Great interest in oil spill technology

Release Date: 2009-05-13

The oil industry has received more than 170 proposals for projects aimed at strengthening oil spill preparedness on the Norwegian Shelf. "The interest has been enormous. We are literally drowning in project proposals," says managing director Sjur Knudsen in the Norwegian Clean Seas Association for Operating Companies (NOFO).

In mid-January 2009, NOFO launched a new development program for oil spill technology. Nearly 100 companies from Norway and abroad took part in launching the activity. NOFO offered very attractive contracts to suppliers with good projects.

"Many people took part in last month's information meeting, where the tone was very positive. However, we were uncertain how many project proposals would be submitted. Now I can safely say that the response has exceeded all our expectations," says Knudsen.

Good spread 

As a point of departure, NOFO expects that the oil industry will invest NOK 20-30 million to develop new ideas. New and improved recovery technology has the highest priority, and the project applications fit in well with this goal. About one-third of the applications deal with offshore oil recovery.

"The distribution of the applications matches what we had hoped for. Offshore recovery, along with coastal and beach zone preparedness, account for two-thirds of the applications. The rest are linked to dispersion and remote measurement of spills," says Knudsen.

"We're good at oil spill preparedness, but our ambition is to be even better, particularly when it comes to being effective in the open sea and in coastal and beach zones during all kinds of weather and light conditions," says Knudsen.

Evaluating the applications

The applications will now be reviewed to select the candidates that will proceed to the next round.

"We originally planned to spend two weeks on this review, but, considering the number of applications, it will probably take somewhat longer, maybe up to four weeks. We do not want to hurry because we want to review each application thoroughly," says Knudsen.

The development program has the working title "Oil Spill Response 2010”, and it has been initiated on behalf of the operating companies on the Norwegian Shelf. The program will be carried out in close cooperation with the Norwegian Coastal Administration.

SOURCE: OLF

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NORMAL