14 minute read
New thinking new technology...
Kaseum develop a new range of electro-mechanical downhole tools designed to improve setting and unsetting of plugs and packers and provide a single run multiple-hole punching system.
K-Set
K-Set is a unique electro-mechanical downhole setting tool, capable of delivering up to 90,000 lbs of linear force which can be used to set, or un-set, plugs and packers in a wide range of tubing and casing sizes. K-Set is suitable for use on any conveyance electric line and coiled tubing.
K-Punch
K-Punch is a modular hole punching tool combinable with K-Set and can be configured to punch single or multiple, oriented holes in a single run. K-Punch can punch holes in a range of tubing and casing sizes from 2-7/8” to 9-5/8”.
• Single punch and Multi-punch • Connects directly to K-Set • Oriented punching
To get in contact visit www.kaseum.com
INTELLIGENT PLANT LTD.
published their latest tool which allows decisions to be made on real-time process and Alarm & Event data in Microsoft Power Automate.
This simple connector can bring real-time process values as well as Alarm and Event (A&E) data together in Power Automate from many different types of industrial historians. Seamlessly integrate plant and corporate data, streamline tasks and share with any colleague on any device, enabling faster, better, real-time decision making.
Data historians are used throughout industry for masslong term storage of time series data.There are a number of Historians on the market with varying popularity but one thing they tend to have in common is their lack of integration options to popular business-level tools such as Microsoft Power Automate. As such, this valuable Operational data is often inaccessible to the business making cross-data analysis with commercial data difficult. Often companies have to develop custom applications which are expensive, difficult to support and can sometimes lead to security issues.
Intelligent Plant developed the Industrial App Store which enables interaction with all the different historian data through a unified API. At the start of April 2020 Intelligent Plant released an official, Microsoft certified Industrial App Store connector for Power Automate. No more hefty SQL queries or Excel document interrogations with no easy real-time update option or complicated architecture solutions, simply install Industrial App Store connect and out of the box you will be able to connect to Aspentech IP.21, OSIsoft PI, Honeywell Dynamo, Siemens and many more via OPC DA & HDA.
This allows our customers to bring data from various sources into Microsoft Automate flows to deliver insights that weren’t possible before. Real-time updates prompt money-saving decisions by engineers that also increase plant safety and efficiency.
STARLEAF - SECURE REMOTE WORKING
Five key questions you must ask your video meetings provider.
As the world moves to remote working, organisations of all sizes are choosing video meetings to improve collaboration and help people work (and be part of the team) from wherever they are.
But as the use of video meetings has grown, so have concerns about the security of the solutions in use.
Most organisations need, and expect, secure remote working solutions. Whether it’s a healthcare or financial organisation using video meetings with their service users, or internal comms between offices, your data is important, and private. There are two ways to secure technology solutions: build and then secure, or secure by design. At StarLeaf, we’ve built our video meeting products with security at the core, not as an afterthought. And here are 5 questions to ask of your provider, to see if they have too.
The switch to working from home or remotely has changed our lives in a number of ways. The daily commute is now measured in seconds rather than minutes, and our work outfit has shifted from smart casual to casual. But being away from colleagues creates challenges for communication, collaboration and the feeling of community, which is why organisations of all sizes are using video meetings to overcome these hurdles. But as the use of video meetings has grown, so have concerns about the security of the solutions in use. StarLeaf believe that video conferencing should replicate the office environment as much as possible, and just as you’d want your emails and face-to-face conversations at work to be private, you should rightly expect the same of video calls at home. Whether it’s a healthcare or financial organisation using video meetings with their service users, or internal communications between offices, your data is important, and private.
Is the meeting securely encrypted?
It’s important that meeting data is encrypted, both in transit and at rest, using the latest approved cryptographic methods. This not only includes media streams from video calls, but also recordings and instant messages shared between participants. But security should extend to before the meeting begins. Check that meeting IDs are random and only live when the meeting is live to prevent unwelcome guests. All privacy and meeting controls should be simple to allow users with any level of technical expertise to use video calls securely.
Who owns and runs the platform and services?
If your video conference provider uses a third-party platform, they won’t have as much control of their service. Those who manage their own platform end-to-end can mitigate against, identify and respond to risks more quickly and effectively, providing a more secure experience for users.
What SLA is available, and is it backed by a guarantee?
Platform ownership also has a knock-on effect on service reliability. Most video providers offer 99.9% uptime, without guarantee, which could mean over 8 hours of possible downtime a year. Can you imagine what it would mean for your business if your communications were out all day? As the use of video meetings has grown, so have concerns about the security of the solutions in use.
1 2 3
This is why at StarLeaf, we put security at the core of our product. We know that customers value data privacy and a secure connection. If you’re looking for a video conferencing provider for your business, here are five questions you should ask to see if security is the foundation of their service too. Owning our own platform means StarLeaf can offer an industry leading 99.999% uptime guarantee, which equates to a maximum of 5.5 minutes unplanned downtime in a year. This gives peace of mind to customers that they can rely on us.
Where will my data be held, and how will it be used? 4
Data privacy has risen up the agenda in recent years, and people are naturally concerned about where their data is stored and how it is shared. Data protection laws vary greatly between regions, which means that data jurisdiction matters. Can your service provider assure you that your data will remain under your control, and in your territory?
You also need to make sure that your provider is transparent about other ways your data may be used. Check whether your provider shares your data with external organisations - it’s important to know who has access to your personal data, and where.
What security certification does the provider hold?
In some sectors, complex certification names are used to bamboozle. But in the security arena, they mean that customers can be sure their data is being kept secure. The industry leading security certification is ISO/IEC 27001, and service providers certified to this level have to maintain and abide by a set of very strict policies in order to retain the certification.
This level of certification should give customers confidence that the provider is committed to the highest operational standards for people, processes, suppliers and IT systems, and to transparency in the way they run and secure their solution.
Although we expect many things to return to ‘normal’ when the risks from the coronavirus pandemic recede, we expect people will choose to spend more time working from home or remotely than before the crisis. The shorter commute and more comfortable work attire are just two of the many benefits the public are learning about working remotely.
So as the trend of remote working grows, it’s important that you have the right tools in place now for your teams to communicate safely and securely. Video conferencing has the potential to allow your business to operate seamlessly, whether you’re in the office, at a remote site or in your living room.
INTRINSIX: Power for your people
Arnlea’s Intrinsix software, and IntrinsixEX specifically, is a powerful tool for your people. Here we discuss in more detail its benefits and the value it brings to oil & gas, LNG and other energy businesses, and for other sectors where electrical inspections are critical.
IntrinsixEX uses auto-ID mobile technology to increase compliance and decrease costs in your Ex inspections and maintenance activities. Compliant with IEC 60079 standards and ATEX directives, its benefits can be usefully divided into financial, deployment, user and HSEQ themes to fully appreciate the value IntrinsixEX brings to each partner business that uses it.
HSEQ
Health & Safety are key drivers for any business, none more so than in our industry. By eploying IntrinsixEX, and using it as expected, you’re already ensuring that you or your own client is inspecting hazardous equipment, anything subject to ATEX regulations, in the correct manner.
Our software supports your own HSEQ protocols and ensures that you properly adhere to ATEX because that is how it’s been designed. This also ensures you’re conducting Ex inspections as safely as possible. IntrinsixEX integrates easily with SAP and Maximo, and so it will create inspection reports, management information and an audit trail for any single inspector or piece of equipment. This gives you additional Health & Safety reporting, as required.
User
Intrinsix software has been designed with the end user in mind. Working on Windows or Android devices, the latest versions operate via a user-friendly interface, that has been designed with the user experience in mind. This makes training on the software straightforward. It also creates a sense of familiarity with the software quickly and
easily, freeing up your inspection team to carry out Ex inspections quickly and easily, in a productive, open frame of mind. Typically, their efficiency improves 150%. Tasks are easy to assign and complete, bringing more interest to the role and higher job satisfaction, factors that are known to contribute to your employees’ commitment to your business and health and wellbeing.
Deployment
IntrinsixEX allows more inspections to be performed more quickly, which means that you can reduce the number of inspectors you need offshore at any one time. This brings additional financial and HSEQ benefits. Reducing the number of overall people offshore improves health & safety and also improves the use of both resources and budget.
Financial
The investment in IntrinsixEX improves operational efficiency at all levels of the Ex inspection process. Each inspection period is reduced by up to 50% as a direct result of Arnlea’s in-built Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) strategy. This means your people can be used for other areas of responsibility, bringing additional cost-savings offshore. Equipment is maintained or repaired much more quickly than otherwise, allowing for fewer faults to develop. With a single central location for all data-inputting and recording, teams of people can access that data rapidly. Reporting is uniform and consistent and ultimately that leads to enhanced operational decision-making that assists with driving more value into the business and the reduction of costs.
If we were to summarise the benefits of IntrinsixEX to any oil and gas operator or their partners, it has to come down to its ability to deliver greater safety and lower costs for the asset where its deployed. As the Ex inspection software of choice in the North Sea, we work closely will all our clients to create bespoke solutions that suit each particular customer’s own requirements. Our software is flexible enough to be tailored to integrate with the systems you need and deliver the critical processes you value.
To find out more:
• head over to our website - www.arnlea.com to book a demo or download our brochure
• send an email to info@arnlea. com requesting more information
• call +44 1224 620000 and you’ll be put through to someone who can help you
EC-OG set to accelerate subsea clean energy growth with investment from Par Equity
Subsea clean energy specialists EC-OG have received £1.6m from an investment consortium led by Par Equity.
EC-OG will use the funds to support its growth plans, which focus on the exploitation of its innovative Halo battery storage system designed for subsea applications. The investment will create up to 40 jobs in Aberdeen over the next 12 months.
Halo is a modular and scalable Lithium-ion battery storage system designed specifically for the demanding subsea environment. By providing a reliable and uninterrupted power source located directly at the point of use, Halo can reduce reliance on subsea umbilical cables and offer a solution to a number of challenges encountered by subsea operators. Some of these applications include:
• As a remedial power source of brownfield assets suffering from electrical supply problems, such as low IR or subsea connector failure.
• Powering offshore assets as part of a clean energy system, integrating Halo energy storage with marine renewable energy or other remote power systems ideal for long-distance tie-backs and new field extensions.
• A fully rechargeable battery system for resident subsea vehicles, helping to reduce the financial and environmental costs of offshore inspection, repair and maintenance activities. partnership with the British Business Bank. The funds were allocated as part of the Regional Angel Programme, a £75m programme to support some of the fastest growing technology companies across the Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England and is designed to provide early stage capital to smaller businesses with high growth potential.
Richard Knox, Managing Director of EC-OG commented: “This investment comes at a perfect time for EC-OG as we prepare for widespread commercialisation. In particular, the sharp drop in the price of oil means our target customers are increasingly looking for new technology to cut costs, which is a key selling point for us.
“Par Equity has understood the capability of the EC-OG team, and the technology, to enable a transition to clean, cost competitive energy in the emerging subsea clean energy market. The new funds will allow us to accelerate scale-up of our automated battery manufacturing capability, significantly reduce the time from order to deployment and ensure we maintain excellent service support as the business grows.”
Par Equity, a venture capital firm based in Edinburgh that specialises in investing in innovative technology companies, was joined by existing investors, Orchard Venture Capital and Scottish Investment Bank. Simmons Energy, a division of Piper Sandler, acted as exclusive corporate finance adviser to EC-OG throughout the investment process and will continue to support it with future corporate activity. EC-OG joins Par’s portfolio of nearly 40 companies, which includes emerging stars such as Current Health, a leading Edinburgh-based remote-patient monitoring platform; BrainwaveBank, the Belfast-based creator of a wearable headset device for EEG brain scanning that measures the mechanisms underpinning neurological disorders and therapies; and NPT, a Middlesbrough-based cleantech company with a patented process to convert nonfood plant residue into biofuels and chemicals.
In preparation for the expected growth in the use of large-scale subsea energy storage technology, EC-OG has recently undertaken a significant upgrade of its battery manufacturing capabilities at its Aberdeen facility. CNC battery cell welding equipment and automated battery module test systems have been installed, enabling a significant reduction in the lead time of the Halo energy system whilst maintaining high levels of quality & reliability. The investment deal between in EC-OG and Par Equity is the first that has made since Par Equity’s recent
RICHARD KNOX
Paul Munn, Managing Partner of Par Equity said: “We are delighted that EC-OG is our first investment as a fund manager in the Regional Angel Programme. Par Equity is committed to seeking out and supporting the very best in high-growth technology start-ups. Our recent tie-up with the British Business Bank and our wider access to funds through our EIS Fund, Private Investor Network and the Scottish Investment Bank, gives us a breadth of firepower for our portfolio.
EC-OG have invested more than three years into the design and capability of their Halo battery storage system, building it alongside their prospective customers. We’re confident that they will be successful in their growth ambitions and I am delighted that Par Equity can provide the capital they need to turn them into reality.”
Advisers on the deal include Harper Macleod, Simmons Energy, Stronachs, Philip Hare Associates, Burness Paull, Macroberts and Johnston Carmichael.
