How to design and implement best-practice offshore leak detection systems is the aim of a joint industry project (JIP) launched by 20 industry operators, DNV GL, a ship and offshore classification company, said. The JIP follows several big oil leaks and spills in the offshore, including the Macondo well blowout in 2010. There are leak detection sensors on the market, but they have limited coverage and gaps need to be closed concerning the design, engineering, commissioning and operation, DNV noted. The JIP includes BP plc, Eni SA, GDF Suez, Petroleo Brasilerio (Petrobras) and Lundin Norway. FMC Technologies also is taking part, as are several suppliers.

CB&Iand a U.S. unit of Japan-based Chiyoda Corp. said Monday their joint venture has been awarded a contract to build Sempra Energy’s $6 billion Cameron liquefaction facilities on the Louisiana Gulf coast for exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to global markets later this decade. The scope of the work for Cameron LNG LLC will include engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of three liquefaction trains among other facilities at the Hackberry, LA, site. Sempra last month received a conditional approval from the U.S. Department of Energy to export LNG supplies to non-free trade agreement nations, including markets in Asia and Europe (see Daily GPI, Feb. 11). Senior executives with the EPC joint venture touted their respective histories designing and building major LNG projects. The Cameron project is projected to create 3,000 on-site jobs, along with several hundred jobs at the CB&I fabrication facility and another several hundred engineering/project management jobs at its Baton Rouge offices.