From the Editor: The Up-and-ComingAug 14, 2006 Many consider Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) to be
the up-and-coming technology conference. We couldn’t agree more and are really looking forward to what promises to be a fascinating array of announcements during the conference. And for those attending (as well as those who can’t) this issue shapes a context for this year’s ONS and its theme:
Bridging the energy gap.
Arctic Highs and Staffing LowsAug 14, 2006 Norway’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Odd Roger Enoksen of the Centre Party, is living proof that rules in the oil and gas industry are changing and that these are exciting days. Enoksen is a northerner from Andøya, just north of Lofoten and the Arctic Circle. On his shoulders lay the hopes of other northerners anticipating an arctic economic boom akin to Stavanger’s.
A Reasonable Framework NeededAug 14, 2006 Siv Jensen is the leader of Norway’s second largest political Party, Fremskrittspartiet (the Progress Party). As carriers of the liberalist flag in the Norwegian political landscape, they have moved from a position as a small party on the right fringe to a major political force. We talked to Jensen about energy policy, the environment, and the future of Norwegian oil and gas.
The “Game Changer”Aug 14, 2006 Tore Halvorsen, Vice Systems, at FMC Technologies technological advances “game changers”. But the current state of subsea Halvorsen, we can’t technology that changes succeed in designing, dramatic new technology game changers?
New Drilling Rig Means Additional Mittelplate OilAug 14, 2006 Germany’s biggest oil reservoir is now being tapped by one of Europe’s most modern, sophisticated drilling rigs. The rig deployed on Mittelplate Drilling and Production Island is known as the T-150 and came at a total cost of approximately 50 million euros; it features special equipment to allow it to operate in the ecologically sensitive Wattenmeer tidelands without harming the environment.
Shtokman Brings Subsea Milieu to Surface at UTCAug 14, 2006 The centre of the subsea universe became Bergen, Norway this past June, when a former Norwegian submariner shone along with stars of the seabed at the 14th Underwater Technology Conference and Exhibition.
Small, Cool but DangerousAug 14, 2006 A few years back, everybody raved about virtual reality, immersive computing, and all things graphically enhanced – computers and everything related to them were supposed to be in your face, all shiny and impressive and substantial things. Things are mostly this way today, too – PCs, PDAs – it’s all about gadgets. But there have been people working quietly towards a completely opposite idea of computing. And while they speak of a world where humans and computers are much more integrated and attuned to each other’s needs, they may be creating a huge threat to our way of life. Want to know more? Read on…
