Offshore staff

HOUSTON -- RigNet Inc. is expanding its Secure Oil Information Link (SOIL) to Houston, Texas. The new network node in Houston will connect to SOIL nodes in Stavanger, Norway and Aberdeen, Scotland. This will create the first-ever global partner network for the oil and gas industry, according to RigNet.

The SOIL network allows oil and gas companies to communicate with partners, service companies, and suppliers through a secure, member's-only network. It was expanded to the UK in 2005, creating the first North Sea-wide network, and now has over 240 companies registered in the region.

The new SOIL node in Houston will link to all local and international SOIL nodes. It will support SOIL Meeting, enabling video conferencing between external partner companies using the SOIL network. It also will include SOIL Hosting, a hosting service that facilitates distribution of centrally-hosted applications over the SOIL network.

7/13/2007