Offshore-Rig Builders Thrive in New Era

Just two years after offshore drilling was brought to a near-standstill in many parts of the world following BP BP.LN -0.07% PLC's 2010 Gulf of Mexico Macondo well blowout, the offshore-rig-construction sector is growing strongly, with oil majors moving to deeper depths and new frontiers while also having to meet tighter safety requirements.  

Sustained high oil prices have made exploration and production in areas such as offshore Brazil and West and East Africa more viable, even though companies working in these frontier areas are having to ensure they aren't laying themselves open to huge penalties for leaks, fires and equipment failures. With more than 50% of the total offshore world rig fleet over 25 years old and given tougher rules governing the sector, there has been an acceleration in the dismantling of older offshore facilities, triggering a wave of new orders. 

"The oil spill has actually helped [boost orders for new rigs]. Safety features on the rig were never taken into notice so much as they are now," said Wong Kok-Seng, the managing director of Keppel FELS Ltd., a unit of Keppel Corp. Ltd., BN4.SG +0.18% the world's leading offshore-rig builder. "Safety is a game changer for the market." Rig operators are requesting additional blowout preventers, which failed in the 2010 disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, and improved well-control systems. As a result, all the major drilling contractors have started constructing new-generation rigs to replace their older fleets. 

This month alone, the world's two biggest rig builders—Singapore's Keppel and Sembcorp Marine Ltd. S51.SG +1.20% —announced orders for new offshore rigs valued at close to $9 billion. The rigs will all be chartered by Brazil's Petróleo Brasileiro SA, PBR -0.32% or Petrobras, for offshore drilling at presalt fields in the Santos Basin. 

"Companies are now demanding new-generation rigs with better safety features," said Manav Kumar, director at Dynamic Offshore Drilling, a unit of Deepwater Drilling & Services, an emerging Indian offshore-drilling contractor. Problems in offshore operations can have a major impact when things go wrong. For example, U.S. oil major Chevron Corp. CVX +0.55% is appealing a Brazilian court order earlier this month banning it and drilling-rig operator Transocean Ltd. RIG +0.29% from operating in the country for their alleged roles in an offshore oil spill last year. They firms have denied any wrongdoing. The two were given 30 days to halt operations or face hefty fines. 

The surge in orders for a range of offshore rigs and platforms comes despite uncertain global economic conditions, which have left the related global shipbuilding industry bleeding. One of China's largest shipbuilders, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Holdings Ltd., BS6.SG -0.50% this month predicted more trouble ahead for the industry, warning that half of all shipyards world-wide could be acquired or forced to stop operations next year due to lack of orders. Meanwhile, the world's top five rig builders—Keppel and SembCorp and South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., 009540.SE -1.65% Samsung Heavy Industries Co. 010140.SE +0.13% and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. 042660.SE -0.97% —have all experienced a surge in new rig contracts, with order books filled until 2014 or 2015 and some orders reaching well into the second half of this decade. The world's total drill-rig fleet counts 825 units, up from 809 a year ago, according to data from the IHS industry consultancy. 

Construction yards around the world saw order books increase by a net of 15 rigs in 2012, or nearly 13% compared with 2011 building on growth that continued despite the Macondo disaster. In June this year, 143 rigs were under construction globally compared with 127 rigs in June 2011, according to South Korea's STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, 067250.SE -1.20% the world's fourth-biggest shipbuilder. With Brent crude-oil futures mostly trading above $100 a barrel during the past 18 months, oil producers have plenty of incentives to drill in frontier areas, which mostly means in deeper waters and harsher conditions. 

As long as global crude-oil prices average between $70-$80 a barrel or above, producers will keep investing in offshore exploration and production—and in new oil rigs, said industry executives. And as oil majors mostly have strong balance sheets while at the same time are struggling to achieve production targets and build reserves, the increase in exploration and production is expected to continue. "Oil companies now have a belief that the average oil price will stay at a high level, which makes it economically viable to explore," said Alf Thorkildsen, chief executive of SeaDrill Ltd., SDRL -0.68% one of the world's biggest offshore-drilling companies. 

In July, the Norwegian company received a commitment from a major oil company to charter three new drillships valued at as much as $4 billion. The company currently has 18 drilling units under construction to be delivered by 2015 at a total cost of $6.9 billion. New technological advances have made drilling possible at water depths of about 12,000 feet. Coupled with high oil prices, deep-water drilling activity has risen fast, with governments world-wide promoting the industry in hopes of achieving energy self-reliance. The hot spot for deep-water offshore drilling remains Brazil along with West and East Africa and the U.S. Gulf. 

 Other busy drilling areas include Mexico, the North Sea, the Middle East, India, China, Indonesia and Australia.Rigs for deep-water drilling are in tight supply, with day rates touching $700,000 for sixth-generation deep-water drilling vessels, up from about $450,000 three years ago. Demand for jack up rigs—used in shallower waters to about 400 feet—is also strong, with day rates up to $230,000. source: online.wsj.com

Offshore wind supply chain to exceed demand for the next decade

January 14, 2012 - LONDON In relation to the renewable energy industry is news that the utility giant RWE has announced its plans to invest €5bn in both the UK and Poland. There is also to be an additional €1bn investment in offshore wind developments in the German North Sea.

The news confirms Germany’s commitment to switch off all 17 nuclear reactors in the next 10 years as a reaction to the Fukushima disaster from 2011 proving once again that the renewable energy sector and more specifically the offshore wind industry is rapidly turning into a profitable business.Many companies are already hoping to get their share of the significant investment RWE is planning to make in the renewables sector by winning key long term contracts with the company in 2012 and beyond. Given the shutdown of the German Nuclear industry, many manufacturers in the country who now supply parts or services to nuclear plant developers and operators will soon be short of business, and looking for new opportunities such as that which the RWE investment represents.

Furthermore, other industries such as the oil and gas or aviation industry are also looking to enter the offshore wind market and according to the EWEA ‘’the supply of offshore wind turbines will meet and exceed demand for the next decade, leading to healthy levels of competition within Europe with the potential for export to emerging North American markets’’.

With new players constantly entering the offshore wind market, the competition for the procurement managers’ attention will become increasingly harder to achieve leaving the least adapted companies out of business. With more businesses offering supply chain products and services in 2012, knowing exactly what procurement managers are looking for will be a critical factor for companies’ survival in the market.

To address these issues, the 2nd Annual Offshore Wind Supply Chain Conference taking place in London this February 28-29 is bringing leading contract and procurement managers from Europe’s main utilities to discuss their selection criteria for choosing supply chain partners for the next round offshore wind projects. RWE is presented by Mr. Bjoern Przygodda, Head of Procurement, Offshore and Mr. Thierry Aelens, Head of Projects & Operations, Offshore who will be giving some vital insight about the RWE offshore experience and the main factors they will be looking for in their current and future business partners across Europe.

With more than 150 C level executives attending the event last year and even more expected to join this year, the 2nd annual offshore supply chain conference is the largest, most important business to business gathering entirely dedicated to offshore wind supply chain industry matters in UK and Europe. source: www.renewableenergyworld.com

Moving Jobs Offshore Becoming 'Harder to Justify'

Economic conditions, natural resources and technological innovation are making it harder for manufacturers to "justify moving jobs offshore," according to a new report by Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management.

Three drivers are responsible for "breathing life back into manufacturing," according to "Workforce Rising: Why U.S. Manufacturing is Poised for a Comeback," authored by Charlton Reynders and Patrick McVeigh.Offshoring to Homeshoring
Companies are turning from offshoring to homeshoring as the cost advantages of moving production to China and other locations become less significant. The wage gap between China and the U.S is shrinking, the report notes. Wages in China are rising at a predicted 15% to 20% annually while U.S. wage rates are growing at only 2%.

Higher oil prices have pushed transportation costs dramatically higher, the report notes. "By reallocating resources to the U.S., companies can reduce the distance to the point of sale and eventually benefit from more accessible, cheaper fuel in domestic natural gas," the report states.

Industries are adopting a more holistic view of production, according to the study, by using Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). TCO includes in cost evaluation "the burden of controlling quality and delivery, transportation, oil consumption, inspection of labor, inventory carrying, and freight and packaging." Companies that use TCO "find it is cheaper and more predictable to keep manufacturing close to home," the report states.

Resources Spur Momentum
Water stress is a global issue and the U.S. is well-positioned to address it. The report notes that the U.S. has the largest reserves of water on the planet. Moreover, there is "significant growth in domestic companies focused on conservation and desalination technology - both of which will be critical to augmenting the fresh water supply."

Natural gas, much of it coming from shale formations, could generate domestic supplies for 120 years. The report states this would not only help with transportation costs but also may give "U.S. manufacturing a competitive refooting, which will in turn stoke industrial demand." The report cites an estimate by PricewaterhousCoopers that natural gas investments could create 1 million U.S. manufacturing jobs in the coming 15 years.

Technology & Innovation
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, could "transform entire industries," the report notes. It may streamline manufacturing and make it more efficient by "vastly" reducing production liens and wasted material. The report argues that 3D printing could unleash a wave of innovation, with "millions of innovators in millions of garages - each with a 3D printer on hand."

While the report does not foresee a "quick fix" for U.S. manufacturing, it argues that manufacturing will return as "China struggles with growing infrastructure and the emergence of its middle class; as industries built around U.S.-based resources solidify; and as innovation brings production to new levels of efficiency."source: www.industryweek.com

Plans for Maine’s first offshore wind turbine moving quickly

Dec. 09, 2011 - SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — A deep water wind farm off Maine’s coast moved closer to reality Thursday as state and federal officials got a more detailed look at a Norwegian energy company’s proposal.

Statoil North America Inc., a division of the Norwegian company Statoil ASA, submitted an application in October for a commercial lease to the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for an area of ocean that’s about 22 square miles for full assessment of environmental impacts, sea bed conditions and wind speeds. The lease area is about 12 nautical miles offshore of the Boothbay area.

The eventual size of the “Hywind Maine” project would be narrowed down to an area of between 2.32 and 3.86 square miles.Ned Farquhar, deputy assistant secretary at the Department of the Interior, talked Thursday about the Obama administration’s goals to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources.

“Opportunities like Atlantic wind, where there is significant potential, don’t come along every generation,” said Farquhar. “This is a huge opportunity to develop clean energy sources responsibly.”

The official interest by a major industry player in offshore wind immediately accelerates the potential development of the sector in Maine. The state, largely through the efforts of private industry and the University of Maine, has been developing prototypes, studying environmental and commercial issues off the coast and setting up the process for approving such projects.

“The proposal galvanizes the commercial deep-water development in Maine and the United States,” said Habib Dagher, the UMaine professor who has been at the forefront of offshore wind research in the state. “It’s currently an international race to deep water, and Maine is in the middle of that race.”

Farquhar confirmed Dagher’s assessment: “Deep water has not been implemented very much around the world. It’s got tremendous potential and Maine is at the vanguard.”

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has been involved with the offshore wind effort in Maine for years, sending members of her staff with former Gov. John Baldacci to Norway in 2009. She noted in a statement Thursday that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar toured the new deep-water offshore wind laboratory at UMaine during the summer at her invitation to learn more about the work being done in the state.

“I am very pleased to see the department take this next step in convening the BOEM Maine Renewable Energy Task Force today, and I thank Secretary Salazar for his commitment to work with other federal agencies in pursuing the most efficient path forward to establish deep-water, offshore wind as a viable energy source,” Collins said.

The federal agency has reviewed and approved the legal aspects of the application. It still has to review the technical and financial merits of the program.

The project would be in water from 460 to 520 feet deep. Because of the depth, the wind turbines would be floating, tethered to anchors on the sea floor — not embedded in the ocean bed.

Aditi Mirani, the bureau’s project manager for Maine, said the initial project Statoil has proposed is a pilot plan. It would include four 3-megawatt turbines, she said. The company is proposing a similar deep-sea pilot program off the coast of Scotland.

“What they’re proposing here is a test facility, a small-scale project. They just want to demonstrate the commercial potential of that floating turbine technology,” said Marini.

Ken Fletcher, head of Gov. Paul LePage’s Office of Energy Independence, noted the development of offshore wind in Maine was still in the very early stages.

The administration is keeping an open mind regarding the different energy opportunities that exist, he said, and ocean energy is “one of those great potentials.”

“The real test will be how well we can implement and achieve that potential with minimal impact,” said Fletcher.

Marini said Statoil plans to submit construction plans and operations plans by the end of next year, with the bureau making a decision on the lease request and approval of those plans by 2014. The plan is to start installation of the turbines in summer 2016, she said.

Statoil has responded to a request for proposals from the Maine Public Utilities Commission for companies that wanted to produce offshore energy, and the company also has applied to the New England electric grid to connect at the Boothbay substation.

Sen. Christopher Rector, R-Thomaston, head of the Legislature’s Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee, said he saw great potential for Maine companies like Bath Iron Works, Cianbro Corp., Reed & Reed Construction and others.

“We’ve been focused on jobs for as long as I’ve been in the Legislature. What’s exciting about this is the opportunity for jobs in areas where we have some levels of native skill,” Rector said. “Saltwater runs in our veins.”

Rector said he was thinking of not only jobs making the turbine towers and parts, but also the installation and continuing maintenance of the wind farm.

Paul Williamson, director of the Maine Wind Energy Initiative, said his group has been working with Statoil to determine what parts of the supply chain exist here in Maine and where there are gaps.

The company’s interest in Maine waters takes his group’s efforts to a different level, he noted.

“This is beyond tire-kicking,” he said.

Statoil developed the first deep-water floating turbine off the coast of Norway in 2009. Former Gov. John Baldacci, University of Maine researchers and others visited the site that year, signing an agreement to cooperate in exploring the technology’s potential.

The company has operations in 34 countries and is valued at $85 billion. Company officials visited Maine after the gubernatorial mission to Norway and said at the time they were exploring numerous deep-water sites around the globe for their first commercial wind farm.

About 100 state and federal officials, as well as members of the public and interested parties, gathered Thursday for the meeting in South Portland.

Expected to last for much of the day, the session included numerous comments from agencies including the Coast Guard, Department of Defense and National Marine Fisheries Service on how they plan to study the proposal and what problems may exist.

Several officials gave initial assessments while describing the additional studies and tests they would undertake concerning the feasibility of the Maine Hywind project.

“Statoil picked a fairly decent location as far as traffic goes,” said George Detweiller, a marine transportation specialist with the Coast Guard.

Coast Guard data show relatively light traffic in that area, he said, though they don’t necessarily track smaller fishing vessels or recreation craft.

Representatives from the DOD said they would need more studies to determine possible impact on radar, and noted the area was in the general vicinity of pathways used by BIW and the Navy to test new destroyers, as well as submarine routes for vessels being serviced by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

A fisheries officials said they would study impacts on habitat, marine mammals, fish stocks and others.

Linda Welch, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist who works with the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge, raised a number of concerns regarding offshore turbines and their potential impact on birds and bats.

Both the roseate tern and the piping plover are endangered species and migrate from Nova Scotia to Maine using unknown routes. They could be affected by a wind farm, she noted.

Maine has about 4,600 coastal islands and 382 are nationally significant seabird nesting islands, she said.

For example, 96 percent of the Arctic terns in the lower 48 states breed on four islands in the Gulf of Maine. Ninety percent of Atlantic puffins breed on three of Maine’s islands, she said.

Bald eagles congregate on the coast in the winter, feasting on seabirds, traveling to islands up to 20 miles off the coast, Welch said.

She suggested that in-depth studies would be needed to address potential impacts.

Rep. Bruce MacDonald, D-Boothbay, a member of the task force, said he was a proponent of wind energy, but added that a lot more study and information was needed.

“We have to look at a complete picture — can you do it without hurting the fishermen?” he said.

After the presentations, the task force took comments and questions from members of the audience. Some, including Dagher and Beth Nagusky of Environment Northeast, urged an expedited process for approving the pilot project lease.

A number of others with questions represented Maine’s fishing community, including Chris Weiner, a senior fishery analyst with the American Bluefin Tuna Association.

Weiner said the area eyed by Statoil is a “hot spot” for tuna, as well as for groundfish, lobsters and whale watchers.

“There are much better places to put something like this,” said Weiner. “You’re never going to please everybody, but don’t pick a hot spot.”source: /bangordailynews.com

Retail jobs to fall sharply: Gerry Harvey

9 Dec 2011 - Consumer goods king Gerry Harvey says 20 per cent of retail jobs could be lost if tough trading conditions continue.

The Harvey Norman co-founder and chairman predicts that the sector, which employs 1.2 million people, could shrink to one million workers next year due to the parlous state of retailing.

"We employ 1.2 million people and next year we'll be employing one million - it's getting bad every day and just gets worse," Mr Harvey told AAP on Friday.Mr Harvey said traditional store-front retailers were increasingly losing out to online sales, with shopper dollars flying offshore.

"Now it's starting to bite because so many retailers are going out of business.

"And then you've got so many Harvey Norman shops that are in serious trouble.

"We're losing money in more shops than we've ever lost money and that's (the same for) every retailer right across the country."

Australians are keeping purse strings tight and hoarding savings as global economic woes weigh on sentiment, and retailers are feeling the pinch.

Losing sales to online stores is a double whammy.

PayPal Australia this week said online commerce in the nation had grown at 11 per cent over the past year and sales were expected to be $30 billion by the end of calendar 2011.

Harvey Norman last month launched an online shop, following its Harvey Norman Big Buys website that started in April, after feeling the effect of internet shopping on its traditional stores.

Harvey Norman reported a 3.8 per cent fall in global sales in the September quarter, compared to the prior period.

The franchise was doing it tough in the lead-up to the all-important Christmas season, and it was not alone, Mr Harvey said.

The retailer expected "a reasonable Christmas, but not great".

Mr Harvey also renewed his call for the introduction of the GST and duties on foreign goods bought online for less than $1,000.

Currently, imported goods must be valued at more than $1,000 to attract such levies.

Mr Harvey said the existing system didn't appear to be enforced because the retailer had tested it by buying a $1,500 item online and was not charged GST and duties.

"They put $1,500 on your credit card and send you an invoice for $990 so it goes through customs, and the credit card company doesn't say anything because it's good for them, too.

"This has been going on for ages."

A Productivity Commission report on Friday recognised that competition from overseas online sellers was a challenge to the retail sector.

However, the commission said the low value threshold for exemption from GST and duty on imports was only a "minor part" of the competitive disadvantage traditional retailers faced and it would cost more to lower it than retain it.

According to the commission, the retail sector is worth around $60 billion a year to the economy.source: www.businessspectator.com.au

Vestas warns of ‘catch 22’ offshore

08 December 2011 - Vestas Offshore president Anders Soe Jensen advised of a “catch 22” for offshore wind at yesterday’s Countdown to 2020 conference in London.

He said that in order to maintain support for the sector costs must continue to fall, yet the industry requires a greater level of certainty before it can commit to further investment.

Soe Jensen said Vestas has dedicated itself to bringing more offshore wind to the UK in order to help the sector grow and to help the country’s economy expand.

He said the company has three priorities: it aims to reduce the cost of offshore wind, it wants create more jobs in the sector and it wants to keep the public on board as the industry grows.In order to maintain momentum the industry must demonstrate that the long term cost of energy for offshore can fall to £100 per megawatt-hour.

Soe Jensen said the industry needed a sufficient pipeline of projects going forward to justify investment saying that no one in their right mind would build a factory to employ 2000 people without it.

He added that operation and maintenance jobs require highly skilled workers for long periods of time but a lack of growth in the sector is limiting how many people can be employed.

“We cannot bring down costs alone,” said Soe Jensen, adding that it will require cooperation between the industries and banks to fully recognise the potential of offshore wind in the UK.source: renews.biz

Noble, Shell Debut New Offshore Rig Design in the Gulf of Mexico

They first thing you’ll notice looking at the Noble Bully I is what it’s missing. Unlike a conventional drilling rig, it has no derrick. Instead, it sports a compact, box-type drilling tower.

Shell spokesperson Kelly op de Weegh says it’s the tower that gives the Bully rig its edge.

“That multi-purpose tower allows you to be drilling as well as moving some pipe around and preparing for the next phase of the well simultaneously. And it also improves safety, in that dropped objects are always considered a safety hazard in the offshore industry. This Bully rig, because it really removes that threat, there’s just a much cleaner layout of the drill floor with clearer visibility.”The Noble Bully I has just arrived in the Gulf from Singapore. Following acceptance tests, it’ll start drilling in Shell’s Mars B field, about 150 miles south of New Orleans. Its sister ship, the Noble Bully II, is scheduled to begin operations off the Brazilian coast early next year.
source: app1.kuhf.org

Drilling Down

In June 2010, in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, President Obama put Michael Bromwich in charge of reforming the Interior Department’s offshore oil and gas programs. Yet, the two men have met only once, in September 2010, shortly before the department lifted the moratorium it had placed on issuing deepwater drilling permits. “I’ve been given a remarkably free hand in running this agency,” says Bromwich, who is leaving as director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management at year’s end. (He says he doesn’t know what he’s doing next.) In an interview with National Journal at the Interior Department, Bromwich reflects on the last 18 months. Edited excerpts follow.

NJ Your expertise is not in energy and environmental issues. How was this job different from past positions you’ve held, including inspector general of the Justice Department?

BROMWICH [With] the bulk of what I’ve had to do, you have not needed to have a wealth of specific technical information about offshore drilling. The important challenges that I faced in coming in here at the end of June of 2010 were ones of leadership and direction—of being able to take the reins of a troubled organization, being able to help lift it up, move it forward, and take care of the many significant tasks that were assigned to the agency.

There were plenty of technically smart people in the agency who could provide me technical information when I needed it. That’s not what the director of an agency like this needs to have, first and foremost. Does it hurt? No. Does it help? Marginal amount. But you can get that from people lower down in the agency.

NJ You had some difficult relationships with a few oil-state Republicans, especially Rep. Jeffrey Landry and Sen. David Vitter, both from Louisiana.

BROMWICH I understand that they feel the need to represent their constituents in an aggressive and sometimes highly rhetorical way. There are fantasies some people in the industry and some politicians have about who exercises control over what—everything ranging from the White House telling me what to do, which has never happened, to me telling the permitting people what to do and not to do, which has never happened. Some of the Gulf State representatives would be shocked about how little communication there has been, for example, between the White House and me. I have not talked to anyone in the White House for six months.

NJ What was the hardest part about this job?

BROMWICH The hardest part was dealing with the external pressures and the external focus on the agency from Day One. That continued for a longer period of time than I expected it. I thought once the well was capped, once the deepwater-drilling moratorium was over, once deepwater wells began to be permitted again—which was in February—that we wouldn’t be as much of an interest to you and your colleagues and the Congress and the outside world. That just turned out not to be true. We were not able to dig into some of the internal issues as we would have if we didn’t have the incredible array and continuing stream of external things to respond to: 15 congressional hearings, 19 external speeches.

NJ Why so much external pressure?

BROMWICH The companies—which were being harmed by the moratorium and the fact that we were processing plans and permits at a slower pace than we had historically—have a loud public voice. People pay attention to them. They make contributions to congressmen. They have very vocal trade associations. That’s why there continued to be a steady drumbeat of information coming out, much of it critical about what we were doing. And that explains the sustained attention that our operations got.

NJ What advice would you give to your successor, Rear Adm. James Watson?

BROMWICH Don’t worry about the pressures you’re getting from the external world, whether they be from trade associations or politicians or operators. Just do what you think is the right thing to do. Make decisions that you can justify to yourself and that you can justify to the outside world.

NJ What would you do differently?

BROMWICH What I wish I had had time to do was spend more time bringing in a couple of additional senior staff people, because the crushing burdens of this office fell on an incredibly small number of people.

NJ While your focus has been on offshore oil and gas production, your agency also regulates offshore renewable energy, such as wind.

BROMWICH I would say a generous estimate of how much time I spent on offshore-renewable issues is 2 percent. I regret that. I think there are some interesting and some promising things that can be done in terms of offshore renewables, but I did not have the luxury of time to get as involved in those issues as I would have liked.

This article appeared in the Saturday, December 10, 2011 edition of National Journal. source: www.nationaljournal.com

Offshore drilling watchdog stepping down

December 08, 2011 - When Michael Bromwich took over the helm of the agency overseeing offshore drilling 17 months ago, oil was still gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, and a handful of ethical lapses had shattered public confidence in the ability of federal regulators to police the industry.

Now, Bromwich is leaving the Interior Department after leading a major overhaul of the government's offshore drilling oversight programs and imposing a swath of new regulations designed to improve the safety of coastal oil and gas exploration.

But he is not confident that all of the changes imposed since last year's Deepwater Horizon disaster will stick."People have short memories," Bromwich said. "We have done everything we possibly can to institutionalize these reforms (and) to create new substantive rules. But there are a lot of people who have amnesia, who make believe that Deepwater Horizon never happened or (think) it was a total anomaly."

Bromwich warns that major challenges remain for the offshore drilling industry and the regulators who monitor it, especially as federal agencies struggle to compete with oil companies to recruit top-notch petroleum engineers. Some industry leaders and their allies in Congress also are pushing to roll back new regulations imposed since last year's oil spill.

Bromwich also is campaigning for extra dollars for the two federal bureaus that were created to replace the former Minerals Management Service.

"This agency for 28 years fought a losing battle for resources," he said. "We have now started to make up for lost ground over the last year and a half," but possible across-the-board budget cuts and planned congressional spending "make me quite concerned about whether the agency will have the resources and tools it needs to do the job that the public expects it to do."

Bromwich formally stepped down as head of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement on Thursday, but he will serve as a special adviser to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar through the end of the year.

His successor is retired Coast Guard Rear Adm. James Watson, who led the government's response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster after June last year.

Bromwich became a lightning rod for criticism from industry leaders and some lawmakers, who said the government's approval rate of offshore drilling projects slowed unnecessarily under his watch.

source: articles.sfgate.com

‘One-stop-shop’ could create offshore jobs

MAJOR employers are joining together to protect and create jobs in the North East.

A&P Tyne and the Port of Tyne are among a group of 19 companies backing a new industrial engineering group which aims to cash in on the offshore renewable energy business.

The new group – Energi Coast – aims to provide a “one-stop shop” of skills to cover every aspect of renewable energy projects.

A&P, based in Hebburn, see offshore windfarm work as a logical extension of the traditional shipyard and heavy manufacturing skills available in the region.Neil Jarvis, sales and commercial director at A&P Tyne, said: “Our traditional engineering skills in shipbuilding, heavy manufacturing and engineering are easily transferable to building, operating and maintaining large offshore wind farms and our geographic location is ideal.”

He added: “The region can literally be a ‘one-stop shop’ for the offshore renewables sector. We have companies that can provide services and solutions that extend right across the offshore wind supply chain.”

The collaboration was announced the day after South Tyneside Council made public its plan to bring together a high-powered economic “think tank” to help boost the borough’s economy.

The other companies involved are Able UK, Barrier Ltd, CTC Marine Projects, Heerema Fabrication Group, JDR Cable Systems, McNulty Group Holdings, Mech-Tool Engineering, MPI Offshore, NOF Energy, OGN Group, PDL Solutions (Europe) Ltd, Reef Subsea, SMD, Tag Energy Solutions, Tata Steel Europe, Technip UK Ltd and Wilton Engineering Services.

Mr Jarvis added: “Like others in Energi Coast, A&P Tyne has successfully diversified in recent years into new sectors such as offshore oil and gas and renewable energy.

“We’re proud to be a founding member of Energi Coast. All the companies involved will be working collaboratively to ensure a first-rate supply chain that we believe can effectively compete against anywhere in the world.”source: www.jarrowandhebburngazette.com

Southern Jobs for Offshore Wind Energy

This week, Simon Mahan is attending the American Wind Energy Association/Offshore Wind Development Coalition’s conference on offshore wind energy in Baltimore, Md. This is the first of a series of three blogs from the conference.
Marylanders prefer Café to Coal

I’m attending the American Wind Energy Association/Offshore Wind Development Coalition’s Offshore Wind Expo this week. As you may recall, I blogged about this event when it was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey last year.

Today, I’ve mostly attended presentations on offshore wind turbine manufacturing and supply chains. The discussions have tended toward a conclusion that without many planned offshore wind projects, manufacturing and shipbuilding would not occur.Nevertheless, some evidence is available that flies in the face of this seemingly foregone conclusion. Already several U.S. companies have provided their expertise to the global offshore wind industry, and several more companies are building new manufacturing - without a clear market demand, and mostly here in the South.

Perhaps the gem of the offshore wind industry here in the South is Clemson University’s new drive-train test facility in Charleston, South Carolina. The $98 million drive-train test facility is the biggest single investment in the Palmetto State’s history, and has proven to be a magnet for manufacturers of offshore wind turbine. IMO USA, a German-based company that manufactures slew rings for wind turbines, built its manufacturing plant near the Clemson facility. The $47 million IMO facility employs approximately 190 workers.

Wind turbines are connected to the ocean floor and can be done so using different foundation technologies. Many offshore foundation technologies, such as the tripod foundation, have been utilized in the offshore oil and gas industries, as well. A Texas company, Offshore Wind Power Systems of Texas, recently announced that it would be providing foundations for an offshore wind energy project in Brazil.

Offshore wind turbine blades can be significantly longer than onshore wind turbine blades and require specialty manufacturing. Last year, Blade Dynamics, a wind turbine blade manufacturer, announced it would be building a new blade manufacturing facility specifically for the offshore wind industry. The facility is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. At present Blade Dynamics is planning on selling their blades primarily to the European market.

After the turbines are manufactured, offshore wind installation vessels place the turbines in the ocean. The specialty vessels are similar to vessels used in the offshore oil and gas industries, but several ships have been built with wind energy specifically in mind. A Danish company, Knud E. Hansen USA L.L.C., recently opened shop in Florida with the capability of designing these specialty ships. However, the US has already built these specialty ships before. Take for example the KS Titan II. This specialty-built vessel has helped install several wind farms off the UK coast. The KS Titan II was the second specialty offshore wind installation vessel built in Louisiana by SEMCO LLC. The vessel flies a Singaporean flag and operates in the UK waters.

Turbines are connected onshore via sub-sea electric cables. Those cables have to be manufactured by specialty companies and installed by specialized vessels. Prysmian Power Cables is located in South Carolina and manufactures transmission and distribution cables to the electric power industry, including sub-sea cables. ABB Cable, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, also develops AC and DC export cables for offshore wind farms and offshore electrical substations. Trico Marine, a Texas-based company, has been selected to install sub-sea cables for offshore wind farms in the European market.

These are just a few of the companies already operating in the offshore wind energy industry, even though there hasn’t been a single offshore wind turbine installed here in the U.S. I can’t help but note that all the companies listed above are here in the South. Just imagine how many jobs could be created in our region if our country stepped up to the plate and supported strong national policies to promote offshore wind energy. One such measure is currently making its way through the U.S. Senate. The Incentivizing Offshore Wind Act (S. 1397) is a bi-partisan piece of legislation that, if passed, will help incentivize offshore wind and provide a stable policy to promote offshore wind. Contact your U.S. Senators and ask them to co-sponsor this important piece of job-creating legislation to help support robust wind energy manufacturing and generation in our region.source: blog.cleanenergy.org

Offshore Balance of Plant Engineer (Maintenance Contracts)- Grimsby

Job Type: Permanent
Location: Grimsby
Salary: £35,000 to £45,000
Start Date: ASAP
Duration:
Reference: 251722-OFFSHORE-ENGINEER RES is one of the world's leading renewable energy developers. Drawing on decades of experience in the renewable energy and construction industries, RES has the expertise to develop, construct and operate large-scale wind farms of outstanding quality. RES has now passed the 5000MW milestone and our enviable track record in project delivery has given us a reputation for excellence that is second to none.

RES has a dedicated offshore development, engineering, construction and operations team which successfully participating in UK Rounds 1, 2 and 3 RES is expanding to meet the future opportunities in the UK and European offshore wind sector.

We are currently looking for a Balance of Plant Engineer (maintenance contracts), to work at our Grimsby Office based on Grimsby Docks. This interesting role within renewable energy, encompasses the creation and management of a set of contracts that ensure that high standards of mechanical and electrical maintenance are adhered to, both onshore at substations and on offshore structures and submerged HV cables. The scope of works also includes ensuring that all statutory insurance inspections are completed on time and within budget. The role would ideally suit an existing maintenance engineer with experience of working with engineering contracts. Part of the role will include working both offshore and at height. Full offshore survival and working at height training will be provided. The successful candidate will be required to produce reports on a weekly and monthly basis.

The successful candidate would join the small team based in Grimsby but would also be part of the larger RES organisation based in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire. We require an individual who can be flexible both in working patterns and tasks undertaken. Previous, relevant experience with electrical HV systems would be advantageous, however training will be provided. The successful candidate will already be commensurate in the use of Microsoft Word and Excel.

The role will offer the successful candidate the chance to become involved in other aspects of renewable energy management, particularly wind turbine maintenance management.

To apply for this position please email your CV by clicking on the apply now button below stating 'Offshore BOP Engineer' in the subject box.

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 26th November 2011.

Apply Now

Capito seeks to use offshore drilling to fund road repairs

Monday September 26, 2011 - Rep. Shelley Moore Capito wants to expand oil and gas drilling off the United States' coasts and use some of the returns to help repair the country's roads and bridges.

Her office said the money from leases oil companies pay the government to drill offshore would amount to $435.5 billion over 30 years.

Capito, R-W.Va., said she thought the idea had support from leaders in the Republican-majority House and "we're going to work on the Democratic side."

The bill is consistent with Capito's desire to broaden as much possible the country's energy portfolio, she said, while also helping to shore up the dwindling road repair budget."I've been on an 'all of the above' energy plan, so let's tap these resources," she said in a telephone interview Friday.

Offshore drilling is currently prohibited in most places around the United States, though there are several exceptions. Environmentalists generally oppose the drilling, pointing to the danger of spills like that of April 2010 at a BP oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

Still, the notion isn't without bipartisan support. In March 2010, President Barack Obama said, "in the short term, as we transition to cleaner energy sources, we've still got to make some tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development."

But a move toward expanding drilling was put on hold and reversed three weeks later when the BP rig began belching oil into the gulf.source: www.dailymail.com

Ground broken by offshore drilling platform

NOBLE Energy broke ground yesterday in exploratory drilling for natural gas off Cyprus’ southern coast, as the government again defended the Republic’s right to exploit the country’s natural resources.

The drill of the ‘Homer Ferrington’ oil rig penetrated the seabed, at a sea depth of 1,700 m, said Energy Service director Solon Kassinis.

Drilling would continue to the depth of around 5.8km below sea level, and the process could take up to two or three months, he said.

“It’s going well, without any glitches,” Kassinis told the Cyprus Mail.During this time samples will be taken from the bedrock and analyzed for their hydrocarbon content and quality.

Once the process is complete, the borehole is sealed with cement. If the samples are promising, the borehole would be reopened for commercial extraction at a later date.

Drilling is taking place in a field designated as Block 12 (or “Aphrodite”); energy officials say it could hold up to 10 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Texas-based Noble Energy holds the exploration concession for Block 12 that lies very close to a gas field in Israeli waters.

Noble's Israeli partner, the Delek Group, has an option to participate in the Cypriot project.

Delek subsidiaries Avner Oil and Gas LP and and Delek Drilling LP have just received a precedent-setting provisional licence to invest in the Cypriot oil and gas exploration projects. The two companies have an option to buy 15 per cent each of Cypriot offshore Block 12 concession from Noble Energy.

The Cypriot government will have to give Avner and Delek Drilling permission to exercise their option to the concession.

According to business website Globes, Israeli authorities have banned Avner and Delek Drilling from investing in foreign projects due to concerns that their controlling shareholders will abuse the difference between their knowledge and other investors' knowledge about developments in foreign markets. For this reason, the companies' permit is provisional and limited to Cyprus.

Kassinis confirmed yesterday that Noble has asked Cypriot authorities for permission for Avner and Delek Drilling to exercise their option.

He said the request is being assessed by an advisory panel to the Commerce Ministry. Final decision rests with the Cabinet.

Turkey has threatened to send gunships to protect its own planned exploratory work off the island’s northern coastline.

Acting government spokesman Christos Christofides said the President and the government are “closely monitoring developments and are taking all the necessary steps to ensure that our efforts proceed unhampered.”

Appealing for calm in the face of Turkish actions in the eastern Mediterranean, Christofides said there was no cause for “unnecessary alarm” and called on the media to play their part.

Reiterating that Cyprus is well within its rights to explore for hydrocarbons, Christofides added that the Republic has had the unequivocal backing of the international community on this.

The President and the administration would continue efforts overseas to build “a shield” of international support around Cyprus, he said.source: www.cyprus-mail.com

Drilling mud spills from offshore rig east of St. John's

Thousands of litres of synthetic drilling mud spilled at the White Rose oil development hundreds of kilometres southeast of St. John’s on Tuesday, officials say.

Husky Energy said the spill of about 5,000 litres of drilling mud from the GSF Grand Banks oil rig occurred during normal drilling operations.

The White Rose oil project is about 350 kilometres from the island of Newfoundland. Drilling was suspended Tuesday and an investigation was launched, the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board said.

Drilling mud is used in the oil industry to prevent oil or gas from escaping during drilling operations.The news release suggested the spill is not expected to have a serious impact on the environment near the rig.

“Synthetic based mud is a heavy, dense fluid used during drilling operations to lubricate the drill pipe and balance reservoir pressure. Because of its weight, the mud sinks rapidly in the water column and rests on the sea floor. The synthetic base oil used is a food-grade oil of extremely low toxicity,” said a C-NLOPB news release Tuesday.

Late last March, more than 26,000 litres of drilling mud spilled from another oil rig operating east of St. John's. The Henry Goodrich rig was drilling an exploration well for Suncor at the time.

According to the C-NLOPB, the incident in March was the largest spill of drilling mud since 2007, when 74,000 litres of drilling mud were spilled in the Orphan Basin area of the North Atlantic Ocean.source: www.cbc.ca

Bill aimed at using BP fines to restore Gulf goes to full Senate

Hours after the oil rig explosion in April 2010, fireboats try
to extinguish the blaze on the Deepwater Horizon rig
south of Venice. The BP oil company faces fines,
which a Senate committee said should be used to restore
the Gulf Coast.

A bill that calls for 80 percent of BP penalties to go toward restoring the Gulf of Mexico has moved to the full U.S. Senate.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed the bill, called the Restore Act. Next, it goes to the full Senate for a vote.

Under the bill, a restoration plan would have to be drawn up and a special council set up to oversee restoration. The bill also calls for money to be set aside for long-term studies of the Gulf.

The bill has been pushed by Gulf Coast senators and backed by environmental groups.The BP spill occurred after the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded April 20, 2010, off the coast of Louisiana, leading to the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.source: www.nola.com

Oil Plays: Why Drill When You Can Integrate?

When it comes to the stock market, not all oil companies are created equal. For instance, drillers like Transocean (NYSE:RIG) and Diamond Offshore (NYSE:DO) have fallen 18% and 14%, respectively, in 2011 while integrated energy colossus Chevron (NYSE:CVX) has only dropped 1%. Why?

The answer can be found by looking at what drives their profits. Offshore drillers operate platforms that float over oil deposits beneath the ocean floor. Companies like BP (NYSE:BP) pay offshore drillers a daily rate to drill in search of oil. The goal of companies that hire the offshore drillers is to find the oil and get it pumped out as fast as possible so they can minimize the day rate they’re paying.Of course, BP and Transocean got into a bit of trouble back in 2010 when Transocean’s Deepwater Horizon rig — which BP had hired — blew up, killing 11 crew members. This led to a massive cleanup and a moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. That moratorium on drilling cut way back on the number of rig days that Transocean and its competitor, Diamond Offshore, got paid.

The financial results are not pretty. In 2010, Transocean’s net income plunged 69% to $988 million thanks to the loss of that rig’s income and the moratorium in the Gulf. And in the second quarter of 2011, Transocean’s net income plunged 50% to $155 million while only 55% of its fleet was being used.

The numbers for Diamond Offshore are not that much better. Its net income has fallen 31% in the last year while its revenues are down 9%. But in the second quarter of 2011, it reported higher profits of $267 million — up 8%. The bad news, which spooked its stock, is that management forecast more rig downtime — 1,004 days in 2011 and 869 days in 2012.

Chevron is a different story. It has many different ways to make money — including the refining and marketing of oil. If Chevron can keep its cost of buying crude oil low enough and keep its refineries operating close to full capacity, then it likely will make a big profit when it subtracts these costs from the price it gets from consumers at the pump.

That spread worked quite nicely for Chevron in the second quarter. Its profit spiked 43% to $7.7 billion on revenue that climbed 31% to $66.7 billion as higher oil and gasoline prices made up for a decline in oil production.

But that’s all history. Should you buy any of these stocks? Consider Chevron but avoid the offshore drillers. Here’s why:

Chevron: Profitable company, possibly expensive stock. Chevron revenues are up 19% in the past year, and it earns a solid 9.9% net profit margin. Yet its price/earnings-to-growth ratio is a high 3.95 — 1.0 is considered fairly valued — on a P/E of 7.9 on earnings forecast to grow 2% to $13.75 in fiscal 2012 after a 42% rise in 2011. If you think Chevron’s 2012 earnings growth will be better, then the stock might be cheap.
Transocean: Unprofitable company, expensive stock. Transocean loses money: It has a -1% net profit margin. And its PEG is undefined because it trades at a P/E of -129, but its earnings are forecast to rise 63% in 2012 to $5.75. If you like betting on a turnaround, this could be one to consider.
Diamond Offshore: Profitable company, overpriced stock. Diamond Offshore earns a whopping 29% net profit margin. And its PEG is undefined because it trades at a P/E of 8 on earnings forecast to tumble 20% in 2012 after a 10% decline in 2011.

If you had to bet on one of these, I’d go with Chevron. But if we have a recession coming up, then its earnings growth might be on the low end, and that would make its stock overpriced. The offshore drillers look questionable unless demand for their services spikes.

Peter Cohan has no financial interest in the securities mentioned.source: www.investorplace.com

Innovative Technologies in Offshore Drilling

With much of the ‘easy’ oil and gas in the world found and recovered, energy firms increasingly have to push to extreme frontiers to make new discoveries. This often means moving further offshore, drilling in waters up to 3000 meters (10,000 feet) deep, which until recently had been beyond the capabilities of even the most

accomplished exploration companies. Technological advances and an expanding pool of knowledge, however, have meant that previously inaccessible reserves can now be tapped, which is opening up a realm of new opportunities for those companies on the leading edge of innovation in the industry.

Below are three technologies that have the potential to push the boundaries of offshore drilling in the near future.Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities

Floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facilities package all the components required to extract and process natural gas – drilling rig, treatment system, cooling plant for liquefaction, storage facilities – into a single floating vessel that can be towed out and left semi-permanently at an offshore deepwater gas field. The advantage of these titanic FLNG facilities is their ability to work geographically complex fields that that would otherwise be inaccessible by traditional floating or jack-up rigs.

Natural gas is often cooled to a liquid in order to facilitate its transportation, but this must be done at an onshore facility, which in turn requires a pipeline connection to the gas field. A permanent rig and pipeline system to the onshore facility is simply not feasible for some fields though, due to the distance from shore and ocean floor features such as trenches that can’t be crossed or that are too expensive to avoid. An FLNG facility skirts this pipeline problem by extracting and processing the gas onsite.

Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) is pioneering the development of FLNG facilities, working closely with Technip (EPA:TEC), a French company that specializes in gas technology, and Korean ship-builder Samsung Heavy Industries (SEO:010140). Shell’s first FLNG vessel is scheduled for completion in 2017, after which it will head to their Prelude gas field off the North West coast of Australia where it is expected to produce upwards of 3.6 million tonnes of LNG and per year.

Underwater Power Grids

For those oil and gas fields that can be connected by pipelines to onshore facilities, a particular challenge posed by deepwater operations is establishing a power system that can run the vast network of pipes, pumps, and compressors needed to get the oil and gas from the well to the processing plant. Onshore, such a system is fairly straight-forward to construct, but building a similar system underwater has always proven to be significantly more challenging.

German engineering conglomerate Siemens (ETR:SIE) has designed a power grid that will enable deepwater pipeline networks to operate properly, and which increase the effectiveness of processing components. The grid can power processing systems in water up to 3000 meters (10,000 feet) deep, and Siemens have already developed power grids for use in deepwater offshore fields by Petrobras at their Carapeba field in Brazil and Statoil at their Snorre project in Norway.

Siemens have also recently acquired two sub-sea specialist companies, Poseidon Group AS and Bennex Group AS, to strengthen their position in underwater power generation market.

Deepwater Containment Systems

Though well containment systems prevent oil and gas from flowing, rather than facilitate it, they are, nonetheless, a key development for the offshore drilling industry. The Deepwater Horizon spill of 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico highlighted some of the risks involved in offshore drilling, and threatened the long-term future of the industry. Under pressure from regulators and shareholders, however, many large exploration companies have responded. The result is the development of containment systems that can be used to cap blown out wells in depths of up to 3000 meters (10,000 feet).

Trendsetter Engineering Inc. has designed a capping stack with a pressure capacity of 15,000 pounds per square inch as part of a containment system that is able to capture up to 100,000 barrels of oil or 200 million cubic feet of gas per day. These systems have so far been acquired by at least two groups, the Marine Well Containment Company, and the Helix Well Containment Group, whose members include most of the oil majors and large independents operating in the Gulf of Mexico. Members of these two groups have access to the containment systems should their own equipment fail.

Securing deepwater drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico now requires access to a containment system, which not only satisfies regulators and shareholders, but could also provide some measure of financial security for companies in the event of a blowout.source: resourceinvestingnews.com

Escape UK: Find Jobs Abroad and Get Work Overseas

Ironically, when we created Shelter Offshore much of our focus was on living abroad and how to achieve the dream life overseas, but we failed to focus on working abroad sufficiently until our readers drew our attention to this lack on our part.

We focused on where to live, how to live, how to invest to make your money go far further, and even where to buy stunning property overseas – but the key to all of this is of course having the financial means to enable you to relocate. Of course we redressed the balance and introduced the working abroad section to our living abroad channel and the rest is history…

…or not quite! You see, we recently read that 1 in 4 Britons would move abroad for work reasons. However, many are restricted by lack of knowledge about how to find jobs abroad and get work overseas so that they can escape UK. Which means that this guide to securing an income abroad is required reading. Why Do So Many Britons Want to Escape UK and Work Abroad?

The latest British government statistics, as quoted on Expat Forum.com, reveal that work reasons account for about 57% of relocations away from the UK.

Britons want to move because the economy in the UK is so bad, job security is a thing of the past, and because there is no hope on the horizon that things will improve.

Whilst other nations have also faced their own share of economic issues, Britain is doing particularly poorly with high inflation, a weak pound and a stagnant yet still overpriced property market. Therefore to escape al of this, Britons want to move abroad and find a better working environment, improved job prospects and a better lifestyle.
Where Can You Earn the Most Money From Working Overseas?

Last year we produced a report on the 10 best countries to work in abroad if you want more money.

The countries that rank highest include a really diverse mix of nations around the world. If you don’t want to venture too far then Switzerland comes in at number 7, if you want to earn the most then consider Singapore or Russia, or if you want to take more of your salary home without the erosion of personal taxation, look to the UAE and perhaps work in Dubai for example.
Should You Focus on Income or Lifestyle?

In talking about the amount of money you can potentially earn if you go overseas for work however, we’re perhaps missing a fundamental fact. Many who choose to move abroad and look for jobs overseas do so to buy into an improved lifestyle.

So, is it all about the money? For some people working abroad is about a short-term contract and banking as much as possible. But for others who simply want a better quality of life, the work is secondary. As long as they earn enough to indeed enjoy an improved lifestyle, that’s sufficient.

You need to think about what’s important to you, as this will drive elements of your relocation such as your country choice and the work you’re willing to do for example.
Should You Seek Employment Abroad or Work for Yourself?

If you have a burning desire to branch out and start your own business, you could combine a relocation abroad with the realisation of your self-employment dream.

However, self-employment is tough – the bottom line is that you’re on your own in terms of making a business work. This reality can add stress to an already stressful time in your life. I.e., moving abroad is stressful, do you really want to add a new business venture on top?

Only you can answer this question for yourself.

If you decide that you do want to go it alone then perhaps the International Chamber of Commerce or the Chamber of Commerce local to your new nation will assist you as you set up and start trading.

If you want to work abroad for an employer then you need to decide whether it’s easier to get a job before you move, or relocate and then begin job hunting.
Think About Visas, Permissions and Qualifications

You need to determine whether you need a visa to work in your chosen nation. You also need to work out whether you need special permission to trade if you want to start a business – perhaps you even need a license?

The embassy of your new nation in the UK may be able to help. Or hop online to expat forums and get asking. Finally, factor in that your qualifications may not translate. You may need to re-qualify locally or have your skills, qualifications and experience documented and translated officially.
How Can You Find Work Overseas?

If you want to look for jobs before you move abroad, consider the following methods: -

- Use international recruitment agencies, all of which are online
- Use specialist recruitment agencies for your business sector, many have an international division for recruitment abroad
- Directly target potential employers. Do this by looking to see who’s recruiting, or by sending in a CV on spec
- Use forums and any contacts you have to begin networking before you relocate – find out if anyone’s hiring
- Sometimes there are international or country specific expos in major cities in the UK, recruiters often attend, so should you!

There are pros and cons associated with finding work before you go as opposed to relocating and then seeking employment. It can be easier to get a visa to live in some nations like Canada and Australia if you have an offer of employment before you apply. However, it can be easier to get a job if you’re on the ground and available to attend an interview.

Have a think about what suits you best…then go for it.
Factor in Business Viability and Job Security

The final aspect to consider when you’re thinking about finding jobs abroad or going overseas to work for yourself is the long-term viability of your plan.

If you’re starting a business you need to ensure the idea works locally to where you’re moving, or if it’s an online business for example, that you can make it pay. If you’re going to find a job overseas then you also need to know that there are plenty to go around!

If you rely on there just being 1 job or 1 opportunity for your business to succeed, you’re putting too much pressure and strain on yourself.

The more options you have the better. If you don’t like your first job you need to know you can apply for others. And if your business idea doesn’t take off immediately, it’s good to know that you can perhaps diversify or modify your idea and adapt it to the market. source: www.shelteroffshore.com

Job boost for Scottish offshore renewables industry

World-leading wind energy company Gamesa will create around 40 high-value jobs by this summer for its planned Offshore Wind Technology Centre, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has revealed as he announced £1.5m regional selective assistance to support the development of the renewables base on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Having selected Scotland, Gamesa announced earlier this year that Glasgow was its preferred location for the centre, subject to final agreements on financing.

Following a meeting between the First Minister and Gamesa Chairman and CEO Jorge Calvet, in Edinburgh this week, the company has confirmed that the Centre will be located at Strathclyde Business Park, about eight miles east of the city centre, and that it has started the recruitment process.

Gamesa expects to be employing around 40 engineering staff by July/August, with the potential to grow this to more than 100 by the end of this year - rising to 180 within three years of the Centre beginning operations. It is due to be officially opened in the autumn.Gamesa have indicated they are also prepared to invest in manufacturing, logistics and operations & maintenance (O&M) in Scotland, conditional upon development of offshore wind projects in the area, securing government support and the availability of sites for prototypes. If implemented successfully, Gamesa's offshore plan could represent an investment of around 50 million euro in Scotland and create 300 direct jobs in the country.

First Minister Salmond said: "I was delighted again to meet Sr Calvet and to hear about his plans for the company to develop its next generation wind turbines. Gamesa is one of the world's leading turbine manufacturers and the decision to establish its Offshore Wind Technology Centre at Strathclyde Business Park is a huge boost for the Greater Glasgow area and for Scotland's rapidly growing renewable energy sector.

"I'm very pleased that Gamesa has secured premises for the new Centre and the recruitment process is already underway, with around 50 people expected to be employed there within the next few months, and many more to follow. The Scottish Government, together with our partners in Scottish Development International and our enterprise agencies, are committed to maintaining optimum conditions for continued inward investment in our world-leading renewables industry."

Jorge Calvet added: "Our commitment is strong and we are preparing to play a role in the offshore wind market. Our Offshore Technology Centre in Glasgow represents an important step in this strategy. Our offshore plans could generate significant local, skilled and sustainable jobs over the coming years. I would like to recognise the support and commitment from the Scottish Government and its development agencies during the ongoing discussions around these investment plans."

Adrian Gillespie, Senior Director of Energy and Low Carbon Technologies, Scottish Enterprise, said: "Gamesa has made speedy progress in securing a suitable location for its Offshore Wind Technology Centre and it is extremely encouraging that recruitment is already underway for the initial intake of engineering staff. Such progress is a clear demonstration of the favourable business environment Scotland has to offer the renewables sector. We are pleased to back the company with a Regional Selective Assistance grant and will continue to work closely with Gamesa to support the development of their business in Scotland."

The company is working to launch two offshore platforms (the G11X-5.0 MW and G14X-6/7 MW) and it has also announced that the UK will be the centre of its offshore wind business. It plans to invest over 150 million euro there by 2014. Gamesa estimates that the construction and development of its offshore wind business in the United Kingdom will create over 1,000 direct jobs and another 800 indirect jobs at local suppliers.

Exclusivity agreements for developments amounting to up to 10GW of offshore wind generation capacity in Scottish waters over the next decade have been granted through the Crown Estate's Round Three and Scottish Territorial Waters leasing rounds.

Over its previous four-year term, the Scottish Government consented 42 renewable energy projects and in 2009, more than a quarter (27.4 per cent) of electricity demand came from renewables. There are around 7 GigaWatts (GW) of renewables capacity installed, under construction or consented around the country. In May the Scottish Government's raised its target for renewable electricity generation in 2020 from matching 80 per cent to 100 per cent of consumption levels.

Scotland has some of the greatest renewable resources in Europe, with as much as a quarter of the continent's offshore wind and tidal energy potential and an estimated 10 per cent of its wave power capacity. The Offshore Valuation Study published in May 2010 estimates Scotland's practical offshore renewables resource at 206 GW. Harnessing just a third of this generation potential could enable Scotland to meet its own domestic electricity needs seven times over by 2050 - positioning the country as a massive net exporter of renewable energy.

Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) is the main national scheme of financial assistance to industry. It provides discretionary grants to investment projects that will create and safeguard employment in areas designated for regional aid under European Community law. Payment of RSA is made in instalments, typically over several years as job and capital expenditure targets are met.
source: www.clickgreen.org.uk