significant weather event.Often, a professional meteorologist is asked to develop a mock weather scenario, provide briefings, and answer questions throughout the drill. This ensures a level of realism and allows the participants to become familiar with the products and guidance in a real weather scenario.

But when the offshore companies conducted tabletop exercises for the 2020 season, its most likely they didnt anticipate the double whammy of HurricanesMarcoandLaura. And as more, and deeper, offshore platforms are constructed, the threat to crew and operations becomes greater, making it even more critical for meteorologists to have an active partnership with offshore operators.

Offshore companies are particularly vulnerable to tropical storms for multiple reasons in addition to the location of their assets. First and foremost is the evacuation time required to move crews to safety. Evacuating personnel from an offshore platform starts days in advance, cascading from non-essential personnel to those that shut down production.

It requirescoordinating transport, by boat or helicopter, which comes with its own set of protocol and risks. For example, if a company waits too long to evacuate, it may be unsafe for a helicopter to land, or there may not be enough time for the helicopter to take the entire crew. Typically, it takes days for multiple helicopters to transport crews to safety. The alternative is that the remaining crew will have to weather the storm on the platform unprotected and vulnerable.

Protecting equipment requiresa special shutdown protocolthat also requires days of preparation. And then there is the cost associated with ceasing production. Making the call to cease or continue production is a multi-million dollar decision that offshore operators dont want to get wrong.

TheAmerican Petroleum Institutereports theGulf of Mexico provides 16 percent of the oil and about five percent of the natural gas produced in the United States. In advance of Hurricane Laura making landfall,oil producers shut 84 percent of the Gulf of Mexicos offshore production, similar to the impact of Hurricane Katrina.

So how does a meteorologist help offshore operators make these time-critical decisions, especially days out when the storm is still developing? It requires advanced prediction models accounting for weather and maritime data, such as sea heights and wave intensity, and frequent communication. When a tropical storm develops, meteorologists begin providing daily briefings and T-time reports to the organization. The T-time is the transition time, in hours, it takes to secure a platform and evade a storm and can range from 5 to 120 hours or more.For organizations with multiple sites, offshore and onshore, meteorologists will provide additional site-specific threat reports that show expected arrival time of impact such as winds, rainfall amounts and storm surge.

As we have often seen, as these storms developed -Hurricane Marco lost intensity while Hurricane Laura became strongerconstant communication about evolving weather conditions is key. Meteorologists conducted numerous conference calls and presentations about these two threats days before Laura ever became a hurricane.

In May,tropical storm outlooks indicated an active and early seasonand forecasts continue to show an active season before it winds down in October. So, while meteorologists dont make the call for when an offshore operation should evacuate, they do play a critical role in keeping the crew and operations safe. By providing accurate and reliableinformation, starting well in advance of a developing storm, meteorologists help offshore operators be confident in making criticalgo or no-go evacuation decisions.

Read more:

When Is It Time To Evacuate The Offshore Platform? - Forbes

Welcon and Century Huaxin Wind Energy (CHWE) have entered into an agreement to cooperate on a turbine tower fabrication facility for offshore wind in Taiwan.

Welcon said it will provide its experience and technological know-how to CHWE who will design, build and operate the facility that will serve the Taiwanese and Asian offshore wind market.

According to the Danish company, the facility will be able to produce large next-generation offshore wind turbine towers, up to 10m in diameter and 60m long.

CHWE already kicked off the construction at a 30ha space at the Taichung Habor. The plan is to have the facility ready for production in early 2022.

At the end of last year, Welcon and HighTek-Century signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of a turbine tower factory in Taiwan, which is set to also manufacture Stiesdal Offshore Technologies (SOT) Tetra foundation concept.

Read more from the original source:

Offshore Wind Turbine Tower Factory Under Construction in Taiwan - Offshore WIND