Energy

The American Petroleum Institute (API), the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC), the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), the Offshore Operators Committee (OOC), the Petroleum Equipment & Services Association (PESA), and the US Oil and Gas Association jointly submitted comments on proposed regulatory revisions to Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control requirements in 30 C.F.R. part 250.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is responding to the growth of involvement by its members in the marine renewable energy sector.

A new company pioneering the use of artificial intelligence in wind turbine inspection, Clobotics announced on 15 August 2018 that it has closed an additional $11 million (USD) in funding in a continuation of its Series A round of financing. Venture capital raised in this round now totals $21 million (USD). The company specializes in in intelligent computer vision solutions for the wind power industry.

Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt has announced that region-wide Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 251 generated $178,069,406 in high bids for 144 tracts covering 801,288 acres in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. A total of 29 companies participated in the lease sale, submitting $202,667,923 in bids.

Marine energy developer Minesto has completed the initial commissioning sea trials of its unique subsea kite technology called Deep Green off the coast of Holyhead, North West Wales. Through the initial trials, a range of functionalities such as the kite control system, launch and recovery systems, connections and communications have been tested and verified in various sea states.

By Professor Paul de Leeuw, Director, Robert Gordon University (RGU) Oil and Gas Institute, Aberdeen

The discussion around hard Brexit, soft Brexit, divorce bill, transition arrangements, new trade deals and the Chequers Brexit plan is rapidly turning into a bewildering array of statements, claims and counter claims. The Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, explained it well when he told the BBC in early August 2018 that “the possibility of a no-deal Brexit is uncomfortably high and highly undesirable.”

On 6 August 2018, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) published an announced that they have received an application for the licensing of a deepwater port.

The United States’ decision to impose sanctions on Iran’s energy industry has impacted plans to develop phase 11 of South Pars—the world’s largest gas field. Concerning its expected exit from the $4.8 billion project, French oil major Total says that co-investor China National Petroleum Corporation has the right to take over its position.

A total of 60 suction buckets have been pumped in place as foundation for the 20 wind turbines in Ørsted's new wind farm Borkum Riffgrund 2.

Everywhere we look – geographically, politically, technologically and financially – wind energy is breaking new ground. Wind energy continues to expand all over the world. It’s at the heart of government thinking on the energy transition. The technology continues to evolve and the costs continue to fall. And crucially it’s now moving beyond the power sector, and we’re beginning to think how wind can help decarbonise heating, transport and industrial processes.

Dominion Energy Virginia and Denmark-based energy company Ørsted took significant steps forward on August 3, 2018, in the development of Virginia's first offshore wind facility. Dominion Energy filed with Virginia's State Corporation Commission (SCC) for approval to build the two 6-megawatt turbines and grid infrastructure needed to connect the facility to the coast.

On July 31, the Massachusetts Legislature passed H.4857, An Act to Advance Clean Energy.”