August 7, 2020

Credit: Solstad

Norwegian offshore supply vessel owner Solstad offshore has secured several contract extensions with oil companies Total and Equinor in Brazil.

France's Total has extended the contracts for the platform supply vessel Normand Swift and the AHTS vessel Far Sagaris until December 2020. Tge vessels will be used to support Totals activities in the Lapa field in Brazil.

During the charter period, Far Sagaris will be replaced by Far Scout, as Far Sagaris will start a 3-year contract with Petrobras.

Also, Equinor has extended the contracts for the PSVs Sea Brasil by one year until December 2021 and Far Scotsman by 6 months until May 2022.

Both vessels will continue to support Equinor on their operation and development activities in Brazil, Solstad Offshore said.

New of Solstad's Brazil extensions come just days after the Norwegian vessel owner said it had won work for three of its vessels with BP in Australia.

BP has awarded contracts for two anchor handling tug and supply vessels Normand Saracen and Far Senator, along with the platform supply vessel Normand Leader. The vessels will support the company's Ironbark drilling program.

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Solstad Offshore's Vessels Score Extensions with Total and Equinor - Offshore Engineer

A multi-user, planned transmission system for offshore wind in New York could result in electric grid cost savings of over USD 500 million and significantly reduce environmental impacts and project risks, according to a new report prepared by The Brattle Group for Anbaric.

The Offshore Wind Transmission: An Analysis of Options forNew York report evaluates the challenges of connecting each wind farm to shore individually compared to a high-capacity transmission system serving multiple wind farms.

Relying on individual generator lead lines would require extensive onshore grid upgrades costing four times as much as a planned approach, the report writes, emphasizing that by using fewer cable routes and more robust grid connections, a planned transmission system reduces grid congestion and the need for expensive, disruptive onshore transmission upgrades, thus reducing the impacts on the marine environment and coastal communities.

According to the study, a planned transmission approach would reduce cabling by almost 60%, preventing 660 miles of seabed disturbance and reducing the impact on fisheries and marine ecosystems.

Additionally, the report finds that planned transmission would more fully utilize lease areas and more easily reduce offshore wind curtailment. This approach using more efficient direct current technology would deliver more power to shore than alternating current technology.

Developing a shared ocean grid is critical to achievingNew Yorksambitious offshore wind goals, saidKevin Knobloch, President of Anbarics New York OceanGrid.

The next phase in achievingNew Yorksgoals depends on building transmission infrastructure in a way that reduces overall costs and feasibility risks, protects fisheries, coastal communities and the environment, and enables developing the offshore wind industry to scale.

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Shared Grid Offshore New York Cuts Over USD 500 Million in Costs (Report) - Offshore WIND

The University of Maine will collaborate with the Mitsubishi Corporation and RWE Renewables to develop UMaines floating offshore wind technology demonstration project off the coast of Maine.

New England Aqua Ventus, LLC (NEAV), a joint venture between Diamond Offshore Wind, a subsidiary of the Mitsubishi Corporation, and RWE Renewables, will as the developer own and manage all aspects of permitting, construction and assembly, deployment and ongoing operations for the project.

UMaines Advanced Structures and Composites Center will continue with design and engineering, research and development and post-construction monitoring.

The project will consist of a single semisubmersible concrete floating platform that will support a commercial 1012 megawatt wind turbine and will be deployed in a state-designated area two miles south of Monhegan Island and 14 miles from the Maine coast.

The purpose of the demonstration project is to further evaluate the floating technology, monitor environmental factors, and develop best practices for offshore wind to coexist with traditional marine activities.

Construction, following all permitting, is expected to be completed in 2023.

Diamond Offshore Wind and RWE Renewables will invest USD 100 million to build the project and help demonstrate the technology at full scale.

The project is projected to produce more than USD 150 million in total economic output and create hundreds of Maine-based jobs during the construction period.

We see great potential for floating wind farms worldwide, especially in countries like the U.S., with deeper coastal waters, said Sven Utermhlen, chief operating officer, Wind Offshore Global of RWE Renewables.

This innovative project combines the University of Maines knowledge with the states maritime heritage, allowing RWE Renewables to gain the experience that can help us provide future opportunities to grow local economies and produce clean, renewable power.

NEAV will continue to involve Maine companies in permitting, construction and assembly, deployment, and ongoing operations and maintenance of the project. In addition, NEAV has committed to working with the University of Maine on research, development, and design to take the technology elsewhere in the US and the world.

The developers will also work with the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System and Maine Maritime Academy to attract K12 students to science, engineering and business programs, prepare college students and help to create a skilled workforce in Maine with the technical skills necessary to support offshore wind development and operation.

This project south of Monhegan is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate a new technology that can be built in Maine, create jobs in Maine, and demonstrate how fishing and offshore wind can co-exist, said Chris Wissemann of Diamond Offshore Wind.

Together with RWE, our engineers conducted an extensive due-diligence review of UMaines VolturnUS floating wind technology, and believe it is a world leader in floating wind that reduces costs and creates local jobs. We are really focused on creating economic opportunities for Maine as this new carbon-free economy emerges.

The University of Maine has researched floating offshore wind technology since 2008. After winning funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the university worked with Maine-based construction firm Cianbro to build and deploy the first grid-connected offshore wind turbine in the US in 2013, a one-eighth scale prototype of its VolturnUS floating hull technology.

The success of the project led to additional funding from the DOE to further advance the VolturnUS technology, which has been issued 43 patents to date. UMaine will continue to own its VolturnUS floating hull intellectual property and license it to NEAV for this project.

Excerpt from:

Heavyweights Join US Floating Wind Project - Offshore WIND

The Voltaire will be the first ultra-low emission vessel.

(Courtesy Jan De Nul)

Offshore staff

LUXEMBOURG SSE Renewables and Equinor have contracted Jan De Nul Group to transport and install the GE Haliade-X wind turbines at Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B in the UK North Sea.

This will be the first assignment for Jan De Nuls jackup installation vessel Voltaire. Installation is expected to start in 2023.

Located 130 km (81 mi) off the Yorkshire coast, Dogger Bank consists of three 1.2-GW phases: Dogger Bank A, Dogger Bank B, and Dogger Bank C. The final investment decision on Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B is expected in late 2020 and on Dogger Bank C in 2021.

SSE Renewables is leading the development and construction phases of the Dogger Bank wind farm.Equinor will lead on operations for its lifetime of at least 25 years.

When complete Dogger Bank is expected to be the worlds largest offshore wind farm and power more than 4.5 million homes every year around 5% of the UKs electricity needs.

08/07/2020

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Voltaire to debut at Dogger Bank offshore the UK - Offshore Oil and Gas Magazine

A scarecrow system installed on the substation of the Galloper offshore wind farm has reduced seabird guano on the structure from approximately 50-60% coverage to almost none in the last 12 months.

The Scaretech system was installed on the substation located 27km off the Suffolk coast in the UK in July last year to address the guano problem.

Seabird poo or guano is said to be a huge problem for the global offshore wind industry as it poses a serious health risk due to its carcinogenic qualities, and is expensive and unpleasant to remove.

The Scaretech device is based on a traditional scarecrow concept and adapted for the offshore environment of a wind farm or oil platform. It emits sporadic loud noises and high-intensity strobe lights which deters seabirds from landing on the structure.

There is an abundance of seabass around our Galloper site, which attracts large numbers of seabirds. These in turn generate significant quantities of guano, which poses an unpleasant health and safety hazard for us, said Kieron Drew, Interim O&M Manager at Galloper.

This is a new innovation for the wind industry and it certainly worked for us. Once we installed the Scaretch device, we saw dramatic reductions in the amount of guano. In fact, the problem is now almost non-existent.

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Galloper Makes Offshore Wind Scarecrow Tried-and-True - Offshore WIND

Tidal energy turbines are integrated with the TriFrame in preparation for a fall deployment in the East River.

(Courtesy Verdant Power)

Offshore staff

NEW YORK CITY Verdant Power has taken additional steps toward the installation of three, fifth-generation tidal power turbines on the companys TriFrame mount at its Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Project site in the East River in New York City.

The turbines were transported from the companys New Jersey marine engineering support services facility to a marine vessel installation services area. They have been integrated onto a TriFrame mount in preparation for on-water delivery and deployment at the RITE Project site.

In addition, the RITE Project Control Room on Roosevelt Island is being readied for the turbine system installation, which is planned for autumn 2020.

The company plans to install three of its fifth generation Free Flow Systems or kinetic hydropower system (KHPS) turbines on a single TriFrame mount in the East River. This will be the pre-commercial phase of the companys RITE Project to design its KHPS tidal turbine, optimize the economics of installation and maintenance of arrays, and prove performance.

This is the final pre-commercialization phase in a process that has seen 23 government agencies approve work on the RITE Project, said Verdant Power CEO John T. Banigan. We are proud to have been the first licensed tidal power project in the US.

Our focus is on maximizing system power performance, increasing availability and reliability, and reducing project capex and operating costs, added Banigan. The RITE Project not only will demonstrate clean power from the tidal currents, but also will demonstrate tidal power as a viable energy resource advancing our industry in the US and globally.

The RITE Project site will generate electricity under a hydrokinetic pilot project license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The project has been supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the US Department of Energy, in addition to New York-based private equity capital support.

08/07/2020

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Verdant Power progressing tidal energy project in New York - Offshore Oil and Gas Magazine

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By Coreen van der Merwe

Unpacking the enigma around offshore starts with one simple certainty; nothing in the South African Income Tax or Reserve Bank regulations prohibits South Africans from opening a bank account, investment account or setting up an offshore trust.

Many South Africans are feeling very uncertain about going offshore with their money, and understandably so. The spread of Covid-19, the economic forecast for South Africa (and also the rest of the world) and the Rands weakening value is enough to make any South African jittery and anxious about investing; not just locally, but also abroad. However, exposure to international assets is essential for the following reasons: it provides protection against the depreciation of the Rand, it helps to diversify investments and it allows access to a greater range of opportunities to invest in.

With all the complexity around moving wealth offshore, the real brainteaser for most is how to do it as quickly and cost effectively as possible and at what stage do I need to consider setting up an offshore trust.

Offshore bank and investment accounts

We are finding that many South Africans have international transactional needs for both business and personal reasons, yet some are only aware of one-dimensional foreign currency accounts, often referred to as CFC accounts. This type of account allows the account holder to manage foreign receipts and payments through their local bank, but it is all subject to Exchange Control regulations.

In comparison, the multiple benefits of having an offshore bank account enable South African accountholders to conveniently receive payment for work done outside of the country, make international payments and to access international funds by way of a debit or credit card. Most importantly, the general rule is that if the income was earned abroad while the South African resident was physically outside of the country, the income can be retained offshore. From here the funds can be transferred to a variety of different investment accounts also based offshore.

While there may not be any tax liability in the jurisdiction where the account is being held, accountholders will usually still be taxable in South Africa for any interest or capital gains that is earned on the account. The tax you may be required to pay depends heavily on the way you choose to invest and the type of investment account. Generally, the interest or gains realised need to be included in your taxable income for the year even though these are earned offshore because we are taxed on our worldwide income in South Africa.

Offshore bank or investment account(s) also need to be declared. The tax authorities in jurisdictions where the accounts are held, may have signed up for Common Reporting Standards (CRS). The account details, balances and interest earned will automatically be shared with South African tax authorities and therefore, the account is not confidential by any means.

Although your details may not be confidential, your money will remain outside of South Africa. In terms of de-risking wealth, it is a completely legal and acceptable solution to escape the volatility of the rand and to diversify your investments.

When exploring the benefits of opening an offshore account, the key is to choose your preferred offshore banking institution by taking into consideration the minimum balance requirements, transactional fees, reputation and jurisdiction. Some banks require face-to-face meetings with the account holder while others are comfortable to work through a licenced service provider like Sovereign Trust, in which case, a face to face meeting might not be required.

Offshore investment companies usually do not require a face to face interview, but an introduction by a regulated financial advisor might be required before an account can be opened with their company. Annual platform and trading fees should also be considered.

Trust accounts

At what point should you consider setting up a trust to house the funds in your offshore bank or investment account and why?

We will start with answering the why. If your intention is to achieve any or a combination of the goals listed below, setting up a trust and investing in the trusts name, becomes an option:

To ensure that setting up an offshore trust is a feasible exercise, you need to consider the annual trustee fees (which will depend on the jurisdiction, the type of trust and also the activity levels of the trust), the amount available to invest as well as the possible returns that can be achieved. As an absolute minimum requirement, the return should cover the annual trustee and other annual costs associated with the trust and investment.

Coreen van der Merwe is the director at Sovereign Trust (SA) Limited.

PERSONAL FINANCE

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Offshore bank, investment and trust accounts are these still allowed? - IOL

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Coast Guard: Fisherman with eye injury rescued 150 miles offshore of Yaquina Bay - KPTV.com

MMT US Inc. has awarded Vento Maritime with a contract for MetOcean forecasts and weather support at Equinors Beacon Wind project offshore Massachusetts.

Earlier this year, Equinor Wind US contracted MMT for geophysical survey services at the offshore wind lease area in New England.

The project covers high resolution geophysical, benthic surveys and shallow subsurface surveys for project planning and engineering.

Work will be performed by the Stril Explorer, which is expected to arrive in the U.S. in a few days and is planned to run continuously to Q2 next year, Vento Maritime said.

The company is also providing tropical storm warnings, a service that has been in effect the last couple of days as ex-hurricane Isaias passed inland along the U.S. East Coast.

In early 2019, EquinorsecuredLease OCS-A 0520, now known as Beacon Wind, offshore New England for USD 135 million.

The area covers 128,000ha and is located approximately 20 miles south of Massachusetts and 70 miles east of New York.

Excerpt from:

Vento Maritime Joins MMT on US Offshore Wind Project - Offshore WIND

Tsubasa Windfarm Design (TWD), Fraunhofer IWES, and Kobe University have started collaborating to provide wind farm design services for projects offshore Japan.

Fraunhofer IWES is specialized in offshore layout optimization and has been actively developing its own wake models which take into account atmospheric stability conditions.

According to the German research centre, Prof. Dr. Teruo Ohsawa from Kobe University is the leading expert and has over 15 years of experience in using the weather research and forecasting model (WRF) for predicting Japans offshore wind conditions.

Dr. Ohsawa was also the technical head responsible for the national offshore wind speed map project NeoWins.

This collaboration allows us to implement the best methods of wind field variational analysis in space and time on advanced optimization methods, said Dr. Bernhard Stoevesandt, Head of Department Aerodynamics, CFD and Stochastic Dynamics of Fraunhofer IWES.

Even as the wind conditions are strongly influenced by the land sea transition in many cases, the expected yield in Japan is quite promising.

The partners have already evaluated wind farm designs for major players in the Japanese market such as Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), SB-Energy, and Japan Renewable Energy (JRE), Fraunhofer IWES said.

It is a great example of how research and industry can work hand in hand to foster future development to produce highly efficient offshore wind farms, said Graham Li from TWD.

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Fraunhofer IWES Forms Offshore Wind Ties in Japan - Offshore WIND

]]]]]]>]]]]>]]> Fugro has performed first 'fully remote' platform inspection on UK continental shelf. Credit: Fugro.

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Dutch geological survey firm Fugro has performed a full remote inspection of an oil and gas platform in the UK waters.

The inspection, which the company claims is a first for the UK sector, has been conducted using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and Fugros remote operations centre (ROC) in Aberdeen.

The entire jacket structure of the platform, located 250km east of Scotland, has been inspected remotely.

This operation demonstrated the companys capabilities in performing remote operations.

Fugro Europe IRM services director Karl Daly said: This innovative approach allowed for efficient scope delivery and demonstrates to all our clients the opportunities for maximising operational windows while reducing offshore HSSE exposure, which is always important but even more so during the current pandemic.

The company said that it initially planned to trial the remote inspection provision of the platform during the campaign.

Due to Covid-19, only one engineer with offshore inspection expertise was present to mobilise the platform.

Fugros Aberdeen ROC based inspection engineers were brought in to help deliver the whole project remotely on-time.

According to the company, the ROV was equipped with dedicated remote systems for visual inspection, cathodic protection, as well as flooded member detection.

The Dutch firm also transacted a component orientated anomaly-based inspection system (COABIS) database across the offshore and onshore locations.

This allowed the companys client and ROC staff to access data acquired by the remotely operated vehicle in near real-time.

Last month, Fugro completed the first phase of its offshore site investigation for LNG firm Qatargas North Field production sustainability compression phase.

In June,Fugro secured an inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) contract from Seamecto support the latters asset management project for Indias ONGC.

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Fugro conducts remote inspection of O&G platform offshore UK - Offshore Technology

Artificial reefs play an important role in protecting offshore installations such as wind farms. Unprotected, the turbine masts are exposed to tidal scouring, undermining their foundations.

Engineers often use undersea concrete "mats" composed of large blocks to protect the bottom of these towers on the seabed. There are 40,000 of them in the waters around the United Kingdom alone.

Wind farms are an important part of our transition to a low-carbon economy. But many concrete defenses submerged to protect them contain plastics and are considered by environmental groups to be marine litter. This often needs to be removed, recycled or disposed of.

One start-up has developed an alternative. ARC Marines reef cubes are made from recycled aggregate and sand that is a byproduct of the quarrying industry. The company says this reduces carbon emissions by 90 percent compared to the processes used to make common types of cement.

The cubes interlock, leaving larger living spaces for fish, crabs and lobsters, and their porous surface is designed to allow marine plants to establish easily and grow. The aim is for these alternative reefs to protect vital offshore installations from storms and erosion while also encouraging marine biodiversity.

The cost of removing the existing concrete mats is estimated at $32 million for each gigawatt of a wind farms output, according to ARC Marine. Reef cubes are designed to be left in place even after a farm has been decommissioned.

Around 70 percentof coral reefs are under threat, whilstrock reefs also sufferfrom damage due to practices such as trawling and dredging.

Its an urgent problem. Around 70 percent of coral reefs are under threat, whilst rock reefs also suffer from damage due to practices such as trawling and dredging. The United Nations has warned that half of all marine species could be on the brink of extinction by the end of this century.

Tom Birbeck, CEO and founder of ARC Marine, has called the reef cubes "building blocks for the ocean" and said they were inspired by the belief that every offshore and coastal project can have a positive impact on ocean health. The company added that it can help with meeting five of the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals, primarily goal 14: conserving life below water.

"Reef cubes accelerate reef creation and help repair ecosystems that have been destroyed from centuries of bottom trawling and dredging," he said.

The global increase in offshore wind demand provides an unprecedented opportunity to rebuild rocky reef habitats around offshore construction projects which historically have caused damage and often deploy toxic and plastic-laden materials.

By restoring the marine environment, the cubes also can encourage sustainable fishing and eco-tourism, he says. And if coupled with a ban on trawling in areas where they are submerged, they could help fish stocks to recover.

The team behind the cubes was shortlisted for the 2020 Offshore Achievement Awards often dubbed "the offshore Oscars" for their work on the project.

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This startup's 'reef cubes' could be a plastic-free way to protect marine biodiversity and offshore wind turbines - GreenBiz

Offshore staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. The United States has an opportunity to accelerate offshore wind energy growth, and benefit from 28 new gigawatts of clean energy and $1.7 billion in US Treasury revenue by 2022, according to a new study from Wood Mackenzie.

Findings from this study confirm additional lease areas are needed to meet demand, reduce energy costs, increase competition, and ultimately generate thousands of jobs and billions in investment. Additionally, the findings offer guidance to decision-makers about new offshore wind leases, which can be a short-term solution to jump start recovery from a coronavirus pandemic-driven economic slowdown.

Commissioned by four energy industry groups, American Wind Energy Association, National Ocean Industries Association, New York Offshore Wind Alliance, and the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind at the University of Delaware, the study dives into the economic impact of offshore wind activities as a result of potential Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) lease auctions in 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Based on existing activities and policy assumptions for future offshore wind development, two million acres of federal waters in the New York Bight, which includes parts of New Jersey, as well as California and the Carolinas, could be auctioned for commercial leases as early as this year as well as in 2021. According to Economic Impact Study of New Offshore Wind Lease Auctions by BOEM, such leasing could support 28 GW of offshore wind development and generate $1.2 billion in US Treasury revenue. Other auctions for lease areas in the Gulf of Maine and areas in California could happen in 2022 and would generate an additional $500 million in US Treasury revenue.

Significant capital investment will be put into the US economy to support offshore wind activities, the study finds. Total investment in the US offshore wind industry will be $17 billion by 2025, $108 billion by 2030, and $166 billion by 2035. From 2022 to 2035, capital investment of $42 billion will go to turbine manufacturers and the supply chain, $107 billion will go to the construction industry, and $8 billion will go to the transportation industry and ports. Annual capital investment for operations and maintenance activities will increase to $2.4 billion in 2035.

In addition to delivering clean energy to millions of households, the study indicates the offshore wind industry will also contribute a variety of economic benefits to the US economy, including supporting tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in capital investment. If the assumed BOEM auctions in 2021 and 2022 happen, total full-time equivalent job creation from the resulting offshore wind activities, including development, construction, and operation will be about 80,000 jobs annually from 2025 to 2035.

NOIA President Erik Milito said: American offshore wind is a generational opportunity. Infrastructure spending, energy security, and shovel-ready jobs with good wages will be unleashed. Importantly, offshore wind development will support jobs throughout the entire US. The same shipbuilders, heavy lift vessel operators, steel fabricators and countless other companies who built the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas sector stand ready to lend their expertise to the American offshore wind industry.

08/04/2020

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More lease areas are needed to maximize US offshore wind potential, says Wood Mackenzie - Offshore Oil and Gas Magazine

The Covid pandemic continued to batter the US economy, with the countrys GDP shrinking 33 percent in the April-June quarter to record its worst contraction since World War 2. Unemployment, too, is at its worst level since that war. With a presidential election around the corner, the rhetoric around jobs for Americans, predictably, is again rising. On cue, President Donald Trump has announced further restrictions on people with H-1B visas, preventing them from working in federal contracts.

In June, the American President banned workers on H-1B visas from entering the US till the end of the year. Theres nothing new here, however. Restricting guest worker visas has been a part of Trumps Buy American, Hire American agenda since his inauguration in January 2017.

As V Ramakrishnan, CFO of TCS pointed out in an earlier interview with Moneycontrol, companies will always figure out a way to work within the rules, though it may not always be the most efficient way.

Trumps clampdown since taking over has already resulted in increased localisation in the US, with top Indian IT firms now having more than 60 percent of their employees in the US as locals. Indian firms visa dependency has also come down in the last three years.

Even so, given that the US is the largest market for Indias IT services firms, more restrictions will impact their ability to cater to the market in the long run. They will therefore need to look at others options that offer them stability.

Yugal Joshi, Vice President of IT consulting firm Everest Group, said: Besides the political rhetoric given the election and ongoing pandemic, the direction of such a move (ring-fencing federal contracts) is problematic for any skill-based industry and this isnt limited to India-based IT service firms.

What impact will the restrictions have?

Experts believe that offshoring will rise as will localisation as firms seek to further reduce their dependence on US visas. The US will consequently lose out on innovation as well as research and development, IT services industry lobby Nasscom said in a statement.

While billing from federal contracts may not be huge, Joel Yanovich, Attorney at Murthy Law firm, a US-based immigration firm, said the number of H-1B workers Indian IT services companies deploy on such contracts is not insignificant. And from here on, these firms will have to use American workers for federal government projects.

Krishnan Venkatachary, Chief Financial Officer, Cigniti Technologies, said that the company is currently in talks to close a federal project. If the project goes through, we will be employing American workers instead of H-1Bs, he added.

Offshoring

According to Venkatachary, though the restrictions might be challenging, the company is talking to clients about moving projects offshore. This is the option most IT firms are likely to explore. Offshoring refers to movement of resources from a high-cost area to the area that is more cost efficient. Here the move will be to India.

In terms of the resource mix, Cigniti has about 74 percent its people off shore and 26 percent on site. We are looking at 80-20, where 80 percent will be offshore and the rest onsite, he added.

Other firms, too, are looking at improving their offshore mix. In a recent conversation with Moneycontrol, Manoj Bhat, CFO, Tech Mahindra, said the company is in discussions with clients to move work offshore.

Milind Lakkad, Human Resources head, TCS, told Moneycontrol that the pandemic has made it a challenge but TCS is always looking for an opportunity to move work offshore.

HCL Tech started moving work offshore for a large client in January, said Prateek Agarwal, the companys CFO, during a recent interaction. With remote working becoming the norm, clients are more understanding about moving work offshore, he added.

Challenges

But all this will come with its own challenges. In the short-term, with visa extensions taking time, projects will suffer since firms might not be able send resources onsite or assign an H-1B resource instantly.

Also, without visas, thousands of techies will be forced to return home. This would inflate the local labour market in India, Joshi said.

Excerpt from:

To offshore, or to onshore, that is the question before Indian IT companies in the US - Moneycontrol

Wind turbine from different perspective.

fernando arias | Moment | Getty Images

A consortium made up of Shell and Eneco is to develop an offshore wind farm that will incorporate a range of "technology demonstrations" including floating solar and hydrogen produced by electrolysis.

The 759 megawatt (MW) Hollandse Kust (noord) facility will be subsidy free and able to produce at least 3.3 terawatt hours annually, according to Eneco, a Rotterdam-headquartered firm whose shareholders are the Mitsubishi Corporation and Chubu Electric Power Co. The project will use 69 turbines from Siemens Gamesa, which will have a capacity of 11 MW each.

The CrossWind joint venture, as it's known, is aiming for the project which will be located in waters approximately 18.5 kilometers off the coast of the Netherlands to be up and running by the year 2023.

While the scheme will not be the biggest offshore wind farm around Hornsea One, in waters off Yorkshire, England, has a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts (GW), for example it will do more than just produce wind power.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Netherlands' Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy said CrossWind would "test a variety of innovations in the field of energy storage and flexibility, with the possibility of rolling them out on a larger scale at other wind farms in the future."

According to Eneco, the demonstration projects will include, among other things, "short-term battery storage", floating solar technology and so-called "green hydrogen" generated by electrolysis. Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced using renewable sources such as wind power.

Reacting to the news on Thursday, industry body WindEurope emphasized the multi-faceted nature of the CrossWind scheme.

"In terms of sheer size, Hollandse Kust Noord is smaller than the Hollandse Kust Zuid 1-4 project, which, with around 1.5 GW wind capacity, will be the largest offshore wind project worldwide when fully operational," it said.

"Nevertheless, Wednesday's announcement is notable: the Crosswind consortium was awarded the right to develop the Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind farm because its winning bid included several elements of system integration and storage."

The Dutch government is looking to ramp up its offshore wind capacity in the next few years. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, it will reach 11 GW by 2030, up from approximately 1 GW today.

Thursday saw Royal Dutch Shell report adjusted earnings of $638 million for the second quarter of 2020. That compared to net profit of $3.5 billion over the same period a year earlier and $2.9 billion in the first three months of 2020.

CNBC's Sam Meredith contributed to this report

See original here:

Shell and Eneco's offshore wind farm to include floating solar and hydrogen production - CNBC

Apache Corp. and Total S.A. Wednesday afternoon reported a major oil discovery in Block 58 offshore Suriname.

Drilled to approximately 21,800 feet (6,645 meters) using the Noble Sam Croft drillship, the Kwaskwasi-1 well encountered at least 912 feet (278 meters) of net oil and volatile oil/condensate pay in two intervals, Apache noted in a written statement emailed to Rigzone. The firm added that its third consecutive discovery offshore Suriname confirms a world-class hydrocarbon resource.

Operator Apache and Total each hold a 50-percent working interest in Kwaskwasi-1.

We are thrilled with the results from the Kwaskwasi-1 exploration well, remarked Apache CEO and President John J. Christmann. This is the best well weve drilled in the basin to date, with the highest net pay in the best quality reservoirs.

Apache noted the wells shallower Campanian interval contains 207 feet (63 meters) of net oil pay and 282 feet (86 meters) of net volatile oil/gas condensate pay. It stated that samples show API gravities ranging from 34 to 43 degrees. The deeper Santonian interval holds 423 feet (129 meters) of net hydrocarbon reservoir, and personnel continue to collect data on API oil gravities in the interval, the company added.

While we have a lot more work to do, a discovery of this quality and magnitude merits a pace of evaluation that enables the option of accelerated first production, continued Christmann.

Encompassing 1.4 million acres, Block 58 presents significant potential beyond the discoveries at Kwaskwasi, Sapakara West and Maka Central, stated Apache. The company noted that it has identified at least seven distinct play types and more than 50 prospects within the thermally mature play fairway.

Once operations conclude at Kwaskwasi-1, the Sam Croft will head to Keskesi the fourth Block 58 prospect, located approximately nine miles (14 kilometers) southeast of Sapakara West-1, Apache stated. It added the Keskesi exploration well will test oil-prone upper Cretaceous targets in the Campanian and Santonian.

In a separate written statement, Total noted that it will take over as Block 58 operator after the next and fourth exploration well at Keskesi is drilled. The company added an appraisal campaign in early 2021 will better characterize this year's discoveries. Also, it stated an additional exploration campaign is planned.

"We are very pleased to announce a third discovery in a row, following the two oil discoveries at Maka Central and Sapakara West this year," stated Kevin McLachlan, Total's senior vice president for exploration. These "very encouraging results confirm our exploration strategy in this prolific zone, which targets large volumes of resources at low development costs."

To contact the author, email mveazey@rigzone.com.

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Apache and Total Strike Oil Offshore Suriname - Rigzone News

Unions are going offshore to find a receptive renewable energy.

Driving the news: Americas nascent offshore wind industry, which requires uniquely complex infrastructure, is being built out with strong labor agreements that were largely absent from their onshore counterparts.

Things are changing with offshore wind, which is going to be a big job creator on the East Coast, said Phil Jordan, vice president at BW Research. Most of those projects are going to be or already have been under project labor agreements, so a much higher percentage of those workers will be union members.

The intrigue: In my recent column on how Joe Bidens climate plan is trying to bring unions into clean-energy industries, numerous union officials and other experts said the main exception to the trend that renewable energy lags on union representation was offshore wind.

How it works: The reason is threefold, according to union representatives, state officials and other experts.

There is no doubt an offshore wind project is a large infrastructure to the greatest degree, Doreen Harris, acting director of NYSERDA, told me recently. The complexity and need for safety is in even sharper focus for the offshore wind industry than the land-based [wind] might be.

Go deeper: Joe Bidens climate plan tries to bring unions into the clean-energy revolution

Read the original:

Bucking trend, offshore wind builds with unions - Axios

8/4/2020

WASHINGTON - The United States has an opportunity to accelerate offshore wind energy growth, and benefit from 28 new gigawatts of clean energy and $1.7 billion in U.S. Treasury revenue by 2022, a new study released today from research group Wood Mackenzie finds.

Findings from this study confirm additional lease areas are needed to meet demand, reduce energy costs, increase competition, and ultimately generate thousands of jobs and billions in investment. Additionally, the findings offer guidance to decision-makers about new offshore wind leases, which can be a short-term solution to jump start recovery from a coronavirus pandemic-driven economic slowdown.

Commissioned by four energy industry groups, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), New York Offshore Wind Alliance (NYOWA), and the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind (SIOW) at the University of Delaware, the study dives into the economic impact of offshore wind activities as a result of potential Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) lease auctions in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Based on existing activities and policy assumptions for future offshore wind development, two million acres of federal waters in the New York Bight, which includes parts of New Jersey, as well as California and the Carolinas, could be auctioned for commercial leases as early as this year as well as in 2021. Such leasing could support 28 GW of offshore wind development and generate $1.2 billion in U.S. Treasury revenue. Other auctions for lease areas in the Gulf of Maine and areas in California could happen in 2022 and would generate an additional $500 million in U.S. Treasury revenue.

Significant capital investment will be put into the U.S. economy to support offshore wind activities. Total investment in the U.S. offshore wind industry will be $17 billion by 2025, $108 billion by 2030 and $166 billion by 2035. From 2022 to 2035, capital investment of $42 billion will go to turbine manufacturers and the supply chain, $107 billion will go to the construction industry, and $8 billion will go to the transportation industry and ports. Annual capital investment for O&M activities will increase to $2.4 billion in 2035.

In addition to delivering clean energy to millions of households, the offshore wind industry will also contribute a variety of economic benefits to the U.S. economy, including supporting tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in capital investment. If the assumed BOEM auctions in 2021 and 2022 happen, total full time equivalent (FTE) job creation from the resulting offshore wind activities, including development, construction and operation will be approximately 80,000 jobs annually from 2025 to 2035.

Continued here:

US offshore energy industry releases economic impact study of offshore wind auctions - WorldOil

TuesdayAug4,2020at4:34PMAug4,2020at4:34PM

Dean of the Massachusetts Senate Marc R. Pacheco, D-Taunton, filed an amendment unanimously passed by the Massachusetts State Senate July 29 requiring a total solicitation of 6000 MW of Offshore Wind by 2035.

Offshore Wind is a critical source of renewable energy and a major piece to the foundation of our clean energy future here in the Commonwealth, said Pacheco, founding chair of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change. According to recent estimates, Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind together offer approximately $2.5 billion in direct savings for Massachusetts ratepayers, over 9,000 new local jobs and the elimination of approximately 3.3 million metric tons of CO2 annually the equivalent of taking 675,000 cars off the road. I am extremely pleased to have secured the passage of this offshore wind amendment that will create new jobs, improve our public health with cleaner air, and help drive down greenhouse gas emissions.

The commonwealth currently has authorization to procure a total of 3200 MW of offshore wind under existing law, but the two 800MW projects by Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind already under agreement account for half of that capacity. Although Massachusetts was an early leader among the states to solicit offshore wind, New York, New Jersey and other states on the Atlantic coast have begun to contend for their own share of the offshore wind marketplace.

Amendment 139 of An Act enabling partnerships for growth sponsored by Pacheco, Offshore Wind Development, would upgrade the states procurement limit by requiring the solicitation of a total of 6000 MW of offshore wind by 2035, raising the existing level an additional 2800 MW.

Read more:

Amendment requiring 6000 MW of offshore wind by 2035 clears Senate - Wicked Local Bridgewater

In brief

Disbanding of the Offshore Loan Coordination Team (PKLN)

On 20 July, the government issued Presidential Regulation No. 82 of 2020 on the Handling Committee for Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) and the Recovery of the National Economy ("PR 82"). Under PR 82, the government officially disbanded several government institutions, one of which is the Offshore Loan Coordination Team ("PKLN Team"). The PKLN Team was formed under Presidential Decree No. 39 of 1991 on Coordination of the Management of Offshore Loans ("PD 39").

The functions of the PKLN Team include coordinating the management of offshore loans of the government, state-owned enterprises and private companies, and determining the priority of offshore loans for development projects. In carrying out its functions, the PKLN Team (i) received periodical reports of offshore loans and (ii) provided approval to, among others, offshore loans related to government projects or provided to state-owned entities.

We understand that the functions of the government institutions that are disbanded under the regulation will be transferred to the relevant government bodies or ministries. PR 82 stipulates that the functions of the PKLN Team will be transferred to the Ministry of Finance ("MOF").

PR 82 also revokes PD 39 but it does not revoke Presidential Decree No. 59 of 1972 on Obtaining Offshore Loans (PD 59). Under PD 59 (i) offshore loans obtained by state- or regional-owned entities need prior approval from the MOF and (ii) offshore loans need to be reported periodically to the MOF.

Key takeaways

Since PD 39 has been revoked and the PKLN Team disbanded, it is possible that the MOF will enhance its role as stipulated in PD 59 to issue approvals for certain offshore loans and receive reports on offshore loans. It is unclear whether or not the MOF will conduct its functions using PD 59 (and its implementing regulations) as a guideline, or issue new implementing regulations to align the procedure in PD 59 with the current market conditions. We will provide further updates once there is an implementing regulation, socialization or further development of this regulation.

PR 82 was issued to deal with the impacts of COVID-19 in Indonesia and the recovery of the national economy by forming new task forces and committees such as (i) the Policy Committee, (ii) the COVID-19 Task Force and (iii) the Recovery and Transformation of the National Economy Task Force.

PR 82 also disbands several government institutions and revokes several regulations related to those institutions because (i) the duties and functions of those government institutions may overlap with the duties and functions of other government institutions, or (ii) because the functions of those institutions can be more efficiently performed by other government institutions. The disbanding of some government institutions and the revocation of several regulations by PR 82 would also help the government to reduce the state budget expenditure.

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Indonesia: COVID-19 - New Presidential Regulation Disbands the Offshore Loan Coordination Team (PKLN) - Lexology