Page 7: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Sep/Oct 2020)

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Go Digital ... Now here are, of course, no certainties in todays offshore energy world, as a good many of you reading these pages in print or online are likely emerging from, in the midst of, or heading toward a period of great uncertainty. The wrath of COVID-19 has exacerbated an already

T beaten down offshore oil and gas market, and while conditions in the market can pivot on a dime, (without overstating the obvious) COVID-19 will eventually pass, the world will still need energy – both traditional fossil fuel and renewable from the offshore sector – and the digitalization trend that has been creeping into various sectors of the business will come roaring through the door, full force, as companies effectively reinvent the business model of making money in the offshore energy sector.

As we enter month number eight of working remotely from our offces in New York City, the dearth of travel and meeting clients and colleagues one-on-one, face-to-face has forced us in our small corner of the energy business to improvise and amend our traditional game plan.

Prior to the March 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, I had never heard of ZOOM and when someone requested a ‘video chat’ I’d gracefully opt for the audio-only version unless it was a business mandate.

That, and many other ‘usual ways of doing business’ was fipped on its ear with COVID-19, and my work day generally consists of a minimum of four ZOOM interviews across the offshore energy, subsea, maritime, port and logistics space, interviews that have taken me into the homes and apartments, and even onboard quite a few boats of business leaders across the sector, around the world.

One such interview was with Wenche Nistad, CEO of the Norwegian Export Credit Guarantee

Agency (GIEK) in Oslo, for a discussion on how GIEK is quickly growing it’s book of business in the offshore wind sector. Nistad pulls no punches in here assessment when she says: “The money has disappeared; nobody wants to invest in oil and gas anymore; it’s all about renewable energy.” You can read the story on how GIEK is helping to facilitate the further spread of Norwegian offshore technology around the world, starting on page 16; or you can watch the full video at bit.ly/3nMlekW.

Next stop was Houston and a lengthy interview with Alex Seinuah, the Global Growth Initiatives

Leader – Services & Offshore at Baker Hughes and the leader of Baker Hughes’ Growth Initiatives

Hub. The Baker Hughes name, of course, needs no introduction to this audience, but Seinuah was forthcoming on the organization’s mission to develop and deliver the digital platform that will serve as the hub for energy companies to optimize offshore oil and gas feld performance, cradle to grave. Seinuah and his team are leaving no stone unturned, and starting on page 20 you can read up on how Baker

Hughes looks at digital, specifcally for production optimization, condition monitoring, remote support, smart IMR and asset integrity, helping it to baseline assets and develop felds.

Gregory R. Trauthwein

Editorial Director & Associate Publisher [email protected] t: +1.212.477.6700 • m: +1-516.810.7405

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 OFFSHORE ENGINEER 7