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Congratulations to SEACOR Marine and Proceanic – 2025 NOIA Safety in Seas Award winners

April 7, 2025 by offshoreenergy

Every year since 1978, Safety in Seas Awards have been presented at NOIA’s Annual Meeting. This is the world’s oldest, and in my opinion, most prestigious safety award program for the offshore energy industry.

Last week NOIA presented the Safety Practices Award to Proceanic and the Culture of Safety Award to Seacor Marine. These comments from NOIA President Erik Milito sum up the selections nicely:

“The Safety in Seas awards spotlight an industry-wide truth: safety isn’t just a priority—it’s the heartbeat of what we do. SEACOR Marine and Proceanic exemplify this ethos with extraordinary resolve. SEACOR’s relentless safety culture, driven by innovative tools and a zero-incident vision, and Proceanic’s pioneering Mini-ROV inspections, safeguarding lives and assets with remarkable precision, reflect the best of our collective mission. Their leadership amplifies a broader tide of excellence, where every company, every worker, and every breakthrough pushes us toward a safer, stronger offshore future. We honor them, and we extend our deepest gratitude to all entrants—each one a vital contributor to a safer, more resilient offshore industry.”

As a Safety in Seas judge for many years, I can assure you that the selections are based solely on the award criteria and supporting data, and that the process is free from interference or campaigning. As is normally the case, there were many outstanding nominations.

I recommend that you review NOIA’s announcement for more information. You may also want to contact the companies directly to learn more about their safety programs. Industry adaptability is one of the selection criteria for both awards.

Posted in Offshore Energy - General, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Should you want to subscribe to BOE (no charge, no solicitations):

April 6, 2025 by offshoreenergy

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

It’s always great to spend time with former colleagues

April 5, 2025 by offshoreenergy

clockwise from the bottom left: Kim Coffman, Harold Syms, Gig Kocher, Bud, Bob LaBelle, Doug Siltor, Walter Johnson, Lennis Montague, Carol Hartgen, Judy Wilson, John Cushing, Kevin Spaner, Kelly Griggs. Not pictured: Norm Weaver and Jeri Bryant

Great people who were dedicated to the OCS program’s safety, environmental, and resource management missions! Much wisdom was shared! 😉

Posted in energy policy, Offshore Energy - General, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

Interior Secretary Burgum directs BOEM to hold first Gulf of America oil and gas lease sale by end of year

April 4, 2025 by offshoreenergy

The announcement was during an interview this morning (4/4/2025) with Lawrence Jones on Fox News, and is consistent with expectations and the current 5 year leasing plan.

Posted in energy policy, Gulf of Mexico, Offshore Energy - General | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Equinor’s Empire Wind 1 project questioned by US congressman and Norwegian investors

April 4, 2025 by offshoreenergy

A letter from Congressman Chris Smith (NJ) to Sec. Burgum is attached. Excerpt:

I am writing to advise you that Equinor, a Norwegian Energy multinational is planning to move forward with construction of its Empire Wind 1 project off the coast of New Jersey and New York as early as this April.
This is an alarming development and should not be allowed before the comprehensive review of offshore wind ordered by President Trump’s January 20th executive order is completed. The executive order states that the assessment is needed to review the many shortcomings of the Federal wind leasing process including, “potential inadequacies in various environmental reviews required by the National Environmental Policy Act.”

Meanwhile, Norwegian investors have expressed dissatisfaction with Equinor’s renewable energy ventures. This Norwegian article raises concerns about Empire Wind 1, saying the project “could become a new industrial scandal.”

Based on the respective financial performance of oil producers, I think it’s fair to say that investors aren’t attracted to those companies because of their wind projects.

letter_from_us_rep_c_smith_to_interior_sec_burgum_re_empire_wind_3-26-2025Download

Posted in Norway, Offshore Energy - General, Offshore Wind | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

SYU restart: Mission Impossible for Sable?

April 3, 2025 by offshoreenergy

It’s starting to look that way.

“The State Fire Marshal stated on February 25 — during a packed-house meeting at La Cumbre Junior High School — that he would not issue Sable authorization to restart production at the Santa Ynez Unit until all outstanding permit issues between Sable and the eight state agencies with oversight authority are resolved.“

Although Sable has a good defense against the Coastal Commission’s accusations, that statement by the Fire Marshal is ominous.

More bad news for Sable: The Center for Biological Diversity suit challenging the Federal government’s extension of the 16 Santa Ynez Unit leases is not going well. The government requested a voluntary remand of BSEE’s 2023 approval because “BSEE plans to reconsider its decision in light of Plaintiffs’ claims and conduct additional analysis, as warranted, under OCSLA and NEPA.”

In the attached decision, shared by John Smith, the judge denied the Federal government’s request. This does not bode well for the Federal government’s case going forward.

Court Denies BSEE Motion for Remand of SYU Lease extensions 032125Download

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2024 Gulf of America compliance data and the Cox bankruptcy

April 2, 2025 by offshoreenergy

In June 2023, Cox and affiliates operated 435 platforms in the Gulf. That number is now only 46, all of which are on relinquished or terminated leases.

Cox Operating LLC and affiliates were once again the violations leaders in 2024 accounting for 50% (479/957) of the warnings, 12% (47/398) of the component shut-ins, and 7.3% (8/109) of the facility shut-ins.

All but 3 of the Cox enforcement actions were during the first half of the year. This is presumably because of the termination of Cox operations and the ongoing divestiture of their assets.

According to BOEM’s platform data base, Cox (43) and affiliates Energy XXI (3) and EPL (0) now operate only 46 platforms. This is a big decline from Sept. 2024 and June 2023 when the Cox companies operated 243 and 435 platforms respectively. All of the remaining Cox platforms are non-producing and are on relinquished or terminated leases.

The curtailment of Cox operations is no doubt an important factor in the sharp decline in Gulf of America violations in the second half of 2024. Per the data below, total GoA wide violations declined by 58% (1031 vs. 433) in the second half of 2024 as Cox violations essentially disappeared:

Gulf of America
inspection data		warningscomponent
shut-ins		facility
shut-ins		facility
inspections
first half 2024725243631586
2nd half 2024232155461546
reduction493 (68%)88 (36%)17 (27%)40 (2.5%)

Cox companies inspection datawarningscomponent
shut-ins		facility
shut-ins		facility inspections
first half 2024478467 404
2nd half 2024111174

Some Cox assets have been acquired by W&T and Natural Resources Worldwide. BOEM records indicate that 8 record title assignments and 3 operating rights assignments from Cox to W&T were approved in the first half of 2024. W&T currently operates 116 platforms, but it’s unclear how many are former Cox facilities.

The acquisition of Cox properties does not appear to have significantly affected W&T 2024 inspection results, which were respectable:

W&T insp. datawarningscomponent
shut-ins		facility
shut-ins		facility
inspections
first half 20241231083
2nd half 202417142105

Additional record title and operating rights assignments to Natural Resources Worldwide (NRW) were approved in 2025, but NRW does not appear to be operating any platforms.

Ironically, NRW was cited for 1 warning and 1 facility shut-in without a single inspection. Presumably, these violations were the result of administrative issues.

Online data are insufficient to account for the 435 platforms that were on the Cox ledger in June 2023 or determine the remaining decommissioning liabilities. Per the platform database, no Cox, Energy XXI, or EPL platforms were removed in 2023, 2024, or 2025.

On a more positive note, most GoA operators had good safety and compliance records in 2024. One major producer had a historically significant record. More on that to follow.

Posted in Gulf of Mexico, Offshore Energy - General, Regulation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Gulf of America production in January 2025 was consistent with the 2024 average

April 1, 2025 by offshoreenergy

Sustaining or preferably increasing production rates will be dependent on a reliable schedule of lease offerings and a consistent regulatory regime based on best safety management principles and continuous improvement in technology, practices, and culture. Poorly considered operating restrictions imposed by activist judges are a major risk to both safety and production.

Posted in energy policy, Gulf of Mexico, Offshore Energy - General, Regulation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

How do you invalidate a lease sale mandated by Congress?

March 31, 2025 by offshoreenergy

OCS Lease Sale 259 was mandated by Congress, and was held on March 29, 2023, two days before the deadline established in the Inflation Reduction Act. Ah, but compliance with environmental law, which is of course subject to interpretation, was still required.

So the formula for eNGOs in such cases is to sue on NEPA grounds in a friendly Federal court. In the case of Sale 259, the plaintiffs asserted that BOEM’s climate change and Rice’s whale analyses were inadequate.

With regard to climate change, the reality is that incremental Gulf of America production will have virtually no effect on petroleum consumption and global GHG emissions. Increased GoA production will actually have a slight positive effect on worldwide GHG emissions given the relatively lower carbon intensity for deepwater Gulf production.

With regard to the Rice’s whale, Darren Ireland’s analysis is compelling:

“Based on the limited data available on the use and occurrence of Rice’s whale in the central and northwestern GOMx (one acoustic study (Soldevilla et al. 2022b), one confirmed sighting (NMFS 2018a) and a few unconfirmed sightings (Rosel et al. 2021)), there is insufficient scientific evidence to determine that essential features for Rice’s whale conservation are indeed present in the central and northwestern GOMx. In fact, data on the life-history requirements of Rice’s whale even in the core habitat are still lacking and need further investigation.“

Unsurprisingly, Judge Amit P. Mehta of the US District Court for the District of Columbia, has ruled that BOEM’s environmental assessments on climate change and the Rice’s whale were deficient, and has ordered the parties and intervenors to jointly submit a proposed briefing schedule by April 3, 2025. “The court will also order additional briefing on remedy” (e.g. onerous operating restrictions).

In case you haven’t suffered enough, the judge’s full opinion is attached.

show_public_docDownload

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The Metals Company to apply for deepsea mining permits under US authority, not proposed international regulations

March 31, 2025 by offshoreenergy

pictured:TMC pilot trials

Lars Herbst brought this bold and rather surprising deepsea mining development to my attention. Let the screaming begin!

NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) (emphasis added) — TMC the metals company Inc. (Nasdaq: TMC) (“TMC” or the “Company”), an explorer of the world’s largest undeveloped resource of critical metals for building infrastructure, power generation, transmission, and batteries, today announced that its subsidiary The Metals Company USA LLC (“TMC USA”) has formally initiated a process with NOAA under the U.S. Department of Commerce to apply for exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits under existing U.S. legislation, the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980 (DSHMRA).

Following extensive legal diligence on DSHMRA, NOAA’s implementing regulations and other applicable environmental protection legislation, the Company strongly believes that the U.S. seabed mining code offers the greatest probability of securing a permit for commercial recovery of deep-sea mineral resources in a timely manner.

Gerard Barron, Chairman & CEO of The Metals Company, commented: “Over the last decade, we’ve invested over half a billion dollars to understand and responsibly develop the nodule resource in our contract areas. We built the world’s largest environmental dataset on the CCZ, carefully designed and tested an offshore collection system that minimizes the environmental impacts and followed every step required by the International Seabed Authority. But, despite collaborating in good faith with the ISA for over a decade, it has not yet adopted the Regulations on the Exploitation of Mineral Resources in the Area in breach of its express treaty obligations under UNCLOS and the 1994 Agreement.”

“We believe we have sufficient knowledge to get started and prove we can manage environmental risks. What we need is a regulator with a robust regulatory regime, and who is willing to give our application a fair hearing. That’s why we’ve formally initiated the process of applying for licenses and permits under the existing U.S. seabed mining code. After extensive legal review and constructive engagement with NOAA and other officials across the U.S. government, we believe the United States offers a stable, transparent, and enforceable regulatory path. TMC USA expects to submit applications to NOAA in the second quarter of 2025. We’re encouraged by the growing recognition in Washington that nodules represent a strategic opportunity for America—and we’re moving forward with urgency.”

Previous deepsea mining posts

Greenpeace photo

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