West Epsilon is presently operating for Statoil on the Sleipner field in The North Sea.

Alf C Thorkildsen, Chief Executive Officer in Seadrill Management AS says, “We are pleased to secure this assignment for the West Epsilon jack-up which will contribute to grow our order backlog and earnings visibility, providing an important foundation for continued quarterly dividend payment”.

The inventors of Ecosphere’s two new patents were company Founder and CEO Dennis McGuire and Sanjeev Jakhete, Sr. V.P. of Engineering. The new patents have been assigned to Ecosphere Technologies Inc. (ESPH). Dennis McGuire stated, “This is great news for Ecosphere. Having our patents approved so decisively in such a short time by the U.S. Patent Office quantifies the importance of our technology here in the U.S. for the sustainable development of our own energy reserves.”

McGuire further commented, “Through our majority owned subsidiary Ecosphere Energy Services, we will continue to expand our ‘Total Frac Water Management’ services in the natural gas and offshore energy industries, both domestically and internationally. Our EcosFrac, EcosBrine, and EcosStim technologies enable natural gas and oil exploration companies to eliminate scaling in their frac waters, reduce well completion costs, recycle their frac and flowback waters, and improve the reservoir performance while eliminating liquid biocides or chemicals that need to be removed from the water when it flows back. This solves a major energy industry challenge and opens up an enormous opportunity for Ecosphere worldwide.”

In December 2009, the company filed two patent pending applications under the new USPTO’s Green Tech Fast Track program. The goal of the USPTO’s new patent program was to shave as much as one year off the process, which now takes an average of 30 months for an initial action from the USPTO and 40 months for a final decision. Ecosphere Technologies is one of the early Clean Tech companies to benefit from this program as well as to have patents approved under this program to aid the energy exploration companies to eliminate chemicals from their fracturing and stimulation process.

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Energy Secretary Steven Chu made the original announcement for the Green Tech Fast Track program this past December. Secretary Locke stated, “American competitiveness depends on innovation and innovation depends on creative Americans developing new technology. Every day an important green tech innovation is hindered from coming to market is another day we harm our planet and another day lost in creating green businesses and green jobs.”

This is because nuclear plant construction all over the world stands shelved for nearly 20 years and thus collaborations between experienced and less experienced nuclear operators are necessary to bring new nuclear operators upto speed, adds the Paper.

The Paper known as “Nuclear Energy Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: Best Practices” and to be released shortly, however, adds that in order to bring together know-how of experienced nuclear countries with those of plenty of industrial and human resources of new nuclear countries, collaborative approach would pave ways for forging durable and longer nuclear alliances.

Therefore, new and existing nuclear countries need to reinvigorate or to create an industrial network by establishing a map of critical competencies and decide what should be provided at national or local level and what could be imported. The new and existing nuclear countries need to identify gaps and create the right incentive to bridge those gaps, say the Paper of ASSOCHAM and Capgemini.

It further emphasizes that aging workforce is a major issue in existing nuclear countries. Vendors and operators need to massively recruit engineers to replace baby bombers retiring to meet the growing demand.

Nuclear energy institutions need to be created or boosted and research related to safe and long term disposal of nuclear wastes for long life time radioactive elements transmutation.

The Paper on issue of pre-requisites for a sustained nuclear renaissance, however, says that it needs to be put in place through world wide collaborations so that these turn nuclear generation programme into success.

Nuclear plants construction carries multi-dimensional risk. In addition, the nuclear industry has some unique and especially stringent requirements to comply with. Capabilities to meet these requirements are prerequisites for industry to succeed.

This would need precautionary steps such as effective nuclear non proliferation control, stringent safety management, ensure nuclear energy financial competitiveness and master exceptionally long project life times and large investments. In addition, smooth industrial ramp up, competent human resources and public opinion acceptance would also be needed.

New nuclear countries will need to establish the right safety structure with right governance and trained future collaborations. Existing nuclear countries will need to re-inforce their safety authority staff for which an action plan of human resources would have to be launched.

On the issue of multi faceted risks of nuclear plants, the Paper points out that construction of nuclear plant costs a few billion dollars and it’s lifetime extends to 60 years or more. Construction time would include close to 10 years including several years needed to get clearance on regulatory requirements. Other risks would include technical complexities, contractual or environmental concerns, complex and volatile regulatory environment, suppliers, scalability, skilled human resource scarcity and local communities opposition etc.

Risk limitations for nuclear operators would involve careful planning, role and responsibilities definition, clear contractual arrangements, regular multi risk assessment, best practices implementation and other risks are beyond the capability of nuclear operators alone.

“We look forward to utilizing a world-class drillship with superior ultra-deepwater technology in the Turkish Black Sea”

Elwyn Griffiths, vice president, ExxonMobil Exploration Company, announced plans for the Deepwater Champion during a speech today at the annual 9th Turkish Oil and Gas Showcase and Conference in Ankara.

“We look forward to utilizing a world-class drillship with superior ultra-deepwater technology in the Turkish Black Sea,” Griffiths said.

Drew Goodbread, ExxonMobil Turkey general manager in Ankara, said the Deepwater Champion is currently under construction at the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. It is expected to drill its first well in the Turkish Black Sea in the first half of 2011.

Goodbread said the Deepwater Champion is a sixth-generation drillship capable of drilling to 12,190 meters (40,000 feet) in up to 3,660 meters (12,000 feet) of water.

The vessel’s drilling derrick contains two drilling stations capable of a variety of simultaneous operations to improve efficiency.

The derrick has two removable sections for more efficient transit under the bridges spanning the Bosphorus Strait at Istanbul. The double-hulled vessel is self-propelled and capable of holding its position in open water in nine meter (30 feet) waves and 60 knot (70 miles per hour) winds.

ExxonMobil entered into an agreement with the Turkish national oil company TPAO in November 2008 to jointly explore deepwater prospects in the Samsun block of AR/TPO/3922 exploration license and the eastern portion of AR/TPO/3921 exploration license in the Black Sea. In January 2010, ExxonMobil signed an agreement with Petrobras and TPAO to acquire a 25 percent interest in the Sinop, Ayancik and Çarşamba sub-blocks of the AR/TPO/3922 exploration license.

The mill would produce in its initial phase up to 250,000t per year of rebars from locally sourced scrap and require investment of USD 100m to USD 130m, jointly subscribed by ArcelorMittal and Dayen.

Construction is planned to start in the second quarter of 2010 and production is planned to commence early in Q4 2011. Production could eventually increase to 500,000t per year.

“There are many opportunities for ArcelorMittal to assist in the development of the country,” said Christophe Cornier, member of the Group Management Board. “There is great demand for steel products for the local construction industry, which we aim to meet, working closely with our partner Dayen and the local government in Northern Iraq”.

RFMD is a pioneer in compound semiconductor manufacturing with a proven ability to commercialize new technologies. On July 1, 2009, RFMD announced it had entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to develop a commercially viable and high volume-capable compound semiconductor-based process for high-performance multijunction PV cells.

NREL Director Dan Arvizu said, “NREL’s collaboration with RFMD demonstrates our commitment to developing the best technologies for renewable energy and aligning with the most capable partners to commercialize and deploy each technology. We applaud RFMD’s successful achievement of this first technical performance milestone.”

Bob Bruggeworth, president and CEO of RFMD, said, “By combining NREL’s technology leadership and decades of research with RFMD’s industry-leading cost structure and technical expertise in commercializing high-performance, reliability-proven compound semiconductors, we are accelerating the commercialization of a next-generation process technology that promises the solar industry’s lowest cost, highest-performance PV cells.”

Alfonso Velosa, Research Director, Semiconductors, Gartner, said, “The semiconductor industry continues to demonstrate its ability to innovate and produce lower cost products that enable nascent industries to emerge. Semiconductor firms have the potential to change the dynamics in the concentrated PV market, since they may be able to produce low cost, high efficiency solar cells on their existing, depreciated equipment and robust manufacturing processes. Within a few years the concentrated PV market may be able to deliver large volumes of renewable electricity, based in part on obtaining large volumes of high quality — yet low cost — solar cells, from ‘bankable’ manufacturers.”

RFMD achieved this PV cell milestone in the Foundation Phase of the agreement, during which the capability to manufacture basic PV cells at RFMD’s manufacturing facilities is being established. After the Foundation Phase, a Technology Demonstration Phase will begin, during which PV cells leveraging NREL’s IP and technology will be fabricated at RFMD’s manufacturing facilities. The final phase of the agreement is the Production Readiness Phase, during which RFMD’s high-volume, six-inch fabs will demonstrate high-performance PV cells with high yields, high reliability, high reproducibility and low cost.

The successful execution of RFMD’s multi-year agreement with NREL is expected to result in the high-volume production of PV cells in RFMD’s fabs as early as calendar year 2012, using technology capable of best-in-class solar cell conversion efficiency. NREL’s technology has demonstrated one of the world’s highest reported solar cell conversion efficiencies, at 40.8 percent, and continued substantial improvements in efficiency are anticipated.

“Safety is our number-one goal, and we are committed to ensuring the structural integrity of the equipment before restarting the plant,” said Barry Allen, Davis-Besse site vice president. “We have begun a comprehensive investigation to determine the underlying cause, and have secured nuclear contractor AREVA to make the repairs.”

Repairs will be made using a proven industry method and thorough testing following the repair of each nozzle will be conducted to ensure safe, reliable plant operations.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has been notified, along with federal, state and local officials.

Davis-Besse’s reactor vessel head – which was unused when it was acquired from a partially completed nuclear power plant in Midland, Michigan – was installed in 2002. The plant has operated safely and reliably since restarting in 2004.

The refueling outage at Davis-Besse began February 28, 2010. During the outage, 76 of the 177 fuel assemblies are being exchanged and numerous safety inspections conducted. Refueling and other scheduled maintenance work continues. The impact to the outage schedule of the repair work has not yet been determined.

Davis-Besse is part of FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company, a subsidiary of Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corp. ( FE).

The project was acquired from and will be built by Tempe, Ariz.-based First Solar, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of thin film solar modules.

“Expanding the role renewables play in our energy mix is a priority for Southern Company,” said Ratcliffe. “Renewables, along with new nuclear, increased energy efficiency, cleaner coal technology and additional natural gas, all will be crucial to meeting this nation’s growing energy demand.”

“It is great that large-scale solar photovoltaic power generation is becoming a reality in the United States,” said Turner. “Southern Turner Renewable Energy is excited to develop and own this project and we look forward to generating clean renewable energy in New Mexico.”

The Southern Turner Cimarron I Solar Project is adjacent to Turner’s Vermejo Park Ranch in northern New Mexico. First Solar is the contractor for both engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and operation and maintenance for the facility.

“The Cimarron I project is yet another example of First Solar’s capability to realize utility-scale solar projects,” said Rob Gillette, First Solar chief executive officer. “Combining the required technology, manufacturing, project development and EPC expertise enables First Solar to be a leader in sustainable energy development.”

Construction of the solar array will begin this month with completion and commercial operation expected by year end 2010. It will consist of approximately 500,000 2′x 4′ photovoltaic modules constructed with First Solar’s patented thin film semiconductor technology.

PV modules generate electricity directly from sunlight through an electronic process that occurs naturally in certain types of material, known as semiconductors. Solar energy frees electrons in these materials to travel through an electrical circuit, powering devices or sending electricity to the grid.

Electricity generated by the plant will serve a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, a not-for-profit wholesale power supplier to 44 electric cooperatives serving 1.4 million customers across Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. With the plant’s output covered by a long-term contract, the Cimarron I Solar Project is a natural fit with Southern Company’s overall business strategy and risk profile.

Turner Renewable Energy is wholly owned by Ted Turner. Turner Enterprises, Inc. (TEI), a private company, manages the business interests, land holdings and investments of Ted Turner, including the oversight of two million acres in 12 states and in Argentina, and more than 50,000 bison head.

Bergteamet AB has been engaged as sub-contractor, and this company will produce approximately 160 000 tonnes of crude ore with sub-level caving from a level of 162 metres in the Ströms ore. The campaign got underway in the early part of the year with the drilling phase. The mining itself is due to start shortly.

A temporary processing plant has been established outside the entrance down to the Ströms ore. Magnetic separation takes place in the existing plant which was set up during the autumn campaign. Hallstaviks Schakt AB is the contractor for the processing chain through to the port transport.

The finished products will then be gradually moved to Hargshamn for shipment to steelwork customers. MLT (Mellansvenska Logistiktransporter AB) is responsible for transportation.

The entire mining and processing operation is expected to run from the middle of March until June, with gradual deliveries to specific customers.

Approximately 9,000 tonnes of iron ore products were delivered to Austrian steel company Voestalpine last year. Final testing is in progress and an overall evaluation of the blast furnace tests will be made shortly, after which negotiations on long-term supply agreements are expected to begin.

Christensen Saudi Arabia Limited, an affiliate of Baker Hughes Incorporated, awarded the two-year contract to Xtreme (Luxembourg) S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xtreme Coil. It is expected that, on or before March 31, 2010, Xtreme Coil Drilling Saudi Arabia Limited, a newly created joint venture owned 80 percent by Xtreme (Luxembourg) S.A. and 20 percent by Shoaibi Group, will be assigned this contract after the remainder of the joint venture details are finalized.

The long-term contract requires two fit-for-purpose drilling rigs to perform under balanced coiled tubing drilling on re-entry wells in the natural gas fields located in southern Saudi Arabia. The parties expect the first of the two rigs under contract to commence drilling early 2010 2Q. The two-rig contract has an option for an extension of one year as well as the potential to increase the number of rigs deployed.

Xtreme Coil has been advised the project involves re-entering existing wells and drilling horizontally into untapped reservoirs which are critical to overall reserves recovery. The target wells are deep and technically challenging, have multi-lateral well profiles and require under balanced drilling.

President of Baker Hughes Integrated Operations, Russell M. McNicoll, commented, “Baker Hughes is extremely pleased to work with Xtreme Coil to deliver a fully integrated suite of drilling services utilizing the technology of the XTC 200DTR(PLUS) series rigs. Together, we anticipate delivering a value-adding service to our coiled tubing drilling re-entry project.”

Xtreme Coil Drilling Corp. and its affiliates also announced a collaboration between Xtreme Coil and Suhayl Abdul Mohsin Al Shoaibi & Sons Holding Company Limited and its affiliates (“Shoaibi Group”) related to developing new business in the Middle East and North Africa (“MENA”).

This business collaboration will guide the creation of joint venture companies to promote and provide certain Xtreme Coil contract drilling services and products through Shoaibi Group’s strong operations and market expertise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“Saudi Arabia”) and Algeria targeting national oil companies and their global affiliates as well as to other companies operating in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Algeria. Xtreme Coil will own 80 percent and Shoaibi Group will own 20 percent of the new companies.

Xtreme Coil and Shoaibi Group announced the formation of the first joint venture, Xtreme Coil Drilling Saudi Arabia Ltd. The parties to the joint venture agree to work on an exclusive basis to provide mutual benefit by introducing and engaging Xtreme Coil’s contract drilling services to exploit current and future opportunities with respect to oil and natural gas development projects in Saudi Arabia. The joint venture addresses a number of principles regarding structure of the new companies, funding and accounting, governance, change of control, technology licensing, services related to drilling equipment, potential drilling contracts and performance criteria, timetables, confidentiality, and compliance, among other business matters.

Both parties to the joint venture have agreed to provide their proportionate share of funding on a project-by-project basis and Xtreme Coil Drilling Saudi Arabia Ltd. is establishing an office in Saudi Arabia to support rig mobilization and ongoing operations in that country. Pre-existing joint venture arrangements involving Xtreme Coil will not be affected by the terms of this joint venture.