It’s Good News Monday!
This Monday we talk about:
US Navy Thanks Merchant Mariners On YouTube
Vorlich field starts up
Maersk and Solstad benefit from major Australian offshore gas project
Ocean Infinity Orders Eight Remote-Operated Ships at VARD
Rem Offshore wins contracts for half of its PSV fleet
bp's Call of the wild
Video from: gCaptain
The US Navy released a video thanking Merchant Mariners as they support our nation and our troops. With Merchant Mariners on the front lines of battle, sometimes suffering high casualties in times of war, recognition means a lot. We highly recommend checking out the navy video above as well as gCaptain’s article and video on why Merchant Mariners are Veterans.
Image Credit: bp
The 30-million-barrel Vorlich field in the North Sea has come online safely, even with the struggles of COVID-19. This is expected to be a high return tieback, one that has come online in just 2 years. The two wells are expected to provide 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Bp partnered with Ithaca Energy to put £230 million into developing the field. Ithaca installed subsea infrastructure and modifications to the FPF-1 while bp drilled wells and installed wellheads. Ithaca will handle production of the project. The project was planned to be completed in September, but COVID halted production earlier this year. With winter looming, they safely completed the project just in time.
Image Credit: Riviera
Inpex Operations Australia is expanding the Ichthys project, west of Darwin, Australia. They’ll be receiving assistance from Solstad and Maersk, providing drilling rigs and anchor handlers. Maersk Deliverer, a 2010 jack-up rig will be drilling development wells. As of November 20, Solstad Offshore has contract extensions for three more years on two anchor handling vessels to support the Maersk Deliverer.
“This will see 87.4-m UT 731 clean design vessels Normand Scorpion (2009-built) and Normand Sirius (2014-built) operating on the Ichthys development until at least August 2023.
They have been supporting Maersk Deliverer since Q1 2020 on the field, operating from Broome, Australia.”
Image Credit: gCaptain
Ocean Infinity has signed a contract for eight shore controlled vessels. Norwegian designer and shipbuilder, Vard signed the contract, they are part of Fincantieri, based in Italy. The vessels are 78 meters long, controllable from shore, can be manned or unmanned, and have alternative fuel capability for green ammonia. Vessels will begin delivery in 2022 and finish in 2023.
“For remote operation, the vessels will use Vard Electro’s SeaQ Integrated Automation System and SeaQ Power Management System. Initially, Ocean Infinity plans to operate the vessels using only a skeleton crew, but in time they expect to shift to 100% unmanned and renewable operations.
‘The impact and the scale of this robotic fleet will spark the biggest transformation the maritime industry has seen since sail gave way to steam,’ said Oliver Plunkett, CEO in Ocean Infinity. ‘With our new fleet we will be able to provide sustainable services to all corners of the industry from offshore energy, to logistics and transport.’”
Image Credit: Riviera
“Apache Corp has contracted three of Norway-based Rem Offshore’s PSVs for one or two years, plus options, to ensure its two significant production centres and its drilling operations in the UK sector are fully supplied.” Rem Offshore got a one year contract for Rem Insula, with a two-year option for extension. Rem Mistral will also be extended for one year, with a two-year optional extension. Another one year contract was awarded to Rem Cetus until the end of 2021.
“‘Rem Offshore has had several vessels on charter with Apache over the last years, and we are proud of continuing and expanding this good relationship,’ Rem Offshore said. ‘We feel this shows trust and faith in our organisation and satisfaction with the performance of our vessels.’”
Image Credit: bp
Lightsource bp solar installations are increasing biodiversity. Quiet, rural solar farms are providing a place for wildlife to flourish, with those populations increasing at sites around the world. Since these sites sit undisturbed, they can be actively managed to help the environment. Land is managed on a site by site basis to provide the best place for wildlife to live, even created wildlife corridors that lets native species move easily between habitats.
“One of LSbp’s first UK solar farms is also one of its most successful in terms of biodiversity.
Since the Wilburton solar farm was installed in 2011, the local brown hare population has risen from around three or four to about 50.
Meanwhile, more than 20 breeding pairs of English partridge are typically seen on the land, up from about five before the farm was installed.”
An especially threatened organism has found refuge in these areas: invertebrate pollinators, or bees. LSbp sites are now home to about 1 million bees that provide 1,000 jars of honey annually. With the decline of honeybees in recent years, this has been a great opportunity to mix ancient beekeeping with modern technology. From shade for sheep to homes for bees, solar fields are providing more benefits than just power.
Smile, it’s Good News Monday! :-)