 The MMS Technology Assessment & Research
(TA&R) Program maintains
relationships with several additional countries, besides those listed at the left.
Brazil
Brazil, through Petrobras, has participated with MMS on
several joint industry projects and on international workshops. A
representative of the TA&R Branch participated in the 8th
International Conference on Deep Offshore Technology held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and
gave a keynote address entitled "Developing Technologies for Deep Water Oil
and Gas Operations." Petrobras was a sponsor of project “Deep Spill” a
laboratory and modeling effort to improve our understanding of the transport
and fate of oil and gas during a deep water blow out. MMS is also working
on a project to assess New Touch-Down Zone Solutions for Steel Catenary
Risers (SCRs) with Brazil.
France
The TA&R Program has been active with the
French, mainly through Total and Elf participation in joint industry
research projects and international workshops. MMS is working on a project
to assess New Touch-Down Zone Solutions for Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs)
with France.
Germany
The
TA&R Program contacts with Germany have been through GKSS participation in
the welding workshops and JIP's with Petrobras to develop deepwater pipeline
repair methods. Two phases of the in the
Mechanical Oil Recovery in Ice Infested Waters (MORICE) Program, initiated
to develop technologies for the effective recovery of oil spills in ice
infested waters were conducted in the Arctic Environmental Test Tank at the
Hamburg Ship Model Basin.
Japan
The Japan National Oil Company has participated in several joint research
projects on the fatigue of high strength steels that the TA&R Program
initiated at Florida Atlantic University. The Japan Ministry of Mine Safety
and Environmental Protection, under which offshore oil and gas are
regulated, is a member of the International Committee on Regulatory
Authority Research and Development (ICRARD). A member of the TA&R Branch is
also a member of the United National Japanese Research (UNJR) Panel on Wind
and Seismic Effects and chairs the task group on wind and earthquake
engineering for offshore and coastal facilities. Two joint workshops have
occurred under the sponsorship of this task group. Several different
industry groups involved in oil spill response research have toured Ohmsett
– The National Oil Spill Response Test Facility in Leonardo, NJ. MMS is also
working on a Safe Design of Hot On-Bottom Pipelines.
Mexico
The
TA&R Branch has been working on developing a cooperative program with PEMEX
and Instituto Mexicano del Petroleo (IMP) to do joint research on the safety
of offshore facilities as a result of hurricane or earthquakes. Members of
the TA&R Branch traveled as part of a delegation to Mexico to present
information from the TA&R program and to initiate joint research programs.
Russia
At the
request of MMS, a Russian delegation composed of six ice mechanics and
modeling experts participated in the TA&R-sponsored Sea Ice Mechanics and
Arctic Modeling Workshop held in Anchorage, Alaska. Through this effort the
Russians are jointly participating in the pipeline scour project
co-sponsored by the TA&R Program at the Centre for Cold Regions Research and
Engineering in St. John's, Newfoundland. A representative of the TA&R
Branch also participated in the International Meeting on the Development of
the Russian Arctic held in St. Petersburg, Russia, and made a presentation
entitled, "Integrity of Arctic Offshore Pipelines." Several different
industry groups involved in oil spill response research have toured Ohmsett
– The National Oil Spill Response Test Facility in Leonardo, NJ.
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