European Oil & Gas Issue 101 Final Edition

issue 101 ď ˇ FINAL

oil&gas european

europeanoilandgas.co.uk f r o m e x p l o r a t i o n t o e n d u s e r

Built to last

Why investing in infrastructure is a lifelong task

High standards Safety and regulation for offshore workers at height Minimising the risks How companies can lower the risks within cloud computing

emergence of the projects, this ISSUE: The technology and procurement division in E&P

Editors Chairman Andrew Schofield Group Managing Director Mike Tulloch

Sales Director David Garner Corporate Advertising Sales David King dking@schofieldpublishing.co.uk Sales Finlay Johnson Head of Research Philip Monument Business Development Manager Mark Cawston Research Managers Natalie Martin Ben Richell Editorial Researchers Ed Hipperson Kieran Shukri Jeff Johnson ­Office Manager Tracy Chynoweth

© 2013 Schofield Publishing Limited all rights reserved 10 Cringleford Business Centre Intwood Road Cringleford Norwich NR4 6AU T: +44 (0) 1603 274130 F: +44 (0) 1603 274131 schofield-media.com please note: The opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers within this publication do not necessarily coincide with those of the editor and publisher. Every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information published is accurate, but no legal responsibility for loss occasioned by the use of such information can be accepted by the publisher. All rights reserved. The contents of the magazine are strictly copyright, the property of Schofield Publishing, and may not be copied, stored in a retrieval system, or reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Over the past

40 years the North Sea has been filled with offshore oil and gas infrastructure, much of which is nearing the end or has already exceeded its original design life. With the decommissioning industry experiencing an enormous surge in activity there is little doubt that the market for abandonment projects for these old platforms is huge.

But, considering the scale of such work is abandonment really the best option? Well, in our lead feature this issue Chris Hamlet of ADIL discusses why lifelong investment and maintenance could be the best option for operators. “It is wellrecognised in the industry that it is much easier and cheaper to maintain a structure than to repair it offshore,” he explains from page four. Of course, in an industry where budgets are scrutinised, structural integrity is often an area that is the first to be cut by eager operations managers, but should that really be the case? Take a read to find out the other options.

As we’re all aware, the dangers of neglecting maintenance can be catastrophic in our sector, which is a theme that is picked up in our second lead feature this issue. Here we are reminded that above all else, complacency is something that should never be allowed to creep into E&P operations.

editors Libbie Hammond & matt high

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Art Editor Gérard Roadley-Battin Advertising Design Jenni Newman Production Manager Fleur Conway Production Administrator Vicky Howes

It is well-recognised in the industry that it is much easier and cheaper to maintain a structure than to repair it offshore”

European oil & gas

Managing Editor Libbie Hammond libbie@schofieldpublishing.co.uk Editor Matt High mhigh@schofieldpublishing.co.uk Staff Writers Kirsty Birkett-Stubbs Jo Cooper Drew Dann Editorial Administrator Emma Harris

1

Regulars

4

Lead feature

Chris Hamlet on why investing in infrastructure is a lifelong commitment

8

IT

How oil and gas companies can minimise the risks within cloud computing

13

News

A look at some of the recent developments within the oil and gas industry

14

Lead feature

18

HSE

24

Technology

While safety has improved, the threat of serious incidents offshore remains

The importance of safety and regulation for offshore workers at height

The emergence of the projects, technology and procurement division in E&P

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

2

4

14

18

Profiles 22 GAC Bunker Fuels 28 Briggs Equipment 30 Apache North Sea 49 Isolated Systems 52 Tata Steel 55 Suretank 57 Fluxys 30 61 VTTI Fujairah Terminals 65 Breman Machinery 68 Favelle Favco 71 Stork Technical Services 79 North Sea Shipping 82 A.Hak International 85 IHC Handling Systems 88 Icon Offshore Berhad 90 NOV Downhole Eurasia 93 ATPC 101 Koso Kent Introl 103 Gulf Petrochem 106 Geokrak 108 Arctic Services Group 110 Prime Drilling 112 Buchan Technical Services 115 Swift Energy 117 Wasco Energy

Contents

71

93

120 BCT 122 Coek Engineering 125 AXTech 127 Technip Benelux 156 130 Floatel International 133 Bibby Maritime 135 Severn Glocon Group 139 STREICHER Drilling Technology 142 Global Hydraulics 145 Forsyths 148 Seagull Marine 151 Kongsberg Maritime 154 Seatrax 156 Det norske oljeselskap 158 ALMACO Group 161 Uvdal Maskinfabrikk 163 Loops Automation

166 AEEIS 169 ProtankGr端p 171 Ocean Rig UDW 174 Oldham Engineering 176 Deep Sea Mooring 178 Marco Polo 181 TME Hydraulics

European oil & gas

130

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

176

3

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Built to last

European oil & gas

Chris Hamlet, operations and improvement manager at ADIL, on why investing in infrastructure is a lifelong task “

4

Below Chris Hamlet, operations and improvement manager at ADIL

O

ver the past 40 years there have been in excess of 300 structures installed in the North Sea on which people work. There are also more than 10,000 km of pipelines, 5000 wells and numerous subsea clusters to facilitate the extraction of oil and gas. This is the result of a huge investment in the North Sea, but represents only a small proportion of the offshore structures that exist around the globe. This oil and gas infrastructure has brought wealth both to the host nations and, in most cases, the oil companies who funded their construction and installation.

It is unlikely that when any one of these structures was built it was contemplated that it would still be operating 40 years later. Typical design lives for installations were 25 years: yet they are still operating today. In the early days of the North Sea the Southern North Sea gas jackets were based upon designs used in the Gulf of Mexico, for

operating conditions vastly different from those seen in the North Sea. But it is a testament to the engineers who designed, installed and cared for this infrastructure that the majority of it is still here, and still capable of operating. Early platforms were generally designed by slide-rule (the days well before computers), to codes that were influenced by experience and designs, which were usually overengineered. By contrast, modern design techniques are much more sophisticated, with large computer models and finite element analysis.

The over-engineering approach adopted in the past, coupled with modern day analysis and design techniques, has allowed engineers to modify, add to and extend the life of these structures in a way that no-one could have imagined in those early days. Indeed, there are several structures for which current and future plans will take them past 50 years in operation.

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Lead one

5

Some structures are, however, being replaced.

For example, ConocoPhillips is investing in new infrastructure for its Norwegian North Sea Ekofisk development, which celebrated 40 years in operation two years ago. There is an expectation that the Ekofisk development will still be in operation in 2050: amounting to 80 years of continuous production.

Eventually even the best designed, maintained and cared for structures will come to the end of their lives. In some cases, like Ekofisk, production is sufficient to justify replacement. But in other cases, future production of the owners will not be sufficient to underpin the capital required to fund replacement or enhancement of the infrastructure.

Unless there is external interest (and funding) from third party neighbouring field owners to keep it alive, it will come to the end of its useful life.

Where a structure or subsea development has reached the

end of its economically useful life it has to be removed. The advantage now turns to the newer platform, which may have had abandonment designed in, and the chances of having complete drawings is higher. Few of the older platforms had abandonment as a consideration, resulting in really challenging projects to remove these structures safely and in the most environmentally responsible way.

The success criteria of an abandonment project are often very different from an installation. These projects are often driven less by schedule and more by the technical challenges, but are, and will be a huge industry for a long time to come.

It is well-recognised in the industry that it is much easier and cheaper to maintain a structure than to repair it offshore.

Typical estimates in terms of cost difference have a large range, but most engineers will accept a ratio of five times more expensive to repair or replace infrastructure than to care for it properly in the first place.

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

6

So why, in some cases, has our infrastructure not been looked after as well as it might have been?

One answer may be that the oil industry has long been inflicted with boom and bust cycles. What areas traditionally get cut first when an operations manager has to reduce his budget for financial reasons rather than technical ones?

Two that immediately spring to mind are crew competency assurance and structural integrity.

The former because the effects are (mostly) not immediately obvious, the latter because integrity programmes are often aimed at providing assurance that nothing is wrong – the maxim being “Why should we spend a lot of money telling us nothing is wrong?”

For infrastructure that has been sold on, the asset integrity history may have been lost or, in the years preceding the sale, the seller has cut budgets to gain better selling economics.

The seller may also have had a diminishing long-term interest during these years in the structure, classing it as little more than an item for sale.

Most of the larger infrastructure was put in the North Sea by companies now classed as ‘Super Majors’ or ‘Majors’. The increase in net present value (NPV) to such companies to be gained from extending the life of large and complex infrastructure is, in the twilight years of the underlying reservoirs, often low down in the priorities of their investment portfolios, especially when any future value needs to come from third party business. The size of third party projects that may make or break many of the smaller

North Sea field owners, just does not hit the radar of the Super Major or Major that currently owns and cares for these structures. Yet if not cared for, they will have to shut down and be removed, potentially stranding the smaller fields. This will choke the investment that the smaller companies can bring and may ultimately result in a loss of income for the country.

So what can the industry do?

Where budget cuts are unavoidable, operators need a tool that will allow them, once all the efficiency savings have been achieved, to assess the long-term impact and costs associated with cutting spend on structural integrity. This will ensure that the focus is on what is important rather than what is obvious or easy. These tools are available.

The major infrastructure owners need some incentive to ensure that significant structural infrastructure (both topsides processing capacity and pipelines) is operated and cared for in a way that makes its utilisation by third parties as attractive as cost cutting. This may be a bigger issue than the industry can solve on its own.

Traditionally, where large investments have been made to renew or upgrade infrastructure they have been justified and funded on the basis of the economics of a single large field or group of fields, where the operators have managed to resolve the difficulties and are investing as a group. No major investment to date has been on the basis of providing infrastructure independent of field ownership - which

anyone can access. A smaller player seeking to tie in to a major existing development can lose a significant proportion of the value in its field in major modifications, high operating costs possibly as a result of someone else’s poor investment decisions, and paying to keep existing infrastructure open.

Alternatively, it may see a development opportunity fail through lack of available infrastructure.

So, has the time come for entrepreneurs to invest in new infrastructure or enhancements to existing infrastructure on the basis of processing and transportation tariffs, not on the basis of reserves? In this way the infrastructure is the asset, with structural integrity becoming an investment, rather than a cost. At the same time the plethora of smaller operators will have an opportunity to access and use this infrastructure at a fair cost that leaves them with value and is not compromised by the infrastructure owner's reserves position.

As an innovative company without any vested interests in North Sea licence equity, ADIL is actively promoting ways of bringing smaller field operators together to create hubs of activity around new independent infrastructure. We believe that without such initiatives much of the remaining volumes still undeveloped in the North Sea may be lost. But we (or others) will only succeed if the smaller players in the North Sea are prepared to co-operate with each other and to have some degree of faith and trust in those who are trying to facilitate such an enterprise.

It is obvious that if an entity’s profits are generated mainly by product sales, its focus will be on this, rather than on

offering services to third parties. If, however, its profits are generated by providing services (in this case the processing and transportation of crude hydrocarbons) the focus will be on providing the service for as long as possible. That brings a focus on operating efficiency and structural integrity, and must be good for everyone.

In the brave new world of the North Sea an offshore oil and gas structure may not be just for one field. It could be a long-term asset for the benefit of all, if its integrity is maintained.

ADIL Chris Hamlet is operations and improvement manager at ADIL, an integrated development and operations management business, providing full field development and operations services to its operator clients. Established in 2006, the company uses tried and tested management tools developed in-house by its experienced personnel. The service offering extends from field appraisal to abandonment and encompasses development and operations management, acquisition support, due diligence and non-operated joint-venture assistance, performance improvement, licence operations management and full supply chain support.

The company is completely independent, owned and funded by its founders and senior staff, and is uniquely positioned to offer impartial services to operators of any size.

For further information please visit: assetdev.com

European oil & gas

Where budget cuts are unavoidable, operators need a tool that will allow them, once all the efficiency savings have been achieved, to assess the long-term impact and costs associated with cutting spend on structural integrity. This will ensure that the focus is on what is important rather than what is obvious or easy. These tools are available

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Lead one

7

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Minimising the

8

Richard Blanford discusses how oil and gas companies can minimise the risks within cloud computing

M

ost organisations have an unnecessarily complex IT infrastructure that has grown organically and limits performance, scalability and the ability to adapt to changing business requirements. Cloud computing promises limitless capacity, almost total flexibility and increased efficiency, as well as moving IT spending from capital costs to predictable operating expenditure. The reasons organisations should consider cloud computing are shown in Figure 1.

However, take-up has been slower than might be expected. Based on industry surveys and Fordway’s own analysis, the main issues limiting the growth of cloud involve the management of risk. A major loss of service such as a data centre failure, security breach or other outage, or even reduced performance, can create significant issues.

Under most public cloud service SLAs, the cloud provider will apologise and refund a proportion of the monthly service fee. The user, on the other hand, is receiving recompense that covers a very small proportion of the disruption, missed business opportunity, effort and cost that they have incurred due to the outage.

The majority of these issues are negated if the organisation re-architects its IT infrastructure as a private cloud serving its users, potentially with specific, low risk elements migrated to publicly available services –

effectively creating a hybrid cloud. This will still need to have and run its own infrastructure, or have a trusted third party run this.

Once the organisation is familiar and comfortable with cloud concepts and practices, it can consider moving more services to public cloud. There are two choices – managed cloud services and ‘vanilla’ cloud (Table 1).

With a vanilla cloud service, a third party provides capacity in its data centre, but the organisation still manages the service itself – which means it needs to have appropriately skilled staff and the time to manage the service effectively.

Vanilla cloud also does not include application specific security or anything tailored to the organisation’s specific needs. Many cloud services are not yet able to handle all aspects of infrastructure and applications – especially when an organisation has 20 years’ worth of legacy applications that still run or support important business processes. For legacy and existing applications that your organisation needs to retain, the best option would be to host these on Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). If you do not opt for a managed cloud service it will still need in-house monitoring and management capability to ensure the service you have contracted for is actually what you receive.

In contrast, managed cloud enables an organisation to transfer responsibility for all aspects of a specific service or services to a third party provider, who provides a cloud

service with a management layer on top. The outcome is fixed and predictable costs, internally managed service delivery and clear internally developed, robust SLAs. We call it ‘cloud on the user’s terms’.

Public cloud

Managed service

On demand

Committed resources

Pay as you go and pay on use

Known, fixed costs

Primarily self service

Assisted service

Basic hosting

Managed environment

Standard SLA

Custom SLA

No customisation

Tuned to user requirements

Table 1.

Based on our experience with a range of organisations, Fordway recommends a five-step process to review the best solution for your organisation: 66 Define the services you need 66 See whether there is a viable cloud option available 66 Assess potential suppliers 66 Assess the risks of each approach 66 If the cloud option is suitable or best value, agree an appropriate SLA. The first step is to agree the applications and services required and the associated SLAs your business needs, and

consider how best to deliver them. You may want to run business applications yourself, but could decide to hand non-core or commodity services to a third party to provide and manage. The decision could also be based on handing over responsibility for areas where the organisation does not have the skills in-house or cannot justify the cost of employing specialists, such as a storage system and back-up management or IT security. At this point, the organisation will want to review whether cloud or managed cloud services are most appropriate. Do you simply want capacity and equipment to be provided by a third party, or would you like management too?

The next step is to assess potential suppliers to see if any can provide the required service to the desired level. The key criteria to consider are: 66 Expertise 66 Track record 66 Responsiveness and flexibility 66 Financial stability 66 Innovation 66 Whether they provide the service directly themselves or are fronting for other providers 66 Ability and willingness to guarantee required service levels 66 Independently verified quality standards such as ISO27000, Pan-Government Accreditation, ISO20000, ISO9000.

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

IT

9

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

Please remember that moving existing applications and services to the cloud is a migration, in the same way that internal infrastructure and application upgrades are, so you either need to have the migration skills to move the applications and services yourselves, if using public cloud, or engage with organisations that also have expertise in that area

10 Despite the benefits of managed cloud services, concerns about trust, reliability, security and continuity remain, and the right partner is crucial. Not all service providers are the same, and an organisation may need to work with multiple providers to create a hybrid solution.

The next step is to assess the risks of using a third party provider for specific services. Fordway recommends using the following checklist: 66 Will the supplier still be around in five years’ time?

66 Is their infrastructure up to the job?

66 Are the SLAs understandable, viable and agreeable to you?

66 Do they have genuine expertise in the areas they will be managing?

66Will

you as an organisation have access to that in-depth expertise, or will your needs by handled by a junior member of their team?

66 Are they flexible enough to respond to changing circumstances, or so tied up in red tape that any change requires a lot of work?

66 Are you just another customer or does providing a first class service genuinely matter to them?

If the review concludes that managed cloud services will be beneficial in one or more areas, the final step is to define

an SLA for the service or services, followed by migration to the chosen service provider. Please remember that moving existing applications and services to the cloud is a migration, in the same way that internal infrastructure and application upgrades are, so you either need to have the migration skills to move the applications and services yourselves, if using public cloud, or engage with organisations that also have expertise in that area.

Practical examples Petroplan is a global recruitment organisation that provides staff to companies in the oil, gas and petrochemical industries in more than 40 countries. As well as designing a new IT infrastructure for Petroplan’s headquarters, Fordway provides backup and recovery as a service (BRaaS). It hosts a replicated version of Petroplan’s SAN on its own shared services platform and data is asynchronously replicated in real time between the two sites using an automated process which can be managed from a single console. Fordway also provides remote monitoring and management of the infrastructure.

An engineering joint venture was set up by three large organisations to deliver a major infrastructure project. They

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

IT

11 decided to create an independent IT infrastructure and use a managed service from Fordway, enabling them to get the infrastructure up and running quickly and ensuring consistent access for all parties. They can add capacity as needed, only paying for capacity used, and scale back as the project draws to a close. At the end of the contract they will have no residual issues and the environment will be torn down, with data distributed as required. This solution is ideal for “volatile” projects, providing IT on a pay as you need basis.

Cloud service models Cloud Software as a Service (SaaS). The organisation uses the cloud provider’s applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessed through a thin client interface such as a web browser (e.g. web-based email). The organisation does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure.

Cloud Platform as a Service (PaaS). The organisation deploys its own-created or acquired applications onto the cloud infrastructure. It does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure, but has control over the deployed applications and possibly application

hosting environment configurations.

Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). The organisation can provision processing, storage, networks and other fundamental computing resources and deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications. They do not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure but have control over operating systems, storage, deployed applications and possibly limited control of select networking components (e.g. host firewalls).

Fordway Richard Blanford is managing director at Fordway, which has over 20 years’ experience helping large and medium-sized organisations, across all market sectors, realise the best from their IT infrastructure. To find out more or to discuss whether a free Cloud Readiness Assessment might be appropriate for your business, please contact Fordway on 08448 700 100 or email cloud@fordway.com For further information please visit: fordway.com

DRILL SUPPORT CCTV SYSTEMS Kongsberg Maritime offers a range of extremely robust Drill Support CCTV systems for Semi Submersible Rigs, Drill Ships and FPSO Vessels to allow real-time monitoring of a wide range of drilling operations above and below the surface.

Our systems are designed to provide clear and detailed high quality video images of the subsea environment and are the result of over three decades' experience in harsh environment underwater video camera manufacture.

 Well Head TV systems (Guidewire based)  Riser Monitoring TV systems  BOP Stack Mount TV and Portable Inspection systems  Anchor Bolster Monitoring TV systems  Turret Chain Monitoring TV systems  Topside CCTV (Incl. Zone 1 Hazardous Area)

Innovative design and technology, unrivalled build quality, exceptional image quality and world wide support ensure Kongsberg Maritime’s products offer the best price-performance and reliability and with underwater video systems in use in every ocean of the world, Kongsberg Maritime is the professional choice for simple, reliable monitoring of underwater drilling operations.

Telephone: +44 1224 226500

km.systems.uk@kongsberg.com

www.km.kongsberg.com/cameras

News

Telling statistics A snapshot survey taken after the recent North Sea helicopter crash, and responded to by over 1000 offshore workers, has revealed that 89 per cent believe that the Super Puma should be taken out of service, and other helicopters considered, such as the more advanced S-92.

The S-92 helicopter was introduced widely in Norway after oil unions put pressure on companies to improve helicopter safety. Furthermore, the survey, which was undertaken by Oilandgaspeople.com, the world’s largest oil and gas jobs board, shows that lack of confidence in the way the industry deals with helicopter safety issues is widespread – 80 per cent feel that companies are putting profits first, and safety is being compromised.

Furthermore, 56 per cent feel that their opinions regarding helicopter safety matters aren’t taken seriously by their current employer. While 59 per cent feel that the offshore oil and gas industry doesn’t do enough to raise helicopter safety.

Since the crash, 53 per cent don’t feel safe flying offshore, with 33 per cent saying they will no longer travel on Super Pumas, and 57 per cent believe that other methods of crew transfer should be considered, including boats and frogs.

Oilandgaspeople.com has also set up an RNLI Just Giving page that has already raised a significant amount. Visit: www.justgiving.com/supportthernli

Above: (l-r) Glenn Aguillar, vice president sales and marketing and Norman Port, business unit director, eastern hemisphere

European oil & gas

Offshore accommodation and workspace specialist, HB Rentals, has officially opened its new eastern hemisphere headquarters in the North East of Scotland. The purpose-built £1 million facility, located in Sauchen, was officially opened by the Provost of Aberdeenshire, Councillor Jill Webster, in a ceremony attended by HB Rentals’ clients, suppliers, employees and senior management.

Provost Webster said: “HB Rentals' new facility represents a significant investment in Aberdeenshire and we welcome this boost to the local economy through employment opportunities and increased business activity in the area. The facility is ideally located at the centre of the North East oil and gas industry in Aberdeenshire, benefitting from being located in an area consistently judged to have the highest quality of life in Scotland as well as being an ideal base for HB's international growth plans."

With over 500sqm of covered workshop area and employing a multi-disciplined workforce of around 46 people, the new premises will handle all manufacturing for the company’s eastern hemisphere and allow it to build and consolidate the fleet of A60 accommodation units it currently supplies, as well as handling any custom build projects the firm receives. The base is seen as crucial to HB Rentals’ ambitious growth targets for its key operations in the region, which include Europe, West Africa, the Caspian and Middle East.

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Facilitating growth

13

complacency European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Challenging

While the number of low consequence incidents in the North Sea has dramatically dropped since Piper Alpha, the threat of a similar catastrophe still looms large, as Colin McWhirr explains

14

A

quarter of a century has passed since a series of explosions brought Piper Alpha - once the biggest production facility in the North Sea - to a horrific and tragic end, claiming the lives of 167 men. The subsequent Cullen Report demanded a major overhaul of all offshore safety practices and procedures, and today the industry is in many ways unrecognisable from the 1970s and early 1980s.

However, the sad and shocking fact is that serious offshore accidents continue to occur globally; Deepwater Horizon (2010) which killed 11 people, the Montara blowout offshore Australia (2009), the loss of the Kolskaya-rig on the east-coast of Russia (2011), and the fire and explosion on the Endeavour rig offshore Nigeria (2012) are key examples.

The recent gas leak on the Elgin field and the well kick on Gullfaks C in 2010 could have resulted in catastrophic consequences under slightly different circumstances.

Battling complacency There is therefore a mounting need to challenge complacency and to increase general awareness over key process safety issues. The aim is to stimulate thinking and to re-energise industry professionals to improve process safety delivery. Process safety is the vital engineering area that ensures the complex offshore process plant stays within a safe design envelope and in particular, avoids loss of containment of highly hazardous fluids.

The barrier approach, increasingly adopted by today’s oil and gas companies, uses the bow-tie risk model as an underpinning concept. Bow-tie barrier models can greatly assist with the identification of critical barriers and set out in a simple figure the scenarios that may occur and steps to mitigate risk. This model, unlike previous approaches, encapsulates the human role in risk prevention through decisions taken. In order for it to make a true difference to the occurrence of any incident, there must be a balance

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Lead two

15

between aptitude and attitude of the people, solid and rigorous processes and robust design of the plant.

The pertinent problem of plant design The fundamental issue of plant design in particular, is an area which has probably seen the least improvement over the past 30 years. Despite extensive studies and reviews being carried out by project teams, the design process is still delivering poor quality, which it’s believed may be attributable to lack of competency and cohesion. Many do not see the benefit of early philosophy writing and a lot of system designing is being carried out in discipline silos, using inter-discipline checking and not by system integrating engineers. An integration of all the engineering disciplines, such as mechanical, piping, instrument, process, etc., would have a radical effect in this area. The benefits of joined-up thinking to deliver best practice consistently far outweigh an often

costly and complicated fragmented approach.

The HAZOP (Hazard and Operability) study in particular, is one of the most widely used hazard identification methods and has found applications in many aspects of the offshore industries. Its intention is to identify many potential problems through the examination of new, modified or existing designs, procedures and operations using a systematic and structured approach.

The assertions made are based on a root cause analysis of common themes/issues resulting from 30 years of offshore engineering and technical safety experience. Practice has shown that few process safety reviews yield negligible recommendations, resulting in around one third of HAZOP reviews being terminated due to either ‘fatal’ findings, inadequate information or failure to assemble a competent HAZOP team. For example, a recent three day process HAZOP study yielded 154 recommendations, which clearly

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

16

indicate that the design had not been suitably developed. A particular worry or trend is for the HAZOP to be used in the design process rather than as a final quality assurance of a process design.

As a result, we keep seeing the same issues in both the technical area and in information availability. Typical issues seen are pipeline high pressure to low pressure systems interface management, cold start Joule-Thompson effects not being considered properly, interconnection of systems via drains, poor consideration by design for operations and maintenance, and little effort expended into plant simplification and inherent safety.

Information and knowledge is another common problem area where as-built information is often found to be lacking or there is a loss of critical information and knowledge. Similarly, real plant operating reliability data collection is often of insufficient quality and this leads to critical reliability analysis being carried out using very poorly conditioned data sets.

In order to achieve maximum effectiveness HAZOP studies require skilled chairs as well as experienced and committed team members. This, over time, has raised a number of challenges in terms of demographic and availability of fresh talent.

A reality check for the next generation The average age of experienced HAZOP chairs in the UK offshore sector is over 60 and there is little sign of potential new candidates. Very few HAZOP chairs have been trained in the oil and gas industry, with most coming from other industries such as petrochemicals, refining and nuclear. The results of the root cause analysis indicate that this is partly due to difficulties within the industry in giving staff sufficiently rounded training in engineering, operations, real-site experience, and high pressure protection management, etc.

As technology improves in the sector, young engineers are relying more on desk-top training from onshore offices rather than practical experience and understanding of working life and its issues offshore. This is an extremely worrying trend which could have serious implications for the industry in the future. If the new generation of engineers, innovators and developers do not get the opportunity to learn at the coal face, then we are encouraging an industry that deals in virtual knowledge rather than hands-on expertise. Real life visualisation and hands-on experience can never be substituted.

As a result we need to establish far better process safety information and learning sharing across the sector, including training schemes that allow engineers better access to offshore facilities and operations experience.

This increasing lack of real plant experience and learning being fed back to design engineers highlights another key issue with the industry failing to share information, anecdotes and good practice in the process safety area.

Compared to downstream refinery and petrochemical plant performance, the offshore industry often has

shockingly poor plant uptime and production efficiencies despite having generally simpler process configurations.

The reasons behind this need to be better understood as the economic impacts of low availability are high in the upstream sector.

There is a wide spectrum of training initiatives and skill levels observable between different companies, but in general the level of learning and development investment is poor and this must in part contribute to the poor performances observed. A particular area of concern is seen as the increased nature of the industry to subcontract work and to use agency workers. There is less willingness by companies to invest in their staff if they are employed on an agency basis, and for the contract staff to be interested in developing young talent (who may take over their position).

Learning lessons from the past for a safer future The UK industry’s response to the recommendations and

European oil & gas

If the new generation of engineers, innovators and developers do not get the opportunity to learn at the coal face, then we are encouraging an industry that deals in virtual knowledge rather than hands-on expertise. Real life visualisation and hands-on experience can never be substituted

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Lead two

17

lessons stemming from Lord Cullen’s report has been significant, but with an ageing offshore infrastructure, the rise and arrival of newer technologies, challenges with human resourcing, and even the changing physical size and shape of the workforce, the industry must rise to this challenge and overcome new pressures. There is a serious and immediate need to improve the availability and quality of process safety training/development in the oil and gas sector and to be far more open and effective in information and learning sharing.

Piper Alpha and other such horrendous events are tragic reminders of the vital necessity for thorough and advanced safety and risk management and implementation across all operations in the high hazard oil and gas industry. This viewpoint is aimed at generating debate within the industry in order to improve the delivery of safe plant. It also calls for further empirical research to better understand the demographic concerns and information management system issues to better share learning and information.

Xodus Group Colin McWhirr is director, technical safety and risk at Xodus Group. He has more than 30 years experience in the petrochemical and oil and gas sector, is a leading authority in process safety and has a comprehensive background in technical and operational safety. Colin is a Visiting Teaching Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, lecturing in process safety.

Launched in 2005, Xodus Group offers integrated services covering both oil and gas and low carbon. Following significant investment the company has grown to more than 700 people worldwide with offices in Houston, Nigeria, Perth, The Hague, Norway and in the UK. For further information please visit: xodusgroup.com

standards Christophe Chausse discusses the importance of safety and regulation for offshore workers at height

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

High

18

W

hen taking the harsh environmental conditions and the challenging operations into consideration, working at height on an offshore platform is extremely hazardous and demanding. HSE’s Offshore Injury, Ill Health and Incident statistics, recording a period from April 2011 - March 2012, reveal that injuries from slips, trips and falls including falls from height and confined space access account for 47.2 per cent of all major injuries for those working offshore in the oil and gas industry. Of the two fatalities to have occurred during 2011-2012, one was due to a fall from height during a work shift.

Due to the nature of offshore drilling assets, the need for working at height and in hazardous areas is unavoidable.

This means for that for both operators and services companies alike, the safety of their personal cannot be compromised and the use of personal fall protection

equipment is necessary and lifesaving. Accordingly, equipment such as harnesses, lanyards and self-retracting lifelines have been widely used over many years to position, suspend, prevent falls and assist rescue missions.

Through the years much has been learnt in respect of ergonomics, fall dynamics, technology, performance and the inter-compatibility of devices. Such knowledge and the often resultant innovations typically filter through to ‘guidance’, sometimes legislation and often eventually into applicable European Normative Standards. The Normative’s (EN’s) are where minimum performance criteria is agreed and established under the auspices of Directives.

However, it’s important to recognise that the EN’s (as well as Osha ANSI) have historically established a ‘baseline’ or minimum performance criteria, and the associated CE (Conformity Europe) mark is neither a mark of quality or necessarily, compatibility.

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

HSE

19

An example of this is in self-retracting-lifelines (SRL), which vary in length, quality, material, performance, compatibility and of course price. Workers are required to climb the derrick ladder to access different areas of a rig for servicing, tripping operations and during rig up and down operations. Many climbs per day in excess of 100 feet are typical, and conditions such as the ladder and/or the platform structure being slippery, icy, or with un-comfortable rungs, mean that choosing the correct SLR and ensuring it is suited to a particular situation and is tested in situ is critical in protecting against injury through trips and falls. Crucially, offshore SRL blocks, which house the dynamic components of a lifeline, should always be ‘sealed’ so that the moving parts are protected, ensuring reliability, longevity and safety.

While some SRL’s will be developed, tested and proven safe for use, others are simply not put through their paces

and as such may not arrest a fall if used in a real life scenario. Equally, there are claims and misinterpretations about product use in close proximity to ‘sharp edges’. A tested ‘sharp edge’ may be quite different to a real sharp edge, such as that of a substructure and the degree of risk could therefore be misunderstood entirely. Decision makers have to be mindful of information available and provided in regards to the context of use and requirements for compatibility, ensuring that complete assemblies will work as anticipated rather than focusing on the performance of individual elements and a need to be connected to something with a CE mark.

In order to bring every offshore worker at height home safely, it is critical that manufacturers take the responsibility to ensure workers are provided with personal protective equipment that goes one step further, and commit to testing on ‘as built’ structures and validate the engineering

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Much of the industry’s most recent and important innovations have centred on harness to anchor connecting devices with developments in heat, chemical and arc resistant materials, the ability to switch SRL’s from arrest mode to descent, thereby negating the need for secondary rescue and the advent of visual, tactile inspection only requirements, all designed to simplify and ensure safety

20

performance/parameters of their offer. It is then the responsibility of the employer to ensure they provide workers with the best possible equipment.

Beyond the thorough testing of PPE, the effectiveness of any item of personal fall protection equipment or anchorage in controlling risk is then highly dependent on individual choices, be that of the user or decision maker. The main thing to remember, for both manufacturer and employer, is that people have a choice over their fall protection; the choice of equipment, choice to wear properly, choice to connect, choice to use correctly, ensure compatibility, inspect, maintain and understand, all play a critical role. Typically, ‘in the field’, the more complex (to don, assemble, use), time consuming and cumbersome a protective solution is, then the less likely it is to be used effectively. There is a huge question to be asked of effort verses risk.

To increase the likelihood of fall protection equipment being used correctly it needs to be made more accessible.

What the worker at height wears, which is likely to be a Full Body Harness (EN361) should fit (sized for the worker and designed for the work task), be light enough, simple to inspect, easy to identify which limbs go through where, quick to don, adjustable, comfortable both elevated and on the ground, made of sufficient quality material and, most importantly, be compatible.

Employers may also want to consider providing derrick belts and harnesses that are specially designed to meet the needs of those working on the monkey or tubing board, or carrying out maintenance work and servicing operations throughout the rig.

The belts attach to harnesses and accommodate for storing and tying back tools, and harnesses and belts have multiple back, front and side D rings, allowing for versatility of positioning. D rings are lightly sprung to ensure they ‘stand up’, as opposed to non-sprung traditional types which are notoriously difficult to self-connect, and this could make the difference between being connected properly and not.

Ultimately, additional features that make equipment more useful for workers, combined with a balance of comfortorientated padding and breathability of the body, sufficient rigidity and resistance in exterior materials to give support, and finite easy on body adjustment can make all the difference to proper fit, meeting compliance and ultimately the individual’s safety.

Sub assembly, connection options, are varied – but typically consist of shock-absorbing lanyards (EN355) required to be 2m in length or less, Self-Retracting Lifelines (EN360) up to 60m, and Guided Type Fall Arrestors (flexible vertical lifelines)(EN353-2) typically up to 50m or more. Key considerations should be simplicity, ease and appropriateness of use; compatibility with harness, work positioning and/ or anchor, limitation of fall factor (minimising potential for free fall before shock absorbency), proximity to sharp edges, swing falls, durability relative to work environment and fall arrest performance.

Recent developments in lightweight, D ring attached, mini SRL’s can offer distinct safety advantages over more traditional lanyards – as surplus material is retracted whilst moving (or falling), thereby limiting worker fall distances,

arresting quicker and not getting in the way of work tasks.

This is particularly important for those operating at height on the board, where workers are exposed to the greatest risk of falling on a drilling rig.

There are also various options when it comes to connectors that assist in escape and rescue scenarios.

Escape systems must be in place in the event of a disaster.

A system that provides controlled descent in the event of unconsciousness or injury should be positioned in a location for safe and easy access. It must provide positive locking once connected, which is critical for the safety of a worker in an emergency situation. Ease of set up, the ability to modify the slope of descent and a system that is easy to use and maintain is a priority during selection. For rescue scenarios; fall arrest must be considered and planned for, and a suspension trauma safety strap may be considered in order to enable a suspended worker to stand in their harness to relieve pressure and prevent suspension trauma, where a worker hangs in a vertical position and blood pools in the lower extremities.

Much of the industry’s most recent and important innovations have centred on harness to anchor connecting devices with developments in heat, chemical and arc resistant materials, the ability to switch SRL’s from arrest mode to descent, thereby negating the need for secondary rescue and the advent of visual, tactile inspection only requirements, all designed to simplify and ensure safety.

The range of such devices and assemblies available is constantly evolving and improving, and new innovations

designed to solve specific problems and meet specific safety demands are constantly being bought to market. But it is always important that employers first consider the testing and compatibility of safety products to ensure they are fitfor-purpose and reliable, and then the ease and comfort of use for their workers so that equipment is used correctly.

It is also always important to store safety gear in clean, dry and enclosed spaces, and that equipment is regularly checked and receives mandatory annual recertification by certified third party inspectors and maintenance providers to ensure it is fully operational and meets safety standards.

Those who influence and use personal fall protection equipment in the offshore sector would be well advised to seek wider exposure to the breadth of solutions, innovations, techniques and practices to ensure protection against the potential dangers of working at height and in confined space.

Capital Safety Christophe Chausse is regional director, emerging markets – EMEA, at Capital Safety, the global leader in fall protection with 22 operating sites worldwide. Capital Safety is home to the DBI-SALA and PROTECTA brands of fall protection equipment. Both of these brands have invested decades in the science of fall protection to ensure that workers are safe and employers have confidence they are providing their employees with the best protection possible.

For further information please visit: en.capitalsafety.us

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

HSE

21

future Fuelling the

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Meeting the bunker challenge in a high-stakes business

22

The stakes are high in the oil & gas sector. Millions of dollars have been invested and the potential risk to manpower and infrastructure is very real. It is imperative that the highest standards are maintained, both for operations and supporting services such as bunker fuel delivery.

Unlike the shipping sector, where the bill for bunker fuels can represent up to 90 per cent of operating costs, their supply is often treated as an afterthought in the oil & gas sector. Because of the high earnings and hire rates for rigs, the focus is usually on reducing time in port to optimise savings on dollar per day rates. It’s a complex market, as every oil & gas customer has a different procurement strategy and a different level of sophistication when it comes to bunker purchasing.

GAC Bunker Fuels has been trading marine fuels to oil & gas sector customers for the past five years. In that time, it has encountered many different procurement methods, including the following:

Reverse auctions: Largely unloved by bunker trading and supply companies, reverse auctions are becoming more common. Eight or nine suppliers participate in time-barred bidding, sometimes at a port with just one supplier. All must bid, or they will be removed from the panel for the next auction. The Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for the buyer is the cost saving from first bid to last. Whilst this can make the purchaser look great in his manager’s eyes, without using a price benchmark in the specific port on the given day, he or she may end up overpaying by five to ten dollars per ton against the market rate rather than making a saving.

Panel of brokers & traders: Some consider using a panel of three the most equitable purchasing method, but traders and brokers beg to differ as it spoils the market. Bunkers need to be sold at a fair price - not just for the customer, but also for suppliers. Oil & gas pay for a cashflow solution as well as the fuel. That isn’t always reflected in the price when using a panel.

One price, lowest wins: This is a relative

Fuels with a unique challenge in terms of maintaining operational excellence. When a procurement manager requires a specific product, at a specific port, and at a specific time, there is no room for poor service.

GAC Bunker Fuels meets that challenge by working with the GAC Group’s global ship agency and logistics network to deliver smooth service for every aspect of an oil & gas company’s port call and streamline administration by providing a single invoice for all services.

To enhance its operational excellence, GAC Bunker Fuels was awarded ISO 9001 certification for bunker trading and brokerage in 2012, underlining its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Around the world, around the clock, GAC Bunker Fuels staff in Singapore, India, Egypt, Dubai, Scotland, Cyprus, the USA and Brazil work with the GAC network to meet the demanding requirements of the oil & gas sector - today and tomorrow.

When a procurement manager requires a specific product, at a specific port, and at a specific time, there is no room for poor service

GAC Bunker Fuels gac.com/bunkers

Services  Trading  Brokerage  Customised service packages  Port information and support

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

newcomer to the bunker trading scene, and one that works against traditional methods. Bunker traders work well with feedback and ‘firm counters’, the ability to work with purchasing managers to cover the market and reach a fair price for all. Oil & gas companies, however, ask for one price from every trader and take the lowest price. No negotiation. By using this method, they send a message that they just want to fix the fuel and move on. It’s hard to imagine a ship owner/charterer being willing to take the first price and fix, as there are cost savings to be had by negotiating.

Using one company to cover the market: The best way to save money on fuel procurement is to have one company cover the market, using a price benchmarking tool such as Platts, Bunker World or Argus to monitor the price in port on the day of the fixture. On the whole, this is the preferred method of the shipping industry, and many believe oil & gas companies will follow suit soon.

This assortment of procurement methods presents bunker companies like GAC Bunker

GAC BUNKER fuels

European oil & gas

PROFILE

23

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

Achieving integration Ben Thuriaux-AlemÁn and Stephen Rogers talk about the emergence of the Projects, Technology and Procurement division in E&P

24

C

ompanies are under increasing pressure to deploy their best available technological capabilities to maximise recovery and efficiency, while at the same time minimising costs in a safe way.

Innovations should have the greatest impact in greenfield projects given that the performance levels ‘baked in’ with technology selection are lockedin for the full 20 to 40 years. However, the strong pressure on ‘first oil’ means that project managers are rewarded against delivery on schedule and scope. This is because they do not like the surprises associated with new technology and they resist any attempts to standardise procurement.

One new organisational form that tackles these challenges

is the integration of the Projects (including Drilling), Technology and Procurement units into one single, integrated global division.

The Projects Technology and Procurement (PTP) organisation The main features of an integrated Projects, Technology and Procurement (PTP) organisation are illustrated by the recent changes seen at both Shell and Statoil.

Figure 1 presents the generic features of a PTP division and is based on Shell and Statoil’s implementation of this approach. The typical PTP division reports as one of the main organisational divisions: 66 Procurement is centralised, with global responsibility for all contracting and procurement strategies and enterprise

European oil & gas

Figure 1. Typical features of the Project Technology and Procurement Division Source: ADL analysis, 2012

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Technology

25

framework agreements. Procurement staff operate in different geographies but report in direct line to the procurement function.

66 Project delivery is centralised for large CAPEX projects and PTP has project responsibility and accountability – from feasibility to commissioning.

66 Technology may be geographically dispersed but operates in an integrated function which provides: 66 Technical support delivered at the asset level by pooled technical staff operating in a matrix 66 Development of technical capabilities and disciplines through creation and enforcement of standards, discipline control, and assurance and application of the latest approaches developed by lead engineers/ discipline heads

66 Research and development with an increased focus on implementation of technology 66 Well delivery is centralised, operating in a matrix, reporting to both local asset and global functional units and with responsibilities for drilling, completion, intervention and maintenance.

A centralised PTP organisation leads to: 66 Clearer accountability for project delivery because of the greater ease in aligning relevant stakeholders 66 Improved integration of key suppliers both in project delivery and in technology transfer 66 A more coherent business planning and targeting of technology development, which drives better knowledge transfer and greater standardisation.

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

26

Figure 2. Drivers for organisational change in Shell and Statoil. Source: ADL analysis, 2012

Drivers for change Figure 2 presents the main drivers for adopting a PTP organisational form for Shell and Statoil. At a general level Arthur D. Little identified five global drivers for change which support the move to a PTP organisational form: 66 Ensuring the delivery of large scale projects are on time and to budget 66 Managing technical, project risk & HSE concerns 66 Ensuring early technology deployment 66 Making better use of limited technical talent 66 Implementing total cost control across large CAPEX projects.

it also strengthens the role of procurement in maintaining cost control.

HSE Weak project execution can have significant HSE and economic consequences. Providing a functional role for drilling and wells – involving performance validation, control and the enforcement of global technical standards – improves quality and reduces technical risk. A close interaction between drilling operations and the teams that set technical standards also speeds up the adoption of new standards.

Early adoption Project delivery The industry has experienced increasing project size and increasing reserve replacement costs over the last decade, with corresponding increases in the risks associated with delayed delivery, delivery of sub-optimal technology or the costs of upgrading technology. A complex organisation with technical expertise and decision-making located in different divisions (often with conflicting views) slows down decisionmaking and execution.

The PTP approach reduces project handovers between asset owner, project execution, and technology. Critically,

Early adopters are more exposed to technology risks, which is unattractive from an asset perspective. In contrast, from a corporate perspective, value is created when the best available technology is incorporated into long-life assets.

There is also a need for leading companies to demonstrate technology leadership to secure access to resources.

A centralised PTP division, with responsibility for deploying cost-effective technologies, can overcome conservative attitudes by strengthening delivery and assuming overall project responsibility. It can also make sure that technology is adopted across assets.

Technology organisational design and processes to fit with company strategy or individual characteristics.

Sustaining exploration and production R&D

Talent gap There are growing shortages in key petrotechnical staff. This is constraining industry growth at a time when high oil prices are driving companies to increase their investment.

Pooling technical support, project staff and R&D teams together into a single division, improves the ability to balance and plan future resource needs and to allocate resources efficiently.

Total cost control The industry has always experienced significant cost problems and still faces increasing cost pressures. As an example, Shell reported a doubling of its cost base between 2004 and 2009 – this was undoubtedly a factor in adopting the PTP model. Centralising procurement can result in strong cost reduction by ensuring that cost and performance trade-offs are considered at a companywide level. The procurement function can also mandate the standard deployment of technology.

Some of the challenges of this organisational model There are some organisational and structural challenges that need to be considered. Some of these reflect limitations of the approach, which can be partially overcome by tailoring

The PTP division creates strong links between R&D technology and the development function. There is hence potential to over-concentrate on technology issues associated with the development at the expense of those within exploration, production or new energy. Another potential cause for concern is the almost inevitable bias towards a focus on short-term technology with under resourcing on long-term R&D. To compensate for this bias we often work with clients to create different ‘ring-fenced’ budgets for short-, medium- and long-term R&D and for exploration and production.

Concluding remarks The PTP approach, or key elements of it, offers a range of benefits that may otherwise be difficult to access. As asset development challenges drive the development and adoption of more and more complex technologies, this is an organisational design that we will see adopted more frequently in the future.

Arthur D Little Ben Thuriaux-Alemàn is principal – energy practice technology & innovation practice, and Stephen Rogers is partner – global energy practice leader, at Arthur D Little, a leading international management consulting firm. Founded in 1886, the business is recognised as a leader in linking strategy, innovation and technology to solve complex business issues and deliver sustainable solutions.

For further information please visit: adlittle.co.uk

European oil & gas

A more centralised project development approach shifts responsibility for project delivery away from the asset, reducing local content and host-country involvement and potentially diluting some of the benefits of a local, P&Lfocused, asset-based project delivery team. Engineers have a tendency to ‘gold plate’ processes or only address the technical challenges that are most obvious at the time, diluting the operational focus that production and operations need. Handing the project over for development and delivery means that there may often be subtle pressures to deliver on development KPIs (time and CAPEX) by trading off on operational issues (e.g. de-prioritising OPEX, maintenance or abandonment costs).

Arthur D. Little typically advocates strong stakeholder representation on project boards, setting clear operational readiness and assurance procedures and teams; and the development of operational project KPIs to ensure the assetowning customer gets what they really need.

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Meeting asset needs

27

excellence Engineering

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Briggs and Yale solution helps ASCO to maintain oil field supplies

28

With the continued expansion of oil and gas production in the North Sea, a leading logistics company has made a multimillion pound investment in new materials handling equipment to help it maintain a constant flow of supplies to dozens of offshore rigs and platforms. Loading and unloading more than 60 ships a week at its Peterhead Offshore Supply Base, ASCO found that Briggs Equipment, working in close partnership with its forklift manufacturer Yale Europe Materials Handling, provided the ideal solution for its needs thanks to a bespoke product range and tailored service support.

One of 15 sites operated by ASCO in North East Scotland, the Peterhead base is amongst the busiest of its type in the UK, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Over a 12-month period it handles around 500,000 tonnes of supplies, which can include everything from food, mattresses and toilet rolls to drill bits, anchor chains and helicopter fuel. The whole operation needs to be timed to the minute. If a ship is delayed by just an hour, the company could be exposed to costs of tens of thousands of pounds.

“Delays are simply unacceptable,” explained Peterhead operations manager, Duncan Bell. “As a result we need a materials handling partner that we can rely on and has the flexibility to

meet our unique requirements.”

Until recently ASCO operated a mixed fleet of forklift trucks and warehouse equipment from a number of manufacturers, in Peterhead and other sites in Scotland and across the UK. As the fleet began to age, the company realised that it could enjoy even greater efficiency if it relied on a single make of truck, if a supplier could be found with a comprehensive product range and a proven track record of performance and reliability.

Over the past eight years or so the company has worked closely with Briggs Equipment and following a rigorous tender process ASCO has signed a new deal that sees the introduction of a fleet of 65 new Yale products across 12 sites in Scotland. This fleet has, in the last year, grown to 90 forklifts across 15 sites.

The new fleet includes various Yale dieselpowered ‘big’ trucks and numerous smaller diesel, electric and LPG counter balance and warehouse trucks. Two 140,000 sq ft warehouses on the Peterhead base are also benefiting from the very latest Yale very narrow aisle technology with the introduction of the company’s acclaimed MTC 13 man up turret truck for order picking.

Many of the large lifting capacity counterbalance trucks have been modified

by Briggs and Yale to meet ASCO’s unique operational needs.

Duncan continued: “We previously operated eight tonne trucks on the site but felt that ten tonne trucks would be more suitable. The extra lifting capacity makes it easier to handle many different types of load.

“However, in most cases having a larger truck would mean larger forks and greater turning circle but the new vehicles have been modified so they operate with the same forks as the smaller trucks which are ideal for our standard container cargo units.

“Briggs and Yale also came up with things we hadn’t thought about, such as fitting some of our new 4.5 tonne forklifts with special lifting points so that they can be lowered into the hold of vessels to further cut down on the time they spend in port. These trucks also benefit from a comparatively small footprint, making them ideal for operation in confined spaces.”

Duncan went on to explain that the relative compactness of all the Yale products was another key factor in its decision to standardise its fleet.

The supply base is located on a narrow strip of land next to the harbour, and space is at a premium. “In effect we have gained extra lifting capacity without compromising on flexibility or manoeuvrability,” he said.

Whilst the new equipment has been well received by management on the site, the Yale

Briggs Equipment

The offshore energy industry remains an important part of the Scottish and UK economy and we are delighted to be working with a key player that supports many of the top names in oil and gas production

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

trucks have also been welcomed by operators.

According to Duncan, some drivers preferred a particular brand of truck and were resistant to change. But they were soon won over by the comfort of the new Yale trucks, their ease of operation and particularly the improved visibility they offer. The introduction of a customised monitoring and control system to the machines has also given operators a sense of ownership of their vehicle whilst reducing the risk of accidental damage. “The operators take pride in their truck and see it as their own vehicle, rather than just another piece of equipment,” he added.

Whilst ASCO has been pleased with the closer relationship it has developed with Briggs Equipment, and the materials handling solutions provider is enthusiastic about its role within a dynamic industry sector.

Craig Davenport, Scotland sales manager at Briggs, commented: “The offshore energy industry remains an important part of the Scottish and UK economy and we are delighted to be working with a key player that supports many of the top names in oil and gas production.

“It has enabled us to demonstrate how, in close partnership with Yale, we can come up with a comprehensive materials handling solution in the most demanding situations and provide flexible engineering support tailored to the whole of ASCO’s operation.”

As part of Briggs’ service support, two engineers will be based at Peterhead and an ASCO facility in Aberdeen to conduct full service and maintenance on the equipment, ensuring the trucks remain operational at all times.

Richard Close, Briggs Equipment’s CEO, added: “We are now looking forward to developing an even closer relationship with ASCO in the years ahead. Briggs Equipment takes a long-term partnership approach, working alongside customers to add real value to their logistics operations.

“There are few companies who can provide such a diverse range of equipment whilst maintaining the same levels of engineering excellence and such a flexible approach to client specifications.”

The relationship with ASCO also reflects Briggs’ ongoing commitment to the Scottish oil and gas sector. This commitment has been strengthened following the acquisition of Barloworld Handling in 2012 and Briggs’ new depot on the Altens Industrial Estate in Aberdeen, which will benefit the company’s broad customer base in the North of Scotland.

European oil & gas

PROFILE

29

For further information from Briggs Equipment:

T: 03301 23 98 14 W: briggsequipment.co.uk E: info@briggsequipment.

co.uk

growth European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Generating

30

Formed in 1954

with $250,000 of investor capital with the intention of becoming a profitable oil company, Apache Corporation is today one of the world’s most successful independent oil and gas exploration and production companies. A member of the Fortune 500, Apache’s market capitalisation

is approximately $33 billion on the New York Stock Exchange. The company has ten operating regions around the globe and produces around 800,000 barrels a day. Apache’s production has grown at a cumulative average rate of approximately 12 per cent year-on-year for the past two decades and in 2012 its revenue stream

Apache North Sea

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

31

was over $17 billion. In 2012 the North Sea region produced over 75,000 barrels of net oil equivalent per day, contributing to 16 per cent of the global production revenue and ten per cent of worldwide production for Apache.

Apache entered the North Sea after acquiring the Forties field from BP for $683 million in

2003. Subsequent investments over the past ten years in drilling activity, facility upgrades and an intensive re-evaluation of the field resulted in cumulative production in excess of the proved reserves originally purchased. At the time of the purchase there were 140 million barrels in place, and Apache has since produced over 200 million

Above FASP alongside the Forties Alpha

COMMITTED TO INNOVATION ASSET LIFECYCLE INTEGRITY PARTNER STORK TECHNICAL SERVICES IS THE EXPERT PROVIDER OF ASSET OPTIMISATION AND INTEGRITY SERVICES TO THE OIL & GAS INDUSTRY. Our services are tailored to help our clients optimise performance by maintaining, repairing, and modifying major assets. We are committed to continuity, quality, innovation and cost efficiency to ensure that we add value throughout the asset lifecycle.

Visit our award winning innovations showcase at Offshore Europe 2013. www.storktechnicalservices.com

Apache North Sea

European oil & gas

The speed of development in bringing oil to the market is central to Apache; a drive to succeed with a sense of urgency

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

33

Left Forties Charlie Platform

barrels, with many millions of barrels worth of opportunity yet to be realised.

Having operated in the highly successful Forties field, Apache also acquired operatorship of the Beryl, Ness, Nevis, Nevis South, Skene and Buckland fields from ExxonMobil in early

2012. The asset deal also included the SAGE gas plant and pipeline plus the non-operated interests in the Maclure, Scott and Telford fields.

The acquisition of Beryl field assets and active drilling in both the Beryl and Forties fields resulted in a 36 per cent hike in the region’s

EPC – Solutions l

Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms l

l

Minimum Facilities Platforms

Jacket and Subsea Structures l

l

Offshore Modules

FPSO Conversions and Refurbishments

Engineering | Procurement | Construction | Installation T: 0191 295 8700

E: info@ogn-group.com

W: www.ogn-group.com

Stork Technical Services Stork Technical Services (Stork) is the leading global provider of knowledge-based asset integrity management services for the oil and gas, chemical and power sectors. Stork’s relationship with Apache has been established over the past six years; working within their Forties and Beryl Fields and onshore Sage Terminal.

Stork's Asset Integrity Service portfolio continues to deliver a proactive approach to asset optimisation; providing safe, efficient and innovative service solutions. Stork has supported Apache in the successful completion of major works including Bacchus, Partial Process, Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) installation, Vessel Overhaul’s throughout the field and most recently Forties Alpha Satellite Platform (FASP), on-going projects Distributed Control System (DCS) Electrical and Fabric Maintenance contracts.

This fully integrated service offering will continue to be delivered through strong leadership, effective communications and a commitment to respond to the needs of Apache.

production in 2012, making Apache the fifth largest producer in the UKCS. Since its arrival in the North Sea in 2003, Apache has invested over $9.7 billion in acquisitions (including the Beryl field) and in exploration and production expenditures.

Notwithstanding these massive expenditures, Apache remains comfortably cash positive in the North Sea. The key to Apache’s success has been its clear mission and core values that have unified the corporation throughout its 59-year history.

Above left The Forties Alpha Satellite Platform topsides being installed by the Thialf heavy lift barge

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Apache North Sea

European oil & gas

PROFILE

35

OGN group The Apache/OGN Success Story Offshore Group Newcastle Limited (OGN) is a leading UK oil and gas and offshore wind engineering, procurement and construction contractor, headquartered in Tyneside.

The Hadrian Yard, OGN’s flagship facility, has a long and distinguished history of executing and delivering a significant proportion of the offshore oil and gas infrastructure operating in the North Sea/UKCS/Norwegian sector over a 30 year period.

In late 2009 OGN required a facility that could accommodate large scale EPC contracts, and the Hadrian yard with its previous track record and glowing credentials, which had been mothballed by former owners Amec in 2005 was the perfect option.

OGN’s big break – The Apache Forties Alpha Satellite Platform (FASP) project OGN’s first major FEED & EPC contracts were the Forties Alpha Satellite Platform (FASP) for Apache North Sea Ltd – one of the largest North Sea EPC contracts to be fully completed in the UK in recent years.

Awarded in September 2010, the scope of work for this 18 slot drilling and production platform is summarised below: l

A 5750te integrated production platform including wellbay drilling area, separation, compression and power generation, which sailed away from the Hadrian Yard in May 2013. l A 5900te 4-leg jacket for 106m of water comprising 3-pile cluster assemblies and mud-mat structures at each corner, which sailed away from the Hadrian Yard facility in August 2012. l 4000te of fabricated jacket piles around 80m in length. l A 450te link bridge structure between the new satellite platform and the existing Forties Alpha host platform carrying personnel access and hydrocarbon/utility services between the facilities.

So why choose OGN? There are three underlying fundamental factors why Apache North Sea Limited and other major oil and gas operators have had the confidence and foresight to place major EPC contracts with OGN Group, and they are: 1. Resources & experience – The North East has a longstanding heritage within the heavy industry sector, and as a result benefits from the UK’s largest resource of skilled engineering manpower. This is combined with a senior management and project team with unrivalled experience and knowledge gained within the oil and gas fabrication sector.

2. Facilities – The Hadrian Yard boasts a 32 hectare (~75 Acres) dedicated offshore construction site with extensive fabrication shops, engineering and project offices and reinforced quays which allow for handling of heavy load-out structures up to 13,000 tonnes. This provides OGN with the perfect facility to undertake large scale EPC projects for the oil and gas market.

3. Access to the market - Located on the banks of the River Tyne OGN is perfectly situated to cost effectively access and service the North Sea oil and gas industry.

Apache FASP - success The three factors above, together with a collaborative ‘can do’ approach adopted by both the Apache and OGN integrated team’s, has produced a world-class performance and a positive business result for both organisations.

Commenting on this proactive and dynamic approach to the fast-track project execution, Craig Melville, OGN’s executive director & chief commercial officer states: “Both Apache and OGN recognised from the outset that delivery of the FASP project would only be achieved with the focus of our integrated effort being on the project and jointly embracing the execution and implementation challenge, we would face. This was achieved and maintained throughout the project and the fully installed FASP bears testament to this. OGN now looks forward to continuing to support Apache’s growing business going forward, both from a North Sea and international perspective.

Above Craig Melville, OGN’s Executive Director & Chief Commercial Officer

Building on the Success Success breeds success, and OGN is now working on another major project for Talisman Sinopec Energy UK Limited on the Montrose field. Awarded in October 2012, the project is for a jacket structure, which will form part of a new bridge-linked platform within the Montrose Area Redevelopment (MAR) field. In a multi-million pound deal, the jacket which weighs circa 5400 tonnes, measuring 118 metres in length will be due for delivery in March 2014.

Apache North Sea

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

37

Dedicated to empowering employees to achieve the company’s strategic goals through devolved decision-making, Apache’s global team is united by a commitment to build shareholder value through a culture of innovation and knowledge where the best answers win. While safety

and compliance are paramount to all Apache operations, it is Apache’s pace of work that sets it apart, with the results being returned to their shareholders.

The speed of development in bringing oil to the market is central to Apache; a drive to

Above Bacchus bundle towhead being launched from Wick

Petrofac is one of the world’s leading oilfield service providers with an exceptional track record for the safe delivery of commitments to our North Sea and global customers Our Offshore Projects & Operations businesses specialise in brownfield engineering, operations and maintenance, on a standalone or integrated basis, on and offshore

Together, we help customers across the globe unlock the value of their resources and extend the life of their assets To find out more about us visit www.petrofac.com

Apache North Sea

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

39

succeed with a sense of urgency. The company likes to foster a contrarian spirit; if it sees opportunities to do something differently it will make the change. Apache expects top performance from its staff and invests in its people to make sure they are competent and well trained. At Apache all opinions are valued, which fosters an open culture where the best answers win. Through living and breathing this

culture of transparency, drive, responsibility, innovation and safety, they demonstrate that they are different on a daily basis.

Apache’s ten-year anniversary in the North Sea was in April 2013. The company intends to invest in the North Sea for the long term and it plans to continue to grow production.

It is opportunity rich with a large inventory of platform-based targets and many exploration

A NORTH SEA SUCCESS STORY Four years on from picking up the contract to provide EPC services to the five Forties field assets, Petrofac’s remit has nearly quadrupled in size. Worth £25 million initially, the contract was extended last year to cover the Beryl Alpha and Bravo platforms and the Scottish Area Gas Evacuation (SAGE) facility at St Fergus, and with more work constantly coming on stream, it will be worth more than £85 million by the end of 2013.

Petrofac’s relationship with Apache Corporation is fast becoming a cornerstone of its continuing North Sea success story.

Four years on from picking up the contract to provide EPC services to the five Forties field assets, Petrofac’s remit has nearly quadrupled in size. Worth £25 million initially, the contract was extended last year to cover the Beryl Alpha and Bravo platforms and the Scottish Area Gas Evacuation (SAGE) facility at St Fergus, and with more work constantly coming on stream, it will be worth more than £85 million by the end of 2013.

Early in the relationship, Petrofac Offshore Projects & Operations executed high-profile projects including the Forties Alpha and Delta debottlenecking and the Bacchus field tie-back to Alpha. And the project team already has Apache’s biggest ever turnaround on its CV – in 2011, it successfully liquidated some 22,000 hours over a three week period on the Forties Alpha. But Apache’s ongoing investment programme has seen Petrofac required to continually increase its commitment and resources, to work smarter, and to maintain its focus on delivering high-pressure projects on accelerated schedules, as the contract scope has constantly expanded.

Petrofac is currently executing the hook-up and commissioning of the Forties Alpha Satellite Platform, along with corresponding brownfield modifications on the Forties Alpha itself. And the team has taken on Apache’s portfolio of flowlines, which are making a significant contribution to Apache’s wider production enhancement agenda. The first output from this intensive work program, the Tonto flowline, was successfully delivered allowing the well to come on stream as a significant addition to Apache’s 2013 production plan.

Another new aspect of the Apache contract portfolio is onshore, where a team is engaged in the positive isolation and cleaning of Treatment Train Two at SAGE. Decommissioning is an important growth area for the wider Petrofac Group, which is committed to supporting the customer at every stage of the asset life cycle and is therefore developing an increasingly integrated offering.

This offering is built on North Sea expertise based in Aberdeen, with a team that has experience of working on major decommissioning projects including Brent Delta and North West Hutton - but with the additional advantage of being able to call on additional conceptual and front end engineering, subsea and well engineering expertise from other parts of the Petrofac Group wherever the project demands it.

Other live decommissioning projects include the redundant ENI gas terminal at Bacton, where Petrofac has carried out positive isolation, engineering down and cleaning of the process equipment, and is now managing the dismantling, demolition, hazardous material removal and site clearance.

One decommissioning project with a difference has been on the FPF1 floating production facility on behalf of Ithaca Energy. This work involved engineering down and the removal and disposal of more than 200 tonnes of asbestos and naturally occurring radioactive materials. But with the engineering down complete, the vessel was transferred to Poland where it is currently undergoing modifications ahead of its redeployment on the Greater Stella field in the Central North Sea. When it is redeployed, Petrofac’s operations and maintenance teams will take over Duty Holder responsibilities – just one of many exciting projects that are coming to fruition in the North Sea this year.

These include GDF Suez’s new Cygnus development in the southern North Sea, where Petrofac is providing operations and pre-operations support; the major modifications and life extension work on the ‘EnQuest Producer’ FPSO, (for which Petrofac is providing operations, maintenance and marine services support) ahead of its redeployment on EnQuest’s Alma/Galia project; and the peak construction period at Total’s Shetland Gas Plant.

Apache North Sea

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

41

opportunities near existing infrastructure, which may be tied-back in a similar way to the Bacchus subsea development. Platform drilling will sustain a reasonably flat production profile, while new projects will increase production in the region.

Apache has had several recent exploration

successes. Located approximately 116 miles northeast of Aberdeen, the Bacchus oil field was put into production in April 2012. It was discovered in July 2005 in the Fulmar sandstones of the Upper Jurassic age. The third well at Bacchus was brought on stream in July 2013 taking production to 17,400 barrels

Above The Beryl Bravo Platform with helicopter and subsea operations

Apache North Sea

Inset The new Forties Alpha Satellite Platform bridge linked to the Forties Alpha Platform

of oil per day. Having already produced over three and-a-half million barrels, the project has already reached pay back. The Bacchus oil field’s production is transferred through a four-mile subsea bundled pipeline to the Apache operated Forties Alpha platform.

FASP (Forties Alpha Satellite Platform) was installed in May 2013, as a bridge linked platform to the Forties Alpha. It will increase Forties’ capacity by 18 drilling slots, is capable

Harlen

of handling 110,000 barrels of fluids per day and can produce up to 25,000 barrels of oil per day of oil. It is a full process facility, with deep gas lift compression and two power generation turbines. The total weight of construction is over 18,000 tons and it is the largest platform built for the Central North Sea in the UK in the last 25 years. The platform was installed with minimal carryover work and the fast track offshore hookup and commissioning is ongoing and planned

Safely delivering turnkey solutions for apache Harlen is an established and growing provider of fabrication and engineering services.

Proud of its longstanding relationship with Apache, Harlen attributes the company’s rapid growth to successfully delivering a wide range of fabrication services directly to Apache, and through its longstanding relationships with major engineering and construction providers, as well as key drilling contractors.

Building on its core expertise in fabrication for the UKCS, Harlen has used its experience in the manufacture and delivery of specialist modular builds to establish itself at the forefront of accommodation services; delivering turnkey accommodation solutions to Apache and clients across the international energy and marine sectors.

Harlen’s philosophy of delivering quality safely is enhanced by its ability to achieve its objectives with a sense of urgency at all times.

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

43

F5058AAF_CaseStudyApacheForties

1/8/13

15:51

Page 1

(H)EPA Air Intake Filtration for Gas Turbine Offshore Applications Apache North Sea Limited - Forties Field UKCS "AAF Hydrocel E12 EPA technology was undoubtedly the correct air inlet filtration choice for our critical gas turbines across the Forties assets, eliminating compressor fouling and dramatically reducing the potential for hot end corrosion related breakdowns by the unmatched removal of hydrocarbons, salt and seawater from the combustion airstream. For the first time since installation, ANSL are now able to plan for the phased replacement of their Solar Titan fleet as the units approach their scheduled 30,000 running hour target" Ray Bratton Turbine Controls Engineer Apache North Sea Limited

Problem

15MW Gas Turbine Forties Field with hot end corrosion failure circa 8,000 operating hours (2007), first stage compressor blades showing high levels of salt loading and blade damage.

Installation of AAF low velocity system, original high velocity system in the foreground

The gas turbines were frequently failing due to hot end corrosion issues, the average operational period between failures being 6,000 to 16,000 hours.

The units were hot water washed at regular service intervals of 4,000 hours, and also on an ad hoc basis where it was noted that generally the compressor sections of the gas turbines were found to be in a fouled condition.

The frequency of the failures across the assets meant that long term strategic planning from both production and maintenance perspectives was severely limited. Apache North Sea Limited, were aware that the cause of the failures were due to 2 major contributing factors: (1) the poor quality of air entering the combustion process, contaminated with hydrocarbons, dry salt particles and salt in solution and (2) the high level of sulphur present in the fuel gas.

Solution Apache North Sea Limited made a decision to eliminate one of the hot end corrosion failure contributing factors, which was the poor quality of air entering the combustion process, contaminated with hydrocarbons, dry salt particles and salt in solution. Due to a sound legacy of success in the North Sea, AAF were approached to offer its solution. AAF's global site services division initially surveyed the units in February 2010 to collect the relevant existing dimensional data and to ensure any potential solution would be practical from a destruct and subsequent install perspective. AAF's proposed low velocity solution, in order of airflow consisted of Snow Hoods, AmerVane mist eliminating vane, Amerkleen M80 coalescing pre filter and HydroCel E12 grade (H)EPA filter. AAF has been installing (H)EPA grade filtration for use on Gas Turbines based in the North Sea dating back to 2004. It is the ability of the AAF HydroCel to operate in constant wet/dry conditions, effectively removing sub micron particulate, dry salt and water containing salt in solution, that makes the HydroCel the leading technology in this environment.

Following AAF's proposal, Apache North Sea commissioned AAF to manufacture and install the 4 No. 15 MW replacement air intake housings. Unit 1 being commissioned 16 weeks from the initial site survey. The period from PO placement, to equipment delivery being 11 weeks.

Installation of AAF low velocity system

15MW Gas Turbine Forties Field circa 16,000 operating hours protected by AAF EPA E12 technology

The Successful Outcome Economic Benefits to the Operator

15MW Gas Turbine Forties Field boroscope circa 8,000 hours post upgrade to AAF E12

Following the installation of AAF HydroCel E12 grade (H)EPA filtration technology, Apache North Sea have reported no failures due to hot gas corrosion issues. This is on units that have now operated for up to 24,000 hours with no sign of the onset of Hot End Corrosion. The compressor sections of the gas turbines were also found to be noticeably cleaner when inspected during the routine maintenance schedules. The engines are still hot water washed every 4,000 hours as per the service schedule, however the compressor sections of the gas turbines are considerably cleaner than before the upgrade. The planning stage for both production and maintenance is now a much more efficient process, leading to clear strategic gains in terms of TARS etc.

AAF the solutions provider for Gas Turbine auxiliary equipment repair, refurbishment, upgrade, retrofit & noise abatement solutions to meet your assets specific requirements: Air Intake Filtration Systems / Intake Systems / Hot Gas Exhaust Systems / Waste Heat Recovery Units (WHRU) / GT & AC Generator Acoustic Enclosures / Ventilation Systems, Bespoke Acoustic Screens, Barriers and Enclosures for noise suppression.

Europe & North Africa AAF Ltd Bassington Lane, Cramlington, Northumberland, NE23 8AF, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1670 713 477 Fax: +44 (0) 1670 714 370 email: info@aafgb.com

46 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Apache North Sea

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

47

to take less than six months.

Apache also commenced production of its Tonto oil field in April 2013. Tonto-1 was drilled as a deviated well from the Forties Bravo production platform to just above the main Forties Paleocene reservoir. It is the first producing well in the field and began producing at an initial rate of 10,346 barrels of oil per day.

Tonto follows Bacchus and Maule as the third new oil field bought online by Apache within the Forties area over the last three years, with all three developments qualifying for the UK Government’s small field allowance.

These successes have been complemented by top quartile safety and environmental performance. Apache has very low operating

Above The Beryl Alpha Condeep Platform with bridge linked riser access tower and flare

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

48

Apache North Sea

costs of $13.50 per barrel and has the best operational efficiency in the North Sea. (2012 annual average efficiency >92 per cent).

With ten per cent of the total global production coming from the North Sea and an expectation of a significant level of income for 2013, Apache’s North Sea region produces a significant amount of cash that will continue to help fund future Apache projects both locally and around the globe. Meanwhile, in the North

Sea, Apache aims to continue to generate future growth opportunities through drilling wells, exploiting its assets through high levels of operational efficiency, obtaining new seismic in both the Beryls and Forties, and exploring and appraising an attractive portfolio of project opportunities. With a new office in Kingswells, Aberdeen due to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2013 the future looks very bright for Apache in the North Sea.

Left The Scottish Area Gas Evacuation (SAGE) Terminal at St. Fergus supplied from offshore by a 323 km, 30-inch pipeline

Apache North Sea apachecorp.com

Services Oil and gas exploration

PROFILE

Isolated Systems

accelerated and its reputation as an innovative solutions provider has soared.

“We used to be a very small company and limited in resources and capabilities, but our forward thinking chairman, David Colebrook looked for every potential opportunity out there that we could say yes to. This enabled us to take advantage of our then place in the market and take on bigger and more challenging jobs,” says Barry Bend, sales manager at ISL. Having joined

the company 15 months ago, Barry has been involved in major projects such as commercial building services/HVAC for the Olympic Village and the Shard.

“There were ten tower blocks built for the Olympic Village and each of these required ISL to supply pumping skids the size of a family saloon to service the air conditioning, water supply and so on. With some of our key suppliers, and in conjunction with major construction companies working on the project, we were able to deliver this product to support the development of the Olympic Village, as well as anti-vibration equipment, acoustic enclosures, pipework and design services to support the success of the ‘Village’,” highlights Barry. “Similarly, we have participated in the development of the most prestigious building in London by manufacturing isolated pumping skids, which are situated in the pump and services room to support all water and air conditioning services within the building.”

With a wide product range, the company has developed a very broad customer base, particularly in the commercial building sector and the offshore oil and gas industry, which ISL offers its services and products on a global scale.

“We supply everywhere from the North Sea to Australia, Brazil and the Scandinavian oil fields and are currently working in Korea. It is very typical for us to support products and companies on the other side of the world now,” says Barry.

“Because we have been around since 1970 we are finding that we might well be in the second or third cycle, whether that is replacement,

European oil & gas

It has been an eventful

, productive and highly successful few years for Isolated Systems (ISL), the manufacturer, designer and supplier of bespoke engineering solutions. Established in 1970, the company focused on anti-vibration equipment for the HVAC industry, before expanding into thermal insulation systems, acoustic enclosures, packaged skid units and thermal expansion compensators. The evolution of Isolated Systems’ services and product range was steady, until the mid 2000s when Gary Peet joined as managing director. Since then the company’s growth has

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Forward

49

50 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

Isolated Systems

With a wide product range, the company has developed a very broad customer base, particularly in the commercial building sector and the offshore oil and gas industry, which ISL offers its services and products on a global scale Anglitemp With over 30 years of experience in thermal insulation, Anglitemp is acknowledged as a leader in the manufacture and fabrication of specialised industrial insulation systems for cryogenic and high temperature applications in the oil and gas, petrochemical and power generation sectors, and provides innovative solutions to suit its clients’ design criteria.

Anglitemp’s product range includes Calcium Silicate for high temperatures, Cellular Glass for cryogenic and low temperature use, and Elastomeric Polymers for subsea. Anglitemp also supplies a full range of rigid foam insulation including Polyurethanes and Phenolics. All materials are also available in higher densities for use as pipe supports.

Isolated Systems isolatedsystems.com

Services Bespoke engineering solutions

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

design team is nothing without a sales team that offers excellent customer service, ISL is dedicated to the ongoing resourcing and training of its experienced sales engineering team, as Barry highlights: “I came into ISL from outside of this industry around 15 months ago, but I have a sales and marketing background and what was evident to me when I arrived at ISL was that we were extremely competent but lacked the ability to market what we do and tell people how good we are. It was a matter of turning this very skilled sales engineering team, which then comprised of five people, into a more proactive, innovative sales team that focuses on dialogue to see if there is any other aspect of the clients business we can help with.

This increase in customer service has led to our record sales year and continued success.”

To further enhance customer satisfaction, and in response to the increase in demand for its products and services, ISL recently extended its offering to include comprehensive site surveys, global support of its products, which includes full installation and commissioning of its systems from its qualified team of site engineers; this service extends to offshore facilities.

In anticipation of increased demand, the company has increased its sales team by more than 50 per cent and is currently training its new personnel to learn new skill sets. On top of this, the business is looking to move into new sectors such as food and beverage, as Barry concludes: “We are proactively looking for new opportunities in new sectors to keep the cash register going in the right direction. One area we are interested in is the food and beverage sector, and we are working on a project related to that at present. It is still at the R&D stage but we aim to talk to some key players with a view to launching this new product range.”

European oil & gas

refurbishment or repair. This means that not only are we acquiring new customers, we are also servicing customers that may have been with us in our earlier days.”

The incredible success the company has enjoyed recently has helped in its ongoing development of new and innovative products, as Barry explains: “At the end of our financial year, May 2013, we recorded our record sales year for the company. Also significant is the fact that we exceeded our first ever £1 million month in July 2013 and this month we will be processing business with our first ever £1 million plus order. However, the more sales we start to put through the business the more pressure goes on the in-house design team, which is why we have a very energetic and dynamic group of people.

We are very proud to have recently launched a product range of low, medium and high thermal pipe insulation, specifically for the offshore oil and gas sector that can handle temperatures up to 1000 degrees centigrade.”

ISL’s Calcium Silicate High Temperature Pipe Insulation provides high quality pre-formed insulation for pipe assemblies in hot process applications, where fire protection and personal protection is required. Manufactured from non-combustible calcium silicate, this has an upper temperature limit of 1000 degrees centigrade and outer weather protection of anti-static silicone coated glass fibre fabric that is both waterproof and UV resistant. The pipe insulation also offers environmentally friendly insulation, manufactured from a unique blend of mineral components that have no toxic ingredients, asbestos, formaldehyde or ammonia. Furthermore, the product requires no maintenance after installation and can be easily removed for inspection and re-fitted.

Aware that innovative products and a dynamic

51

Enhancing

capabilities With the world’s demand for

energy resources set to grow by 56 per cent between 2010 and 2040, the oil and gas sector is increasingly having to look at ever more challenging project developments.

Maximising recovery requires innovation and expertise at all stages of the supply chain, including the manufacture of steel line pipe capable of reliable operation in extremely testing conditions.

New markets

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

While Tata Steel has an historically strong presence in markets such as Europe, the Americas and West Africa, the company has been less active in the Middle East. That looks set to change, following a successful project carried out in Iraq which demonstrated Tata Steel’s ability to provide a bespoke solution based on the client’s needs.

The company provided 16” diameter double submerged arc welded (DSAW) line pipe, vastly improving tolerances over a seamless pipe solution. The project was to supply twin dry gas lines from Kirkuk to Baiji. The use of SAW material will enable the construction contractor to weld at a faster rate with lesser preheat requirements than with the more common seamless pipe option.

52

Established market opportunities

Lincoln Electric Whether your application is wind towers, bridge decking, pressure vessels, panel line, pipe mill integrated solutions or submerged arc robotic welding, Lincoln Electric will have a solution for your business to help you improve weld quality, reduce welding and operational costs and to enhance productivity.

Our submerged arc welding systems have provided the welding platform for over three decades and in 2012 TATA has chosen Lincoln Electric’s third generation Powerwave AC/DC systems as an integral part of its latest pipe mill investment.

Lincoln Electric is proud to be a supplier to the TATA Group and is committed to developing this partnership in the future.

The requirement for deepwater developments specifically is set to increase in the future with global oil production from deepwater and ultra deepwater activity expected to reach a high of 13 per cent by 2020, up from nine per cent in 2010.

Expenditure in the so-called ‘Golden Triangle’ namely the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa and Latin America, will dominate over the next few years, with spending in offshore pipelines up to $39 billion.

And despite its standing as a mature province, capital investment in the North Sea continues to present significant opportunities. Oil and Gas UK recently estimated that if the 11.4 billion boe in companies’ current plans are to be realised, around £300 billion would be required.

Around one third of this is needed to develop both green and brown field sites.

Recent developments in the UKCS have set new precedents for temperature and pressure

requirements in rigid riser systems. Tata Steel and its supply partners have expanded capabilities with the design and creation of cost effective insulated pipe-in-pipe bends for risers and spools – a feat previously considered financially and technically too difficult to undertake.

Deepwater projects Tata Steel is currently undertaking two deepwater projects in the Gulf of Mexico and one in Brazil.

The latter project was extremely technically demanding, requiring very high wall thickness to pipe diameter ratio line pipe with the capability to withstand corrosive hydrocarbons.

Technical manager Martin Connelly said: “We were the only supplier able to meet the exacting needs of the project, representing some of the most demanding pipe ever produced by a UOE mill, requiring a strength grade of X65 and a 24” diameter.

“The thickest of the items was over 36mm and we were able to deliver all products across three thicknesses while meeting all of the project’s other demanding parameters, including full sour service capability and coatings.”

Tata Steel is one of the few manufacturers with a proven track record in the supply of UOE line pipe in diameters of 16” and 18” and has supplied pipe for projects in some of the world’s deepest waters including Williams’ Perdido Norte offshore Gulf of Mexico and the Tupi project offshore Brazil for Petrobras.

As the sole supplier of 457mm (18”) line pipe for Perdido, the depth of the pipeline (2,514msw) coupled with the severely undulating seabed terrain, made it one of the most challenging projects completed to date. The DSAW UOE pipe (grade X65) was specifically designed and manufactured to the strictest requirements and regulations to allow the best compromise of strength and weldability to facilitate economical installation.

Further to its experiences on Perdido, the company then produced UOE pipe with a wall thickness of 31.75mm at 18” diameter for the Petrobras Tupi project, which lies at a depth of 2200msw in Brazilian waters. Though not the deepest, it represented a milestone in pipe-forming.

As the diameter of a pipe reduces and thickness increases, the levels of strain and power required to form the pipe increases; a testimony to the complexity of deepwater pipe design.

While collapse at these water depths is a critical design state, the project also raised concerns over pipeline corrosion due to small amounts of

PROFILE

HPHT production has always posed additional engineering challenges to subsea pipelines even in shallower waters such as the North Sea. However, these applications are now in increasing demand in deepwater areas such as West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico.

HPHT fields, with pressures in the order of 700 bar (10,000 psi) and temperatures of up

Conclusion The evolution in project demands and Tata Steel’s ability to consistently meet and exceed them is representative of its commitment to continually enhance its capabilities to address the needs of an evolving marketplace.

While market conditions remain challenging, there exist significant long-term opportunities.

Subsea developments, predominantly deepwater activity, will continue to play a major role in the extraction of oil and gas reserves.

Tata Steel tatasteelenergy.com

Products Premium line pipe manufacture

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

HPHT solution

to 160°C (320°F) are not uncommon, making them technically more complex to develop because of the inherently higher energy in the well fluid.

Technical challenges include corrosion, maintaining structural integrity and pipeline thermal management. These critical considerations have prompted the development of a wide range of pipeline technologies such as hybrid/polyurethane insulated pipe-in-pipe structural systems.

European oil & gas

contaminants in the exportation gas. Both CO2 and H2S were present which meant that classic material loss corrosion and sour service cracking respectively needed to be addressed.

This was managed by increasing the nominal wall thickness to account for loss of material during life, resulting in thicknesses greater than 36mm. Tata Steel also ensured the procured plate provided ultimate resistance to hydrogen induced and sulfide stress cracking as well as selecting the correct welding consumable and weld procedure specification to maintain similar resistance to sour service cracking in the weld.

Tata Steel

53

54 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

standard

Setting the

It has been an exciting time

for Suretank over the past few years; the company has expanded with almost break-neck momentum and is showing no signs of slowing down. Whether focusing on improving its production techniques or expanding into new markets, Suretank has earned a reputation as an industry-leading specialist in the design and supply of offshore transport containers.

The company was formed in 1995 by Patrick Joy, Pat O’Hare and Niall Lund, to supply chemical tanks to the oil and gas industry in the North Sea. The trio recognised the need for high quality storage solutions within the industry and this dedication has become the company’s bedrock in subsequent years. Suretank’s focus on quality translates to its personnel and its attitude towards customer care. All of the company’s sales team are engineers, which means that they are able to offer customers bespoke engineering solutions designed around individual clients’ needs. It also has engineers on the ground in every area of the world in which it operates so that it is always on hand to offer assistance from the design stage through to post sale support. As such Suretank is able to offer the highest quality products to its customers and remains dedicated to maintaining a safety record that is second to none. Its engineers work to ensure that the company’s product

portfolio complies with industry standards and it has more accreditations than any other company operating in the field including PED, CEN & DNV 2.7-1 certifications.

Its dedication to high quality design and production, coupled with the company’s high level of accreditation have given it a forceful reputation as a market leader in offshore liquid and cargo storage solutions. Suretank’s customer base now includes most of the major rental, exploration and production companies in the offshore industry. As such its units are found worldwide, from the North Sea, West Africa, the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil to the Caspian Sea, Sakhalin, India, Australia, the Middle East and the Far East. Often, the company’s move into new areas of business has been driven by clients approaching Suretank looking to secure its high standards for their new area of business.

Sales director Martin Laverty explains: “Often companies come to us asking us to enter into new parts of the market because they are aware of the level of quality we can provide. They want to have the same level of production and design in their areas so that has spurred the move into cryogenic and cabin markets.”

Owing to its continued focus on design in new areas, the company boasts a strong product portfolio with manufacturing being undertaken at several locations globally. It is able to provide

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Suretank

European oil & gas

PROFILE

55

Suretank

liquid storage solutions including ISO, acid, chemical and helifuel tanks as well as cryogenic storage tanks. It also provides an extensive range of containers and workshop designs, including associated spare parts and accessories.

The company began by building storage tanks in Dundalk in Ireland before moving construction to Dunlear, and has continued to expand its production operations throughout its history. Observing the need for high quality storage containers within the offshore industry, Suretank began commissioning the construction of offshore containers in Poland. Key to the success of this part of the business was the company’s implementation of its own personnel within Poland to oversee quality control. The operation was so successful that the company now works with several third party contractors on the construction of offshore containers within the country. Similarly, as the business has grown, Suretank has expanded its production capabilities into new locations so that it is able to deliver its products quickly to the markets

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

56

that require them. It has opened a production facility in Skelmersdale, near Manchester and has moved into the Far East by taking a controlling interest in a Chinese manufacturer based in Zhongshan in Guangdong province.

Suretank understands that its business is spread worldwide and continually seeks to invest in new areas to improve its ability to supply its clients. Complementing its other operations the business has begun to work with companies in the Americas, as Martin elaborates: “We already knew that our customers were spread worldwide but we worked towards shortening the time to market by having production facilities closer to fields. This includes Brazil and the US. We started an agreement with a manufacturer in Brazil last year and they are now producing offshore containers.”

An important recent development for the company has been that Norwegian firm HitecVision has bought a share hold in Suretank.

While it has been business as normal at the company since HitecVision’s investment, Suretank anticipates that the two companies will be able to work together to strengthen their mutual positions in the offshore industry. A new Aberdeen office helped to raise the company’s profile, as Martin explains: “Prior to HitecVision’s purchase of part of the company, we opened an office in Aberdeen, as we had identified the need for high quality in the offshore cabin market.

This made us more visible to HitecVision in Norway and allowed us to come into contact with them. HitecVision are well known globally for having a strong market approach and placing an emphasis on quality.

“With HitecVision’s expert knowledge of business development and growth we can expect to see Suretank continue to develop as a quality manufacturer in the global offshore container and tank market.”

Suretank suretank.com

Services Offshore transport containers

PROFILE

Fluxys lng

markets

Above The second jetty at the Zeebrugge LNG terminal (operational 2015) will turn the facility into a hub for small-scale LNG Below Fluxys has extended its Belgian base into a tentacular infrastructure throughout Europe with an asset and capacity portfolio in eight countries

infrastructure group operating on the European market. The company is a major gas transit operator and its offering combines gas transmission, gas storage and terminalling of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Besides its pipeline, storage and LNG terminalling assets in Belgium, Fluxys’ partnerships include ownership in the Interconnector and BBL pipelines linking the UK with mainland Europe, the Dunkirk LNG terminal under construction in France, the NEL and TENP pipelines in Germany, the Transitgas pipeline in Switzerland and the TAP pipeline from Turkey to Italy, to be constructed to take gas from Azerbaijan to Europe.

Fluxys has developed its Belgian grid into a crossroads of gas flows in North-Western Europe. The 18 interconnection points on the Belgian grid are opening the network to natural gas flows from the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Russia and all LNG producing countries.

Downstream the grid serves as a rubik’s cube for gas flows to the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and Southern Europe.

Since 2009 Fluxys has extended its Belgian base into a tentacular infrastructure throughout Europe to accommodate flows and trading on a broader level, with an asset and capacity portfolio in eight countries.

One of the major projects of the company is the so-called reverse flow project for the Swiss Transitgas pipeline and the German TENP pipeline. On the route between the UK and Italy, the Interconnector pipeline linking the UK to Belgium and Fluxys’ Belgian grid is currently the only infrastructure capable of moving natural gas in both directions. The TENP and Transitgas infrastructure, as well as the Italian grid, are only designed for north-south flows.

The development of south-north capacity between Italy and the UK is a first in Europe. It will strengthen security of supply by opening up additional supply opportunities for NorthWestern Europe from Italy, where two new supply arteries will reinforce the currently available sources: the TAP pipeline, which is to bring gas from Azerbaijan into the south of Italy, and the South Stream pipeline, which is to bring additional Russian gas to the north of Italy.

Creating south-north capacity will also enhance market liquidity, as the Italian trading point (PSV) will be linked in both directions with trading points in Germany (NCG and Gaspool), Belgium (ZTP) and the UK (NBP).

Key to Fluxys’ infrastructure is the Belgian

European oil & gas

Fluxys is a Belgium-based natural gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Bridging the

57

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

visser & smit hanab

Gas pipelines Gas pipelines for transport or distribution. New construction or reconstruction, surface or underground, a few yards or miles long, Visser & Smit Hanab is a specialist in developing, building and maintaining both high-pressure and low-pressure steel gas pipelines – in a wide range of diameters and distances.

58

Right-fit natural gas pipelines No two gas pipelines are the same. Each has its own set of variables: the distance and route, soil structure and conditions, greenfield or brownfield, crossings of roads, waterways or railways, boreholes, landfalls and outfalls. Every project is unique, so the solution Visser & Smit Hanab provides is customised, from concept to engineering and from execution to management and maintenance.

industrial Gas projects Visser & Smit Hanab also has a long track record when it comes to pipework in factories, gas storage and production line installations. Whether it concerns new construction, replacement or expansion of existing systems, above or underground.

Installation on site: collaboration under specific circumstances Placing equipment, installing pipes and making connections on site must be done with the utmost care. Furthermore, our clients’ operations should be disrupted as little as possible. Our project staff draws up the execution plans in close consultation with our client, accounting for all the specific circumstances. Our people are used to carrying out activities in special circumstances, such as during pre-planned stops or in conditions where systems are kept in operation.

Qualified and certified We have modern equipment and qualified staff with knowledge and expertise on the whole range of pipes for building all types

Please visit www.vshanab.com to find out more about our company.

of pipelines. Visser & Smit Hanab always works in accordance with the safety standards and complies with the applicable NEN standards, along with being certified under ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 3834, VCA-P, KIWA CKB and other certification systems.

Visser & Smit Hanab is also certified in accordance with the very highest industrial standard for safety, health and the environment: VCA2008/05 Petrochemical.

ihc motion control

PROFILE

Fluxys lng

shipping industry’s transition to LNG as fuel by the time very stringent sulphur emission standards come into force in the North Sea, the English Channel and the Baltic Sea. Another small-scale LNG feature of the Zeebrugge LNG terminal is the possibility to load LNG tanker trucks, with a capacity of over 4000 truck loadings per year. Currently, most of the trucks filling their tanks with LNG are bound for the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland. Transporting LNG by road is a new but highly promising activity which supports the use of natural gas in a broader range of applications: supply of European industrial sites not connected to a pipeline network; supply of ships using LNG as fuel; and supply of filling stations for long-distance haulage trucks using LNG as a fuel.

In its LNG terminalling activity Fluxys, with EDF and Total, is also partner in the LNG terminal being built at Dunkirk. The terminal is due to be operational by 2015 and will have a capacity of 13 billion m³ of natural gas per year, which will contribute significantly to strengthening security of supply and to the effective functioning of the market in NorthWestern Europe.

Alongside construction of the LNG terminal in Dunkirk, Fluxys and French transmission system operator GRTgaz will lay a pipeline to connect three infrastructures: the Dunkirk LNG terminal as a new gas entry point for Europe, the network of French transmission system operator GRTgaz and Fluxys’ network in Belgium. This combination will allow up to an additional eight billion m³ of natural gas to be flown into Belgium and elsewhere in Europe from the Dunkirk LNG terminal, thereby strengthening security and diversity of supply.

Top Fluxys’ large transmission projects include reverse flow in the Swiss and German Transitgas and TENP pipelines, and laying a pipeline with French GRTgaz to connect the Dunkirk LNG terminal with the Zeebrugge area Above Zeebrugge LNG terminal: optimum destination flexibility

Fluxys LNG fluxys.com

Services Gas transmission, gas storage and LNG terminalling

European oil & gas

Zeebrugge area: the facilities in the Zeebrugge area have a combined landing capacity of about 50 billion cubic metres per year, corresponding to approximately ten per cent of the border capacity needed for supplying the entire European Union. Among the facilities is Fluxys’ Zeebrugge LNG terminal. It is one of the few terminals in the world that can accommodate nearly all LNG ships in circulation, from small ships (7500 m³ of LNG) to the largest carriers (266,000 m³ of LNG). The facility has a throughput capacity of nine billion m3 of gas per year and has received over 1300 ships since it was commissioned in 1987. One of the main advantages of the Zeebrugge LNG terminal is the destination flexibility it offers, as terminal users can choose from a whole range of destinations for their natural gas. They can either trade it at the Belgian trading points or move it via Fluxys’ Belgian grid to supply the Belgian market or other end-user markets in Europe, such as the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France and Southern Europe.

Currently Fluxys is also developing the Zeebrugge LNG terminal into a hub for accommodating the use of LNG as fuel for ships and heavy-duty trucks. A second, multifunctional jetty is currently under construction, which is to accommodate both ship unloading and loading operations and will be capable of receiving LNG carriers with capacities from 2000 m3, including so-called bunker barges and feeder ships. These carriers load LNG for supplying other ships using LNG as fuel or intermediate LNG storage facilities.

Over 200 loading slots already have been booked for small LNG ships.

With the second jetty scheduled to be ready in 2015, the facility is set to accommodate the

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

With the second jetty scheduled to be ready in 2015, the facility is set to accommodate the shipping industry’s transition to LNG as fuel by the time very stringent sulphur emission standards come into force in the North Sea, the English Channel and the Baltic Sea

59

60 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Well

operated

Sitting on the Indian Ocean

, and close to the Straits of Hormuz, VTTI Fujairah Terminals Ltd is perfectly placed to serve the major bunker market from what is the entry and exit point of the Gulf. It serves as part of VTTI’s wider network of terminals, which positions the Group at the key shipping lanes and anchorages of the world.

Since its formation, VTTI Fujairah Terminals has continued to grow year-on-year, trebling its storage capacity to 1.2 million cubic metres through significant expansion. The jetty flexibility and deep waters means the company can accommodate any size or type of vessel, and offer facilities for all different types of products. As such VTTI Fujairah Terminals is predominately engaged in the transportation, storage, loading and offloading of oil and petroleum products for all manner of customers.

Reflecting on the last year of business, general

manager Siavash Alishahpour says: “The basic set-up of the facility remains the same, but we have further improved our flexibility to give us a better rate of utilisation and serve our customers better. Our customer base has also not changed during this time, with the volume of products moved looking fairly close to what we achieved last year.”

Another arm of the business is the Fujairah Refinery Limited (FRL) refinery, which is designed to process a combination of condensate and heavy crude oil at a volume of up to 80,000 barrels per day. VTTI Fujairah Terminals is the only terminal company in the region operating such an asset, which adds further value to its offering.

“We have been very busy on the refining side of the business during the last year or so,” notes Siavash. “We’ve done well in the processing of different types of feedstock and delivering

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

VTTI Fujairah Terminals

European oil & gas

PROFILE

61

Nico International

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Nico’s Boiler Division is currently undertaking a complete re-tubing of a 40-year-old ‘TRANE’ main steam boiler at VTTI. New in-house manipulated tubes, supplied by its Germanischer-Lloyds accredited workshop facility are being installed at site. In addition to VTTI it is working in DUBAL, which have 32 waste heat boilers in their facility in Jebel Ali. Risers, discharge and feed-water piping of some units are being replaced. In addition to this it will supply & install prefabricated spool pieces.

62

The total capacity of tanks in the area has increased dramatically, which means the market is quite competitive today in terms of the services provided by different operators

products to the market, and this is set to continue going forward.”

VTTI Fujairah Terminal has seen an increase in volumes over the last two years. The refinery also celebrated the processing of its 50 millionth barrel of crude. The last 12 months have seen significant changes in VTTI Fujairah Terminals’ marketplace as new players in the terminal market have moved into the Port of Fujairah, the facilities of which the company uses in its operations. “The total capacity of tanks in the area has increased dramatically, which means the market is quite competitive today in terms

of the services provided by different operators,” explains Siavash.

“Due to the rising number of terminals coming on-stream we have also seen an increase in vessel traffic coming into the Port of Fujairah as a common user platform,” notes Didier de Beaumont, commercial manager. “This is additional business within the port itself, as opposed to a shift of existing business from one operator to another, so it’s new growth which is very positive.”

As common facilities used by all the operators in the area, the news that the Port of Fujairah

PROFILE

VTTI Fujairah Terminals

Rotork

VTTI Fujairah Terminals Ltd vtti.com

Services Bunkering, terminal operations and refining

European oil & gas

is investing in an expansion of two new jetties has been positively received. This will enable companies like VTTI Fujairah Terminals to enjoy better facilities and greater flexibility in their operations, as well as reducing congestion surrounding the jetties.

Another significant development is the local government’s reclamation project, which sees Fujairah securing new land from the ocean.

As part of this work, VTTI Fujairah Terminals had been awarded a substantial plot of land in a prime location. “We have not yet taken any final decisions on expansion plans,” highlights Didier but the company is considering potential expansion projects “I believe you will continue to see even more terminals coming to Fujairah, both newcomers and expansion of existing sites,” continues Siavash. “But from VTTI Fujairah Terminals’ perspective we are putting a lot of resources into developing different potential businesses as we have this prime land available to us. We hope to bring some of these to fruition in the near future to further develop the business.

“As to our operations, we have medium-term contracts ongoing and so we expect to continue with these into the next year. This means we expect our activities to be relatively similar to those of 2013. We are also working to ensure that we are flexible enough to respond to any changes in the trading environment or customer businesses. It’s about monitoring the market and making sure we align to that,” he concludes.

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Rotork, a major supplier of flow control equipment in the region, now supports the VTTI Fujairah Terminals from the recently opened Rotork Middle East Service Centre in Jebel Ali. Recent VTTI contracts include the motorisation of installed manual valves with IQ intelligent actuators which, with Rotork Pakscan two-wire control, represent the predominant valve control technology for tank farms and pipelines in the region.

Rotork Middle East provides stockholding, retrofitting and asset management services for electric and fluid power actuators. Driven by the demand for reduced downtimes, Rotork’s planned maintenance contracts are attractive for Middle East operators.

63

OffshOre grades in stock 15 - 100 mm • • • •

s355g10 +M acc. eN 10225 (NOrsOK) aPI 2W-50 s460g2 +M acc. eN 10225 (NOrsOK) s420g2 +M acc. eN 10225 (NOrsOK)

Competitive competence in steel plates and flame cutting Over 35.000 tonnes of quality plates in stock Flame cutting • reliable highly experienced partner for heavy parts / high thicknesses • thickness 6-300 mm: 5 oxy-fuel cutting machines; 2 plasma cutting machines • authorised by DNV, LRS, TUV for transfer of markings (restamping) • 150 x 6 meter cutting tables • automatic two-sides deburring line • bevelling robot, shotblasting / painting, additional tooling

Steel plates • • • • • • • •

Structural strength in steel plates

over 35.000 tonnes in stock: 22.000 m2 roofed surface construction plates S235JR / S355J2+N acc EN 10025-2 fine grained construction plates S355NL acc EN 10025-3 offshore grade S355G10+M / S420G2+M / S460G2+M acc EN 10225 high strength fine grained plates (Dillimax 690 - 1100) wear-resistant plates (Dillidur 400 / 500 V) exclusive worldwide HIC-resistant Dicrest stockholder boiler plates: SA516 GR60 / GR70, P355NL2, P265GH

AncoferWaldram Steelplates bv: Expertise, skills and true competence in heavy steel plate processing.

Contact: Joost van Dijk, e-mail: joost.van.dijk@aws.dillinger.biz AncoferWaldram Steelplates bv is a subsidiary of the Dillinger Hütte Group

AncoferWaldram Steelplates bv / P.O. Box 190 4900 AD Oosterhout The Netherlands T +31(0)162 49 15 00 F +31(0)162 42 98 06 E info@AWS.dillinger.biz I www.AncoferWaldram.nl

Breman Machinery

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. We are recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity.

Established in 1878, the company was registered in Geneva as Société Générale de Surveillance in 1919. As Breman Machinery BV, SGS has over 135 years of experience through continual improvement and innovation, and through supporting our customers’ operations by reducing risk and improving productivity.

Both companies fit perfectly to each other because of sharing the same values, i.e. no nonsense culture, flexible and down to earth. These values are the basis for a long-term relationship.

European oil & gas

SGS

65

Extreme

precision With almost 150 years

of experience behind it, Breman Machinery has extensive knowledge of working with metal. The grounding for the company was laid by Harm Breman in 1864 as a forge, and then following the Second World War moved into making weaving machinery. As the stock of machinery slowly expanded, so the focus shifted to the supply of spare parts, and particularly workpieces with unusual dimensions.

“Today we’re a specialist in the supply of large components to the offshore and heavy machinery industries,” describes Henk Breman,

managing director. As the fifth generation of the Breman family to take the helm, Henk has maintained Breman Machinery’s reputation for taking on challenging projects. This includes everything from simple structures to complex mechanical components that weigh tens or hundreds of tonnes, and other extremes of dimension. Yet each is made to a precision of a hundredth of a millimetre.

“Our core strength is our people and their workmanship,” Henk continues. “We currently deliver a lot of heavy components for drill ships, crane equipment, and handling equipment for

66 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

Breman Machinery AncoferWaldram

Steelplates bv

the installation of offshore wind turbines. In fact at present we are working on a wind turbine handling system that weighs over 300 tonnes in total to a very short lead time of just six months.” The company also has clients within military, aerospace, and general industry such as machine builders and mechanical engineers.

What is somewhat unique is that Breman Machinery can fabricate these components and structures entirely in-house. The company’s 25-metre high workshops are home to all the necessary equipment for machining and nonmachining processing of materials including rolling, boring and milling, welding, corrosion protection, assembly and fitting. Its location beside open water also means that it has a direct connection to international ports such as Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

“Often the first question we get is ‘can you make this kind of unusual product’,” notes Henk. “We are very strong in making extreme components and work in a niche market fabricating parts that are often far from the norm. A lot of the design and development work is done by the customer so our aim is to try and realise those dreams.”

Breman Machinery prides itself on the scope of its facilities, which include a wide range of CNC-controlled machines. These are essential to enabling the company to form its large pieces with the greatest precision to conform to the accepted tolerances. Although the structures themselves may be complex, many of the manufacturing processes performed by Breman Machinery are quite typical such as cutting and angle bending. It also means that the

company is more flexible by not having to rely on third parties. In fact it is Breman Machinery that often gets certain processing operations outsourced to it by mechanical engineers and plant manufacturers that regard the company as a subcontractor.

Earlier in the year Breman Machinery brought a new RX18 machine from Reiden Swiss for use in milling, turning and boring. This investment is expected to be delivered at the end of the year.

“We have an in-house policy that we don’t have to get bigger as a company, but we do invest to be a better company. This type of machine is very sophisticated and much faster so it presents a lot of possibilities, and we feel will gives us a better position on the market,” elaborates Henk.

“We have also invested in a whole new factory at IJmuiden, which will be home to our new sister company – Breman Offshore,” he continues. “The site is positioned right on the sea enabling us to supply large ships, and to create heavy and large projects which can then be more easily transported.”

With the company viewing the offshore industry as being a key growth area, both from the oil and gas and renewable energy perspective, this facility represents a major strategic decision.

“Our aim is to be able to provide even larger components in the future,” concludes Henk.

“We also want to not only be able to provide the steel work, but also hydraulic and electrical competences for a more complete component that customers can just plug and play. This will remove some of the challenges of production because the client can just subcontract a complete system from Breman Machinery.”

Plates from stock or profiled parts, the choice is yours!

It is the combination of comprehensive stocks of over 35,000 tons of heavy carbon steel plates plus the sophisticated profiling plant that gives AWS a decisive lead in experience, product range and customer service.

Delivery programme AWS stocks an extensive range of structural, offshore, high strength and pressure vessel grades, certified with 3.2 Lloyd’s Register/ DNV. Dillinger Hütte Group subsidiary AWS is a subsidiary of the Dillinger Hütte Group in Dillingen, Germany, Europe’s leading producer of heavy steel plates with an annual rolling capacity of 2.5 million tons.

Breman Machinery breman-machinery.nl

Products Heavy components

European oil & gas

Customer base With its 100-man workforce, AWS serves a broad and international customer base in offshore fabrication, steel and crane construction, boiler and pressure vessel equipment industry, heavy machinery, yellow goods, dredging and shipbuilding.

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Over 35,000 tons of quality heavy steel plates in stock As a specialised supplier of heavy carbon steel plates and profiled parts for more than 40 years now, AncoferWaldram Steelplates (AWS) has made its way to the forefront of this sector.

Its completely new premises in Oosterhout (North Brabant), covering an area of 30,000 m² and with direct access to open water, allows it to operate extremely efficiently and cost-effectively.

67

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

68

Raising awareness

Favelle Favco

has established itself as a premier supplier of material handling solutions across a variety of industry sectors. For over 40 years the company has focused on driving crane technology and achieving ever more impressive heights in offering tailor made, high-speed lifting solutions.

The group is comprised of two brands, Favelle Favco and Krol, which between them possess an impressive equipment portfolio that includes the world’s largest hammerhead crane, the Kroll K10,000 and the largest crane in the world, the Favelle Favco M2480. The group’s patent for large projects extends to the impressive list of contracts and works undertaken by the company. Out of the ten largest buildings ever built, Favelle Favco has constructed nine of them and the firm has also been awarded prestigious, high profile contracts including New York’s Freedom Tower. The group offers a comprehensive package of services including offshore, tower, wharf and crawler cranes and also supplies a full range of marine winches.

These are produced and serviced by four manufacturing facilities across the globe with a total workforce of around 700 teammates.

Its history dates back to 1923 when Favco was formed by Edward Arthur Favelle and Harry Cole as an automotive repair and oxy car structure welder. The company progressively became larger, penetrating new markets and developing its products until its first offshore

crane was constructed in 1969. By 1980 third generation family member Ted Favelle left the business and started his own company, Favelle, in 1980. By 1990 Favco merged with Favelle and by 1997 the group was in a position to acquire the Kroll company, which was originally founded by Mr. Fridtjof Berg Krøll as an agency of Linden cranes in 1956. The Favelle Favco group has been listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange as of 2006.

Favelle Favco’s vision is to be the leading provider of material handling solutions within the chosen market segment. Operating within the heavy lifting market segment through a range of industries including construction and offshore oil and gas, the company’s mission emphasises its dedication to effective, high quality solutions delivered in a timely fashion.

The company also balances its services to be cost effective so that it is able to offer the benefit of allowing its clients to operate more competitively. To this end the firm aims to be the employer of choice in creating effective work systems and providing a culture of excellence.

Operating in regions all over the world the group has established a global presence, cementing its reputation for delivering reliable material handling solutions to often challenging locations. Favelle Favco was prominent in the construction of the New York Freedom Tower, which is due for opening early 2014. The iconic project attracted global attention and was a

Crane rental and operation are complimented by the group’s comprehensive after sales and support services. Favelle Favco acts in partnership with its end users to facilitate maintenance contracts to help lower the total lifetime operating cost of equipment and extend service life. In the marine industry the group is able to offer rental of water bags, flattop larges, jack-up barges and tug boats. It is also able call on the support of its sister facilities including a shipyard which carries out shipbuilding, repair and offers dry docking for vessels up to 5000 Dwt. To maintain its reach and effectiveness in global markets the company operates a global support network from facilities in Malaysia, Texas US, Denmark and the UK. As the offshore industry continues to develop and requires ever more challenging engineering and construction projects, opportunities to provide high quality support and construction infrastructure will be hotly contended. With its impressive reputation, equipment portfolio and track record Favelle Favco stands ready to be the supplier of choice when it comes to effective heavy material handling solutions.

With its impressive reputation, equipment portfolio and track record Favelle Favco stands ready to be the supplier of choice when it comes to effective heavy material handling solutions.

Favelle Favco favellefavco.com

Services Premier material handling solutions

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

significant feat with the construction standing at 1776 feet tall. Favelle Favco contributed two high-speed, diesel driven M760 cranes capable of lifting 64 tonnes of material at a maximum speed of 120m/min and each featured a 525HP powerpack. Within the offshore market the company collaborated with EWE AG E.ON Climate and Renewable and Vattenfall Europe New Energy on the joint Alpha Ventus offshore wind farm. Situated 45 kilometres north of the island of Borkum in waters about 30 metres deep, the project represents Germany’s first wind farm to be erected at sea under genuine offshore conditions. The design, construction and grid integration of the Alpha Ventus project as a test field will gather fundamental experience with a view to future commercial use of offshore wind farms. A Favelle Favco crane model PC300 was used for installation of the 5-megawatt wind turbine.

This model, with maximum capacity of 300 metric tonnes, has a hoisting speed of 7.5m/ min at maximum capacity. This crane is equipped with a 1000 bhp engine and was commissioned in May 2009.

Favelle Favco

European oil & gas

PROFILE

69

70 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

Stork Technical Services

A partner for

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

life 71

It has been a productive and successful Above Hook up work being done on the Buzzard Platform Below Erik-Jan Bijvank, senior vice president, UK and Africa at Stork

few years for Stork Technical Services (Stork) since it was last featured in European Oil and Gas Magazine in December 2010, as Erik-Jan Bijvank, senior vice president, UK and Africa at Stork, explains: “The technical services position in the UK and Africa market has been greatly enhanced by a number of acquisitions.

Since the beginning of 2013 all Stork entities that were acquired (Cooperheat, iicorr and RBG) are now fully integrated. Bringing onboard a vast amount of experience and knowledge has established Stork as a fully integrated asset integrity service provider, through the combination of traditional fabric maintenance methods, integrity and inspection services, and our subsea diving offering.”

Dedicated to improving asset integrity for clients throughout the lifecycle of their assets, Stork offers a wide range of solutions and

specialist services for asset management and maintenance, while constantly striving to reduce risk, assure safety and enhance environmental performance. With an entrepreneurial history dating back 180 years, the company has developed a large amount of technical expertise across a range of disciplines that allows it to maintain the integrity of its customers’ assets.

This commitment to offering excellent service has also led to long-term working relationships with clients, as Erik-Jan highlights: “We attract personnel who are committed to delivering and producing a forward thinking work ethic. Our employees are given a lot of responsibility and we empower them as experts in their field to do what they know best; we have an unrivalled appetite to deliver excellence. This is one of the reasons why Stork has expanded its global footprint significantly over recent years.”

Now organised in four global regions;

Encon STORK ad:Layout 1 02/09/2013 14:32 Page 1

www.encon.co.uk

Encon Insulation are the UK's largest independent distributor of thermal and acoustic insulation, fire protection materials, along with associated ancillary products, required for the Offshore/Petrochemical market

Proud to be supporting

Stork Technical Services

PROFILE

Stork Technical Services Encon Insulation

Compass Print has an established reputation for exceeding customer expectation, and a strong relationship with Stork and its predecessors has developed over 30 years.

Through constant reinvestment in new technologies and experienced personnel, Compass delivers a reliable, high-quality range of services and will celebrate 40 years in business in 2014.

In reacting swiftly to the needs of Stork, it provides an eclectic array of products, such as external/ internal signage, marketing materials (including the worldwide REACH employee packs), safety materials, stencils, labels, business stationery and so much more.

Compass Print welcomes the opportunity to support Stork in this publication.

ATR Group

Continental Europe, UK and Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East, Caspian, and Asian Pacific area, Stork has noticed a change in the demands of the market as clients look to expand the life cycle of their assets as efficiently, safely and productively at the lowest possible overall cost. This has led to the company

strategically targeting this market by offering its customers one partner for life and one level of service from concept through to execution. “We are finding that there has been an increase in clients asking us to structure and frame the problem before executing the work, so perhaps in the past we were asked to carry out what

Having worked with Stork Technical Services (and previously RBG) for many years we are proud to have been chosen as a partner of choice and a preferred supplier for our range of services.

Working in a more collaborative manner and being an integral part of their team will ensure that we collectively deliver the high levels of service expected from the end users.

Consistent supply of high quality products, services and experienced and knowledgeable technicians ensure that optimum reliability and availability is achieved at all time therefore reducing cost.

We congratulate Stork Technical Services on their recent successes and look forward to our long lasting relationship.

European oil & gas

Compass Print

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Encon Insulation are delighted to be supporting Stork Technical Services in this issue of European Oil & Gas Magazine, and proud to be their distributor of choice for marine and offshore insulation products.

Encon Insulation are the UK's largest independent distributor of thermal, acoustic insulation and fire protection materials, along with associated ancillary products, required for the Offshore/ Petrochemical market.

Being an independent business gives total flexibility to manage our customers’ service and stockholding needs on a bespoke basis, allowing us to be a national supplier, with local functionality.

This principal is the foundation of the service we offer to Stork Technical Services on a daily basis.

73

74 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

ATR - YOUR GLOBAL EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS ATR delivers Power, Subsea Tooling Packages,

ATR Equipment Solutions

Onshore Tooling, Lifting Equipment and

t: +44 (0) 1224 222777

Inspections Services to the Oil & Gas, Marine

f: +44 (0) 1224 708573 sales@atrgroup.co.uk

and Renewables markets.

ATR Power Solutions

We listen to our clients, determine their requirements and challenges and offer

t: +44 (0) 1224 775050 f: +44 (0) 1224 722283 sales@atrgroup.co.uk

innovational packaged solutions using our extensive knowledge and experience from working with a multitude of clients from across various markets over many years.

For more information about ATR, visit our website

UES Underwater Engineering Services t: +44 (0) 1358 789808 f: +44 (0) 1358 789575 sales@uesltd.net

www.atrgroup.co.uk

76 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

K&L Ross A working relationship with Stork K&L Ross is a leading supplier of PPE to the UK and international oil, gas and energy markets.

We are committed to offering excellent service standards and are accredited to ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001, as well as being members of FPAL and BSIF. During our established business relationship, KLR has worked closely with the Stork Supply Chain team to improve efficiency and health, safety and environmental performance to enhance overall employee safety.

We are excited about the future, as working with a dynamic, growing company like Stork has seen KLR match that dynamism and growth.

Brimmond Group

people specified to us but now we are being requested to take responsibility for end results,” highlights Erik-Jan. “This is a definite change for Stork, which has come about from us engaging with clients in their own workplace, listening to their challenges, asking questions, and working together to develop and deliver the right solutions. It is about being innovative; we

are developing our skills base to deliver added value solutions.”

With a passion for unraveling complexity, Stork works with major operators on a range of assets such as offshore installations, gas turbines, petrochemical plants, and wind turbines to deliver innovative asset management solutions. The company’s most significant

Brimmond Group's extensive hire fleet is one of the most modern and reliable in the industry. The company designs and builds its assets in-house at its custombuilt base outside Aberdeen.

Stork Technical Services has rented HPU's, umbilical spoolers and diver related tooling from Brimmond to help grow its subsea capabilities. Impressed by the quality and specification of the units Brimmond’s rental customers often become buyers. Stork Technical worked with Brimmond Group to design and purchase HPUs that met its precise requirements. Brimmond Group listens to each of its client’s needs and offers tailored solutions with unrivalled turnaround times.

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Stork Technical Services

European oil & gas

PROFILE

77

PROFILE

Stork Technical Services

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Calder Pressure Systems

78

contract win was for more than £15 million of new work with a major North Sea operator in February 2013, which will see Stork Technical Service’s subsea team deliver a range of integrated subsea inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) operations. These services will be delivered from the company’s dedicated dive support vessel and a range of bespoke dive intervention craft, which have been deployed on major subsea projects around the world and are anticipated to generate more than £10 million in revenue alone during 2013.

Recognised for commitment to quality and innovation, the company won two awards at the UK Oil and Gas Industry Awards in 2013, which Erik-Jan discusses further: “One of the awards was for innovation and safety, which was a great achievement for Stork. A number of different innovations have been introduced into the market in recent years, with the Hot Bolt Clamp being recognised by four different industry bodies. This product is a true testament to the expertise and forward thinking ways of our organisation; it is now a tested and proven piece of equipment that allows us to safely remove and replace corroded bolts on live bolted flange connections with no disruption to ongoing production. This product was researched and developed in-house by our multiskilled personnel who then went on to create an industry first, a safe and successful solution.”

The other award won by Stork at the Oil and Gas Industry Awards 2013 was in recognition of scaffold chargehand Marc Brankin’s exemplary attitude and behaviour towards offshore safety.

As ageing asset infrastructure requires expensive maintenance and repair, Stork is committed to continually developing high quality, innovative products and services for its clients; a commitment that is destined to continue into the future, as oil and gas

companies continue investing in new infrastructure and extending the life of assets within their existing asset base. “We will continue to focus on the four regions we are working in around the world by developing and nurturing existing relations. Our mission is to build on our excellent reputation for service delivery and to be truly recognised as an asset integrity lifecycle partner,” concludes Erik-Jan.

For over ten years of Calder’s 30-year history the company has been providing a complete range of fabric maintenance equipment including high and ultra-high pressure water jetting machines, hotwash units, vacuum systems and accessories to suit the varied range of projects Stork Technical Services undertakes worldwide.

Calder’s experience and technical knowhow enables it to package equipment to operate in zoned or safe area installations in the most extreme environments.

As the demands of the industry increase, Calder works closely with Stork technical Services to continuously develop its equipment ensuring safety, reliability and efficiency.

Stork Technical Services storktechnicalservices.com

Services Asset integrity lifecycle partner

Kongsberg Maritime Kongsberg Maritime is a leading offshore and marine technology manufacturer, dedicated to supporting exploration, field development, production and transport by enhancing efficiency and safety throughout the maritime technology spectrum. Its portfolio includes dynamic positioning, navigation, automation and surveillance, satellite and underwater positioning, process automation, hydroacoustics, information management, simulation and training in addition to turnkey engineering within the shipbuilding and floating production sectors. With over 4000 employees across 55 offices in 18 countries, Kongsberg Maritime is present in all regions with large offshore, shipyard and energy exploration and production industries, and is an established supplier to NOCs and offshore service companies.

Above North Sea Giant Below Illustration of North Sea Atlantic

Founded on the principles

of a family business by the Klepsvik and Okland families, North Sea Shipping (NSS) participated in the fast development in ocean going fishing vessels throughout the 1950s and operated in the fish farming industry in the 1970s. Having developed a reputation for innovation, the company saw an opportunity to expand within the booming Norwegian offshore industry and began focusing on the management of remotely operated vehicles (ROV), inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM), and cable and seismic vessels in 1980.

Over the years, NSS has been involved in the development of groundbreaking vessels such as the North Sea Surveyor in 1983, which was the world’s first ROV and survey vessel to track ROVs acoustically. Later, in 1997, NSS worked with Stolt Comex on the first purposebuilt IMR boat, the MV Seaway Kingfisher.

Today NSS group, and related companies, is involved in nine different vessels. Three of them are 100 per cent owned and the others are together with partners. NSS has an international client base; this includes major firms such as ElectroMagnetic GeoServices (EMGS), Technip and Global Marine.

Providing a wide range of services based around vessel ownership and the operations of its fleet, as well as the management of the vessels of other owners, NSS operates all vessels according to the modern ISM code, with a focus on experience and quality seamanship. All operations the shipping firm is involved in are in accordance with the Total Safety Management Concept. This applies a variety of quality controls, in which its quality assurance system run in UNISEA marine software (based on ISO 9001/14001) has a central role.

The company’s most recent contract was in

June 2013 with EMGS, which extended the charter hire period for the Atlantic Guardian vessel from 1st September 2013 to 1st March 2014. Moreover, EMGS agreed to charter the vessel for a further period of at least two years, with the option of three one-year extensions.

Under the agreement terms, NSS will conduct upgrades on the vessel to provide vastly improved fuel efficiency and station-keeping capabilities, which is anticipated to be completed throughout a five-week yard stay in 2014.

Modifications will also be made on the vessel for EMGS’s state-of-the-art equipment.

Well established as an innovative shipping company with industry expertise, NSS was awarded a long-term charter contract with Technip in July 2012 for a new build offshore construction vessel, the North Sea Atlantic.

Designated ST-261 CD, the multipurpose offshore construction vessel, with a length of 142 metres and width of 27 metres, was specially designed by Skipsteknisk for operation under harsh weather conditions, along with high maneuverability and station keeping capabilities.

The vessel’s specification meets the most stringent requirements for global deepwater subsea operations and it will be outfitted and prepared for duties such as pipelaying/ cablelaying from carousels with VLS through moonpool or over stern, ROV operations, crane operations for bottom positioning of modules, and subsea installation works though moonpool and over shipside.

Features on the North Sea Atlantic include a power generating plant, with four diesel generators, one harbour generator and one emergency generator, tank capacities of 2100 cubic metres for fuel oil, two passive anti-rolling tanks, a semi-active anti-roll system and an anti-heeling tank system for crane operations.

The large advanced offshore construction vessel also has two main Azimuth propellers, 4500 kilowatts each, two electric driven tunnel thrusters in bow, each 2200 kilowatts, and two retractable Azimuth thrusters in bow, each 2000 kilowatts. On deck it will be equipped with a 550 tonne active heave compensation (AHC) crane as well as a 50 tonne AHC crane and will have capacity to accommodate 120 persons on board (pob). Bergen Group BMV AS will construct the vessel in the Norwegian city of Bergen for delivery in the second quarter of 2014, before it is chartered to Technip for a period of five to seven years with a five-year optional extension and the further option of purchasing the vessel.

The cutting-edge new build is certain to

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

operator Smooth

North Sea Shipping

European oil & gas

PROFILE

79

80 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

the Voith Schneiber propellers, has an extremely fast maneuvering response and active stabilising system. Another strength of the vessel the unique design of its six engines and six propellers, which are fitted in three sets of two; this design ensures North Sea Giant can continue operating at dynamic positioning (DP) class III if one side of the vessel is lost due to fire, water damage or total engine breakdown in one of the three engine rooms. Following the launch of North Sea Giant in 2011, the vessel was awarded the prestigious Offshore Support Journal Ship of the Year 2012 award in February 2012 for its innovative and advanced features; the award was given to the designers of the vessels, Sawicon, and builders, Metalships and Docks.

Having developed an excellent reputation and an impressive fleet, the future looks positive for NSS as it prepares for the launch of the North Sea Atlantic in late 2013 and continues to lead the way in the offshore industry for innovative vessels and offering first class construction services.

Above North Sea Giant laying umbilical

North Sea Shipping AS northsea.no

Services Vessel owner and operator

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

further cement the excellent reputation NSS has developed since its inception more than 60 years ago and will complement the company’s ultra-modern ‘vessel for the future’, North Sea Giant, which was launched in 2011 and is also contracted to Technip Norge until the final quarter of 2015. One of the most advanced vessels built in recent years, according to SPS rules in 2010/2011, the North Sea Giant is capable of different activities, such as well intervention, subsea construction and drilling. Due to its low Loss concept diesel electric system, the vessel has extremely high redundancy; it also boasts a complete diesel electric power plant, which offers fuel savings, has a high load capacity on deck, thanks to its overall length of 160.9 metres and breadth of 30 metres, and two AHC cranes, one of which has a high crane capacity of 400 tonnes, with 3000 metres of wire for deepwater operations.

Developing a total power of 28,000 bhp, North Sea Giant has a total bollard pull of approximately 200 tonnes and, through utilising

North Sea Shipping

European oil & gas

PROFILE

81

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

82

Growth in the The international

pipeline division of A.Hakpark, a family of companies that provide total solutions for the transportation and distribution of oil, gas, water, electricity, lighting and renewable energy, data, telecom traffic and industrial services, A.Hak International BV, handles the full spectrum of services for large diameter transport pipelines.

Headquartered in Holland, the division has been installing pipelines for 50 years, as Theo Verkerk, area manager of Africa for

A.Hak International BV elaborates: “In 1963 a big gas field was discovered in Holland and it became necessary to make a system for that. We were transporting the pipelines at first, then we began welding and putting the

pipes together and laying the pipes ourselves.

Today we are one of the major contractors in Holland for underground infrastructure services, such as oil, gas and water, but also, district heating and electricity.”

As a family of companies that all operate independently, A.Hakpark also integrates its divisions to offer complete solutions to complex multidisciplinary projects independently. The divisions are characterised by their problemsolving attitude, which is apparent in the advanced machinery and equipment utilised, such as the direct pipe drill technique, one of the unique selling points of sister company A.Hak Drillcon. “The technology we are using for putting the pipelines together is used all over the world, but we have a direct pipe drill system that is unique in the world. A.Hak is the sole company to use this method,” highlights Theo.

“If clients don’t want to cross rivers, railroads or highways, this is one of the drilling methods that allows us to drill underneath.”

Using this method, a tailor-made, approximately 20 metre long tunnel boring machine (TBM) is placed in front of the new build transport pipe; featuring carefully selected drill bits adapted to local ground conditions, a number of measurement systems, steering

have our own quality system that we work by to ensure our company and our staff benefit from a safe environment. Our focus on safety and quality also helps to meet the expectations of clients like Shell and Total, companies that also have extremely high levels of quality and safety standards,” says Theo.

This commitment to safety and finding the best possible solutions for its customers will continue into the future as A.Hak International focuses on steady growth and expansion into areas such as South America, Libya and particularly Africa, where the company sees potential for a tremendous amount of work, as Theo concludes: “Africa will be booming in ten years; it is unexplored and a huge amount of oil is being found that needs to be transported. Regarding the water issue, we are looking into this market in Africa because we want to supply water to everyone. So far we have gained a contract in Gabon, are busy in Rwanda, are tendering for another contract in Gabon and are also tendering in Cameroon and Kenya. The company is developing positively and we aim to double our turnover in the next three to four years.”

The technology we are using for putting the pipelines together is used all over the world, but we have a direct pipe drill system that is unique in the world. A.Hak is the sole company to use this method A.Hak International BV hakinternational.com a-hakdrillcon.nl/english a-hakpark.nl/english a-hak-is.com

Services Pipelines and related facilities

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

cylinders and bentonite injection points, the TBM offers a number of advantages. These include suitability for difficult permeable ground layers, no jamming of the drill process, cost reduction on shell piles and the ability to achieve great depths with minimum chance of a ‘blow out’. Furthermore, the TBM offers minimal waste of bentonite, fewer transport movements, lower noise levels and a safer working environment.

With a strong focus on working with state-ofthe-art technology to obtain the best results, the company utilised the TBM for a recent major project in Holland, as Theo explains: “Currently, one of our biggest projects involves laying a 48 inch gas pipeline of 60 kilometres in the west of Holland; I could mention another 200 – 300 projects we have been involved with in Holland, but this is a major one. We also just completed putting a big 30 kilometre pipeline through a lake for district heating, from Diemen, near Amsterdam to Almere. These are just projects in Holland, we are also working on projects around the world, such as three big oil projects in Iraq and the construction of a 900 kilometre long water pipeline through Saudi-Arabia.”

As part of Australian firm Leighton Contractors’ project to lay two 48 inch pipelines of 60 kilometres to two new offshore oil tanker loading buoys for the Iraqi government, A.Hak International is laying the onshore section of the export pipelines from the Fao Terminal, located 150 kilometres from Basra, close to the border with Iran and Kuwait. Vital to the reconstruction of Iraq, the project will help rebuild the country’s oil and gas industry following years of turmoil; as part of this project, A.Hak International will contribute to the mechanical work for the construction of the Beach Valve Station on the coast, the construction of eight kilometres of double pipeline to the Fao Terminal, which includes two metering skids and two scraper traps for the laying of connecting pipework.

A.Hak International delivers pipeline infrastructure to the stringently regulated energy, petrochemical and food industries, which requires a high focus on quality and safety standards. Believing quality and safety should be integrated at every step to ensure the successful delivery of a project, the company is fully certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 3834-2 and OSHAS 18001, and is an acting member of the International Pipe Line & Offshore Contractors Association (IPLOCA).

This dedication ensures employee safety and that the client’s own high standards are maintained; on top of this, the company’s transparency reduces risks, accidents and stoppages. “We

A.Hak International

European oil & gas

PROFILE

83

visser & smit hanab

Gas pipelines Gas pipelines for transport or distribution. New construction or reconstruction, surface or underground, a few yards or miles long, Visser & Smit Hanab is a specialist in developing, building and maintaining both high-pressure and low-pressure steel gas pipelines – in a wide range of diameters and distances.

Right-fit natural gas pipelines No two gas pipelines are the same. Each has its own set of variables: the distance and route, soil structure and conditions, greenfield or brownfield, crossings of roads, waterways or railways, boreholes, landfalls and outfalls. Every project is unique, so the solution Visser & Smit Hanab provides is customised, from concept to engineering and from execution to management and maintenance.

industrial Gas projects Visser & Smit Hanab also has a long track record when it comes to pipework in factories, gas storage and production line installations. Whether it concerns new construction, replacement or expansion of existing systems, above or underground.

Installation on site: collaboration under specific circumstances Placing equipment, installing pipes and making connections on site must be done with the utmost care. Furthermore, our clients’ operations should be disrupted as little as possible. Our project staff draws up the execution plans in close consultation with our client, accounting for all the specific circumstances. Our people are used to carrying out activities in special circumstances, such as during pre-planned stops or in conditions where systems are kept in operation.

Qualified and certified

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

We have modern equipment and qualified staff with knowledge and expertise on the whole range of pipes for building all types

Please visit www.vshanab.com to find out more about our company.

of pipelines. Visser & Smit Hanab always works in accordance with the safety standards and complies with the applicable NEN standards, along with being certified under ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 3834, VCA-P, KIWA CKB and other certification systems.

Visser & Smit Hanab is also certified in accordance with the very highest industrial standard for safety, health and the environment: VCA2008/05 Petrochemical.

ihc motion control IHC Motion Control’s MaXine has been utilised in many of IHC Handling Systems’ projects in its capacity as the main supplier of offshore installation equipment to its sister company – both organisations are part of IHC Merwede, ‘the technology innovator’.

84

IHC Motion Control IHC Hytop | IHC Winches IHC Vremac Cylinders, P.O. Box 335, 3360 AH Sliedrecht, Industrieweg 30, 3361 HJ Sliedrecht, The Netherlands T +31 184 43 19 33 motioncontrol@ ihcmerwede.com www.ihcmerwede.com www.ihcmotioncontrol.com

Safe and efficient control in high-sea states Hoisting and lowering a load in maritime conditions can mean having to deal with peak forces that stem from the oscillations of the waves. MaXine reduces these forces and fluctuations during lifting operations. This allows the operator to work longer in high-sea states, minimising downtime and extending the weather window.

The MaXine system is positioned between the crane hook and the load. It operates as a stand-alone system, eliminating the need for an external power source. MaXine can be equipped for dynamic loads – from 25 to 500 tonnes – and carries approval from Lloyd’s Register of Shipping.

The availability of the MaXine tool has nurtured close-working relations between IHC Handling Systems and IHC Motion Control, which go beyond that of a normal customer/supplier relationship. MaXine can also be used in many of the projects explored by IHC Handling Systems. The tool can be an invaluable addition – or even a necessity – to the equipment that IHC Handling Systems delivers. Each IHC Merwede company deals with the same customers in this segment, and therefore their joint activities strengthen their respective propositions to the market as a whole.

IHC Motion Control offers integrated, customised and innovative systems for civil, maritime and offshore environments, inclusive of the following disciplines:  Complete hydraulic systems  Hydraulic and diesel power packs  Hydraulic and electrical winch systems  Hydraulic cylinders, swivels and accumulators  Electric controls.

Producing

Originating in the

heart of Holland, IHC Handling Systems VOF was established in 1955 as Boer Berkel. The company is now part of IHC Merwede, world market leader and specialist in building state-of-the-art offshore, efficient dredging and mining vessels and related equipment. Focused on a multidisciplined global market, IHC Merwede segregated its units into four divisions: dredging, mining, offshore and technology & services. As part of the technology & services division, IHC Handling Systems has more than 50 years experience operating in the oil and gas market and has worked on over 1500 offshore projects with tailor-made solutions.

Boasting a rich history as an innovative and problem solving company, IHC Handling Systems has developed the expertise to find solutions for various offshore installation or removal challenges to become a global player in the supply of handling equipment for the installation of platforms, offshore windmills and pipelines. Working for global installation contractors, the company, alongside its sister companies IHC Hydrohammer, a designer, builder and supplier of hydraulic piling hammers, and IHC Sea Steel, developer of

subsea solutions, IHC Handling Systems offers a full package of offshore installation equipment, either from its standard product range or to the specific requirements of its customers. The three units are currently working closely on a range of projects within the offshore wind farm industry and decommissioning sector.

Although more than ÂŁ20 billion per year is spent on the exploration and development of oil and gas reserves in the UK, there will be an increase in the number of oil and gas installations decommissioned over the next few decades. With this in mind, IHC Handling Systems has a large focus on the decommissioning market, taking on projects that involve the removal of jackets, subsea templates, structures and pipelines through the supply of customised equipment or, in some cases, equipment that is modified from existing tools. One such product available for customers during decommissioning operations is the internal lifting tool (ILT), which can be used for lifting structures, structure sections and topside modules.

Being part of the IHC Merwede group, IHC Handling Systems benefits from having a wellknown name in the offshore industry and the

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

IHC Handling Systems VOF

European oil & gas

PROFILE

85

86 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

piece lifting tools. All tools are required by four different contractors in order to lift and place 108 piles and transition pieces safely and efficiently. Furthermore, following the company’s successful assistance in the Global Tech One offshore wind farm project in the German North Sea through the delivery of rental equipment, two 800 tonne leveling tools and an upending frame have been fully operational for over a year.

Dedicated to innovation, the company is in the process of enhancing the upending tool, which will become part of the company’s wide rental fleet by early 2014. It is designed for lifting large diameter piles, with a maximum lifting capacity of 1000 tonnes and is suitable for piles with an upper diameter ranging from 4700 millimetres to 6000 millimetres. It can also be easily adapted to a different pile diameter by adding space sets to the product’s gripping wedges.

Known as ‘problem solvers’ within the industry, the company is evolving in line with the changing needs of the oil and gas sector by identifying opportunities and translating them into practical applications. “This is why our company statement “No limits, No boundaries” is well known by our customers,” says Pieter Korterink, sales manager at IHC Handling Systems. For example, IHC Handling Systems has heeded the demand for equipment that can operate in deeper waters by adapting a wide range of tools to be operational in depths up to 3000 metres. As a company that has stayed ahead of market developments for many years, IHC Handling Systems is sure to continue offering cutting-edge solutions to the most challenging of projects for years to come.

Kimman Over the last decades seal technology has benefited from new developments in plastic and composite materials like PTFE. Kimman is one of the first companies in this field in the Benelux and has supplied several of those high performance seals to IHC Handling systems.

The process of developing and selecting the best sealing solution is only optimal when both supplier and customer operate as a team. Exchange of information about the service condition and possibilities of the materials is the critical success factor of the seal, and IHC Handling Systems is always driven to improve its technical systems to the fullest and understands this situation. A long-term relationship between Kimman and IHC Handling Systems is one of the positive results.

IHC Handling Systems VOF ihchs.com

Services Design and supply of offshore handling equipment and services

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

financial support of its parent company as well as full availability of the group’s large machine shops.

Despite these advantages, a major element of IHC Handling Solutions’ success stems from its work in research and development. In the final quarter of 2012, the company designed, constructed and installed a pile guiding tool on a new jack-up vessel, for the installation of 80 at-sea wind turbine foundations at the Meerwind Offshore wind farm project based in the German North Sea. As part of an extensive package of advanced handling and lifting equipment that was also supplied by IHC Handling Systems, the new pile guiding tool is a replacement for the commonly used upending bucket and guiding positioning tool as it combines two operations, positioning and tilting, into one piece of equipment. Saving valuable time throughout the installation process, the pile guiding tool is also much lighter and takes up less deck space.

Other lifting and handling equipment supplied to contractor included a 700 tonne upending tool and accompanying hydraulic power packs.

Produced in conjunction with several sister companies, including IHC Vremac Cylinders, IHC Hydrohammer and IHC Winches, the new IHC Handling Systems tool enables the lifting and positioning of monopiles to be completed more efficiently than they were before.

With an increase in projects in the wind energy industry, IHC Handling Systems has also been involved in the West of Duddon Sands wind farm project in the UK, which involved the delivery of several tools such as jacket pile grippers, an internal lifting tool, upending tool, a leveling tool and the purchase of transition

IHC Handling Systems VOF

European oil & gas

PROFILE

87

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Leadership and skills

Formed in November 2012,

88

SEMANGAT SEMANGAT was incorporated on 8th November 1994 and commenced business in the same year. It is a pioneering Malaysian company that specialises in the service and maintenance of life saving appliances, fire fighting equipment, marine and industrial safety equipment.

Created to cater to the needs and demands of the Malaysian market, the company is committed to providing an efficient and reliable safety service, and to this end equips its team of staff and technicians with knowledge and experience, provides them with training, and continuously improves their skills, knowledge and abilities.

This excellent team provides a reliable safety service and is backed up by a fully equipped, Class Approved service station, which complies with customers’ needs for a professional and effective service.

Icon Offshore Berhad is the result of merging the unique strengths and capabilities of two offshore support vessel (OSV) companies in Malaysia.

The coming together of Omni Petromarine Sdn Bhd (Omni), a specialist in the provision of logistics and oil and gas services, and Tanjung Kapal Services Sdn Bhd (TKS), a leading major oil and gas service provider that offers a range of services such as ship management and chartering, has led to the inception of the third largest OSV firm in Malaysia, as Dr Jamal Bin Yusof, CEO of Icon Offshore Berhad explains: “The merger was a success as both companies were approximately the same size in terms of revenue and assets and it has made both entities more cost effective due to improved economies of scale. Icon is currently the only Malaysian firm operating a DP2 diesel electric vessel in the country. Our fleet of 34 OSV vessels are operating in Qatar, Vietnam and Thailand; previous operations were in India, Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Australia and Indonesia.

We are now able to operate in deeper waters as larger vessels are on order.”

As the owner, operator and provider of offshore supply vessels for charter services, Icon Offshore Berhad’s fleet is used for a range of exploration, development and production activities within the offshore oil and gas industry

both in Malaysia and around the world. The company’s assets include 19 units of 4000 bhp to 8000 bhp anchor handling tug and supply (AHTS) vessels, three utility vessels, two 3500 dwt platform supply vessels (PSV), five anchor handling tug utility (AHT) vessels, and four straight supply vessels (SSV). On top of this, the company charters and manages third party vessels as required.

With a boom in the OSV market anticipated over the coming years due to increased domestic and regional exploration and production (E&P) activity, Icon Offshore Berhad has enhanced its fleet over the last six months, as Jamal highlights: “Our five new builds have mainly been anchor handlers in the 5000 bhp area and also our new PSV, all of which are currently working on long-term charters and have dynamic positioning equipment. The PSV will enable us to venture into deepwater fields, while the increase in newbuilds means our clients have more confidence in our products and services, allowing us to continue growing from strength to strength, not only in Malaysia but throughout the region. Our current order book stands at over one billion MYR, which is a testament of our commitment to our clients, employees and shareholders.”

The majority owner of Icon Offshore Berhad is Government owned, Malaysian based private equity firm Ekuinas (Ekuity Nasional Berhad), which acquired 100 per cent equity of TKS in 2012 during a comprehensive group restructuring exercise, and 82.5 per cent equity of Omni in September 2012. Following this, as part of Ekuinas’ strategic restructuring of its oil and gas portfolio, Omni, a company that has won several awards for safety performance and boasts clients such as Petronas, Maersk Oil Qatar and Saudi Aramco, and TKS, which has served Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd and ExxonMobil Malaysia over the years, became wholly owned subsidiaries of Icon Offshore in preparation for the anticipated growth of the OSV market.

“Repeat customers are mostly the main oil and gas firms in Malaysia, such as Shell, Petrofac and Petronas; we view customer service as one of the most important factors to our success as repeat customers are the biggest revenue driver in any business. We place huge emphasis in the company on driving customer service to the highest level by listening to our customers’ needs and trying to find solutions to their logistical problems. We also assist oil and gas firms in

created an aggressive expansion plan, as Jamal elaborates: “Our plan is in two parts, the first involves a new building programme that consists of more deepwater vessels being built over the next two years; the second part involves geographical expansion through opening regional offices. We also aim to grow the company through a merger and acquisition plan that is currently being discussed and will result in larger assets, improved value and international growth.”

Dedicated to growth and improvement, the future looks positive for Icon Offshore Berhad as it prepares for being listed on the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange, while also focusing on expansion and the opening of its own marine OSV training and development centre to enhance the skills of its crew. “Our strategic and long-term goal is to become a global player in the OSV sector and develop into a multinational company that focuses on human capital development through leadership and skill enhancement,” concludes Jamal.

Dedicated to growth and improvement, the future looks positive for Icon Offshore Berhad as it prepares for being listed on the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange

Icon Offshore Berhad iconoffshore.com.my

Services Charter services of offshore support vessels

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

producing more oil in the fastest and safest way possible,” says Jamal.

Key drivers in the oil and gas industry that use the company’s assets and services are all potential growth areas, such as production facilities, deepwater drilling, transportation and installation projects, inspection repair and maintenance projects, enhanced oil recovery projects and marginal field development. Projects are expected to expand and development fields are anticipated to operate in deeper waters to find oil and gas, thus representing an excellent opportunity for OSV firms such as Icon Offshore Berhad to generate contracts for the operation of their assets.

Aware of the upcoming potential opportunities, Icon Offshore Berhad has

Icon Offshore Berhad

European oil & gas

PROFILE

89

technology Innovative drilling

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

A worldwide leader in downhole

90

tools and equipment, NOV Downhole Eurasia Ltd is a division of the global giant National Oilwell Varco (NYSE ‘NOV’). It supplies the oil and gas industry with a comprehensive range of traditional and bespoke downhole tools for complex drilling projects such as directional drilling, fishing, well intervention, re-entry and well interventions. Strategically located across the globe, NOV Downhole’s tool supply and service centres are manned by experienced technicians dedicated to offering customers technically superior solutions to their drilling & fishing challenges.

“NOV is a global US public company listed in New York and as a division, NOV Downhole specialises in drilling bits and other drilling related tools. Major customers include Saudi Aramco, Schlumberger, and Shell Oil Company.

We also do a lot of work for other major oil and gas firms, including BP, ENI, Sino Gulf Energy, Exxon Mobil, Weatherford, Statoil and Total, the objective predominantly to reduce operators’ drilling costs per barrel,” says Gregor Ritchie, commercial director at NOV Downhole. “As a UK producer of synthetic diamond drill bits since the earliest prototypes in 1981, a significant proportion of NOV Downhole’s revenue arises from this product line. In 2001 a breakthrough form of synthetic diamond component was developed at the Gloucestershire facility, and is now licensed worldwide to all major drill bit manufacturers. A significant royalty income continues to [be] earned by the UK company from this licenced diamond technology.”

NOV Downhole’s largest UK facility is located in Gloucestershire and features a 73,000 square foot production and office facility. In addition, NOV Downhole has several thousand leased square feet of sales, distribution and repair facilities in Aberdeen & Yarmouth that serve both the UK and more remote markets.

Committed to offering its customers the most cost effective drilling solutions, NOV Downhole deploys leading edge design technology to develop and manufacture cost effective, premium performance products.

“For example, at the main Gloucestershire facility…NOV Downhole solutions engineers

develop drill bit designs with solid model visualisation, and mathematically model potential vibration issues which might propogate from the design. The virtual product design is optimised on computer to eliminate the potential vibration behaviour in the finished product. The CAD CAM design is encoded and downloaded to CNC machine tools, which ensure that the machined steel body conforms ‘first time’ with final approved CAD design. Robot technology is also used for production of small / high volume components. These are just two example of several techniques used to develop and deliver effective drilling solutions for the customer,” highlights Gregor.

All NOV tools are built to meet API and customer specifications, and range in diameter from 3.5 inches to 26.5 inches, in steps of one eighth on an inch and to tolerances of 10/1000 inches. The tightest precision is essential to give customers total confidence that NOV products will not cause operational issues such as stuck bits or stuck pipe.

With 90 per cent of all work exported from UK, NOV Downhole Eurasia works with companies on every continent. The biggest increases in demand have recently been seen in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, and the Middle East, although increased drill rig activity is fairly widespread as more challenging hydrocarbon sources are continually developed.

Used to working in compliance with the stringent demands within the oil and gas industry, NOV Downhole is fully prepared for unique or challenging projects, as Gregor elaborates: “Despite there being thousands of existing product designs, there is often further need for customisation of bits and tools from the fundamental components common to most designs. Rock is a complex and naturally variable material, which together to other drilling parameters combine to make for unique drilling challenges. Product customisation is sometimes required to address these diverse challenges.”

Aware of the damage that can be inflicted upon tools during drilling operations by excessive vibration, the BlackBox downhole dynamics data recorder takes G-force shock readings at points along the Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) during drilling operations. At just two and three quarter inches in diameter, the BlackBox recorder’s size allows multiple placements along the BHA. Subsequent analysis of the G-force or shock data by NOV Downhole

discuss tool selection, operating parameters, and even advise on overall BHA design & optimisation if necessary. Our sales engineers typically come from a drilling background for example, degreed geologists with years of operational experience, and they undergo continuous training with NOV as technology develops.”

A division of a major global firm, NOV Downhole benefits from the acquisitions and mergers that NOV completes, expanding its portfolio of products and services to further meet the demands of customers working in a complex environment. Previous acquisitions in North America have resulted in NOV Downhole becoming the world’s largest independent supplier of drilling motors to the oil & gas industry. The division’s motor products are used by most major directional drilling companies worldwide. NOV Downhole continues to enhance its technology, product range, and field service coverage to provide even better drilling results to a broader range of customers than ever before.

All NOV tools are built to meet API and customer specifications, and range in diameter from 3.5 inches to 26.5 inches, in steps of one eighth on an inch and to tolerances of 10/1000 inches

NOV Downhole Eurasia Ltd nov.com/downhole.aspx

Services Drill bit and cutting tools manufacturer

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

specialists benefits the customer by identifying possible further improvement of the overall design and the component tools within the BHA. The result is a reduction in vibrations, tool damage and rig time, which lower drilling costs and improve well bore quality. This way, customers can drill further, faster, and more reliably than ever before.

Proud of the quality of its products, the technology behind its innovative solutions and the level of customer service offered, NOV Downhole’s experienced sales engineers are technically competent, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, as Gregor explains: “Although some see us as a manufacturing company, showing technical competency in front of the customer is an essential part of the business’ success. Many technical drilling issues are encountered in the selection and optimisation of downhole products suited to the customer’s drilling programme.

“Our sales engineers have the technical competence and operational experience to maintain credibility in front of the customer,

NOV Downhole Eurasia

European oil & gas

PROFILE

91

ATPC

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

future Inventing the

Libbenga After 60 years Libbenga has expanded its wings outside the Netherlands and ATPC was one of our clients who made this possible, by allowing us to demonstrate our skills and expertise on their location.

Jasmine Project was awarded to us and we understood from the beginning that working alongside ATPC with experienced labor and disciplines would be of mutual benefit to all parties.

We will keep on demonstrating our expertise to ATPC and our other Belgium clients because it’s our way of working and that’s what drives us and results in continuity.

In reference to the above we have started an office, Libbenga BVBA at the Noorderlaan 139, to serve all of our Belgium customers.

Since it was last featured

in European Oil and Gas in August 2011, Antwerp Terminal and Processing Company (ATPC) has continued to enjoy a frenetic period of sustained growth and development. The company was acquired by the VTTI group in 2010, which opted to redirect the business from refining only to becoming a more commercial storage and processing provider. This saw the group make investments in the company and its infrastructure valued at 150 million euros. This investment, backed by many years of experience, makes ATPC an obvious choice for world-class storage and logistical solutions.

Located within the ARA (Antwerp-Rotterdam-

Amsterdam) region ATPC represents the heart of Antwerp’s comprehensive harbor infrastructure.

Today the company owns one of Europe’s largest tank storage facilities as well as one of the largest bitumen processing plants. In addition to these assets ATPC has recently completed the development of full loading and unloading facilities for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which are fully operational. These investments and upgrades are representative within ATPC and its parent company VTTI, founded in 2006. VTTI is one of the world’s fastest-growing independent energy storage companies. Offering 8.6 million cubic meters of combined storage capacity in 14 countries, across five continents, VTTI’s role

93

94 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Egemin Automation

Sita Remediation

Automation makes the difference!

Since being acquired by VTTI in January 2010 metamorphosis is well underway at ATPC in Antwerp Belgium. The terminal completed a successful tie-in to the NATO/CEPS aviation fuel pipeline.

Egemin Automation was selected for the design, engineering & construction of the electrical, instrumentation & automation works. Early involvement and close co-operation combined with know-how and experience in terminal solutions have resulted in a reliability & safety boost.

Egemin’s contribution is only a small factor in the cost of the investment but makes a major contribution towards the site’s safety & efficiency.

Principal contractor for remediation works at ATPC Belgium. Started in June 2010, Sita Remediation is still ongoing to execute soil remediation works on behalf of ATPC. The principal scope of the project includes excavation of contaminated soils both inside and outside tanks, combined with simultaneous revision of different tanks themselves.

The contaminated soils are transported by ship to the soil washing plant of Sita Remediation near Brussels, resulting in a recycling rate of about 90 per cent.

For biological treatment of less contaminated soils, SITA Remediation can count on its infrastructure in the Port of Antwerp. Until now, about 170,000 tons of contaminated soils and debris have been processed.

Further works in the period 20102013 extend the scope to other techniques (DNAPL recovery, groundwater remediation) and restoration of tank areas and utilities (placement of clay covers, gravel, piping...).

The global project value actually exceeds 11 million euros

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

ATPC

European oil & gas

PROFILE

95

is to provide safe and environmentally sound storage and to sharpen the competitive edge of its customers through strategically located advanced terminals around the world.

ATPC gives excellent solutions to its customer’s logistical needs, the facility can be accessed via sea, road, rail and pipeline ensuring that the facility remains a vital hub within the oil, gas and petrochemical industry. Located in the centre of Antwerp’s harbor infrastructure

and connected to an extensive pipeline network, supported by ICE, CDI-T and the ability to supply aviation fuel (certified Jet A1), it is in a strong position to attract new businesses.

ATPC is at the doorstep of several of the world’s premier energy and petrochemical suppliers including, BASF, Total, ExxonMobil, Ineos, Bayer, Degussa and Borealis. The most recent example of its robust growth strategy is the investment of an LPG storage and handling

96 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

ATPC

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

97

VEGA VEGA’s products and services for the measurement of level and pressure are also setting the standard in the oil and gas sector. The company systematically combines the most modern technologies with longstanding experience in on- and offshore applications. And in all this its guiding principle has absolute priority: long-term, fair collaboration based on high esteem for people and production systems. Its ultimate goal is to make everything simple for its customers in the lifecycle of the product.

facility. At the waterfront barges and seagoing vessels can handle LPG where, via an unique privately owned rail infrastructure with six rail track shunting facilities, RTC’s can be loaded and unloaded. This state-of-the-art facility will set a new standard in safety, reliability and flexibility. The launching customer for this installation is one of the world’s leading

petrochemical companies located in the south of the Netherlands.

ATPC places great importance on having a well-trained and motivated workforce and central to this is its embedded culture of responsibility that extends to health and safety and to the environment. Recently the company achieved 1150 days worked without lost-time

98 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

ATPC

or injury, which represents approximately two million hours of safe work carried out by its workforce and contractors. Commenting on this safety performance, Gert Quint, general manager of the company, comments: “This is truly a remarkable achievement, made possible only through the conscious effort each person put forth every day to work safely. This milestone could not have been possible without the superior dedication and teamwork demonstrated by all personnel and contractors. Of course we must continue with our safe working awareness as safety has no end.” In addition to this ATPC has taken part in one of the biggest soil remediation projects in Flanders since being part of VTTI; more than 150,000 tonnes of historically polluted soil has already been

removed, representing an investment of more than 12 million euros.

Martine Borghs, project manager says: “ATPC provides first-rate storage solutions and is keen to impress future customers with its world class technology and dedication to service and efficiency. Together, with our own facilities and well trained educated and experienced workforce, many potential projects are initiated to do what we do best in class: provide the customers with the best possible logistical services in storage, handling, blending, and processing of feedstock, compounds and finished products.

“We love to debottleneck and optimise customers’ logistical challenges, not only in providing existing infrastructure but also to set up partnerships, long-term agreements and investing in customised solutions. Our differentiator compared to business colleagues is not only our combined installations (as mentioned refinery, gas and oil storage handling) or our extensive pipeline and rail connections, truck handling and marine infrastructure, but the most important reason that makes the difference is our strong belief in the qualities and competences of our people.” To summarise ATPC’s ethos regarding future innovation Gert comments that: “the best way to predict the future is to invent it.”

European oil & gas

Dummy copy, pull quote to be placed

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

99

ATPC vtti.com

Services Commercial storage and processing

100 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Manufacturing

Since it was last featured

Below Denis Westcott, managing director

in European Oil and Gas Magazine, Koso Kent Introl (KKI) has continued to expand on its position as a leading supplier of specialist valve solutions across the global energy and offshore market.

In that time, the company has been determinedly engaged in the expanding offshore and subsea sector. In the financial year from April 2011 to March 2012 the company’s orders rose by 36 per cent, which in managing director Denis Westcott’s words is “really a growth figure that speaks for itself.” Following on from this success Koso Kent Introl has actively pursued a programme of investment and development to ensure it remains strong in a competitive industry, while exceeding customer quality expectations.

In 2012 the company commissioned a new machining centre at its Brighouse production facility. The state-of-the-art Scharmann Ecoforce 1 HT2 represents a £2 million investment, which will allow the company to further increase its production capacity in coming years as Denis explains: “The Ecoforce is a modern, reliable machine purchased primarily to deliver angle style bodies, typically used for topside choke and subsea valves, in one operation. It allows castings of up to three tonnes in weight and 1.5 x 1 x 1 metres in size, which enables the production

of angle style body castings to approximately 18 inches in connection size. Prior to the installation of our new machine, large angle bodies were produced on two separate machines, whereas the Ecoforce provides the need for just one machine and therefore produces individual bodies much faster.”

To maintain its market-leading dedication to quality, the company has also invested in a submerged high-pressure gas testing facility and its Kent Introl Business System (KBS), which has been in operation for the past two years.

KKI’s continued improvement programme has led to the introduction of a visible process flow system for all products from receipt of order through to manufacture, testing and dispatch.

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Koso Kent Introl

European oil & gas

PROFILE

101

PROFILE

Koso Kent Introl

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Element Six

102

The implementation of this process has made the production and dispatch procedure much more visible to the relevant employees, KKI management and visiting customers. The KBS process has also led to two active projects, which are expected to come to fruition by late Spring or early Summer 2014. Firstly the company is set to roll out a new business system, which will control all functions from quotation to dispatch.

It will be designed to build on the company’s existing system and incorporate other areas that were previously out of scope. Secondly, KKI intends to modularise its product portfolio to enable it to meet exact customer expectations and reduce variation.

The visible nature of its production process has become a vital part of the company’s quality control process as oil and gas operators seek to obtain the highest possible quality in its components. As Denis explains, “During the last couple of years, most of the major oil and gas operators have introduced significantly enhanced specifications for both the production and acceptance criteria for Duplex and Super Duplex stainless steels. This imposes a very high level of quality assurance and quality control, not only on the valve supplier (KKI) but also the foundries being used. KKI invariably uses UK based foundries who are specialists in casting these materials, but even so, these specifications have raised the bar and made the challenges of compliance even more demanding.”

The company’s commitment to improving its design and construction processes are also representative of the level of importance it places on health and safety and the environment.

Again, these are becoming key focus areas within the industry and KKI works hard to maintain its lead in this field. “Over the past year or so, we have seen a substantial increase in the number of audits on KKI carried out by our existing and potential customers. We continue to see qualityfocused audits but the number of audits focusing solely on health, safety and the environment is increasing,” Denis highlights. “Our internal quality, health, safety and environment function ensures that we continue to receive very favorable audit reports.”

The reputation that KKI is able to maintain has enabled it to work with a number of significant projects and operators throughout its history. Currently, the company has frame agreements in place with Statoil and ConocoPhillips for the GEAD project and Lundin for the Edvard Grieg project. It is

also the key supplier to a number of gas and oil companies including BP and can boast a working relationship with Statoil that has lasted close to 40 years. “We have a good working relationship with Statoil and a significant installed base, not only onshore but also offshore, both topside and subsea,” Denis elaborates. “This, combined with our recent investments and the quality of our supply, has allowed KKI to extend its current frame agreements by two years and also resulted in KKI being selected to refurbish existing subsea chokes valves, which have typically been in service with Statoil installations in Norwegian waters for between 12 and 18 years.”

As 2013 progresses and the company looks to the future, its main aims will be to continue to grow and expand its claim on the offshore and subsea sector. Its excellent reputation for quality and its extensive range of valves, actuators and subsea products puts KKI in good step to make impressive headway in offshore waters in the coming years.

Throughout the oil and gas industry the challenge of working in new environments requires innovative ways to achieve new levels of reliability and efficiency.

Element Six offers a range of components and materials for wear parts in valves and protective sleeves in high performance pumps to meet these needs.

Element Six works in partnership with leading industry players to constantly innovate and develop customised products to meet the increasing demands of the energy industry.

Element Six offers a comprehensive range of material solutions, including tungsten carbide and polycrystalline diamond (PCD) products.

Koso Kent Introl kentintro.com

Products Control valves

Gulf Petrochem

Wealth of Founded on the pioneering vision of Mr Ashok Goel and Mr Sudhir Goyel, Gulf Petrochem Group has become a leading player in oil space in the decade and a half since its inception in 1998. This was sparked by the commissioning of a refinery in Sharjah’s Hamriyah Freezone, where Gulf Petrochem is also headquartered, and just a few years on the group has established itself into six strategic business units; oil trading and bunkering, oil refining, grease manufacturing, oil storage terminals, bitumen manufacturing, and shipping and logistics.

All of the units work together and support one another. In addition Gulf Petrochem maintains refining and storage facilities elsewhere in the

United Arab Emirates (UAE), and trading offices in Dubai, Mumbai, Delhi, and Singapore.

Completing the global presence is a range of subsidiaries including Gulf Petrochem PTE Ltd in Singapore, Gulf Petrochem (I) Pvt Ltd in India, and Gulf Petrochem SA in Geneva. Each of these elements contributes to the company’s vision to be an integrated multinational energy organisation driving international growth.

Petroleum is at the heart of all these activities, and over time Gulf Petrochem has expanded into the various verticals of oil including fuel oil, base oil, bitumen, naphtha, and grease.

The ongoing success of the company has been secured through the commissioning of a state-of-the-art PLC-based condensate splitter, expansions in the oil trading and bunkering sides, and its strategic position in the storage industry to handle different feedstock and finished products. This supported the new Fujairah Oil Terminal development. Likewise Gulf Petrochem continues to invest in its technological base and equipment to ensure the quality of its products.

The first stepping stone though was the Hamriyah-Sharjah refinery, which firmly established Gulf Petrochem in oil production. This is currently working at capacity with plans being

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

103

104 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

Looking to the future it seems that Gulf Petrochem is continuing its rapid expansion having secured a large plot of land at Port Klang in Malaysia for the construction of another oil terminal

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

ultra-modern, fully-automated state-of-the-art facility which has a monthly capacity of 1800 MT. The company also boasts a technical tie-up with Lubrizol USA, world leader in additives, for support and access to its worldwide laboratories.

This enables Gulf Petrochem to offer specialised formulations to meet the niche requirements of its customers.

Earlier this year, the company opened phase one of its new terminal facility at Fujairah with the aim of spearheading the next period of growth. With Fujairah being the third largest bunkering centre in the world, and on an

international shipping route almost 40,000 ships a year pass to and from the gulf making it an attractive storage location. Initial capacity is 412,000 cbm but with the terminal having been very successful since its opening, Gulf Petrochem is already tendering for the next phase of expansion.

Completing the terminal portfolio is the Pipavav oil terminal in Gujarat, India. The port itself is managed and operated by APM Terminals, and its proximity to robust rail and road networks provides a logistical advantage, connecting it to the critical markets of the hinterland, northwest and central India.

Operated by the Group’s subsidiary Gulf Petrochem India Pvt Ltd, the Pipavav oil terminal has been created as a modern facility for liquid cargo storage. This consists of 318,000 cbm capacity for fuel oil, gas oil, base oil, edible oil, bitumen and RPO. Looking to the future it seems that Gulf Petrochem is continuing its rapid expansion having secured a large plot of land at Port Klang in Malaysia for the construction of another oil terminal. Each of these milestones sees the company widen its global presence by positioning itself within the areas of prime activity. In this way Gulf Petrochem will continue to move up the industry value chain, as it works to meet the guiding vision of its founders.

MUC Oil & Gas MUC Oil & Gas Engineering Consultancy is a leading engineering and project management consultancy solution-provider firmly anchored in the oil and gas, petrochemical and allied industries sectors; delivering the most optimum, advanced and safe solutions throughout the Middle East.

MUC Oil & Gas Engineering Consultancy is working closely with Gulf Petrochem to support the continued success and contribute to the realisation of Gulf Petrochem’s ambitious projects in the region.

Gulf Petrochem gulfpetrochem.com

Services Storage, refining and trading of petroleum products

European oil & gas

drawn up for an extension to the facilities. The company also had plans to set-up similar refineries in Tanzania and Saudi Arabia. Connected to this is the oil storage terminal, also situated in the Hamriyah Free Zone, which has separate pipelines to the harbour berth for white and black oil products, and a dedicated line for bitumen.

The terminal acts as a central point in Gulf Petrochem’s manufacturing process by supporting the storage of vessel loads of feedstock, and enabling the addition of new elements such as blending products to create customer-specific grades. In total the Hamriyah facility has 14 tanks with capacities ranging from 600 to 3700 cbm, adding up to 35,000 cbm. Gulf Petrochem has aspirations to enhance this storage capacity by another 200,000 cbm, whilst an upcoming new pipeline from the main Port of Hamriyah to the terminal will change the current logistics scope at Gulf Petrochem significantly.

Also operating out of the same site is Gulf Petrochem’s bitumen division, which focuses on the manufacture, storage and international supply of such products. The company maintains two 3000 MT bulk storage tanks for this purpose. The products are supplied according to different grades, including penetration and viscosity for a variety of different purposes. Bitumen is one of the traded products, alongside base oils and other clean petroleum products like gas oil, that Gulf Petrochem transports on its in-house fleet of tankers.

Owning its own vessels gives the company much better control over its entire supply chain and this translates into cost savings.

Lubricating grease is yet another area where Gulf Petrochem intends to lead the way as a first choice supplier of customised solutions.

The company lives up to this role through close customer relationships and a proactive marketfocused portfolio of products and services.

Production takes place in Gulf Petrochem’s

Gulf Petrochem

105

outlook

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

A bright

106

Since its last inclusion in

European Oil & Gas Magazine, Geokrak has continued to deliver a Western style of geological services to Poland, while expanding outward in to other markets globally. The company continues to push into the oil and gas sector and its comprehensive portfolio of equipment and services has earned it a high level of regard.

Geokrak has enjoyed continued momentum since its formation in 1992, despite initially contending with a market that was slow to adapt to the services it offered. However, the company was awarded its first major contract in 1994 working on a coal bed methane project for Amoco, and its expert services have ensured that it has continued to be awarded new contracts with an ever-growing list of customers. More recently, in 2012 the company embarked on major work in the market of geological services related to shale gas exploration in Poland. Geokrak’s geologists were present on 29 of over 30 shale gas wells drilled in Poland in 2012, meaning that around 90 per cent of geographical service requirements were trusted to the company. Almost all the companies involved in shale gas exploration in Poland (Marathon, Talisman, ENI, BNK, Lane/ Conoco, Orlen, POGC, San Leon) used Geokrak’s services, and at the same time the company was undertaking work for several other businesses globally including, OMV, Eni and Oxy Oman and Saudi Aramco.

The company’s history in working with Western partners throughout Europe has given it crucial experience and a unique perspective in working within culturally different markets. “At every stage

of development in the company we have gained very good partners in Western Europe such as Petrolog in the Netherlands, GeoData in Germany and Kirk Petrophysics in the UK,” explains chief executive officer Jan Purchla.

“These partners introduced us to Western standards of service, which gave us an advantage compared to other Polish companies as from the very beginning we co-operated closely with other operators to learn from them and introduce them to the Polish market, and vice versa,” he adds.

Geokrak’s experience has continued to bolster the company and has allowed it to migrate its services outside of Europe, with 2013 seeing it expand its operations in to North Africa. Drawing on its years of experience Geokrak is able to deliver standardised service packs to even the most remote locations, meaning that engineers are able to begin work quickly with first-rate equipment and strong technical support. What differentiated the company in the project in Africa was that for the first time it was focused on training local personnel and was able to co-ordinate the operation using modern communication channels, including a Skype service. This allowed the business a combination of strategic flexibility and unlimited access to its core knowledge base from its headquarters in Poland.

The company’s growth into new markets is ultimately underpinned by its experience in its core services and the quality of the equipment at its disposal. It is able to provide geological services, mud logging, core analytical services, environmental studies, mapping, desorption, and well site services. Geokrak provides a complete package of services within the field of geotechnical engineering; it offers investigative designs, appraisals and evaluations, and in-situ testing procedures to provide complete sampling profiles. Complimenting these services, the company offers geological mapping and digital analysis solutions to its clients. By coupling archived satellite images and modern GPS technology Geokrak is able to produce results in accordance to the operator’s geographic information system (GIS).

The company’s desorption services have become highly sought after within the European oil and gas market. Throughout 2012 it worked with several companies to provide the service including Dart Energy, Talisman Energy, OMV, PGNiG, Wintershall, CSG Energy Limited, ENI and Marathon. Geokrak began its work with desorption in the 1990s based on methods it

PROFILE

Geokrak provides a complete package of services within the field of geotechnical engineering; it offers investigative designs, appraisals and evaluations, and in-situ testing procedures to provide complete sampling profiles

Geokrak geokrak.pl

Services Expert geological services

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Geological, and the company’s own laboratory is supported by facilities in Germany (GEO-data laboratory) to ensure that Geokrak is able to deliver exceptionally accurate data analysis.

Moving forward, shale gas remains of key interest to the company. As operators like Shell and others seek to develop the possibilities of shale gas, Geokrak aims to provide the range of services necessary to this option. An important advantage to the company is Poland’s attitude towards shale, as Jan elaborates: “We are fortunate in Poland that there still remains a very good attitude towards shale gas exploration, backed by the support of the government,” he says. “We see shale exploration as a major opportunity, not just for Poland, but for Europe as a whole, for the geological sector and other areas of industry like pipelines.” At present shale gas exploration remains heavily regulated within Europe, however Geokrak believes that if managed correctly, shale gas exploration can be conducted in a way that is beneficial to the oil and gas industry and safe for the environment.

European oil & gas

had learned while working with Amoco, and has since developed this technology further in the measurement of gas content in shale and coal beds. This is a crucial technology in making estimations of potential reserves. “Today we have our own state-of-the-art equipment and procedures, so this is something special that we can offer to the oil and gas industry,” explains Jan. “We take shale or coal samples, place these into canisters which are then heated to reservoir temperature, and we then measure the levels of gas released. With the developments we have made in our equipment we can provide very accurate measurements to our clients, and are also working on our lost gas calculation method to further improve this.”

Geokrak also offers uncompromisingly high standards in its other areas like site geology and mud logging. To ensure that these standards are maintained the company continually invests in training and improving its laboratory facilities. Personnel often attend geographic courses within the UK in co-operation with Stag

Geokrak

107

europeanoilandgas.co.uk © Finn Pedersen, all photography by permission

European oil & gas

108

growth Stimulating

Increasingly

, the oil and gas industry must turn to remote and ever-more inaccessible locations to drive business and discover new sources of energy. Arctic Services Group (ASG) was founded in February 2013 to meet the challenges faced by companies looking to operate inside Greenland, where exploration sites and supply ports can be separated by 400-500 kilometres. The company’s managing director, Gerth Jacobsen had worked with oil companies within Greenland prior to forming ASG and seen for himself the limitations caused by the country’s remote locations to local communities and the operators seeking to work with them.

“Every day is a challenge,” he explains. “We are very remote. We cannot just make a phone call and expect support within a few hours.

It takes days to travel here, regardless of what field you are operating in, that is a challenge.

We worked with Cairn Energy in 2010/11 and because of that we have knowledge of what they want from us here and more importantly, we have knowledge of what services they brought with them because the infrastructure was not available locally. Because there was no way of getting these services, they brought a full service pack with them from Scotland which naturally had a cost associated with it.”

ASG’s mission is to provide a ‘one door’ arrangement to oil and mining companies looking to operate in the area. Acting as a parent company, ASG operates three separate sub-companies each operating within a different part of the oil and gas industry. Arctic Offshore Services Ltd is perhaps the broadest of the three, providing services ranging from administrative assistance, office facilities and accommodation, storage facilities, to logistical and security services and bunkers, and catering supply among others.

Arctic Transport and Shipping Ltd aims to provide full servicing solutions for shipping and aircraft, while Arctic Work Wear Ltd supplies its own brand of work clothes. The garments are manufactured in Poland in accordance with a customer’s special requests and orders have already been delivered to Qeqqata Municipality, BJ Entreprise A/S, Sisimiut, and BS-Build, Sisimiut. The company’s services are designed to be sold as concepts, which can be delivered to any region where they are needed and can be tailored to meet clients’ requirements as they arise. For example, focusing on food supply, an initial placement may require around 300 personnel, which can be catered for using mobile canteens and local storage facilities. However, as projects grow further investment in larger storage and freezer facilities becomes a priority.

broadcasts throughout Europe, while in France a television show has been commissioned to follow the progress of the company. Currently ASG is involved in training is own staff and local residents to learn new skills and even to speak English to make Greenland an attractive option to oil companies in the near future. It is a strategy, which has already generated a lot on interest politically and one that should see Greenland emerge as an important market for oil and gas in the coming years.

Arctic Services Group arcticservicegroup.gl

Services Services for the oil and gas, and mining industries

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

ASG is ready to facilitate oil companies’ entry into Greenland’s oil market from early test drills through to more substantial operations, as Gerth elaborates: “We do have some small business with oil companies at the moment, when they come here to have meetings, we are able to provide accommodation and cars, but the exciting work will happen in the future.

Of course oil companies are never sure when they are going to drill so there is an element of waiting, but I have made our concepts so that they are ready to go, I just have to ‘push the button’ and we are ready to start.”

This compartmentalised approach to how the business is designed offers two advantages.

Firstly it allows ASG to offer targeted services, ranging from smaller specific requirements like food supply and accommodation rental to much more comprehensive packages to support more sustained drilling operations. Secondly, it facilitates a spirit of open co-operation, which is a key focus in the company’s mission as Gerth explains: “In my experience the way companies up here work with oil companies is very secretive but our plan is to do the opposite. We plan to operate in a very open way. Being open allows us to invite partners in, they can be local, and they can be from abroad. It is to be able to run our business in an open way so partners are free to manage the parts of the business we do not provide and they are running themselves.”

While Arctic Services Group will act as a parent company and not work with partnerships directly, its sub companies will encourage close relationships with local companies and those operating outside of Greenland. This way the company will be flexible enough to offer its comprehensive services while remaining able to effectively manage its business.

The relationship the company has with local communities represents a vital component in the running of its business. Essentially ASG intends to invest in local communities and infrastructure to rejuvenate them, stimulating economic growth through the oil and gas sector. It is an ambitious project, but one that has received significant high profile backing. As well as being approached by oil companies and associated firms, the business has been in talks with government ministers regarding its proposal. Greenland has only recently seen a change of government, but the company is working in close contact with the political system. This high level interest is by no means contained to Greenland’s borders, as ASG has been featured on radio and news

Arctic Services Group

European oil & gas

PROFILE

109

action

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Primed for

110

Offering horizontal directional drilling

Fluitronics GmbH Fluitronics GmbH is a system integrator for electrohydraulic drive and control solutions headquartered in Krefeld, Germany. It develops and produces customer-specific hydraulic components and system solutions with around 75 employees and has an annual turnover of 20 million euros. Its customers are industry leaders and come from areas such as commercial vehicles, agricultural, forestry, construction machines, mobile cranes, and forklift trucks; municipal engineering and waste management, as well as from general industry. The main emphasis is the delivery of medium to large series of 50 to 5000 units annual.

The product line contains ready-to-install assemblies like valve manifolds, power packs for pressure supply, electrohydraulic controls and hydrostatic motor drives. At the same time Fluitronics is distribution and service partner for many international suppliers.

(HDD) technology made in Germany, Prime Drilling is one of the leading manufacturers of drill rigs and accessories in this sector.

Established in 1999, Prime Drilling has always focused on retaining a skilled workforce, which enables it to tailor every single rig to meet the client’s specific requirements and the geographic conditions.

Much of the company’s success has been due to its ability to respond to particularly technically challenging requests, as well as to advise on optimal technology. Above all else though Prime Drilling recognises that a successful drill particularly depends on the reliability of the machinery. Therefore, alongside the technical characteristics of these systems, the company attaches the greatest importance to delivering a low maintenance and robust drill rig with above-average durability. In total over 130 Prime Drilling HDD rigs are successfully in operation around the world.

This range includes various types of drill and compact drill rigs of up to 6000 kN pull force, pump aggregates, mixing units, and recycling units. The company strives to ensure that each of its machines are mechanically simple, to assist clients in finding replacement parts in their local market and undertaking repairs without the need for too much manufacturer assistance.

Ralf Kiesow, international sales and service director outlines the design element of Prime Drilling’s capabilities: “The brain behind our design is our main shareholder, Werner Wurm, who designed one of the first HDD rigs in

Europe, and has gone on to develop different types of machine such as vertical rigs, anchor boring rigs and auger boring machines. The majority of our design team have over 15 years experience in the drilling industry and are educated to at least bachelor level.

“Our supervising engineers work with the customers themselves, and are in close contact with the in-house team so we can bring their experience right into the design. As such each new machine is another bit of evolution.

We’re not looking for revolution, but when our customers buy a rig from us they are purchasing 30 years of evolution in drilling techniques,” he continues.

Recent developments have included production of a new pipe pusher, which grabs pipes and pushes them into boreholes over a long distance. It mainly serves for additional push or pull force with pipe pullback, but also can work in combination with tunnel boring machines. Furthermore, last year Prime Drilling delivered two rigs to a client in Australia that were specially designed for coal seam gas drilling – an area outside Prime Drilling’s usual activity.

This was based on the existing rig type PD 100/80 RP-C 45°, which was adapted to meet the specific requirements, such as a penetration angle of six to 45 degrees. Another milestone project was the construction of a drill rig for a client in Nigeria that doesn’t require a separate barge to work in the swamps as it is able to sail natively. It is the first rig of its type that Prime Drilling has developed, and possibly the first in the world. The company has also recently developed and delivered a new type of drilling rig (Multi Purpose Rig) to Africa, which works in conjunction with its pipe pusher.

“We have commissioned a design for a new type of drilling rig for the oil and gas industry, which works at an eight to 90 degree angle of inclination. We also have a brand-new rod loading systems for drilling rigs working at this eight to 90 degree inclination, and as with all of our equipment the system is very simple to handle and control,” highlights Ralf.

“Within the next couple of weeks we will deliver a PD 400/120 RP – C, which is a crawler mounted drilling rig with 4000 kN pullback and 120.000 Nm torque. The rig will be driven by a 570 kW Tier 4 engine, which is already ahead of the new emissions regulations. It can be driven by either one or two power packs, which means a total engine capacity of 1140 kW. This will be the biggest drilling rig in the UK.”

is when the customer gets more than they expected. We are also lucky to have many longterm customers, some of which we have been working with since the very beginning.

“We are always trying to react to the new demands of our clients, and to improve day-byday. As such, we are ahead of the new emissions regulations, and our safety standards surpass many others worldwide. Our order book is very positive for 2013, and we hope that this will continue into 2014,” he adds.

In fact, Prime Drilling has seen demand for its machines increase in most of the countries it works within. This is partly due to word-ofmouth regarding the effectiveness of the rigs, and the continued attention placed on quality and reliability. “We recently exhibited in Munich at the biggest show for construction equipment worldwide, and we received very positive feedback from the drilling industry. As always we have an ear for the customer, which helps us to keep improving, and this will see the rest take care of itself,” concludes Ralf.

The company strives to ensure that each of its machines are mechanically simple, to assist clients in finding replacement parts in their local market and undertaking repairs without the need for too much manufacturer assistance Prime Drilling GmbH prime-drilling.de

Services Bespoke drilling rigs

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

He continues: “Over the course of the year we have enlarged our production hall to give more space for test runs and more pleasant working conditions for our production team. We also needed more room for the manufacture of our latest models, including Trinity-HDD brand pumping equipment.”

Prime Drilling has been a major partner in Trinity since December 2008 when it purchased a number of shares from the business. Formerly known as Trinity Pumpenwerk GmbH, the company changed its name to Trinity-HDD GmbH as of the start of 2013 when it became an official division of Prime Drilling. Together the two companies design, develop and manufacture state-of-the-art pumping equipment and consumables, including a line of reciprocating piston pumps and packages designed specifically for the HDD industry.

“Quality and customer satisfaction is what we are focused on, and as such the company is well known for these areas,” notes Ralf.

“Our philosophy is that customer satisfaction

Prime Drilling

European oil & gas

PROFILE

111

option

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

A reliable

112

Buchan Technical Services

has announced international expansion, opening a new equipment rental base in Labaun, Malaysia.

SE Asia. The new facility will support its client project needs in Southeast Asia, and the Southern Hemisphere.

Formed in 1997, Aberdeen based Buchan Technical Services (BTS) has grown to become a significant provider of offshore equipment rental and contract personnel to oil and gas firms. Becoming part of James Fisher & Sons, a British provider of marine engineering services, in 2007, the company benefits from access to more than 150 years of expertise in marine environments from its parent firm as well as ongoing investment, as general manager Colin Cruickshank elaborates: “Revenue exceeded £3 million for the first time in 2012, with growth continuing at ten per cent plus per annum.

Growth is being driven by our ability to provide reliable equipment at short notice and a three year capital investment programme of £3 million with £1.2 million plus already committed on new generation ATEX CE hose reels, a new subsea hose rental division, HT400 PD pumps, five stage pipeline flooding pumps and DNV certified break tanks.”

BTS’s product range is complimented by the Fisher Offshore machine and welding facilities that are equipped with cutting edge technology and manned by expert engineers. With skilled designers, quality paint and finishing shops, BTS offers the best quality standards for every product. The most recent addition to its pump rental fleet, the WP43, is one of two Detroit diesel Zone II 12V71 powered HT400 positive

displacement pumps to be built in 2013. The portable unit is DNV 2.7-1 certified, has a fuel capacity of 70 gallons, is 2870 millimetres in height, 2430 millimetres in width and 6040 millimetres in length. A further two 1000 HP diesel powered five stage centrifugal pumps are scheduled to be completed by Q2 2014.

Furthermore, the company has recently completed seven new air operated hose reels to its fleet, with ten more under construction.

Built to various sizes, the hose reels are all built to DNV CN2.7-1/BS12079 standard, are ATEX approved, CE marked and come complete with 5000 psi live centres.

Having entered its 16th year of trading in 2013, BTS recently announced the launch of its six figure investment in subsea hoses, which includes a new umbilical hose rental division in line with the company’s ATEX certified hose reel new build programme. Clients can now hire a fully EU compliant hose reel for a project, with the added option of renting new pressure tested umbilical hoses in a range of sizes. The company’s dedication to consistently meeting the challenging demands of a changing market with high performance, reliable products has led to long-term working relationships with a number of leading players in the offshore sector, such as Aker Solutions, Baker Hughes, Proserv and Weatherford.

Offering maintenance programmes to clients, Buchan Technical’s new ultramodern, state-of-the-art workshop, covers 1000 square metres, offers overhead crane facilities for customer pre-mobilisation and de-mobilisation services. On top of this, the company’s new UK headquarters are designed to provide the best environment to find solutions for customer requirements. With a research and development facility, BTS can simulate downhole offshore environments for applications such as de-commissioning tool testing and various upstream and downstream technologies. “We use the R&D facility to test our pumps prior to mobilisation to ensure they will work 100 per cent in the environments they will be utilised in,” explains Colin.

With a pool of 30 temporary/contract personnel available to support oil and gas service companies during their global operations, the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 registered BTS ensures the provision of competent, certified operators, engineers and supervisors across a range of disciplines through its new training suite and practical pumping facility. “Using our new training suite and

and four new full time employees are recent developments to support its dynamic asset rental growth programme. The company will also be participating at Offshore Europe 2013, between 3rd and 6th September. Looking further ahead, BTS aims to generate continual annual ten per cent growth and also gain more work overseas, as Colin concludes: “We see demand in the Middle East, Russia, Europe, North and West Africa and Norway. A lot of clients we have been gaining come to us because they have a skills or equipment shortage and know they can approach us because we have the knowledge to best meet project recruitment and equipment rental requirements. Our clients have been asking for support in other hydrocarbon regions of the world, therefore our international facility in Labaun, Malaysia underpins what BTS stands for customer service and on the ground, readyfor-use quality equipment. The new facility will support our client project needs in Southeast Asia and the Southern Hemisphere by reducing their project operational and commercial risks.”

A lot of clients we have been gaining come to us because they have a skills or equipment shortage and know they can approach us because we have the knowledge to best meet project recruitment and equipment rental requirements Buchan Technical Services buchantechnical.co.uk

Services Equipment rental and recruitment services

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

practical pumping facility we can share our knowledge through various training courses to nurture ambitious individuals in their own career development,” says Colin. “We are proud to retain our people because we offer more; by training our people on bespoke courses for diesel engines, zone II equipment, different types of pumps and applications of pumps, we tailor make our courses to nurture each individual’s development. Practical training is also offered so our personnel can operate, maintain and repair pumps and equipment. Once the training is completed, the member of staff is assessed and it goes on their record for the clients to see. A further 12 candidates have been trained through a range of theoretical and practical training courses at the company base in Oldmeldrum this year to date.”

Throughout the rest of 2013 BTS will be focusing on further training, while continuing with developing equipment for its new build programme and also growing its staff number. Internal promotion, redeployment

Buchan Technical Services

European oil & gas

PROFILE

113

114 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

Swift Energy Sdn Bhd

mover exporting its solutions in January 2002. Today, the integrated solutions provider, which was awarded MSC status in July 2006 and Pioneer status for its manufacturing unit in September 2006, exports to 18 countries and aims to become the dominant player in the Asia Pacific’s fast growing oil and gas market.

From Swift Energy’s headquarters in Malaysia, more than 50 per cent of its in-house engineered solutions are exported to China, India, South East Asia, Japan, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Ukraine, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, the US, Ecuador, Germany, New Caledonia, Congo, Vietnam, Iran and Singapore.

Having acquired MSC status, recognition from the Government of Malaysia through the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), for ICT and ICT-facilitated companies that use or develop multimedia technologies to enhance and produce their products and services, Swift Energy is prepared to target more strategic locations in South East Asia and across the globe.

With Malaysia as its hub of operations, the Swift Group is pushing to develop a stronger foothold in the Asia Pacific region, which it will do through the building of its overseas

European oil & gas

Founded in June 2000

, Swift Energy Sdn Bhd began as a licensed supplier to Petronas for engineering design, electrical and instrumentation service. Over the following 13 years the company expanded into the edible oils and refining industries and began diversifying into the design, fabrication, wiring and testing of its own products. It also developed a strong logistical network, setting up offices in Kemaman, Singapore, two offices in Johor Bahru and Chongqing, China, where it first began

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Fast

115

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

116

network. This strategic plan began in early 2007, when its first overseas office was established in Singapore; operations in Chongqing, China, were established in 2009 and a Bangkok office was established in 2011.

Working alongside technology partners such as AB Pharos Marine, Siemens, Technor and Brush BEM, Swift Energy has a wide range of engineered solutions and services available. Its equipment portfolio includes switchboards, transformers, remote telemetry unity (RTU) systems, integrated motor controls systems (IMCS), industrial information and network security, helideck lighting solutions and network solution, manufacturing execution systems (MES), solar power solutions and ex control and power solutions for hazardous areas. Meanwhile, its RTU systems monitor and control field digital and analog parameters and transmit all data to the central monitoring station through a radio modem. Benefits of this system include extensive programming and performance capabilities, rugged and reliable hardware construction and ease of maintenance and upgradability. This product is suitable for transportation, mining, oil and gas, industrial and commercial industries.

Suitable for commercial, marine, petrochemical, oil and gas and industrial industries, the company’s low voltage IEC switchboards are typed tested to international IEC standards, utilising electrical components from world-class suppliers and manufacturers.

Furthermore, the company also offers engineering design, project management, hardware and software integration, network and SCADA security and service support to its customers. Within its engineering design department, the company designs control systems that are conceptual to detailed hardware and software design selection. Swift Energy also designs plant-wide network systems, DC power supply systems, power management systems and navigational aids systems. Meanwhile, staff within its project management division focuses on projects within the electrical power facility, both onshore and offshore, turnkey control packages and subcontractor management.

The company’s vision to become the premier total electrical engineering and process control solutions provider for the oil and gas, petrochemical, edible oils and marine industries in the Asia Pacific is supported by its core values.

These include nurturing a culture of continued learning for its staff to ensure customer

Swift Energy Sdn Bhd

expectations are exceeded; Swift Energy also strives for an embedded culture of excellence from its personnel and retains an entrepreneurial spirit. Dedicated to prioritising responsiveness and versatility, the company merges innovation and entrepreneurship, thus offering flexibility and an efficient service to its shareholders, customers, suppliers, staff, governments and the community it serves.

This consistent dedication in the pursuit of corporate excellence over the 13 years since its inception has resulted in the company receiving a wide range of awards and certificates from both local and international organisations. These include Swift Energy winning the Top CCS Channel Award in 2010 from GE Intelligent Platform Asia Pacific and 1st place for the Enterprise 50 Award in 2010.

Recognised as an innovative, high quality solutions provider, Swift Energy’s commitment to excellent service has also led to it developing an excellent reputation for building solar power systems for offshore supply. The solar module type SM-85EX met the requirements UL1703/IEC61215/IEC61730 in 2010 and is also hazardous area certified

by DEKRA Certification BV according to EN 60079-0 : 2009, EN 60079-7 : 2007 and EN 60079-18 : 2009.

Following the acquisition of 3.8 acres of land with a factory in Jalan Bukit Kemuning in 2011, the company moved in and started operations in its new facility in August the same year. Able to house all staff under one roof, Swift Energy now benefits from smoother operations and an increase in production volume, as well as the option to explore new products in the future.

This development ensured the company could continue growing as demand increased; with this in mind it began exhibiting and participating at oil and gas exhibitions and conventions in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. Recent exhibitions include OGA 2013 from 5th to 7th June 2013 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia, where the company showcased its latest equipment for potential new customers in the fields of oil, gas and petrochemical engineering.

With a strong belief that the most exciting period of growth is yet to come, the future looks bright for Swift Energy as it continues to set the foundations for its expansions across the globe and increased presence in markets such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China and Indonesia.

The company’s vision to become the premier total electrical engineering and process control solutions provider for the oil and gas, petrochemical, edible oils and marine industries in the Asia Pacific is supported by its core values

Swift Energy Sdn Bhd senergy.com.my

Services Designs and manufactures electrical engineering solutions

PROFILE

Wasco Energy (pipe coating division)

coat Turn Key Pipeline Services Turn Key Pipeline Services BV based in The Netherlands (TKPS) is a leading supplier of automated pipe handling and pipe coating equipment.

WASCO Energy is a shareholder within TKPS, where WASCO Energy being a leading contractor within the global pipe coating market utilises its shareholding with TKPS to support its base and global operations.

WASCO Energy was recently awarded a major contract

by Statoil to develop a new concrete coating facility in Mo I Rana, (Norway) upon this award WASCO engaged TKPS for the overall development design, site development, procurement of third party supplies, manufacturing of the coating equipment, managing the installation and commissioning of the facility.

infrastructure group, Wasco Energy’s operations have been organised into three business divisions - Pipeline Services, Engineering and E&P Services.

Through these distinct products and service offerings, the Group serves clients across Asia and Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas. The Group is committed to serving its expanding pool of clients through a dedication to mutually beneficial partnerships, and the innovation, creativity and technological expertise of its people.

Wasco Energy’s pipe coating division is one of the global leaders in pipe coating solutions for the oil, gas and water industries, owning and operating pipe coating plants in Malaysia, China and Nigeria. Dr. Martyn Willmott, president of the pipeline services division, gave an overview of the facilities his operation has at its disposal: “Our primary regional pipe coating facility is located close to the Kuantan port in Malaysia.

The plant offers a comprehensive range of pipe coating systems for pipe diameters ranging from four to 60 inches, and pipe lengths up to 24 metres,” he said.

“The Kuantan plant is also the only fullyintegrated deepwater flow assurance pipe coating plant in the Asia Pacific region, enabling us to offer a full suite of deepwater insulation coatings and related services, including syntactic polyurethane flow assurance coating, multilayer polypropylene (solid, foam and syntactic) flow assurance coating and low density foam pipe-in-pipe.”

Innovation is always at the top of the agenda for Wasco, and it has recently co-developed the award-winning DOW NEPTUNE Advanced Subsea Flow Assurance Insulation System with Dow Chemical. In recognition of the significance of this of this new product, it was given the Spotlight Technology Award at the Offshore Technology Conference, Houston in May 2013.

In addition to its activities in the Far East, Wasco is expanding to the Gulf of Mexico via a joint venture created between The Bayou Companies, part of the Aegion Group of companies and Wasco Energy’s coatings business unit.

“The joint venture, Bayou Wasco Insulation Technologies LLC (BWI), will be based in Louisiana in the US to provide offshore insulation services to customers in the US, the Gulf of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. With Wasco holding a 49 per cent interest, the venture will combine Wasco’s expertise in the insulation market, with the operational, sales and logistics capabilities of The Bayou Companies. BWI will provide clients fullthermal insulation coating services for offshore flow assurance including polyurethane foam and syntactic polypropylene. The facility is now fully operational,” explained Martyn.

Wasco has also signed another joint venture with Aegion, based in Singapore, known as WCU Corrosion Technologies. Its offerings include high-density polyethylene (HDPE) lining for new and existing pipelines in the Southeast Asian region.

Furthermore, with the recent award of the Polarled Pipeline Project by Statoil, Wasco has also expanded its global footprint to Norway to serve the European market. Valued $198m, the scope of work includes anti-corrosion and concrete weight coating covering 480km of pipelines. “This contract is a timely expansion of our wings into the North Sea region,” said Martyn. “The anti-corrosion works will be carried out in our plant in Kuantan; while the concrete weight coating will be performed in our newly mobilised CWC plant located in Mo-iRana, Northern Norway.”

This new plant is designed to service the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea, and is being set up in an existing building in the

European oil & gas

A globally integrated energy

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

The right

117

Ready to Deliver the Complete Pipe Coating System TURN KEY PIPELINE SERVICES BV (TKPS) A COMPANY THAT CAN DELIVER A COMPLETE TURNKEY PACKAGE OF PIPE COATING, PIPE HANDLING EQUIPMENT ALONG WITH OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INCLUDING CONCEPT DESIGN, DETAILED ENGINEERING, MANUFACTURING, DELIVERY, INSTALLATION AND COMMISSIONING, WITH THE ADDED MANAGEMENT OF SUCH FACILITIES RESULTING IN TOTAL PEACE OF MIND FOR OUR CLIENTS, MINIMIZING BOTH COST AND RISK.

Our clients are the major oil and gas companies, pipe mills, and oil and gas contractors. Our ability to not only provide the equipment solutions, but also to operate the facilities and warrant the coating works, is unique in the market. TKPS is the ONLY pipe coating equipment supplier worldwide to deliver the complete package starting from concept design to delivery of the final coated product.

TKPS COMPANIES TURN KEY PIPELINE SERVICES BV

Goor - The Netherlands TURN KEY PIPELINE SERVICES LLC

St Petersburg / Chelyabinsk - Russia www.tk-ps.com / info@tk-ps.com / +31 547 357 010

Wasco Energy (pipe coating division)

to grow internationally.

“The huge opportunities in pipeline related projects have increased the demand for our products and services and the consolidation of industry players in the market has opened up opportunities for Wasco to tap into new territories.”

One of the major challenges for Wasco as well as the industry in general is the scarcity of experienced resources. “As part of our plan to address this challenge, Wasco has put in place a management development programme to develop talent in the industry,” said Martyn.

“Despite our global presence, we are still a relatively small company and without our strong and dedicated employees we’d not be able to achieve the success that we’ve had in the last few years. Ultimately, our ability to build or to enter these new markets has been the result of the drive of our people.”

He concluded: “The first class facility and capability of our team in Kuantan, Malaysia is the platform that has allowed us to grow internationally and to give confidence to our key customers that we can deliver what we promise.”

apilion The supply of two customised Duomat welding machines for the production of cages for the CWC pipes to be used in the Polarled project marks a further milestone in the relationship between apilion machines+ services (formerly Züblin Maschinenbau) and WASCO Energy, which began in Malaysia two decades ago.

The high performance Duomat welding machine is unique in its ability to produce reinforcement cages rapidly and reliably, which is a prerequisite for the strict adherence to the tight production schedules demanded by the project.

Wasco Energy

(pipe coating division) wascoenergy.com

Services Pipe coating solutions

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

port, using the latest design and technology.

“The new facility in Mo-i-Rana, Norway is due for completion in September 2013 and is taking a significant amount of our attention,” said Martyn. “The successful execution of this mobilisation is a key priority for Wasco in 2013; while getting ready for the execution of the project at the beginning of 2014.”

The top-notch facilities and state-of-the-art technology that Martyn discussed are just two of the key strengths of Wasco Energy’s pipe coating division, and combine with several other factors to create a strong and reliable partner, with experience in international projects, strong technical capabilities and the ability to thinkoutside-the-box.

It also has strong financial stability and a backlog of work – the lean years of the 1990s in Asia resulted in many Asian companies being well positioned to withstand the more recent economic downturn. This is certainly true of Wasco, as Martyn highlighted: “We have a very strong focus on our balance sheet management, and to some extent the downturn of the economy presented us the opportunities

European oil & gas

PROFILE

119

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

120

growth Sustaining

Since its inception in 2007, Baltic

Proton Ventures BV Proton was a key partner of BCT during the basic design of the ammonia and UAN operations as well as safety studies, training and start-up support. With the support of Proton, the BCT terminals were started up within the set timeframe and have been operating safely, even exceeding design capabilities. Proton continues to assist in further developments, training and debottlenecking studies for the BCT terminals, in order to further increase capacity and/or efficiency and to decrease operational costs.

Proton has a long experience of working with ammonia, with expertise in ammonia production, storage and handling. Apart from its chemical terminal building activities Proton has developed mini-ammonia and nitric acid plants for decentralised on-site production.

Chemical Terminal’s (AS BCT) success has reflected the rapid growth in the chemical terminal market, with 3,000,000 tonnes of chemicals handled on-site achieved on 19th January 2013. This is an impressive feat for the state-of-the-art Estonia based terminal considering its milestone of 2,000,0000 tonnes was reached in early 2012. Used for the storage and transportation of urea-ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) and liquid ammonia, the closed and fully automated high-tech transshipment facility was developed from an environmentally friendly concept and designed utilising the most innovative technologies.

Aware that a technologically advanced terminal is nothing without excellent service, AS BCT takes each customer’s unique needs into consideration, and maintains an open dialogue with both clients and third parties such as port authorities, railway, safety departments and governmental bodies to ensure customer satisfaction is maintained. The privately owned company can also offer swift decision-making and fast execution, thus offering its customers an efficient and flexible service. Furthermore, the terminal’s advantageous location on the Port of Sillamae means it is a mere 23 kilometres from the Russian border; it is the nearest and deepest port between the Russian Federation and the European Union and, with a depth of 13 metres, it allows the largest ships capable of entering the Baltic Sea through the Danish Straits access at

any time. The port also ensures enhanced cargo flow from its rail connection to Russia.

Built with expertise at its core, BCT’s suppliers were chosen for their impeccable skills and knowledge of the industry, which could then be incorporated into the terminal’s design; Dutch firm Vicoma BV was selected to carry out basic engineering alongside Proton Ventures, which is known for its experience in the operation of ammonia terminals. These decisions ensured the highest possible standards would be in place once the terminal became operational.

Furthermore, the company resourced a highly professional workforce, with long-term experience in the field of cargo transshipment and liquid chemical fertilisers.

Focused on client satisfaction, AS BCT provides an excellent transit service through its advanced chemical terminal that boasts a wide range of facilities including four UAN tanks capable of holding 20,000 tonnes of UAN each, two tanks for liquid ammonia capable of holding 30,000 tonnes each, UAN and liquid ammonia railway unloading areas with an unload speed of 600 tonnes per hour 130 tonners per hour, respectively. Other facilities include an MCC building with a power substation, administration and utility building, ammonia compressor room, two pump rooms for ammonia and UAN, diesel generator room for ammonia, a series of pipelines for UAN and ammonia, two marine loading arms with a loading rate of up to 1200 tonnes per hour, deep sea berths of up to 13 metres, and a fire fighting complex that consists of a pump room and two fire water tanks with a capacity of 600 cubic metres.

Given the volatility of UAN and ammonia, maintaining health and safety through provision of the highest safety standards is crucial to AS BCT. Complying with the most stringent regulations, the company possesses certificates of IS0 14001:2004 Environmental Management System and OHSAS 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management System; these are successfully used in the terminal’s everyday activities and enable its ongoing improvements.

This commitment to safety and quality was proven in June 2012 when Lloyds RQA carried out a surveillance visit to assess the compliance of the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System to the requirements of ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001: 2004 standards.

The external audit was highly successful with no non-conformances found in the integrated

requirements to prevent environmental pollution.

Having developed a strong reputation as a reliable partner in the field of safe, efficient and sustainable liquid fertiliser transshipment, AS BCT has seen considerable growth, with annual turnover increasing year-on-year since the terminal first began operating. With growth anticipated to continue, particularly with ammonia transshipment terminals becoming increasingly more rare around the world and the expected increase in the liquid chemical fertiliser market coming up over the next few years, the future of the terminal appears positive and secure. However, the company’s facilities enable it to meet potential new requirements in the liquid chemical fertiliser field, which offers opportunities to expand into the shipping of a wider product range, both basic materials and more complex chemical liquid formulas.

Given the volatility of UAN and ammonia, maintaining health and safety through provision of the highest safety standards is crucial to AS BCT Baltic Chemical Terminal bct.ee/main

Services Liquid chemical fertiliser transshipment

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

systems, resulting in the company receiving the OHSAS 18001:2007 certificate on June 15th 2013. The new certificate means the terminal is compliant with all European regulations but also displays its dedication to providing the best possible service. To ensure standards continue to improve, AS BCT has Lloyds RQA audit and verify its compliance twice a year and also performs organised practical exercises in co-operation with the national safety and emergency authorities departments, Port of Sillamae authorities and the Estonian railway twice yearly.

An equal priority for the company is keeping its negative environmental impacts to a minimum through committing to the maximum approval of safe technology and enhancing staff and third parties’ awareness of environmental issues and ensuring active involvement in the implementation of AS BCT’s environmental policy. Dedicated to consistently improving its environmental management system, the company observes environmental laws and related

Baltic Chemical Terminal

European oil & gas

PROFILE

121

process

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Knowing the

122

Based out of Belgium

, Coek Engineering N.V. has almost 50 years of experience in the design and fabrication of process equipment. Having begun life producing automated flour silos for industrial bakeries, since the 1980s the company has focused on the petrochemical, oil and gas, chemical, and metallurgical industries. It is also one of the key players globally for the fabrication of equipment in exotic materials such as titanium, zirconium and hastelloy, combined with large dimensions and heavy weight.

“We mainly work in niche markets,” highlights sales director Patrick Van Roy. “Our core business is focused on equipment used in critical chemical processes, where safety and corrosion resistance are primary issues. This includes pressure vessels, columns, reactors, and heat exchangers. Most of this equipment is sold under licence agreements to protect the technology and know-how.”

As a smaller company of around 140 people, Coek Engineering prides itself most on the level of experience housed within. “In this way we tend to focus on projects or equipment that present a technological challenge,” explains Patrick. “When it comes to normal standard pressure vessels it is much harder to compete on price, but when it becomes more complicated or risky to implement this equipment we have a good chance of being involved. Many customers, or licensing holders know that when a project or

specific equipment isn’t straightforward they can count on Coek for technical support, even when a project is still in the development phase.

Since its very beginning Coek Engineering has also put particular focus on quality control.

This is demonstrated in its ASME U and U2, ISO 9001, and PED (97/23/EC) certificates.

In practice, it means the company has a long experience of executing every job in a way that ensures the highest levels of quality. Each piece of equipment passes through strict controls in-house including x-ray or TOFD examination, hardness tests, and penetrant and magnetic particle examination, with other processes being delivered by an independent third party.

Given the high investment levels in the petrochemical industry, and particularly in coal-to-gas and coal-to-liquid projects in China, Coek Engineering has been able to secure a substantial number of orders. For these types of project the company has worked to expand its scope of supply from not just pressure related equipment, but the provision of complete reactor sections including drive systems, seals,

at a lower price.

“We believe that the industry in Europe still has the potential to compete on a global market, mainly through its technological advantage and high level of quality. Unfortunately, technology is copied at a high rate, even by government driven companies, which could see Europe’s industry at risk and ending up with only a service economy, which has no added value in the long run,” describes Patrick.

“We believe it is time that both private companies and official authorities combine forces to strengthen and protect their values. We are in need of solid European partners that can support our business, rather than having to buy materials and services from low cost suppliers with uncertain quality levels in order to reduce costs. We see prices and cost levels in Asia now increasing much faster than in Europe, which brings that price gap to a more reasonable proportion. As such our goal now should be to keep costs under control, and assure our advantages in technology and reliability, rather than try to start up production in Asia, but this can only be achieved with the correct support,” he concludes.

Each piece of equipment passes through strict controls in-house including x-ray or TOFD examination, hardness tests, and penetrant and magnetic particle examination, with other processes being delivered by an independent third party

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

valves, and instrumentation.

“This gives us control over the whole process, and keeps all of the expertise in hand,” notes Patrick. “We see this type of package mainly being purchased by Asian engineering companies as it gives them that European competence, and in turn enables Coek to secure a larger share of a project. As some exotic materials, such as titanium, become cheaper we’ve also seen a change in the types of materials being used in certain applications, which can generate new markets for us in the future.”

At around 80 per cent, the greatest proportion of Coek Engineering’s turnover is today being generated on the Asian market. Whilst this shift has clearly proved profitable for the business, it has also presented challenges as the company comes up against lower-priced vendors in these markets. “In the last few years, most of the EPC work and detailed engineering work for large chemical and petrochemical plants has moved from Europe towards Asian countries like India, Korea and China,” clarifies Patrick.

“As a consequence, it becomes more complicated for European vendors to get involved in these large projects, especially if they are being erected in their home country.

Therefore, the added value that we deliver needs to be higher and more sophisticated if we do not want to lose our market share.”

As an example in 2007 Coek Engineering saw the price differences between Europe and Korea being between five and ten per cent.

Following the financial crisis though this gap has doubled or even tripled, suggesting that those manufacturers may be being supported through the local government. Coupled with this is the issue of technologies being copied and then sold

Coek Engineering

European oil & gas

PROFILE

123

Coek Engineering N.V. coek.be

Products Process equipment

124 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Since it was last featured in

Above 70t Module Handling Tower initially designed to operate on the vessel Skandi Bergen - ongoing project for DOF Subsea Below 35t Module Handling Tower for Subsea 7

European Oil and Gas Magazine in November 2012, Axtech AS has solidified its position as a leading supplier for heavy lifting and handling equipment. The company is proud of its reputation of delivering high-quality heavy lifting solutions for use in harsh and corrosive marine environments.

AXTech’s profile has been raised internationally with the award of several significant projects. In 2012 the company was contracted by Technip Norge to supply a special handling system (SHS) of 400t capacity to be used during the installation and intervention of Statoil’s Asgard Subsea Compression system. The contract was valued at approximately 17 million euros with delivery of the SHS expected in the first quarter of 2014. “There is a lot of worldwide attention on the project,” explains Richard Myhre, managing director of AXTech.

“Things are progressing very well. We are in the fabrication phase for the project just now and it was a critical and key milestone to get to this point. It’s a huge project, as a tower of

this size and magnitude has never been built to handle modules of this size. The technology in the tower is not unique on its own, but together as a system it is fairly innovative. The winches and the performance they are able to offer are probably of the largest ever built,” he adds.

The Technip Norge project presented its own challenges, which AXTech was able to discuss with Technip Norge and develop solutions for. Owing to the sheer size and weight of the modules, weighing in at around 300 tonnes, it was near impossible to use normal handling solutions. As such, early on in the project the company designed a special tower crane to enable the deployment of the project’s massive modules. The new crane tower design was deployed on North Sea Shipping’s North Sea Giant Vessel, which was given the accolade of Ship of the Year Award in 2012 by the Offshore Support Journal, during its Offshore Support Conference in London.

AXTech has continued to focus on providing innovative, high quality engineering solutions, and recently it worked with Subsea 7 to provide the architect equipment for its Seven Viking Vessel. The company provided a full inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) system for module handling including active heave compensation (AHC) and an active rope tensioning system (ART). The vessel is considered to be the next generation in IMR vessel design and was celebrated this year when it was awarded the Ship of the Year Award, presented at the Nor-Shipping Exhibition. For AXTech the recognition of the Seven Viking’s capability is an impressive achievement. “We installed and commissioned a unique system for Subsea 7,” says Richard. “The equipment we have supplied is critical for the function of the vessel. So the Ship of the Year was a big milestone for us,” he concludes.

The IMR system was produced to operate at the significant wave height (Hs) of 4.5 meters and incorporates a range of specialist features and designs. The main lift winch can operate up to 70T to a 2000m depth and includes AHC/ ART functionality and an all-electric drive. The system also includes an auxiliary lift winch operating to a weight of 20T to a depth of 1000m and three guide wire winches capable of 10T to a depth of 2000m. Finally there is a cursor guide winch capable to 10T with Sync/ Art functionality. AXTech designed the system to be able to offer synchronous operation of the main and auxiliary winches as well as the cursor guide winch, and synchronous operation of all guide wire winches. “The system has proven its ability to perform as expected during

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Highexpectations

AXTech

European oil & gas

PROFILE

125

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

126

AXTech

extensive sea trials and load tests prior to official delivery, and the client seems to be very happy with the equipment so far,” says Kjell Ødegård, sales director at AXTech. “This delivery is an allelectric system, but we do of course also deliver the same systems with hydraulic drives,” he adds.

AXTech has its main office based in Molde, Norway, where it is strategically placed to be close to the country’s oil and gas fields. As the company has expanded it has included a subsidiary in Gdynia in Poland, operating as Axtech Polska and has a local office located in Kristiansund. It also works with agents in the US, Brazil, and Malaysia. Moving into 2013 the company has identified Singapore as an important future market, opening its own office in the country in January of this year. While AXTech still operates with agents and reps globally, its aim is to be able to offer a more direct service to its customers, including support from sales through to post delivery support. “2013 will be a year of consolidation,” says Richard.

“For the next three years we expect to see steady, controlled growth. We intend to strengthen the business step by step and part

Above Render image of the assumed North Sea Giant tower arrangement

Hydratech Industries Fluid Power From massive scale to critical detail Hydratech Industries Fluid Power is a global company with more than 35 years of experience designing and manufacturing hydraulic cylinders and piston accumulators primarily for the offshore and marine markets. The cylinders can be found in many on-board applications, such as all types of hydraulic cranes, A-frames, pipe handling equipment, etc., and can be certified by all major classification societies.

Cylinders from Hydratech Industries are well known for their quality and robust design. Visit our website, www.hydratech-industries.com, and use the ‘Design Online´ tool to make your first selection and principle drawing.

of this is to continue to focus on engineering skills,” he continues. “One of the main focuses is on engineering leadership. Our focus is on having project-leading engineers who can make decisions in the way the company wants them to. With that kind of focus you can get progress and engineering integrity. We want to build a more firm and solid structure and based on that take another leap forward in the future.”

AXTech AS axtech.no

Services Marine heavy lifting specialist

Technip Benelux

Technip Benelux operates as part of its parent company the Technip Group. Based in the Netherlands the firm has recently become part of a newly organised division within the group. Founded in the third quarter of 2012, Technip Stone & Webster Process Technology (TSWPT) amalgamates several companies into a single group centered around a core business focused on plant process design. Technip Benelux traces its roots back to 1963 when the company was founded as Kinetics Technology International (KTI) before becoming part of the Technip Group in 1999. During its history the company developed a critical understanding of the hydrogen generation and ethylene cracking technology, which made it a logical inclusion in the formation of the new process technology division.

“I don’t think it is too modest to say that we are world leaders in these fields,” exclaims Hans T.H. Brasker, vice president execution for Technip Benelux. “In hydrogen, we have 35 per cent of the global market share, which I think justifies our position as being world leaders in that area.”

The company’s proficiency in these fields has enabled it to operate on a truly global scale and

European oil & gas

Developing

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

led to impressive technical innovations that have helped differentiate the company from other players in the same markets. Within the ethylene-cracking sector, Technip Benelux has designed a cracking tube that is designed to be installed in an ethylene plant’s furnace. This Swirl Flow Tube® achieves longer running time for the furnace and critically, a higher capacity. This is of particular importance in the ethylene industry, which as a base product is fundamental in the formation of plastics. It is a volatile sector that is hugely dependent on the ebb and flow of global economic conditions, with many countries still recovering from the global recession efficiency is of paramount importance. However, rather then being an obstacle for Technip Benelux, the downturn in demand for the ethylene and plastic consumer products has actually provided the company with an opportunity to showcase the benefits of its services, as Hans elaborates: “The clients for ethylene are in the petrochemical industry, you will understand that in the countries that are suffering from the recession now, ethylene demand has been quite low. Although this trend

127

128 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

(TPR®), which can increase the capacity of an existing hydrogen plant by 30 per cent.

The implementation of the TPR® is relatively simple and can be completed in a single plant shutdown, which can be scheduled around routine plant maintenance to eliminate costly delays during installation.

Technip Benelux is not limited to its core services within hydrogen generation and ethylene cracking; through its years of experience it is able to provide world-class expertise as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor. This means that if it sells a client a piece of technology it is able to offer a comprehensive package of detailed engineering, procurement, construction, startup and aftermarket services, extending the company’s relationship with its customers and generating future business.

Recently, Technip also celebrated a 20-year milestone in its alliance with Air Products. The alliance was formed in 1992 to address a global demand for hydrogen generation and cleaner fuels, regarding the partnership Thierry Pilenko, Technip’s chairman and CEO, states: “Technip is proud to be a member of this alliance. The valuable feedback we have received from the plants designed for Air Products, coupled with Technip’s high standards in design and engineering, have improved long-term operations, where reliability over the years is the main focus.

In the end, the refining industry benefits by receiving a reliable and cost-effective source of hydrogen. In addition, our global footprint ensures that Technip can accompany its clients around the world, on their projects of tomorrow.”

The company has been incredibly successful in helping customers realise greater production potential, helping it to maintain its 35 per cent market share has been a host of innovations and new products

Technip Benelux technip.com

Services Process plant implementation

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

also affected Technip, the company has been fortunate in that over the years it has had a constant base in ethylene, thanks to its creativity in modernising and upgrading existing plants.

“Since the founding of the company we have developed and applied various methods for revamping existing ethylene plants, thus enabling clients to introduce new technologies in their existing plants. We have created a particular market in this fashion, which has been very successful. Especially in periods of downturn, it puts an extra challenge on us to introduce innovations into existing plants in a cost-effective manner.”

In addition to that, Technip Benelux has developed a special software package for plant operation analysis, named SPYRO®.

The package enables clients to simulate the performance of a cracking furnace to accurately predict the yield of the cracking process, thus enabling clients to optimise the operation of their plants to the ultimate limit. With the latest version of the software package, SPYRO® Suite 7, users are offered the state-of-the-art simulation technology for ethylene processes with a wide range of applications.

The hydrogen market is slightly different from the ethylene sector in that is it further upstream in terms of production process. The majority of Technip Benelux’s clients in the hydrogen sector are oil refineries, in which hydrogen is an increasingly utilised element.

The gas is vital in the production of clearer fuels, which in the current environmentally aware age is increasingly important. This coupled with a global interest in increasing efficiency, has spurred a greater demand in the supply of hydrogen, as Hans explains: “For the worldwide interest in producing what are called clean fuels, the demand for hydrogen in refineries goes up.

Hydrogen is useful in producing cleaner fuels and while the standards of clean fuels are not yet consistent all over the world, some countries make steeper progress on this than others, but all over the world hydrogen demand is increasing.

So the client finds that they need to either invest in a new hydrogen plant or an expansion of their existing hydrogen plant.”

The company has been incredibly successful in helping customers realise greater production potential, helping it to maintain its 35 per cent market share has been a host of innovations and new products. Within the hydrogen sector one example of this is its Technip Parallel Reformer

Technip Benelux

European oil & gas

PROFILE

129

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

130

First class

comfort Established in 2006

to satisfy market demand for a new generation of offshore floatels, Floatel International Ltd has since grown to become a major player in the floating accommodation market. With ongoing contracts for both its present DP semi-submersible vessels, Floatel Superior and Floatel Reliance, both built at Keppel FELS Shipyard, Singapore, the company also has a third semi-submersible accommodation vessel, Floatel Victory, due for delivery in the final quarter for 2013, a fourth accommodation vessel, the Floatel Endurance, due for delivery in early 2015 and the recently ordered fifth accommodation vessel, due for delivery in the end of 2015. All three new builds are also being constructed by Keppel FELS. The premier provider of floating accommodation’s delivered its first asset on March 18th 2010, 43 days ahead of schedule; specifically designed to meet the latest stringent North Sea regulations for year-round operations in the harshest of environments, the Floatel Superior is currently operating for Statoil in the North Sea. Notable for being the first North Sea floatel constructed in two decades, the 440 accommodation capacity vessel was closely followed by Floatel Reliance, which was delivered on October 29th 2010, 63 days ahead of schedule. Built in accordance with ABS class, the vessel was designed to operate in medium

harsh environments and offers accommodation capacity for 500 persons; the asset is currently continuing its five year charter for Petrobas, which began in January 2011.

The first four vessels have been contracted with some of the biggest oil and gas firms such as Statoil, Petrobras, Chevron, BP and Total.

Floatel International’s subsidiary, Floatel International AB, provides onshore operational support services and onshore supervision of the vessels under construction. Located in Gothenburg, Sweden, Floatel International AB’s management team has more than 20 years of experience within the offshore construction and floatel service industry. Presently the company has a site office in Singapore that takes care of the newbuilding at Keppel FELS and site offices in Brazil and Norway providing onshore support for the vessels under operation. Floatel International comprises of some 300 people in total, whereof 55 persons works onshore Now firmly established in the high end accommodation market, the company has built up a solid backlog of work and the three vessels under construction are all committed for work that commence soon after delivery. This success stems from the firm’s reliability, the superior capabilities of its vessels and its dedication to giving customers the best possible service; core strengths proven in its long-term working

Endurance will have a telescopic gangway for the safe transfer of personnel to the installation and telescopic action +/-8 metres. Due for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2014, the Floatel Endurance will provide its maiden charter for six months firm plus options at Chevron’s Wheatstone HUC development in Australia.

In line with its business model of providing high-end accommodation vessels, Floatel International signed a new contract with Keppel FELS for its fifth vessel. Similar to Floatel Victory, it is designed to meet the latest UK HSE regulatory requirements for operating in the harshest environments around the world.

Despite the majority of its contracts being based in the North Sea, the company is not focusing its development in any specific geographical area, but will go where it can get the best contracts for its assets. Regardless of location, Floatel International is dedicated to continuing to give its customers the best possible service by supplying the market with modern, comfortable and high-quality accommodation.

Floatel International is dedicated to continuing to give its customers the best possible service by supplying the market with modern, comfortable and high-quality accommodation

Floatel International floatel.se

Services High-end floating accommodation

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

relationships with major firms and the operation of Floatel Superior and Floatel Reliance.

The next vessel due for delivery, Floatel Victory, will be equipped with DP3 positioning capability and a ten-point chain mooring system; built according to ABS class, the vessel is designed to meet the latest UK HSE regulatory requirements for operating in the harshest environments around the world. Features on Floatel Victory include 35 office workstations and conference facilities, workshop facilities for construction support, a main crane with a 120 tonne capacity and an auxiliary crane with 64 mega tonne capacity. The Floatel Victory will also possess a telescopic gangway with +/-7.5 metre telescopic range that enables the vessel to remain bridge connected in harsh weather conditions. Due for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2013, the Floatel Victory will provide accommodation for six to eight months charter for Chevron at the Jack & St. Malo project in the Gulf of Mexico. The vessel is also charted on a firm one year contract with BP at the Clair Ridge Development Project on the Shetland Isles on the UK Continental shelf in June 2015. This agreement comes with options for BP to extend its stay beyond the contracted time frame.

As the oil and gas industry moves into harsher environments and deeper waters, Floatel International signed another contract with Keppel FELS for its fourth asset, Floatel Endurance. Similar to the Floatel Superior, the vessel is designed for operations in the North Sea, including the Norwegian Continental Shelf, as well as operations in tropical waters; the diverse vessel will be operating in an area with some of the most demanding regulatory requirements and some of the most severe environmental conditions in the world. The vessel will have an accommodation capacity of 440 persons, two large cranes with a maximum lifting capacity of 100 tonnes each and the capability to transfer goods and material to the adjacent installation. Furthermore the Floatel

Floatel International

European oil & gas

PROFILE

131

132 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

Bibby Maritime

European oil & gas

accommodating

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Most

As a provider of floating accommodation in a variety of forms since 1982, Bibby Maritime is now regarded as the market leader in shallow water floating accommodation vessels. Based in Liverpool, the company maintains a fleet of five Coastels, which offer high quality facilities for projects worldwide.

“We provide accommodation on large developments, usually construction in the private sector, but also typically oil and gas in recent years,” says managing director Jon Osborne as an introduction to Bibby Maritime’s business model. “We supplement the land accommodation that these projects have as a matter of course. Often we are either the pioneer camp at the very start of the project whilst they are building the land facilities, or we assist during the peak construction period.”

The company is used to working with other accommodation providers due to the size of the projects in the industry and the temporary nature of the facilities.

There are significant benefits to Bibby Maritime’s concept though, as Jon outlines:

“Our vessels can be moored close to a work site, which reduces the operational difficulties and costs involved in moving workers between sites. Furthermore, we are temporary by nature, which means we have very good environmental credentials. We can float in and out without leaving any footprint behind, whereas if you build or rent a land camp the infrastructure can be quite telling on the environment.

“We also provide access to more remote locations such as the Shetlands or north of Norway, where often there is a desire to not increase the urban footprint through development. In fact there are very few places we can’t go, with berth availability being the main challenge that we face. Likewise, we are very cost-effective as a solution compared with land camps,” he continues.

At present Bibby Maritime’s vessels are effectively divided between two fleets – one in its home market of northern Europe, and the other in Australia where one vessel is already working, and set to be joined by a second at the end of the year. The vessels are predominately the

133

Bibby Maritime

same, although the Australian fleet is more selfsufficient in terms of power, sewage and water supplies, whilst the European one requires more access to the main supply.

“In the last two years four of the five vessels we operate have had millions of pounds spent on them in a full refurbishment to bring them up to 21st century grade accommodation,” notes Jon. “This includes Wi-Fi onboard each vessel, TVs in most rooms, and en-suites. We see our business as being very similar to a hotel, and so it’s about making sure that our vessels meet those same quality standards. The provision changes subtly over time but it’s more about a lifestyle choice now.”

Bibby Maritime is also speaking to suppliers in Europe and Australia about securing two new vessels for these markets. “We hope to make that investment in the next few months,” highlights Jon. “The market is very good for us at the moment with strong utilisation of the fleet, and I believe that is based on the fact that we have such a strong

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

134

product. We’ve been in this business for 30 years and we feel we are becoming a more accepted solution. As we work on more projects, a lot of the workforce have stayed on vessels in the fleet before and we actually find that we are usually viewed as the most popular accommodation option on a project.”

By investing based on this success, and the company’s track record in gas projects, Bibby Maritime hopes to have additional availability to take on new projects. The company has also introduced a number of changes to its business proposal in order to make it simpler for customers to do business with it.

This includes managing compliance with the different standards and legislation in each country on the client’s behalf. Another measure

is to remove the high upfront charge for movement of the vessels between locations by setting a single day rate, which includes recovery of the mobilisation fee.

“On many projects the requirement for the workforce goes up and down as the work progresses. Therefore when renting our vessels we will give the client a flat rate for their base requirement of rooms, and then charge per room for any additional used. This gives the client the flexibility to adjust their requirement, without having to pay for any rooms they don’t use,” describes Jon. “Later this year we will be taking another vessel to Australia where we have secured planning permission for a berth in Darwin, and are subsequently in talks with a number of contractors doing work on the Icthys LNG project in the area. This is a new approach for us, but we are taking the initiative to get all of the berth permissions in place for areas that we know are hotspots for accommodation, and then securing the contracts after,” he concludes.

We can float in and out without leaving any footprint behind, whereas if you build or rent a land camp the infrastructure can be quite telling on the environment

Bibby Maritime bibbymaritime.com

Services Floating accommodation

PROFILE

Severn Glocon Group

momentum Severn Glocon Group is a world-class provider of engineered valves. Operating within the LNG, oil and gas, renewable energy and power sectors the company has earned a reputation for providing reliable solutions for severe and deep-sea conditions. Traditionally the company’s main products have been in control and choke valves as well as bespoke designs to meet customers’ unique requirements. During its last inclusion in European Oil and Gas Magazine the company was enjoying the momentum of a host of acquisitions, including Leeds Valve and LB Bentley and significant site developments.

Following these events the Glocon Group has certainly not shown any signs of losing traction in recent months.

Currently Glocon specialises in providing bespoke solutions for large-scale projects, often operating in relentless, severe conditions. The company is proud of its ability of offer costeffective products and services that mitigate risk and opitimise performance. Combining over half a century of experience of operating in the field with innovative design and production technology it is able to provide high-end control valves as large as 42” bore. Crucially, Glocon is committed to delivering products and services on time and on budget.

The company has design and manufacture centres in Gloucester, Brighouse, Stroud and India where all aspects of design, testing and manufacture are handled in-house. Gloucester and Chennai (India) are the company’s primary centres for major projects, cryogenics and industrial gas. Brighouse is an energetic centre for custom design and rapid delivery, which has

recently enjoyed a £2m investment. Bentleys is the centre for design and manufacture of subsea valves. All of these centres boast world-class design, machining, testing and commissioning facilities including multi-machining centres providing a full range of capabilities, advanced 3D CAD design linked to machining via EdgeCAM production engineering as well as industry leading facilities for high and lowpressure testing, fugitive emissions, cryogenic testing, full weld overlay and coating facilities and clean room testing for specialist air separation and hygiene applications.

As well as its immediate role in supplying specialist valves and associated equipment to a range of industries, the firm is able to provide an extensive range of aftermarket services and the rapid supply of replacement parts. Spares are held at each of the group’s manufacturing facilities and details for each part are collated in its central legacy database. This includes extensive performance data that enables rapid cross-referencing of information in order to deliver ready-made solutions for emergent valve problems. Glocon can therefore ensure the rapid deployment of equipment in the event of an emergency situation, or an unplanned maintenance window.

As the oil and gas and subsea markets continue to develop, bespoke engineering solutions are becoming increasingly sought after as Maurice Critchley, Severn Glocon CEO explains: “There are a lot of new processing requirements for subsea markets and our customers are driving suppliers like us to design and deliver products that have never been designed before. We are operating at greater

European oil & gas

With over 50 years of experience,

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Engineering

135

136 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

exchange between the University and local companies in order to foster growth and economic regeneration.

In May 2013 the group was awarded a major contract for the processing plant on the Ichthys project. The operation centres on the project’s substantial onshore LNG facilities, which represent the largest ever LNG facilities ever to be constructed in Australia. The Ichthys LNG project is owned by Inpex and overseen by a combination of contractors from the US, Japan and Australia. The award of the contract is prestigious in that it is likely one of the largest awards for cryogenic and control valves ever given in LNG markets and will bring Glocon recognition for its involvement in a globally significant project. Spurred by its continued investment and development in recent years the company has also just won a significant overseas contract with a major oil company that will see the group heavily involved in its after market services in coming months.

Glocon has seen a boom in acquisitions and developments in a relatively short time and has not wasted any time in ensuring its investments are rewarded with significant contracts and

There are a lot of new processing requirements for subsea markets and our customers are driving suppliers like us to design and deliver products that have never been designed before

European oil & gas

depths with greater difficulties and with more processing on the seabed than has ever occurred in the past.”

Glocon has always maintained a continuous research and development framework, which has become vital in providing the company with a competitive edge as offshore energy ventures increasingly turn to subsea solutions.

Complimenting its design and production facilities, the firm operates a major R&D facility in Brighouse, Yorkshire specialising in the development of control and choke valves. Furthermore, the company has recently completed the acquisition of Calidus Engineering, which has been renamed Severn Subsea Technologies (SST). SST is at its core an in-house design facility as Maurice elaborates: “SST is a specialist-engineering house, which is made up almost entirely by design engineers together with prototype engineering capability based in Redruth, Cornwall. It specialises in high temperature and high-pressure technologies, which are largely aimed at subsea and downhole well products.”

Expanding on the significance of the acquisition for Glocon he adds: “Effectively,

Severn Glocon Group

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

137

the addition of Calidus (SST) strengthens our technical position and backs up what the group tries to do, which is engineering led solutions, design and manufacture.”

The group also works in partnership with the University of Huddersfield and its 3M Innovation Centre that aims to establish a unique environment and engineering ideas

awards. In fact, its run-rate is at 300 per cent compared to the past 18 months. The group’s solutions are based on long-term understanding of control valve applications and world-class engineering intelligence, which enables it to provide solutions where others have failed in an increasingly competitive market. The Group currently has over 800 employees.

Severn Glocon Group severnglocon.com

Products Severe service valves

138 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

innovation Dedicated to

For more than 40 years the

Gommern-based subsidiary of the MAX STREICHER GmbH & Co KG aA, SATVIA Maschinen-und Bohrgeraetebau GmbH has been manufacturing drilling rigs and other equipment/accessories for the drilling industry.

Changing its name in June 2012 to STREICHER Drilling Technology GmbH, the company emphasised its corporate identity to the international market and also its affiliation to the STREICHER Group. “MAX STREICHER GmbH & Co KG aA is headquartered in Deggendorf, Germany, has approximately 3200 employees and is divided into four sections: pipeline and plant construction, mechanical engineering, civil and construction engineering and construction materials,” explains Matthias Kopp, project manager of STREICHER Drilling Technology.

“The subsidiary in Gommern is structured into four sections: the first of which comprises the manufacturing of drilling rigs from 60 tons to 200 metric tons, while section two covers refurbishment of mobile and vertical drilling rigs, as well as drilling equipment such as top drive and mud pumps. Section three manufactures complete mud systems and the fourth section, for the construction of our own top drives in the range of 120 tons to 200 metric tons, completes this comprehensive service portfolio.

“The subsidiary in Gommern has more than

70 employees and its own design, electrical and hydraulic departments; our employees do all of the manufacturing, beginning from cutting the steel, sandblasting, painting and up to commissioning at the customer. We are also very proud of our own service department, which enables service for own equipment but as well as for other equipment of third parties all over the world.”

With four decades of experience in the field of vertical drilling, STREICHER Drilling Technology today offers engineering, design, production, sales and maintenance, and service all in one place. Working as an innovative partner to its client base, the company’s overriding principle of business is to satisfy the expectations and demands of its customers.

Previously featured in European Oil and Gas in 2012/11, STREICHER Drilling Technology has continued with its ongoing projects, while also keeping watch for upcoming opportunities, as Matthias highlights: “We have begun a development project where we are redesigning the mechanical rig series, which will involve feeding in new technology to reduce the operating costs of the rigs. Other projects this year involve the refurbishment of a 120 ton drilling rig for a customer in Germany, which was delivered in June 2013 or the manufacture of a 185 ton hydraulic drilling rig for a customer in Russia, which will be delivered in October this

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

STREICHER Drilling Technology

European oil & gas

PROFILE

139

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

140

Top right Drilling Rig VDD 400.1 Archer Emerald on STOS MAUI A Platform New Zealand

ELIN Motoren With more than 120 years of experience in development and production of electrical machines, ELIN Motoren GmbH is one of the most traditional industrial enterprises in Austria.

Motors for low and high voltage applications from 400V up to 15,000V and from 37kW up to 35,000kW are produced as well as asynchronous generators from 500 to 5000 kW and synchronous generators from 5000 to 50,000 kVA. The company’s strengths lie in the production of small and medium quantities, as well as custom-tailored products, designed precisely to customer’s specifications. The customers are offered all the advantages of a flexible business.

year. We also manufactured a mud system, for a 200 ton drilling rig that was delivered in January 2013. We are involved in several projects and business is very positive for STREICHER Drilling Technology right now.”

The refurbishment of mobile and vertical drilling rigs and drilling equipment, such as mud pumps and top drive, involves the complete disassemble of the rigs, which are then inspected, repaired and replaced with new technology before being put back together again.

“We are putting new technology, such as new brake systems, electronic measuring systems or data storage systems, into old rigs to transform them into state-of-the-art products. The redesign of this series is and will be a core focus for us in the future,” explains Matthias.

Following the completion of the company’s first offshore modular rig in 2010, which was acquired by Archer for operations on the natural gas platform ‘MAUI A’ off New Zealand’s coast, STREICHER Drilling Technology was awarded a contract by Archer in the first quarter of 2013 to manufacture another offshore drilling rig. Similar in design to the VDD 400.1, which is easily transportable, quick to rig up and rig down, the VDD 400.2 has been developed and accepted in line with NORSOK. During drilling, the pipe

handler will automatically operate while insertion and extraction of drilling rod, pipes and other equipment for the drilling process will be carried out simply at the touch of a button. The VDD system’s hydraulics will enable precise steering and also allow for the transference of high loads.

Being part of the STREICHER Group gives STREICHER Drilling Technology a major advantage against its competitors, with associated company DrillTec GUT GmbH operating its drilling rigs and thus enabling the company to gain more experience and knowledge through testing the rigs on the field. All land based drilling rigs designed and manufactured by STREICHER Drilling Technology are done so in close co-operation with DrillTec to ensure the rig spread can be adapted to the demands of each drilling project in the best possible way.

Dedicated to enhancing existing products and creating groundbreaking innovations for the oil and gas market, STREICHER Drilling Technology GmbH developed and launched three new HDD rigs of the HDD 350 series, including the HDD 350.6, in summer 2012. Unique worldwide, this rig is the first in the world to be designed specifically for slanted directional drilling; boasting explosion-protected components, and a

Looking ahead, the company sees potential for upcoming work in Russia and Poland but is ultimately focusing on completing the projects it is currently working on, as Matthias concludes: “We are under a tough time schedule with the current projects we are involved in, particularly for the offshore rig as well as for the 125 ton rig we need to deliver to Poland in March next year. These contracts are what we are concentrating on for now, but our prospects for the future are very positive.

STREICHER Drilling Technology streicher-drillingtechnology.de

Products Drilling rigs and platforms

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

rack and pinion drive which allows to carry out exploration drillings at near surface deposits.

In the previous publication, Andreas Beck, head of development and design at STREICHER Drilling Technology, discussed the challenges of new developments and ideas into a conservative market, yet Matthias believes the oil and gas industry has changed over recent years: “I think the market has become more welcoming to new ideas; the biggest innovation from STREICHER Drilling Technology is our offshore rig, which we are building in Deggendorf, while the mud system is developed, fabricated and tested in Gommern. We are very happy to be building our second rig of the offshore VDD type; in our opinion the technology that our rigs are based on is getting more acceptance in the industry, which is why we are also re-designing the mobile mechanical rigs. If we can find solutions to reduce operating costs on the rigs through installing hybrid technology, this will be a major advantage for us in the future.”

STREICHER Drilling Technology

European oil & gas

PROFILE

141

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

142

Integrated Founded in 2008 by highly experienced technocrats TH Sim, NS Kumar and CH Lee, Global Hydraulics Pte Ltd (GHPL) specialises in the servicing of hydraulic deck equipment for major companies such as CGG Veritas Group, Subsea 7, Keppel Shipyard Pte Ltd and Teekay Group. “With knowledge and skills gained from experience in the servicing industry, we have continued to build and develop on this expertise with GHPL. We are a one-stop-shop service centre for all hydraulics, pneumatic, electrical and mechanical needs; from troubleshooting, repair and maintenance to servicing, we find solutions for our customers’ marine & offshore deck hydraulic equipment and electro-pneumatic control systems,” explains NS Kumar, director of GHPL. With clients both in Singapore and overseas, GHPL has earned a strong reputation for executing on time and on budget, which is due to its highly experienced and committed personnel and its ability to operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; this ensures each and every customers demands are met expeditiously.

“GHPL is comprised of a fully integrated team of 50 personnel; experts in every aspect necessary

for a successful project. The quality and experience of our people is our key advantage,” highlights Mr Kumar.

Currently working on the refurbishment of the ABS108B and ABS238 deck crane for Aban Offshore Ltd, the ISO 9001: 2008, OHSAS 18001: 2007 and BizSafe Star certified company thrives on safety, quality and competitive solutions to ensure complete customer satisfaction. It is also working on the dismantling, inspection and assembly of deck equipments for Oil States Skagit Smatco LLC. On top of this, GHPL designs and manufactures hydraulics power packs, cylinders, fuel hose reels and streamer reels and offers rentals of hydraulic power units.

All services are carried out at GHPL’s location 115 Neythal Road, Singapore, where it recently acquired a new office and workshop. Following this development, the company now operates on an area of more than 54,000 square feet, including 30,000 square feet of covered workshop area complete with high ceiling area, over head cranes with a safe working load (SWL) ranging from five tonnes to 32 tonnes as well as its own test rig facilities and 20,000 square feet of open yard area to cater for all

Global Hydraulics Pte

We are a one-stopshop service centre for all hydraulics, pneumatic, electrical and mechanical needs; from troubleshooting, repair and maintenance to servicing Global Hydraulics Pte Ltd globalhydraulics.com.sg

Services Solutions provider for marine & offshore deck hydraulic equipment; industrial hydraulic equipment; construction hydraulic equipment

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

customer demands. Once job is completed, the company offers an efficient delivery service with its four service vehicles.

Over the years of working within the marine and offshore industry, GHPL developed strong relationships with Stanley Underwater Hydraulic Tools, Tungum Alloy Instrumentation Tubing Ltd and Kinematics way before its official inception in 2008. “Once established, GHPL secured sole distributorship and dealership in 2008 and we have steadily increased our sales; we are now established our name in the region as sole distributor stocklist for these these brands,” says Mr Kumar.

Looking ahead, GHPL has a clear strategic vision over the coming years, as Mr Kumar concludes: “We want to grow and expand our business globally; to do this we are looking into big expansions and gaining more trading partners. We also hope to triple the current staff strength over the next three to five years and multiply our yearly sales target through ongoing development on the quality of our services.”

European oil & gas

PROFILE

143

Mott MacDonald

Offshore concept specialists We have extensive experience in offshore facility concept identification, screening and selection.

Our bespoke analysis provides efficient and transparent solutions attuned to our clients’ key development criteria.

We have successfully completed the concept selection for the Barryroe oil and gas field in the Celtic Sea and we are continuing to work with Providence Resources and their partners, Lansdowne Oil & Gas, to further define and evaluate the development. We’re delighted to be involved in the development of Ireland’s first major offshore oilfield.

ILA

WWW.O

EuropeanOilAndGas.indd 1

AC.COM

OTTM SON@M

A

OD GUY.WO

M

MAC.CO

.MOTT NDGAS

22/07/2013 15:21:48

PROFILE

Forsyths

future in Buckie and Rothes, Forsyths weathered the challenges brought about by the global economic downturn and today remains a trusted supplier of steelwork and piping solutions to the beverage and oil and gas industries. Since it was last featured in European Oil and Gas Magazine the company has continued to grow, spurred by an increasingly buoyant oil and gas market and continued repeat contracts within the alcoholic beverages sector.

Carrying on the momentum it has gained in recent years the firm is currently keenly interested in expanding its operations in Buckie to enable it to remain in a prime position to co-operate with the areas expanding renewable and offshore industries. Furthermore over the past three years Forsyths has invested £5 million in its facilities, primarily in its Rothes site and is looking to continue to expand in a similar vein throughout the rest of 2013 and into 2014. During 2009 the company undertook a significant project for Statoil for the fabrication and assembly of a 320 tonne MEG re-generation skid unit. This was constructed at the company’s own quayside facility in Buckie and shipped to Statoil in Norway. Subsequently Forsyths has been the recipient of a number of accolades from Statoil.

At present the company is involved in the largest contract it has ever undertaken, supplying Petrofac and Cameron on the Laggan Tormore field. Now in double figures, the project started some 18 months ago and is currently near its conclusion, with Forsyths’ involvement set to

end around the end of 2013. However, the firm recently won an important project with BP to fabricate equipment for the Quad 204 project on the Schiehallion field. “We are very active with the BP Quad 204 project,” begins Richard Forsyth, chairman. “As usual this is through third party design houses. We’re making pump frames for SPX and are fabricating very high tech pressure vessels through MI Swaco/ Cyclotech,” he explains.

The company’s momentum continues to grow throughout 2013. It has just won another major contract with MI Swaco on the Hebron Field in Norway. Again, the project calls for Forsyths’ industry recognised standard in duplex and super duplex pressure vessels. “This is where our investment into new facilities has really come into its own,” elaborates Richard. “It has made this investment very worth while and the facility is catering for these contracts very well,” he concludes. Underpinning the company’s continued growth and acquisition of prestigious contracts is the firm’s solid reputation for supplying high quality results, which enables it to reply on repeat customers. One example of this is the firm’s continued work with GE Wellstream to provide flexi pipe reels, which it has been making for over 15 years and maintained an excellent level of customer satisfaction.

Looking to the rest of 2013 and beyond Forsyths remains optimistic about the road ahead and expects the oil and gas industry to remain buoyant, so much so that it is actively looking to purchase further holdings and land in Buckie to accommodate for future business.

European oil & gas

Operating out of its two facilities

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

A buoyant

145

146 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

new materials as they are very resistant to saline water. Forsyths has invested heavily in acquiring the knowledge and skills required in the manufacture of products in these metals, alongside the more traditional stainless steel, copper and titanium materials.

Recent moves made by a large number of oil and gas companies venturing into increasingly deeper waters have seen a growing requirement for flexi-pipe and umbilical products. This has resulted in an increased demand for operational and storage reel structures, and Forsyths has again invested heavily in developing its own designs for these to meet the ever more onerous client and certifying authority specifications and requirements. This has led to the largest reels designed and fabricated by Forsyths to date being 11.4m diameter, weighing 80 tonnes and capable of holding 400 tonnes of product.

By remaining flexible and able to adjust to the needs of the oil and gas industry, Forsyths has earned a reputation as a reliable specialist able to provide tested solutions to a variety of applications. Moving forward, the future for the company looks very buoyant indeed.

Forsyths forsyths.com

Services Steelwork, piping, pressure vessels and tanks

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Similarly, the company has hired more than 30 new members of staff across its business with 75 per cent of them focusing on oil and gas operations. This is to allow greater focus on the Laggan project, but also in anticipation of future projects. Its two main areas of business remain to be oil & gas and distillery work and for at least the next three years the company expects to continue to grow as both its whisky and offshore partnerships continue to expand.

Forsyths dynamic growth is powered by its commitment to providing a quality service and its dedicated investment in to its fabrication infrastructure. Time and time again the company has been on the receiving end of high praise for its skilled workmanship and on time deliveries.

The company’s quality control regime is defined by extremely strict practices and comes as a result of a comprehensive training programme that all apprentices entering the business are expected to participate in to gain fundamental knowledge and understanding. The company has become a specialist in many exotic metals including duplex and super duplex. The offshore industry is increasing its use of these relatively

Forsyths

European oil & gas

PROFILE

147

service

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Dedication to

148

Above PLEM (Pipe Line End Manifold) Below Barge Crane Load out

Seagull Marine Pte Ltd is a Singapore based company offering steel pipe repair and fabrication works, marine machineries and electrical equipment overhauling for marine and offshore going vessels. The firm was established in November 2003 and carries ISO 9001 certification, which is representative of the company’s dedication to exceeding its customer’s requirements.

The company offers an extensive range of services and has a specialisation in the fabrication of steel structures including hang off platforms, topside offshore grillage, ROV grillage structure, riser clamps, lifting clamps, jumper clamps, tensioner frame and layover arches, gang ways, spreader bars, spreader frames, heavy lifting trunnion, topside barge bumper structure and gas buster tanks and chutes. It also boasts a strong portfolio of hydraulic services including hydraulic power units, lifting and transfer devices, open and closed loop winches, piston, vane, gear and gerotor type pumps and motors, cylinders, control valves and accumulators, ROV units, steering gear, control consoles, servo motors, grabs, jack up systems and pneumatic systems. To ensure that the highest level of quality is achieved, full hydraulic performance and function testing is carried out in accordance with manufacturer and industry standards and the relevant certification packages are issued at the close out of each project.

Seagull Marine is also able to provide an extensive package of CNC machining services,

steel repair and fabrication, pipe repairs and fabrication, mechanical solutions, electrical equipment servicing, afloat repairs, voyages repairs, tank cleaning services and shipyard representation. Currently the company is the resident contractors of Keppel Shipyard and Keppel FELS. It also tenders services to Yu Lain Shipyard in China and Desan Shipyard in Istanbul. The company emphasises the quality of its work and its welders and welding procedures are class approved and able to comfortably undertake duplex steel avesta, aluminum low temperature (up to minus 101° Celsius), SUS 304, SUS 316L, high tensile and hardox welding. All of the firms steel fitters, welders and supervisors possess valid seaman books, which enable them to travel and sail with vessels, which allows them to carry out steel renewal work during a voyage. Repairs range from installation of bilge tanks, steel renewal in water ballast tanks and general outfitting works.

To ensure that its services are delivered conscientiously, throughout its business Seagull Marine places the utmost importance on health and safety and as an ISO 9001:2008 certified company it upholds and practices contemporary standards. It operates a dedicated safety department with a full time workplace safety and health officer and has been awarded Ministry of Manpower recognition and the Singapore administered Bizsafe Star Standard.

It also operates to Occupational Health and Safety Management System Standard (OHSAS

feedback programme to enable it to track its progress and better address it customers’ needs.

Every project undertaken by the company is rated by management of the project, schedule, quality of work from respective trade (hull/steel, mechanical, piping, electrical, cleaning, staging and general fitting) and customer service. Based on all feedback gathered from projects in 2010 and 2011, almost all projects were given either good or very good ratings for services rendered.

Surajit Chanda, fleet manager comments that: “Seagull Marine is an exemplary ship repair vendor who thrives on their farsighted management team policies, hardworking and customer friendly workforce.”

Seagull Marine has worked tirelessly to ensure that its works are carried out to the highest possible standard and has been rewarded with a wealth of loyal customers and vital repeat business. As the company heads into the future its impressive product portfolio and client base will undoubtedly see the company increase its market share and global profile.

Left Mid Span Bracing & Subsea Template , Dimension : 8mtr W x 5.7mtr H x 12mtr Long, Weight : 60Ton

Seagull Marine Pte Ltd seagullgroup.com.sg

Services Marine engineering solutions

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

18000). The safety standards and regulations are constantly instilled into the company’s workforce to encourage a culture of responsible, sustainable practice and a healthy working environment.

Complementing its wide range of products and services Seagull Marine cultivates a growing equipment portfolio and has recently multiplied its fabrication activities especially in offshore structures and installation. The firm’s steel and pipe fabrication workshop currently accounts for 30,000 sq ft in area, and the company is equipped with lathe machines, drilling machines, milling machines, one each of ten and 20 ton overhead crane, welding machines and lifting hoists and equipment. Continuing to expand grow its capabilities, the company has recently acquired a hydraulic plate-rolling machine. A fleet of trucks, forklifts and cranes ensures that it has full logistical support in executing its compliment of services.

Through its years of experience and continual focus on excellent customer service Seagull Marine has developed an impressive collection of partners and clients operating all over the world. The company has been regularly serving established clients like BW Fleet Management, Frontline Tankers Norway, Saipem Singapore, Bergebulk, Sapura Acergy, FMC Technologies, EMAS Offshore, DOF Subsea, Anglo Eastern Ship Management, Maersk Tankers, LDD UK, Coastal Energy and V Ships UK among others and the firms clientele base is steadily growing year after year.

Customers and customer service are at the heart of Seagull Marine’s operation. It is keen to ensure that it is hitting and exceeding its clients’ targets and implements a customer

Seagull Marine Pte

European oil & gas

PROFILE

149

34 kwAnT conTRols

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Kwant Controls is proud to be partner in the present generation of K-Master Control Units for the Kongsberg K-Master System.

Joining at a later stage in the development process, Kwant Controls developed and produced K-Master Control Units for azimuth, tunnel thrusters, main propulsions and joysticks, optionally with electric shaft driven motors. Within the boundaries of the industrial design, given by Kongsberg, Kwant Controls engineered, prototyped and hosted the type approval proves successfully.

With its long tradition in the design, engineering and assembly of a.o. control units, electric shaft systems and control panels, Kwant Controls is an excellent partner in the development and production of customised control equipment.

Kwant Controls keeps on innovating its products and techniques and can now offer the latest generation of azimuth levers with integrated electronics.

Some advantages: ď “ T he motor driver PCB has been incorporated in the unit so that less space is required underneath the panel; ď “ Output via CAN-BUS cable; ď “ Optional: 4-20 mA 0-10V output via a compact, additional module.

150

www.kwantcontrols.com

35 ATR GRoup Having worked with Stork Technical Services (and previously RBG) for many years we are proud to have been chosen as a partner of choice and a preferred supplier for our range of services.

Working in a more collaborative manner and being an integral part of their team will ensure that we collectively deliver the high levels of service expected from the end users.

Consistent supply of high quality products, services and experienced and knowledgeable technicians ensure that optimum reliability and availability is achieved at all time therefore reducing cost.

We congratulate Stork Technical Services on their recent successes and look forward to our long lasting relationship.

PLACED

PROFILE

Kongsberg Maritime

Above Hugin AUV Right Thermopylae House, Aberdeen Below Dave Shand beside test tank

integrated automation, safety and information management systems for both the production, drilling and quarters (PDQ) platform and the floating storage unit (FSU), the latter also having positioning and marine systems.

Kongsberg Maritime’s UK division will provide project-engineering resource, along with colleagues in Norway and Korea, and support the installation during production. “Participating in potentially the largest development in the UKCS is a great achievement for us,” enthuses David. “This project will allow us to further develop our project and support capability in offshore production automation and safety systems in the UK, which, combined with our Kongsberg Maritime Engineering Division in the Far East, will enable us to deliver further greenfield and brownfield projects in the UKCS.

Another area we will continue to recruit for in the UK is the support of our AUV (autonomous underwater vehicles) product lines.”

Following the group’s acquisition of Hydroid a number of years ago, it has become a world leader in the field of AUVs, a technology that is finding increasing application in offshore inspection for both oil and gas and renewable markets. The company offers an AUV rental service to its customers and will be announcing new developments in its AUV technology later this year.

In response to the offshore division’s

European oil & gas

Kongsberg Maritime

is renowned for delivering innovative systems in the offshore, subsea and merchant marine markets. “Our division of Kongsberg Maritime provides sales, project support and customer services such as training and field support in the UK,” says David Shand, general manager of Kongsberg Maritime’s Offshore Division in the UK. “We live and breathe our core values, which are determination, reliability, collaboration and innovation, all of which enable us to provide state-of-the-art, reliable technology and excellent support to our diverse range of customers that range from offshore renewable developers to offshore production companies.”

Providing global support from local service and support facilities at strategic locations around the world such as Aberdeen, New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore and Dubai, Kongsberg Maritime has enjoyed an increase in demand over recent years. This has resulted in the continued recruitment of a significant number of engineers and support staff at the group’s UK based offshore division since early 2012 as well as expansion into new business areas. “Due to further growth in several areas of our business we plan to continue to recruit more staff, particularly project support and field support,” says David. “One area where we have recruited engineering staff is in offshore production automation and safety systems, where we are supporting a number of installations in the UK sector; we have also been recruiting engineers in this business area in preparation for the build up of the Statoil Mariner project and will continue with further recruitment for the project and support phase.”

For the Statoil Mariner project, the largest new offshore development in the UK in more than a decade, Kongsberg Maritime will supply

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Innovative

151

152 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Kongsberg Maritime

continuing success and unprecedented growth, Kongsberg Maritime announced an investment of £2 million in the long-term lease of new premises in Westhill, Aberdeen in February 2012. The purpose-built property includes a bespoke 45 metre cubed test tank, the first of its kind in Aberdeen, and the most technologically advanced dynamic positioning simulator on the market. Moreover, the Kongsberg Maritime Training and Simulation Centre takes up an entire floor at the new building, increasing its original floor space by 60 per cent and enabling the group to train more individuals.

Scheduled training courses at the division’s Aberdeen premises include an overview of planned automation systems, dynamic positioning and subsea positioning systems.

Courses are designed to give participants an enhanced understanding and detailed product

knowledge and may include both operational and technical training. “We plan to further develop our training centre to support our systems, and this will require additional training staff to support the improvements in our course offerings in DP operations and further develop training in subsea systems, such as AUVs and also in offshore production systems,” explains David.

Launching a new era for Kongsberg Maritime in the UK, the new facilities cement the group’s commitment to invest in its personnel, customers and future; it also offers a high quality working environment, a huge advantage in a competitive market, as David concludes: “In today’s environment, particularly in Aberdeen, resourcing new staff can be difficult. However, we believe that we offer an excellent working environment, great career opportunities and challenging roles. Many of our engineering positions are for electronics or software graduates, both of which are in short supply due to the relatively small number of graduates in each of these disciplines. To address this issue we have established scholarships at several universities in the UK, including the local universities. Our scholarships give much needed funding for the ‘Kongsberg scholars’ as well as summer placements, which offer industry experience. We have already recruited excellent graduates from our scholarship scheme.”

Above KM customer support Bottom left Kongsberg employees

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

153

Kongsberg Maritime Ltd km.kongsberg.com

Services Turnkey solutions within the oil and gas industry

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

154

track On

Great Yarmouth

based designer and manufacturer of offshore cranes Seatrax (UK) Limited has had a successful, productive and busy year since it was last featured in European Oil and Gas in June 2012. “We have continued to maintain and secure a level of business that will see us all the way through to mid 2015; and in relation to our steady growth we have taken on a number of new employees bringing our workforce to the 100 mark,” said Graham Manning, sales and marketing manager of Seatrax.

“During the last 12 months most of our contracts have come from China, where many shipyards are actively engaged in the building of new jack-up drilling rigs. But other contracts have also been secured from UK and Middle Eastern clients. The continued search for new oil and gas reserves is fuelling the jack-up rig building boom, as the drilling contractors look to expand their fleets or upgrade/improve their older units, and with three cranes usually installed on each rig there continues to be a high demand for equipment such as cranes,” Graham continued. “While the market is very tough, we see that the industry in general is really quite buoyant, this is further evidenced by the fact that our suppliers and competitors are also busy, meaning that money is being spent - ensuring

the industry and manufacturing sector we are in, looks to be in a very healthy position indeed.”

From its advantageous position in Great Yarmouth on the East Anglian coast, and with direct access to both the North Sea and international waterways, Seatrax UK has been independently operating as the European arm of Seatrax Inc. since 1996.

Today the company is internationally recognised as a pioneer in the supply of kingpost cranes and is known for its dedicated focus on crane safety through design: ‘instead of depending on gadgets and add-ons!’ according to Graham. A number of patents have been established over the years for these designs.

Seatrax cranes are based on proven design principles and components that can be configured to each client’s unique specifications, resulting in them being widely recognised and respected for their high standards of operational safety, design robustness, cost-effectiveness and ease of maintenance.

Working with many major oil and gas companies over the years such as Shell, BP, Chevron and ConocoPhillips, Seatrax now has hundreds of cranes in service worldwide and although it has a wide range of models available, the most popular machine being produced at the moment seems to be the model S7232. “This machine is fast becoming the ‘benchmark’ crane for drilling jack-ups with its useable capacity of around 83 tonnes easily covering the larger offshore service lifts,” confirmed Graham.

Away from manufacture, he went on to highlight other new areas of development: “We have also seen a significant increase in the need for technical services, support and spare parts around the world and in this regard are looking to expand our Great Yarmouth facilities to ensure that we can continue to react accurately and promptly 24 hours a day.

“To assist with this Seatrax has introduced a range of ‘in depth’ training programmes covering the operation and maintenance of its cranes which were put together by its team of service engineers,” states Graham.

The company has also noticed a trend over the last three years in which clients were requiring increasingly larger cranes; this was proven when Seatrax manufactured what was considered to be the largest kingpost crane ever built in the UK, which weighed in at over 350 tonnes and was destined for a constructionbased offshore company in the UAE. Taking these developments into account, the

in full compliance with API 2C design and manufacturing standards,” says Graham. “For the most part, the standard offshore rental cranes currently in use were mainly re-configured, long serving platform style cranes, some perhaps up to 30 to 40 years old, and as a rental machine they weren’t built to any recognised international specification. This prompted our engineers to design a modern, state-of-the-art portable rental crane fleet, presenting the market with cranes that can be shipped, lifted and built on any platform, drilling rig or vessel around the world.”

Looking ahead, Seatrax will be focusing on the successful completion of its current projects, the promotion of its burgeoning portable rental crane fleet within the UK and European offshore sectors and solid growth in its service and support activities.

By continuing to improve safety through design, the company is confident it will achieve and maintain growth, underpinned with periods of consolidation to ensure future performance and a continued ability to deliver.

As a pioneer in deepwater lifting, Seatrax has maintained this position in the marine industry with the introduction of its modern fleet of portable rental cranes

Seatrax (UK) Ltd seatrax.co.uk

Services Crane designer and manufacturer

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

company began an investment and recruitment drive in 2012 which shows no sign of stopping, as Graham highlights: “We have and are continually improving the facility, which is now definitely bearing fruit, for example, we have enhanced our workshops, are currently revamping our road frontage and also have plans to extend the workshops to cater for the larger machines. On the labour front, we have taken on a number of local apprentices as well as semiskilled or partly trained staff who can further develop their skills with us - enabling them to become fully trained members of our workforce.”

As a pioneer in deepwater lifting, Seatrax has maintained this position in the marine industry with the introduction of its modern fleet of portable rental cranes. Designed in 2008 and manufactured from 2009, each portable rental crane provides exceptional safety, reliability, proven modular assemblies and simple maintenance procedures. “These cranes can be configured to meet customers’ specific needs, are easily deployed and quick to assemble, while

Seatrax (UK)

European oil & gas

PROFILE

155

future European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

An energetic

156

EMAS AMC EMAS AMC delivers subsea construction and marine services to the offshore energy industry.

The company employs more than 700 experienced, highly qualified specialists, and operates a modern, technologically advanced fleet of vessels. EMAS AMC has offices in Oslo, Stavanger, Houston (USA), Perth (Australia) and its head office in Singapore.

The involvement in the Ivar Aasen project represents an important milestone for EMAS AMC, being EMAS AMC’s first significant rigid pipe-lay project in the North Sea and adds to the company’s growing portfolio of EPCI projects globally. The contracted scope of work for EMAS AMC includes project management, detailed engineering and procurement, construction and installation of three ten km rigid pipelines via reels, including spools, pipeline end terminations (PLETs) and seabed intervention.

Project management and engineering is well underway and is managed from EMAS AMC's office in Norway. EMAS AMC works closely with Det norske and its license partners from planning to execution, operating at the highest health, safety, environmental and quality standards. Offshore activities are scheduled to commence in 2015, with completion in 2016.

EMAS AMC is part of EMAS, the trading brand name of Ezra Holdings Limited, a leading global supplier of offshore construction, production, well-intervention and marine services. Ezra Holdings Limited is listed on SESDAQ (Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited).

Det norske oljeselskap (Det norske/Detnor) is a leading Norwegian company operating within the oil and gas industry on the Norwegian continental shelf. Its roots date back to 1971 when Det Norske Oljeselskap (DNO) was founded. It received its first revenues in 1974 through a shareholding in the British Heathfield and began its first Norwegian license in 1984. For a long period DNO was not active on the NCS. But from 2001 DNO was back on the scene. In 2007 the company merged with Pertra to establish Det norske oljeselskap ASA (Det norske). In 2009 Det norske merged with Aker Exploration, and Aker ASA became the new major shareholder in the company. Since then Det norske has continued to expand and remains energetically active within the industry.

The company head office is based in Trondheim, with offices in Oslo and Harstad. Today Det norske has over 230 employees and is currently listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange with the ticker DETNOR. Today Det norske is pursuing an aggressive exploration programme concentrating on its work with new exploration models in mature areas on the Norwegian shelf. Det norske has been involved in a number of fields and significant discoveries. The company is active in a number of oil fields including Atla, Varg, Jotun, Jette, Ivar Aasen and Johan Sverdrup.

In fact, its involvement with the Ivar Aasen project is a key development for the company, as

this field is Det norske’s first major development project as operator and is a project that represents a cost of 25 billion NOK. During the first quarter of 2013 the Norwegian Council of State recommended the development of the North Sea field and the Norwegian Parliament approved permission to develop the area on 31st May. The site is expected to deliver 16,000 boepd net to Det norske by 2016 with production set to increase to 23,000 boepd by 2019. Det norske as operator has signed a preunitisation agreement to work in partnership with production license 457. The agreement allows for a co-ordinated development of oil field discoveries and sets out principles for the work process towards an initial unitisation split.

The unitisation agreement is set to be finalised

by June 2014 and once completed, the Ivar Aasen facilities are expected to improve project economics and extend the life of the field.

The Ivar Aasen field is situated west of the Johan Sverdrup field in the North Sea - Johan Sverdrup is Det norske’s largest asset. The Johan Sverdrup field is not only vast in size; the quality of the reservoir is also world class. The porosity is high, often exceeding 30 per cent. What sets the reservoir on Johan Sverdrup apart from many others is the coarse grain size. This entails large pores and exceptional flow properties. The properties of the reservoir have been thoroughly documented through production tests in several of the wells. The most recent production test

of optimised portfolio development based on strategic relinquishment and farming in and out of licenses. This allows it to remain active in the areas where fields are most cost-effective and offer optimal future returns. An extensive exploration programme to discover new fields as well as to further develop drill potential for current projects supports its keen eye for market development. During 2013 Det norske plans to spend NOK 1500 million on exploration and intends to participate in up to ten wells.

The company is proud of its reputation as the fastest growing and most ambitious oil company on the Norwegian shelf. It believes in smart solutions and maintains a culture of an enthusiastic, entrepreneurial spirit amongst its staff. Equally, Det norske is keen to work closely with contractors to encourage cuttingedge technology to create new approaches and solutions. This energetic approach to the oil and gas market sets Det norske oljeselskap apart as a truly engaging business with an ever-expanding portfolio of discoveries.

Above Oyvind Bratsberg

Det norske oljeselskap detnor.no

Services Oil field exploration and management

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

was performed in well 16/2-17S, located in the central part of the field. The well 16/2-17S (Fault Margin) confirmed an 82-metre thick oil column, of which 49 metres were of very high quality.

Statoil is heading the joint work on the Johan Sverdrup field leading up to an investment decision and submittal of Plan for Development and Operation (PDO). The partners are to decide on the development concept in the fourth quarter of 2013, the PDO is scheduled to be submitted in the fourth quarter of 2014, and the field is due to come on stream in the fourth quarter of 2018.

The field is expected to produce at least until the year 2050 and the recovery rate of the field is expected to be high. As the field extends across several licences, the field will be unitised during 2014. The distribution of ownership interests in the field will be resolved by negotiation.

Moving into the future Det norske is currently set to maintain is current momentum and further develop its holdings on the Norwegian shelf. It is a dynamic company capable of fluid and adaptable expansion with a programme

Det norske oljeselskap

European oil & gas

PROFILE

157

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

158

Accommodating It has been

a successful two years for ALMACO Group since it was last in European Oil and Gas magazine in July 2011, with a number of major contracts awarded for projects around the globe. The Group has also strengthened its relationship with both Keppel FELS and Floatel International, having recently been awarded its third contract with the two companies to deliver modern and high quality accommodation, as Ana Albert, VP sales and marketing, explains further: “Back in 2011 we mentioned the Keppel FELS B343, or Floatel Victory, project we had been awarded for Floatel International. Since then ALMACO Group has been awarded its third order from Floatel International, which is testament to our consistent quality deliveries and commitment to always serving our customers. With this project, ALMACO Group also cements its position as preferred EPC in the offshore market, as ALMACO Group’s global capabilities to carry out extensive projects in Europe, Asia and the Americas is highlighted.”

The new contract for modular cabins and public spaces on board Floatel International’s Floatel Endurance includes four accommodation

decks and three public area decks, with a total of 440 single-bed NORSOK compliant modular cabins and 1500 square metres of public areas such as corridors, lounges, offices, messes and others. The expected delivery of the finished project is in the first quarter of 2015 and work will be carried out in Singapore. Meanwhile, the Group continues to work on Floatel Victory; work began in June 2012 and has been carried out in both China and Singapore. The project is due for completion in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Founded in Turku, Finland, in 1998, ALMACO Group today is a global firm providing accommodation and food handling solutions that enhance the business of its customers. With offices in China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore and the United States, the Group recently expanded into Brazil. “ALMACO Group’s growth is an outcome of innovation, motivated employees and enthusiastic leaders with a strong vision. We are pleased to see that our marketing and sales efforts, along with consistently efficient and high quality project deliveries, have allowed ALMACO to enter new markets, as is the case with Brazil. Furthermore, we have moved to a larger office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to support the recently awarded Estaleiro Enseada do Paraguaçu (EEP) newbuild project as well as further

management. ALMACO Group has perfected these skills and is able to bring them to each project to meet customer expectations,” says Vilhelm. “With each new contract, ALMACO Group continues with its objective of becoming the leader in quality accommodations in the global offshore market.”

This reputation as a key player in the offshore accommodations industry was reinforced in December 2012, when COSCO Shipyard Co Ltd awarded the major newbuilding order to ALMACO Group for modular cabins, food handling areas and public spaces onboard Axis Offshore’s GM500A semi-submersible accommodation vessel to be built in COSCO’s Qidong Shipyard in China. “ALMACO has extensive experience in China through local partnerships and a growing office in Shanghai,” said Mikael Hedberg, ALMACO Group’s COO. “Because of our strong local relationships and expertise in both cruise and offshore accommodations, we are able to provide European-quality products and services at a very competitive price level in China.”

ALMACO Group Oy almaco.cc

Services Accommodation systems

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

developments in the region. We are also hiring the best possible talent in the engineering and project management fields.”

In August 2013, ALMACO Group was awarded the newbuilding contract for the complete living quarters on six drillships to be used in the Brazilian pre-salt ultra-deep layers drilling programme by EEP. The scope of work involved in the project includes the construction of the complete living quarter, including steel and all outfitting. The living quarter houses 94 modular cabins compliant to Brazilian regulations and includes public spaces and food handling areas such as galleys, corridors, lounges, offices, messes, gym and laundry. When discussing the major contract, ALMACO Group’s president and CEO Vilhelm Roberts stated: “We are pleased to be selected as the preferred accommodation solutions provider by EEP for these new drillships. Our global construction capabilities allow us to provide the most efficient building solution with parts of the project being done in China and Brazil. One of our strengths is partnering with our customers starting in the design and engineering phase where our expertise and our customer’s needs meet to create a successful project delivery, and with EEP we were able to work together from a very early stage allowing for a full cooperation to achieve all the requirements.”

Over recent years, growth in the offshore accommodations market has accelerated alongside an increase in demand for improved quality in living standards on board, a development that is beneficial to ALMACO Group, which has 15 years of experience in successfully delivering accommodations to the cruise ship industry. “Offshore projects require efficient logistics management, planning, scheduling, advanced levels of engineering and naval architecture, as well as skilled project

ALMACO Group

European oil & gas

PROFILE

159

160 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

package The total

Established in 1987 to produce machine parts for industry, Uvdal Maskinfabrikk AS (UMF) has accrued extensive engineering knowledge through over two decades of experience. The firm was founded in the Nore og Uvdal municipality in Norway and currently has a production facility and main office based in Uvdal and a branch office in Sande, Vestfold.

At the heart of the business are its 60 employees, who exemplify the company’s commitment to providing high-quality solutions in all areas.

UMF aims to be a complete supplier, offering a comprehensive portfolio of services to its customers. The company’s founders brought with them extensive experience from the technology based industry at Kongsberg and since then it has continued to expand and grow into new areas. “To start with, our business activities were based in production, and over the years we have expanded our scope to new areas, including engineering, certified welding, assembly, testing, and quality control,” begins UMF assistant managing director Betty-Karin Nørstebø. “Today we are an established subcontractor in the oil and gas business, and a

total supplier of intelligent solutions.

“Our production department consists of machining and certified welding. The department employs skilled workmen, who operate CNC machining centres and lathes with up to five controlled axes. Using the 3D models from the design directly in the programming tool eliminates human error, so this department is very strong. Engineering is also an important part of our business. Our engineering department is comprised of highly qualified engineers, and we have a very successful track record of projects involving the automation of

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Uvdal Maskinfabrikk

European oil & gas

PROFILE

161

PROFILE

Uvdal Maskinfabrikk

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

are in constant demand, providing the company with the necessary stimulus to pursue its future interests. The linchpin of its vision is the priority UMF places on quality and the relationship the business maintains with its customers. “Firstly, quality and on-time delivery are imperative across our operations,” Betty-Karin explains.

“Supporting this, our quality assurance system is certified to ISO 9001:2008, and we have a reputation as a provider of high-quality equipment. We won the supplier of the year award for quality from our customer FMC in 2007, which serves as proof of our continuous focus on top quality in all our products. We

162

production processes. Having provided many special machines and parts of production lines, built on intelligent solutions as well as good workmanship on all levels, we have many satisfied customers who come back to us with new and challenging projects time and again.”

Since it was last included in European Oil and Gas Magazine, the business has been spurred by further diversifying its activities through greater focus on the subsea sector and further refining its production and product delivery systems. UMF retains its commitment to offering a full range of services while it anticipates future business.

“We have a strategy of approaching the subsea service and after-market. The subsea sector is a bit quiet at the moment, however, a lot of projects are being set at this time so we see that there might be opportunities in the service and after-market in the future,” BettyKarin elaborates.

Relating this to the challenges faced by the industry at present she adds: “Business has been more challenging in recent years in that delivery times have been shorter. That represents both a challenge and an opportunity because if you have a flexible organisation and are a flexible supplier the opportunity is there to impress current and potential clients. Our major investment in 2013 is a new business solution and ERP-system powered by Microsoft Dynamics. Our aim is to improve our flexibility and effectiveness in the market so this is a major investment for us.”

Through managing its current projects and investing in future markets, UMF is in a strong position as it moves forward throughout the rest of 2013. It remains an attractive option to a variety of operators from both onshore and offshore industries and its machining services

also look at documentation and strive to deliver intelligent solutions, ensuring that we are flexible and adaptable in our services to clients.”

Expanding further, Betty-Karin talks about the close working partnerships between its engineers and its clients and how important they are in allowing the firm to provide tailormade solutions: “Most projects start with the customer’s requirements. They present us with the idea, and we put it into practice. In any project our engineers work closely together with the customer to ensure that their vision is what guides us. We believe that this is important to achieve the best possible result. Over the years we have produced several tailor-made machines, production lines and related equipment for various industries.”

The future is set to bring great things for UMF, the company has not simply weathered the decline in manufacturing following the global economic crisis but has instead invested, optimised its production capability and identified and targeted strong future markets. This epitomises the experience UMF brings to the market place and is why it remains a dynamic and energetic player in the oil and gas industry.

Most projects start with the customer’s requirements. They present us with the idea, and we put it into practice. In any project our engineers work closely together with the customer to ensure that their vision is what guides us. We believe that this is important to achieve the best possible result

Uvdal Maskinfabrikk AS umf.no

Services Complete engineering solutions

Flow Management Devices Flow Management Devices LLC is a service-oriented engineering company located in the US that manufactures a line of Unidirectional Captive Displacement Provers and other measurement products such as Prover Data Acquisition or PDAQ. FlowMD Provers are the only Provers on the market utilising advanced technology such as Prover Validation.

Prover Validation gives the user’s information such as selfdiagnostics, time and distance between volume switches, Prover volume and flow rate through the Prover. This information allows the users to have confidence on the liquid measurement in the custody transfer environment.

Loops Automation

is a system integration and engineering company with a focus on general process automation. This covers a comprehensive range of solutions from measurement to process control and manufacturing information systems. The company’s field of expertise covers various industrial sectors including upstream and downstream oil and gas, chemical and petrochemical, power and utilities.

Since 2000 Loops Automation has been working in Iraq, where it built up a solid reputation early through the execution of control and instrumentation projects directly alongside Iraqi oil and gas companies and refineries as part of the United Nations Oil for Food Programme. From 2005 to 2009, the company also established itself as a reliable partner of the Coalition Provisional Authority.

Whilst Iraq remains its largest market at present, Loops Automation has gained footholds in other countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Oman, Sudan, North Africa and Egypt. This has seen the company build up a good network of contacts including international contractors and developers, and end users.

The company offers an extensive range of solutions for Process Automation including

engineering, control & instrumentation system integration, automation product sales, electrical product sales, mechanical products sales, system implementation and field services. Key to the company’s product portfolio are its integrated process control and safety systems (ICSS), industrial control and SCADA systems, field instrumentation and flow metering systems.

The company also provides a one-stop control solution for turbo machinery.

Understanding a client’s needs is critical in ensuring that the correct solutions are provided in every situation. This is especially true where safety and process control systems are concerned and Loops Automation analyses every customer’s functional requirements to provide the most appropriate critical hardware devices and software packages. The company incorporates these packages into a total solution, which is integrated at every stage along the line and at every phase. This includes system and process engineering, design, selection, quality control and purchasing of products, hardware and software configuration, testing, installation, start-up, maintenance and spare parts, after-sales service and training of customer personnel. This support is complimented by Loops Automation’s provision of integrated DCS/PCS and ESD and F&G systems and all related interfaces at its own workshop. Work is verified during FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) witnessed by clients eliminating the needs to hire separate vendors.

The company offers process control and safety systems to both offshore and onshore facilities including field production facilities, degassing stations, NGL and natural gas processing plants, compressor stations and bulk storage terminals and tank farms.

This type of technology has been the driver for a number of Loops Automation projects, including a more recent contract in Iraq. This saw the company refurbish a gas turbine control system with a modern, updated set-up on a turnkey basis. Loops Automation is able to deliver extensive knowledge of industrial control and SCADA systems meaning that it is able to offer cost effective and tailored turnkey control and monitoring systems ranging from locally operated PLCs and HMIs to remote operated RTUs and SCADA systems using stateof-the-art communications.

The company is also an independent system integrator for flow metering solutions and is able to provide custody transfer metering packages for liquid and gas applications. Because the

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

loop In the

Loops Automation

European oil & gas

PROFILE

163

PROFILE

Loops Automation Metering & Technology Metering & Technology (M&T) is a leading manufacturer of high end ultrasonic flow meters and helical turbine meters for liquid hydrocarbons custody transfer.

M&T recently supplied to Loops Automation 20 DFX ultrasonic flow meters for Iraq oil fiscal metering systems, confirming a strong technical co-operation between both companies. Outstandingly, large 16'' DFX ultrasonics have also been installed on Russian oil pipelines without any flow conditioner demonstrating a linearity better than 0,1 per cent and a repeatability better than the API MPMS Chapter 4.8 Table A-1 to achieve a meter factor uncertainty of ± 0.027 per cent. M&T meters are approved, certified and installed mainly in CIS, Middle-East, Brazil, Mexico, FarEast, Europe and Africa.

Loops Automation loopsautomation.com

Services Integration and engineering services

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Automation has always endeavored to establish long-term relationships with its customers where trust is cultivated by providing continuous, strong support and ensuring timely delivery of first-class solutions.

“Being able to solidify such relationships is something Loops Automation is extremely proud of. The company believes in giving top priority to its customer’s best interests and in doing so it tailors its services to meet each individual need and expectation. This is a company that goes out of its way to accommodate customer’s requirements, which is something that will always be the case.”

Essentially, Loops Automation is able to deliver a carefully designed and tailored package for almost any process control or automation requirement. The company’s understanding of these individual fields, as well as ability to choose equipment and software that meet customer specific needs, means that its solutions are as effective as possible. Its control of the complete process also gives Loops Automation’s customers confidence that their purchased systems will leave them firmly in control at the end.

European oil & gas

company operates as a fully independent system integration company it is able to comply with its customers preferred brands and models when building systems. It is also highly focused on providing world-class quality and service, which is an approach the company takes across all of its product portfolio.

Loops Automation’s specialist staff numbers around 65 engineers, technicians and support personnel. As such the company is able to bring together the necessary expertise to meet its customer’s needs, whatever their industrial field.

Since the end of 2011, Loops Automation has operated out of new larger premises, which has enabled it to increase the number of projects it undertakes, and therefore the requirement for such resources in turn.

Speaking previously to European Oil and Gas magazine sales director Hachem Kaddoura describes the aspects that distinguish Loops Automation from its competition: “By employing a diverse and highly proficient team of professionals the business is able to deliver quality solutions that are developed and made under one roof. Further to this, Loops

165

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

166

Above Gas Pipeline Electrical, Instrumentation & Telecommunication Works - UAE Below Al Dur Gas Pipeline E& I Works, Kingdom of Bahrain

A spirit of

co-operation

RMG by Honeywell RMG by Honeywell is a trusted global partner wherever gas needs to be moved, measured or stored.

The company is specialised in products and solutions for the natural gas industry for more than 150 years. With a strong global presence including more than 1100 employees worldwide and a commitment to customer satisfaction and quality, RMG

by Honeywell is an ideal singlesource supplier to meet the gas metering and regulation needs of the natural gas industry and the industrial market. RMG products and solutions are used for compressor and transfer stations, gas-power and combined heat & power stations, and natural gas storage facilities.

Almoayyed Electrical Equipment & Instrumentation Systems (AEEIS) is a leading engineering company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kingdom of Bahrain with a diverse business portfolio operating in industrial electrical equipment, control & automation systems, field instrumentation, valves & pumps.

Through co-operation with leading American and European companies operating within the field of electrical engineering, control and instrumentation, AEEIS carries out operations in the Kingdom of Bahrain, UAE and Qatar.

At the core of the group’s business is its vision, which guides the company as it continues to grow and increase its market presence. AEEIS is committed to remaining professionally managed and is organised to be focused on excellent customer satisfaction. It is passionate about its innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, which empowers the group in reaching global benchmarks. Within this framework the company fosters a culture of care, trust and continuous learning with its employees and global partners.

AEEIS is proud to deliver world-class solutions to its customers and its high standards are

underpinned by its ISO 9001:2000 certification.

AEEIS is focused on its mission to be a world-class provider of superior quality products bundled with innovative local services and achieves global reach through long-term partnerships and customer satisfaction. Key to this goal is its relationships with known industry representatives, with whom AEEIS works to deliver end-to-end comprehensive turnkey solutions to its market. Working with well-known brands including ABB, Honeywell, Siemens, Bosch and many others means that AEEIS is able to engage in an exchange of solutions and gain access to a far reaching market chain. Focusing on the oil and gas industry the company has ushered partnerships with industry leading names such as RMG Regel + Messtechnik GmbH - Germany, Martel Electronics Corporation - US, Vector Valves - Spain, VAG Armaturen GmbH – Germany, Benning Conversion D’Energie - France, Eltek – Norway, Grundfos – Denmark, and Ebro Armaturen - Germany.

The company’s core activities include providing turnkey electrical and instrumentation products, services and solutions, revamping and upgrading of electrical, instrumentation and

PROFILE

Above 220KV Al Jasra Substation Works, EWA – Kingdom of Bahrain

Almoayyed Electrical Equipment & Instrumentation Systems almoayyedintl.com /ioelectrical.html

Services Total electrical and instrumentation solutions

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

engineering, procurement, installation, start-up, pre-commissioning and commissioning, site supervision, testing and calibration services and shutdown maintenance. Collectively this package represents a one-stop total support solution, which is able to service customers’ projects from start-up to shutdown. Finally, AEEIS is able to provide an extensive product line covering electrical, instrumental and mechanical applications.

Founded on a vision of providing globally recognised excellence and a spirit of mutual respect and co-operation, AEEIS has been rewarded with steady growth and continued market expansion. Its extensive network of business partners is representative of the positive and trusted reputation that the company has earned throughout the years. As the oil and gas industry continues to grow as a dominant global market with galvanised and dynamic groups becoming more active in Middle Eastern markets, AEEIS is in a strong position to meet and exceed the needs of its current and future customers.

European oil & gas

process control systems.

AEEIS has developed the expertise and is focused on providing solutions to the oil and gas, petrochemical, aluminium, steel, cement, power, and water and wastewater industries.

E&I Engineered solutions include PLC based control systems, electrical controls and protection systems, power back-up solutions, electrical low voltages systems, tank gauging and industrial telecommunication networking and systems.

Specific solutions provided for the oil and gas industry include fiscal flow metering systems, gas pressure reduction stations, filter skids, separators skids gas preheater skids and CNG stations.

For the water and wastewater industry AEEIS can provide turnkey potable water distribution stations, sewage lift and transfer stations and water disinfection and dosing solutions.

Additionally, the range of services that the company provides to support these operations compliments its comprehensive collection of serviced areas. It is able to oversee basic engineering, project management, detailed

Aeeis

167

168 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Tank commanders As a boutique group of specialist

Below Esham Salam, president, ProtankGrüp

engineers, consignors and constructors, ProtankGrüp is able to offer services in fluid systems, fluid handling, liquid packaging, fluid control measurement and simulation.

“Our primary products are offshore tanks and containers, and the fluid handling and process systems that accompany those tanks. In offshore and naval aviations we design and build aviation fuelling packages used on board FSOs, oil rigs and war ships,” highlighted Esham Salam, president, ProtankGrüp.

He continued with some details of the company’s key strengths: “Because we are small but very focused, we are very agile. And as a result of our in-house design and prototyping capabilities, our time to market is short.

This speed, and the ability and flexibility to customise, is everything to many customers and sets us apart from our competitors. But of course, we also have a manufacturing line that offers standard solutions.”

He continued: “We design and manufacture

our own products to internationally accepted standards - in fact to the highest standard in the industry, as all of our products are DNV certified following European EN standards.”

This level of quality is essential when working with offshore customers, who have to adhere to high specifications and require robust solutions. ProtankGrüp’s key clients are oilfield service operators, including recognised names such as Schlumberger, Halliburton, MI, Clariants, Murphy, Petronas, Statoil, besides the established ‘seven sisters’. “For the aviation refuelling packages the FSO builders in Singapore, China and Korea are our customers,” added Esham.

The level of quality is also closely linked with safety. With oil exploration moving into deeper waters, material handling becomes more dangerous. “In an industry that sets safety as paramount, the packaging and transportation of hazardous fluid has become a specialised field,” said Esham. “We have the expertise to provide that solution. Our liquid containers are all DNV

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

ProtankGrüp

European oil & gas

PROFILE

169

PROFILE

ProtankGrüp

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

ProtankGrüp’s dedication to creating the right solutions to solve clients’ problems has positioned the company well for the future

170

2.7-1 and EN12079 certified from as small as 1000 litre to the 8000lt, and this offers peace of mind to our customers.

“But that is not the whole story,” he continued. “Clients need consultancy and advice on making sure they are purchasing the right tanks for the products. They also need someone to maintain the validity of the certification. We do all those.”

Finally ProtankGrüp also offers offshore containers for sale or for rent under its business unit TankQuip Rental. “Containers for rent are available for spot as well as long-term,” added Esham. “Not many operators offer spot rental so this makes us stand out from the competition.”

The containers mentioned by Esham are created and manufactured in-house. Its products are continually evolving, thanks to significant investment into research and development, and as the company president states, the staff and products have a symbiotic relationship: “Every bespoke product is unique and this means that the roles played by competent engineers and innovators could not be more important. We invest in maintaining a team of engineers and designers, as well as allocating dedicated space on the production floor to the fabrication and testing of new products.”

One of the most recent innovations to be developed in this department is a new system for aviation refuelling. Esham gave some details: “We are currently in the final stages of this project. It is the development of an aviation refuelling system to be incorporated into the newly built Littoral Combatant Ships (LCS)

being designed and built by DCNS of France for the Royal Malaysian Navy. It is a classic case of a tailor-made solution to fit into a limited footprint and space in a demanding warship environment to military standards. “We are indeed excited to be involved in such a high end project.” He added: “However, orders don’t have to be on this scale to get our full attention. Every order - even for a single container - is an exciting contract for us.”

ProtankGrüp’s dedication to creating the right solutions to solve clients’ problems has positioned the company well for the future.

Esham noted that it’s an exciting time in the industry particularly in South East Asia, and he sees good growth opportunities ahead: “The new deepwater platform has just been launched after a two year delay, and there are Enhanced Oil Recovery Projects and the under-tapped potential of Indonesia for us to explore,” he said.

“China is hungry and we will see more storage facilities appearing in different locations. The 15 billion euro Malaysian Petronas Rapid (Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Project) is also looking to be a promising proposition.”

He concluded with some ideas on where ProtankGrüp will be going in the future: “Just like any top brand boutique we need to explore new territories,” he said. “We are strong in South East Asia but there are exciting things happening in East Africa and the Pacific and we want to be involved in them. To be competitive we also need to build links with the more established European market for components and materials, and that is also on our agenda going forward.”

ProtankGrüp protank.com.my

Services Liquid systems and offshore tanks and containers

PROFILE

ocean rig udw

synergy Founded in 1996

Repnaval Repnaval, part of the Zamakona Yards group has, during 2012 and 2013, carried out large parts of the ten-year classification job on Eirik Raude in Las Palmas, as well as posterior onboard jobs transiting both to Liberia and Ireland. The O.R. project team used Repnavals courtesy offices 24/7 in Las Palmas and a good relationship was developed during the project.

Repnaval is looking forward to maintaining a continuous dialogue with O.R. in order to optimise up-time of its fleet and assisting on future repairs and dockings on a regular basis.

Ocean Rig has seen a history of lively growth and dynamic expansion in over a decade of operating experience in ultra-deepwater environments.

The company took delivery of its first two harsh environment ultra-deepwater rigs, Leiv Eiriksson and Eirik Raude, in 2001 and 2002, respectively.

In 2008 the company was acquired by Dryships (NASDAQ:DRYS), controlled by Greek shipping entrepreneur George Economou of the Cardiff Group. The acquisition saw Ocean Rig become part of the Cardiff Group’s wider shipping activities taking advantage of the synergies of its association with the group’s years of maritime expertise. The Cardiff Group currently possesses assets worth over $12 billion and in addition to expanding into the offshore sector, the business is active within the drybulk, container, tanker and LNG shipping segments.

By 2011 Ocean Rig’s first four ultra-deepwater drillships had arrived and a further three newbuilds were ordered for delivery in 2013. In addition, in 2013 Ocean Rig ordered one newbuild for delivery in January 2015. In 2012 the company began a major management re-organisation plan, which included relocation of its headquarters to Athens, Greece in 2013. Ocean Rig today is able to take advantage of the wider

group’s experience and infrastructure and currently has several international hub offices in areas including Aberdeen in the UK, Houston in the US, Stavanger in Norway, Rio De Janeiro in Brazil, Luanda in Angola, and Geoje island in Korea.

The four sixth generation ultra-deepwater vessels operate at up to 10,000ft water depth, with a drilling depth of 35,000ft. They offer two million lbs hook load capacity and boast dual derricks allowing for optimal efficiency.

Ocean Rig is expecting delivery of three new seventh generation ultra-deepwater drillships during the second half of this year. A fourth seventh generation drillship is also scheduled for delivery in 2015. All four seventh generation ultra-deepwater rigs are able to operate at a water depth of up to 12,000ft and have a drilling depth capability of up to 40,000ft. They offer 2.5 million lbs hook load capacity with dual derricks allowing for optimal efficiency. All eight ultradeepwater drillships mentioned above are built at Samsung Heavy Industries, which ensures uniformity in relation to utilisation of spare parts and training standards.

Ocean Rig’s fleet is one of the most advanced and young ultra-deepwater rig fleets within the industry with an average vessel age of three years.

Operating some of the most modern, advanced

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Operational

171

172 European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

ocean rig udw

and sophisticated drilling rigs have ensured a solid performance improvement in the rig fleet’s operating efficiency (currently about 96 per cent).

In parallel Ocean Rig has succeeded in improving its environmental and safety records substantially on a year-by-year basis. Furthermore, to ensure Ocean Rig continues to develop and build the best crew competency it is in the process of creating a training center in Athens. The excellent performance of Ocean Rig has ensured a solid contract backlog of about $6 billion.

Ocean Rig’s vision is to be the preferred drilling contractor within the ultra-deepwater drilling sector. It aims to supply sophisticated and modern assets and unique engineering solutions. Core to the company’s mission is its focus on a motivated, competent workforce, which is maintained through a high standard training programme that is shared between all vessels. As the company grows it is focused on long-term customer relationships with a strategy to obtain repeat business through its reputation for providing world-class service.

Ocean Rig has drilled in excess of 150 wells for a number of major, independent and national oil companies and has a client list that includes

globally recognised names like Shell, BP, Total, Eni, Statoil and Petrobras. As the company moves forward it aims to expand its share in the ultra-deepwater drilling sector while continuing to focus on operational excellence. At present the company has been aggressively expanding its fleet, aiming to expand to ten deepwater drilling units within the next few years. Long-term the company aims to accelerate this growth to a total of fifteen ultra-deepwater drilling units by 2017.

The group has also been focused on developing its offices in Brazil, Angola and Norway with an aim of being closer to its customers so that it is able to deliver direct, effective and second-tonone customer service.

Ocean Rig’s history has been one of internal and collaborative synergy. The company operates in an environment of mutual co-operation and support by offering its clients focused customer service while lending the support of a larger shipping company to each of its sectors. This sets Ocean Rig apart as a company that is able to offer a diverse portfolio of services underpinned by an impressively resilient support network, which will place the business on a sure footing moving into the future.

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

173

Ocean Rig UDW Inc ocean-rig.com

Services Ultra-deepwater drilling specialists

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

174

approach Precise

Established in 1861, Oldham Engineering has provided industry with a wide range of complex and precision-engineered products for over 150 years. As its name suggests, the company has a presence in Oldham, as well as a second facility in Sheffield, which together provide over 150,000 square feet of premium facilities.

Working with clients in all industrial sectors, including offshore, nuclear and defence, Oldham Engineering prides itself on its ability to deliver full turnkey services for medium and heavy engineered items. This includes fabrication, machining, assembly, testing, painting, and delivery to site.

“This is where we add value for the customer,” describes Stephen Fitzpatrick, operations director at Oldham Engineering. “We can lift loads of up to 30 tonnes on a single lift, and 35 tonnes on a dual lift, as well as machine items of up to ten metres in length so we offer a full package to the client.”

This enables Oldham Engineering to deliver a wide range of products, from small precisionmachined prototypes to batch manufacturing, and large turnkey projects for new supply and

refurbished industrial equipment. In the offshore and subsea sector this includes things such as a-frame cranes, valves, pistons, pipework, sea anchors, cable tensioners, gas measurement equipment, subsea mining frames, bend stiffeners, reaction collars and tether clamps.

Whilst both the Sheffield and Oldham facilities are similar in size, Oldham is departmentalised into different operations. The fabrication department is split even further into stainless steel and carbon steel to ensure there is no cross contamination of materials. This structure means that as well as complete project management,

company is also actively working towards accreditation to ISO 18001 for its health and safety, and ISO 14001 for its environmental management work.

As a company Oldham Engineering is a familiar presence at the conferences and exhibitions associated with its lines of work.

At one such event, the Opportunities within Global Subsea and Oil & Gas Projects conference, the company was praised for its role in manufacturing what is understood to be the world’s largest ball and taper mooring connector at 26,000 tonnes. Elaborating on this project Stephen says: “We were approached by our customer 18 months ago with a view to producing a machine component that would become part of a seabed recovery system.

“Our competitors couldn’t achieve the size required, but we had the ideal equipment to manufacture the product having recently invested £1 million into a new Soraluce 4 Axis CNC Floor Borer machine. We produced several components for the client, which dramatically exceeded their expectations by lifting twice its engineered load in testing.

In another project we manufactured a super duplex ship-borne swivel assembly for loading and offloading liquid nitrogen gas and oil for a customer 12 months ago. The machining of the component pushed the boundaries of what we can do because of the exotic materials involved, the fine surface finishes required (0.4µm), the tight tolerances required (0.025mm) and the testing criteria laid out by the customer, but we manufactured the component within a nine-month lead time and the item is now in operation,” he continues.

For the next two to three years Oldham Engineering is continuing to focus on growth, targeting the power sectors such as oil and gas, and nuclear. It is the company’s intention to double in size and this means further investment is required in both employees and capabilities.

“We have a very good apprentice programme taking on three to four a year for the last four years, as well as looking at undergraduates.

However, we also offer university courses and internal support for our existing employees to widen those skill sets as well. It is also our intention to branch into other areas such as design. This is something we will look to concentrate on more from next year as we have the capabilities and our customers are keen for us to offer such services, so it’s about formally developing that,” concludes Stephen.

The machining of the component pushed the boundaries of what we can do because of the exotic materials involved, the fine surface finishes required (0.4µm), the tight tolerances required (0.025mm) and the testing criteria laid out by the customer, but we manufactured the component within a nine-month lead time and the item is now in operation

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Oldham Engineering can also offer complete supply chain management from raw material supply and proprietary items to final testing.

“Over the last few years we have emerged from the recession a lot stronger and are now focused on a strategy of growth,” reveals Stephen. “We’ve invested heavily over the last 18 months in new plant, buildings, infrastructure, IT, and employees. We’re now looking to target oil and gas, and nuclear even further to increase our turnover substantially in the next few years.”

This includes investment into new state-of-theart CAD/CAM software to help further support Oldham Engineering’s off-line machine tool programming initiative. “This technology helps us to import the model direct from the customer designs and programme tool paths that can then be sent to the machines much quicker. This will help us to reduce lead times and optimise the machine tool cycle times,” explains Stephen.

“We have invested strongly in weld procedures and welder qualifications in previous years,” continues Arron Flint, sales director designate. “As such we are now approved to ISO BSEN 15614, ASME IX, and the American Welding Society (AWS D1.1.1) standard, covering a range of material grades, including mild steel, stainless steel and super duplex. We have also invested in our own in-house painting facility, which we are in the process of qualifying to NORSOK – a main requirement in the offshore sector.”

In addition, Oldham Engineering is proud to have attained the Bronze award from Investors in People, and is continuing to work towards achieving Silver by the end of the year. The

OLDHAM ENGINEERING

European oil & gas

PROFILE

175

Oldham Engineering Ltd oldham-eng.com

Services Engineering

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

176

Strong foundations

Established in 2008, Deep Sea Mooring is a leading service company with a dedication to providing the highest quality services and solutions to meet its clients’ needs.

The company, which was previously part of Odfjell Well Services, and is now part of the HitechVision portfolio, is a leading provider of mooring rental equipment, pre-lay mooring solutions and ancillary services to E&P companies and drilling operators of offshore rigs on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Deep Sea Mooring is ideally placed to serve clients in the region through its offices in the Bergen area and warehouses/equipment bases in Mongstad and Kristiansund. This gives close proximity to the main operators and short delivery times of products. This approach goes hand in hand with the company’s vision, which is to always provide the best possible service to meet even the most demanding customer’s needs.

Throughout its operations its key words remain ‘zero faults and continuous improvement’.

Deep Sea Mooring aims to be the leading North Sea/North Atlantic mooring service contractor and to deliver the safest and most efficient services through the use of remote-operated technology.

Deep Sea Mooring focuses on growth opportunities through strong client relationships,

and continuously developing its range of equipment and solutions while evaluating opportunities to expand its portfolio.

In fact, innovation is a key factor in Deep Sea Mooring’s success, with the company having a high focus on the ongoing development of solutions and the use of innovation to provide safer and faster rig move operations for its clients. One notable innovation from the company is the ADAPS, or Advanced Distance and Positioning System, which has been developed to lower costs for the operator by enabling the movement of rigs in shorter weather windows. ADAPS can eliminate the need for ROV verification and enable movement in more extreme weather conditions.

It involves placing specially developed transponders on the anchors of the rig and using the standard transducer on the anchor handling vessel for receiving signals about co-ordinates, anchor tilt angle and depth.

The product has been tested on several occasions and the feedback from the customers is very positive. The product is already fully operational and offered to Deep Sea Mooring’s main clients. Furthermore, the prototype of a new product, the SDH40 – a hydro acoustic releasable hook is undergoing a test programme.

The hook is mounted with a transponder, which communicates with the vessel and can release on command from the bridge. Managing director, Åge Straume, states that this product will reduce operational time during pre-lay operations and rig moves. The initial tests have so far been very successful.

While innovation consistently brings new products to the company’s portfolio, Deep Sea Mooring is already widely known for its larger range of high quality mooring equipment for use in harsh environments. All this equipment is sourced from well-known suppliers in the industry and is manufactured according to the most stringent specifications for use in the North Sea and Norwegian Continental Shelf. Reliability is a key issue in these types of environments, and in this area it is important to note that all of Deep Sea Mooring’s equipment is no older than 2008, and thus is still of high quality and the latest design.

When it comes to anchors the company offers the Stevpris Mk6 drag anchor. Drag anchors are the most commonly used type of anchor in the mobile offshore drilling unit market throughout the industry, and Deep Sea Mooring is able to provide examples of both 15MT and 18MT.

offshore supervision, inspection services, spooling services, logistics, storage and handling, service and maintenance, repair, re-certification, consultation, and engineering solutions.

As its employees work in some of the harshest environments in the North Sea, Deep Sea Mooring naturally places considerable emphasis on QHSE, nurturing a culture that extends across all of its operations. The company strives to be a leader within quality, health and safety and works continuously to reduce risk and hazards to employees, clients and the environment and works in adherence to ISO 9001-2008.

When its comes to mooring solutions and services, operators in the North Sea and Norwegian Continental Shelf need look no further than Deep Sea Mooring. The company has worked tirelessly to develop and provide the most advanced solutions to the highest possible standards. With this key aim as its foundation there is little doubt that the business will remain a leading player in the market for many years.

Deep Sea Mooring AS deepseamooring.com

Services Mooring equipment and technology

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

Deep Sea Mooring also provides a wide range of surface and subsurface buoyancy solutions for offshore mooring applications, all of which are produced by the leading suppliers in the offshore sector. Accompanying these solutions, the company has a broad portfolio of chain and fibre ropes capable of meeting even the most demanding specifications. For the former, Deep Sea Mooring provides chains in accordance with DNV-OS-E302, which can be used for the mooring of offshore drilling units, and for the latter the company holds a portfolio of the latest polyester mooring ropes and provides various types and dimensions upon request. The company also has in stock a large selection of mooring connectors, steel wire ropes, swivels, and associated mooring equipment.

Of course, placing such an emphasis on customer services means that Deep Sea Mooring does not just provide products, but rather high competence that can carry out a range of services. From its manned base locations in Mongstad and Vestbase the company offers

Deep Sea Mooring

European oil & gas

PROFILE

177

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

European oil & gas

178

Excellent dedicated Top Caballo Marango, a Special Support Construction Vessel with gross tonnage of 7,000dwt which was overhauled at and delivered

by Marco Polo’s shipyard involving some of the most sophisticated EPC and outfitting works as well as installation of DP3 system

Listed on SGX-ST since 2007, Marco Polo Marine Ltd is a growing integrated marine logistic firm, which over time has expanded to become a reputable player in the marine industry especially in the South-East Asian region including Australia. With more than a decade of experience in ship chartering, the group provides offshore support vessels (OSVs), tugboats and barges to be deployed in regional waters to its customers in the oil and gas, mining, construction, commodities and infrastructure industries.

Currently operating about half of its fleet in Indonesia, Marco Polo Marine’s other ships are located in Australian and Malaysian waters, and the Gulf of Thailand; with a strong eye for opportunity, the group is consistently expanding its geographical coverage while exploring potential energy developments in the region. On top of ship owning and chartering, the group also offers shipyard services at its wholly owned subsidiary

PT Marcopolo Shipyard in Batam, Indonesia; occupying more than 34 hectares of building berth, three units of graving docks up to 190 metres in length and 45 metres in width and 650 metres of waterfront for a range of assets such as commercial ships, supply vessels, anchor handling and offshore fabrication works.

Furthermore, the shipyard boasts a land area of up to 17,000 square metres of sheltered modern machine shop and fabrication facilities.

The shipyard also offers a range of capabilities, which includes shipbuilding, ship repair, ship conversion and overhaul works for commercial and offshore vessels as well as offshore fabrication and installation works.

Since it was established in 2005, Marco Polo Marine’s shipyard has delivered at least 100 tugs and barges and anchor handling tug supply vessels (AHTS); over the coming years the group anticipates to be mainly building to fulfil its own strong demand for vessels as it has been the case historically, with a particular focus on Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessels (AHTSs). Benefiting from being one of the largest shipyards in Batam, PT Marcopolo Shipyard can accommodate up to eight vessels at the same time and can serve vessels of varying lengths for ship repairs.

Marco Polo Marine Ltd has developed an excellent reputation for its dedication to providing a high quality services and timely deliveries to its customers, many of which are repeat customers or through word-of-mouth marketing. In February 2009 the group was awarded the ISO 9001:2008 certificate for its ship chartering business; this was followed by the ISO 9001:2008 certification for the group’s commitment to quality for its shipyard operations and the Singapore 50 Fastest Growing award for its outstanding progress and performance.

The group’s offshore division was established in December 2010 with a firm objective for venturing the offshore oil and gas sector. Over the next 30 months the group’s offshore division expanded its fleet of vessels to nine which are mainly AHTS (including one via a 30 per cent JV), with an expected three more OSVs due for delivery in 2014. Focused on establishing a modern fleet of young offshore vessels, customised and engineered for cost-effective and efficient operations, the offshore division is prepared to successfully meet the stringent demands of the oil and gas industry.

With a presence in Asia and Australasia, the group intends to penetrate the growing Indonesian offshore market with the successful listing of its

shipbuilder also comes at a time of strong demand for AHTS vessels in the area. Named MP Prevail, as there are very few AHTS vessels operating in Indonesian water due to the strict enforcement of the country’s Cabotage Principle. Equipped with Dynamic Positioning Two (DP2) and possessing a bollard pull of approximately 120.4 metric tonnes, it is expected to be chartered to a leading oil company in the region shortly.

In August 2013, the Singapore-listed group registered a decrease in its third quarter net profit to 52 per cent year-on-year to SGD4.28 million, which is mainly due to less ship repair contracts and newbuild orders. Meanwhile, revenue grew strongly by 98 per cent year-on-year to SGD28.59 million, which was mainly due to accounting consolidation of PT BBR TbK financial results since its listing on IDX as well as the strong chartering revenue from OSVs in the region. These results have further cemented expectations that the offshore division of Marco Polo Marine’s ship chartering operations will continue to lead group growth over the coming years.

Left MP Prevail, latest acquisition

by PT BBR TbK in June 2013, a modern 9,000 BHP AHTS equipped with DP2 and bollard pull of 120mt as well as deck space of 450sqm, strength of 7.5mt per sqm and carrying capacity of minimum 800mt

Marco Polo Marine Ltd marcopolomarine.com.sg

Services Own and manage offshore support vessels as well as tugs and barges with own shipyard for newbuildings and providing ship maintenance, repair and overhaul services

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

subsidiary, PT BBR TbK, on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) on 9th January 2013.

Aware that the offshore oil and gas sector in Indonesia is in the robust yet nascent stage of its development and that demand for chartering services through the operation of AHTS vessels is anticipated to grow quickly in the region, Marco Polo Marine acquired a new build 9000 BHP AHTS vessel via its 49.6 per cent owned subsidiary, PT BBR TbK, in June 2013. In line with the group’s plans to expand and develop a stronger foothold in the fleet management of OSVs in Indonesia, the acquisition from a third party

Marco Polo Marine

European oil & gas

PROFILE

179

PROFILE

TME Hydraulics

The MKW Group

subscribes to the view that there are no problems in engineering; only challenges and solutions. This is due to the fact that since 1976, the group has maintained an across-the-board engineering capability including design, manufacture, testing, installation, and maintenance and project management.

Formed in 1995, Total Maintenance & Engineering Ltd (TME) started life as a mechanical maintenance company providing fitters and technicians for site work and outages.

In 2009, managing director Jerome Dardillac sparked a shift in focus to hydraulics, which led the company to adopt a new working name of TME Hydraulics.

Hydraulics is a discipline that Jerome has been passionate about since his apprenticeship working on mobile systems. However, it is the utilisation of hydraulic power for power equipment aboard offshore work vessels and the emerging niche of subsea equipment for which TME Hydraulics is focussing its development as a technically strong hydraulic partner.

“Once this had been identified as the correct direction for the company there was then a need to train and recruit hydraulic specialists, and to make ourselves known to the target customer base,” he explains. “This was helped by the involvement of MKW in the fabrication of subsea equipment, and the association allowed TME Hydraulics to propose a complete hydraulic package.

“In addition to the large equipment projects driven by the oil and gas market we have also engaged with northeast industries to offer a

hydraulic service package where we provide routine service support, source spare parts and also offer improvement advice to reduce energy consumption and upgrade equipment. Much of this work has a short turn-around time, and we rely on our suppliers, as well as our own technicians, to be able to provide quality service in responsive timescales.”

As well as the in-depth knowledge of its employees, TME also has the ability to design bespoke systems in-house, utilising 3D CAD and simulation software to calculate hydraulic performance data. “We take an innovative approach to systems design and problem solving, always willing to look for a new way of achieving the performance requirements.

As a systems designer and assembler we have a willingness to engage with component manufacturers and to utilise new products in our designs. This allows us to reduce the size

European oil & gas

direction

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

New

181

European oil & gas

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

PROFILE

182

TME Hydraulics

and weight of our systems, and to achieve greater functionality and performance reliability,” explains Jerome.

TME makes use of a 1000-square metre workshop, which is divided into a strip-down and assembly area. Other equipment includes a flushing system for hydraulic hoses and pipes, pressure test facilities, and data recorders for component efficiency testing, which together give the company the ability to test and assemble hydraulic systems and power units.

Likewise TME is able to access the fabrication, machining and paint capabilities of MKW Engineering to assist with short lead times or certain project requirements.

One of TME’s previous contracts was for the design and build of a bespoke hydraulic solution for a wind turbine access system. “This project came along at a time when we were developing our design capability and it was a great technical challenge for us to engage with,” highlights Jerome. “The system was a unique concept and specialist hydraulic expertise was required to ensure it was able to integrate with the complex control system and operate in the desired way without earlier prototypes to compare against.

“More recently we have completed two projects for large hydraulic power units for the oil and gas industry. The first was for the supply of two 132-kilowatt power units for use as offshore deck equipment, primarily in winch control. This is an application we hope to expand in, particularly with respect to closed loop systems, which offer greater control for operators. The advantages of a bespoke closed loop system for this application are particularly beneficial when operating large winches offshore.

Closed loop systems are more compact and offer greater control of the torque, speed and load from a single pump and motor without the need to oversize or have high power consumption.

“The second project was a modular system with a total 180-kilowatt power output using four 45-kilowatt sections. The pumps can be run both individually or together to give maximum flexibility in operation,” he adds.

TME is excited about some of the current projects that are in the pipeline as these will enable the company to develop its know-how in areas such as active heave compensation. Much of the company’s focus though is on developing TME as a hydraulic partner to its customers, and creating a structure with dedicated resources for both new build and service. This will enable TME to offer development opportunities to its

staff and respond even better to its customers’ distinct needs.

In the area of staff development, TME already operates an apprentice training programme, which currently has two full-time participants.

“For us it is important that they gain a good general mechanical standard, which is supported by their formal programme,” notes Jerome. “For hydraulic training we have found that this type of engineering is not promoted in the UK and this is reflected in the shortage of suitably skilled hydraulic technicians. We therefore provide an additional hydraulic training programme for the apprentices and other members of our team.”

For several years TME has been a supporter of the French Compagnons system, where young engineers travel outside of France to develop their skills and improve their level in a foreign language. This is beneficial for TME as these young engineers bring a high level of enthusiasm for hard work and learning, as well as a fresh skill set. Furthermore, as well as apprentices the company has university students joining it over the summer to learn about design and 3D modelling.

“Over the coming years we hope to have established TME as a technically respected hydraulic design company and to have repeat business with all our customers. We see oil and gas, and subsea equipment being a large percentage of our business going forward as the pressures to improve performance, reduce weight and keep cost and lead time low drive operators to look for technically innovative solutions. For the service side we hope to become recognised across the northeast as a provider of high quality service. Longer term we have plans to look at opening a satellite facility elsewhere in the UK, close to our customers’ deployment locations, to service the original equipment we are supplying,” concludes Jerome.

TME Hydraulics tmehydraulics.co.uk

Services Hydraulic engineering

european

from exploration to end user Schofield Publishing Ltd 10 Cringleford Business Centre Intwood Road Cringleford Norwich NR4 6AU T: +44 (0) 1603 274130 F: +44 (0) 1603 274131 Editor Matt High mhigh@schofieldpublishing.co.uk Sales Manager Rob Wagner rwagner@schofieldpublishing.co.uk

europeanoilandgas.co.uk