Scientists at Lehigh University are proposing modeling wind turbine blades on owls’ wings to mimic their stealth properties. “If the noise-reduction mechanism of the owl down can be established, there may be far-reaching implications to the design of novel sound-absorbing liners, the use of flexible roughness to affect trailing-edge noise and vibrations for aircraft and wind turbines, and the mitigation of underwater noise from naval vessels.” [io9]

Noble Energy has pushed back the timeline for its Leviathan gas project offshore Israel, citing “an ‘incredibly lengthy’ national process to set natural gas export policy”. [Fuel Fix]

Oilfield services firm Weatherford has agreed to pay more than $250 million relating to US allegations that the company bribed Congolese and Iraqi officials and violated US sanctions targeting Iran, Syria and Cuba. [Bloomberg]