[MarEx New Edition Alert] Robust Oil & Gas Pumps Up Economies
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Big bucks are flowing into oil and gas developments worldwide, including shale and LNG. There is not one oil-producing region on the planet that is not witnessing billions upon billions of dollars in capital expenditures, which have more than tripled during the last ten years. Did you know that even NASA scientists are working with energy industry experts in developing highly sophisticated monitoring systems for subsea oil and gas processing facilities? Did you know there are already twenty such processing systems in use around the world? Want to learn more? Read Wendy Laursen’s enlightening article, “Production at a Price.”
Sufyan Al Zamil, President of Zamil Offshore, graces our cover and shares the legacy of his family’s business, which was founded by his grandfather in the 1920s. Today, the Saudi Arabian-based Zamil Group is a huge conglomerate with more than 60 companies producing everything from steel and petrochemicals to air conditioners, plastics and building materials. Zamil Offshore is the marine services arm of the Zamil Group, and its primary client is the world’s most valuable company, Saudi Aramco. Don’t miss learning more about Zamil Offshore, the largest operator in the Middle East and number five in the world.
Eye on Energy columnist Allen Brooks asks: Are there “Too Many Rigs?” A flood of newbuilds hitting the market in the next two years may cause temporary indigestion. Upgrades & Downgrades columnist Jack O’Connell digs into U.S. energy transportation as he compares the constraints of pipelines with the flexibility of railroads and Jones Act transit. Both articles are filled with important facts, so spend a little time with them and catch up.
The budget hits keep coming as Washington Insider columnist Larry Kiern examines the hard realities of the Obama Administration’s FY 2015 request. The Navy, Coast Guard, Food for Peace and maritime infrastructure all get hacked because all the money is going to planes, trains and airports. Hello White House and OMB! The U.S. has 96,000 miles of coastline, 22,000 miles of inland waterways and 360 commercial ports! Don’t they deserve a little love too?
LNG-fueled vessels are creating a buzz around the world with 40 already operating in Europe and U.S. companies like Crowley, TOTE, Matson and Harvey Gulf getting ready to join the party. So MarEx assigned Todd Vorenkamp to explore the obvious question: What about fire safety on LNG-fueled vessels? This is a great piece and must-reading.
Jim Romeo went about exploring how U.S. ports are handling the surge in shale oil production from formations in North Dakota and South Texas. There are certain ports we all expect to be in the equation, but there is also a Pacific Coast port right in the middle of the shale boom. Jim also took on the growing business of marine coatings for this edition. Did you know it was a $5 billion business in 2011 and is expected to more than double by 2018? Coatings are expensive, but making the investment might save money in the long run. It’s worth finding out right here.
Fredrik Eliasson, Executive Vice President and CFO of CXS Corporation, met with Senior Editor Jack O’Connell on a recent visit to Miami. He says that rail and maritime have a lot in common. With crude-by-rail growing 100 percent last year and expected to grow another 50 percent this year, we sure hope he’s right. Rounding out this edition are first-time contributor Audra Kincaid, who makes an impressive debut with her article on offshore wind, and the redoubtable Wendy Laursen, whose second article in this edition examines the hard choices confronting shipowners in the face of new ECA strictures.
As shale, LNG and wind energy move to center stage around the world, it has been exciting to cover a number of the hot topics on everyone’s mind. Read this edition, and we promise it will be time well spent. – MarEx