BOEM Seeks Public Comment for Eleventh National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program
On April 18, 2025, the Department of the Interior announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) would soon initiate the first step in an engagement process to develop the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program (National OCS Program). A Request for Information and Comments (RFI) will publish in the Federal Register on April 30, 2025. BOEM is seeking an array of information and comments, including but not limited to information associated with the economic, social, and environmental values of all OCS resources, as well as the potential impact of oil and gas
Equinor: Statement on Halting Empire Wind Project
In accordance with a halt work order issued by the US government, Empire Offshore Wind LLC (Empire) will safely halt the offshore construction in waters of the outer continental shelf for the Empire Wind project.On 16 April, Empire received notice from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), ordering Empire to halt all activities on the outer continental shelf until BOEM has completed its review.Empire is engaging with relevant authorities to clarify this matter and is considering its legal remedies, including appealing the order.The federal lease for Empire Wind was signed with the US Administrat
Impossible Metals Seeks Mining Lease Near American Samoa
Pacific Ocean territory are estimated to contain large amounts of potato-shaped rocks known as polymetallic nodules filled with the building blocks for electric vehicles and electronics.The request from privately held Impossible Metals asks the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management - which oversees mineral deposits in federal waters - to launch a competitive lease process for the American Samoa nodules.A BOEM spokesperson confirmed the request and said the agency will decide by May 23 "whether to initiate steps that could lead to a lease sale." The agency has
Proserv and Verlume Team Up for Subsea Power Efficiency Boost
explore collaborative opportunities in the subsea power and renewable sectors and bring innovative technologies to the rapidly evolving clean energy market.Under the terms of the MoU, Proserv and Verlume will integrate Proserv’s subsea control and communications systems with Verlume’s energy management and battery technology to improve the efficiency of subsea power delivery.This enhanced level of system integration will reduce energy consumption by as much as 50% and significantly improve operational flexibility, reliability and reduce costs, according to the companies.By utilizing an integrated
BOEM Initiates Cetacean Acoustic Monitoring Program
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has established the Partnership for an Offshore Wind Energy Regional Observation Network (POWERON).The public-private partnership between BOEM and offshore wind lessees is designed to maximize the quality and consistency of scientific data collected in lease areas while conserving and optimizing resources.The partnership is the latest way that the Biden-Harris administration is harnessing technology to responsibly advance offshore wind development in a way that protects biodiversity.The POWERON initiative expands BOEM’s recently established Passive
BOEM Announces New Rules for Protection of Shipwrecks
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has finalized new regulations to better protect shipwrecks and other cultural resources on the seabed from potential harm due to offshore oil and gas activities.The final rule requires lessees and operators to submit an archaeological report with any exploration or development plan they submit to BOEM for proposed activities on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The report must detail procedures for reporting the discovery of possible archaeological resources and how operations will avoid or minimize harm if archaeological resources are present.
TDI-Brooks Delivers Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II Report
TDI-Brooks has announced that the report for Contract M17PC00009, issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is available online.The report is titled “Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon and Seep Communities.” It is the final deliverable of the BOEM Contract called Deep SEARCH, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey.Initially, the study was a five-year, collaborative scientific research program focused on the outer continental shelf
Verlume and SeaTwirl Ink MoU
UK-based offshore intelligent energy management and energy storage specialist firm Verlume reports it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU with Swedish energy-tech company SeaTwirl to collaborate around electrification of offshore assets and decarbonization of the oil and gas industry.The partners say they will aim to identify and pursue potential opportunities to work together on the decarbonization of offshore oil and gas and other associated offshore electrification opportunities, using renewable power and seabed based energy storage and intelligent energy management. The target is to
Wave-Powered Subsea Project Completes 12-Month Offshore Test Campaign
program at sea and will end this spring.The $2.5 million (£2 million) Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) project connected the Blue X wave energy converter – built by Edinburgh company Mocean Energy – with a Halo underwater battery storage system developed by Aberdeen intelligent energy management specialists, Verlume.The industry-backed project, located 5 km east of Orkney mainland, has demonstrated how green technologies can be combined to provide reliable and continuous low carbon power and communications to subsea equipment, offering a cost-effective future alternative to umbilical
February 2025
