The U.S Army Corps of Engineers and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company are working together to assemble a low-draft dredge at a staging area near Hwy 59/69 Bridge and the San Jacinto River.Over 200 semi-trucks have delivered two disassembled dredges and hundreds of dredging pipes, reported the Army Corps.“Workers are busy joining thousands of feet of dredging pipelines in preparation for the launching of the debris removal platforms. Corps officials are asking recreational boaters to stay clear of submerged pipelines and barges once launched,” said USACE.The $69.8 million emergency project involves dredging and debris removal of 1.8 million cubic yards of sediment that has contributed to recent flooding in the area.This FEMA funded emergency dredging and debris removal work along the West Fork of the San Jacinto River near Kingwood, Texas, is scheduled to start September 1, 2018.
ConocoPhillips, PDVSA Seal USD 2 Bn Settlement
U.S. energy corporation ConocoPhillips has signed a USD 2 billion settlement agreement with PDVSA, Venezuelan state-owned oil company.The deal relates to PDVSA’s failure to meet contractual obligations as indicated by an arbitral tribunal in April 2018, constituted under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).The Venezuelan company agreed to pay USD 500 million within a period of 90 days from the time of signing, while the rest of the amount would be paid quarterly over a period of 4.5 years.“As a result of the settlement, ConocoPhillips has agreed to suspend its legal enforcement actions of the ICC award, including in the Dutch Caribbean,” the company said.“The award relates to the unlawful expropriation of ConocoPhillips’ investments in the Hamaca and Petrozuata heavy crude oil projects in Venezuela in 2007 and other pre-expropriation fiscal measures.”This move is believed to be good news for tankers as PDVSA is now expected to resume exporting oil from most of its key Caribbean facilities and boost Venezuelan crude production, which has been on a major decline over the recent period amid economic crisis in the country.The Venezuelan economy is almost entirely dependent on revenue generated from the oil and gas industry.The country is in a desperate need of investment into its oil and gas industry, but the current political impasse with the U.S. and the currency crisis in the country are making it difficult to attract investors.ConocoPhillips has a separate and independent legal action pending against the government of Venezuela before a tribunal under the auspices of the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).As indicated by Conoco, the ICSID tribunal has already ruled that Venezuela’s expropriation of ConocoPhillips’ investments violated international law, and proceedings are underway to determine the amount of compensation owed to ConocoPhillips.
IMI names GustoMSC jack-up “IMI-2030”
IMI, a JV company between Lamprell, Saudi Aramco, Bahri, and Hyundai Heavy Industries, has announced the name for the GustoMSC-design jack-up rig which is expected to be built in 2021. The offshore oil and gas drilling rig will be named “IMI-2030.”IMI is responsible for the management of the multi-billion dollar maritime and offshore yard being built in Saudi Arabia’s Ras Al-Khair. Once built, the yard will be able to construct four offshore rigs per year.In the words of both IMI and National Oilwell Varco-owned rig designer GustoMSC, the rig’s name was inspired by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 – the Kingdom’s plan for sustained economic diversification and reduction of reliance on oil.Fathi K Al Saleem, CEO of IMI, said: “The naming of this jack-up drilling rig is a major step for IMI. The utilization of “2030” in the name was important to the management team as it was inspired by the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision. IMI and the King Salman Complex is one of the major projects forming part of this wider strategy.”The naming of the rig which has yet to be built comes less than a month after GustoMSC and IMI signed a design licensing agreement that will enable IMI to construct and deliver drilling rigs to its clients.IMI in October said it would be fully prepared for its first production operations anticipated in 2021, as a result of the GustoMSC deal. GustoMSC is responsible for delivering the basic design and will tailor one of its CJ-series jack-up drilling rigs.“The design retains its key and field-proven features such as the sturdy X-bracing leg design, the Rack & Pinion Jacking Systems, and X-Y cantilever system. The IMI rig design is targeted to be a ‘Fit For Purpose’ solution that enables safe, efficient and reliable drilling for Saudi Arabia,” GustoMSC said in October.During the naming ceremony, Nils van Nood, Managing Director of GustoMSC, adds: “Contributing to the Saudi Vision 2030 is a great opportunity for us to serve key clients in Saudi Arabia and the region. Given how important the Saudi Vision 2030 is to IMI and to GustoMSC, the name was highly appropriate. We are proud of this partnership and look forward working together during the basic & detailed design phases and beyond.”About one year ago ARO Drilling, formed in October 2017 as a joint venture between Rowan and Saudi Aramco, announced plans to order at least 20 drilling jack-ups for construction at IMI. It is expected that the initial rig ordering will get finalized in the second half of 2020.Offshore Energy Today StaffSpotted a typo? Have something more to add to the story? Maybe a nice photo? Contact our editorial team via email.Also, if you’re interested in showcasing your company, product, or technology on Offshore Energy Today, please contact us via our advertising form, where you can also see our media kit.
DOF Takes Full Ownership of DOF Subsea
Norwegian offshore services group DOF has entered into an agreement to purchase 35 per cent of the subsidiary DOF Subsea for NOK 20 million ($2.2 million).The acquisition is closely associated with the ongoing refinancing of DOF Subsea, the Oslo-listed offshore support vessel contractor said on Monday.After the acquisition, DOF ASA will own 100 percent of the subsidiary.The deal has been struck with FR Dolphin Lux Holding, owner of 51,131,358 shares in DOF Subsea, and Dolphin Invest 2, owner of 7,538,163 shares, both entities controlled by US-based fund First Reserve.First Reserve has been looking to sell out of DOF Subsea. In September this year, First Reserve’s representatives resigned from the board. However, the assets of the subsidiary were not sold at that time.Subsea World News Staff
Archer Knight intros new subsea intelligence platform
Archer Knight has rolled out a new software-as-a-service platform to make it easier for subsea companies to win more business. “What they’re getting is high-quality data, in a user-friendly format, which can be widely shared across their business. There are no restrictive licensing arrangements above the initial subscription. We believe Flowline really breaks the mould.” “But with so much news and activity surrounding the subsea industry, it’s harder than ever to find a way to cut through the noise. Technology has a powerful role to play and we believe Flowline brings something completely different to the market. The SaaS platform applies Archer Knight’s in-depth analysis of the market, aided by engagement with a 50,000 strong global network of contacts, to give users a detailed real-time view of the subsea market.” Sheret added: “For subscribers, Flowline will be a company’s own digital ‘employee’, giving them impartial intelligence and backed by the data and analysis from our team of subsea professionals.” It also gives users regular alerts on subsea appointments, project updates, new contracts, and other industry intelligence. Particularly, Flowline offers companies a way to save time, as well as drive down the costs and the carbon footprint. The platform gives companies from the subsea supply chain greater insight into where they can find the most profitable opportunities.
David Sheret explained: Particularly in the current climate, with the low oil price and COVID-19 putting restrictions on conducting everyday business “Market intelligence is absolutely essential to the subsea industry, especially in the current climate. Companies need access to trustworthy data that enables them to make better decisions. They need greater insight into the key performing indicators within the subsea sector in order to focus their efforts where it counts.” The software allows users to track vessel & asset activity, individual companies, or specific countries. The Aberdeen-based subsea market intelligence and consultancy firm, formed by Mike Watson & David Sheret, has launched Flowline.
Govt introduces new technology to fight child porn
ONE News 20 March 2012The Government is introducing ground-breaking photo identification technology in a bid to combat child pornography available online. New Zealand is one of two countries to bring in the photo DNA software that will allow law enforcement agencies to trace the origin of an objectionable photo, even after it has been manipulated or edited. Internal Affairs Minister Amy Adams said the technology will help police to find and prosecute child pornography offenders. “What this software does is enable those agencies to go through thousands and thousands of images and very quickly identify whether there are new victims involved and what the distribution networks for the material is,” said Adams. The technology is already used by sites like Facebook but the New Zealand Government will be the first law-enforcement organisation to have a direct licence for the software.http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/govt-introduces-new-technology-fight-child-porn-4787073
Dear mom with a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis
Lifesite News 13 June 2013Dear mom who just received a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis,I know how you feel.Except — unlike you, I was holding my new baby, Kate, in my arms when I found out. She was wrapped in a blanket, looking up at me as I cried, listening to the Neonatologist on staff tell me — only minutes after she was born — that she had Down syndrome. And what that meant.He said that it meant she had an extra chromosome. And that she would have learning delays. He said that it meant she was significantly predisposed to certain medical conditions, including congenital heart defects — and that we should get her heart tested right away. He said that it meant she had low muscle tone and may not be able to breastfeed. He said that it meant she would do things on a different schedule than other kids.And in those first few days, after hearing those statistics, talking to doctors and researching online, I thought I knew what it “meant” to have a child with Down syndrome. And quite frankly, I was devastated.And so it is with you.But let me tell you — from one mother to another — those facts are not what it means to have a child with Down syndrome.READ MORE http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/dear-mom-with-a-prenatal-down-syndrome-diagnosis
Female suicide bombers kill dozens in Cameroon, Nigeria
Hundreds of people have been killed in bombings and shootings across northern Nigeria since Muhammadu Buhari was inaugurated as president on May 29.He has made a number of changes aimed at tackling the insurgency, including replacing his defence chiefs.The Islamists, whose six-year insurgency and efforts to quell it have left at least 15,000 dead, have recently stepped up their attacks in the restive Lake Chad region despite a major regional offensive.Cameroon’s army has joined the campaign against Boko Haram after a series of deadly cross-border raids into its territory.A main street in Maroua, where a suspected suicide bomb attack on July 25, 2015 carried out by a chi …The insurgents have abducted thousands of people, including hundreds of women and girls, in the past two years, rights groups say. Scenes at the sight of the attackA 12-year-old girl suicide bomber killed 20 people in an attack on a bar in Maroua in Cameroon, while in a crowded market in neighbouring Nigeria a “mentally handicapped” female attacker killed 14.The child bomber blew herself up among Saturday night revellers in the popular bar, injuring at least 79 others, Cameroonian state TV reported on Sunday.No one claimed responsibility for Sunday’s explosion but the latest attack bears the hallmarks of the armed group Boko Haram.Police spokesman Toyin Gbadegesin told the Reuters news agency that the bomber, “a female of about 10 years old capitalised on the crowded entrance of the market where screening was being conducted and detonated the device”.At least two other females were killed in the attack.One of the attackers was said to be a mentally handicapped girl
South African Rand sinks to its lowest in years
The South African RandSouth Africa’s rand tumbled to it’s lowest since 2011 on concern that the plunge in global commodity prices will deepen further.The rand weakened 3.3 percent to 13.41 a dollar in early trade, the most since September 2011. It fell to 14.07 earlier, the lowest on record, and has dropped 14 percent this year.The currency of Africa’s most-industrialized economy led declines in emerging-market exchange rates, hurt by lower prices for resources that account for more than half of its exports.Losses have been exacerbated by concern over growth in China, the top destination for South Africa’s raw materials, and the prospect of higher U.S. interest rates in September.This week was another concerning one for the Rand exchange rate, with the emerging-market asset weakening beyond 13 Rand per Dollar (a fresh 14-year conversion low) and hitting yet another record low against the Pound.While unrest in the domestic gold mining sector was partly responsible for the Rand’s weakness, concerns relating to the slowdown in China (a major importer of South African commodities) also took a toll, as did fluctuating Federal Reserve interest rate hike expectations.The problem is said to be as a result of China devaluing its currency earlier this month.The rand is particularly vulnerable because it is one of the globe’s most highly traded emerging market currencies.Several other African currencies have been under pressure in recent weeks over fears of a Chinese economic slowdown.
Uganda’s election monitoring app
Uganda using mobile app to fight cancer Mobile application developers have come up with a new election app. The app, which is meant to increase transparency, during elections, comes ahead of the country’s polls in 2016. As CCTV’s Leslie Mirungu reports, such applications are gaining popularity on the continent. Related Uganda introduces new tax monitoring system Uganda Tennis