Superior Quality Jet Fuel Needed for Aviation

At the refinery crude oil is turned into jet fuel and aviation gasoline. Only superior-quality fuels can be used for aviation. Jet fuels and aviation gasoline used in commercial aviation must meet or exceed stringent requirements for worldwide fuel handling and products standards set by industry and government groups, including The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), The Coordinating Research Council and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense.

The superior-quality jet fuels and aviation gasoline supplied to general aviation must also meet stringent worldwide fuel handling and products standards set by Fixed Based Operators and Distributors. They also are in compliance with industry and government groups, including The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), The Coordinating Research Council and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.

The quality control starts at the refinery. The chemical formulation for aviation gasoline continues to be relatively unchanged for the past 50 years. It must satisfy these basic requirements: 1) Vaporization must occur easily at low temperatures but yet not so easy that it will cause vapor lock; 2) It must have a high energy content per unit weight (BTU), and permit high compression engine operation without detonation; 3) It must be relatively free of gum-forming compounds; 4) It must have a low sulfur content to reduce corrosive action; 5) It must be stored and delivered free of contaminants.

Other considerations in the processing of aviation gasoline are volatility and vaporization. Volatility has an important effect on carburetor icing and “vapor lock.” Vaporization of fuel in the carburetor venturi cannot take place without heat being extracted. If too much heat is taken out during the vaporization process there is danger of carburetor ice forming with float-type carburetors. Highly volatile fuel extracts more heat from its surroundings than does a less volatile fuel and tends to allow vapor (bubbles) to form in the fuel lines. Bubbles in the fuel delivery system cause an interruption or reduction in fuel flow (vapor lock) and complete or partial engine failure due to improper fuel-air mixture.

Octane ratings for aviation gasoline have been rated differently than automotive gasoline. Leaded aviation fuels use tetraethyl lead in small quantities, primarily to improve antiknock qualities, and is a necessary additive to aviation fuel to produce 100-octane or greater fuel.

Superior-quality products are the result of operational excellence. Companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation ensure maintaining quality control from the refinery to the airplanes producing and delivering their fuel products in a safe, secure, environmentally sound, reliable and efficient manner.

One Trillion Barrels of Oil

To date, the world has produced 1 trillion barrels of oil. It is expected that approximately 2 trillion barrels more will be produced over the next century or so. It will come from conventional proved reserves, unconventional resources and as-yet-undiscovered conventional oil. Some of the unconventional oil resources are the extra-heavy oil in Alberta and Venezuela, the bitumen in Alberta, and the shale oil in the United States.

As we progress, oil will continue to provide energy for the future. Oil and petroleum products have powered the world in the form of motor fuels for more than a century, and the demand is only growing. Between now and 2030, global energy consumption is projected to jump more than 50 percent, with oil and gas continuing to meet the largest part of that demand.

Oil is also a key ingredient in making thousands of products that make our lives easier. Here too oil will continue to make our life progress for the better. At the oil refineries chemical processing turns the crude oil into mixtures that produce products such as plastics found in our everyday objects, synthetic rubber used to make things more pliable and stretchy, synthetic fibers found our clothing to make them more comfortable, drugs to help us fight diseases, and detergents to make our cleaning process easier. A liquid obtained from refining crude oil called naphtha is one of the basic feedstocks.

Basically, there are three major categories for petroleum-based products:
fuels such as gasoline and diesel fuel,non-fuel products such as solvents and lubricating oils, and feedstocks such as naphtha. Petroleum-based products, especially motor gasoline, distillate (diesel) fuel, and jet fuel, provide virtually all of the energy consumed in the transportation sector. Transportation remains the greatest single use of petroleum. The industrial sector is the second largest petroleum consumption, and the residential/commercial including the electric utility sectors account for the remaining petroleum consumption.

The value of oil is enormous. The world depends on it greatly. Without oil, the world would not move. The oil companies in the United States, like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation, keep their operations running smoothly, efficiently, and safely to provide the products that supply the ever-increasing demand. They seek out further discoveries and keep up with the future explorations worldwide. Cutting-edge technology advances enable them to progress in innovative and cost-conscious ways to bring new volumes of oil to the marketplace. Again, it is expected that approximately 2 trillion barrels more will be produced over the next century or so.

The Clean, Efficient and Economical Energy Source

Natural gas now provides 23 percent of all energy consumed in the world. Before the second half of the 20th century it was just dismissed as a useless byproduct of oil production. It is the only fossil fuel that is clean-burning, composed of various hydrocarbon gases, mostly methane. Actually, the main products of the combustion of natural gas are carbon dioxide and water vapor which are the same compounds we exhale when we breathe. Virtually, no ash or particulate matter are released. Natural gas is non-toxic, not poisonous or harmful to humans. It fuels electric power generators and heats homes and offices more efficiently than oil. It also can be used as a raw material in many consumer products, one being the increasingly popular plastics.

Because it is the cleanest-burning conventional fuel, it is environmentally friendly producing lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions than the heavier hydrocarbon fuels, coal and oil. Since it is so efficient, natural gas has historically been one of the most economical energy sources.

The International Energy Agency predicts that natural gas demand will grow by more than 67 percent through 2030. The range of applications include: industrial power, heating for both commercial buildings and residential homes, and transportation vehicles. Because of the relatively simple makeup of natural gas, there are fewer toxic and carcinogenic emissions from vehicles running on natural gas. Substantial reserves exist to meet the growing demand of natural gas. World natural gas reserves are estimated to exceed 6,000 trillion cubic feet, and significant natural gas volumes are yet to be discovered.

In its gaseous state, natural gas can be delivered to customers through pipeline systems. Natural gas is reliable in that the pipeline systems are not easily damaged or affected by changing weather conditions. Natural gas can also be turned into a liquid (LNG) so it can be shipped safely in specialized tankers to growing markets. Technology advances are developing gas-to-liquids stations as another alternative for commercializing gas resources. There also has been research done to create from natural gas, synthetic diesel fuel, lubricant base oils, and naphtha. GTL diesel is distinguished by its higher performance and lower environmental impacts as compared with traditional diesel fuels.

Numerous pipeline projects are necessary to link natural gas with growing markets. There are still portions of the nation that do not have pipelines reaching them yet. Energy companies like Triple Diamond Energy will continue to find, develop and deliver natural gas to meet rising energy demand.

Heating Oil is America’s Main Heating Fuel

Heating oil is a petroleum product used by many Americans to heat their homes. Generally, because the demand is higher, heating oil prices are higher during the winter months. Historically, the price of heating oil has fluctuated from year to year and month to month.

Making the demand high, 107 million households in the United States (approximately 8.1 million) depend on heating oil as their main heating fuel. Residential space heating is the primary use for heating oil which makes the demand highly seasonal. And the area of the country most reliant on heating oil is the northeast with most of the heating oil used during October through March. When the prices are likely to be lower, some customers try filling their storage tanks in the summer or early fall to beat rising winter prices. However, most homeowners do not have enough room in their storage tanks to store the full amount needed to meet winter demands. Because homeowners may have to refill their tanks as often as four or five times during the heating season, the possibility of rising or spiking prices is a concern.

Domestic refineries and imports from foreign countries are the basic sources of heating oil in the United States. Refineries produce heating oil as a part of the distillate fuel oil products, which includes heating oils, diesel fuel and jet fuel. Distillate products are shipped throughout the United States by pipelines, barges, tankers, trucks and rail cars. Most imports of distillate fuel oil currently come from Canada and Venezuela. Oil refineries limit the amount of heating oil they make to meet the demands of the winter heating season. Some winter heating oil produced by the refineries in the summer and fall months is stored for winter use. During the coldest winter months, the inventories that are built in the summer and fall are used to help meet the high demand. Refiners can increase heating oil production in the winter to a modest degree, but they quickly reach a point where, to produce more heating oil, they would also have to produce more of other petroleum products which could not be sold in sufficient quantities during the winter months. However, if consumer demand is high for a seasonal product, such as gasoline, refiners may delay producing heating oil for the winter, which may lower inventories at the start of the heating season. This may cause prices to fluctuate. Such was the case in the summer of 2002, when more gasoline was produced to supply the high gasoline demand. As a result, the 2002-2003 heating oil season started with low
inventories.

Heating oil may be delivered to a central distribution area, such as New York Harbor, where it is then redistributed by barge to other consuming areas, such as New England. Once heating oil is in the consuming area, it is redistributed by truck to smaller storage tanks closer to a retail dealer’s customers, or it may be transported directly to the residential customers. Oil companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation make certain all distribution areas are sufficiently supplied with enough heating oil to handle the consumer demand.

The World's Most Liquid Forum for Crude Oil Trading

Crude oil began futures trading on the NYMEX in 1983 and presently is the world's most actively traded commodity. As well as being the world's largest-volume futures contract trading on a physical commodity, NYMEX Division light, sweet crude oil futures contract is the world's most liquid forum for crude oil trading. Used as a principal international pricing benchmark, the light, sweet crude oil futures contract has excellent liquidity and price transparency. Light, sweet crude oils are preferred by refiners because of their low sulfur content and relatively high yields of high-value products including gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, and jet fuel.

Risk management and trading opportunities can be obtained through options on the futures contract. Additional risk management is offered with calendar spread options. Crack spread options make available the pricing differential of heating oil futures, crude oil futures, gasoline futures and crude oil futures, plus average price options. The contract trades in units of 1,000 barrels. The delivery point is Cushing, Oklahoma, which is also accessible to the international spot markets via pipelines. Serving the diverse needs of the physical market, the contract provides for delivery of several grades of domestic and internationally traded foreign crudes. A penultimate, financially settled crude oil (WS) contract is available for trading on the CME Globex® platform. The contract is listed for 72 months.

Designed for investment portfolios, the NYMEX miNY™ crude oil futures contract, is the equivalent of 500 barrels of crude, 50% of the size of a standard futures contract. The contract is available for trading on the CME Globex® electronic trading platform and clears through the New York Mercantile Exchange clearinghouse.

The New York Mercantile Exchange also lists for trading electronically a financially settled futures contract for Dubai crude oil; a futures contract on the differential between the light, sweet crude oil futures contract and Canadian Bow River crude at Hardisty, Alberta; and futures contracts on the differentials of the light, sweet crude oil futures contract and four domestic grades of crude oil: Light Louisiana Sweet, West Texas Intermediate-Midland, West Texas Sour, and Mars Blend.

The Brent blend futures contract is based on a light, sweet North Sea crude oil that serves as a benchmark grade and widely trades as a differential to the NYMEX Division's bellwether light, sweet crude oil futures contract. Most of the crude oil is refined in Northwest Europe, but significant volumes move to the U.S. Gulf and East Coasts. Complementing the Brent crude oil futures contract are an options contract, calendar spread options contracts, and an options contract on the Brent/West Texas Intermediate crude oil spread.

Oil Companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation involved in the extracting, refining, and distribution of crude oil and its valuable by-products here in the United States are driven by the demand and investments made on the commodity.

Fuel Oil Trucks Get Design Improvements

When fuel oil distributors talk about their truck needs, the most frequently mentioned among these needs are durability and maneuverability. Practical design enhancements can make fuel oil trucks better tools to provide greater productivity for the oil industry.

Fuel oil distributors engaged in the task of selecting new delivery truck enhancements typically have a list of ‘must-have’ features and a list of ‘like-to-have’ features. Ideally, the truck that finally gets purchased has all of the ‘must-have’ features and at least a couple of the ‘like-to-haves.’

Truck manufacturers have both of the lists and have been working to provide these and additional features after learning from the fuel oil distributors what actually is expected in performance. Bob Bees, marketing product manager for Volvo Trucks North America in Greensboro, N.C. said that while Volvo might not be an obvious or common choice for fuel oil delivery, “it’s got a great wheel cut” – a primary consideration for operators who require maneuverability in negotiating driveways and other tight spots in the course of making deliveries. 


Home heating oil tankers typically have a capacity of approximately 2,000 – 3,000 gallons. These are typically single-axle vehicles. The front axle often ranges from 14,000 to 16,000 pounds, with a rear axle typically ranging from 23,000 to 26,000 pounds. “They might go all the way up to a 30,000-pound rear axle,” Bees said. “We can do this making a very, very good home fuel oil truck, but it’s on the high end of the cost spectrum.”

Other original equipment manufacturers (OEM) that make trucks that can be designed for fuel oil delivery to the priority of maneuverability have listened to the fuel oil distributors’ needs. Freightliner, for example, said its Business Class M2 106 features up to a 55-degree wheel cut, achieved through a combination of a setback front axle and a swept-back bumper. They also offer to complement the wheel-cut, a 2,500-square-inch windshield, low-profile dash and an aerodynamic sloped hood – features that combine for visibility, which are crucial in the negotiating of tight spots. Wide door openings, low step-in heights and interior and exterior grab handles on the M2 are designed to help reduce fatigue, and offer easy entry and exit for drivers who make numerous fuel oil deliveries daily. 


Hino Motors Sales USA in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan offers a Hino Model 338 Class 7 straight truck with a 260 HP engine, optional in-cab controlled rear locking differentials and optional vertical exhaust. This truck also has an air suspension. The straight truck features an exceptional turning radius because of its 55-degree wheel cut and wide visibility for ease of movement during fuel oil deliveries, even to homes where access is cramped. The truck’s dashboard includes a ‘Driver Information Display’ capable of presenting a range of information, including trip fuel economy, service, and interval maintenance check ups.

Some other design features, integral parts of the specs requested by the oil truck distributors, that different dealers are now offering are: automatic five-speed transmission because many fuel oil distributors find that the automatic transmission helps save several minutes off each stop; new halogen projector low beam headlamps which offer three times longer life than sealed beam headlamps; a new hood assist device and 90-degree hood tilt opening providing easy access to the engine compartment for mechanical repairs; air or hydraulic brakes; and the option of a combination of diesel and electric modes of operation automatically switching between the two seamlessly.

Oil Companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation are always looking into improvements in each of the systems of operation in their business to make it run as efficiently as possible.

The Oil Industry in Venezuela

Among the world’s top oil exporters (in the order of how much is currently being exported) are Saudi Arabia, Norway, Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. Let’s look at Venezuela. Venezuela’s oil is exceptionally important to their country and, for that matter, to the rest of the world.
Because of its importance, Venezuela has their army regularly enlisted to protect the output by defending their installations, oil tankers and oil refineries. The oil industry in Venezuela has become a target for attacks. Protesters know when they really want to make a point and get their message heard, they target the oil industry.

Last April's coup which temporarily ousted president Hugo Chavez from power, was the result of a controversy over the state-owned oil firm that acted as the catalyst for the temporary termination. Chavez was left with no doubt about the source of his political and economic power. Chavez said about the attempts to disrupt the supply, “It's as if the doctor, who's supposed to be looking after your heart, suddenly tries to stop it.”

Accounting for about half of total government revenues, there is no question that oil is the lifeblood of Venezuela’s economy. With Venezuela producing about three million barrels a day of crude oil, which is about one third of the total gross domestic product. And about 75% of that is exported. Of the country's $3bn-4bn in annual foreign investment, almost all of it is channeled into the energy industry. Now, it is easy to understand why they protect their oil industry with armed guards.

With Venezuela being the fifth largest oil exporter in the world, it supplies about 13% of daily oil imports into the United States. The ability of Venezuela to continue pumping oil is a concern for the United States and for oil markets around the world. The removal of any such significant oil producer (whether it be Venezuela or another country) from the supply chain is certain to squeeze prices for oil even higher. The US, in particular, is left scrabbling around for alternative cargoes of not just crude oil, but also refined products such as petrol, jet fuel and diesel.

Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the supply from the Middle East in the case of a US-led war against Iraq, secure supply is especially important at present.

It was 1921 when black gold (oil) was first discovered in Venezuela. Production surged quickly, and by the start of the World War II, Venezuela had become second only to the US in total output. In 1960, it was a founding member of the OPEC oil cartel, which still controls prices by regulating the amount of oil pumped onto the markets by member countries.

In recent years, Venezuela's oil output has begun to decrease, largely because of difficulties at the state-owned firm. This year, Rodriguez has been brought in from his position as secretary-general of OPEC in order to try to turn around the troubled firm. Most experts say Rodriguez will struggle to introduce any real change while Hugo Chavez remains in power. Oil companies in the United States like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation are always keeping aware of the world’s exporting dealings within the ever-changing energy industry.

The Processing of Natural Gas

The natural gas used by consumers is much different from the natural gas that is brought up to the wellhead from underground. The processing of natural gas is in many respects less complicated than the processing and refining of crude oil, but it is equally as necessary before the end users receive it. The natural gas used by consumers is composed almost entirely of methane. Although still composed primarily of methane, the natural gas found at the wellhead is by no means as pure.

Raw natural gas comes from three types of wells: oil wells, gas wells, and condensate wells. Natural gas termed ‘associated gas’ is that which comes from oil wells. This gas can exist separate from oil in the formation (free gas), or dissolved in the crude oil (dissolved gas). Natural gas from gas and condensate wells, in which there is little or no crude oil, is termed ‘nonassociated gas’. Gas wells typically produce raw natural gas by itself. Condensate wells produce free natural gas along with a semi-liquid hydrocarbon condensate. Once separated from crude oil (if present), whatever the source of the natural gas, it commonly exists in mixtures with other hydrocarbons. The other hydrocarbons are principally ethane, propane, butane, and pentanes. Raw natural gas also contains water vapor, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide, helium, nitrogen, and other compounds.

Pipeline-quality dry natural gas is the result of processing consisting of separating all of the various hydrocarbons and fluids from the natural gas. Before the natural gas can be transported in the pipelines, it must be purified. The ethane, propane, butane, and pentanes must be removed from natural gas. The actual practice of processing natural gas to pipeline dry gas quality levels usually involves four main processes to remove the various impurities: oil and condensate removal, water removal, separation of natural gas liquids, and lastly, sulfur and carbon dioxide removal. In addition to these, heaters and scrubbers installed near wellheads remove sand and other large-particle impurities such as the formation of hydrates resembling ice like crystals.

The associated hydrocarbons that are removed, known as Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) can be very valuable by-products of natural gas processing. Ethane, propane, butane, iso-butane, and natural gasoline are among these.

The complete processing of natural gas takes place at a processing plant, usually located in a natural gas producing region. Some of the needed processing can be accomplished at or near the wellhead.
In addition to processing done at the wellhead and at centralized processing plants, some final processing is also sometimes accomplished at straddle extraction plants which are located on major pipeline systems.

The processing system ensures that the natural gas intended for consumer use is as clean and pure as possible. Companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation make sure that processing removes all impurities and separates out the associated hydrocarbons before the natural gas goes through the pipelines to reach the consumer.

The Transportation and Storage of Natural Gas

The transportation system for natural gas consists of a complex network of pipelines, designed to quickly and efficiently transport natural gas from its origin to areas of high natural gas demand. To do this efficiently and effectively requires an extensive and elaborate transportation system. In many instances, natural gas produced from a particular well will have to travel a great distance to reach its point of use. Transportation of natural gas is closely linked to its storage. If the natural gas being transported is not be required at that time, it can be put into storage facilities for when it is needed.

The gathering system, the interstate pipeline, and the distribution system essentially make up the three major types of pipelines along the transportation route. The gathering system consists of low pressure, low diameter pipelines that transport raw natural gas right from the wellhead to the processing plant. If the natural gas from a particular well has high sulfur and carbon dioxide contents (sour gas), a specialized sour gas gathering pipe must be installed. Because sour gas is extremely corrosive and dangerous, its transportation must be done carefully from the wellhead to a sweetening plant.

Pipelines are either interstate or intrastate. Interstate pipelines carry natural gas across state boundaries, and in some cases, clear across the country. Intrastate pipelines transport natural gas within a particular state. The technical and operational systems are essentially the same for both interstate or intrastate pipelines. Natural gas pipelines are subject to regulatory oversight, which in many ways determines the manner in which pipeline companies must operate.

The exploration, production, and transportation of natural gas takes time. Natural gas, like most other commodities, can be stored for an indefinite period of time. Because the natural gas that reaches its destination is not always needed right away, it can be injected into underground storage facilities. These storage facilities are usually located near market centers that do not have a ready supply of locally produced natural gas.

The supply of natural gas has been traditionally regulated by the season. That is, partly because it is used for heat in both residential and commercial settings, the demand for natural gas is usually higher during the winter. Stored natural gas ensures that any excess supply delivered during the summer months is available to meet the increased demand of the winter months. Due to the demand for electricity to power air conditioners, recent trends toward natural gas fired electric generation has altered the demand for natural gas to increase during the summer months, however. Another vital role natural gas in storage serves is as insurance against any unforeseen accidents, natural disasters, or other occurrences that may affect the production or delivery of natural gas.

In the past, when natural gas was a regulated commodity, storage was part of the bundled product sold by the pipelines to distribution utilities. It is now available to anyone seeking storage for commercial purposes or operational requirements. Storage used to serve only as a buffer between transportation and distribution, to ensure adequate supplies of natural gas were in place for seasonal demand shifts, and unexpected demand surges. Now, in addition to serving those purposes, natural gas storage is also used by industry participants for commercial reasons; storing gas when prices are low, and withdrawing and selling it when prices are high, for instance. The purpose and use of storage has been closely linked to the regulatory environment of the time. Companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation consider all of the changes in both the nation’s available pipeline transportation systems and storage facilities when investing in the future of energy acquisitions.

Advances in the Oil and Natural Gas Exploration

The oil and natural gas industry has transformed into one of the most technologically advanced industries in the United States. Over the past thirty years, new innovations have reshaped the industry into a technology leader. Because of the technological innovation in the exploration and production, the industry has been able to keep up with the rising demand. The production of natural gas is constantly becoming more efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly. Natural gas deposits are being found deeper in the ground in more remote and sometimes inhospitable areas. New technological advances have provided the equipment necessary to produce natural gas in challenging environments in order to keep up with the industry production pace.
Some highlights of technological development in exploration and production include: 22,000 fewer wells needed annually to develop the same amount of reserves as were developed in 1985; drilling wastes have decreased by as much as 148 million barrels due to increased well productivity and fewer wells which is useful for drilling in sensitive areas; the use of modular drilling rigs and slimhole drilling reducing the size of drilling rigs, in turn, reducing surface impact; less reliance on explosives needed, reducing the impact on the environment.

Some major recent technological innovations in exploration and production are included here. 3-D and 4-D Seismic Imaging is the technology advance using traditional seismic imaging techniques, combined with powerful computers and processors, to create a 3-D model of the subsurface layers. The 4-D seismology allows exploration teams to observe subsurface changes over time. Because of 3-D and 4-D seismic imaging, teams can now identify natural gas prospects more easily, place wells more effectively, reduce the number of dry holes drilled, reduce drilling costs, and cut exploration time. CO2-Sand Fracturing Techniques have been used since the 1970s to help increase the flow rate of natural gas and oil from underground formations. CO2-Sand fracturing involves using a mixture of sand propants and liquid CO2 to fracture formations, creating and enlarging cracks through which oil and natural gas may flow more freely. After the CO2 vaporizes, only sand is left in the formation, holding the newly enlarged cracks open. Coiled Tubing technologies replace the traditional rigid, jointed drill pipe with a long, flexible coiled pipe string. Measurement While Drilling (MWD) systems allow for the collection of data from the bottom of a well as it is being drilled. This improves drilling efficiency and accuracy in the drilling process, allows better formation evaluation as the drill bit encounters the underground formation, and reduces the chance of formation damage and blowouts. Slimhole Drilling is exactly as it sounds, drilling a slimmer hole in the ground to get to natural gas and oil deposits. This technological advance can significantly improve the efficiency of drilling operations, as well as decrease its environmental impact. Natural gas and oil deposits are being found at locations that are deeper and deeper underwater. Whereas Offshore Drilling Operations can be among the most risky and dangerous undertakings, new technology, including improved offshore drilling rigs, dynamic positioning devices and sophisticated navigation systems are allowing safe, efficient offshore drilling in waters more than 10,000 feet deep.

The above technological advancements provide only a snapshot of the increasingly sophisticated technology being developed. New technologies and applications are being developed constantly, and serve to improve the economics of producing natural gas, allow for the production of deposits formerly considered too unconventional or uneconomic to develop, and ensure that the supply of natural gas keeps up with steadily increasing demand. Sufficient domestic natural gas resources exist to help companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation to fuel the U.S. for a significant period of time, and advancements in technology play a huge role in providing low-cost, environmentally sound methods of extracting these resources.

Processing Natural Gas to be Clean and Pure

Before natural gas goes into the pipelines, it needs to be removed of all impurities. Processing natural gas to pipeline dry gas quality involves four main removal processes: oil and condensate removal, water removal, separation of natural gas liquids, and lastly, sulfur and carbon dioxide removal. In addition to these, heaters and scrubbers are installed, usually at or near the wellhead. The scrubbers serve primarily to remove sand and other large-particle impurities. With natural gas that contains even low quantities of water, natural gas hydrates have a tendency to form when temperatures drop. To reduce the occurrence of hydrates (resembling ice like crystals), small natural gas-fired heating units are typically installed along the gathering pipe wherever it is likely that these hydrates may form.

First the natural gas needs to be separated from the oil in which it is dissolved. This separation of natural gas from oil is most often done using equipment installed at or near the wellhead. Although dry pipeline quality natural gas is virtually identical across different geographic areas, raw natural gas from different regions may have different compositions and separation requirements. Natural gas is dissolved in oil underground primarily due to the pressure that the formation is under. The most basic type of separator is known as a conventional separator. Simply, it consists of a closed tank where the force of gravity serves to separate the heavier liquids like oil, and the lighter gases, like natural gas. Sometimes specialized equipment is necessary to separate oil and natural gas. An example of this type of equipment is the Low-Temperature Separator (LTX). This is most often used for wells producing high pressure gas along with light crude oil or condensate. Using pressure differentials to cool the wet natural gas and separate the oil and condensate, wet gas enters the separator, being cooled slightly by a heat exchanger. The process allows the gas to expand lowering of the temperature in the separator. By varying the pressure of the gas in various sections of the separator, it is possible to vary the temperature, which causes the oil and some water to be condensed out of the wet gas stream. This basic pressure-temperature relationship can work in reverse as well, to extract gas from a liquid oil stream.

Next, it is necessary to remove most of the associated water from the wet gas stream. Most of the liquid, free water associated with extracted natural gas is removed by simple separation methods at or near the wellhead. The treatment for 'dehydrating' the natural gas involves one of two processes: either absorption, or adsorption.
Absorption occurs when the water vapor is taken out by a dehydrating agent. An example of absorption dehydration is known as Glycol Dehydration. In this process, a liquid desiccant dehydrator serves to absorb water vapor from the gas stream. Glycol, the principal agent in this process, has a chemical affinity for water.
The primary form of dehydrating natural gas using adsorption is solid-desiccant dehydration. It usually consists of two or more adsorption towers, which are filled with a solid desiccant. Solid-desiccant dehydrators are more effective than glycol dehydrators, and are usually installed as a type of straddle system along natural gas pipelines.

The third step in the process of removing the impurities is the separation of the natural gas liquids (NGLs). In most instances, natural gas liquids have a higher value as separate products, and it is thus economical to remove them from the gas stream. The removal of natural gas liquids usually takes place in a relatively centralized processing plant, and uses techniques similar to those used to dehydrate natural gas.

In addition to water, oil, and NGL removal, one of the most important parts of gas processing involves the removal of sulfur and carbon dioxide. Natural gas from some wells contains significant amounts of sulfur and carbon dioxide. Because of the rotten smell provided by its sulfur content, this natural gas is commonly called 'sour gas'. Sour gas is extremely harmful, even lethal, to breathe. Sour gas can also be extremely corrosive. The sulfur that exists in the natural gas stream is extracted and marketed on its own.

Gas processing ensures that the natural gas intended for use is as clean and pure as possible, making it the clean burning and environmentally sound energy choice. Companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation make sure that processing removes all impurities so only clean and pure natural gas goes in the pipeline network across the nation.

Natural Gas Vehicles

Cars, trucks, and buses are the greatest contributors to air pollution in the United States. Emissions from these vehicles contribute to smog around metropolitan areas, low visibility, and various greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), about half of all air pollution and more than 80 percent of air pollution in cities are produced by cars, trucks, and buses in the United States.

The oil and natural gas industry has transformed into one of the most technologically advanced industries in the United States over the past thirty years. New innovations have reshaped the industry into a technology leader. Select innovations have had a profound effect on the potential for natural gas. Because of the air pollution problem coming from gasoline and diesel powered cars, trucks, and buses, vehicles operating on compressed natural gas are being considered as a wise alternative fuel solution.

Using natural gas to fuel our vehicles will cut down on the high levels of pollution caused from gasoline and diesel engines. In fact, according to the EPA, compared to traditional vehicles, vehicles operating on compressed natural gas have reductions in carbon monoxide emissions of 90 to 97 percent, and reductions in carbon dioxide emissions of up to 25 percent. Nitrogen oxide emissions can be reduced by 35 to 60 percent, and other non-methane hydrocarbon emissions could be reduced by as much as 50 to 75 percent. These numbers would clean up the air tremendously. Because of the relatively simple makeup of natural gas in comparison to traditional vehicle fuels, there are fewer toxic and carcinogenic emissions from natural gas vehicles, and virtually no particulate emissions. There will be no soot or dirt flying in the air. The environmentally friendly attributes of natural gas are over-whelming. More natural gas vehicles will definitely contribute to reducing air pollution. New, stringent federal and state emissions laws require an improvement in vehicle emissions over the foreseeable future.

Fuel intensive vehicle fleets, such as taxicabs and public buses are the main vehicles fueled by natural gas today. However, virtually all types of natural gas vehicles are either in production today for sale to the public or in development, from passenger cars, trucks, buses, vans, and even heavy-duty utility vehicles. Despite the advances, a number of disadvantages of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) prevent their mass-production. Higher initial cost, limited driving range, trunk space, and lack of refueling infrastructure pose impediments to the future spread of natural gas vehicles.

However, it is expected that with improved technology, research, and fueling infrastructure, the use of NGVs in non-fleet settings will increase in the future. Natural gas vehicles present an exciting opportunity to reduce the damage of one of our most polluting sectors. Companies like
Triple Diamond Energy Corporation, interested in changing the future for the better are keeping knowledgeable of the advancements being made.

The Henry Hub in Louisiana

Accounting for almost a quarter of United States energy consumption, natural gas futures contract determined at the NYMEX Division is widely used as a national benchmark price. The price is based on delivery at the Henry Hub in Louisiana which the nexus of 16 intra- and interstate natural gas pipeline systems that draw supplies from the region's prolific gas deposits. The Henry Hub is where pipelines meet that are carrying the natural gas to supply the United States. These pipelines serve markets throughout the U.S. East Coast, the Gulf Coast, the Midwest, and also up to the Canadian border. The natural gas futures contract trades in units of 10,000 million British thermal units (mmBtu). An options contract and calendar spread options contracts provide additional risk management opportunities.

Also available are two financially-settled natural gas contracts for trading on the CME Globex® system – Henry Hub (HH) and Henry Power (HP). The HH contract settles on the same date as the physically-delivered natural gas contract and HP is a penultimate contract. Both contracts are listed for 72 months. The spread between natural gas futures and electricity futures known as the spark spread, can be used to manage price risk in the power markets.

Because of the volatility of natural gas prices, a vigorous basis market has developed in the pricing relationships between Henry Hub and other important natural gas market centers in the continental United States and Canada. The New York Mercantile Exchange makes available for trading a series of basis swap futures contracts that are quoted as price differentials between approximately 30 natural gas pricing points and Henry Hub. The basis contracts trade in units of 2,500 mmBtu on the NYMEX ClearPort® trading platform. Typically, transactions can also be consummated off-Exchange and then submitted to the Exchange for clearing via the NYMEX ClearPort® clearing website. This can be as an exchange of futures for physicals or an exchange of futures for swaps transaction.

The NYMEX miNY™ natural gas futures contract, designed for investment portfolios, is the equivalent of 2,500 mmBtu of natural gas, 25% of the size of a standard futures contract. The contract is available for trading on the CME Globex® electronic trading platform and clears through the New York Mercantile Exchange clearinghouse.

Investments can also be considered through the companies among which produce, refine, and distribute the nation’s energy products like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation which specializes in acquiring the highest quality prime oil and gas properties.

Half of the National Oil Consumption is Gasoline

Accounting for almost half of national oil consumption, gasoline is the largest single volume refined product sold in the United States. It is a highly diverse market, with hundreds of wholesale distributors and thousands of retail outlets. Because of this, it is subject to intense competition and price volatility. 

The NYMEX Division New York harbor unleaded gasoline futures contract and reformulated gasoline blend stock for oxygen blending (RBOB) futures contract trade in units of 42,000 gallons or 1,000 barrels. They are based on delivery at petroleum products terminals in New York harbor, the major east coast trading center for imports and domestic shipments from refineries in the New York harbor area or from the Gulf Coast refining centers. 

The industry is shifting towards ethanol with the ongoing phase out of the oxygenate methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). Now required in many areas for controlling emissions that can adversely affect air quality, the unleaded gasoline contract specifications conform to those for oxygenated gasoline. RBOB conforms to industry standards for reformulated regular gasoline blend stock. As listed by the Colonial Pipeline for fungible F grade for sales in New York and New Jersey, RBOB is blended with 10% denatured fuel ethanol (92% purity). Ready for the addition of 10% ethanol at the truck rack, RBOB is a wholesale non-oxygentated blend stock traded in the New York Harbor barge market. 

The New York Mercantile Exchange maintains close contact with federal and state officials and continues to evaluate changes in the regulations to ensure that the terms and conditions of the gasoline futures contract continue to mirror the cash market. Contracts provide a slate of flexible, liquid financial instruments including futures contracts, options contracts, calendar spread options contracts, crack spread options contracts, and average price options. Exotic options contracts are offered as well.

The No. 2 fuel oil is heating oil, and accounts for about 25% of the yield of a barrel of crude, the second largest "cut" after gasoline. The heating oil futures contract also trades in units of 42,000 gallons or 1,000 barrels. and is based on delivery in New York harbor, the principal cash market trading center. Options on futures, calendar spread options contracts, crack spread options contracts, and average price options contracts give market participants even greater flexibility in managing price risk.

The heating oil futures contract is also used to hedge diesel fuel and jet fuel, both of which trade in the cash market at an often stable premium to NYMEX Division New York harbor heating oil futures.
The Exchange also lists for trading on the NYMEX ClearPort® trading platform a series of both gasoline and heating oil swap futures contracts based on crack spreads and location differentials, including European and average price options. Transactions in these contracts can also be consummated off-exchange and submitted to the Exchange for clearing through the NYMEX ClearPort® clearing website.

Investing in oil and energy products can be done through the oil and energy producers. Triple Diamond Energy Corporation specializes in acquiring the highest quality prime oil and natural gas properties.

Smog and Acid Rain

Particularly for large metropolitan cities, smog and poor air quality is a pressing environmental problem. Smog primarily consists of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds chemically interacting with heat from sunlight forming ground level ozone. Smog is that familiar haze most commonly found surrounding large cities, particularly in the summer time. Smog and ground level ozone contribute to all kinds of respiratory problems ranging from temporary discomfort, asthma, to long-lasting, permanent lung damage. The pollutants in smog come from vehicle emissions, smokestack emissions, paints, and solvents – most of which started out as crude oil.

Much of the eastern United States is affected by another environmental problem known as acid rain. Acid rain can damage crops, forests, wildlife populations, and cause respiratory and other illnesses in humans. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water vapor and other chemicals in the presence of sunlight, various acidic compounds form in the air and come to the earth as acid rain. The pollutants of acid rain are derived from coal fired power plants. Natural gas emits virtually no sulfur dioxide and up to 80 percent less nitrogen oxides than the combustion of coal. So the increased use of natural gas would provide for fewer acid rain causing emissions.

The source of energy to use for reducing pollution and maintaining a clean and healthy environment is natural gas. Natural gas is also domestically abundant making it a secure source of energy. The environmental benefits of using natural gas over other sources of energy, particularly other fossil fuels are numerous.

Since the use of natural gas emits only low levels of nitrogen oxides and virtually no particulate matter, it can be used to help combat smog formation in those areas where ground level air quality is poor. Electric utilities, motor vehicles, and industrial plants make up the main sources of nitrogen oxides. To combat smog production, especially in urban centers where it is needed the most, increased natural gas use in the electric generation sector, a shift to cleaner natural gas vehicles, and increased industrial natural gas use could all serve to improving the air quality. Summertime, when natural gas demand is at its lowest and smog problems are the greatest, would be a good time for industrial plants and electric generators to use natural gas to fuel their operations instead of using the more polluting fossil fuels. This would effectively reduce smog emissions resulting in clearer, healthier air around the urban centers.

A study conducted in 1995 by the Coalition for Gas-Based Environmental Solutions found that in the Northeast, smog and ozone-causing emissions could be reduced by 50 to 70 percent through the seasonal switching to natural gas.

Particulate emissions such as soot, ash, metals, and other airborne particles also cause the degradation of air quality in the United States. Natural gas emits virtually no particulates into the atmosphere. Emissions of particulates from natural gas combustion are 90 percent lower than from the combustion of oil, and 99 percent lower than burning coal. Increased natural gas use in place of other dirtier hydrocarbons can help to reduce particulate emissions in the United States.

Companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation are concerned about the levels of smog and acid rain. They look at increasing their supply of the more environmentally beneficial natural gas and to make it more accessible to the northeastern part of the United States.

Oil Production on Floating Vessel Offshore Brazil

Designed to produce 180,000 b/d of oil at peak production, the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO P-54) went online December 11th on the Roncador field in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil. It will increase the field's installed capacity to 460,000 b/d. Petrobras built the new platform vessel to be added to the fleet.

Capable of compressing 211.9 MMcf/d of natural gas and storing up to 2 million barrels of oil, the P-54 is built from the conversion of tanker Barão de Mauá, which belonged to Petrobras' fleet. The new platform is an addition in the Roncador field to the P-52, which kicked off production in November and is also capable of lifting 180,000 b/d.

The new platform is expected to reach peak production in the second half of 2008. P-54 is anchored in 4,593 feet (1,400 m) of water, and will be connected to 17 wells, 11 of which oil and gas producers. The other six wells are water injectors. Oil production outflow will be performed by relief vessels. The natural gas collected will be transported via sub-sea pipelines to Brazil’s mainland.

As was the case with the P-52, Petrobras built the new platform in compliance with the new nationalization parameters. Totaling 63 percent national content, constructing the FPSO P-54 generated 2,600 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs. The P-54 was built in a modular fashion over 41 months after three agreements were signed in June 2004. The Dresser Rand/Mauá Jurong consortium built the gas compression modules, and Nuovo Pignone made the power generation ones. Jurong Shipyard was in charge of converting the hull, manufacturing the remaining process and utility modules, and unit integration. The process, utility and compression modules were built at the Mauá-Jurong construction site in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. The power generator was built at Nuovo Pignone's Porto Novo Rio construction site in Caju, Rio de Janeiro.

Another FPSO unit named Cidade de Vitória, capable of producing 100,000 b/d from the Golfinho field in the Espírito Santo Basin was put into production in November in addition to the P-54 and the P-52. Petrobras concludes in the last quarter of the year, with the inauguration cycle of three new production units in southeastern Brazil. These additional floating platforms will increase Petrobras capabilities considerably. The construction will generate thousands of jobs and once completed, new production jobs will open up to carry on the process.

Oil companies in the United States like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation keep aware of other countries producing oil for many reasons; one being to learn how other countries extract oil from their locations and another being possible trade negotiations as far as importing and exporting.

Mexico’s Oil Output

Oil was not discovered in Mexico until after the turn of the twentieth century. Commercial production of crude oil started in 1901 and by 1911 Mexico began to export oil.

In 1923 Bucarelli Agreements committed the United States and Mexico to regard titles held by foreign oil companies as concessions by the Mexican government rather than as outright ownership claims. And in 1925 President Plutarco Elías Calles decreed that foreign oil companies must register their titles in Mexico and limited their concessions.

Largely as a result of increased international demand generated by World War I, Mexico's oil production peaked in 1921 at 193 million barrels (25 percent of world production). Mexico was second only to the United States in petroleum output and led the world in oil exports during much of the 1920s.

Giving the Mexican government a monopoly in the exploration, production, refining, and distribution of oil and natural gas, and in the manufacture and sale of basic petrochemicals, President Lázaro Cárdenas nationalized the petroleum industry in 1938. This left the oil companies uncomfortable. The United States government soon pressured the oil companies to come to terms with Mexico as a result of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy. In 1943 Mexico and the oil companies reached a final settlement under which the companies received US$24 million (a fraction of the book value) as compensation.

Mexico's oil output expanded at an average annual rate of 6 percent between 1938 and 1971. And production increased from 44 million barrels in 1938 to 78 million barrels in 1951 alone. Domestic demand progressively exceeded output, and in 1957 Mexico became a net importer of petroleum products. Production then rose to 177 million barrels by 1971 with the exploitation of new oil fields.

Extensive oil discoveries in the 1970s increased Mexico's domestic output and export revenues. Almost every drilling operation conducted after 1972 struck oil. In 1973 oil production surpassed the peak of 190 million barrels achieved in the early 1920s.

However, by early 1993, both crude oil production and exports had begun to decline. Down from almost 80 percent in 1982, in 1995 the oil sector generated slightly more than 10 percent of Mexico's export income. In 1995 Mexico was the world's sixth-largest producer of crude oil. In the Western Hemisphere, only the United States produced more oil than Mexico. Directly behind Mexico was Venezuela.

The Mexican government invested heavily to increase the capacity of existing refineries and construct new ones so that, by the early 1990s, some 40 percent of Mexico's crude petroleum output was refined domestically. In 1993 Mexico had the world's eighth largest crude petroleum reserves, amounting to some 5 percent of the world's total. Mexico's reserves are sufficient to guarantee the current production levels for fifty years.

Since the nationalization of the oil industry in 1938, the state-owned Pemex has monopolized the production and marketing of hydrocarbons. In August 1993, it became known that the government was considering proposals to allow private companies to buy, sell, and distribute imported gasoline, natural gas, and petrochemicals, and to invest in new pipelines.

In early 1996, the government unveiled its Program for the Development and Restructuring of the Energy Sector. The plan is intended to increase Mexico's petroleum exports, improve its competitiveness in the international energy market, and contribute to more balanced regional development, which it has.

Companies in the United States’ oil sector, like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation continue to look at Mexico’s oil output and assess any potential business dealings.

Oil Spill in the North Sea

Oil spills happen. The most likely reason an oil spill occurs is when an oil tanker’s equipment has failed causing oil to leak into the ocean. If the equipment breaks down, the tanker may get stuck on shallow land. When they start to drive the tanker again, they can put a hole in the tanker causing it to leak oil.

Other oil spills may occur when countries are at war; one country may decide to dump gallons of oil into the other country’s oceans. Terrorists may cause an oil spill because they will dump oil into a country’s ocean. Many terrorists will do this because they are trying to get the country’s attention. Illegal dumps also can happen when people decide they do not want to spend money on decomposing their waste oil. Natural disasters (like hurricanes) may cause an oil spill, too. The winds from a hurricane can cause an oil tanker to flip over, pouring oil out.

The affect oil spills have on animals is tremendous. Birds die from oil spills if their feathers are covered in oil. Animals may die because they get hypothermia, causing their body temperature to be really low. Oil may also cause the death of an animal by entering the animal’s lungs or liver. Oil also can kill an animal by blinding it causing it to not be aware of predators. Oil spills sometimes are the reason for animals becoming endangered and instinct.

There are many ways to stop the spread of oil in the ocean. Workers can place a boom around the tanker that is spilling oil. Booms collect the oil off the water. A boom may be placed somewhere before an oil spill. They can be placed around an entrance to the ocean, like a stream. These booms will absorb any oil that flows around it. The workers can also use skimmers, boats that can remove the oil off the water. Sorbents are also used which are sponges that can collect the oil. An airplane can fly over the water dropping chemicals into the ocean. The chemicals can break down the oil into the ocean. They also can burn freshly spilled oil with fireproof booms to contain the oil.

Recently in the North Sea off of Norway, an oil spill happened while the tanker Navion Britannica was loading oil from a storage buoy. The tanker is owned by a Vancouver-based corporation. About 25,000 barrels of oil were discharged into the Statfjord field, 125 miles (201 km) off Bergen on the afternoon of December 12th. Reported on December 14, 2007 ships carrying two oil collection systems were active in the area where the oil slick was believed to be the thickest. StatoilHydro, involved in the clean-up, called off the deployment of booms to help collect the oil because the oil slick was too thin to recover. StatoilHydro will continue to monitor the situation and maintain its emergency response team. Vessels still present in the area, watch over the slick, which is also being monitored by satellite. The Norwegian National Coastal Administration's LN-SFT surveillance aircraft flew over the affected area later that week to make any new observations.

Oil spills happen. Companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corp. are kept abreast of these incidents for many reasons. This precious energy source should not be wasted. And the world has to learn that the damage caused by such oil spills has to be avoided.

There are many things being done to prevent more spills. In 1990, US Congress passed OPA (Ocean Pollution Act). The OPA 90’s major laws are: Emergency Response Plans—This law says that the owners of the tanker must have a detailed plan on what they will do if there was a spill. They must have this plan written before any spill. Double Hulls—The law says that all ships in the U.S are required to have a double hull. Liability—The law says that the owners of a boat that spills oil will have to pay $1,200 for every ton they spill. Spill Fund—The law says that the government has money from companies that transport the oil so when a spill occurs, the government can pay for the clean up. Navigation—The law says that the Coast Guard must know where the oil tankers can drive without an oil spill occurring.

Iraqi Unions Fight the New Oil Law

One of the Bush administration’s top political priorities is Iraq’s proposed oil law, which would open up control of the country’s oilfields to multinational corporations. On July 3, Bush called Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to encourage him and other leaders to move forward on it. The latest draft of this new oil law headed to the Iraqi Parliament for debate. With strong opposition from Iraqi oil workers, enacting the law will be very difficult, even if does pass through the Parliament.

“It doesn’t serve the interests of the Iraqi people,” says Faleh Abood Umara, general secretary of the Basra-based Southern Oil Company Union and the Iraqi Federation of Oil Workers’ Unions. Umara recently toured the United States, advocating national control of Iraqi oil assets and the immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

Umara emphasizes the fact that the new law was written in the United States and would permit joint ownership of many Iraqi oil fields by foreign companies. Under the new law, Iraq could export much of the oil and profits from these fields for up to 35 years under what are called “production sharing agreements.”

“We want the national Iraqi oil company to make service contracts with the companies, not partnerships,” Umara said in an interview. Basically, the Iraqi oil workers’ unions are opposed to sharing joint ownership of the oil assets. “We want new technology for the production of oil but to have foreign companies work with Iraqi workers and professionals for a limited time only,” he says. “We are not opposed to being developed with advanced and imported technology, but we would like to be sole owner of our wealth and use it to develop our country and cities.” The oil workers’ opposition to the law could prove a serious obstacle to the already much-delayed legislation.

Umara says the oil workers’ unions want the distribution of revenue directed to a national redevelopment fund. But the Bush administration has long wanted to give foreign oil companies as much control as possible over Iraqi oil fields. The proposed oil law partly would govern the distribution of revenue. Antonia Juhasz, an analyst for the Oil Change International, says that the law gives foreign oil companies great flexibility, with no requirement to hire or invest profits locally, and opens the door to the long-term production-sharing agreements. Other Middle East oil-producing nations have rejected these agreements. The average oil worker is concerned about the future of Iraq’s oil.

US oil companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation see this objection to the new oil law proposal as a delay in foreign oil imports. They realize it is, more than ever before, necessary to find ways for the United States to be energy independent.

FloaTEC TLP Model Testing Underway

At Texas A&M University, model testing of FloaTEC's Extended Tension Leg Platform (ETLP) is underway at the Offshore Technology Research Center (OTRC). The American Petroleum Institute (API) established new guidelines after Hurricane Katrina. The testing at OTRC has been in accordance to these revised environmental regulations which require existing and future installations to withstand hurricane force winds similar to those of Hurricane Katrina.

To prove this, OTRC's testing tank simulates the wave and wind environments found in the Central Gulf of Mexico. Significant changes were made to the design basis requirements so that all new structures (Tension Leg Platforms, Spars and Semi-submersibles) will be designed to meet the requirements for use in the Central Gulf of Mexico. FloaTEC says API's new regulations have enabled new testing procedures to be established and will continue to test all of its future designs in this manner.

FloaTEC’s initial model test was confirmed a success and is considering a second optional test. With the scale model receiving no green water damage, FloaTEC feels its ETLP design is suitable to post-Hurricane Katrina requirements and now looks to secure an order to construct the design to work in the Central Gulf of Mexico. Designed with drilling and production capabilities, the ETLP will be able to be moored in water depths up to 5,500 feet (1,676 m) and drill ultra-deep wells up to 35,000 feet (10,668 m). The production capabilities will be able to yield 120,000 b/d of oil and contain up to 18 slots for drilling and dry tree production.

Since the rig market continues to be tight, FloaTEC President Eric Namtvedt explains the ETLP's dry tree application presents an attractive development alternative. Though tested for the Central Gulf of Mexico, FloaTEC's ETLP design can be used elsewhere and is not designed exclusively for use in the Gulf.

Compared to other floating production solutions, FloaTEC's design is expected to have the ability to fast-track a field's development, as construction time is significantly reduced being that FloaTEC's parent companies, J. Ray McDermott and Keppel Fels, ensure timely, full assembly, with both fabrication and shipyards at its disposal.

Altogether, FloaTEC anticipates its engineering and construction resources can reduce field development cycle time by as much as two years. The platform's drilling unit, topsides and nodes would likely be fabricated at Keppel's facilities, while hull construction, as well as integration work would be undertaken at McDermott's shipyard in Mexico and McDermott's derrick barge DB 50 could be utilized for integration of hull and topsides.

FloaTEC hopes to secure an order within the next 18 to 24 months. Representatives from Chevron, Petrobras and ConocoPhillips attended the model testing. As the news gets extended, independent companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation will be looking into this also as possible investment potential.