Search

This article provides an overview of the current state of the energy sector in Norway and contracts used in onshore and offshore construction, and looks at some important changes to the standard forms of contract for offshore construction that have been implemented recently as, what it seems, a response to the market demand for simplification and flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rework arises in offshore projects due to errors and omissions, and this can significantly contribute to project cost and cause schedule overruns. Indeed, these additional and unnecessary costs can uncontrollably spiral to account for 25% of capital expenditure for offshore platform projects. Yet rework costs are frequently dismissed as isolated and rare instances of unfortunate circumstances and alien to normal practice. Original evidence stemming from this research indicates that cost and schedule overruns are a recurrent feature of offshore projects. Moreover, the risk of overruns are further exacerbated by increasingly complex commercial and contracting arrangements, technical challenges, changing local economic and regulatory conditions, and a shift towards projects being undertaken in peak oil frontier regions. To acquire new knowledge on the dynamics of offshore rework, the experiences of 23 oil and gas industry practitioners were captured using in-depth interviews. A risk classification matrix was subsequently developed in order to provide a frame of reference to mitigate future rework. Failing to give consideration to rework risks increases the potential for latent conditions to become embedded within organisational and project systems and processes. Consequently, the likelihood of failures, accidents or even catastrophes increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shallow-water tropical corals can be used to calibrate the radiocarbon timescale. In this paper, we present a new data set based on the comparison between 14C ages and U-Th ages measured in fossil corals collected offshore the island of Tahiti during the Integrated Oceanic Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 310. After applying strict mineralogical and geochemical screening criteria, the Tahiti record provides new data for 2 distinct time windows: 7 data for the interval between 29 and 37 cal kyr BP and 58 for the last deglaciation period, notably a higher resolution for the 14-16 cal kyr BP time interval. There are 3 main outcomes of this study. First, it extends the previous Tahiti record beyond 13.9 cal kyr BP, the oldest U-Th age obtained on cores drilled onshore in the modern Tahiti barrier reef. Second, it strengthens the data set of the 14-15 cal kyr BP period, allowing for better documentation of the 14C age plateau in this time range. This age plateau corresponds to a drop of the atmospheric 14C synchronous with an abrupt period of sea-level rise (Melt Water Pulse 1A, MWP-1A). The Tahiti 14C record documents complex changes in the global carbon cycle due to variations in the exchange rates between its different reservoirs. Third, during the Heinrich event 1, the Tahiti record disagrees with the Cariaco record, but is in broad agreement with other marine and continental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The legal fallout from major offshore events such as the DEEPWATER HORIZON spill, PIPER ALPHA, and the grounding of the EXXON VALDEZ has resulted in extreme stress testing of liabilities allocation in upstream oil and gas project contracts. The risks inherent in the offshore oil and gas industry are very large. This Article examines how liability is shared during offshore construction projects, the standard insurance policy that is commonly used in respect of such risks, and a number of topical issues that parties engaged in such activity might bear in mind when they are negotiating contracts and insurance arrangements to protect their position [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses the threat to the Caspian ecosystem posed by plans to build underwater oil and gas pipelines and the motives underlying Russia's opposition to such projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over two years after the original creation of a sand excavation pit 8 km off the Louisiana coast, benthic macrofauna communities and sedimentary characteristics are still effected. Macrofaunal communities inside the pit had lower abundance, biomass, and diversity than communities outside the pit. This difference, however, was only significant with some of the stations outside the pit. Results from multi-dimensional scaling and cluster analysis showed that macrofaunal communities were less than 32% similar inside the pit to communities outside the pit. The polychaete Mediomastus ambiseta was the most abundant species outside the excavation pit, but the species was only counted once inside the pit. The most dominant species, which made up over 90% of organisms inside the pit, was the pioneer polychaete Paraprionospio pinnata. Only three species were found at each station inside the pit as opposed to 9–27 species at stations outside the pit. All species inside the pit were also found outside the pit; thus, change was due to a loss of species rather than replacement by different species. Sediment inside the pit contained more silt and clay; however, no difference in water quality was detected compared with outside the pit. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita passed near the dredge pit in 2005 and could have effected sediment transport in the region. Because the macrofaunal community inside the pit has not recovered within 38 months, it is likely that it will require more time before it resembles the surrounding conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the nature of the new forms of work and employment brought to the North East of England by the development of offshore construction activities, serving the North Sea's oil and gas industries in the period since the early 1970s. In particular, it assesses the extent to which these activities differ from traditional forms of work and employment organisation within the region. The results of this analysis suggest the need to interpret contemporary patterns of restructuring, both in a particular local labour market context and more generally, as part of an on-going evolutionary process, rather than as a decisive break (or shift) from the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The time and cost required for offshore construction operations are often dominated by the influence of weather, particularly wave heights. Historical wave height data can be summarized in a simple probabilistic model that can be used in a Monte Carlo simulation of the construction operations. Such a simulation has been used effectively to evaluate alternative bids on pipeline projects in the Gulf of Mexico. This paper describes the Markovian wave height model we have incorporated in the simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saipem has won three new offshore contracts worth more than US $1.1 billion in Azerbaijan, Brazil and Venezuela. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

KBR has secured a FEED contract to perform work for the topsides and hull associated with a new-build, double-sided, single-bottom hull Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel located offshore Angola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses an article on the economic relations among Russia, Central Asia and Transcaucasus countries, the offshore oil well drilling projects in Caspian Sea, and the conservation of its marine ecosystem.

Aker Solutions has been selected by Kebabangan Petroleum Operating Co Sdn Bhd as its contractor for the detailed engineering of the Kebabangan (KBB) Northern Hub development project in the South China Sea, 130 kms offshore Sabah in East Malaysia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In a €70 million contract, Impregilo is to build the offshore works for the expansion of the Qurayyah thermoelectric power plant in Saudi Arabia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fluor Offshore Solutions has been awarded a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract by Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Co for offshore facilities located 120 kms off the northwest coast of Abu Dhabi City. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pemex Exploration and Production has awarded ICA Fluor a US$51 million contract for the construction of two lightweight offshore platforms for the Cantarell production field in the Gulf of Mexico. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BP has selected KBR for a four-year contract, including an option for extension, to provide engineering and project management services for BP''s future offshore developments worldwide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Saipem has won two new offshore contracts in Egypt and Angola together worth US$600 million. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aker Kvaerner has signed a US$160 million contract with Singapore''s Jurong Shipyard Pte Ltd for the delivery of a drilling system for an ultra deepwater drilling semi-submersible platform. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Saipem has been awarded three offshore construction contracts valued at US$550 million in Indonesia and the North Sea, following international tender. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reports on the selection of Areva T&D Inc. to design, manufacture and install the first offshore HV substation of Great Britain as of November 2004. Participants in the contract with Areva; Duties of Areva under the contract.

Reports on the plan of turbine manufacturer Vestas to dismantle its entire 81-strong fleet of turbines that make up Horns Rev wind farm in the west coast of Denmark. Series of problems confronting the offshore wind project; Need for change in a number of transformers and generators; Market share in the turbine manufacturing sector.

Saipem has won two offshore contracts worth £104 million from EnCana UK as part of the Buzzard development project. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reports on the new funding for offshore wind farms after the meeting of British Wind Energy Association attended by Energy Minister Stephen Timms. Worth of the funding; Allocation of the capital grant; Capacity of the projects awarded funding.