Subsea UK News - January 2018 Issue

SUBSEA UK NEWS THE MAGAZINE FROM SUBSEA UK WWW.SUBSEAUK.COM JANUARY 2018

IN THIS ISSUE Subsea 2030: What Could the Future Hold?

New Initiative Reducing Operational Costs Q4 Market Report from Subsea Intel The Latest Subsea News and Events

FACING THE FUTURE

Your expert partner in offshore subsea operations With an extensive global fleet, DOF Subsea provides integrated offshore solutions to the world’s oil and gas industry Subsea Construction IMR / Field Support FPSO Mooring Installation & Hook-Up Survey Delivering reduced project risk, increased efficiency and improved safety performance.

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FOREWORD

Welcome to Subsea UK News Back to the future to recapture our role as a global innovator If the last two years were all about recalibrating the industry to cope at $50 oil, then 2018 must be all about reinventing ourselves to thrive at fifty!

We are finally starting to see encouraging signs of recovery, albeit for many this has still to translate into actual revenues coming through the sales pipeline.

Our recent business review revealed that the subsea industry is generating annual revenues of £7.5billion, compared to £8.9billion Neil Gordon, Chief in 2013. It’s clear that, at the time of our last review, the industry Executive, Subsea UK was still riding the crest of a wave with revenues of almost £9billion.

The oil price crash and subsequent, prolonged downturn globally, which led to the deferral or cancelation of major subsea projects, has had a material impact on revenues. It has also cost the industry around 8,000 jobs, with overall employment now around 45,000.

These findings give us an understanding of the overall impact of the downturn on the sector and the strong signals of the market picking up should give us greater confidence for the year ahead, just in time for Subsea Expo. The theme for this year’s flagship event, Facing the Future, is about how we reinvent ourselves for a successful and sustainable future, achieving the objectives of MER UK but also driving value across the supply chain.

In the eighties, we pioneered subsea systems and processes, we were true innovators and global leaders. We need, once again, to push the boundaries, to develop the next gamechangers in technology and innovation that will result in a step-change in the delivery of projects, not just incremental improvements in efficiency.

We weren’t thinking too much about innovating when we had the luxury of a higher oil price.

This complacency, followed by the downturn, has enabled other countries to catch up, advancing their own innovations and technologies.

With real government and industry focus, through the OGA and OGTC, it’s time to reaffirm our position as global innovators by being smarter, using new models for contracting and operating, through increased use of automation and new technology. And these are the subjects we will challenge and debate at Subsea Expo.

Comparing our current revenues, against global projected capital expenditure, we can still claim to be a global market-leader. Indeed, exports still account for over half - 55% - of our total sales.

However, to ensure we can sustain and grow exports, we need to lead the way in terms of innovation and technology.

These export figures and our strong performance in diversification have enabled us to weather the storm of the last few years. The sector’s sales in offshore wind have dramatically increased from £770million to £1.3billion, underlining the diversification opportunity into sectors where our experience, expertise and skills are eminently transferable. Indeed, these figures underline the move towards a more balanced energy mix.

We must now build further resilience into our sector and, by going back to recapture that pioneering spirit from the eighties, we can move confidently and profitably into a future that will be much more about offshore energy than just oil and gas.

Subsea UK Subsea UK News, produced by Subsea UK, reaches over 28,000 subsea-affiliated subscribers each issue.

Subsea UK is the champion for the UK subsea industry. We act for the entire supply chain bringing together operators, contractors, suppliers and people in the industry.

The UK subsea industry leads the world in experience, innovation and technology. The UK will maintain a leading technological edge by sustaining and expanding this important business sector.

Whether you are a company looking to join and reap the benefits or an individual looking to develop your career in the subsea industry, explore our website or contact us to find out how Subsea UK can help you, your business and your industry.

Find out more at www.subseauk.com

New Members OceanTools Ltd

eProcess Technologies Ltd

Blue Ocean Monitoring Ltd HFI Consulting International EV Private Equity i-Tech Services Interdive KW Designed Solutions NORBIT UK ARTIS

Intrepid Minds Ltd Omega Subsea UK Ltd Tyne Subsea KG Energy Construction and Technology Services Viewport3

To view the full Subsea UK members list, visit the Subsea UK Directory at www.subseauk.com

Forthcoming Events January 2017 Subsea Springboard 18 January Aberdeen, UK February 2017 Subsea Expo 2018 7 - 9 February Aberdeen, UK Subsea UK Awards Dinner 2018 9 February Aberdeen, UK

March 2017 Australasian Oil & Gas 2018 (AOG) 14 - 16 March Perth, Australia UK Energy in Brazil 2018 19 - 21 March Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

These are some of Subsea UK’s events but please visit our website for full details of all forthcoming events www.subseauk.com

Neil Gordon Chief Executive, Subsea UK

Subsea UK News is a magazine which invites contributions from the subsea industry, and is published by Subsea UK. The views and opinions expressed herein are not those of Subsea UK News or its owner, Subsea UK. The opinions and views expressed herein are those solely of individual contributors, and do not reflect in any way those of Subsea UK News, Subsea UK or its staff. All materials published in this magazine are published with the consent and authority of the authors.

Subsea UK News makes no representations about the suitability of any information and/or services published for any purpose. Subsea UK News is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims, all liability for, any indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages (including damages for loss of business, loss of profits, litigation, or the like) of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information published within this magazine. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in Subsea UK News, no guarantee is given that the information published is correct, complete, reliable or current, and its publication in this magazine does not constitute an endorsement by Subsea UK News.

To contact Subsea UK News, please email editor Dan Fearon at magazine@subseauk.com

BUSINESS

C-Kore’s Subsea TDR First Deployment Achieves Cost-savings for Nexen C-Kore Systems delivered their new subsea Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) unit to Nexen for a fault-finding operation on the Telford field in the North Sea. This unique technology, localises and identifies faults subsea, giving operators detailed insight to the health of their subsea fields without the need for downlines. Extra insight means sizable savings on field maintenance costs.

Localising faults on the Telford field enables Nexen to choose the correct repair strategy. A fault close to an Umbilical Termination Assembly allows a repair to the end termination. A fault in the middle of an umbilical requires the whole umbilical to be replaced. With a cost difference of a few million pounds between the two scenarios, knowing the fault location becomes very important!

Tim Overfield, Managing Director for C-Kore, said: “Our customers had requested a subsea TDR ever since our first C-Kore Subsea IR/ CR units became available. We are happy to add this functionality to our product range, giving our customers more data to determine the correct plan of action for their maintenance programs, saving them significant money on the bottom line.”

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

The C-Kore subsea TDR transforms how testing is performed, turning the traditional challenging procedure of deck-based TDR testing into a simple user-friendly subsea measurement.

Greg Smith, Technical Manager of C-Kore said:

“The development of the subsea TDR has been demanding; The goal was to keep it like our other subsea tools, fast and simple to use with powerful capabilities and accurate results. Our first deployment with Nexen was a great success.

Our development team did a superb job realizing our goals. Working closely with our customers is what we do best.”

BUSINESS

JFO in Efficiencies Drive with North Sea IRM Campaigns James Fisher Offshore (JFO), a global provider of marine back-deck, specialist subsea equipment and engineering services, has achieved major efficiencies on North Sea IRM projects with the adoption of new methodologies in delivering offshore services.

The approach – which has been developed from intelligence gathered on multiple projects, including construction, decommissioning and subsea inspections – has now been proven on a 170 day IRM campaign in the North Sea for a major offshore subsea engineering organisation.

The project included full back-deck and subsea tooling equipment including hydraulic cutting, tooling and diving spreads, marine cranes as well as diver dredge and subsea cleaning spreads for the duration of the campaign, which took place over the summer.

The drive for operational efficiency is top of the agenda for North Sea oil and gas operators, as the industry looks to overcome challenges from lower oil prices. This places significant challenges on contractors and sub-contractors delivering IRM projects safely and on time with reduced budgets.

JFO offers a ‘packaged solutions’ approach, whereby they will provide services and equipment to support the entire scope of the project. This significantly reduces administration for the campaign,

offers a single point of contact for all project queries and allows the JFO team to co-ordinate multiple work streams.

This ethos also takes advantage of the ‘smart back-deck’ approach, which takes advantage of these efficiencies to reduce POB and deck space requirements without compromising on operational ability.

Chris Reid, business development manager at JFO, said: “We have developed an excellent relationship with a number of our clients operating in the UKCS, allowing us to work in a close partnership to understand where efficiencies are needed and how they can be achieved.

“On the surface, our approach is simple. We offer a comprehensive scope of service so that the client doesn’t need to engage multiple contractors. However, in reality, the logistics of these projects are very complex and it’s a testament to our teams on the frontline that we could help to realise some serious efficiencies across the term of the project, helping our client to gain a competitive edge in what is still a very turbulent time for North Sea oil and gas.”

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BUSINESS

Infinity Oilfield Services: Proving the Future of Heavy Oil Developments in the North Sea Heavy oil accounts for up to 15% of total world oil recoverable and the focus in this area is considered crucial for the UKCS. Following the success of Infinity’s Heavy Oil presentation held in conjunction with Subsea UK in July this year, the company continue to bolster their specialisation in this niche sector.

It is commonly understood throughout the industry the complexities of heavy oil fields which has restricted the number developments being sanctioned. Infinity has been working closely with a range of clients to unlock untapped opportunities which they believe will lead to a range of fields being developed.

Key to this success has been combining the years of complex fluids experience at Infinity with its existing field development knowledge to achieve viable economic solutions. Infinity provide the link between sub-surface and facilities which is critical to ensuring these projects are materialised.

Joao Conde Infinity’s Production Assurance and Heavy Oil Expert said: “Heavy Oil developments

in our experience are often more viable than originally appreciated. It is vital from a modelling perspective to have good data but ultimately the interpretation of the results is key when handling complex and non-Newtonian fluids. Tuning fluid files to correctly match lab data before and during analysis ensures reliable results. We are delighted that our recent Heavy Oil field development experience has been able to enhance industry understanding in such a key area for the future of UKCS.”

Facing the Future: An SME Perspective Businesses of all sizes in the oil and gas industry have been challenged over recent years, but for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) which contribute significantly to the oil and gas supply chain, financial and commercial risks have been greater than ever before. However, where there is change there are opportunities and for those who have been willing to embrace them, the benefits are becoming evident.

Hiretech, a leading independent equipment rental, sales, service and maintenance company offering pumping spreads, powered umbilical reels, hydraulic power packs and supporting equipment, has capitalised on the opportunities presented in order to enhance its client offerings as it aims to become stronger and more diverse whilst adapting to the new norms of the future.

Early in 2017, Hiretech witnessed client discussions moving from price focus and pressure to be competitive, to availability of equipment. This was not due to large increases of activity in the market, but perhaps more as an indication of how broken parts of the supply chain in the oil and gas industry have become. The savage cost cutting for survival and the flight of assets overseas and indeed to scrap yards has reduced the ability of many companies to respond to opportunities.

Recognising the changing trend and benefitting from improved cash generation within the industry throughout the past year, Hiretech began to reinvest in equipment, adding to its equipment rental fleet and strengthening its capabilities.

Existing deck equipment

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

was also upgraded to reduce manning levels and manual handling, enhancing efficiency and operator safety.

Acknowledging the importance of personnel with industry experience and skills, Hiretech has recruited additional key skills into the team as previously hard to get expertise has become more available over recent months, a decision which further prepares the company for longer term sustainability and success.

Andy Buchan, managing director at Hiretech, said:

“Companies which have taken a balanced approach to finances whilst also maintaining skill levels can finally see light at the end of a long tunnel. Opportunities have increased for SMEs that can deliver reliable, cost effective technologies as well as those providing steadfast proven, robust and cost effective equipment. For those who have prepared and adapted to the changing climate, the opportunities are growing.”

Such proactive measures, combined with the recognition that smaller entrants in the industry are now more open to listening to SMEs, has increased opportunities for companies like Hiretech, allowing them to excel in delivering reliable, cost effective project solutions.

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BUSINESS

Rotech Subsea Explores New Markets Rotech Subsea have moved into new markets and found themselves in demand not just for IRM scopes, but as the partner of choice for entire scopes of work (managing survey, vessel & tool operations) as well as the preferred trenching method for a growing number of clients who are looking to move away from less efficient and effective existing methods.

EUROPE - Belgium

ASIA - Myanmar

AMERICAS - Mexico

The Rotech Subsea team have been globetrotting recently with a major Belgian offshore wind farm one port of call. Having been awarded a whole project scope by the cabling contractor, seeing Rotech Subsea conduct the survey, manage the vessel and finally deploy the tool on a rectification scope - the team successfully carried out a cable lowering to specification depth using the TRS1 (with jets).

Having hired excavation specialist, Stephen Sin, as Asia team leader of Rotech Subsea, attention recently turned to the Yangon field (Myanmar) where the company answered the call from Pathfinder to mobilise their TRS2 tool at very short notice for a critical export pipeline project for MOGE.

Looking ahead to 2018, Rotech Subsea have established a new trading entity in Ciudad de Carmen, Mexico. Building on a 15-year track record in the region, Rotech will be servicing the market with the next generation of RS technology tools.

Successful, safe and efficient completion of such scopes has really raised awareness of Rotech Subsea’s capabilities and Q3 and Q4 of 2017 saw a flurry of calls from clients who, having seen the tools at work first-hand, enquired about contracting the operator on primary trenching scopes as well as IRM remedial work.

Indeed, with Rotech Subsea known to be deployed in European waters, the company have been inundated with enquiries to keep the tool on vessel and deploy for other clients in the region. Meanwhile, Rotech Fabrication - the group’s in-house fabrication unit - have been building more tools to meet demand at home and overseas.

At time of going to press, Rotech Subsea were set to sail from Singapore to Yangon field for a 2-3 week major seabed freespan correction scope of work on the biggest export pipeline into Yangon. This priceless project for Myanmar on the 24 inch live pipeline saw Rotech Subsea contracted due to the team’s expertise and experience in the area and - with accuracy critical due to the freespan’s range from 0.1m up to 0.7m - due to the TRS2’s unrivalled power and controlled flow.

This major contract award was a coup for Rotech Subsea, which is establishing itself as the global partner of choice for trenching, excavation and freespan correction. MOGE’s choice to ship the TRS2 and Rotech Subsea Team all the way from the UK to complete this project emphasises the growing awareness of Rotech’s capabilities round the globe.

As in Europe, Rotech Subsea have subsequently received numerous enquiries from prospective clients about mobilising the TRS2 tool which will now remain in country to meet rising demand.

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

Rotech Subsea may have over two decades of experience at the forefront of mass and controlled flow excavation, but recent successes have shown that this futurefacing company is always innovating and adapting to service new and established markets and satisfy new and existing clients.

BUSINESS

Competing in New Markets - MAATS Tech Ltd Faces the Future with Confidence “It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change.”

So goes the Charles Darwin quote, which is equally applicable to the business world. Companies must react and adapt to market conditions in order to prosper. After the oil price crash in 2014 MAATS faced a dearth of orders as demand in the offshore oil equipment market collapsed. The challenge was to find new customers which could use their world leading turnkey carousel systems and associated deck equipment.

MAATS’ response was to continue supplying equipment to operators employed in the growing cable lay market. MAATS carousel equipment can be used to lay cable for wind farms, subsea telecom cables and the power cable installation market.

Following on from the successful installation on the cable-laying vessel M/V NKT Victoria voted Nordic maritime trade journal Skipsrevye’s Ship of the Year, MAATS has been awarded a contract with Colombo Dockyard PLC, Sri Lanka (CDPLC) to design and supply a 2000te carousel with spooling arm for a newbuild cable laying vessel for Kokusai Cable Ship Co (KCS) based in Japan. MAATS worked closely with VARD using their 9 01 design for a diesel electric driven vessel featuring DP2 positioning and large cable tanks for a total carrying capacity of 5000te. The keel laying ceremony for the vessel took place in Sri Lanka in September 2017 and will be the biggest ever vessel (both in terms of contract value as well as length) to be built by CDPLC. This high technology vessel is intended for subsea operations, cable installation and repair works of both optical and power cables.

Lisa Edwards, Managing Director of MAATS said:

“This is yet another important project for us as we work together with CDPLC, their client KCS and our core UK suppliers on this latest vessel for the emerging cable market in the Far East and our continuation to be the leading supplier of cable lay equipment.”

MAATS is seeing healthy signs of movement again within the oil and gas market and are talking to a number of their clients not only on new products but how the industry itself is changing and how MAATS can support this.

MAATS continues to adapt to the ever-changing markets with new concepts and designs with an open mind for the future.

2000t Carousel & Spooling Arm Deck Layout

NORBIT UK’s Next Generation Multibeam Survey System Installed at Forth Ports NORBIT are proud to supply Forth Ports, one of the UK’s largest port groups, with multibeam survey capability for the River Forth. The latest generation multibeam system - a NORBIT iWBMSh - in now in place with QPS QINSy and Qimera software, along with associated sensors and training with an investment by the port business exceeding £250k GBP. NORBIT has also supplied the integrated iLiDAR system to Forth Ports, facilitating a truly tightly integrated survey system allowing both bathymetric and terrestrial spatial data to be simultaneously collected by a single source system.

John Fraser, Director, NORBIT said: “We are grateful to Forth Ports for conducting a technically comprehensive evaluation period of many multibeam systems, which subsequently resulted in NORBIT technology being awarded the contract. Our system are gaining a strong reputation for data quality, and are no longer just well-known for high production quality in an easy to use small form factor.”

Alan McPherson, Chief Harbour Master at Forth Ports, said:

“As the statutory River Authority for the River Forth, it is essential that we deliver a high quality service for our river users. The installation of this NORBIT multibeam technology for our operations ensures that we are at the forefront of survey provision.”

Subsea UK News | January 2018

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BUSINESS

James Fisher Marine Services Recognised for Specialist Subsea UXO Clearance Campaign at Hinkley Point C James Fisher Marine Services (JFMS), part of James Fisher and Sons plc, has been praised by Costain for the completion of a five-month specialist unexploded ordnance (UXO) survey campaign at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station project.

JFMS’s subsea division completed the UXO campaign at Hinkley Point C for during the summer. The company provided a turnkey solution to safely survey, identify and dispose of any UXO identified at Hinkley Point C in order to ensure the site was free from UXO risks prior to the construction of the seawater cooling system by Costain.

purpose bombs under challenging conditions, including limited visibility and high tidal flow. Specialist tooling was used to beam images to the surface team, which was able to positively identify the UXO. JFMS then worked closely with the Royal Navy to ensure the safe and controlled disposal of all five identified UXO.

Matthew Friedlander Moseley, senior engineer and package manager at Costain said of the campaign: “I’ve been impressed by the high level of professionalism of all involved. There has been a huge amount of interest in the UXO works as it’s the first offshore element of the marine works that’s been operational.

Ian Hughes, managing director at JFMS subsea division said: “The works have highlighted that JFMS

“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for working hard in challenging conditions.”

JFMS provided a team of well-trained and experienced professionals to deliver the campaign with the aid of world-leading technology and equipment. Four explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) divers successfully and safely identified five World War II (WWII) general

has the capability and expertise to deliver largescale UXO campaigns to allow our clients to perform permanent work on the seabed in the knowledge that all potential UXO targets have been investigated and disposed of, in accordance with stringent regulation and statutory requirements.”

The JFMS subsea team was also recently voted ‘best construction and erection supplier 2017’ by EDF Energy at its HPC excellence awards, in further recognition of its professionalism in helping to ensure the subsea environment was UXO free and safe to operate in, as the new nuclear construction project moves into its next phase.

Ian added: “I would like to congratulate the team on such a professional approach and their excellent workmanship and safety that’s applied to all operations. I’m very proud they’ve received this recognition on such a prestigious project.”

Hinkley UXO divers

This is not the first time JFMS has delivered a high-level of service on site at Hinkley Point C. In 2015, JFMS successfully delivered a similar UXO campaign whereby 34 potential UXO targets were located and inspected.

Ocean Installer Awarded Agreement for Cambo Field Ocean Installer has been awarded an agreement with Siccar Point Energy and Baker Hughes, a GE company, to support the appraisal and early production phases of the Cambo Project, with the ability to extend into the future developments.

Ocean Installer will execute the job as part of an innovative alliance with Baker Hughes, a GE Company (BHGE), one of the world’s largest oil field services companies, which targets projects where Ocean Installer and BHGE benefits each other.

“An alliance like this enables us to improve execution efficiency and risk mitigation through the creation of shared project objectives, and minimize tendering costs, with the ultimate objective of creating more efficient subsea solutions,” said Steinar Riise, CEO of Ocean Installer.

This is Ocean Installer’s first contract with Siccar Point, which has established itself as a key operator after acquiring OMV UK earlier

this year. The field is located North-West of the Shetland Islands in the UK at a water depth of 1,100m, one of the deepest fields in Northern Europe yet to be developed. Over 100 million barrels of recoverable resources have already been discovered.

“We are delighted that Siccar Point has chosen to work with us. With several other upcoming projects in the pipeline, we hope this will be the first of many jobs we win with Siccar Point. We also look forward to working together on this project as part of a long-term collaboration with BHGE,” continued Steinar Riise, CEO of Ocean Installer.

Phase 1 of the Cambo Field Development will be an early production system (EPS), followed by a Phase 2 full-field development. The project is scheduled to commence in 2018 and will be managed from the Ocean Installer Aberdeen office. The Construction Support Vessels Normand Vision and Normand Reach will be utilised for the offshore execution.

Subsea UK News | January 2018

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Subsea UK Announces New Board for 2018-19 Industry body Subsea UK has unveiled its new board for 2018-19.

Following a members’ ballot at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) nine members have been re-elected and two have stepped down.

The newly elected board, will continue to ensure the UK maintains a strong representation across the global subsea industry under the leadership of chairman, Bill Edgar and chief executive, Neil Gordon.

“

Mr Edgar, commented:

There has been a huge realisation across the sector that everyone is facing the same challenges and to overcome them, in a cost sensitive market, we must work together using innovative technology. I believe that the hard work being done now to ensure the UK remains competitive within the global marketplace will go a long way in the years to come.

”

“With our new board in place, Subsea UK’s main focus for 2018 is to ensure that we continue to deliver a valuable service to our members and the sector as a whole. Everyone has a key role to play, as we continue to develop new initiatives and services to further support the supply chain as it looks to improve efficiencies and maximise opportunities.

“We are also doing everything we can to help subsea supply chain companies overcome the barriers of diversification to make their mark in the offshore renewables sector and increase their export activity.

“

There are real, long-term prospects for the subsea sector and it’s vital that we are well positioned to exploit these opportunities - this is our time to demonstrate the UK industry’s pioneering attitude and ingenuity for which we are renowned for across the world.

”

Subsea UK is a self-sustaining body that champions the UK subsea supply chain, representing over 300 members. It acts as a focal point for all stakeholders to promote the sector and maximise its opportunities at home and abroad and provides a national forum for collaboration, diversification and technology development.

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

SUBSEA UK BOARD MEMBERS

Subsea UK’s board members for 2018-19:

Bill Edgar

Neil Gordon

Subsea UK (Chairman)

Subsea UK (Chief Executive)

David Rennie

Bill Cattanach

Mark Richardson

David Sheret

Scottish Enterprise

the Oil & Gas Authority

Apache North Sea

Archer Knight Limited

Nicky Etherson

Zander Bruce

Geoff Lyons

Peter Blake

Bibby Offshore

BP North Sea

BPP-TECH

Chevron Energy Technology

Tim Sheehan

Cameron Mitchell

Phil Simons

Oceaneering

Shell UK

Subsea 7

Find out more at www.subseauk.com /184/subsea-uk-staff

Subsea UK News | January 2018

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BUSINESS

FlexIQ Team Provides Flexible Riser Inspection & Integrity Assessment in Nigeria The FlexIQ team of Innospection and INTECSEA has been contracted by a major offshore operator to perform advanced inspection and analysis of dynamic flexible risers. Delivered through their Nigerian partner FADFAE Engineering Services, this project combines the advanced inspection capability of Innospection with the advanced analysis capability of INTECSEA. Located in a production field offshore Nigeria, the flexible offloading risers connect the FPSO to the single point mooring (SPM) tanker loading system for oil offloading. Each riser section consists of many rough-bore unbonded flexible pipes with 18.75” inner diameter and 16.85mm thick coating. Installed in a continuous wave configuration, each line of the 2,240m long flexible pipes has a different amount of buoyancy to avoid interference between adjacent lines.

Innospection successfully completed ahead of schedule the simultaneous cleaning and inspection of approx. 2,600m of cumulative total riser length over four riser sections utilising the MEC-Hug Crawler tool with an integrated advanced cleaning system. On one of the dives, the tool was in operation continually for approx. 26 hours. As an inspection solution provider, Innospection has also designed and delivered a customised mechanical tool to address a riser clashing issue and spread the lines apart to enable inspection.

The inspection was performed with the technically advanced electromagnetic MEC-FIT™ technique. MEC-FIT™ not only enables rapid external scanning with the ability to penetrate into the various armour layers of the flexible risers, it is also capable of detecting

single or multiple wire cracks and corrosion in the 1st and 2nd tensile armour layers and to some extent, damage and interlocking failures in the 3rd pressure armour layer. No annulus flooding is required for the inspection of the tensile armour wires, unlike for Ultrasonic techniques.

With the inspection complete, INTECSEA is conducting an integrity assessment using its state of the art simulation tool, FLEXAS™, to analyse fatigue loading on the tensile armour wires. The FLEXAS™ solver overcomes computational limitations of traditional solutions and allows dynamic riser simulation with detailed, multi-layered finite element models. This solution incorporates historical operating information and the latest inspection data from the MEC-Hug Crawler tool. FLEXAS™ enables detailed inspection data obtained from the field to be incorporated into high fidelity finite element models and simulated to understand the impact of existing anomalies on the fatigue response of the risers.

Detection and incorporation of detailed damage/degradation data into real-world simulations of flexible risers to assess fatigue life impact is a capability unique to the FlexIQ team of Innospection and INTECSEA.

KOSO Kent lntrol Breaks New Ground Choke

Having supplied over 900 subsea chokes around the world from its Brighouse facility (UK) since 1985, Kent lntrol has now broken new ground with the provision of fully qualified subsea production chokes into Chinese waters.

The ability of its highly skilled dedicated team has allowed Kent Introl to develop and support special customer requirements from design right through manufacture and testing. Kent Introl also provides assistance with on-shore and off-shore handling and the asset management of the subsea choke and associated equipment.

Kent Introl’s installed base and current product range consists of non-retrievable, diver retrievable and ROV retrievable subsea chokes.

The subsea chokes have pressure ratings from API 6A 10K to API 6A 15K. Each choke is individually sized against the well conditions. The subsea choke and specifically the choke trim is designed so it is suitable to handle all the clients proposed field life conditions from start-up to end of field life. Particular design considerations are made to ensure that premature wear of the choke does not occur due to high velocity and high pressure drops.

A further feature of the subsea choke trim design is its ability to resist the destructive effects of liquid slugs and solid impact damage to the tungsten carbide trim components.

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

This particular order for API 6A 10K ROV-retrievable subsea chokes required fully qualified units in accordance with API 6A PR2 (20th edition) & Hyperbaric testing in accordance with API17D (2nd edition). The subsea chokes will also be supplied with a dedicated Kent lntrol CIRT (Choke Insert Running Tool) to accommodate any future subsea interventions.

“The provision of our fully qualified API 6A 10K ROV-retrievable subsea production chokes into China is new territory for Kent Introl, we are both excited and proud to further expand on our global supply base and to win our first order in a new up and coming area in the oil and gas market.” - Shaun Sharp, Subsea Sales Engineer.

Valve Trim

BUSINESS

DOC-Swan Hunter Storage & Spooling Yard ready for Operations After a successful equipment load-in and commissioning period, the DOC-Swan Hunter Storage and Spooling Yard is ready for operations. The yard based in Vlissingen, The Netherlands, will serve as a strategic cable hub enabling product storage and spooling operations for cable manufacturers & installation contractors, as well as deepwater berthing for installation / construction vessels.

DOC’s business links with heavy transportation vessels in the Far East, combined with Swan Hunter’s equipment, can also offer clients streamlined cable transportation solutions.

The current yard setup includes a 5500Te basket carousel, capable of over 7000Te onshore capacity, loading tower combined with 10Te spooling tensioner, 15Te shore tensioner and a range of

spooling chutes and track ways. The setup has already been used successfully on a rescheduled and expedited project to spool and store over 72km of HVDC export cable.

Gerard Kroese, Director, said: “This

is a promising forward step for the Dutch Offshore Contractors and Swan Hunter partnership. Utilising our equipment assets onshore and offshore highlights both our capability and commitment in offering clients a full service solution with on and offshore support in the offshore renewables supply chain.”

The DOC-Swan Hunter partnership will supplement the storage capacity with additional carousels that are currently under construction.

www.aquaticsubsea.com Subsea UK News | January 2018

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BUSINESS

Expro Continues to Lead Subsea Well Intervention Safety Through its NGLS Programme of Work Leading international oilfield services company, Expro, is supporting improvements to increase integrity and safety in subsea well interventions, through its involvement in the industry’s impending API 17G 3rd edition standard.

The third revision to 17G provides clarity on the requirements for in-riser well intervention equipment previously not captured in earlier editions.

These five key elements ensures Expro maintains its leadership in subsea safety systems and delivers a complete safety package that meets the industry’s latest standards.

In line with its commitment to API RP 17G, the company has evaluated both the 2nd edition and the forthcoming 3rd edition of the standard to create the most onerous set of criteria for its next generation landing string (NGLS) programme of work.

Colin Mackenzie, Expro’s Vice President of Subsea, said: “As subsea test trees have become the

API 17G 3rd edition demonstrates the importance the industry places on in-riser well intervention equipment, its role in well integrity and its safety critical element in barrier philosophy. The use of in-riser well intervention technology will lower well commissioning and intervention costs by minimising rig times. It will also optimise rig utilisations through installing/completing in one run, thereby improving efficiencies during operations.

Expro’s NGLS programme of work includes enhanced functional capability through improving equipment integrity, structural integrity/ operability through validation of finite element analysis against physical tests, in-riser monitoring to manage fatigue, enhanced safety integrity levels and improved lifecycle management. Much of this programme of work is transferable across Expro’s existing products.

The company’s investment has enhanced its technologies to include a high debris tolerant ball mechanism; cut and seal functionality; the ability to strip through coil through a partially closed subsea test tree ball and the retainer valve’s “fail as is” ability to close after BOP shear.

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

established safety system for well commissioning and intervention, industry standards have been developed to ensure well integrity is maintained at all times. The impending introduction of API 17G 3rd edition for subsea well intervention equipment has raised the importance and control of in-riser well intervention equipment.

“As the industry’s leading subsea landing string provider, Expro’s NGLS programme of work ensures compliance with industry expectations whilst being in accordance with the impending API 17G 3rd edition, thereby improving integrity and reducing equipment risk.”

BUSINESS

Oceaneering Expands its Mission Support Center Due to increased demand, Oceaneering recently expanded its Mission Support Center located in Stavanger, Norway. The Mission Support Center provides a base for supporting offshore operations using remotely-located personnel.

The location in Norway takes full advantage of the area’s strong 4G mobile network which enables us to leverage Oceaneering’s ROV technologies, including its remote piloting and control technology (RPACT), to complete operations with very low latency.

Initially opened in early 2016, the Mission Support Center optimises efficiencies for customers. Not only do the facilities provide a platform for increased collaboration between client representatives and project personnel, they enable operators to benefit from derisked operations and cost savings. Additionally, many operators are interested in using the Mission Support Center to reduce their carbon footprint and operate in a more environmentally-friendly manner.

As innovative technology advances and the industry’s approaches completing operations evolve, Oceaneering remains at the forefront by taking a strategic, calculated approach to deliver solutions that provide efficiencies, de-risk operations, and enable customers to benefit from both small and large-scale cost savings.

Wood Launches EPF Service to Enhance Industry Efficiency Wood has developed a new solution that combines the benefits of standardised designs and supply chain independence to address challenges in project and cost efficiency for the subsea sector.

Wood’s engineering, procurement and fabrication (EPF) service uses standardised designs, streamlined procurement and pre-qualified vendors; integrating a number of service offerings to simplify delivery, reduce cost, accelerate schedule and remove interfaces.

“Adversity inspires creativity, and we have been driving a number of improvement initiatives to deliver enhanced value to customers in the challenging market. At the moment our focus is delivering this smarter approach to subsea structures and components for oil and gas customers, but we look to expand this in other sectors where applicable.”

The service is built on extensive experience in the capabilities which comprise EPF, where Wood has delivered significant efficiencies. For instance, recently saving a major operator more than 50% of the cost for quayside delivery of a riser umbilical and associated hardware.

Where previously Wood might provide a design package for a subsea manifold, with some tendering, procurement and fabrication support and supervision; there is now a complete turnkey solution through the full process to delivery at the quayside.

Based on standardised designs which cross reference industry standards for all key subsea equipment and construction aspects, EPF provides a simplified baseline that can be flexible to suit each project.

Central to the EPF approach is solution independence. Wood is not commercially tied to any equipment suppliers and able to consider all possibilities in proposing the best options and vendors for the project.

John Butler, business acquisition manager, recently launched the integrated service at the Subsea UK Springboard.

“We have always focused on breaking down and simplifying complex technical problems faced by our customers,” John said. “When it comes to subsea hardware design and engineering, we have successfully provided and supported all the elements of what we now term ‘EPF’ for a number of years across many geographical locations. Now we are combining our expertise in engineering, procurement and fabrication to give a full, seamlessly integrated service for customers.

Subsea UK News | January 2018

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Europe’s largest annual Subsea Exhibition and Conference Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) 07-09 February 2018

Organised by

Principal Media Partners

Principal Media Sponsor

Supporting Sponsors

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Smart Actuator Company Launches Revolutionary Energy-saving Actuator

From the leafy rural heart of England The Smart Actuator Company, a family business and recent winners of the Queen’s Award for Innovation, are set to revolutionise the world of industrial valve actuation.

The latest product in the SmartAct® range to go into production is the Subsea Actuator. The world’s first RIFTdriven subsea actuator for part turn & multi turn applications, it has a full range of smart intelligent feature rich capalities; hyperbaric tested to 850m and certified to 750m, it’s designed for shallow sea operation and submerged actuation projects.

One such project SmartAct® is involved in, is the Marine Power Systems (MPS) WaveSub project. MPS has put nearly a decade of research & development into finding an affordable, scalable and reliable solution to wave energy, with an

energy generation device designed to address some of the main challenges of energy generation at sea. The SmartAct® Subsea Electric Actuator works with the ballast system on-board.

Managing Director, James O’Donnell, said: “We are particularly

excited to be involved in the WaveSub project as its fits with our company vision of saving the world through innovation; particularly in providing smart solutions and energy savings.”

The SmartAct® innovative products provide solutions for electric actuation problems that require access to some of the programmable key & advanced features. These features include failsafe, modulation and wiggle.

Due to a patented RIFT Driven Technology the SmartAct® Subsea has unique energy saving properties which cannot be matched. In a world where green energy is important, SmartAct® can save more than 75% of the electricity usage of any other electric actuator in the marketplace.

Subsea UK News | January 2018

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Supply Chain Springs into Action to Reduce Operational Costs Over the past year Subsea UK’s Springboard initiative has made great strides in highlighting the latest tools and technologies that have the potential to reduce operational costs and boost efficiencies.

Springboard is led by Subsea UK for member companies and supported by NSRI. The events encourage innovative UK companies to step forward and reveal how they could help improve integrity management, extend field life, reduce risks and maximise data collection.

Pitching to a panel of operators and Tier 1 contractors, companies are allocated a seven minute slot to showcase bespoke processes and systems that have been developed in a bid to address the immediate and future needs of the oil and gas industry.

The initiative aims connect subsea companies with potential clients to further encourage the uptake of current, cost-effective technologies that can improve efficiencies and increase project delivery times.

To date, the events have welcomed speakers from around 50 member companies, including EC-OG, Innospection, Fugro, DiveSource, Rotech Subsea, Astrimar, Viper Subsea Technology, Proserv, Forum Energy Technologies, Fugro and Wood; each pitching their offerings to representatives from BP, Shell, Apache, Technip, Total, Nexen and Chevron.

Stewart Duthie of Flexlife, who presented the company’s polymer J-tube corrosion mitigation technology, said:

“The discussions that followed our presentation led to follow up meetings to explore how our technology could be adapted for various applications including renewables, to mitigate corrosion concerns within monopile structures on offshore windfarms and for well plug and abandonment projects. It was great to see the supply chain and operator community come together and discuss real issues, challenges and solutions, while gain insight from differing perspectives.”

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

Neil Gordon, chief executive of Subsea UK said: “Some companies simply aren’t aware of the pool of expertise available to them and the benefits that can be gained from exploring different offerings currently on the market.

By bringing the supply chain and end users together, we hope to bridge this gap and encourage the uptake of current, cost-effective technologies that can improve efficiencies and speed up project delivery times.

“This is what we need to see more of, the industry working together to drive improvements that could lead to a radical shift in behaviour, processes or technological applications that solve one or several problems.”

Richard Knox, managing director of EC-OG participated in the first Springboard event which took place in September 2016, he said:

“It was a unique opportunity to come face-to-face with key decision makers in the industry who understand the value of the technologies presented to them. Our Subsea Power Hub, a turbine system which harnesses energy from ocean currents to produce autonomous electrical power was the focus of my presentation. The feedback I received from the panel was extremely encouraging. The event also provided a great platform to network with other innovative people who were producing useful technologies and explore potential collaboration opportunities.”

SUBSEA SPRINGBOARD

Specialist engineering consultancy, Astrimar, provided an insight into how its pRIOriti-AIM software delivers a rigorous, statistical approach to determine the condition of an asset. Caroline Robers-Haritonov, director of Astrimar said:

Springboard is led by Subsea UK for member companies and supported by NSRI.

“The event provided a fantastic forum to share and develop ideas and collaboration opportunities. We were able to reestablish contact with potential partners and significantly, we made a new contact with a key representative from one of the operators present. Conversations on the day and subsequent meetings have led to an opportunity to apply our pRIOriti-AIM risk-based predictive asset integrity management tool for Subsea Life Extension.”

From the panel Cameron Mitchell of Shell said:

“The direct engagements through Springboard events with companies that are developing new technologies is both valuable and essential. We need to establish effective ways of joining the issues we face as operators with the solutions that are out ther,e but perhaps not visible to us. The Springboard events connect us directly to the people who have the solutions and ideas that can help us and enable fast follow ups tailored specific to our needs.

“The Subsea Springboard is perfect for engaging directly with the SME’s in the Subsea community in a time efficient manner. A great initiative that serves both the contractors and operators in swiftly bring products and services to market.”

Mark Richardson, projects group manager, Apache North Sea, said:

“The Subsea Springboard events take place every three months and address a number of industry themes and topics. This second Subsea Springboard event will take place at Subsea UK’s offices in Westhill, Aberdeen.”

Zander Bruce, Subsea Operations Manager at BP, said:

“Springboard provides a valuable link between innovation and applications. These sessions are an ideal opportunity for industry technical experts to connect with operators and showcase new solutions to industry challenges and opportunities.”

Subsea UK News | January 2018

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MARKET INTELLIGENCE

Market Activity Report Q4 2017

Using the market intelligence tool, SubseaIntel, we have compiled this report covering the latest oil & gas developments worldwide.

North America Fugro Wins Ørsted Contracts for Site Investigations at Two Large-Scale U.S. Offshore Wind Projects

Gulf of Mexico

West Africa

DOF Subsea Win Multiple Contract Awards for Vessel Utilisation

ExxonMobil Acquires Exploration Acreage in Three Mauritania Offshore Blocks

Petsec Energy Annouces First Production from Hummer Gas/Oil Field Development, Offshore Louisiana Federal Waters

The oil price has seen a significant rise in price from $52 a barrel in Q3 to over $60 a barrel in Q4.

Contributing factors include an improvement in supply and demand as well as the extension of the OPEC production output limit. Although there has been a significant rise in oil price, this has not halted the renewables industry growing from strength to strength with many oil and gas operators continuing to heavily invest in the renewables industry. Knowledge, skills and processes are transferrable between both the oil and gas and renewables industries; this offers greater opportunities for all SME companies.

North Sea Submitting Plan for Development and Production, and Awarding Johan Castberg Contracts Statoil have submitted their plan for development and operation for the Johan Castberg project in which several major contracts will be awarded on behalf of the partnership with Eni and Petoro.

There is an estimated recoverable 450-650 million barrels of oil equivalent with capital expenditures estimated at NOK 49 billion (£4.5bn) for the Johan Castberg project. First oil is scheduled for 2022 at Johan Castberg and once given the go-ahead, the project will be the biggest offshore oil and gas development in 2017.

Aker Solutions have signed a contract with Statoil for both the Johan Castberg subsea system, and engineering and procurement management. Both contracts are valued at an estimated NOK 4 billion (£360m).

The project is a large subsea development in Norway that includes 30 wells, 10 subsea templates and two satellite structures.

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

MARKET INTELLIGENCE

North Sea Submitting Plan for Development and Production, and Awarding Johan Castberg Contracts DUC Partners Approve the Largest Ever Danish North Sea Investment

Middle East Saipem Awarded New EPC Offshore Contract in Saudi Arabia and Additional Works of Existing Contracts in West Africa for Approximately 400 Million USD

DUC Partners Approve the Largest Ever Danish North Sea Investment The Danish Underground Consortium has approved an investment of approximately 21 billion DKK (£2.5bn) for the full redevelopment of Maersk Oils Tyra gas field. The announcement follows the Danish Parliaments approval to implement legislation to secure the investment.

The redevelopment of the Tyra gas field ill protect and rejuvenate the important Danish North Sea infrastructure as well as ensuring continued production from Denmark’s largest gas field.

The announcement of the largest oil and gas investment ever made in the Danish North Sea will allow the Tyra project to continue operations for a minimum of 25 years.

Once redeveloped, the Tyra gas field will provide enough gas to supply 1.5 million Danish homes at peak production.

The investment will cost approximately 18 billion DKK (£2.15bn) for the modification to existing facilities and construction of new facilities and an estimated 4 billion DKK (£475m) for the removal and decommissioning of the current facilities.

The Tyra field will be shut-in for redevelopment in November 2019 and expected to recommence production in July 2022. The redeveloped field is expected at peak, to deliver 60,000 barrels of

oil equivalent per day and it is estimated that the redevelopment can enable the production of more than 200 million barrels of oil equivalent. Approximately 1/3 of the production is expected to be oil and 2/3 to be gas.

West Africa ExxonMobil Acquires Exploration Acreage in Three Mauritania Offshore Blocks ExxonMobil has announced that its wholly owned affiliate ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Mauritania Deepwater Ltd, has signed production sharing contracts for three deepwater offshore blocks with the Government of Mauritania.

Located 200 kilometres offshore Mauritania, blocks C22, C17 and C14 together measure nearly 8.4 million acres in water. In this acreage, the water depths range from 1,000m to more than 3,500m.

Following the approval of contracts from the Mauritania Government, ExxonMobil will start exploration activities, which include carrying out seismic data surveys and analysis.

Subsea UK News | January 2018

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MARKET INTELLIGENCE North America

ExxonMobil, with 90 percent interest in the field will carry out the work programme as operator. Societe Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures et de Patrimoine Minier holds a 10 percent interest.

Fugro Wins Ørsted Contracts for Site Investigations at Two LargeScale U.S. Offshore Wind Projects

Gulf of Mexico DOF Subsea Win Multiple Contract Awards for Vessel Utilisation DOF Subsea has won several worldwide contracts in which they have secured utilisation for several vessels in their fleet for Subsea IRM Projects.

One contract that was secured in the North America region was for the provision of survey, ROV and vessel services in the Gulf of Mexico. The project will utilise two vessels, the Harvey Deep Sea and the Skandi Achiever which will be used over a 135-day period in two phases for the project. The first phase was completed in Q4 2017 with the second phase to commence in Q1 2018.

Ørsted has awarded Fugro two contracts to undertake geotechnical investigations at two large-scale offshore wind development sites. Ørsted is perusing the development of two new projects – Bay State Wind, which is located 15 miles off the coast of Massachusetts; and Ocean Wind, which is located 10 miles off the New Jersey coast. Both projects look to bring wind energy to American consumers and businesses.

Fugro will utilise its dedicated DP2 geotechnical drillship – Fugro Explorer for the projects. Site investigations started at the end of November 2017 and will continue for an estimated three months.

Middle East

Petsec Energy Annouces First Production from Hummer Gas/Oil Field Development, Offshore Louisiana Federal Waters Petsec Energy has announced that the production has commenced at the Hummer Development in the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Louisiana, USA. Following the successful installation of the Main Pass 270 “B” platform deck facilities during the first half of November, the well was brought into production on the 21st November 2017.

The Hummer Gas/Oil Field, extends over Main Pass Blocks 270, 273 and 274, in the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Louisiana, USA. The Hummer Project discovery well, Main Pass 270 #3 BP1, is located approximately 50 miles southeast of Venice in U.S. federal waters, Louisiana. The water depth at this location is approximately 215 feet.

The well was drilled, logged and temporarily suspended towards the end of 2015. The Main Pass 270 “B” platform jacket was installed over the well, and the well was completed and production tested in late 2016. Petsec Energy tested the well over a 48-hour period. Test rates recorded over the last three hours of the test period averaged 19.88 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMcfpd) and 396 barrels of oil per day (bopd) on a 16/64th inch choke with a flowing well head pressure of 9753 psi. The test rates continued to increase over the final flow period of the test.

Saipem Awarded New EPC Offshore Contract in Saudi Arabia and Additional Works of Existing Contracts in West Africa for Approximately 400 Million USD Saudi Aramco have awarded Saipem a contract for Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) for activities in Saudi Arabia. The contract is a long-term agreement that will run until 2021. Saipem’s main scope of work from the contract includes the engineering, procurement and construction of a new 42” offshore pipeline that will replace the existing pipeline. The contract will also include any other miscellaneous activities for the upgrade of the Manifa water injection system.

Saipem has also been assigned additional works regarding previously awarded projects in the Offshore E&C in West Africa.

The total value of the new contract awards is worth approximately 400 million USD (£300m).

The well logs indicate that there are potentially additional reservoirs are in the well. These are untested sands that will be targeted on future drilling on the Hummer project. Significant production occurs for similar reservoirs along trend with peak production rates from those intervals exceeding 25 MMcfpd and 1,000 bopd.

Further Information This market intelligence tool is free to Subsea UK members The information contained in this report was gathered using SubseaIntel For more details visit www.subseaintel.com

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

TECHNOLOGY

Seatronics Increase Investment in Sonardyne SPRINT Hybrid Navigation Technology Marine technology specialists, Seatronics, an Acteon company, has increased its investment in Sonardyne hybrid navigation technologies following the purchase of four SPRINT Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) and four Syrinx Doppler Velocity Logs (DVLs).

The significant equipment investment, which also included six ROVNav 6 acoustic transceivers, will be added to Seatronics’ existing SPRINT rental pool in Aberdeen from where it will be made available to support oil and gas field development projects across the globe.

Introduced onto the market over 10 years ago, Sonardyne’s SPRINT makes optimal use of acoustic aiding from data sources including USBL, sparse LBL and DVL and pressure sensors to improve the accuracy, precision and reliability of subsea vehicle navigation.

Seatronics will take delivery of Sonardyne’s third generation SPRINT platform which supports dual gyrocompass and inertial navigation operating modes, allowing vehicle pilots and survey teams to utilise its navigation output simultaneously. The 4,000 metre depth rated titanium housing is smaller and lighter than previous generations providing operators with valuable payload savings whilst the power pass-through feature helps simplify vehicle integration and wiring.

The Syrinx DVLs purchased are able operate at altitudes up to 50 percent higher than conventional 600 kHz DVLs with the high resolution performance of a 1200 kHz DVL, all whilst navigating over undulating and challenging terrain of any type.

They will complement the SPRINTs by providing tight beam-level aiding to deliver unprecedented positioning performance, even if one or two DVL beams become unavailable. Co-locating plates supplied as part of the contract allow for the two units to be mated and pre-calibrated prior to mobilising equipment offshore. If needed, the units Sonardyne Seatronics SPRINT and Syrinx can be uncoupled, used independently, then reconnected and still be considered calibrated such is the precision of the Sonardyne co-locating arrangement.

“The purchase announced today follows the initial investment in SPRINT Seatronics made last year,” said Scott Gray, UK General Manager at Seatronics.”

FULLY INDEPENDENT TESTING OF SUBSEA SYSTEMS Vibration Table • Vibration to ISO13628-6:2006 • Test mass to 200kg

Immersion Tanks • 5m X 5m X 5m Freshwater Tank • 10,000 litre Saltwater Tank

700 bar Hyperbaric Pressure Vessel • 1.8m X 0.75m (internal diameter) • Multiple hydraulic/electrical access portals

Environmental Chambers • -40°C to +180°C • Controlled Humidity

Our testing equipment is housed in a large hanger space with full HGV access to load and unload equipment in a controlled heated environment.

Other Capabilities Design of Battery Systems, Subsea Environmental Monitoring Platforms and Landers

Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, Main Street Newburgh, Ellon AB41 6AA Tel +44 (0)1224 274401 • Email: oceanlab@abdn.ac.uk • www.abdn.ac.uk/oceanlab

TECHNOLOGY

Viewport3 Offers New Underwater Scanning Techniques Two Aberdeen engineers have been working hard to ensure that Oilfield operators in the North Sea are offered improved levels of value from subsea scanning, with the application of new underwater scanning techniques

by Aberdeen start-up company Viewport3 Ltd. The north sea’s ageing infrastructure poses many challenges to oilfield and marine operators, something which will rise exponentially as the region moves further into the decommissioning phase.

Viewport3 Ltd is owned by Richard Drennan and Chris Harvey who met in 2016 during Elevator’s Accelerator Programme, which they hold in high regard as a resource for start-up businesses. Richard and Chris took their 3d-data-based businesses into the Accelerator programme, and quickly realised the synergies between the two businesses. Six months later, they founded their collaboration, Viewport3 Ltd. Recently awarded incubator membership at Subsea UK, the innovative business aims to reduce the time and cost associated with performing subsea scanning operations. The company has developed a process which allows digital cameras to be used to glean geometric information, enabling engineers to import real-world shapes into their CAD design software.

The ability to react quickly to client requests for subsea scans offers a new level of efficiency and value to the subsea sector.

“When an operator finds a concern with subsea hardware, it is often found through the digital camera of the ROV being used,” says Technical Director Chris Harvey.

“Too often, a call then goes out for a laser scanning spread, which adds a delay to the project. Our message is simple; leave the ROV in the water, let us chat to the ROV pilot and suggest best flight path for scanning, and send us the images. In many cases the virtual geometry can be delivered before the end of the shift, allowing engineers to get on with the work of remediation. In certain environments, we’ve proven the accuracy down to 60 microns; the width of a hair. If you can point a camera at it, we can work with it.”

The business has enjoyed a positive first year of trading and is on course to exceed its six-figure first-year revenue target. Richard Drennan, the company’s Operations Director said: “Having a support vessel on hire for longer than needed can be a huge and unexpected cost for our customers. Advances in software and cloud-computing allow us to use the assets available on-site, namely the digital cameras. If we and other innovative suppliers are able to play our part in reducing brownfield project costs, we might just see one or two more developments get through the approval stages.”

The offshore industry spends millions of pounds every year to perform scanning operations on subsea and topside equipment, with applications in disaster recovery, lift and dive planning, and reverse engineering to assist with brownfield projects. Engineers are often forced to resort to more rudimental methods and it is believed the technology will increase the speed of projects, and make the outcomes more predictable and reliable.

Tritech Sonar Technology Provides Divers with Vision in Zero Visibility Conditions Tritech International have integrated its Gemini 720ik multibeam sonar with a Helmet Mounted Display (HMD), providing commercial divers with the capability to see in low or zero visibility conditions.

HMD and Gemini 720ik mounted on the Gorski helmet

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

Engineered to be compact and lightweight, the 720ik utilises proven, reliable technology and provides the diver with a supremely crisp and clear wide angle field of view. The Gemini sonar data is also transmitted to the support team top-side, thus providing an additional set of eyes to assist with target identification.

The system has been specifically developed for applications such as: hazmat diving; site clearance; search and recovery and ship hull inspection. Commented Scott McLay, Sales Director for Tritech, “The system has significant time and subsequent cost saving advantages over other methods of conducting searches or surveys. And, by using the INODIVE mounting system the sonar can be removed from the helmet giving the diver additional flexibility in situations where access is difficult or when a lower viewing angle is required.”

The HMD and Gemini 720ik sonar were also put through their paces by Les Gorski – the designer of the Gorski Helmet who said, “I was so impressed with the

simplicity and effectiveness of the system when fitted to my helmet; allowing me to move directly to targets of interest that could just not be seen without a sonar.”

ADVERTORIAL

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However, the inspection challenges include harsh subsea environment with access difficulties, a variety of asset configurations to be inspected with different defect detection requirements as well as budget constraints due to fluctuating oil prices.

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Following Innospection’s concept of a tool box of technologies, the range of remote controlled MEC-UT Combi inspection systems are designed and built to achieve comprehensive and high resolution inspection data within single deployment, enable more deployment ease with lesser preparation requirements and to relieve the project dependence on the most expensive resources i.e. divers, ROV systems and support vessels.

MEC-MPS Scanners The MEC-MPS Scanners enable the inspection of coated / cladded assets like risers, caissons and conductors from above and through the splash zone to the subsea area without a break in the continuity of scanning to provide high density data of the internal and external wall condition of the assets. An integrated advanced marine growth cleaning system enables combined inspection and cleaning for time and cost effective operations.

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Whatever your inspection challenges and integrity targets are, Innospection is your solution provider.

For more information, please contact info@innospection.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Subsea 2030 What Could the Future Hold?

If you were to ask 30 different people from the subsea industries what the future looks like you will get many similar answers: more autonomy, reliability, connectivity; all of which allow us to realise much more value throughout the marine environment.

But ask them where they see this fast-paced industry by 2030... and their answers change significantly. >>>

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

SUBSEA 2030

>>> At Subsea Expo 2018, you can add your thoughts to the Subsea 2030 project. Subsea UK and its partners the Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) and Scottish Enterprise will be hosting a range of activities designed to stimulate discussion around the Subsea 2030 vision. Subsea UK News caught up with the team driving this and the reason behind this “crystal ball” activity.

“Just because it’s difficult to predict the future, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try!” said Steve Harrison a

project manager at Scottish Enterprise. Steve is preparing to facilitate what he calls an “Idea Relay”, an online visioning & idea generation activity where industry, academic, entrepreneurial and public agency individuals can share their bold ideas.

“It starts with a series of provocative statements designed to get people thinking the long view,” said

“Statements such as ‘20% of the worlds rare earth metals are mined from beneath the sea bed’ or ‘>30% of the worlds food is sourced and grown in the marine environment’ encourage you to think very differently.

Steve.

“By tricking ourselves into believing that the future has happened, we can start to think about how we got here, putting aside all the reasons why it might

In an Idea Relay, the idea is passed like a baton through the team, nurtured and strengthened as it progresses. “We not happen,” Steve said.

will be sharing the outcomes at Subsea Expo and are inviting people to join us at ‘Perspectives on 2030 – A review from the future’ at an event during the week. As part of the process the participants will be asked to send tweets from the future, follow us at #Subsea2030.”

One such provocative statement is about the North

“the North Sea has a zero carbon footprint and produces all the energy for the UK and Northern Europe” has had Sea. The suggestion that

Chris Pearson & Graeme Rogerson at the Oil & Gas Technology Centre pondering over an Integrated Energy Vision: “Globally the UKCS is in a unique position when considering energy supply and demand.” said Chris, solutions centre manager for small pools at OGTC. “It is home to a vast array of energy sources from Oil & Gas to Offshore Renewables to Subsea Minerals and it is surrounded by an energy demand on all sides. Subsea engineering will play a key role in fully developing the potential for all these energy sectors.

“Key to achieving success will be in integrating the challenges faced by the industries and developing a clear ‘UKCS Energy Vision’. How can we best use existing infrastructure, export routes and industry aspirations to develop an integrated energy infrastructure in the UKCS which will deliver on UK energy demands and support the UK’s carbon emissions target?” Chris will be discussing this further with a panel forum at Subsea Expo and welcomes audience involvement.

To achieve such a vision would require ever increasing levels of technology. “The Internet of the Ocean means all vehicles, devices and machines are connected, autonomous & intelligent” is one of the challenges that David Lane and his team at The Edinburgh Centre for Robotics (lead partners in the ORCA Hub project) have been working on.

David explained: “The long-term industry vision is for a completely autonomous offshore energy field, operated, inspected and maintained from the shore. Significant research progress is anticipated from ORCA Hub in robotic autonomy, mobility, manipulation, sensor processing, autonomous mapping, navigation, multimodal interfaces and human-machine collaboration.

“Our vision is that by 2030, robotics and AI will have revolutionised Asset Integrity Management in the offshore energy sector to enable cheaper, safer and more efficient working practices. ORCA Hub will have

researched, integrated, validated and deployed game changing remote robotic solutions that can operate with existing and future offshore energy assets and sensors, interacting safely in autonomous or semi-autonomous modes in complex and cluttered

Subsea UK News | January 2018

29

SUBSEA 2030

environments, cooperating with remote operators, able to self-certify themselves and assets to satisfy regulators.

“We will have developed robotics solutions enabling accurate mapping of, navigation around and interaction with offshore assets that support the deployment of sensors networks for asset monitoring. Human-machine systems will be able to co-operate with remotely located human operators through an intelligent interface that manages the cognitive load of users in these complex, high-risk situations. Robots and sensors will be integrated into a broad asset integrity information and planning platform that supports self-certification of the assets and robots.”

Advanced manufacturing methods such as 3D printing and increased use of immersive technologies such as VR & AR will also transform how we design, develop, deploy, operate & maintain subsea technology in the future.

We must also not forget the need to protect, prevent and repair the damage to our precious ocean resources. Technology has a crucial role to play here also.

“

What do you think?

The Subsea 2030 team would like to hear your thoughts and ideas! Email at Subsea2030@scotent.co.uk to share your views from the future.

If you would like to learn more about the thinking behind Subsea 2030 then steve.harrison@scotent.co.uk & chris.bryceland@scotent.co.uk will be at Subsea Expo with their crystal ball.

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

follow the hastag #Subsea2030

The Subsea opportunity for Scotland is very significant right now and there are huge opportunities ahead of us both in Oil and Gas and other sectors, and we believe that the Subsea 2030 vision approach will help us to plan, prepare and invest for this future,” said David Rennie, Scottish Enterprise’s head of oil & gas. ”We are keen to hear what other people think and welcome their input into the activities and discussions. These visions and ideas will help inform the development of our activity and planned investments to ensure that Scotland continues to lead this industry and that Aberdeen remains the home of subsea innovation.

”

Best choice ever

for underwater tasks everywhere the future is electric

WORLD LEADER IN UNDERWATER e-ROBOTIC SYSTEMS

THE FUTURE IS ELECTRIC

TECHNOLOGY

Oceanlab to Market Battery Design Expertise Since 2001, The University of Aberdeen’s Oceanlab facility has been designing and deploying deep ocean scientific payloads, powered by battery systems, which have become smaller, cheaper and optimised for purpose.

In some systems it is necessary to deploy suites of environmental sensors or video/still camera systems subsea. For short-duration deployments it is sometimes possible to mount these on an ROV, patching into the platform’s power and data interfaces.

In long-term deployments it is not feasible or economic to tie up an ROV as an observation platform and, in such circumstances, the solution is for the instrumentation to be autonomous, typically mounted on a platform or lander, requiring a controller and battery power source.

Initially, separate controllers and batteries were used in such systems but, with the miniaturisation of electronics, in many cases it became apparent that power, space and cost could be minimised by migrating the controller function into the battery housing.

The resulting “intelligent battery” consumes microamps while “sleeping”, awakening to a pre-programmed schedule to power on sensors, for the minimum duration required to capture a reading or photograph, thus maximising battery life. This is particularly useful in camera/flash systems which can often be programmed to operate in time-lapse mode but draw considerable quiescent current between photographs.

The ability to completely power off instruments at the power source has led to much improved accuracy in battery life estimation, resulting in the ability to better optimise battery size and power to match the application. An additional bonus is the ability to monitor current and terminal voltages, downloading these profiles on recovery.

Numerous battery systems have been designed with typical voltage ranges from 6V to 24V and current capability up to 200Ah using Lithium, Alkaline and various other chemistries. These have, and continue to be, deployed in the ocean for periods of up to two years.

Dr Stewart Chalmers, Technical Director, Oceanlab said:

“We have gradually been reducing costs and increasing efficiency in battery systems, developing a methodology whereby the battery system is matched to the application.”

TECHNOLOGY

SMD Helps Major International Underwater Mining R&D Project Move a Step Closer to Reality UK-based subsea engineering specialist Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd (SMD) has successfully completed first stage testing in a pioneering project which is set to uncover valuable European mineral resources.

SMD is technical lead on the VAMOS (viable alternative mine operating system) project, a 42-month international research and development venture, which is part-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

At a cost of approximately 12.6 million Euros, SMD and its partners in the VAMOS Consortium, have designed and built a robotic underwater mining prototype with launch and recovery technology to perform field tests at four EU mining sites.

Stef Kapusniak, SMD Business Development Manager (Mining), explains: “The performance of the system is based on proven remotely controlled underwater excavation techniques made possible by improvements in underwater positioning, navigation and awareness systems.

“It will provide a safer and cleaner option for extracting inland submerged mineral deposits. The technique is suitable for soft to medium strength rock in orebodies below the water table. We envisage application in the form of extensions to existing surface mines, re-opening of abandoned un-rehabilitated mines and direct application in previously unworked mineral deposits which are in hydrologically challenging ground.

“Testing at the first trial site in an abandoned kaolin mine in Devon went very well. Testing at further sites in different rock types at different water depths will enable confirmation of the system’s potential for industrial scale applications. This is a very exciting time, as completion of testing will enable determination of the practical range of application in this emerging market.”

SMD is a market leading global company with over 45 years’ experience in the subsea technology sector, specialising in the development of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and advanced trenching and mining machines.

Paul Davison, SMD Managing Director of Trenching, Mining and Renewables, said: “I’m very pleased with how the VAMOS project is progressing. This is the first project of its kind for us and so it has been a great learning opportunity. I hope its success will create new opportunities for us all, as well as continue to demonstrate our passion for innovation and delivering world-first projects.”

During November the system will be demobilised and prepared for transport from the UK to the second test site in Bosnia and Herzegovina in spring 2018.

The VAMOS project launched in March 2016. The consortium includes 16 members from nine EU countries.

Subsea UK News | January 2018

33

TECHNOLOGY

24-man HRF Upgrade Completed at JFD’s National Hyperbaric Centre JFD, the world leading underwater capability provider serving the commercial and defence markets and part of James Fisher and Sons plc, is delighted to announce the completion of an extension to its National Hyperbaric Centre in Aberdeen which enhances the Hyperbaric Reception Facility (HRF) capacity from 18 to 24-man.

Housing the only land-based saturation diving system in the UK, the National Hyperbaric Centre (NHC) has worked in collaboration with North Sea diving contractors for nearly 30 years by successfully providing a comprehensive 18-man emergency Hyperbaric Reception Facility, connected to a DMAC 028 (Diving Medical Advisory Committee) compliant medical chamber, helping to ensure the safety of saturation divers in the event of an emergency.

In response to larger diving support vessels coming into operation, JFD announced in November 2016 an investment to extend and upgrade the facility which would take the system from 18-man to 24man capacity to support next generation Self Propelled Hyperbaric Lifeboats (SPHLs).

Martin Robb, JFD Head of Delivery, Commercial Services said: “The NHC is now the only enclosed and fixed facility in the UK that is able to support the reception of new-generation 24-man SPHLs. Our facility benefits from being connected to a dedicated DMAC 028 compliant medical chamber, supported by leading hyperbaric specialists, allowing JFD to offer the most comprehensive HRF and support package in the world.”

In order to enhance the system’s capability and better facilitate the mating of a larger SPHL, a new hyperbaric module was engineered and manufactured providing a critical link between the 24-man SPHL and the NHC’s decompression chambers. It consists of a transfer under pressure chamber and spool piece contained within a steel support structure with a bespoke cradle providing alignment and support for the 24-man SPHL. The NHC building has also been extended and it’s overhead crane handling capabilities enhanced to accommodate the larger lifeboat and now offers a 50MT capability.

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

All works were designed and delivered on time by a local contractor in accordance with International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) guidelines and Lloyds Register certification.

This investment has ensured that JFD retains its position as a centre of excellence for hyperbaric rescue by offering an incredibly comprehensive land based facility at the National Hyperbaric Centre, with portable HRF and global hyperbaric rescue services (GHRS) capability supporting diving operators within the North Sea and globally.

Giovanni Corbetta, JFD Managing Director said: “JFD

has successfully improved the standard of hyperbaric rescue through its National Hyperbaric Centre for nearly 30 years. Having one of the most capable facilities in the UK means we can transfer these skills and expertise to help support hyperbaric reception globally.

“We have recently added a portable 18-man HRF to our asset pool to help support remote diving operations and plan to further strengthen our presence and capability in key locations across the world over the next couple of years. We are committed to enhancing the standard of subsea safety and believe a similar level of hyperbaric rescue capability to what we provide in the UK should be available for divers globally.”

TECHNOLOGY

Savante Subsea Deploys Unique Laser Inspection System to Monitor the Integrity of Conductors Underwater laser scanning innovators, Savante Subsea have successfully deployed a unique laser inspection system designed to warn and inform oil operators about the integrity and rate of deterioration of conductors, caissons, risers and J-Tubes within guide-frames.

Complete conductor wall loss, fretting and connector failures have been directly observed and quantitatively measured for the first time.

With many platforms operating beyond their initially planned lifetime, monitoring the integrity of tubulars subjected to dynamic wave loading effects is becoming a significant and safety-critical issue.

Until now, this has been difficult to investigate due to remote access issues; the narrow annular gap between an unrestrained conductor and its guide-frame makes it a hazardous area to insert tooling.

Dr. Grant Thomson, Founder of Savante Subsea, said: “Deployed using ROV or rope-access technicians, the SLV-5000i subsea laser profiler uses specialist high speed optics and has been proven to record accurate surface condition measurements in heave conditions exceeding 5m. The laser scans the conductor surface and wall loss measurements are completed in a matter of micro-seconds. A complete picture of 32 conductors was recently achieved within a 30 minutes dive with material loss measurements referenced to areas of undamaged conductor. Precision was better than 0.5mm which was more than sufficient to provide advanced indication of problems.

An integrated colour video camera also provides context to wear measurements and was critical in the identification of an actual

connector failure. A quick look at the video feed showed two separate sections of conductor, apparently detached.

“Whilst this has proven an immediate Savante laser probe mounted on ROV and critical step in advancing and prioritising the installation of repair solutions for one client, the core data gathered by our technology also has the repeatability to enable the determination of rates of material wear and the orientation of regions of preferential wear, which we believe may be a result of prevailing weather loading. Inspections of the same areas can be performed periodically to prioritise further monitoring or kick off time-critical repair strategies.”

Looking ahead, Savante is also launching a new subscription-based laser scanning service in support of the SLV-5000i laser profiler.

Owners of the new 3rd generation Savante tools can subscribe for an annual or monthly service fee to access critical data from their inspection campaigns without the specific requirement for Savante technical input or post-processing charges.

TECHNOLOGY

Intelligent Intervention: SECC’s Connected Vision In pursuit of safer and more cost-effective liquid-based rigless/riserless interventions, the oil and gas industry is identifying new techniques and technologies that can help it maximise revenues from existing brownfields and new assets by enhancing their output.

(Left) Preinstalled 2 inch female connector on a manifold, in the mated position; (Right) The manifold being deployed subsea.

SECC female connector preinstalled on an extension frame prior to being attached to a manifold.

In a “lower for longer” environment, operators are looking to reduce the complexity and increase the efficiency of hydraulic intervention operations. At the heart of the matter is the practical issue of accessing subsea wells more easily and intelligently.

This methodology was used by a major oil company to complete a series of successful scale squeezes on two of its North Sea subsea assets. The operator used an open water conduit connected to the permanently mounted HMHB allowing a cheaper “vessel of opportunity” to be used in place of a LWI vessel. It also removed the need for more elaborate intervention equipment.

SECC’s Hot Make Hot Break (HMHB) connector provides operators with the best available, safest, and most cost effective technology to access subsea wells from a range of subsea production assets including manifolds, PLEMs, PLETs, and subsea trees. The HMHB, Emergency Quick Disconnect (EQD) provides a reconnectable, selfsealing weak link that breaks during vessel drift off. These facets minimise downtime and maximise safety.

Permanent Subsea Solution for Hydraulic Well Intervention Considerable operational savings can be realised by installing the HMHB on a subsea manifold creating a permanent access point.

The estimated cost of a single HMHB access point is just 1-2% of a standard manifold build. The practice of pre-installing a HMHB on a subsea manifold to allow hydraulic intervention from a DP-2 vessel has been undertaken by SECC’s clients since 2014.

In light of positive results, SECC has since seen the HMHB connector permanently mounted on other subsea manifolds and new-build projects in the North Sea. Having the HMHB permanently installed subsea also reduces the costs associated with mobilisation and movement of intervention equipment from one region of the world to another.

Savings associated with the reduced complexity of operations bypassing the need for large equipment spreads, and the ability to use “vessels of opportunity” (which in turn can speed up operations and reduce deferred oil costs) are all leading to seven-figure cost savings per intervention.

Subsea Tooling Services Launch New Decommissioning Tool at Subsea Expo Launched at Subsea Expo, Subsea Tooling Services’ innovative new tool, Trident, has been designed to allow the safe cost-effective recovery of pipelines, flexibles, concrete mattresses and debris in one single deployment.

The tool secures, dredges, cuts and recovers sections of pipelines and flexibles in one operation, thus saving vessel time and project costs. This unique tool can be configured to cut sections of flexibles up to 25m in length and rigid pipelines up to 10m, the cut sections can be recovered directly to surface or wet stored within DNV subsea baskets for later recovery.

Trident can also be equipped with a range of handling tools such as pipeline grabs, debris grapples, mattress lifting clamps, various cutting tools and recovery buckets.

Trident can be operated and controlled by an ROV via an own in house designed intelligent electro-hydraulic valve pack with

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

hydraulic power supplied by the WROV or umbilical from the surface vessel. The tool can be fitted with either two 0”-20” or 16”-38” fully integrated Diamond Wire Saws (DWS) for all infield and export pipelines. Larger diameter saws can be interfaced with the tool on a project by project basis.

The lifting beam is fitted with an easy access ROV valve panel, the panel has control valves for operating all functions either together or independently as required. Hydraulic power is supplied via standard ISO hydraulic low flow and hi-flow hotstabs with pressure validation gauges mounted for accurate monitoring by the ROV. The complete assembly is mounted within a purpose-built transportation basket allowing safe, easy deployment and storage.

TECHNOLOGY

ARTIS Tackles Challenges in Assessing Materials Performance in Extreme Environments ARTIS and its Demanding Environment Facility (DEF) has taken on the challenge of assessing the performance of materials in extreme chemical environments - investigating the effects of temperature and hydrogen sulphide concentration on the physical properties of both FKM and HNBR seal compounds, using industry recognised procedures for the qualification of nonmetallic materials used in the oil and gas industry.

To fully understand the influence of temperature and H2S on property modification, post-sour gas analysis was performed. This revealed a number of degradative mechanisms had occurred, including: additional crosslinking, chain scission, filler modification, dehydrofluorination, low-level oxidative ageing and extraction of soluble matter. This confirmed that using the data produced from the standard tests would not fit an Arrhenius lifetime prediction model. ARTIS concluded that the ISO 23936-2 standard and others may be using the right ageing methods, but have the wrong approach to data analysis and lifetime prediction.

Analysis of used or failed service parts and collaboration with end users would help verify that the ageing regimes adopted are accelerating the relevant modes of degradation.

Degraded seal

“This analysis is the next step in our research,” said Martyn Bennett, Chief Scientist of ARTIS. “ARTIS is all about problem solving, failure analysis and understanding how materials function in the real world.”

ARTIS provides research and development capabilities in a wide range of rubbers and polymers.

DEF Test Vessel

Introduction to Subsea Engineering Course Revamped Course fine-tuned by industry experts

8 WEEKS ONLINE ACCESS

40-60 HRS LEARNING

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Subsea UK, in conjunction with Robert Gordon University, have redeveloped their online course, “An Introduction to Subsea Engineering”.

• Aimed at those starting their career, transferring into or returning to subsea engineering roles in the oil & gas industry • Written by industry experts and periodically reviewed / improved • Now used by many subsea companies as part of their company induction and training programmes for new-start engineers

Find out more at www.subseauk.com/6761/online-learning

Subsea UK and RGU’s interactive online course contains four modules designed to support distance learning individuals and employers.

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TECHNOLOGY

Acteon Deploys FlexAssure, its Flexible Riser Structural Integrity Monitoring System Acteon companies Pulse Structural Monitoring and 2H Offshore have successfully deployed a monitoring system, offshore West Africa that confirms the integrity of the top section of a flexible riser by detecting tensile wire rupture.

As flexible risers age, the potential for damage to the outer sheath increases as a result of dropped objects, clashing with mooring lines or collisions. This can lead to the flooding of the riser annulus that houses the carbon steel tensile armour wires leading to corrosion and an increased integrity risk.

Traditional integrity management strategies for flexible risers include a combination of annulus volume testing and general/close visual inspections. Deploying ROVs and rope access teams to conduct inspections is costly and only identifies damage visible on the outer layer of the pipe. The FlexAssure monitoring solution provides early detection of the loss of structural capacity of a flexible riser, simultaneously lowering the risk of hydrocarbon leakage and reducing the requirement for costly inspections.

FlexAssure uses an innovative combination of acoustic detectors, motion sensors and in-built data analysis to identify the failure of the tensile armour wires in the critical top section of the riser. The system

listens for the acoustic signature of a wire as it breaks and matches it with the accompanying small rotational changes to ensure the event is an actual breakage. This prevents false readings. The system also monitors the top angle and motion of the riser to provide vital information to correlate analysis models during remnant life or life extension programmes.

The system can be retrofitted to almost any FPSO-based flexible riser and consists of just two field-proven INTEGRIpod sensor packages, one above the bend stiffener and one below. This ease of installation, combined with innovative uptime-based commercial models, provides a cost-effective improvement to traditional techniques for managing aging flexible risers.

2H Offshore and Pulse Structural Monitoring co-developed FlexAssure and work together on deployment and data processing of the system to ensure clients get the most accurate instrumentation products but also a full understanding of the data it provides.

Master Flo Enables Incremental Production Increases with New High-Resolution Subsea Actuator Throughout the downturn in oil and gas prices, Master Flo Valve Inc. has continued investing in the development of new subsea technology to help its customers lower costs and increase production through enhanced flow management.

In 2017, this has ranged from innovations in pushing the limits of high-pressure / high-temperature subsea choke valves, to technology that cost-effectively optimises production of existing subsea wells. Master Flo’s new SL3 HighResolution Subsea Actuator does this by leveraging installed subsea architecture to enable operators to safely increase production without overstepping and potentially causing formation damage.

Based on hydraulic stepping actuator designs proven in subsea applications for over 20 years, the SL3 is backward compatible with existing subsea chokes while providing three times the number of

opening set points of previous actuators. This makes it possible to bring new production wells online with precision flow management that reduces the downhole pressure drop and surge experienced at each step, and thereby decreasing the likelihood of reservoir damage, sand production and debris that can damage equipment.

For existing wells, production can be safely increased by opening subsea chokes to the sand breakthrough point in smaller steps.

In comparison, switching to electric actuators typically requires prohibitively expensive modification of the installed subsea architecture, such as implementing battery power banks and additional power umbilicals. In older systems, sensors such as sand detectors on the subsea tree may have to be sacrificed due to the limited number of electrical connector slots on the subsea control module (SCM). Electric actuators also do not provide the same level of resolution. In fact, the SL3 was developed for a customer when testing found that mechanical backlash from the ROV interface prevented an electric actuator from adequately controlling the position of the choke.

The SL3 takes advantage of the electro-hydraulic distribution already in place in brownfield subsea installations. This maximises past investments, rather than requiring additional investments in subsea architecture. In new production wells with high-control start-up requirements, the SL3’s high-resolution allows custom multi-port choke nozzles to be replaced by Master Flo’s standard patented 4-port cage and external sleeve design for most applications. The 4-port design is recognised in the industry as providing the best erosion management, is more debris tolerant than multi-port nozzles, and reduces clogging of ports in heavy oil and high asphaltene production.

MFV P4 20Ksi Model

Subsea UK News | January 2018

39

FEATURE ARTICLE

WELL-SAFE IS ONTO A WINNER WITH P&A CLUB

W

ith prolific media coverage, a string of senior appointments, a shiny, new HQ in a prestigious location, an acquisition and the first contract win, Well-Safe Solutions has created quite a stir in the industry.

Described as a company that “has what it takes to solve one of the UK’s biggest industrial challenges”, Well-Safe immediately hit the headlines with their groundbreaking approach to subsea well plug and abandonment (P&A), not to mention their planned investment of £200million in bespoke marine assets and the creation of 400 jobs over the next three years.

Bringing together a wealth of subsea oil and gas expertise and experience with dedicated marine assets and equipment, Well-Safe is the first-of-its-kind tier one company with a complete P&A capability from front-end engineering and design to project execution.

Subsea UK News caught up with founder and executive director, Mark Patterson, to find out what all the buzz is about.

“The industry has been desperately seeking much more cost-efficient ways to tackle late-life activity and Well-Safe’s business model can provide the solution, which is why there has been so much interest from operators since our launch,” explained Mark.

Operators forecast that decommissioning expenditure figures will rise to £1.8 billion in 2018. This is equal to around 11% of total UK continental shelf expenditure and could increase further to around 17% by 2025 as more fields enter their decommissioning phase and spend in other areas reduces.

Mark said: “The market dynamics in oil and gas have changed significantly. Before the collapse in oil price, operators were focused on maximising production, costs were high and assets scarce and, with no real regulatory imperative, decommissioning was pushed back. Cost and safety are still paramount but with the considerable well abandonment challenge that lies in front of the North Sea basin, they need to prioritise decommissioning activity. With an increasing stock of “shut-in” wells, more incentives, low asset utilisation and therefore lower rates, the economics for P&A have become more compelling.”

The liability for late life, non-producing assets can be reduced via well P&A operations. However the timing on when to complete these operations is heavily influenced by cost and the need for a new approach.

“We’ve hit on a way to help operators meet the challenges and regulatory imperatives around the plug and abandonment of subsea wells that is simple, smart and cost-effective,” Mark explained. “This is using a P&A Club model, whereby multiple operators will subscribe to the club and their well inventory will be pooled with the

£1.8b 40

Subsea UK News | January 2018

Seldom has a new entrant emerged with such a high profile as Well-Safe Solutions did when it exploded into the decommissioning market last August.

P&A operations then delivered through a campaign-based approach. This means that operators will have cost certainty because we will be able to agree a fixed target cost per well. This will be based on well specifics rather than generic well categories and will be delivered by our dedicated P&A assets.

We will also facilitate standard terms and conditions across multiple well operations.

“If the well P&A work comes in under budget, then the savings will be redistributed among members of the club and various suppliers and contractors.”

Under long-term multi-year contracts, delivered by Well-Safe’s bespoke P&A assets, with agreed inflationary linked increases, subscribers will be guaranteed long term fixed rates over a 10 year period, the best in class well engineering team and project management, total transparency and shared learning leading to continuous improvement.

“As we get more effective, through retaining and sharing knowledge, we will adjust the cost of the well P&A operations based on greater productivity and faster results,” said Mark.

“In addition, the Club will cover subscribers through tailor-made insurance schemes to cover cost over-runs, perpetuity and liability of field once complete, and project funding is also available and linked to decommissioning tax relief payments.

Finally, subscribers to the club will be able to sell on their membership on completion of the liabilities.

decommissioning expenditure in 2018

FEATURE ARTICLE

“It’s a win win scenario, whereby operators get smart, safe and effective P&A solutions with visibility and certainty on costs, optimising their balance sheets by releasing liabilities on P&A wells and enabling more investment. Government and industry also benefit because we can deliver the 35% cost reduction targets. And Well-Safe is able to drive and deliver shareholder value.”

Mark said: “We’ve already attracted some of the most experienced people in the industry with the relevant knowledge of subsea wells to create a centre of excellence in P&A. We now have, what I believe is, one of the strongest, most technically competent and well-connected management teams in the business.”

These appointments include Phil Milton, who came on board as CEO, following Well-Safe’s acquisition of Intervention Project Management (IPM) which provided independent engineering, project management and consultancy services in well intervention, including plug and abandonment, and production optimisation.

This was followed by the appointments of Graeme Murray as legal and commercial director and Glenn Wilson as chief technical officer (CTO). The team was further strengthened by the appointment of the OGA’s former head of decommissioning, Jim Christie, as director of programmes, Matt Jenkins as director of well abandonment and Alan Cormack as Director of Finance.

With the opening of its onshore marine base at the Port of Dundee, the next step in this fast and exciting journey will be for Well-Safe to invest in some of the best-in-class drilling rigs, vessels and equipment.

Mark concluded: “As owners of these assets, we can guarantee they will not be diverted to other drilling operations but used exclusively for P&A activity. We also aim to be a great platform for trying new technology that will help reduce cost and speed up rig time over the P&A wells.”

£200m

Mark Patterson, Founder and Executive Director, Well-Safe

planned investment

400

new jobs in 3 years

Subsea UK News | January 2018

41

TECHNOLOGY

The Underwater Centre Provides Ideal Kawasaki AUV Testing Site The Underwater Centre, a world leading provider of subsea testing and training, based on the tidal waters of Loch Linnhe in Fort William, has successfully supported the delivery of a complex Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) operational testing project in collaboration with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd (KHI).

This significant 15-day operational trial was planned for almost two years and involved the use of workshops, vessels, deep water test sites, ROVs and specialist support staff, amongst other assets.

With a focus on the growing demands for pipeline maintenance in the offshore oil and gas fields, Kawasaki has been developing cuttingedge component technologies of AUVs, utilising the sophisticated underwater vehicle technologies deployed by Kawasaki internally.

The operational subsea trial used a prototype AUV and charging station; tasks included automated docking of the AUV to the in-water charging station, contactless charging and large-capacity optical communication tests.

A high level of experienced and specialist support was provided to Kawasaki to deliver deployment, operational and recovery assistance utilising the Centre’s array of transport vehicles, crane, WROV and vessels.

The Underwater Centre provided the use of its mechanical workshop to allow Kawasaki to prepare the AUV to help ensure that the team and equipment were well prepared for the testing phase. The Centre’s ROV team mobilised both WROV and OBSROV assets in support of the deployment of a test station and provision of footage of the AUV in the water.

Steve Ham, The Underwater Centre’s Commercial Director, commented on the successful trial saying, “This

was a major subsea trial of AUV technology in UK waters. Kawasaki chose us for their testing due to the unique combination of equipment, facilities and subsea test site. Our personnel worked tirelessly to support Kawasaki and it’s a further testament to our dedicated operational team, plus the range of vehicles, equipment and assets available, that mean we can support complex trials and testing such as this.”

The Centre’s unique location can accommodate various complexities of trials and testing projects owing to the mixture of facilities, equipment and staff; deep water subsea testing site down to 150m, 500m private pier, electrical and mechanical workshops, 1.5m litre onshore tank, training and testing areas, land and water-based vehicles including work boats, FRCs, ROV vessels, diving barges, crane, fork lift and transport vehicles.

During the trial, representatives from major oil and gas companies, underwater vehicle and equipment operating companies, UK subsea scientific and government organisations attended the Fort William test site to view demonstrations.

Subsea UK News | January 2018

43

DAVID PRIDDEN 1951 - 2017

Tributes Paid to Industry Veteran F

ormer Subsea UK chief executive and industry veteran, David Pridden sadly passed away in November 2017, following a brave battle with cancer.

The well-respected subsea heavyweight became the inaugural chief executive of Subsea UK in 2004, several months after the organisation was formed by government and industry.

With a long and illustrious career in the oil and gas sector, Mr Pridden was latterly chairman of Seanamic Group, chair of the Trustees of the UK’s National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth and a member of the Simmons Private Equity Investment Committee.

Over the years, he held a variety of senior positions at both large and small subsea contractors, including launching and successfully growing his own business.

After studying mechanical engineering at Manchester’s Salford University he went straight into the offshore industry, joining Y-ARD in Glasgow, then worked on the trailblazing Shell/Esso underwater manifold centre at Vickers Offshore.

He worked for BP from 1977 for five years before moving back to the contracting sector in Norway, latterly as managing director of Kongsberg Subsea Developments.

At this point he took a big jump and, together with three others, launched front-end subsea design

company, Mentor Engineering Consultants. By 1992, Mentor had grown to a £10 million revenue group and was sold to McDermott.

In 1997 he returned to Manchester and took up the role of chief executive of UMITEK which invested in consulting businesses to the energy sector.

These included Capcis and Smith Rea. Mr Pridden added TNEI and other renewables businesses to the stable before selling the oil and gas interests to Intertek and the renewables side to Petrofac in 2010.

He was also a founding director of Renews Ltd, which owns the eponymous electronic renewables newsletter. This was his second foray into the world of publishing having also been a partner in the company that owned Subsea Engineering News.

He was appointed chief executive of Subsea UK in June 2004, a position he held for five years. During this time, he spear-headed a campaign to raise the profile of the subsea industry, which included getting the word “subsea” into the dictionary.

Bill Edgar, chairman of Subsea UK, said: “I had the privilege of working with David in the early days of Subsea UK. He was passionate about the subsea industry and promoting the country’s world-leading expertise in this field. The initial strategy and initiatives he rolled out at Subsea UK laid the foundations from which the organisation has grown to become the highly successful, self-sustaining one it is today.

“He was also committed to promoting the industry to young people and had the ability to spot and employ competent young engineers into senior positions with identifiable management potential. He is a huge loss to our industry and will be sadly missed.”

Trish Banks, operations manager at Subsea UK added: “David was a highly influential industry leader and a fantastic mentor to many. He was extremely knowledgeable about the industry and his passion to drive positive change was evident in everything he did. I was always in awe of his energy and upbeat attitude.”

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

PEOPLE

Kongsberg Digital: Enabling Digital Transformation

Namaka Subsea Appoint Software Support Manager

Kongsberg Digital has appointed Gilbert Haydamous as Vice President Drilling and Wells within its energy division.

Namaka Subsea, an Aberdeen based Subsea Consulting Company, has appointed Darran Drysdale as Software Support Manager, to manage the company’s diving equipment planned maintenance and certification software, DiveCert.

Focusing on establishing Kongsberg Digital’s drilling management and decision-support solutions as part of Kognifai, the new digital ecosystem, Gilbert will lead further value creation for Kongsberg Digital’s energy division customers while exploring opportunities to leverage leading technologies to the benefit of customers in diverse industries.

Gilbert joins Kongsberg Digital, the 2016-established organisation at the centre of digital transformation for the entire Kongsberg Group, from National Oilwell Varco, a provider of equipment, systems, and components to the oil and gas industry. He holds a bachelor of science (BS) in electronics and electrical engineering and a master of science (MS) in general systems control from the University of Balamand. Gilbert will use his technical experience, education, and deep industry knowledge to support digital transformation.

“Digital transformation is accelerating the use of data for decision support and autonomous operations within oil and gas operations, but it is important that we break down the silo mentality to ensure that beneficial technology can be shared across industries,” said Gilbert.

“Once digitalised an operation can be seen from multiple perspectives and used for multiple purposes, delivering value through an all-inclusive solution.”

Lee Duncan, Sales & Marketing Manager, said: “DiveCert has continued to grow

on

a global scale and the appointment of Darran is essential if we are to continue its development.”

DiveCert, a software based certification and planned maintenance system, is being operated by over 50 diving contractors across five continents. DiveCert has been developed around global diving standards and reduces the time taken preparing paperwork for audits. Darran’s role will be to support the growth of DiveCert within the UK and overseas as well as developing the software for new markets.

Advanced Splash Zone & Subsea Inspection by Effective Robotic Systems • • • •

Risers, Caissons & Conductors Flexible Risers Subsea Pipelines & Flowlines Mooring Lines

Advanced inspection solutions with MEC – UT Combi Scanners offering added values & benefits: • • • • •

Comprehensive & high resolution inspection data within single deployment Combined inspection & cleaning systems for time & cost effective operations Provision of external & internal wall loss details Inspecting above, within & below splash zone Inspecting through coating & clad

www.innospection.com Subsea UK News | January 2018

45

ACHIEVEMENT

Left: Heather Sharkey (Commercial Director) and Right: Graceann Robertson (Marketing Co-ordinator)

Innovation Award Win for EC-OG EC-OG recently won an award in the Innovation category at the Scottish Environment Business Awards at a ceremony in Edinburgh.

The Scottish Environment Business Awards, also known as VIBES, reward companies who are at the forefront of eco-innovation. By promoting a more environmentally-focused outlook, the awards aim to establish a stronger and more innovative economy in Scotland.

EC-OG won the Innovation Award for the Subsea Power Hub, a hybrid-based ocean current energy conversion system with integrated energy storage. The system harnesses the energy within ocean currents to convert, store and deliver electricity on demand.

The Innovation category recognises businesses that have developed innovative technologies which bring about positive effects on the environment and Scottish business.

EC-OG were competing against four other Scottish companies in the Innovation category, with a record number of entries into all categories at this year’s awards. The robust judging process included several panel assessments as well as a site visit.

Heather Sharkey, Commercial Director, EC-OG said:

“We are delighted to be recognised in the Scottish Environment Business Awards, winning an award in the Innovation category. It was a pleasure to accept the award yesterday on behalf of EC-OG and a real honour for the team to be acknowledged for creating this new technology.

The award highlights the environmental credentials of the system as well as the impact that we are having on the Scottish business environment. Alongside our win, we commercially launched the Subsea Power Hub in September and recently obtained the new 2015 ISO: 9001 and ISO: 14001 accreditations. It is a really exciting time for the EC-OG team.”

Oceaneering Wins Two World Oil Awards At the 16th annual World Oil Awards, Oceaneering International, Inc. garnered significant industry recognition by taking home trophies for two groundbreaking technologies.

In this year’s New Horizons Idea category, Oceaneering won for its E-ROV concept, a self-contained, battery-powered work class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system deployed on the seabed.

Competitors in the category aimed to highlight “a game-changing product, technology, or idea that redefines the industry’s thinking.”

Meanwhile, in this year’s Best Well Intervention Technology category, Oceaneering won for its Blue Ocean Riserless Intervention

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Subsea UK News | January 2018

System, a reliable, efficient light well intervention solution rated to 10,000 feet. The category recognizes “technologies that help make significant improvements in terms of time saved, costs reduced, or production improved.”

The Oceaneering® PortVision® 360 service and Asset Monitoring Intelligence Center (AMIC) was also named as a finalist this year.

Vector Optima® Vertical Landing System (OVLS) • Suitable for Rigid Jumpers, Flexibles, Goosenecks & Pigging Loops interfacing with subsea structures such as Manifolds, Christmas Trees, PLETS etc.

• Reduced vessel/ROV time resulting in significant cost savings • +/- 12° Misalignment capacity • Provision for an integrated Optional Soft-Land System (sea water energised) • Available in sizes from 2” through to 24” pipe ID

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