North America

Exciting times lie ahead for the offshore Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) community in the Gulf of Mexico as Offshore Network’s inaugural HSE GOM 2024 Conference is set to debut in Houston on 8-9 October this year.

The event, which will open its doors in the Hilton Greenway Plaza in Houston, is set to make its mark on the HSE sector with attendees gaining exclusive access to operator best practices and innovative technologies while exploring key strategies to enhance safety performances across the region.

Attendees will also hear from regulators (including the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement) on standards development, industry-leading strategies for cultivating a prosperous safety culture, and the latest cutting-edge advancements in PPE. More than 20 expert speakers are set to take to the stage to cover topics such as safety culture, process safety, planning and preparation, and technology and innovation.

With 150+ HSE decision makers set to be in attendance, ten technology demonstrations, seven networking events and a series of dedicated sessions, the conference promises to provide an insightful and fruitful experience for all who wish to develop their knowledge about all things HSE.

For more information about HSE GOM 2024, head to the website here to download the full agenda and see the complete list of speakers. For any additional enquiries, please contact Jack Heffernan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Fervo Energy has announced the execution of two power purchase agreements (PPAs) with one of the US’ largest utility companies, Southern California Edison (SCE), for the provision of 320MW worth of geothermal energy to 350,000 homes across the state’s southern region.

SCE will purchase the power from Fervo Energy’s 400MW Cape Station project currently under construction in Utah, with the first 70MW phase of the project scheduled to be operational by 2026.

California Energy Commission Chair, David Hochschild, commented how the 15-year agreement marks “another milestone in California’s commitment to clean, zero-carbon electricity” and the enhanced geothermal systems will “complement our abundant wind and solar resources by providing critical baseload when those sources are limited.”

Californian promise

In 2021, the California Public Utilities Commission issued a mid-term reliability (MTR) mandate which requires utilities to produce 1,000MW of non-weather-dependent, non-battery, zero0emission energy to increase the reliability of the state’s electric grid. This movement catalysed demand for geothermal energy within California.

Dawn Owens, VP and Head of Development & Commercial Markets for Fervo Energy, said, “Geothermal stands as the dependable and adaptable solution for California’s journey towards a fully decarbonised grid. As electrification increases and climate change burdens already fragile infrastructure, geothermal will only play a bigger role in the US power markets.

“Fervo looks forward to continuing to meet these needs, providing firm, clean power to help balance California’s energy portfolio.”

Offshore Network has released an overview on the health, safety and environment (HSE) ecosphere in the Gulf of Mexico, with a primary focus on the challenges and opportunities faced by the region’s oil and gas sector.

With Environmental Resources Management indicating that 94% of health and safety function leaders are reporting increased expectations around health and safety in the years ahead, the HSE market is undergoing intense scrutiny. Operators in the region continue to grapple with some key challenges posed by the region and the nature of the industry including the Covid hangover, getting workers on board, ageing assets and of course evolving stringent regulations – a story kick-started by the events around the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

To combat these, stakeholders are engaging in a range of best practices and deploying new technologies in order to bring their workforce together and mitigate risk for their operations moving forward.

With pertinent issues in this environment set to be discussed at length at HSE GOM 2024 later this year (key topics include: safety culture, process safety, planning & preparation, technology & innovation, and environmental safeguarding) the report provides a refreshing perspective on the market ahead of doors opening in Houston.

Click here to access the free-to-read report

Applicable by a significant master services contract from decommissioning specialist Promethean Energy, wells expert Elemental Energies will be aiding the decommissioning of nine orphaned wells in the Gulf of Mexico.

In February, Elemental Energies provided well management services for the plugging and abandonment of wells in the Matagorda Island area, off the Texas coast.

The five-year contract to decommission orphaned offshore wells in the region was awarded to Promethean by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).

Elemental Energies’ Julie Copland, Head of Decommissioning and Low Carbon, said, “We're thrilled with this award as it marks a significant expansion of our efforts in the Gulf. Our rich history in decommissioning, uniquely equips us to address the Gulf's orphaned wells, applying our expertise to mitigate environmental risks, navigate complex regulations, and reduce the associated OPEX of decommissioning work. This project and partnership is a testament to our commitment to meeting evolving industry standards and safeguarding our environment."

The contract is partially funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through a US$64mn commitment to address orphaned oil and gas wells on public lands.

Steve Louis, SVP Decommissioning for Promethean Energy, said, “We at Promethean are delighted to have Elemental Energies as a strategic partner, as we work with the federal government and others to deliver these projects of strategic importance to the nation’s environmental stewardship and energy security. Elemental’s well engineering expertise is an important component of our comprehensive wells management capability as an operator of mature assets and their decommissioning.”

Colorado-based company, Gradient Geothermal, has announced it has received funding from the state Energy Office’s Geothermal Energy Grant Program for the execution of a landmark feasibility study in Pierce, Colorado.

The project will aim to test the viability of establishing a thermal energy network for the town of Pierce through heat extracted from local inactive wells. If successful, the project has the potential to transform the energy stability for communities in need while bolstering Colorado’s long-term economic outlook.

During the study, Gradient will analyse if the use of hot water after electric power generation via inactive wells in the Pierce Field can be channelled into a direct use thermal network for Pierce residents.

Dr. Benjamin Burke, Chief Executive Officer at Gradient Geothermal, said, “Gradient Geothermal is excited to help bring geothermal energy and power generation to Pierce Field, Colorado. We have a prime opportunity to bring new life to a mature oil field.

“Pierce can be a world-class ‘geothermal garden’ where both heat and electricity from geothermal power benefit the entire town and provide jobs for a workforce familiar with oil and gas.”

Governor Jared Polis commented, “Geothermal energy, the heat beneath our feet, is an underutilised resource that can save people money on energy and improve air quality. Colorado is already a national leader in low-cost renewable energy, and now with these grants, we are supporting more geothermal energy across the state.” 

Sea1 Offshore is the new name of the international offshore and subsea shipping company following a general meeting held earlier in May.

The formal decision was made in the wake of Kristian Siem’s withdrawal and will be accompanied by a new company logo. The company stated that crew and expertise will be transferred to the new company, even if nine of the company's vessels are taken over by Kristian Siem as part of the transaction.

Apart from this, the company has assured, it will be business as usual, although Bernt Omdal, CEO of Sea1 Offshore, has his eyes set on further growth.

“A more unified ownership structure will help to set a clearer course for the company,” Omdal explained. “We continue to operate all the vessels in our fleet, including the nine that are now owned by Siem. But we have changed the name and are replacing the logos at our offices in Brazil, Australia and Canada, and at the head office in Kristiansand.

“We are witnessing the start of a new upswing,” he continued. “We consider strengthening our fleet with several new construction vessels in order to take a larger part of the market in the offshore energy sector.”

Designed particularly for geothermal energy applications, Halliburton Company's latest product range includes the GeoESP lifting pumps, distinguished with features such as advanced submersible borehole and surface pump technology.

Developed by an in-house service called Summit ESP, these pumps cater to fluids transportation challenges. They are characterised by a unique high-flow inlet design that protects it against solids, minimises power consumption, and effectively tackles scale formation.

Keeping harsh environment in mind, these pumps have been designed with the durability to withstand temperatures up to 220°C (428°F). It is capable of resisting any range of scale, corrosion, and abrasion. With standardised pump dimensions, it is suitable for various geothermal well conditions.

Digital innovation

In another digital innovation to geothermal well management, the Intelevate data science-driven platform generates real-time diagnostics and rich visualisations of 'smart' field data. This system improves well operations, extends system run life, minimises shutdowns, reduces energy consumption, and increases production.

"With increased global focus on low carbon energy sources, we are using our many decades of geothermal production expertise to help our customers maximise safety and improve efficiency. Our GeoESP lifting pumps build upon our current system to minimise power usage and help push the boundaries of what is possible with more complex well designs," said Greg Schneider, Vice President - Artificial Lift, Halliburton.

Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems provider Turboden has collaborated with enhanced geothermal systems company Fervo Energy on advancing the Cape Station project. 

With an anticipated total project capacity of approximately 400 MW, the project is Fervo's largest commercial endeavour in the geothermal industry. Situated in southwest Utah, the project will be a prime source for 24/7 carbon-free energy production. 

Turboden will provide the engineering and procurement of power plant equipment for the initial 90 MW phase of the project. This includes the installation of three generators with six ORC turbines.

Driving energy innovation

"We are excited to collaborate with Turboden on our Cape Station project," stated Tim Latimer, CEO and Co-Founder of Fervo Energy. "With this partnership, the ORC industry enters a new age of scale necessary to meet the skyrocketing demand for around-the-clock clean energy."

Paolo Bertuzzi, CEO and Managing Director of Turboden, said, "Fervo Energy's commitment to advancing geothermal energy aligns seamlessly with Turboden's mission to drive sustainable energy innovation. Together, we are forging a path towards a cleaner, greener future. The success of this project, alongside other initiatives in North America, prompted Turboden to consider establishing a US-based office. This strategic move enables us to leverage the support of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, further enhancing our operations and presence in the region.”