Black Elk Energy and ES&H Announce Project to Proactively Protect Platforms during Hurricane Season
Submitted by: Advertas, LLC
2011-08-10 00:08:44
Houston, TX (OPENPRESS) August 10, 2011 -- Black Elk Energy, LLC, an independent oil and gas company, announced today a proactive project with ES&H Consulting & Training Group to strategically place waterproof sensors on each platform. The sensors emit a continuous location signal that is used as a tracking device. If the sensor becomes submerged or is damaged, as it might in hurricane conditions, the signal is then lost, suggesting damage to the structure and thus a possible environmental impact. This would alert ES&H Consulting & Training Group and Black Elk Energy to quickly investigate the incident, enabling a more effective management response. Black Elk Energy is currently 50% deployed with the remainder to be installed within the next 45 days.
The units are manufactured by ESSI Corporation and utilize low earth orbit satellites (LEO) and transmit on L-band frequencies, providing excellent rain fade performance. The systems send a small data packet with location information, battery status, etc., every four hours as long as there is a clear line of sight to the sky. If no signal is received, resources can be concentrated within 4 hours' passage of a storm. The lithium ion batteries last an entire hurricane season and are field serviceable.
"We understand the importance of being prepared for what may come with hurricane season," says John Hoffman, CEO of Black Elk Energy. "This new technical measure will aid in the overall tracking and management of our platforms in the Gulf. Black Elk Energy maintains an intranet site that provides a gulf-wide view of each of our platforms, which indicates a green symbol for every structure that's operating normally."
"We commend Black Elk Energy for initiating a proactive measure for their platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, just in time for hurricane season," says Kevin Voisin, Vice President/Partner of ES&H Consulting & Training Group. "We believe this project proves Black Elk's commitment to the environment and certainly demonstrates their efforts in going above and beyond industry standards to diligently monitor the integrity of their platforms."
About Black Elk Energy
Black Elk Energy, LLC (www.blackelkenergy.com) is an independent oil and gas company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Black Elk Energy's seasoned industry executives have extensive exploitation experience and knowledge with a unique demonstrated track record of increasing reserves and production while lowering costs. Black Elk pursues properties in areas that meet defined investment criteria and that are under-capitalized. Our Team of professionals is dedicated to performing to the highest industry standards, operating within and beyond the requirements of the government, and maintaining its stance as a good corporate citizen.
About ES&H
The ES&H Consulting & Training Group provides competent regulatory assistance and solutions to our clients' environmental needs. Our consultants have decades of education and experience in the private and public sectors—including managing regulatory and compliance issues relating to the United States Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of Transportation, and state regulatory agencies nationwide. Our core objective is centralized on aiding clients during environmental emergencies. Our Spill/Emergency Management Team will be there immediately to assess the environmental impact, manage the cleanup process, and handle the necessary regulations triggered by the incident, utilizing the National Inter-Agency Incident Command System.
