MEMBER NEWS
SPEX Secures Contract SPEX Group, an Aberdeen-headquartered provider of innovative technology solutions and services to the global oil and gas industry, has secured a further multi-million dollar contract with Shell for the development of a subsea tool. The revolutionary Emergency Severance Tool (EST) is due to undergo final field tests in the Gulf of Mexico later this year. SPEX plans to make the tool commercially available in 2014. The EST operates at depths up to 10,000ft, and forms an integral part of the drilling riser the large diameter pipe that connects the rig to the seabed. The EST is positioned just above the blow-out preventer (BOP). All drilling wells feature BOP safety valves, but there is a limit to their shearing capacity, and they are often unable to shear through large diameter of heavy-walled items being run into the well – items the industry has termed nonshearables. If there is an uncontrolled event, similar to the Macondo incident, the EST is trigged and will sever the non–shearable item that is otherwise obstructing the BOP, allowing the severed drillstring to fall into the well, and enabling the BOP to safely close and seal. As well as fully designing, manufacturing and testing the EST on behalf of Shell Houston, once the product is commercial, SPEX is licensed to manufacture, sell and service the EST on a global basis. The Aberdeen-headquartered company has invested significantly to expand its engineering
and technology innovation capability to partner with clients to develop and deliver the next generation of smart tools that solve some of the industry’s biggest problems. The EST is one of a number of innovative projects SPEX is currently working on. Chief Operating Officer Nadir Mahjoub said: “Shell looked to us for a solution to further reduce risk offshore and help safeguard the environment if there was an incident. Our team came up with the EST. “It is one of a number of innovative projects SPEX is working on at present and has been taken from concept trial to field trials in little more than two years. Because we have exceptional people, equipment and infrastructure all under the one roof, we can work extremely quickly to help solve client problems and challenges.’’ The SPEX Group aligns with clients to develop turnkey solutions for their technology problems or challenges. It comprises three key business areas – Engineering & Technology Innovation (ETI), Production & Fabrication and Field Services – working with clients including both major oil & gas operators and service companies. www.spexservices.com
Other game-changing products being developed with Shell are: Collapsible Insert Device (CID) - the CID forms part of the well casing and uses propellant to collapse a liner sleeve to significantly reduce the uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons in the worstcase event that the wellhead or BOP is damaged or breached. Riser Severance Tool (RST) - an ROV or surface deployed tool that uses explosive technologies to sever the complete riser in the event that the rig unexpectedly drifts. By severing the riser, the rig can move off-station without causing damage to the subsea BOP or wellhead, thus ensuring the well can be safely and quickly brought back under control.
Squibb Group Squibb Group started work in the Oil & Gas/Petrochemical industry in the 1970’s at the Thames hinterland refineries of Coryton, Shellhaven and Canvey Island, eventually becoming a “partner” to Mobil Oil. Amongst some of the major projects undertaken was the demolition of a Catalytic Cracker Column, executed using a Tower Crane. Squibb Group were recognised as the first
contractor to utilise such a crane on a project of this nature and were widely acknowledged for such an innovative approach. As a natural progression Squibb started to look at the forthcoming opportunities for decommissioning offshore and initially on behalf of Kinsail, carried out feasibility studies covering the removal of several gas platforms in the South Irish Sea. Having extended its services into the Nuclear Industry, Squibb Group have recently been awarded a prestigious framework agreement with Magnox for the decontamination and de-plant at various Nuclear Installations across the UK. This provides further evidence of Squibb’s commitment to ensuring the safe decontamination and
demolition of complex installations in hazardous industries. Utilising a wealth of onshore experience, Squibb Group are committed to developing technically innovative solutions for the proposed decommissioning of UK offshore installations, with a particular focus on addressing environmental concerns, health & safety of personnel and costs. Having established a formidable reputation as one of the premier demolition contractors in its native United Kingdom, Squibb Group has evolved to become a major global force across the controlled demolition and dismantling sectors, taking its knowledge and experience across Europe and into the Middle East regions. squibbgroup.com
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