Page 49: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q4 2015)

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REGIONAL FOCUS: U.S. GULF COAST

The Port Commission itself is doing some expansion, and several companies, including Halliburton, Schlumberger, “

Ecoserv and Bollinger, are building out facilities. We’re continuing to grow. All our available property is leased or is under right of ? rst refusal – meaning if a company is interested in a property, and before someone else can lease it, they have the right to say if they want to commit or not.

– Chett Chiasson ”

Region’s Oil and Gas Jobs:

Executive director of a 2017 Rebound?

the Greater Lafourche “We look for Lafourche and Terre-

Port Commission bonne Parishes to add to oil and gas jobs in 2017,” Scott said. His ? rm is Loren C.

Scott & Associates, Inc. in Baton Rouge. required by companies employing at “U.S. oil production probably peaked least 50 workers at a single site, or at three months ago,” he said in October. least 100 employees overall. Separate- “We anticipate gradual improvement ly, Houston-based Hercules Offshore, in crude oil prices, with a rise to $55 a which operates jackup rigs and work barrel in 2016 and $60 in 2017.” Crude boats and provides transit to Louisiana’s hovered below $47 in late October.

offshore platforms, posted a WARN no- While some offshore Gulf workers tice on Sept. 22, terminating 50 workers have lost their jobs and others have had in Fourchon and Cameron, LA. By last their hours cut, they’ve been less af- summer, Hercules had “cold stacked” fected overall than onshore workers, over half of it 20 rigs in the Gulf, mean- particularly oil-service staff, Scott said. ing they were shut and left largely un- Late last year and this year, service com- manned. By late October, the company panies Schlumberger, Baker Hughes had slashed its entire staff by about 40 and Halliburton announced huge job percent. And in October, its stock was cuts, including many in Louisiana.

de-listed by NASDAQ for failing to But big oil companies remain commit- meet exchange requirements. ted to their deepwater projects in Louisi-

Elsewhere, in St. Tammany Parish just ana, Scott said. In December, California- north of New Orleans, Texas-based Trin- based Chevron started production at its ity Marine Products ? led a WARN notice $7.5 billion Jack-St. Malo platform, 280 on Oct. 5, saying 336 workers would be miles south of New Orleans. In January, cut by year’s end as its barge-fabrication BP said its Port Fourchon base contin- yard in Madisonville, La. is shut. ues to supply the company’s Atlantis, www.maritimeprofessional.com Maritime Professional 49| | 34-49 Q4 MP2015.indd 49 11/18/2015 9:47:28 AM