Black Elk Energy Boosts Off-shore Safety and Production Efficiency with Hughes Maritime Broadband Solution

GERMANTOWN, Md., July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston-based oil and gas company, Black Elk Energy, is upgrading its off-shore communications capabilities with a fully managed broadband satellite solution from Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) to improve the safety, efficiency, and profitability of its Gulf of Mexico operations. Hughes, the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, and Environmental & Safety Systems International (ESSI) Corporation, are equipping Black Elk-operated production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico with HX broadband satellite routers and providing high-speed Internet, SCADA(1), Wi-Fi, Fax, and VHF radio backhaul services.

Black Elk Energy is an ecologically-minded company with a distinctly different structure from its competitors, focusing on clean-burning natural gas. It continuously goes above and beyond regulatory requirements and seeks out new technologies to ensure the health and safety of its team and the environment, all while improving its production efficiencies.

"Fast and reliable communications services keep us continuously connected to our platforms and their critical field data. That translates into a safer work environment and more efficient production for us and our partners," said David Cantu, vice president of IT at Black Elk Energy. "After weeks of testing, the Hughes Maritime Broadband solution proved to be the answer to provide the high-bandwidth performance and non-stop availability to meet these needs."

The Hughes Maritime Broadband solution provides a highly reliable network infrastructure for remote communications, real-time monitoring, compliance reporting, emergency response, and a host of other platform-to-shore applications.

"We are proud that Black Elk Energy has chosen our comprehensive Hughes Maritime solution for its platform communications needs," said Vinod Shukla, senior vice president, International at Hughes. "Discerning IT directors are now recognizing the inherent advantages of working with a leading broadband service company that also designs and manufactures its own satellite products, ensuring the best of both."

"ESSI is very pleased to have won this high visibility account against the most competitive service providers in this market," said Kim Adams, president of ESSI Corporation. "Black Elk's stringent technical requirements and demanding standards represent the kind of customer ESSI services best. We look forward to a long and successful relationship with Black Elk."

The Black Elk business model requires highly reliable communications to support automated systems that increase operational efficiencies. Hughes Maritime Broadband achieves the highest reliability available by employing advanced technologies that mitigate rain fade, ensure bandwidth availability, and increase the efficiency of the overall network. With the use of flexible bandwidth options and the help of ESSI's SCADA Division, Black Elk will take advantage of the system's flexibility and integrated SCADA communications capabilities, as well. The end result will be a highly efficient network infrastructure, from which Black Elk will gain maximum flexibility and competitive advantage.    

About Black Elk Energy

Black Elk Energy, LLC is an independent oil and gas company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Founded by seasoned industry executives, the company is dedicated to creating exceptional returns in oil and gas through acquisition and exploration. Black Elk Energy has a distinctly different structure with a focus on North American clean burning natural gas.

About ESSI

Environmental & Safety Systems International Corporation (ESSI), founded in 1991, is a global leader in the manufacturing, integration and fulfillment of Navigational Aids, SCADA, Fire, Smoke and Gas Detection, and Communications systems for the Oil & Gas and Maritime Industries.  ESSI's unique and patented GPS-enabled smart buoys and FaradicWave fog horns are deployed for the largest energy companies around the world.  ESSI is headquartered in Broussard, LA, in the heart of the Gulf of Mexico energy corridor.  

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global leader in providing broadband satellite networks and services for large enterprises, governments, small businesses, and consumers. HughesNet® encompasses all broadband solutions and managed services from Hughes, bridging the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies. Its broadband satellite products are based on global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI and ITU standards organizations, including IPoS/DVB-S2, RSM-A and GMR-1. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 2.2 million systems to customers in over 100 countries.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes maintains sales and support offices worldwide. Hughes is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: HUGH). For additional information, please visit www.hughes.com.

©2010 Hughes Network Systems, LLC. Hughes and HughesNet are registered trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC.

(1) Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition

SOURCE Hughes Network Systems