Ethan Fitzgerald
Jalen White
John Pugh
Nicholls State University
Christopher Castille
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Danos has a division of the company dedicated to coastal restoration services. Coastal restoration services have the main focus is to use nature-based solutions to increase shore stability. Danos uses Oyster Break and Cajun Coral systems to support the building back up of natural land mass.
Coastal restoration services have the main focus is to use nature-based solutions to increase shore stability. Coastal researchers indicate that 25-35 square miles of land off the coast of Louisiana is disappearing into the Gulf of Mexico due to coastal erosion. This inspired Danos, Inc to create technology to help the coastline and build back the natural land mass. The company is licensed to manufacture Natrx's Oysterbreak and ExoForm™ "Cajun Coral'' concrete modules strictly for the use in coastal restoration projects across the Gulf South region. Danos uses 3D-printing technology to manufacture the "Cajun Coral".
While the Cajun Coral significantly helps protect the coast, it also gives a benefit to the local community. Fishing is one of the most popular sporting activities in South Louisiana. Many families rely on fishing for a source of food and income. These new Coral Modules can help with the fishing industry. As talked about in the interview with Nick Leblanc, Operations Manager at Danos, the Cajun Coral helps house a lot of the bait fish for trout and red drum, also known as “redfish.” When the tide rolls in, the coral disturbs the water causing the bait fish to stir up, and that’s when the redfish and trout start feeding. This small innovation could help the fishing community catch even more fish and have a better chance.
The Cajun Coral system modules range from 10 to 4000 lbs in weight. It provides variability for a range of bank stabilization and canal closure applications. Also its extremely good weight to surface area ratios reduce sinkage. The Cajun Coral flow through application drops sediments into the pipeline canal instead of eroding it. Oysters grow on the structure making it more robust over time.
Because the business opened up this new market, more jobs have become available. With this new service that Danos is providing, they needed employees to work the machines in Amelia, LA. Also, employee well-being will and has increased, knowing that their employer cares about the community they live in and is actively protecting the land around them. Overall, this innovation benefits Danos because it opens up new opportunities to do work with other local businesses as well as keeping a strong reputation with others by looking out for South Louisiana as a whole.
Oyster Break and Cajun Coral systems have proven to provide a support system in marshland mitigation to assist in building these areas back up with natural land mass. The structures were optimized to allow a controlled flow of water to pass which, in turn, provides a healthy new habitat for oysters. As water flows through the barrier, oysters are nourished and sediments are deposited that encourage new marsh growth, support marine life and provide protection that grows stronger and more resilient over time.
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Nick Leblanc, Operations Manager
Danos, Inc is an oilfield service provider founded in 1947 by Allen Danos Sr. The company provides services onshore and offshore customers an extensive range of integrated services, including: production workforce, fabrication, construction, intelligent integrated materials solutions, project management, coatings, automation, instrumentation and electrical, scaffolding, shore base and logistics, mechanical maintenance, regulatory compliance, power generation, valve and wellhead.