Energy News April 2008



	Deep Driller 7 Launched Global jackup demand continues despite a slow down in jackup utilization in the Gulf of Mexico. Read more.
	Romania Driller GSP Upgrades Demand for drilling capacity has kept the offshore market busy, with some drillers reporting record-breaking financial results for 2006 and 2007. One recent drilling success story can be found in Eastern Europe with Romania’s Constantza-based Grup Servicii Petroliere (GSP). Read more.
	Offshore Service Delivery Strengthened A series of strategic business initiatives by ABS are designed to further improve service delivery and extend the organization’s leadership position in offshore classification. Meet the worldwide Offshore Technology & Business Development (TBD) team. Read more.
	Round Shaped Monocolumn-hull FPSO Petrobras and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) are jointly solving the technological issues for the practical use of a round shaped monocolumn-hull FPSO (MonoBR) system with storage capacity of 800,000 barrels to be permanently moored in the Gulf of Mexico together with their partners, National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI) and IHI Group in Japan. ABS gave an Approval-In-Principle (AIP) to MonoBR hull in 2005. Off-loading will be carried out using DP (Dynamic Positioning) class 2 shuttle tankers. Pre-HAZID (Hazard Identification) for the off-loading system has been carried out at ABS Houston. HAZID and AIP for the off-loading system will be conducted next fiscal year.


	ABS Classes Trio of Q-Flex LNG Carriers Three ABS classed Q-Flex LNG carriers built at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering’s (DSME) Okpo Shipyard were named in a joint ceremony. The AL AAMRIYA, MURWAB, and FRAIHA each have a cargo carrying capacity of 211,000m3. Read more.
	AIP for LNG Lite™ Concept ABS has awarded Approval-In-Principle (AIP) to the LNG Lite™ concept developed by SeaOne Maritime Corp. of Houston, Texas. Following the ABS Guidance Notes on Review and Approval of Novel Concepts, the AIP process employs a variety of engineering and risk assessment techniques to test new concepts for acceptable levels of safety. Read more.
	SIGTTO Revises IGC Code The Society of Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) has launched a major initiative to review and revise the International Code for the Construction and Equipment for Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk. The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), of which ABS is a member, has a representative on the steering group developing recommendations for revision. Read more.
	Another Qatar LNG Carrier Keel laying ceremonies for Qatar Gas LNG carrier, Hull No. 2264, took place at Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co. (DSME) late February. The ABS Koje, Korea, survey team attended the ceremony. (see related ABS Classes Trio of Q-Flex LNG Carriers).


	Ship Propulsion for Arctic LNG Vessels Discussed at Gastech ABS presented the paper “Combining Ice Class Rules With Direct Calculations For Design Of Arctic LNG Propulsion” by Sing-Kwan Lee, Principal Engineer, Corporate Research & Product Development, during the industry’s leading gas conference, Gastech, earlier this month in Bangkok, Thailand. Read more.
	Students Attend Gastech Compliments of ABS Two students, Adam Van Doren, from the Webb Institute in New York and Ozunimi Iti, from Imperial College London, attended the Gastech 2008 Conference thanks to sponsorship by ABS. Read more.
	Sponsor for MCE Deepwater Development 2008 ABS is the Conference Technology Sponsor for the MCE Deepwater Development Conference, 8-10 April, Paris, France. Full conference details. Visit us at our exhibition stand 219.
	ABS Exhibits At OTC Visit ABS at stand 2816 at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), 5-8 May, Houston, TX, USA. Full conference details. Be Our Guest: Receive a complimentary exhibit floor pass to OTC.08 from ABS. Click here. For a complete list of conferences and events ABS will be attending, exhibiting or sponsoring for 2008, visit our schedule.
	ASME/USCG Workshop On Marine Technology and Standards ABS Americas President Thomas Gilmour will speak during the opening session of the ASME/USCG Workshop On Marine Technology and Standards, 3-4 June, Washington, D.C. USA. Full conference details. Gilmour will talk about ABS’ role in addressing emerging technologies. ABS will chair the panel “Importation of CNG.”


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