Issue #109, 27 June 2003
Hovercraft "could solve wetlands dilemma"
The state of Louisiana in the US and two companies are applying to the federal Department of Energy for a grant to underwrite development and testing of a "hover barge" that could be used both for oil and gas extraction and coastal restoration.
Textron Marine & Land of New Orleans wants to build a commercial version of its Landing Craft Air Cushion, a hovercraft that can carry 75 tons of military equipment over water, marsh or land.
Louisiana is looking for new technology that can extract oil and gas beneath the state's fragile wetlands with the least amount of damage. The state hopes the same technology can be used in rebuilding those wetlands. Levitron, a start-up company based inAbita Springs, is interested in combining the needs.
The result could be a versatile barge that floats above wetlands to reach oil and gas exploration sites without dredging new canals. The vehicle could be used to help plug the thousands of abandoned wells peppered across the state's marshes, and to assist
in the $14 billion federal-state plan to rebuild coastal wetlands.
"The opportunities for Louisiana to continue to generate revenue from the oil and gas business still exist," said David Boulet, director of oil and gas development for the state Department of Economic Development. "But the barriers to development of oiland gas in areas that are inaccessible by current technology is what this solution addresses."
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