By Ariana Hurtado, Editor and Director of Special Reports
The annual Deepwater Operations | Topsides, Platforms and Hulls conferences both took place this week in Galveston, Texas.
Offshore editors chatted with energy leaders, technology SMEs and trailblazers about the challenges facing the offshore sector, the current state of the industry and the path forward heading into 2023. The trending topics of conversations were by and large sustainability and renewable energy.
The following are a few comments heard on the show floor.
GoM offers new opportunities
“After a relatively flat production and project development profile in the Gulf of Mexico the last few years, the industry is poised for a robust rebound in both oil and gas and an investment in renewable energy offshore. Offshore oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico yields some of the lowest carbon emission energy solutions that meet our need for energy security, and the attention to carbon capture and offshore wind will spawn new opportunities to pursue. As good stewards of our industry, we need to ensure we are appropriately investing in new talent to continue to deliver these offshore projects with innovation and safety in mind.”
—Mike Weatherwax, Vice President of Offshore Projects, Wood
Deepwater’s future
“The industry is moving ahead to meet global energy demand with offshore oil and gas production at the helm. Renewed interest in reliable and cost-effective sources of energy is fueling conversations about deepwater’s future. In recent years, we have taken enormous strides to accelerate sustainable development, while avoiding disruptions to critical offshore production. As the industry continues to transform, we are working together to introduce more environmentally friendly chemical solutions and applications that will support our essential contribution to the global energy mix.”
—Ashley Hunt, Deepwater Development Manager, Clariant Corp.
Hub for offshore wind
“Energy is a driving force behind everything we do and can ultimately accomplish as a society. At Port Fourchon, our tenants and users take our role as the Gulf’s top deepwater offshore energy service provider port seriously. With our centralized location on the Gulf, we are positioning ourselves to also become a hub for a burgeoning offshore wind marketplace with purposeful projects geared towards pursuing an agenda where all forms of energy are embraced and put in to use for the benefit of everyone.”
—Chett Chiasson, Executive Director, Greater Lafourche Port Commission
Wind energy gaining momentum
“One thing for sure is that renewable energy is a clear topic, especially wind energy. Substations and topsides combining with oil and gas has been a major topic, including the life cycle of industrial applications. Customers are now seeing that there is more to Siemens Energy than just oil and gas. Wind is gaining high momentum from the end user to the packagers. Energy storage conversations also lead us to believe the importance of integrating our BlueVault battery energy storage with applications to electrify the offshore wind space with the energy transition, whether that is power from shore or in deepwater. Turning ideas into reality.”
—Thomas Steenberg, head of sales for Offshore Lifecycle Management, Siemens Energy
11.10.2022
