The 1978 Outer Continental shelf Lands Act Amendments provided for certain coastal states and the federal government to share revenues earned from OCS leases, generally three to six miles beyond a state's coastal boundary. This area, known as the 8(g) zone, is named after the enabling paragraph of that legislation. Between 1978 and1986, revenues earned in the 8(g) zone were placed in escrow, pending agreement on a formula for dividing those earnings.

In 1986, Congress determined that coastal states would receive 27 percent of the 8(g) income held in escrow, with the remaining 73 percent going to the federal government. For more information, visit http://www.oilonline.com/news2/news_domestic_inquirer_mm050901.html

An ADCP was mounted on the drilling rig to monitor currents in the immediate vicinity. However, to track and forecast the eddies, a more flexible system was needed which led Fugro GEOS to develop the Towed ADCP system. This uses a 300KHz RDI Workhorse Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) installed in an Endeco/YSI V-fin. The system can be deployed quickly and easily from the stern of most crafts of opportunity using a small winch and davit. The system is towed at normal survey speeds, profiling currents to a depth of about 80m below the towfish. Data are sent back to a PC, processed to remove the element of velocity caused by the ship's motion (by integrating data received from a GPS receiver), displayed, plotted and archived to the PC.

Fugro GEOS is the world's largest commercial oceanographic company providing metocean data collection, analysis, interpretation and forecasting services for offshore and coastal engineering applications worldwide. Contact Jan van Smirren, Regional Director, Fugro GEOS Inc, Houston or email: usa@geos.comt

Fishers sonar systems are a hit with a diverse group of underwater searchers including treasure hunters, commercial salvage companies, law enforcement agencies and dive rescue groups. These low cost, high tech underwater search systems are capable of locating a variety of targets from downed aircraft to drowning victims. Law enforcement and dive rescue groups use Fishers side scans to search for bodies, vehicles lost in the water, capsized boats, and missing airplanes. Commercial diving and salvage companies employ the side scans to locate and track underwater pipelines, find lost propellers and dredge parts, search for sunken vessels, and a variety of other applications. All of Fishers sonars come standard with a 500 foot depth rated towfish, 150 feet of cable, and a topside control unit with built-in 17 inch thermal printer. Many options and upgrades are available for the system allowing it to grow with any user’s requirements.

For more information on their side scans or a color brochure on all of Fishers quality underwater search products, E-mail to Christopher Combs at JW Fishers Mfg. Inc., or check out the web site at www.jwfishers.com

"In choosing the RDI DVLs we were aware that we needed fast updates for automatic control functions and we especially needed reliability," said Scott Stanton, System Integration Engineer at Alstom. The RDI Workhorse Navigator DVL is a multi-function sensor that gives precise velocity and altitude updates and may be integrated with other navigation systems on ROVs and AUVs. RDI Navigator DVLs are installed on over 90 per cent of the world AUV fleet and on over 100 ROVs.

Patented bottom detection algorithms in the RDI Navigator, together with single-ping bottom location, allow robust and reliable bottom tracking even over uneven terrain. Multiple ping averaging is not required to get highly accurate bottom readings and so the vehicle receives more frequent positioning information than with other navigation systems. This means that precise positioning is available during station-keeping (hover) modes and also in holding position on survey lines. E-mail Graham Lester at RD Instruments for more information.

Both the Seabulk St. Martin, delivered in early May, and the Seabulk St. Landry, delivered in December 2000, are operated in the Gulf of Mexico by Seabulk Offshore, a global firm providing marine services to the offshore energy industry. Gerhard E. Kurz, President and CEO, noted that "The two-boat purchase is part of an ongoing fleet improvement and rationalization program. Reflecting a rising offshore services market, both crewboats now command day rates of $3,800 and up." http://news.excite.com/news/pr/010514/fl-seabulk-crewboats

The base, with a 6,000-square metre lay down area, is located at KMNF's Southern Basin adjacent to Caspian Shipyard. The base will be primarily utilized to support Halliburton Subsea's catamaran crane vessel Qurban Abbasov (previously known as the Titan 4) during the restoration and upgrade of the vessel and during the forthcoming offshore construction, pipelay and subsea activities. The site will also be developed to provide warehouse, office and training facilities that will include advanced diver and life support technician training, utilizing the company's 16-man modular saturation system. For full details, visit:. http://www.halliburton.com/ESG/ESGNWS/ESGNWS_051501.asp

The company said the statistics are based on actual recorded time and illustrate the success of Oceaneering's ROV operations group's ongoing equipment standardization and pilot training programs as well as the company's commitment to maintaining communication with and support of customers. For details, visit: http://www.oilonline.com/news2/news_international_headlines_oc051401.html

"By placing all the production equipment for Fram West in one module, the extent of commissioning at delivery has been increased. This has reduced the scope of work offshore," Aker said. Several Aker units will be involved in the effort, including Aker Engineering, Aker Stord, Aker Elektro, and Aker Offshore Partner. For the complete press release, click here....

The M/V Seisquest replaces a lower capacity vessel that was retired last year. "By replacing a lower capacity vessel, the M/V Seisquest enables us to increase capacity and continue to deploy the latest in marine seismic acquisition technology, without increasing the overall fleet size," said C. Richard Price, Senior Vice President of Veritas' Marine Data Acquisition Division. "A well-defined program of fleet upgrades over the next few years will keep Veritas at the technical forefront, while providing an appropriate response to current market requirements. This program is based on our proven, efficient and technically advanced Viking vessel design, and as an essential part of our strategy, the M/V Seisquest has been modified and equipped to provide similar capabilities," said Price. "We look forward to working with Forlands, who have a long established and distinguished history of successful seismic vessel operations." The M/V Seisquest sailed from Bergen, Norway on May 13, 2001 to commence work offshore southwest Ireland, and is scheduled to complete a series of projects in the North Sea during the summer season.

Veritas DGC Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a leading provider of integrated geophysical services and technologies to the petroleum industry worldwide. Visit their web site at http://www.veritas-dgc.com

1 800 USA Hotels is a leader in worldwide discount hotel and travel reservations offering savings at over 15,000 worldwide hotels in 1,500 cities and 140 countries. With more than 350,000 members, 1800USAHotels.com generates over $70 million in annual revenue, or approximately 1 million rooms per year. Through its strategic partnership with VTS Travel Enterprises, Inc., USA' tenth largest travel management company, 1800USAHotels.com provides air travel, cruises, vacation packages, spas, bed & breakfasts and more. Contact Lisa Smith, Director of Communications & Public Relations or vist the site at: http://www.1800usahotels.com