Shell and Exxon halt Gulf of Mexico output due to pipeline leak – Offshore Technology

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]]> HOOPS pipeline connects the Exxon-operated Hoover, Marshall and Madison offshore fields.

A leak in the ExxonMobil-operated Hoover offshore oil pipeline system (HOOPS) pipeline has forced Royal Dutch Shell to temporarily shut in production at its Perdido Gulf of Mexico facility.

Shell temporarily halted production on 9 April after a subsurface leak was discovered on HOOPS, The Financial Post reported.

A Shell spokeswoman said ExxonMobil has shut the pipeline for repairs.

Located in the US Gulf of Mexico, Perdido field is situated in water depths of 2,450m. It is approximately 200 miles south of Freeport, Texas, US.

The Perdido is a production hub which can handle 100,000 barrels of oil per day. Shell operates and owns 35% in the field. Other partners include Chevron (37.5%) and BP (27.5%).

According to Shell, without access to that pipeline system, and with no other alternatives in the available supply chain system, Perdido has been forced to ramp down operations.

HOOPS connects the Exxon-operated Hoover, Marshall and Madison offshore fields to the Quintana Terminal near Freeport over 153 miles. These fields have a combined capacity of producing about 4,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil.

Last month, Shell announced it will reduce costs and spending to maintain financial stability during the coronavirus pandemic, saying that it needed to be well-positioned for the eventual economic recovery.

In the same month, Shell and Equinor signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on digital solutions.

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Shell and Exxon halt Gulf of Mexico output due to pipeline leak - Offshore Technology

Orsted concerned Covid-19 may delay Japanese offshore wind auction – Recharge

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Offshore wind champion Orsted is concerned the coronavirus crisis may delay the kick-off of Japans first tender for utility-scale offshore wind projects, Matthias Bausenwein, president of the utilitys Asia-Pacific unit said.

The pandemic will not influence investment decisions and general confidence in offshore wind, but it could delay the projects timeline, Bausenwein told the Reuters news agency.

We hope that we wont see any major delays.

Orsted last month had announced it has formed a joint venture with Japans Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to bid for the Choshi area off northern Japan in the island nations first tender for wind at sea. Choshi could have a capacity of several hundred megawatts or more, Orsted had told Recharge last year.

Orsted CEO Henrik Poulsen then had said he expects the auction to take place in the second half of the year.

Japan at first was much less affected by the spread of Covid-19 than European countries, thanks to early containment measures. But recently rising infections have prompted prime minister Shinzo Abe last week to declare a state of emergency to fight the spread of the virus.

Orsteds offshore wind projects in Taiwan have not been affected, Bausenwein told Reuters, but may see an impact over time.

The Danish company is building the 900MW Greater Changhua 1&2a project off Taiwan, which it expects to commission in 2022.

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Orsted concerned Covid-19 may delay Japanese offshore wind auction - Recharge

Coronavirus: Tech firms’ donations just 0.2% of profits stashed offshore, research finds – The Independent

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Technology companies' generous donations to help tackle the coronavirus represent just 0.2 per cent of the $571bn of profits they have moved into tax havens, research has found.

Companies including Google, Facebook, and Intel have been praised for pledging around $1.2bn of cash and other donations in recent weeks.

Apple has donated 20 million face masks and made $15m in contributions while Facebook has announced more than $135m of funding, including donations to journalists to disseminate reliable information about the virus.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

Tax Watch UK, a campaigning think tank, said all of the donations were welcome. However, it calculated that the total commitments amount to a small fraction of the tax those companies have avoided paying.

Tax Watch used figures from a study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) which show that eight of America's biggest tech firms - Google, Cisco, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Intel, Nvidia and Adobe - had moved $571bn into low or zero-tax jurisdictions like Bermuda by late 2017.

This date was used as it coincided with major reforms in the US which handed companies tax breaks to encourage them to bring their profits back to America rather than stash them offshore. Up until then, many US stock market listed companies regularly reported the amount of cash they held offshore, much of which represents profits they made on non-US markets.

Companies continue to move profits offshore from non-US markets, including the UK, but how they report this has changed, making it more difficult to precisely quantify.

According to ITEP, Apple had the largest offshore cash pile at $246bn, followed by Microsoft with $142bn and Cisco with $66bn. Google's parent company Alphabet has been by far the most generous in its Covid-19 crisis support, pledging $800m, but it had amassed $61bn in offshore profits by October 2017.

Intel, which has announced $60m of coronavirus aid, had $46.4bn held offshore while Adobe, which has donated $3m, had $4.2bn offshore.

If all of that money had been taxed at the full federal corporation tax rate which was then 35 per cent, the companies would have handed over $199bn in tax. In reality, most firms take advantage of various tax breaks granted to them by the US government so their effective rate is lower than 35 per cent.

No hype, just the advice and analysis you need

Since Donald Trump's tax reforms were passed, many American companies have subsequently repatriated some or all of their their profits that had previously been held offshore, taking advantage of a one-off lower tax rate of 15.5 per cent.

George Turner, director of TaxWatch, said: Any donation is of course valuable and welcome, but these figures do highlight that health services around the world would be better served if tech companies simply paid their taxes in normal times.

This data highlights the need for governments to continue their efforts to reform the international tax system and ensure that tech companies can no longer avoid paying taxes in the countries where their profits are made.

Companies are coming under additional scrutiny over their tax practices during the coronavirus pandemic as governments implement huge, publicly funded measures to prop up economies and save jobs.

Fair Tax Mark, an organisation that assesses and accredits companies which pay their fair share, is calling on the UK government to attach strings to any potential corporate bailouts that may be required.

Under the proposals, any company which is bailed out using public funds would have to sign up to a binding commitment that explicitly shuns tax avoidance and the artificial use of tax havens.

Bailed out firms would have to commit to declaring profits where the economic activity that generated them took place, and multinationals would be required to report profits on a country-by-country basis.

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Coronavirus: Tech firms' donations just 0.2% of profits stashed offshore, research finds - The Independent

Avoid Diamond Offshore Even After A Big Correction – Seeking Alpha

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Article Overview

In one of the most challenging times for the energy industry, the focus of companies is not on growth, but on survival.

If we look at the broad energy industry, Whiting Petroleum Corporation (WLL) is the first major casualty with the company filing for bankruptcy. In my personal opinion, Chesapeake Energy (CHK) is not far behind.

Therefore, the sentiment related to the industry is bearish and this has translated into several stocks being oversold. This creates some trading opportunities, but investors need to be cautious.

Among stocks that have witnessed a sharp decline, Diamond Offshore (DO) has plummeted by 87% from 52-week highs of $12.64 and currently trades at $1.64. The stock can witness some trading bounce back. However, I remain bearish on Diamond Offshore.

This article will discuss the concerns that translate into a negative view on the stock even after the big decline.

Talking about survival, I would first look at the company's balance sheet and cash flow. Starting from the EBITDA level, Diamond Offshore reported an EBITDA of $247 million in 2018 and the company's EBITDA declined to $74 million in 2019.

Diamond Offshore has further mentioned in their annual report that cash flow for 2020 is likely to be negative. In all probability, the company will report operating level loss for 2020. The concern here is that the company has $2.0 billion in long-term debt. With losses at operating level, the company is likely to service debt through additional debt.

The positive point is that Diamond Offshore has $250 million in debt maturity in 2023 and $500 million in debt maturity in 2025. The remaining debt maturity comes on or after 2039. Therefore, the company faces no immediate debt refinancing pressure.

Another positive is that the company has $1.2 billion in undrawn credit facility. Even if we leave out the $250 million credit facility maturing in October 2020, the company still has $950 million in undrawn facility. In addition, balance sheet cash as of December 2019 was at $156 million. This will provide liquidity for debt servicing and maintenance capital expenditure through 2020.

However, this is not enough to boost investor confidence. The factor that will boost investor confidence is a relatively strong growth in order backlog. I don't see that coming through 2020 and potentially in 2021.

To put things into perspective, Diamond Offshore reported an order backlog of $1.6 billion as of December 2019. The backlog is front end loaded with $802 million of order executing in 2020 and $486 million in backlog for 2021.

Even with $802 million in backlog for the year, the company is expecting negative cash flows. Therefore, if Diamond Offshore has to return to operating level profit and positive cash flows in 2021, the backlog growth has to be significant.

With oil & gas companies scaling down on their investment plans, it seems unlikely that backlog growth will be strong through the year. My point is underscored by the fact that for 2019, Diamond Offshore reported order backlog growth of $620 million.

With significantly more challenging conditions, it would be optimistic to expect a backlog growth of even $600 million. Therefore, in all probability, Diamond Offshore will burn cash even in 2021. This concern will keep the stock subdued.

One factor that can take Diamond Offshore higher is a significant rise in oil prices in the next 12-18 months. I believe that there is a case for higher oil prices considering the following factors:

First, oil at $30 or $40 per barrel will hurt Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United States, among several other countries. With the COVID-19 already wreaking havoc, it's likely that oil producers will soon agree on production cut. This can take oil above $40 per barrel and potentially near $50 per barrel.

Second, China is already crawling back to normalcy after COVID-19. The same will hold true for other economies in the world. Once there is renewed economic growth and demand for oil, prices will trend higher. However, I don't expect strong economic recovery in 2020. It's only likely into 2021.

I also want to mention here that there is a significant amount of proven reserves in offshore deep-water and offshore.

This, coupled with the fact that offshore break-even price is on a decline, makes the outlook relatively positive for Diamond Offshore in the long term.

Of course, EBITDA margin is unlikely to be robust as it was few years before. However, orders will flow for companies like Transocean (RIG) and Diamond Offshore. The key factor for now is to reduce cost and battle for survival.

There is no doubt that Diamond Offshore has a high quality fleet. However, the company's liquidity and order backlog are a concern for the foreseeable future.

The backlog needs to grow and the company needs to show profit at operating level for the stock to witness any sustained rally.

For now, there can be strong bounce backs from oversold levels followed by renewed correction. Long-term investors can therefore avoid the stock even after the deep correction in 2020.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. 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.

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Avoid Diamond Offshore Even After A Big Correction - Seeking Alpha

New licensed offshore acreage likely to fall by about 60%, consultant warns – Offshore Oil and Gas Magazine

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Offshore staff

OSLO, Norway More than half of the worlds planned licensing rounds are likely to be canceled this year due to the combined effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing oil price war, according to Rystad Energy.

New licensed offshore acreage is likely to fall by about 60% and onshore acreage by 30% compared with 2019 levels.

This year was slated to be another remarkable year for exploration with about 45 countries launching at least 52 lease rounds, about 60% of them in offshore areas, the consultant claimed. The decline in the expected number of lease rounds compared to last years 69 was not a sign of fewer countries offering new licenses, but a result of several countries offering multiple rounds in 2019, including Brazil, Ukraine, India, and the US.

In its analysis, Rystad Energy has evaluated the rounds and distributed them in three categories: likely, tentative, and unlikely to take place.

Aatisha Mahajan, Rystad Energys senior upstream analyst, said: The unlikely upcoming lease rounds represent around 54% a worrisome sign for global exploration. A number of factors together make these rounds unlikely to go ahead, including the oil price drop, a global cut in investments by almost 20%, a lack of skilled manpower due to the Covid-19 pandemic, fiscal regimes that are proving unattractive in the current environment, and a lack of interest among potential participating companies.

In Europe, unlikely rounds are in UK, Ukraine, Romania, and Germany. In South America, rounds in Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic may not go ahead, while in Asia rounds in Thailand, Uzbekistan, Myanmar and the UAE may be put on hold. New Zealand is also in doubt, and in Africa, licensing rounds in Ivory Coast, Algeria, Tanzania, Senegal, Somalia, Liberia, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, South Sudan, and Nigeria may also be put on hold.

The US, Suriname, Egypt, Russia, and China make up the list of countries where licensing rounds hang in the balance and are marked as tentative. The US recently concluded its Lease Sale 254 in the Gulf of Mexico with digital technology playing a big role and the sale process was streamed live.

Suriname is developing into a hotspot for global exploration with two major discoveries in recent months. Riding on these successes, the South American nation might be able to go ahead and conclude a successful round. However, economics will play a role depending on how the future oil price is formulated for the participating companies, the consultant said.

Egypt is a very prospective region and has open-door licensing, under which companies with significant free cash flow might be willing to participate. Russia and China both have local players as the common bidders in licensing rounds and might therefore still go ahead with their scheduled rounds.

Licensing rounds that are likely to go ahead include countries such as Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, Norway, India, Lebanon, and Canada. These countries look well on track to continue their lease rounds as scheduled, although the current industry volatility could cause slight delays. India is planning to combine the OALP (Open Acreage Licensing Policy) with Round 5&6, and these blocks will be up for grabs in July.

Canada plans to go ahead with its offshore Labrador region. Trinidad and Tobago is riding on its significant exploration success having discovered around 400 MMboe in 2019 and seems to be better placed with interested parties among the active players in the region combined with a mild outbreak of COVID-19 so far.

Norway intends to proceed with its annual awards in pre-defined areas (APA) round of all mature, unlicensed acreage, and has proposed adding 36 deepwater Norwegian Sea blocks to the available area.

Eight of the initially expected 52 licensing rounds have already been completed, in Barbados, Canada (C-NLOPB 2020), the US (Lease Sale 254), Gabon, Pakistan, Oman, Australia, and Republic of the Congo.

We expect to see a large drop in awarded acreage this year compared with 2019. In percentage terms, the drop in offshore acreage could match the nearly 60% decline seen from 2014 to 2015, while awarded onshore acreage could shrink by almost one-third compared with a 16% drop after the previous downturn, Mahajan added.

As the decline comes from a lower level than it did in 2014, the consultant expects that global awarded acreage is likely to fall below 2015 levels this year, while staying above the level seen in 2016. All will depend on global oil and gas companies budgets and their appetite to take on new risk and exploration commitments in the current market environment.

04/14/2020

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New licensed offshore acreage likely to fall by about 60%, consultant warns - Offshore Oil and Gas Magazine

North Sea offshore wind projects could face Covid-19 construction headaches, expert claims – News for the Oil and Gas Sector – Energy Voice

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Some North Sea renewable energy projects face growing construction headaches with every passing month taken up by the coronavirus pandemic, an offshore wind expert has warned.

John MacAskill, business development and operations director for Offshore Wind Consultants, warned that Covid-19 related construction restrictions could begin to impact delay schedules and increased costs for developers.

Research firm GlobalData warned yesterday the UK could see stringent quarantine measures on turbine parts resulting in a materials supply bottleneck.

But Mr MacAskill said he is more concerned that continued restrictions reaching into the summer could impact 2020 construction schedules.

He said it could at best increase costs for developers as they seek to fulfil contract obligations in the midst of delayed turbine supply.

However, he added that the current uncertainty around Brexit is as much a threat to market pricing as the coronavirus pandemic and could cause worker shortages.

He added: The UK is an export market for most wind turbines firms, so we are at as much risk to Brexit implications medium and longer term as Covid-19 when it comes to pricing.

I am not downplaying this, but if I was negotiating wind turbine contracts this year for 2022-2025, I would be less bothered about staff shortages in 2020 than I would be if I am due to construct in 2020 which with every month passing is making challenges more acute.

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North Sea offshore wind projects could face Covid-19 construction headaches, expert claims - News for the Oil and Gas Sector - Energy Voice

Eastern Shipbuilding to build second Coast Guard offshore patrol cutter – WorkBoat

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Last week, Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) announced that the U.S. Coast Guard had executed a contract modification to build the second offshore patrol cutter (OPC) and for long lead time materials for the third OPC. Eastern successfully completed a Production Readiness Review (PRR) in February.

Today represents not only the continuation of production for the Coast Guards future replacement of their 210-foot and 270-foot-class medium endurance cutters, but also an important step in the continuing recovery of northwest Florida and ESG post-Hurricane Michael, Easterns President Joey DIsernia said in a statement. Looking back on the condition of our shipyard and our community immediately post-Michael in comparison to how far we have come, I could not be more proud of our team for what we have accomplished to date. We are excited about the future of this program and will continue to work diligently with our vendor network from 29 other states to produce high quality, highly capable vessels for the men and women of the Coast Guard.

After Hurricane Michael, Panama City, Fla.-based Easternsubmitted a request on June 30, 2019, for extraordinary relief after its shipbuilding facilities sustained significant damages from Michael, a Category 5 storm, in October 2018.

The Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Coast Guard, granted extraordinary relief to ESG for work on the OPC contract in October 2019. Contract relief was limited to the first four hulls on the basis that ESGs performance on the OPC contract is vital to the national defense.

In 2016, the Coast Guard exercised the option for detail design on ESGs OPC contract. The contract includes the production of up to four vessels.

In 2018, ESG, announced that the Coast Guard had exercised the option to build the lead 360x54 OPC Argus(WMSM-915). Delivery of theArguswas scheduled for 2021. The additional OPCs were expected to have far shorter build times than the three years it will take for the lead OPC.

At the time, the Coast Guard also exercised the option for long lead time materials for the OPC Chase (WMSM-916). The value of the two options was $317.5 million.

In 2016, the Coast Guard exercised the option for detail design on ESGs OPC contract. The contract includes the production of up to four vessels.

The OPC is designed to conduct multiple missions in support of the nations maritime security and border protection. The OPC will provide a capability bridge between the national security cutter, which patrols the open ocean in the most demanding maritime environments, and the fast response cutter, which serves closer to shore. The OPC design includes the capability of carrying an MH-60R or MH-65 Helicopter and three operational Over-The-Horizon (OTH) small boats. The vessel is also equipped with a highly sophisticated combat system and C4ISR suite that will enhance capabilities to execute the services missions.

Firepower will include aBAEMk 110 57mm gun and gunfire control system, BAE Mk 98 model 2 25mm gun, two M2Browning.50 caliber machine guns mounted on remote operated small arms mounts, and four crew served M2 Browning .50 caliber machine guns. The cutters will also be equipped with a highly sophisticated combat system and C4ISR suite that will enhance capabilities to execute the services missions.

Main propulsion will come from twinFairbanks Morse-MAN16V28/33D STC diesel engines, producing 9,760 hp at 1,000 rpm each, connected toRolls-Royce5-bladed controllable pitch props, giving the OPC a running speed of 22 knots. The cutters will have a 60-day endurance and a range of 9,500 nautical miles at 14 knots.

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Eastern Shipbuilding to build second Coast Guard offshore patrol cutter - WorkBoat

Virginia Governor Signs Off on 5.2 GW by 2034 Offshore Wind Target – Offshore WIND

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Virginias GovernorRalph Northam has signed the Clean Economy Act which requires at least 5.2 GW of offshore wind power to be developed in this U.S. state by 2034.

The Virginia General Assembly passed this House Bill 1526andSenate Bill 851 Clean Economy Act in March.

The act provides that 5.2 GW of offshore wind generation is in the public interest.

It requires Dominion Energy to prioritize hiring local workers from historically disadvantaged communities, to work with the Commonwealth to advance apprenticeship and job training, and to include an environmental and fisheries mitigation plan.

The law requires nearly all coal-fired plants to close by the end of 2024, electricity to come from 100% renewable sources and Dominion Energy to be 100% carbon-free by 2045.

Energy companies must pay penalties for not meeting their targets, and part of that revenue would fund job training and renewable energy programs in historically disadvantaged communities.

These new clean energy laws propel Virginia to leadership among the states in fighting climate change,said Governor Northam. They advance environmental justice and help create clean energy jobs. In Virginia, we are proving that a clean environment and a strong economy go hand-in-hand.

Dominion Energy and rsted are currently developingVirginias first offshore wind project the 12 MW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) demonstration wind farm.

The two-turbine project is expected to provide the operational, weather, and environmental experience needed for large-scale development in Dominion Energys adjacent 112,800ha lease site, which has the capacity to generate up to 2 GW of offshore wind.

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Virginia Governor Signs Off on 5.2 GW by 2034 Offshore Wind Target - Offshore WIND

RIDG Bolsters Team Ahead of ScotWind – Offshore WIND

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Edinburgh-headquartered Renewable Infrastructure Development Group (RIDG) has expanded its team with two hires in preparation for the ScotWind offshore wind seabed leasing round in Scotland.

Isla Robb will lead on RIDGs Supply Chain and Skills as an Associate Director, working to ensure that the RIDG approach to project delivery is innovative, commercially competitive, and maximises Scottish and UK domestic content. Robb previously led Scottish Enterprises offshore wind supply chain and skills activities, RIDG said.

This is a great time to be working in offshore wind and this company has innovative and forward-thinking ideas to ensure success, Robb said.

It is a great opportunity to build on the work that RIDG has already done with potential suppliers based in Scotland and allows me continue to work with many of the companies and skills providers I have worked with, this time from a project perspective, and to take it to the next level, to the bid stage and beyond.

Marc Smeed joins from Xero Energy, part of ITP Energised, and will lead the companys Grid and Power Offtake workstreams also as an Associate Director. Having worked in offshore wind since 2008, Smeed has been directly involved in the connection of over 20GW of onshore and offshore energy projects, RIDG said. He will focus on optimising power offtake arrangements including system security and affordability, key challenges for all Scottish offshore projects.

2020 is an exciting year for the Scottish offshore wind industry with the new Sectoral Marine Plan, ScotWind leasing round and the Scottish Governments hydrogen policy statement, Smeede said.

Having worked in the Scottish offshore wind supply chain for 12 years, Ive been lucky enough to have first-hand experience working with many of the key global offshore wind players. As a talented, home-grown team, RIDG is extremely well placed to contribute to Scotlands success as we lead the world into a net zero future.

Crown Estate Scotlandplans to launchthe ScotWind leasing this spring, after the publicationof Marine Scotlands draft Sectoral Marine Plan (SMP).

Keith Williamson, RIDGs Technical Director, said: As recognised experts in their respective fields, Marc and Isla bring a wealth of experience to the RIDG team as we ramp-up for ScotWind. I am delighted that they have agreed to join us at the outset of such an important period for the offshore wind industry and the wider energy transition in Scotland.

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RIDG Bolsters Team Ahead of ScotWind - Offshore WIND

Analyzing Current Utilization And Day Rate Trends In The Offshore Drilling Industry – March 2020 Edition – Seeking Alpha

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About once a month, energy consulting firm IHS Markit releases a report on the offshore drilling industry that it calls the Offshore Rig Day Rate Trends report. In this report, the firm discusses both the utilization rate and leading market new contract dayrate trends for four types of offshore drilling rigs that it believes serve as effective proxies for the broader industry. For the most part, it has chosen quite well as will be explained over the course of this article. These trends are important for investors to follow, as this data is important for understanding the trajectory of the industry and the way that the financial performance of these companies is likely to progress going forward. We will look at each of the different types of rigs discussed in the report and their dayrate and utilization trends in turn.

The first type of rig that has its dayrate and utilization trends tracked by the IHS Markit report is ultra-deepwater semisubmersibles. These are defined as semisubmersible drilling rigs that are capable of operating in at least 7,500 feet of water. A semisubmersible rig is essentially a floating platform that is supported by two pontoons that sit below the water surface. These are the rigs that most people think of when they picture an offshore drilling rig.

Source: RigZone

As the IHS Markit report only includes the data for those semisubmersibles that are capable of operating in an ultra-deepwater environment, these are the newest semisubmersibles. This is important because exploration and production companies have shown a marked preference for hiring modern units, so the ones analyzed in the report would have higher demand than the semisubmersible fleet as a whole. With that said though, these rigs have seen a marked decrease in popularity since the last recession and most ultra-deepwater rigs that have been constructed over the past decade are drilling ships, which will be discussed later. Thus, while these may be the most modern semisubmersibles, most of them are still not going to be particularly new rigs.

Here are the utilization and new contract dayrate trends for the world's ultra-deepwater semisubmersible fleet:

Source: IHS Markit

As we can see, the utilization rate for these rigs has generally been increasing over the second half of 2019, although it still remains quite low. While it has been decreasing a bit this year, it still remains higher in the most recent month than it did over the entirety of the last two years. This is something that may be surprising to some readers given the severe impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on the energy markets, but it does typically take a long time for price fluctuations to reverberate through the market and cause the companies in it to change their plans. We have already begun seeing some projects get postponed, but as I mentioned in a recent article, this has had more of an impact on long-term projects than near-term ones. Semisubmersibles are mostly used in development work due to their stability and lack of mobility so if we start seeing offshore projects delayed en masse due to low oil prices, this will eventually begin to have an impact on this segment of the market.

The economic law of supply and demand allows us to assume that dayrates will go up when utilization does because of the reduced supply of available rigs in the market. We do certainly see this as the leading new contract dayrate is well above 2017 and 2018 levels. With that said though, we can still see that half of the global fleet is still unemployed, so there is still insufficient pressure on dayrates to push the new contract dayrate up significantly. This will likely continue to be the case for several more months, if not longer given the current low oil price environment.

The second type of rig that has its dayrate and utilization trends tracked by the IHS Markit report is ultra-deepwater drillships. As was the case with their cousins, these are defined as drillships that are capable of operating in at least 7,500 feet of water. These are therefore the most modern and technically-capable drillships in the global fleet today, which does grant them the preference that modern rigs enjoy when it comes to securing those contracts that are available from exploration and production companies. As the name implies, a drillship is a ship (frequently a modified oil tanker) that has been specially equipped to perform drilling operations. This design grants these rigs superior mobility to a semisubmersible rig, but they are much less stable in harsh or choppy water conditions than their cousins. As a result, drillships are commonly used in exploratory operations where their mobility proves to be an asset in moving from site to site.

Here are the utilization and new contract dayrate trends for the world's ultra-deepwater drillship fleet:

Source: IHS Markit

We can see some similarities here between the ultra-deepwater drillships and their semisubmersible cousins. In particular, we can see that the utilization rate for this type of rig is currently higher than at any other time over the past two years. This shows very real evidence that the industry has been recovering, which is in line with what the managements at various offshore drilling companies have been telling us. We can still see though that the utilization rate does still remain below 80%, which is the level that is generally considered to represent a sustained recovery. As I explained in a recent article too, we have begun to see energy companies cut spending on their exploration programs in response to low oil prices, so it will be interesting to see if the utilization rate can sustain this level going forward in the face of lower demand. This is somewhat doubtful.

As was the case with the semisubmersible rigs, the improvement in the utilization rate has had the beneficial effect of pressuring dayrates up. However, there is still around 30% of the global fleet unemployed, so there is still a significant amount of slack in the market. The utilization rate historically needs to get above 80% before it starts to exert significant and sustained upward pressure on dayrates. As we just discussed, it may not be able to reach that because of cost cuts on the part of energy companies. In addition to this, the leading new contract dayrate is still relatively low, but it is high enough for drilling companies to generate a positive cash flow off of the contracts that they are able to get. We could soon see a reversal here though if the utilization rate does indeed begin to decline, which seems likely.

The third type of rig that has its utilization and new contract day rate trends tracked by the IHS Markit report is harsh-environment jack-ups. As the name implies, these are shallow-water drilling rigs that have been specially equipped to operate in some of the harshest weather conditions in the world such as those found in the Arctic or the North Sea. Unlike with the other types of rig, IHS Markit did not choose to use the newest rigs in this classification when compiling its report. The company instead opted to use standard units, which are defined as those rigs that have a maximum operational water depth of 350 feet. While these are not the most modern units around, they are by far the most numerous so this does work reasonably well as a proxy for the fleet as a whole. The consulting firm has also opted to use the data only for those rigs operating in Northwest Europe. This is the location where most of these rigs operate so the data from these rigs should give a reasonably approximation of the global trends.

Here are the utilization and leading new contract dayrate trends for the harsh-environment fleet:

Source: IHS Markit

The harsh-environment market was one of the few bastions of strength in the offshore drilling market over the past few years. Unfortunately, we can see that this strength appears to be waning as the utilization rate has now dropped back to the lowest level that it has had since mid-2018. The rate has been flat at 50% for many months now, though. This is not a particularly attractive rate however as we can see that fully half of the fleet is unemployed. These rigs tend to have reasonably long contract terms, so this type of rig might see its utilization rate hold up a bit better going forward than some other rigs in the current environment, depending of course on how long the current low price environment persists.

We can also see here that the leading market dayrate has been relatively consistent over the past several months and currently sits just below $75,000, which is the highest that it has stood over the past two years with the exception of one month. It is unfortunately questionable whether or not the current dayrate is high enough to allow the companies that own the rigs to generate a positive cash flow off of the rig contracts. As was the case with many of the other rig types, the utilization rate is likely too low to pressure dayrates up much more. Thus, we will probably not see any real improvements here for a while.

The final type of rig that has its dayrate and utilization trends tracked by the IHS Markit report is high-specification jack-ups. For the purposes of this report, a high-specification jack-up is defined as an independent leg cantilever jack-up rig capable of operating in a maximum water depth of 361 to 400 feet. Curious, this definition would exclude even more capable rigs like the Gorilla-series operated by Valaris (VAL). For the most part though, this definition would encompass most of the modern jack-up fleet. Thus, these are going to be the rigs that are most in demand by exploration and production companies, so should give us a good idea of the broader trends affecting this segment of the industry.

Here are the utilization and new contract dayrate trends for the benign-environment, shallow-water fleet:

Source: IHS Markit

We can clearly see here some real signs of strength in the utilization rate. As we can see, it has generally been steadily climbing over the past two years. It does unfortunately remain well below the 80% level that we need to show a sustained recovery in the industry. This part of the global fleet may also be more vulnerable to a slowdown in exploration activity than other fleet segments. This is because the contracts for shallow-water rigs tend to be exceptionally short and are frequently only for one or two wells. This allows the customers to get out of a contract quickly since they can always deny a renewal. As a result, the high-specification jack-up segment is typically a leading indicator for the rest of the offshore drilling industry. We will want to keep an eye on this metric over the next few months to see if the industry ends up being devastated by the cutbacks in upstream exploration spending.

Thus far, we can see that the leading new contract dayrate has held up okay, although it has been falling over the last two months. It still remains at a higher level than what we have seen over most of the past two years. At $75,000 per day too, it is high enough to allow these rigs to produce a positive cash flow to their owners, although it will not be a particularly high cash flow and may not be enough to cover things like onshore general and administrative costs that are not allocated to any individual rig. It is also possible the new contract dayrate will decline should the utilization drop in response to low oil prices, which would stress the finances of the companies in the industry further.

In conclusion, we are seeing some very real signs of a recovery in the offshore drilling industry here, although it is weaker than we really want to see. The problem could be that upstream companies have begun to cut back on exploration spending and this will reduce the demand for drilling rigs, killing the nascent recovery. We will want to keep an eye on the relevant metrics here over the next few months to see if this scenario plays out in order to make a more informed investment decision.

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Analyzing Current Utilization And Day Rate Trends In The Offshore Drilling Industry - March 2020 Edition - Seeking Alpha

Offshore wind growth key to future of basin – News for the Oil and Gas Sector – Energy Voice

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The growth of offshore wind development is central to the future of the southern North Sea, but wont be an easy thing to do.

Danielle Lane, Vattenfalls UK country manager, believes that with so much activity in the basin it is important that the Swedish firm and all offshore wind developers works collaboratively with all organisations and groups to get the right sites in the right locations.

In Scotland, Vattenfall is perhaps best known for its 300 million European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) in Aberdeen Bay, but the company also has anumber of big wind farms in development within the UK southern North Sea.

The Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas projects are the firms most dominant and between them will look to generate 3.6 gigawatts representing the biggest part of Vattenfalls European pipeline.

Lane described the southern North Sea as very busy and key to the future of the basin.

She said: We have to be sensitive about where we place future projects.

It will take work from all groups, from conservation groups right through to industry.

It can be done, there is capacity, but it will take co-operation to get the right sites in the right locations.

Lane said that the coronavirus outbreak hasnt yet halted Vattenfalls march forward with construction as it develops its southern North Sea sites, but will come under review if the situation worsens.

Lane said the firm was keeping a close eye on the pandemic and she paid tribute to those workers still operating wind farms in the North Sea to keep the UK in plentiful clean energy.

She said: We dont know what the long-term impact will be and as far as offshore is concerned we have been going through a whole process of business continuity planning and our key priorities are keeping the turbines working safely at our sites.

Its important that we look after the people who are actually doing the work offshore.

We rightly spend a lot of time celebrating the NHS and essential services that we depend on, but we shouldnt forget about those people who work in the electricity sector and who are keeping the lights on for us.

The UK chief also said she was seeing increasingly more positive action from oil and gas firms on the issue of offshore wind farms supplying electricity to decarbonise assets.

Lane also confirmed that Vattenfall was looking closely at what the potential for hydrogen production in the UK might look like at a larger scale.

She said: Its massively important that we get maximum value for UK consumers from all of the activity in the North Sea.

A lot of this will come will come from the oil and gas companies who see the potential now of linking up with offshore wind projects, but we should be careful not to expect that these kind of things will happen tomorrow.

With any infrastructure there is a lead time between these exciting discussions and the delivery of projects.

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Offshore wind growth key to future of basin - News for the Oil and Gas Sector - Energy Voice

Norway greenlights new wind farm to power offshore production platforms – WorldOil

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4/8/2020

Hywind Tampen wind farm diagram

OSLO - The Ministry of Petroleum and Industry has approved the plans for development and operation of the Hywind Tampen wind farm. The Snorre and Gullfaks platforms will be the first platforms in the world to receive power from a floating offshore wind farm.

On 11 October 2019, Equinor and the Snorre and Gullfaks partners submitted two updated plans for development and operation to Norwegian authorities.

Hywind Tampen is a pioneering project and a central contribution to reducing emissions from Gullfaks and Snorre, and I am pleased that both ESA and Norwegian authorities have approved the project. We are experiencing very challenging times, and we are focusing on continuing our transition effort while attending to and developing the value on the Norwegian continental shelf and at the same time reducing the climate footprint from our operations, says Arne Sigve Nylund, Equinors executive vice president for Development & Production Norway.

By reducing the use of gas turbines on the fields, the project will help reduce CO2 emissions by more than 200,000 tons per year, corresponding to annual emissions from 100,000 private cars.

The Hywind Tampen investment will be close to NOK 5 billion. Norwegian authorities have granted funding of up to NOK 2.3 billion through Enova. The Business Sectors NOx fund has decided to support the project by up to NOK 566 million.

On behalf of the partners, Equinor has awarded contracts totaling NOK 3.4 billion, subject to final project approval by Norwegian authorities. It is a plus that the oil and gas industry is competitive in renewables projects as well, and the contracts will lead to considerable spinoff effects in Norway. As the whole industry is currently experiencing much uncertainty, it is vital that we progress projects that spur technology development in the renewables segment and create spinoff effects on the Norwegian supplier industry, says Anders Opedal, executive vice president for Technology, Projects & Drilling.

According to a study made by Multiconsult, the Hywind Tampen project will create spinoff effects during the projects life of 1 550 to 3 000 man-years for Norwegian trade and industry. Most of the spinoff effects will occur in the projects development phase.

The wind farm will consist of 11 wind turbines based on the Hywind wind farm concept developed by Equinor. The 8 MW turbines will have a total capacity of 88 MW and meet about 35 per cent of the annual power demand of the five platforms Snorre A and B and Gullfaks A, B and C. The wind farm will be located around 140 kilometers from shore, between the Snorre and Gullfaks platforms, at a water depth of 260 to 300 meters.

Operated from Equinors offices in Bergen, Hywind Tampen is scheduled for start-up at the end of 2022.

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Norway greenlights new wind farm to power offshore production platforms - WorldOil

Captives regulator invites offshore captives to Connecticut – Captive International

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The Connecticut Insurance Department has invited offshore captives to consider relocating to Connecticut.

Janet Grace, programme manager of the captive insurance division at the Connecticut Insurance Department, said: If your captive is located outside the US, this may be the time to bring it to Connecticut, where you can take advantage of our brain trust of captive innovators, who may be able to help you deal with lost revenue at this time of crisis.

The invitation came as Connecticuts healthcare facilities suffer from significant daily losses of revenue as they reallocate resources to dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak, according to Michael Maglaras, principal of Michael Maglaras & Company.

Maglaras warned the reallocation of resources was coming at the expense of ambulatory and elective surgery revenue.

Andrew Mais, commissioner of the Connecticut Insurance Department, said: Healthcare facilities and other businesses in Connecticut are quickly realising that business interruption claims caused by the COVID-19 crisis may be difficult to collect on, unless physical loss or damage to property can be substantiated.

Property policies written for health care institutions frequently contain broad limitations on business interruption coverage caused by the cascading effect of dealing with the coronavirus and other losses stemming directly from disease contamination, Maglaras explained.

He said his company has been busy liaising with captive owners about how they can use their captives existing surplus to augment property coverage availability. We first encourage health care providers and others to determine the amount of commercial coverage for decontamination costs, communicable disease cleanup, and interruption by communicable disease, he said.

Captive insurance companies can play a significant role in claim recovery for healthcare facilities, depending upon the amount of the loss and the availability of a captives surplus, said Maglaras.

onnecticut Insurance Department, Janet Grace, Michael Maglaras, Andrew Mais, COVID-19

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Captives regulator invites offshore captives to Connecticut - Captive International

Shell UK, Diamond Offshore agree release of rig – News for the Oil and Gas Sector – Energy Voice

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Shell and Diamond Offshore have mutually agreed the release of the Ocean Valiant rig from its contract.

Diamonds most recent fleet status report, published in February, shows Ocean Valiant was supposed to be with Shell in the UK North Sea from November 2019 until March 2021.

A source said Shell had shelved plans to drill five wells and that the rig would be stacked later this month.

A spokesman for Shell confirmed Ocean Valiant would be released once it completes a well at the Gannet field.

But he said Ocean Valiants agreed scope would be transferred to Diamonds Ocean Endeavor rig, which is already contracted to Shell.

Energy Voice reported in October that Shell was using Ocean Endeavor for drilling work at its Fram gas field as part of a campaign expected to last up to 110 days.

Its understood the Ocean Valiant decision was operational and not linked to any spending reductions which may be triggered by the current crude price slump.

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Shell UK, Diamond Offshore agree release of rig - News for the Oil and Gas Sector - Energy Voice

Community Connections: Midland Public Schools reflects on a memorable school year – Midland Daily News

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Dow High School The Charge Robotics Team Adopt-a-Street. (Photo provided)

Dow High School The Charge Robotics Team Adopt-a-Street. (Photo provided)

Dow High School The Charge Robotics Team Adopt-a-Street. (Photo provided)

Dow High School The Charge Robotics Team Adopt-a-Street. (Photo provided)

Community Connections:Midland Public Schools reflects on a memorable school year

With our world, nation, state and community consumed by COVID-19 these days, Midland Public Schools would like to take a step back to celebrate and honor our students, staff and district's incredible accomplishments during the 2019-20 school year.

Our in-building school year may have had to end a few months early, however, the honors and accolades we celebrate in this month's Community Connections speak volumes about the quality, dedication, hard work and support of our students, staff and families. While the following successes are lengthy, please know there are so many more!

MPS named one of the Best 20 School Districts in the State by Niche in 2019 (out of 556 districts), putting MPS in the top 4% of public school districts in the State of Michigan.

25% of the 2020 Michigan winners in the annual Aspirations Award from the National Center for Women in Information Technology were from MPS High Schools (8 MPS students were Aspirations in Computing winners; 2 received Rising Star Awards; 6 received Honorable Mention).

58 MPS 2019 graduates and current seniors earned the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy for demonstrating proficiency in English and at least one other world language before they graduated.

44 Midland High Business Professionals of America members earned the right to compete at this year's state leadership conference.

79 HH Dow High DECA members qualified to compete against their peers from around Michigan DECA State Career Development Conference. They brought home 66 medals and 21 students qualified to compete at the international conference. Senior Kamika Chandra, was the recipient of the 2020 DECA Emerging Leader Honor Award.

Dow High's Debate Team earned the distinction of Varsity State Champions.

Midland High placed No. 1 at the Michigan State University High School Programming Competition.

This year, as they do year after year, MPS teams, student athletes and coaches earned many SVL and Michigan High School Coaches Association awards and accolades

Midland High Seniors Corbin Dittenber, Timmy Kipfmiller, Erika Leasher and Andrew Scheffer won the 2019 Congressional App Challenge for the 4th District for their "Meal Deals" app.

HH Dow High's Science Olympiad team competed at Delta College and took home six first place medals, two for second place and four for third place.

Jefferson and Northeast Middle Schools dominated the Regional Science Olympiad Competition at Delta College earning medals in 18 of the 22 events. Jefferson placed first and Northeast placed a very close second. Both teams qualified for the Science Olympiad State Meet.

Jefferson Middle School's regional qualifying team competed at SVSU against 11 other area schools in the State of Michigan Challenger for You Be The Chemist Program sponsored by Dow Chemical. The Jefferson Husky team took 2nd place and advanced to the National Level!

The Dow High Math Club earned first place at the Math Field Day Competition at U of M Flint.

800 MPS student musicians participated in the MSBOA Band and Orchestra Festival. Every MPS band and orchestra that attended earned a 1st division rating overall with most ensembles earning 1st division ratings from every judge.

Midland High Junior Izaac Goergen competed against 59 Division 1 bowlers to become Midland High's first Boys' Bowling State Champion!

Nine MHS Welding students competed at Skills USA's Regional Welding Competition. Aaron Clark won first and qualified for States. In addition, six welding students traveled to the Industrial Arts Institute in Onaway for their annual welding competition. Abby Markel was officially the first girl to ever place at that competition, earning second place in Gas Metal Arc Welding from among the 85 who participated.

The Adams Elementary Book Warrior team won this year's annual Battle of the Books sponsored by the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library.

Elementary FIRST Robotics: 26 FIRST Lego League Jr. teams (grade 1-3); nine FIRST Lego League teams (Grade 4-5). All six MPS elementary schools had FIRST robotics teams. Three FIRST Lego League Teams earned the right to compete at the MI State Championship: Siebert Bulldog Builders, Woodcrest Cyclone Wolverines, Adams City Warriors.

Middle School FIRST Robotics: All five MPS FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics teams (grade 6-8) qualified to compete at the MI State Championship!

High School FIRST Robotics: Two award-winning Robotics teams: Dow High's Team is 2209 'The Charge' and Midland High's Team is 5509 'Like a Boss' -- this competitive season may have been cut short for our high school teams, but both teams planned, built, troubleshooted, programmed and competed as knowledgeable, organized, collaborative, supportive teams. The MHS 'Like A Boss' team competed at Kettering University and won the Spirit Award; DHS 'The Charge' competed at the St. Joseph FIRST Robotics Competition and won the Gracious Professionalism Award.

FIRST Robotics Dean's List Award Semi Finalists were named: Midland High's Moira Blanchard and Ben Miller; HH Dow High's Caleb Allington and David Watkins

A major focus for MPS is Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI). Here are just a few ways MPS focused on DEI:

Midland Public Schools hosted exciting unified football and basketball games in 2019-20. In these Unified Interscholastic Games, special education and general education players took the field/court before the Varsity Games to compete with the same rules as the high school football/basketball games. Hundreds of students and adults cheered on the Unified Teams giving everyone on the field and in attendance wonderful memories.

Midland High held a One Billion Rising event that discussed how we can be "upstanders" rather than bystanders regarding gender violence.

Chestnut Hill held a Multi-Cultural Night that presented information to over 165 students on 15 different countries/cultures.

First Graders at Central Park took part in an International Day experience that led them on a journey to Israel, Spain, Nepal, Botswana and China. Students learned about cultural customs and traditions.

Another major focus for MPS is kindness through our #keepitkindMPS initiative. MPS students "keep it kind" in many ways. One way is through their volunteerism and giving back to our community. Here are just a few amazing examples:

Midland High's SAVE Club students promote kindness District-wide by reading to over 35 MPS Kindergarten through Grade 2 elementary school classrooms.

HH Dow High's Girls' Varsity Basketball team volunteered at Woodcrest Elementary on the day of all of their home games this season reading books, playing with students during recess, helping with math & more.

Students at Siebert volunteered at the Open Door.

Students at Woodcrest Elementary made blankets and donated them to Mid-Michigan Medical Center.

Midland High Music Department students gave a community member a helping hand by doing some fall yardwork

Many schools organized ingatherings such as socks, toys, stuffed animals, food, personal care items, etc. for area non-profit groups.

Siebert Elementary fourth and fifth graders created kindness coins in their art class to give away across the community. Their goal: to spread smiles far and wide and to share kindness to make the world a better place.

Jefferson Student Leadership organized after-school blanket making parties where Huskies came together to make fleece tie-blankets that they donated to Shelter House.

HH Dow High's Robotics Team sponsors an "Adopt-a-Street" section of Patrick Road helping to keep Midland beautiful.

MPS educators continue to be asked to present at state and national conferences as well as receive awards and accolades in their own right:

Diane White, DHS computer science teacher, and Robert Fox, MHS computer science teacher, were awarded the Inspiring Teacher Award by the Women in Engineering Society and Michigan State University.

Lynn Verdusco, Woodcrest Elementary teacher, and Andrea Jozwiak, Midland High business teacher/interim assistant principal, have been chosen to receive a Heroes in Education Award by SVSU.

Jen Lenon, MPS Middle School learning coach, was chosen as a Regional STEM Star by SVSU.

Jillian Seamster, Central Park third grade teacher, and Amanda Brown, Northeast sixth grade social studies and reading teacher, were chosen as Outstanding Teachers of the Year by the Saginaw Spirit.

Lynn Heil, Spanish teacher at Jefferson Middle School, was selected to speak at the World Language National Conference in Washington, D.C. with attendees from all over the world.

MPS world language teachers Patti Borus, Amy Rankin and Brian Smith were invited to present at the Michigan World Language Association annual conference in Lansing.

As you can see by the many accolades listed here, MPS students, staff and coaches represented Midland Public Schools and the Midland community in so many varied and competitive ways throughout the state of Michigan and beyond during the 2019-20 school year. Kudos MPS students, staff, coaches and parents for your hard work, preparation, professionalism and support in the many arenas in which you represented your district and community so admirably!

After reading all these truly noteworthy accomplishments by the MPS students and staff during this school year cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, we hope you are as proud of your community's students and educators as Midland Public Schools is. Given this long, diverse list of accomplishments (which does not begin to capture everything), it can be no surprise that Midland Public School's is among the top 4% of the districts in the State of Michigan.

Thank you Midland Community for all of your support through the years. We know it truly does take a village to raise a child! Midland Public Schools is so fortunate to be located in this "Village."

Michael E. Sharrow is the Superintendent of Midland Public Schools. He authored this piece as part of the Daily News' Community Connections initiative.

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Community Connections: Midland Public Schools reflects on a memorable school year - Midland Daily News

Meet the coronavirus drones and robots Coronavirus / 07 Apr – RTE.ie

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Opinion: fromhospitals to shops and policing, the use of drones and robots to carry out critical services can save lives during an epidemic

By Boris Galkin, TCD

As the world is rocked by the coronavirus crisis, governments everywhere have come together with the same safety instructions: stay home and avoid close contact with other people. For many, this lifestyle change simply entails taking their workload home and balancing it with their domestic chores: bookkeeping while babysitting, coding while cooking.

But leaving the house is still a necessity for purchasing food and essentials, which carries a risk of infection. Even worse off are those people whose jobs cannot be taken home and who must be in contact with potentially sick individuals.

The good news is that possible solutions for many of these issues are just around the corner, as the crisis has given a boost to a number of emerging technologies. The last 10 years have seen a technological revolution occur in the robotics and autonomous vehicle sectors. Largely invisible to the layperson, this crisis has pushed the technology out of its niche into the public sphere like never before.

From CGTN, a Chinese hospital is using robots to deliver medicine

So how are robots and drones playing a key role in containing the spread of the Covid-19 virus - and what changes we can expect to see in Ireland in the near future?Among those most at risk of contracting the virus are healthcare personnel such as doctors and nurses, who spend prolonged periods of time in areas with potentially infectious patients. Recognising this, several hospitals in China have begun adopting autonomous robots for many of their day-to-day tasks, such as delivering foodand medicineto patients, as well as disinfecting the hospital environment.

In Singapore, doctors are using telemedicine robots to remotely interact with patients from a safe distance whenever possible. These robots take the form of electric carts carrying cameras, video monitors and health measurement equipment. The medical personnel using these devices have the opportunity to increase the frequency of their patient interactions without having to resort to wearing PPE such as gloves and masks, which are in short supply.

Another key service which is seeing a robotic transformation is the delivery sector. With individuals staying home, the demand for online shopping and home delivery has skyrocketed. This puts delivery staff in a difficult situation, as any contact with the end-client puts both parties at risk.

From New China TV, autonomous delivery robots delivering goods in Wuhan

While leaving packages on doorsteps is an option, Chinese company JD.com has a better idea. Already a big player in autonomous delivery systems, this company has used the quarantine conditions to push their autonomous ground vehicles from the lab to the street. Taking the form of miniature electric vans, JD.com's delivery robots are safely driving along Wuhans roads and carrying out the last-mile stage of package delivery (that is, the stage where a package is sent from the local storage hub to the clients address). Capable of piloting themselves around complicated road conditions day or night, these robots are reported to be making the majority of the companys medical deliveries at the time of writing.

Law enforcement has not been left behind by this technological trend. With the lockdown come new laws which need to be enforced, and police organisations around the world are turning to remotely-piloted tools. These devices most often take the form of commercially available drones carrying loudspeakers or other communication equipment. Using them, police officers are able to remotely patrol city streets and public areas, identify the locations of non-compliant individuals and directly engage them. Not only do these devices allow the police to maintain their physical distance when carrying out their patrols, but their speed allows the police to oversee much larger areas than what they could achieve from the ground.

From ABC News, Madrid police are using drones tobroadcast messages during the coronavirus outbreak

While China has emerged as the leader in adopting these robotic tools, other countries are following closely. Ireland is currently lagging behind with this technology, due to a combination of economic and legislative issues. Current legislation prevents many of the applications of autonomous vehicles described above, particularly those used outdoors in public areas.

By law, autonomous or remotely piloted delivery vans are not permitted on Irish roads, and drones are heavily restricted in how they can use Irish airspace, even in the hands of the emergency services. Fortunately, the legislation on autonomous vehicles and drones is gradually changing to allow for more expanded use cases, such as food delivery in selected parts of the country.

The automation revolution was visible on the horizon for a while, but thiscrisis has suddenly brought it into full view

It is unlikely that we will see the technologies described above become adopted in Ireland during this current crisis, but the existing global trends unanimously point towards a near future where this technology is a daily part of our lives. Economists, scientists and tech experts worldwide are predicting that the virus will create an even greater demand for automating parts of the economy from the factory to the office.

When the virus outbreak comes to an end, the world will return to a new normal, with robots and autonomous devices appearing in various workplaces in increasing numbers. Working from home will become available to more people, while others will find aspects of their jobs taken over by machines, whether remotely piloted by the workers themselves or controlled by artificial intelligence. New business opportunities will emerge to cater to these automation demands, with new jobs created in the process. The automation revolution was visible on the horizon for a while, but thiscrisis has suddenly brought it into full view, and showed just how important the technology is for saving lives.

Boris Galkinis a PhD researcher atCONNECTinTrinity College Dublin

The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RT

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Meet the coronavirus drones and robots Coronavirus / 07 Apr - RTE.ie

The all-female robotics team in Afghanistan who made a cheap ventilator out of Toyota parts – The National

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Five girls in Afghanistan, aged between 14 and 17, have joined the fight against the coronavirus, designing a cheap ventilator that runs off the motor of a Toyota Corolla.

The all-female robotics team, aptly named the Afghan Dreamers, has long been more accomplished than average teenagers.

Tech entrepreneur Roya Mahboob founded the trail-blazing programme in the Afghani city of Herat, selecting young girls from high schools across the country, usually aged 14 or 15, for the programme.

It was a passion project for Ms Mahboob, a serial entrepreneur who became one of Afghanistans first female chief executives at 23, established a non-profit organisation to help young women to build digital literacy, and has since been named one of Time Magazines 100 most influential people.

Participants are selected for the Dreamers based on their entrance exam for the 9th and 10th grades, and the very best of them then get to join the national team the Afghan Girls Robotics Team for international competitions. There are about 50 participants in the Dreamers, and they stay in the programme for about two years.

In 2017, the national team made international headlines when their US visas were rejected not long before they were due to travel to an international robotics competition in Washington, DC. After individual appeals to the US Embassy in Kabul failed, the group took to social media to air their grievances. The teams' plight received international attention, and led to US President Donald Trump intervening on their behalf.

The Afghan Girls Robotics Team returned from that competition with a silver medal for courageous achievement won by their ball-sorting robot, designed to distinguish between contaminated and clean water.

Upon their return home, the girls were not only heroes, but inspiration for women seeking higher education in Afghanistan, where about 40 per cent of women are literate.

In the years since, that robotics team has graduated, and another has come to the fore. But Ms Mahboob has remained, spearheading a movement to tackle inequality with education.

"The only thing that we all want to do is help our people and our community. We will do anything to help them," she tells The National.

"I work with the girls, but mostly to co-ordinate. They are the real heroes."

Ms Mahboob now splits her time between New York and Kabul. She is currently in Afghanistan, initially to oversee the Brite conference (Building Resilience through Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship) another brainchild of hers which is due to take place in Kabul this June.

Other teams in the Afghan Dreamers have been working on big projects too, after all. One team was developing a device to help farmers with saffron picking. Another was building drones and robots to work in the mining sector.

But with cities under increasing lockdown in the country and the conference postponed, Ms Mahboob has turned her attention to ventilators.

"We don't know what's going to happen here in two or there weeks so we want to be prepared," she says.

Cases of Covid-19 are accelerating in Afghanistan. The first was reported in Herat, the country's third most populous city, on February 24. That number has since increased to 337, with seven deaths. But authorities fear it could get much worse and with a compromised health system and an insufficient number of ventilators, the authorities face a race against the clock.

Which is why, when the governor of Herat put out a public plea for more ventilators, five young women answered the call.

This team consists of five Dreamers aged between 14 and 17; captain Somaya Faruqi, Dyana Wahbzadeh, Folernace Poya, Ellaham Mansori and Nahid Rahimi. Ms Mahboob has been working with them for about a year.

They are currently working with two prototypes. One is a gear-based system based on a design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US. The other uses parts from a Toyota Corolla.

The key to this MIT ventilator alternative was devising a mechanical system to operate the hand-operated plastic pouch, or Ambu bag, which hospitals have on hand in large quantities. An Ambu bag is designed to be operated by hand, by squeezing the bag, which pumps air into a patient's lungs. The mechanic version would cost about $200 to make. A company from Texas has now offered to help provide advice for the design and to connect them with others who can help them bring the concept to fruition.

For the other ventilator, the Toyota Corolla motor was used as it runs off a battery and is easily sourced in the country. And it costs just $300 to make.

Both needed to be made with local materials, Ms Mahboob says. That proved a challenge for the girls, as did working with a gear-based device, rather than their usual technological or robotic designs.

"The idea of these machines is that we use them for emergency cases, when there are no professional ventilators. The thing in Afghanistan is, we don't have enough ventilators, but that's the case for many other countries, even Italy or New York.

"If we don't have access to anything professional we can use these ones."

As cities across the country shut down, working on the designs became increasingly challenging, Ms Mahboob says. The girls' parents were concerned about them being out of the house as the pandemic raged on, but they were usually able to work together for a couple of hours a day.

"It's very difficult for the girls to come together in one place. The shops are closed, so we have to call so many people to open the shop someone who knows someone, who can open the store to get that part."

The team was still fine-tuning both designs, and working with doctors to test them.

However, since a new governor of Herat took over a few days ago, Ms Mahboob doesn't know what the immediate future of her designs is. She hopes the new governor will look favourably on their work.

"We want to make sure that the government and the community are excited about technology," she says.

"There are other focuses for government money to be spent, but in order to compete and prosper in the 21st century, all countries must be able to access the highest technology that's transforming our world.

"If these girls have access to the opportunity or the tools, their lives can be changed. But not only their lives, they can change their community, too."

Updated: April 9, 2020 09:00 PM

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The all-female robotics team in Afghanistan who made a cheap ventilator out of Toyota parts - The National

Global Box Packaging Robots Market : Industry Outlook, Comprehensive Insights, Growth and Forecast 2029 – Curious Desk

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Documenting the Industry Development of Box Packaging Robots Market concentrating on the industry that holds a massive market share 2020 both concerning volume and value With top countries data, Manufacturers, Suppliers, In-depth research on market dynamics, export research report and forecast to 2029

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Segmentation Overview:

Product Type Segmentation :

Fully AutomaticSemi-Automatic

Application Segmentation :

Food IndustryPharmaceutical IndustryLogistics

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Global Box Packaging Robots Market : Industry Outlook, Comprehensive Insights, Growth and Forecast 2029 - Curious Desk

Animal rescues are going to need more help than ever once coronavirus restrictions are lifted – CNBC

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Cafe Meow Parlour in New York City.

Sarah Whitten | CNBC

Nestled in the Lower East Side of Manhattan is a shop with a unique table in the window. A simple wood ledge is balanced on four big white letters that spell out the word "MEOW."

On a typical day, New Yorkers walking the streets can spot adoptable cats sunning themselves, sprawled out on the table or napping under the "M" or inside the "O."

These days, Meow Parlour, New York City's first cat cafe, doesn't house a single cat. Its doors are shuttered, like many small businesses in the city, due to the coronavirus outbreak. The cats that once resided inside have either been adopted or gone to live in foster homes.

"We are basically on pause, which feels really weird,"Christina Ha, owner ofMeow Parlour, said, "It looks a little bit like those horror movies where a place has been abandoned. It's very familiar to you, but it's not the same."

Meow Parlour is just a piece of Ha's small business. She is also the owner of Macaron Parlour, apatisserie that is right next door.This is where patrons of Meow Parlour can scoop up scones, muffins, cookies, croissants and macarons, of course, as well as a number of beverages.

Today, that space is closed, too.

Ha pays rent for the two different spaces, and without a steady income, paying those rents this month is going to be tough. Shesaid she plans on applying for a loan to help deal with the financial issues she is facing and is currently supplementing her income by selling catnip toys and macarons, as well as face masks, on her company's websites.

Meow Parlour, like other animal rescues across the country, saw a spike in adoptions and foster applications in late February and early March as people prepared for extended stays at home.Now Ha wonders if she'll be able to reopen once the pandemic ebbs.

Even if the outbreak were to subside tomorrow, Ha said, "We don't have enough cats to reopen and call ourselves a cat cafe."

Americans looking for comfort during the lockdown have opened their homes to new pets and foster animals, but rescues are having a hard time meeting demand. State social distancing regulations have made it more difficult for rescues to bring in new animals, vet them and place them in foster homes or with permanent adopters. However, when the outbreak is over these rescues are going to need more help than ever.

Patrons at Meow Parlor pet a cat in the window of the cat cafe.

Meow Parlour

Animal shelters started prepping for the arrival of new litters of puppies and kittens as well as abandoned animals during the coronavirus outbreak back in February, racing to empty kennels filled with healthy and adoptable dogs and cats before they are forced to resort to euthanasia.

From March 15 through the end of the month, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals saw more than 600 people complete online foster applications for its New York City and Los Angeles foster programs. New York City and Los Angeles have been hot spots for the Covid-19 outbreak and were among the first cities to implement restrictions on social gatherings.

Typically, around 200 applications will be submitted for fostering in the latter half of March, Matt Bershadker, ASPCA president and CEO, said. This year, the ASPCA saw a nearly 70% increase in animals going to foster care compared to the same period last year, he said.

At the DC Paws Rescue in Washington, D.C, the organization received close to 300 foster applications over a four-day period in the last week of March. Usually, it has about 60 homes that are regular fosters.

"We are so thrilled," Kate Viar, director of DC Paws Rescue, said. "Folks who are teleworking, or out of work, think this is a good time to foster or to actually adopt and that's great."

The North Shore Animal League America had a population of more than 300 dogs and cats in mid-March. By the end of the month, its population fell to around 180 animals, Joanne Yohannan, senior vice president of operations, said.

In Chicago, an animal shelter said it ran out of adoptable animals for the first time ever on Tuesday.

"It's something we've never thought we'd say," Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) wrote in a Facebook post thanking the community. "We're so happy to bring you this news.But, we are still scheduling intake from the public, and our officers are still rescuing animals in the field, so we'll probably have more again in the coming days."

However, trying to continue rescue efforts and adoptions has become increasingly difficult.More than 30 states have issued restrictions that prohibit elective surgeries and procedures including ones that take place in veterinary offices.

That means thatvaccinations and spay and neuter programs, as well as vet check-ups for non-life threatening cases have been suspended in many states over the last month. Many of these elective services were provided at a lower price for rescues than for the general public.

Rescues who pull animals from shelters are now unable to have animals cleared by a vet before taking them in and may have to pay a higher cost to get them checked through other veterinarians, if they are able to make appointments.

"I can't ask my fosters to take in a foster [animal] that isn't vetted," Viar said. "We are pulling animals right now without heartworm tests and if they are found to be heartworm-positive that could be a $400 to $500 bill.Factor in medication and the treatment itself, and getting them scheduled for that treatment, that's two to three months worth of fostering."

Homes that already have pets in them cannot risk an unvetted animal coming in and possibly spreading an infection or disease to currently healthy pets.

Sesame is Heather Gutshall's foster dog during the coronavirus outbreak. He was rescued from dog fighting by Handsome Dan's Rescue, a Rhode Island-based rescue organization that specializes in pit bull breeds.

Heather Gutshall

Some rescues that have their own medical staff are able to continue to provide vaccines to their own animals, but are only performing operations that are medically necessary. While spaying or neutering is an important preventative measure, it's not considered essential at this time.

If cats or dogs were seen by a vet prior to the coronavirus restrictions, some rescues have waived the requirement that the pets be spayed or neutered in order to get animals into adopted homes. Those procedures can occur once the pandemic is over. Typically, puppies are neutered between six and eight months and cats are neutered between 16 and 18 weeks. Although, sometimes veterinarians will neuter once a puppy or kitten reaches two pounds.

However, spaying and neutering isn't just for adoptable animals. It's also for cats that live in the community, but aren't friendly enough to live in a home.

"This is not an ideal time to stop spaying community cats," Sonja Lueschen, program manager at Orphan Kitten Club, a charitable organization that seeks to end the killing of neonatal kittens.

Most shelters are not able to care for young kittens, especially if they are brought into the shelter without their mother cat. Kittens that are less than four weeks old are at a higher risk of contracting diseases. And, even if their condition is treatable, they are often euthanized because shelters don't have the capacity to care for them.

A neonatal kitten is bottlefed by Hannah Shaw, the "Kitten Lady," a professional kitten rescuer, humane educator and founder of Orphan Kitten Club.

Andrew Marttila

Orphan Kitten Club advocates trap-neuter-return programs, which sterilize community cats to end the cycle of reproduction before overpopulation becomes a concern in a community. April is usually considered the start of "kitten season," a time when many of these kittens are born, found and brought into shelters.

"This break in actively trapping will have an impact on our upcoming kitten season," Lueschen said. "...We do believe we can use this time to educate the public not just on fostering but TNR."

Meow Parlour's Ha, worries that this year's kitten season will be overwhelming for rescues. She said animal organizations can use the heightened interest in fostering to tell people how important volunteering will be once the outbreak is over.

"We are really, really going to need you when this is over," she said.

Foster parent Lizzy Dawahare from DC Paws Rescue kisses Friedrich, a puppy from a litter named after the characters from "The Sound of Music." Friedrich has since been adopted.

Stephanie Kenner

The inability to vet, vaccinate and spay or neuter animals also means that rescues that import animals from other states are unable to do so because many states require some form of a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection to ensure that only healthy animals are transported across state lines.

"We do get a lot of cats imported in from Kentucky," Ha said, noting that this partnership started earlier this year and has had to be suspended due to the pandemic.

Rescues in northern states often transport dogs, in particular, from southern states like Alabama, Texas, Mississippi and Georgia. These states have overpopulation issues and not enough shelter space in their local areas to handle the number of dogs. With northern rescues unable to pull dogs from these southern locations, it is possible the euthanasia rate could go up.

However, if foster rates remain high, some of that could be mitigated. If shelters are able to place healthy and vetted animals in homes, even for just a few weeks, that would open up kennel space for new intakes.

Rescues recoup the cost of vet visits, care and food through adoption fees, donations and fundraisers.

Heather Gutshall, co-founder and president ofHandsome Dan's Rescue, a Rhode Island-based rescue for pit bull-type dogs, said her rescue relies heavily on its fall and spring auctions to raise money.She said that right now she has enough supplies like food and enrichment items, but people should reach out to local shelters to ask what they need.

"You will find that shelters will ask for real, tangible things," she said.

Handsome Dan's Rescue fostered Maisy until she was adopted. The dog was rescued from life where she was kept on a chain deep in the woods.

Handsome Dan's Rescue

Last week the ASPCA launched a relief and recovery initiative, a $5 million response to help provide funds and pet food to vulnerable pet owners.

Other rescue organizations are using Facebook and Instagram to solicit donations.

"We raised around $15,000 in three days," Yohannan from North Shore Animal League America said of a recent Facebook campaign. "That really, really helps keep us operational. We don't receive any government funding. We rely solely on public donations."

Still, rescues are very cognizant that for many, money is very tight right now and that a lot of organizations are looking for philanthropy to get through this crisis.

"Some people are not working and some people are working, and it's been a very unusual situation for a lot of people," Ha said. "But, it's one of those things where we had to ask: can we afford to not ask for money?"

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Animal rescues are going to need more help than ever once coronavirus restrictions are lifted - CNBC

The Power Line Show, Ep 180: From the White House Press Room to the Hospital Emergency Room – Power Line

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Debra Saunders

This weeks show features two guests who just happen to be married, which certainly makes recording convenient! Our first guest is Debra J. Saunders, the White House correspondent for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and former opinion columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. President Trump called on Debra last Friday in his daily virus briefing, and beyond the immediate story I was most interested in talking with Debra about what its like covering this White House, what its like in the press briefing room when the cameras arent running, and how broadcast journalists operate differently than print journalists. We also speculate some on the general political scene, which is likely going to be unpredictable right up to election day.

Wesley Smith

Then I turn the discussion to medical ethics with Wesley J. Smith, who is the chair of the Center for Human Exceptionalism at the Discovery Institute. The author of 14 books including Culture of Death and The War on Humans,Wesley writes frequently for National Review, the American Spectator, and other publications about ethical issues involved with animal rights, euthanasia, and biotechnology. Our conversation focuses on how the current pandemic may affect broader trends in medical ethics. And also the bad behavior of the Chinese, which goes far beyond concealing the origins and scope of COVID-19 in Wuhan.

You know what to do now: listen here, or download from our hosts at Ricochet or from your favorite podcast platform.

Link:

The Power Line Show, Ep 180: From the White House Press Room to the Hospital Emergency Room - Power Line