UK-headquartered Afentra plc has received approval from the Angolan Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas for the acquisition of INA-Industrija Nafte’s interest in two blocks offshore Angola. Afentra is acquiring from INA-Industrija a 4 per cent interest in Block 3/05 and a 4 per cent interest in Block 3/05A, pursuant to a sale and purchase agreement... Continue Reading →
Jones Act Uncertainties Persist in US Offshore Wind
The Jones Act is a single sentence long, and yet somehow that reservation of U.S. domestic maritime commerce to qualified U.S.-flag vessels has spawned numerous complications with respect to offshore wind energy projects. Although not supported by prior experience, maybe 2023 will bring some clarity. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the primary source... Continue Reading →
Norwegian Petroleum Directorate Awards Seabed Mapping Contracts for Offshore Wind
(OED) Fugro and Enviros have secured contracts with the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) for mapping of the shallowest strata under the seabed offshore Norway, with the objective of locating sites that are best suited for the installation of wind turbines. Fugro has won the contract for the Sørlig Nordsjø II area, while Enviros will map... Continue Reading →
Ocyan, LZ Energia Hire DNV to Assist with Hydrogen Conversion of Diesel Drilling Rigs
The Brazilian offshore drilling company Ocyan has engaged DNV as an independent third party in the qualification process of a system injecting hydrogen as an additive in the internal combustion engines of drilling rigs, in order to reduce diesel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from drilling. DNV’s technology qualification process will ensure that the... Continue Reading →
Odfjell Oceanwind, Partner to Take Part in Norway’s Floating Wind Seabed Lease
Norwegian floating wind technology developer Odfjell Oceanwind said Monday it would, together with its partner Source Galileo, participate in the competition for seabed lease for floating offshore wind on Utsira Nord west of Haugesund in Norway, with their UtsiraVIND project. The three 500 MW seabed leases are intended to stimulate technology and innovation with the... Continue Reading →
Hitachi Energy Bags Major Offshore Wind Orders in Poland
Hitachi Energy said Monday it had secured two major orders from Equinor and Polenergia to provide an AC grid connection and power quality solution for their jointly owned MFW Baltyk II and MFW Baltyk III offshore wind projects in Poland. The wind farms, to be built in the Polish section of the Baltic Sea, will... Continue Reading →
Brazil: CGG Starts Foz do Amazonas 3D Seismic Reimaging Project
French offshore seismic data company CGG has announced the start of a new Foz do Amazonas 3D seismic reimaging project. This project is meant to support Brazil's Permanent Offer initiative in the Equatorial Margin. Supported by industry funding, the project is expected to complete by the end of 2023. CGG said that the related fast-track... Continue Reading →
Oil-rich Norway looks to expand wind energy in shallow waters
(UPI) -- Two companies are now tasked with mapping the shallow waters off Norway to advance the nation's offshore wind energy footprint, the government said Friday. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, the nation's energy regulator, awarded contracts to Dutch geological data firm Fugro and geoscience consultant Enviros to map the shallowest areas under the seabed for potential wind energy... Continue Reading →
Lula Team Wants to Halt Petrobras Sale of Natural Gas Assets
(Bloomberg) -- Brazil’s state-controlled oil giant Petrobras should abandon planned divestments in refining and natural gas and expand in those areas instead, according to a detailed report from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s transition team. The document, drafted in late 2022 by a group of energy experts aligned with Lula, recommends that Petrobras start... Continue Reading →
What’s in Store for US Offshore Wind?
Philip Lewis, Contributor (OE) January brings with it the expectation that the United States' first commercial wind farm in federal waters will start generating power by year end, the promise that permitting for close to 5 gigawatts (GW) of projects will be finalized within the year and that federal agencies will auction leases containing more than... Continue Reading →