April 2011 UT3 The ONLINE magazine of the Society for Underwater Technology

Offshore Engineering Tidal Energy Underwater Equipment

 UT2 April 2011 Contents

Processing Pilot Ready for Testing 4 April 2011 UT2 The magazine of the Offshore Jubarte, Wellstream 6, Gygrid, Tahiti, Gudrun, West Boreas 8, Society for Underwater Technology News Clov, Liuhua, Abkatun, FMC, Cameron/SLB 9, Deepwater Pipelay System 10, McDermott FEED, Brazil, Goliat, Ekofisk, Mariscal Sucre Dragon/Patao, BP 11, Ultra High Flow Injection, Omni- Choke 12 Underwater Flow Assurance Using Radioisotope Technology 14, Pipelines Deepwater Composite Riser 16, Hyperbaric Test Chamber Offshore Engineering Tidal Energy 17, High Pressure Swagelining, Plough in Baltic for Nord- Underwater Equipment Stream, SCAR 18

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The stern of Saipem’s new vessel showing the pipelay Underwater Subsea UK, RBG 20, Subspection, flexGuard21 , tower. Equipment Laser Scanning 22, HMS Audacious, TOGS, HULS, PAVS 24, Image: IHC Engineering Mojave in China 25, Tsunami Detection, Motion Sensor 26, Cable Survey 27, Cameras and Underwater Digital Stills 28, University of Plymouth Flora Lighting and Fauna Survey, True Lumens 30, Pan and Tilt Camera, April 2011 Aurora 31 Vol 6 No 1

Underwater Multi-Sensor AUV Pipeline Inspection, Integration 32, New Vehicles Markets for the AC-ROV 33, Cougar, CDS 34 2 Sonar 4000m Imaging, UUV, SALT 36, Sonar 294 37 UT Society for Underwater The Tide is Turning 36, MCT, Beluga 9 40, Bio Power 41, Technology Tidal 80 Coleman St The Bourne Alternative, Nexus Positioning, Hales Turbine 42, London EC2R 5BJ Norwegian Ocean Power 43, ORPC Turbine Generator 44, Oyster 2 45, Wave and Tidal 45 +44 (0) 1480 370007

Exhibitions UDT 46 Editor: John Howes [email protected] SUT Advanced Instrumentation for Research in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine 47, AGM 48, Aberdeen Sub Editor: Michaelagh Shea [email protected] AGM and Dinner 49, AGM Perth 50 US: Published by UT2 Publishing Ltd for and on behalf of the Society for Underwater Stephen Loughlin Technology. Reproduction of UT2 in whole or in part, without permission, is prohibited. The publisher and the SUT assumes no responsibility for unsolicited Production: Sue Denham material, nor responsibility for content of any advertisement, particularly infringement of copyrights, trademarks, intellectual property rights and patents, Design and Layout nor liability for misrepresentations, false or misleading statements and illustrations. Torpedo Design These are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Opinions of the writers are not necessarily those of the SUT or the publishers. ISSN: 1752-0592

UT2 April 2011   UT2 April 2011

Acquisitions Cameron Natco Fugro TSM Furgo Riise Bolt SeaBotix Cameron has closed on its Fugro has acquired TSmarine Pacific region, where it will enhance Fugro has acquired Riise approximately EUR 30 million acquisition of NATCO, following Group Holdings (TSM) with its Fugro’s existing presence, but has Underwater Engineering (RUE). per annum. The company has 25 Bolt has acquired all of the Supply Agreement the approval of the previously headquarters in Perth, Australia, also recently established an office in With its headquarters in Haugesund, permanent professional staff and outstanding common stock of announced merger agreement by and its subsidiaries in Singapore, UK to develop services in Europe- Norway, RUE is a provider of has up to 100 contract staff at any SeaBotix. The company was NATCO’s shareholders. Labuan (Malaysia) and Aberdeen Africa. subsea engineering, ROV and one time. established in 2001 and is located (UK). TSM is a specialist diving services offshore and inshore in San Diego, California. NATCO shareholders received provider of subsea construction, TSM’s revenues currently amount to the oil and gas industry. The combination of Fugro’s 1.185 shares of Cameron common IRM (inspection, repair and to over US$120 million per annum. existing strength in IRM and SeaBotix LBVs are used for a stock in return for each share maintenance) and light well The company has 70 permanent Specialised in IRM (inspection, its global network with RUE’s variety of underwater tasks such of NATCO common stock held, intervention. office-based professional staff and repair and maintenance) and subsea business will lead to substantial as maritime security, search and will receive cash reflecting has up to 100 contract staff at any construction support, RUE currently synergies and will enable Fugro and recovery, aquaculture, the value of any fractional The company operates remotely one time. operates 2 specially designed to strengthen its subsea services scientific research, hydro and shares. Cameron has issued operated vehicle (ROV) and vessels in West Africa and one business in support of the offshore nuclear energy applications, approximately 23.7 million shares diving services and has four high TSM will be renamed Fugro-TSM inshore vessel in Norway with both oil and gas industry. forensic investigations, as well as related to this transaction. specification chartered vessels in and will be part of Fugro’s Subsea work class and observation class inspections of off-shore oil and gas its fleet. Services Business Line. TSM ROVs and a number of modular RUE will be renamed Fugro-RUE drilling platforms and pipelines. management will continue to work diving systems. AS and will be part of Fugro’s It is primarily focused in the Asia- in Fugro. Subsea Services Business Line. SeaBotix LBVs are designed for Trelleborg RUE’s revenues show strong RUE management will continue to observation and lightduty Through its Engineered Systems growth and amount at present to work in Fugro-RUE. work, and can be equipped with a business area, Trelleborg variety of sensors including high- has signed an agreement to Cameron IMandF GE Wellstream definition video cameras, imaging acquire a subsidiary of Veyance sonar, tracking systems, as well as Technologies. The business Cameron has acquired Industrial GE has been carried out the its GE Converteam Ezra AMS various tools such as multifunction focuses on specially designed Machine and Fabrication, an strategic acquisition of Wellstream grabbers and cutting heads. The oil hoses for surface and deep- aftermarket service provider Holdings. GE Energy announced that its Aker Solutions has transferred patented Crawler system offered sea applications for the strongly for reciprocating engines Energy business has entered into an ownership in its subsidiary Aker by SeaBotix in certain of its LBV growing offshore oil and gas and compressors based in Wellstream, which has more than agreement to acquire approximately Marine Contractors (AMC) to products is designed to allow for extraction industry in Brazil. Huntington, West Virginia. 850 employees and operates two 90 % of Converteam, a leading Singapore listed company Ezra precise and complete underwater manufacturing facilities in Newcastle, provider of electrification and Holdings (Ezra) in exchange for ship hull inspections in demanding The plant is located in Santana “The acquisition is consistent United Kingdom, and Niterói, Brazil, automation equipment and systems, equity and cash. conditions. de Parnaiba, close to São Paulo. with Cameron’s strategy of specializes in the engineering and from a controlling Trelleborg will take over the lease core business expansion into manufacture of high-quality flexible In addition, 50% of Aker Solutions’ SeaBotix will continue to operate on the facility, which is 15 000m2, growth markets. It provides our risers and flowline products for oil This is intended to expand offering ownership in the Aker Connector in San Diego as a wholly-owned acquire the existing equipment and Reciprocating Compression and gas transportation in the subsea in rapid growth sectors that demand installation vessel will be subsidiary of Bolt. assume responsibility for the some division with a regional centre production industry. high energy efficiency, such as oil transferred to Ezra. 100 employees. to better support our customers; and gas, thermal power generation not only on the existing installed The $1.3 billion (£800 million GBP) and renewables. In the transaction, AMC is valued The acquisition is expected to base of equipment, but also acquisition of Wellstream enables at USD 250 million. Ezra will settle Oceaneering NCA be finalised imminently, and provides the local infrastructure,” GE to capitalize on growth in the It enhances GE’s ability to bring the transaction by paying Aker Oceaneering International has will be followed by investments said Joe Mongrain, President floating production, storage and integrated solutions in key growth Solutions US$50 million in cash, agreed to acquire Norse Cutting in supplementary production of Cameron’s Process and offloading offshore segment which regions, including Brazil, Russia, US$100 million in shares in Ezra and Abandonment AS (NCA), for equipment. It is anticipated Compression Systems business underpins deepwater oil and gas China, India and the Middle East. Holdings Ltd, and US$50 million approximately $60 million. that production can commence segment. production. in a convertible bond with maturity gradually as of the second half of after 36 months. NCA is an oilfield technology 2011. The purchase consideration company that specialises is SEK40M. Trelleborg will initially The final US$50 million plus in providing subsea tooling invest SEK25M during 2011. Satlantic Sea-bird Raytheon AST interest will be settled in cash services used in the Satlantic is joining Sea-Bird complete solutions to our customers Raytheon has acquired Applied on and subsequent to delivery plugging, abandonment, and Electronics and WET Labs in the measurement needs” Sea-Bird’s Signal Technology. AST will be of Aker Connector. The US$100 decommissioning of offshore oil Sea-Bird Ocean Measurement President Norge Larson stated integrated into Raytheon’s Space million payment in shares will and gas production platforms and iGas Nexen Group. in making the announcement. and Airborne Systems (SAS) give Aker Solutions a substantial subsea wellheads. In addition, shareholding in Ezra. IGas Energy has proposed the “Satlantic joining Sea-Bird and business. NCA performs specialised acquisition of Nexen Exploration UK. “Satlantic’s technology and WET Labs is combining the best maintenance and repair services Aker Solutions will be represented This is subject only to shareholder products are a natural fit and in biogeochemical and physical This will be renamed Raytheon on Norwegian offshore production vote. will allow us to better offer oceanographic sensors.” Applied Signal Technology, Inc. with one director on the board. platforms.

UT2 April 2011   UT2 April 2011 Research Company News Research OceanWorks Velocicious Deep Down Cuming Representation Cameron Statoil Siemens Company News Ocean Works has formed an Oilfield services company Deep FMC Technologies Cameron has signed a Statoil and Siemens have signed alliance with Velocious Australia Down‚ specialising in products and Ashtead Peter D. Kinnear will be succeeded memorandum of understanding a technology development Pty. The formal agreement services for the deepwater and by John T. Gremp as President (MOU) with Petrobras, confirming cooperation agreement. The allows both companies to expand ultra-deepwater oil and gas industry‚ Ashtead Technology has been and CEO. Gremp has joined the Cameron’s intent to enhance its partnership will initially embrace capabilities and resources has formed a new joint venture with appointed as an exclusive agent company’s Board of Directors. research and development efforts wind power, subsea technology, through the global sharing of Cuming Flotation Technologies. for the rental of SubC Control HD Kinnear will continue in the role of in Brazil through a $30 million electrical engineering technology experience and complimentary Cameras and associated products. Chairman until October investment in R&D facilities at two and energy efficiency measures. opportunities, with both already Under a Management Services As part of the rental agreement, locations. enjoying formidable reputations Agreement‚ Deep Down will provide each Ashtead Technology hub will Northern Offshore Based on complementary as safe providers of high quality certain technical‚ administrative initially be furnished with a stock Gary Bauer is the new senior Cameron’s Jacarei plant in Sao user needs and technological subsea solutions, intervention and management services to the of 1CamMkII Stills and HD Video vice president. He joins Northern Paulo State will add leading-edge opportunities we aim at developing tooling and services. venture on a cost reimbursable cameras. Offshore from Transocean where he testing capabilities, including a technological solutions that basis. Secondly‚ a Sales and was division manager hyperbaric chamber, along with contribute to more environmentally Velocious is a West Australian Service Agreement will provide a Ashtead Technology has also bee a high-pressure flow loop for use friendly, effective production. subsea engineering company that platform for Deep Down‚ Cuming appointed exclusive global rental SBM Offshore in testing and qualifying compact specialises in remote intervention Corporation and Flotec to combine representative, within the oil and Bruno Chabas will be appointed as separators and measurement ”This is a strategically important technology for the oil and gas, their product and service offerings gas sector, for Vortex International COO and a Director in the Board of equipment. agreement for Statoil,” says Halfdan renewable energy and defence to better serve the worldwide for the rental of the Vortex Dredge Management of SBM Offshore N.V. Knudsen, senior vice president for Industries. market. Unit. Francis Blanchelande who is due to At the Universidade Estadual de process and refining technology in retire this year. Campinas (UNICAMP) compound Statoil. The JV is expected to generate The most powerful 4in ROV and in Campinas, also in Sao Paulo Bridge Tyco more than a $100 million of diver dredge unit in the world (40 Jean-Philippe Laurès has been State, a new joint center for Siemens is an important Statoil revenues for the year ended to 50 ton / hr), the Vortex has appointed as Chief Commercial technology development will house supplier within several areas, Middle East’ privately owned December 31‚ 2011. Deep Down will removal rate performance more Officer and a Director in the board Cameron’s Center of Excellence and the two companies already submarine cable operator, Gulf use the equity method of accounting commonly seen in 6in dredges. for research in Brazil. cooperate in the technology Bridge International (GBI), and to recognize its proportionate share DOF development area. Tyco Telecommunications has of the earnings of the JV. A feature of this unit is the low Jan Kristian Haukeland is the new Cameron President and Chief signed an International supply and hydraulic consumption, which general manager of its Bergen Executive Officer Jack B. Moore An umbrella agreement has construction contract leaves enough hydraulic supply on office. Jan Kristian comes to DOF said investment in these facilities therefore now been developed, most ROVVs to utilize a purpose Subsea Norway from Acergy, where represents another significant structuring the framework of the GBI’s undersea cable network will built jetter unit. Environmental he held several senior management step in Cameron’s longstanding technology partnership within R&D connect the Gulf region states in a New Name concerns are addressed through positions, including Technical commitment to the Brazilian and technology development and ‘Gulf Ring’ system, in addition to an the high efficiency, low energy Director for their Northern Europe oil and gas industry, including facilitating the start-up of new onward connectivity to Far East via Oceaneering Multiflex demand hydraulic system and Canada region. an expanding footprint in cooperation projects. India (east route) and Europe via negating the need for external manufacturing, service and R&D Italy (west route). Service will be Oceaneering International has compensators. InterMoor programs, all supported by a The technology cooperation initially ready by the end of this year. expanded the Oceaneering brand Sarah Kawas is the business growing local workforce. focuses on: name to the former Multiflex development manager - Latin Under the contract, Tyco business unit. America. Prior to joining InterMoor, “Over the past fifteen years, Wind power Telecommunications will be Kawas served as Account Manager Cameron has continued to invest Subsea technology responsible for the design, The new name of the business People for Wellstream in local infrastructure to provide Electrical engineering technology manufacturing, permitting, unit will be Oceaneering Umbilical AGR equipment and services in support and energy efficiency measures deployment, and testing of GBI’s Solutions. AGR Drilling Services has named Clough of Petrobras’ exploration and undersea cable network, as well Rune M. Daae as Chief Financial CEO John Smith will retire from production efforts,” Moore said. Statoil this year spends NOK 2.2 as onward connectivity to Europe Over the last several years the Officer Clough. The company is looking for “We now have more than 1,000 billion on research. About half of and India. Fulfillment of the supply entire Oceaneering organisation a replacement locals employed in our Brazil this is spent externally. contract is subject to pending United has transformed into a larger global Tritech facilities, including Cameron’s States government approvals. company. To support its development in the Drill-Quip market-leading manufacturing Siemens last year spent about Americas, Tritech International Co-CEO Larry E. Reimert, will step plant in Taubate, which is NOK 31.5 billion on research and “Signing the supply and construction Within the subsea products division, has appointed a US Business down from his duties but will remain expected to deliver its 200th tree development. This represents contract is a major milestone for Multiflex has invested significantly Development Manager to its Sales as Co-Chairman. He will will act as during 2011; our multifunctional five percent of the company’s GBI in fulfilling its promise to be in its facilities, made improvements Team. Technical and Strategic Advisor for aftermarket center in Macae; revenues.. the leading independent undersea and analysed all phases of project the company on a part time basis. J. and the newly expanded Jacarei telecommunications network management and engineering Angus Lugsdin joins the team Mike Walker, Co-Chairman and Co- facility. In addition, we plan to add The costs of the cooperation operator in the Gulf; and in defining capabilities for current best having spent over 12 years in the CEO, will assume Reimert’s CEO control systems and flow control projects are split 50/50 between the new connectivity in the region.” practices. subsea industry. responsibilities. equipment offerings.” parties.

UT2 April 2011   UT2 April 2011 Development Plans Visund South South Clipper Approval Statoil has submitted a plan for are estimated at approximately 67 developments on the Norwegian RWE Dea UK’s field development 48/19 and 48/20, 100km (60 miles) First gas from the Clipper South east of the Lincolnshire coast and field is expected in the first half Supply Agreement development and operation (PDO) million barrels of oil equivalents and shelf. The fact that we have plan for the Clipper South gas to the Ministry of Petroleum and the discovery is characterised as already submitted a PDO for field has been approved by was discovered in 1982. of 2012 and field peak rates are Energy for the Visund South field. medium-sized. The discovery of oil Visund South shows that we the Secretary of State at the expected to reach a maximum of Production start-up is scheduled for and gas was made in 2008/2009 in are on the right path. There Department of Energy and Climate The gas is located in a tight Permian 100 mmscf/d. Production will be the third quarter of 2012. 290m of water and 2900m below the is therefore every reason to Change (DECC). age Rotliegend reservoir which via a new wellhead platform and seabed. congratulate the project team on contains approximately 500 billion pipeline connected to the LOGGS The development of Visund South their efforts”, says Executive Vice RWE Dea UK is the operator and cubic feet of gas in place. The offshore complex then on to the will consist of a subsea installation The development plan was President Øystein Michelsen. 50% partner in the Clipper South field will be developed using latest Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal in tied in to the Gullfaks C platform. submitted to the Minister of development project along with technology which is relatively new Lincolnshire. Clipper South gas Visund South, which consists of the Petroleum and Energy Terje Riis- The pipeline contract was awarded Fairfield Acer Limited (25%) and to the Southern North Sea. This will will be transported and processed Pan and Pandora discoveries, is Johansen by senior vice president in April 2010 to Sumitomo (Japan Bayerngas UK Ltd (25%). involve drilling up to five extended through LOGGS under the terms located 10 from both Gullfaks C Ivar Aasheim. Steel Works) under Statoil’s horizontal wells, and undertaking of a Gas Transportation and and the Visund A platform, and framework agreements. Clipper South gas field lies in the up to seven hydraulically induced Processing Agreement with the will be developed with a subsea “Due to the risk of the pressure UK continental shelf (UKCS) blocks fractures in each well. LOGGS owners. installation. dropping on Visund South resulting The subsea installations were in a potential loss of reserves, a awarded to FMC in June 2010. The installation will consist of a rapid development of the field is This contract also includes options subsea template with four well slots, necessary”, says project manager for subsea production systems for where three wells will be drilled and Hogne Pedersen. other fast track projects. New Projects tied in to Gullfaks C for processing. This year, Statoil is planning projects, construction of modules Aasheim. “But this requires Visund South is the first in Statoil’s Marine operations and and realising several fast-track has started, and new candidates are greater awareness of costs and The total investment for the portfolio of fast track developments. modifications on Gullfaks C were developments on the Norwegian continuously being included in our standardised solutions.” development amounts to 5.6 billion In just one year, the project has awarded to Subsea 7 in the continental shelf (NCS). Two new portfolio. We aim to have close to 2011 NOK. Transport and export will matured from an opportunity to an autumn 2010. projects are being launched these five fields in operation at the turn of “This is the beginning of a new take place via Gullfaks C’s export investment decision and PDO. days, namely Gamma/Harepus and the year 2012/2013 and to maintain era on the NCS, as we move from system. Drilling of the wells will start in the Snorre B template. this level in the years ahead.” large and tailored solutions to “Most likely, 2011 will be a summer 2011 and be completed After submitting the PDO for standardised solutions and work The volumes on Visund South breakthrough year for fast track in 2012. A plan for development and Visund South in January the list of processes to achieve economies of operation (PDO) of Gamma/ planned fast-track projects is as scale,” maintains Aasheim. Harepus is to be submitted in first follows: Visund South, Katla, Vigdis quarter 2012, allowing production North-East, Gygrid, Fossekall and start-up in the fourth quarter of Dompap, Vilje South, Visund North, 2013, at the same time as the Snorre B template.

“The time has really come to industrialise the NCS by moving faster from concept to development,” says Ivar Aasheim, head of the field development cluster of Development and Production Norway (DPN). “We have come a long way in one year,” he says. Gamma/Harepus and Snorre B “The fast-track development template. concept has already been established. Now we are realising “We have a unique position on the the projects,” says head of field NCS as operator of a large part of development Ivar Aasheim. the infrastructure in the established areas, allowing us to establish robust “The concept has been established, and profitable solutions for marginal deliveries with long delivery time fields that would otherwise not have been secured for the first have been developed,” underlines

UT2 April 2011   UT2 April 2011 Supply Agreements FMC/BP FMC/ConocoPhillips McDermott/SOCAR Reef/Technip FMC has signed a five-year global FMC Technologies, has signed a McDermott Caspian Contractors, Reef Subsea has been awarded

Supply Agreement frame agreement with BP to three-year frame agreement with and the State Oil Company of the four-year frame agreement contract provide subsea production systems ConocoPhillips Indonesia for the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) by Technip for subsea construction and life-of-field services for their manufacture and supply of subsea have formed a strategic alliance operations in the North Sea and the worldwide subsea development production equipment. to implement a major pipelay and North Atlantic projects. diving services contract in the The contract includes an immediate Caspian region. This frame agreement will allow Reef “We have a strong relationship with $57 million call-off and is expected Subsea subsidiary Technocean to BP and have supported a number to result in approximately $96 The contract was recently awarded act as a partner to Technip Norway of their projects in the world’s million in total revenue to FMC to McDermott in Azerbaijan as part and other Technip Group companies most active deepwater basins,” Technologies if all of the subsea of further development of the Azeri, for subsea services in the NCS said John Gremp, President and equipment included in the Chirag and Deepwater Gunashli (both Norway and UK) and Chief Executive Officer of FMC agreement is ordered. (ACG) field in the Azerbaijan sector Canada according to pre- Technologies. of the Caspian Sea. agreed terms. The equipment will support three “This includes innovative of ConocoPhillips Indonesia’s Under the agreement, McDermott Technocean will perform developments such as Thunder offshore fields, which are located will perform the engineering, its commitments calling on Horse in the Gulf of Mexico and in approximately 300ft (90m) of procurement, fabrication and its new chartered vessel, Greater Plutonio offshore West water offshore Indonesia in the installation of pipelines, cables, the Polar King. This new- Africa, and we are excited to further Natuna Sea. FMC’s scope of umbilicals and subsea tie-ins and built subsea construction strengthen our alliance with this supply includes the manufacture subsea equipment. vessel, certified to IMO frame agreement.” of up to 12 subsea production SPS 2008 requirements, trees, wellheads, control systems SOCAR and its subsidiaries will will be operational in and associated offshore tooling perform various construction April 2011. and services. The equipment will activities including fabrication be engineered and manufactured of subsea structures, subsea Polar King Cameron/BP at FMC’s facilities in Indonesia, installation services, provision of is being Singapore and Malaysia, with equipment and facilities, and will equipped with Cameron Subsea Systems deliveries scheduled to commence supply project-related and diving a 150 AHC has signed a non-exclusive in 2011. personnel. crane, and her Global Agreement with BP for 1000m² back the engineering, procurement, “This award represents our first “We are honoured to be deck and main construction and operational project with ConocoPhillips in strengthening our collaboration moonpool support for subsea production Indonesia,” said Tore Halvorsen, with SOCAR in the Caspian,” said provide her systems. FMC’s Senior Vice President Stephen M. Johnson, President and with extremely of Global Subsea Production CEO McDermott. versatile The Global Agreement recognises Systems. “It is a significant capabilities. The that the alignment of standards, achievement for our Asia-Pacific “SOCAR and its subsidiary vessel will also be specifications and processes facilities, and we are pleased to companies have played an important equipped with two and the introduction of product support ConocoPhillips Indonesia role in the success of our operations 3000m rated work standardisation, will optimise with this development.” in the Caspian since the 1990s.” class Perry Slingsby the use of resources, shorten ROVs installed in a ROV execution cycles, optimise life hangar with dedicated AHC cycle cost and deliver superior long LARS systems. term value. Cameron/SLB Mark Preece, Reef Subsea The Agreement is aimed Chief Executive Officer, said at developing a long-term, Cameron has signed a three-year worldwide preferred supplier “I am extremely pleased by the collaborative, performance-based agreement with Schlumberger Integrated Project Management (IPM) confidence placed by Technip in relationship between BP and for the supply of a wide range of flow equipment products and services. Technocean’s capabilities to act as Cameron, maximising the benefits an important partner for the next four to be gained of standardisation; As part of the agreement, Cameron will provide Schlumberger IPM years. Reef Subsea’s objective is to The Polar King recognising that this is the route with all surface, subsea, drilling, measurement, compression and serve both operators and contractors to enhance quality, reliability and downstream equipment on a worldwide basis. on a long term basis as we recently production availability of subsea announced for BP Norway”. systems.

UT2 April 2011 10 11 UT2 April 2011

FEED FEED FEED

McDermott on Browse McDermott International has been installation engineering will consider awarded a contract to perform float over and transportation related FEED work for the offshore forces. Central Processing Facilities for the Woodside-operated Browse McDermott has carried out a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) number of heavy topside float-over Development. installations throughout the Asia Pacific region – safely installing McDermott has teamed with Fluor decks of more than 19,000 metric Offshore Solutions on the project. tonnes. Fluor Offshore Solutions will lead the Front End Engineering Design The Browse fields are located of two platforms and McDermott about 425km north of Broome off will provide the team with design the western coast of Australia. The expertise in large jackets and heavy Central Processing Facility is to be topside float-over installations. located approximately 325km from the coast in 100m deep waters, “McDermott is pleased to be between the offshore fields and the participating in the Browse project, onshore gas plant at the Browse and supporting a long-standing LNG Precinct, 60km north of client, Woodside, in its LNG field Broome. development,” said Stephen M. Johnson, President and CEO, The Browse gas fields include McDermott International, Inc. three discoveries with a combined contingent resource of about 13.3 “We expect our familiarity and trillion ft3 of dry gas and 360 million proven track record on Woodside barrels of condensate (as at 31 projects to bring value to this December 2009). development especially when applying our heavy deck float-over Work under the contract has already experience to the FEED solution.” commenced and completion is expected in the fourth quarter of 2011. McDermott’s Houston engineering group will perform front end The Browse LNG Development is structural-design analysis of the a joint venture between Woodside jackets for both in-place and (operator), BHP Billiton Petroleum installation conditions and design (North West Shelf) , BP, Chevron of selected appurtenances. Topside and Shell.

Gendalo Gehem Chevron has awarded Technip two floating production units, will a front-end engineering design be executed by Technip’s operating contract contract for a project centre in Jakarta, Indonesia and offshore Indonesia. This is for two Houston, Texas. floating production units located offshore Indonesia in the Gendalo This contract will be the first and Gehem fields at water depths deep water engineering project of 1070–1830m (3500–6000 ft). executed by Technip in Indonesia, and demonstrates the Group’s The contract, which covers the commitment to maximise local hull, topsides, mooring systems content in the execution of its and steel catenary risers of the projects.

UT2 April 2011 12 13 UT2 April 2011 Licensing Offshore

FEED FEED FEED Licensing Gjoa Gygrid Jack St Malo 21st Norwegian Licensing Round Barents Sea GDF SUEZ has awarded Technip a Technip has been awarded an EPIC Technip has been awarded a There was positive interest for contract for the Gjøa field. Gjøa lies subsea contract for the North Sea contract by Chevron North America the blocks announced in the 21st in the Norwegian sector of the North Gygrid project in Norway by Statoil. Exploration and Production for the licensing round. 94 blocks were Sea. Worth approximately €90 million, development of the Jack and announced in the 21st licensing the Gygrid field development lies a St-Malo fields, located in the Walker round, divided across 43 blocks in This engineering, procurement, water depth of 265–330m. Ridge area of the Gulf of Mexico at a the Norwegian Sea and 51 blocks in construction and installation water depth of approximately 7000ft the Barents Sea. This licensing round contract is worth approximately €45 This contract covers: (2100m). has focus upon frontier areas on million. It This contract covers: deep water in the Norwegian Sea and frontier areas in the Barents Sea. l engineering, procurement, The contract covers the engineering, l engineering and fabrication of welding and installation of flowlines, fabrication and subsea installation “Competition for acreage is an including a 19.5km pipe-in-pipe two smoothbore gas export risers* of more than 53 miles (85km) of important part of our licensing policy. to connect the Gjøa platform with production flowline, a plastic-lined 10.75” outer diameter flowlines, This allows us to choose companies the gas export pipeline, water injection flowline and a gas lift steel catenary risers, pipeline end which can explore and exploit l removal of the existing flowline of the same length, terminations, manifolds, pump the resources on the Norwegain roughbore risers and installation of l subsea equipment installation, stations and tie-in skids. continental shelf most efficient,” sais the two new smoothbore risers, l installation and tie-ins of new Minister of Petroleum and Energy l tie-ins and pre-commissioning risers and umbilicals. Technip’s operating centre in Terje Riis-Johansen. activities. Houston, Texas will perform the Technip’s operating centre in Oslo, overall project management. The “The Norwegian oil production is Technip’s operating centre in Oslo, Norway will execute the contract. flowlines and risers will be welded at declining. Hence, it is pivotal to Norway will execute the contract. Flowline welding will take place in the Group’s spoolbase in Alabama. maintain the level of exploration North Sea Fabrication of the risers will take the Group’s spoolbase in Orkanger, activities on the Norwegian place in the Group’s flexible pipe Norway, while installation will be Offshore installation is scheduled continental shelf through awards plant in Le Trait, France. performed by the Apache II, a to be completed by the Deep Blue, of new production licenses in both pipelay vessel from Technip fleet, in Technip’s deepwater pipelay vessel, mature and frontier areas of the Norwegian Continental Shelf,” said Offshore installation, which will be mid-2012. in 2013. Riis-Johansen executed with notably the Skandi The contract is subject to approval Arctic, a vessel from Technip fleet, This award reinforces Technip’s The companies that have applied for is scheduled to be completed in the of the plan for development and leading position in the Gulf of Mexico production licenses are: second half of 2011. operation by the authorities. ultra deep water market. A/S Norske Shell, Bayerngas Norge AS, BG Norge AS, Bridge Energy Norge AS, Centrica Resources Norge AS, Chevron Norge AS, Concedo ASA, ConocoPhillips Scandinavia AS, Dana Petroleum Norway AS, Det norske oljeselskap ASA, Dong E&P Norge AS, E.ON Ruhrgas Norge AS, Edison International SpA - Norway Branch, ENI Norge AS, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS, Faroe Petroleum Norge AS, Front Exploration AS, GDF SUEZ E&P Norge AS, Idemistu Petroleum Norge AS, LOTOS Exploration & Production Norge AS, Lundin Norway AS, Maersk Oil Norway AS, Marathon Petroleum Norge AS, Nexen Exploration Norge AS, North Energy ASA, Norwegian Energy Company ASA, OMV (Norge) AS, Petro-Canada Norge AS, PGNiG Norway AS, Repsol Exploration Norge AS, Rocksource ASA, RWE- Dea Norge AS, Sagex Petroleum Norge AS, Spring Energy Norway AS, Statoil Petroleum AS, VNG Norge AS, Wintershall Norge ASA

UT2 April 2011 14 15 UT2 April 2011 Subsea Systems Brazil Liuhua Petrobras Grenland Group Subsea Systems Cameron has received an order FMC Technologies, has signed an FMC Technologies has received a “We have been a key supplier to Grenland Group has received China from Petrobras for 27 subsea trees agreement with China National $125 million order from Petrobras, Petrobras for decades and have three Letters of Intent for a and related equipment, worth Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Hong Kong to supply equipment for use in their delivered over 300 subsea trees for total of NOK 220 million from approximately $74 million, for use in for the manufacture and supply oil and gas developments offshore their projects in Brazil,” said John FMC Technologies’ Kongsberg their developments offshore Brazil. of subsea production equipment Brazil. Gremp, FMC’s President and Chief operation. for the Liuhua 4-1 development Executive Officer. The order represents the project. The award has a value Liuhia 11-1 The order, for 32 subsea trees, Manufacture of equipment to remaining trees under a 138-tree of approximately $85 million in represents the remaining “This announcement, as well as our support the Ormen Lange Project Hainan frame agreement announced in revenue to FMC Technologies. equipment under a 107-tree frame recent investments in a technology Grenland Group, as a supplier to Island September 2009. agreement that was announced centre and other facility expansions FMC Technologies, has received a The Liuhua 4-1 development in February of 2010. Equipment in Brazil, strengthens our support Letter of Intent to manufacture and Cameron received a purchase project will contain eight subsea deliveries are scheduled to of Petrobras and their offshore deliver one 8 slot Manifold and one order for the initial 111 trees and trees and tie-back to the existing begin in 2013. programmes.” Foundation Base Structure to FMC associated equipment at the Liuhua 11-1 field. It is located in Technologies. Total weight for the time the frame agreement was water depths between 850-1000ft delivered structures will be about signed. Deliveries of the trees are (260-300m) in the South China 1075t. scheduled to begin during 2011 and Sea, approximately 130 miles continue over a four-year period. (215km) from Hong Kong and West Boreas The work will mainly be 150 miles (240km) from performed at Grenland Group’s FMC has signed an agreement with FMC’s scope of supply includes 6 Cameron President and Chief Shenzhen. Deliveries are “West Boreas will be the first field site in Tønsberg, a site that has Executive Officer Jack B. Moore scheduled to commence in the Shell Offshore to supply subsea and subsea production trees, each rated at to use FMC’s 15 000 psi enhanced 15 000psi. previously delivered a significant said, “We are pleased to have fourth quarter of 2011. topside systems for the West Boreas vertical deepwater tree system,” field development. number of large subsea structures the opportunity to build on our said John Gremp, president and The company will also manufacture and to FMC Technologies. Anticipated history as a primary supplier of “The Liuhua 11-1 development chief operating officer of FMC The West Boreas field is located in provide subsea and topside controls, Technologies. contract value for Grenland Group equipment and services in the is the largest oil field in the the Gulf of Mexico, in Mississippi one manifold and related systems and will be approximately NOK 140 Brazilian market, and we look South China Sea, and FMC has Canyon Block 762, in water depths of equipment. Deliveries will commence in “It is also the first tie-back to Shell’s million. Deliveries are scheduled to forward to continuing our support supported the project since 1994,” approximately 945m (3100ft). the third quarter of 2012. new Olympus tension leg platform.” commence in the second quarter of of Petrobras’ developments and said Tore Halvorsen, FMC’s Senior 2011, with final deliveries occurring our ongoing investment in Brazil.” Vice President of Global Subsea in the first quarter of 2012. Production Systems. Moore noted that the trees included Statoil fast-trach projects in this latest order incorporate “We are pleased to continue our Grenland Group, as a supplier to enhanced drill-through capability role with this field, leveraging our FMC Technologies, has received that will provide significant cost strengths in subsea technologies two Letters of Intent to support and time savings in the drilling and and our many successes with tie- FMC’s recent awards for Statoil completion process. back projects.” West Boreas Image: FMC fast-track projects in the North Sea. Grenland Group will deliver two Integrated Template Structures and two Manifolds. Total weight for the Gudrun delivered structures will be about 700 tons. Cameron has received a contract valued at approximately $90 million The work will mainly be from Statoil for the provision of high performed at Grenland Group’s temperature, high pressure (HPHT) site in Tønsberg, a site that has surface wellhead and Christmas previously delivered a significant trees for the Norwegian Gudrun number of large subsea structures platform with further options for to FMC Technologies. the Valemon and Brynhild platform developments. Anticipated contract value for Grenland Group will be The seven-year agreement also approximately NOK 80 million. includes aftermarket services with Deliveries are scheduled to the option for two-year extensions commence in the third quarter of continuing through the lifetime of the The Gudrun platform. 2011. field. Image: Statoil

UT2 April 2011 16 17 UT2 April 2011 Offshore Pipelines

Offshore News by Statoil. The others are Visund Gygrid South, Katla (Oseberg area) and Pipeline Support Vigdis North-East (Tampen area). Hallin Marine Subsea International, a Penrith, complete with crew, as a The vessel is currently mobilising Five additional fast-track projects are Superior Energy Services company, reliable working platform for the in Singapore, from where the planned. is providing a vessel plus an ROV to project, which is expected to last vessel support will be managed. assist in the deep burial of a major for some 100 days. Hallin will also The Gygrid award is valued at Indonesian offshore pipeline. supply the Work Class ROV and its Rik Zwinkels, the managing approximately €90 million (NOK 702 operating team and engineers to director of Hallin’s East Division, million) and includes fabrication and The 16in pipeline from the Kodeco follow the progress of the work. said: ’We are pleased to be installation of a 19.5km pipe-in-pipe Processing Platforms in the Madura working with OIS and PT Cape on production flowline, plastic-lined Sea to the onshore Receiving OIS will deploy a mass flow this project. water-injection flowline and gas-lift Facility in Gresik, East Java, is being excavation system from the Penrith flowline of the same length. reburied to a greater depth under to create the deeper channel for With close liaison with the client a contract awarded to PT Cape an the pipeline. Hallin will support this from an early stage of planning, The marine operations include Acteon company and managed by operation with a Work Class ROV to we have together tailored a structure installation, tie-ins and Offshore Installations Services (OIS) help monitor the trench profile and if solution that fits closely with both installation of new risers and . necessary assist in the deep burial the client’s strengths and the umbilicals connecting Gygrid to the Hallin will supply the DP2-rated procedure. project’s goals.’ existing Njord A platform. Installation work will be performed by the vessel, Apache II, in summer 2012. The Njord A platform. Image: Øyvind Nesvåg/Statoil Last January, FMC signed a contract Statoil has moved one step towards at a water depth of 250m. Gygrid with Statoil for the manufacture bringing the fast track Gygrid field will consist of a four-slot template and supply of subsea production development on stream with by tied back to the Njord A semi- equipment for Gygrid. The $54 million awarding a contract to Technip for submersible production platform. contract includes the manufacture marine operations and pipelay. The field is planned to start during of two subsea production trees, one the late 2012/early 2013. manifold and associated subsea and The Gygrid field is located in the topside control systems. Deliveries Norwegian Sea approximately Gygrid (Halten area) is one of are scheduled to commence in the 20km northeast of the Njord field four fast-track projects launched third quarter of 2011.

Tahiti Chevron has been awarded a contract by Subsea 7 for Tahiti Phase 2 development in the Gulf of Mexico. The Subsea 7 workscope is to install one 7.5in diamter, 13 000ft long flexible riser; one 4in diameter, 4500ft long umbilical; five rigid well jumpers; 10 electrical flying leads (EFL) and seven steel flying leads (SFL).

Subsea 7 will also transport the flexible riser from Le Trait, France to the Gulf of Mexico. The engineering work will commence immediately at Subsea 7’s Houston office.

The installation of the flexible riser and umbilical will take place late 2011 with the tie-in of the five wells occurring through to mid 2012. Subsea 7 will use the Seven Oceans (pipelay) Skandi Neptune (construction/flexlay), and the Ross Candies (light construction/inspection maintenance and repair) vessels for the installation of the umbilical and jumpers. The Seven Oceans which will be used on the project The Penrith

UT2 April 2011 18 19 UT2 April 2011 Offshore News

Subsea Systems Ekofisk Maersk Subsea Systems FMC Kongsberg Subsea, has GE has been issued orders to subsea wellheads, trees and signed an agreement with supply 7 subsea tree and wellhead tubular products to Maersk Oil ConocoPhillips Scandinavia for systems, utilizing the VetcoGray for exploration and development the manufacture and supply of MHXT tree and VetcoGray SG-5 projects. subsea equipment and services wellhead system, by Maersk Oil for for a water injection development deployment in the UK North Sea. The subsea trees will be in the Ekofisk field. The award has The total value of the awards is manufactured at the GE Oil and a base value of approximately $75 expected to be approximately $20 Gas plant in Aberdeen, Scotland million and is subject to Norwegian million. and the SG-5 wellhead systems will Parliament approval of the Plan for be manufactured at the Montrose Development and Operation (PDO). The orders are made under a service facility, Scotland. frame agreement signed with FMC’s scope of supply includes Maersk Oil which runs for a five- These systems are set for a phased eight subsea water injection trees year period. Under the agreement delivery commencing September and wellheads, two manifolds and GE Oil & Gas continues to supply 2011. control systems, with options for an umbilical and additional controls. The equipment will be engineered Brazil and manufactured at FMC’s FMC has received a $125 million order from Petrobras to supply equipment for facilities in Kongsberg, Norway and use in their oil and gas developments offshore Brazil. The order, for 32 subsea Dunfermline, Scotland. Deliveries trees, represents the remaining equipment under a 107-tree frame agreement are scheduled to commence in the that was announced in February, 2010. Equipment deliveries are scheduled to first quarter of 2012 begin in 2013.

Campos/Santos Vigdis NE GE Oil and Gas has received two GE’s MS-700 and MS-800 subsea FMC has signed an agreement with contracts with a combined value wellhead systems are field-proven Statoil for the manufacture and supply of more than $50 Million to supply drilling systems that feature increased of subsea production equipment a total of 171 subsea wellhead operating efficiency. The MS-800 is to support the Vigdis North-East and installation tooling systems to designed to help operators reach development. The award has a Petrobras. The equipment will be deepwater targets in key regions such value of approximately $75 million in deployed in Petrobras’ Campos and as Brazil, the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, revenue to FMC Technologies. Santos basins. West Africa and Asia. Vigdis North-East is a fast-track oil The new contract awards were The system’s increased casing load and gas field located in water depths negotiated as part of GE’s ongoing capacity allows operators to run longer of approximately 920ft (280m) in the three-year frame agreement with strings, enabling larger diameter holes Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Petrobras for the supply of subsea to go deeper, reaching pay zones with wellhead systems. bigger production strings. FMC’s scope of supply includes the manufacture of four subsea trees, one Under the first contract, GE will The MS-800 subsea wellhead system manifold, subsea and topside control supply 40x MS-700 and 16x MS- builds on the field-proven design systems and an umbilical. 800 subsea wellhead systems, of the MS-700, both with sealing The equipment will be based on a scheduled for delivery between June technology and with the running and standard subsea solution designed 2011 and June 2012. testing tools. by FMC for Statoil. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in the third Under the second award, GE will The industry’s first all-metal sealing quarter of 2011. supply 80x MS-700 and 35x MS-800 wellhead system, the MS-700 has subsea wellhead tooling systems, been proven in nearly 20 years of “This is the third fast-track award scheduled for delivery between operation and has been able to we’ve received from Statoil in 2010, September 2011 and November meet some of the industry’s most joining Pan Pandora and Katla,” said 2012. The equipment will be demanding requirements for high- Tore Halvorsen, Senior Vice President manufactured at GE Oil and Gas’ pressure, critical service, deepwater of Global Subsea Production Jandira facility in Sao Paolo, Brazil. drilling and production. Systems.

UT2 April 2011 20 21 UT2 April 2011

CAMER-846_OMNI_UT2.indd 1 3/16/11 11:04 AM Subsea Installation AMC Connector Finalised Flowline and Umbilical Installation

Subsea Installation The AMC Connector, the future “AMC Connector is a multi- AMC Connector is built by STX By becoming part of Ezra, Aker Technip has been awarded an flowlines and umbilical new-build subsea installation and purpose ship which will be a highly Europe and will be outfitted at their Marine Contractors will have access installation contract by TAQA Bratani l pre-commissioning, tie-ins and construction vessel from Aker competitive cable and umbilical yard at Søviknes, Norway. She will to a larger and rapidly growing fleet for the development of the Falcon testing. Solutions, has finalised its vessel installation vessel, but is also be ready for operations from Q1 of installation vessels covering all field, which is located in the North specs. With a total payload capacity equipped to perform deepwater 2012. Subsea power cable provider IMR and SURF installation segments Sea approximately 560km northeast Technip’s operating centre in of 9 000t of subsea power cables construction work as well as other ABB has already secured the vessel – including flexible and rigid pipelay of Aberdeen, in 160 meters of water. Aberdeen, Scotland will execute or umbilicals, the vessel will be well installation jobs,” adds Haug. for installation campaigns during with capacity up to 3500m water the contract. The flowlines will be equipped to target the deepwater 2012 and 2013. depth – which will enable Ezra/Aker The contract covers: manufactured at the Group’s flexible installation segment. A unique feature is the vessel’s Marine Contractors to compete l project management and pipe plant in Le Trait, France under a deck flexibility, which enables her The vessel will be owned 50/50 with the world’s leading SURF engineering separate supply contract. AMC Connector – previously called to meet a wide range of service by Aker Solutions and Singapore- contractors. l installation of a 6in production Aker Connector – will be equipped demands. Within some two days based Ezra Holdings, which recently flexible flowline and a 4in gas lift Offshore installation, which will be with two turntables for high voltage the on-deck modules can be acquired 100 percent of the shares Ezra operates in the offshore market flexible flowline carried out using Technip’s diving power cables or subsea umbilicals: removed from the deck, freeing in Aker Solutions’ subsidiary Aker under the EMAS brand name. EMAS l installation of a control umbilical support vessel Orelia is scheduled to one 6000t capacity on deck and up a total space of approximately Marine Contractors. As part of the is an integrated offshore support and a subsea distribution unit, both be completed in the second half of another 3000t capacity below 1500m2. This will enable transport agreement, Aker Solutions becomes solutions provider for the oil and gas free-issued 2011. deck. With a total product payload and installation of large spools a substantial shareholder in Ezra. industry. The business was founded l removal and replacement of a of 9000t, AMC Connector will be and jumpers as well as subsea The transaction is expected to be in 1992 and is headquartered in flexible riser This award as it is the first contract able to take on highly complex and structures and manifolds. completed during Q1 2011. Singapore. l trenching and backfilling of the awarded to Technip by TAQA Bratani. sizeable installation projects.

At full payload the 157 x 32m ship will boost an impressive transit speed of 16kts. This will make the vessel a highly competitive alternative for installation jobs in remote locations.

In addition, the vessel’s design enables her to operate safely and efficiently in higher waves than most other high-end construction vessels. AMC Connector will comfortably operate in significant wave height (Hsig) of 4-5m, which means that she will have an operating window at the leading edge for installation and The Orelia which will be used on Falcon construction vessels.

“When she is delivered in the beginning of 2012, AMC Connector Grouting will be a fantastic asset to our FoundOcean has been awarded the A subsea grouting manifold fitted customers around the world. The offshore grouting contract by SBM with FoundOcean subsea male Grout unique wave motion characteristics Offshore for the MOPUstor Phase 2 Connectors is located at -43.5m on will enable longer installation installation in the Yme Oil Field, North the substructure. seasons and increased project Sea. Grouting equipment has been execution predictability,” says Svein mobilised and set up on the work An ROV will guide the FoundOcean Haug, president of Aker Marine vessel, and a suitable work window female Grout Connector fitted to the Contractors, who will operate the is awaited prior to mobilisation of the grout hose into position. vessel. 12-man crew. The grout hose will be supported by The vessel will be equipped with The MOPUstor installation consists of a steel down line fitted with buoyancy two heave-compensated offshore an oil storage tank on top of which a floats from the installation vessel, to cranes – with 400 and 50t capacity three-legged topsides facility or MOPU minimise drag on the ROV. respectively – that can operate down sits. The MOPU legs are inserted into to 3000m water depth. She will the towers of the storage tank. The The grouting operation is expected have two 3000m capacity, remotely connection between the legs and the to take five days to complete, and operated vehicles (ROVs) onboard The AMC Connector towers will be made by injecting a is dependent on a clear weather and can accommodate 140 people. cement grout into the annuli. window.

UT2 April 2011 22 23 UT2 April 2011 Subsea Pipelines Audrey Walker Ridge Goliat Subsea 7 has been awarded a Technip was awarded a lump sum of steel catenary risers and pipelines Aker Solutions has been awarded the Sea north west of Hammerfest, Norway. Subsea I Pipelines contract by Centrica Energy, for contract by Enbridge Offshore as well as the installation of subsea tie-in and connector scope associated the engineering, procurement, Facilities (Enbridge) for the equipments. with the Goliat flowlines and risers This contract comes in addition to Aker installation and commissioning development of the Walker Ridge contract by Technip Norway. The Solutions having been awarded the Goliat contract for flowlines and subsea gas gathering system in the Gulf of Technip’s operating center in Houston, contract value is approximately NOK subsea production system last year by works on the Ensign Project. This Mexico, at a water depth of 7000ft Texas will perform the overall project 65 million. ENI. Earlier this year Aker Solutions was is located approximately 18km (2130m). management. The export pipelines also awarded the direct electrical heating North West of the Audrey ‘A’ and risers will be welded at the The scope of work includes the (DEH) contract for the Goliat project Group’s spoolbase located in Mobile, platform, located over Block 48/14 This award reinforces Technip’s outboard remote tie-in system under Technip’s flowlines and risers leading position in the Gulf of Mexico Alabama. contract. and 48/15 of the UK Sector of the termination heads and associated ultra deep water market. It covers the North Sea. The contract is valued equipment. The equipment will be engineering, fabrication Offshore installation is scheduled to used to tie in the flowlines, pipelines The project will be executed and at approximately $60 million. and installation of be completed with the Deep Blue, and flexible jumpers to the manifolds, manufactured mainly in Norway, with the 160 miles (270km) Technip’s deepwater pipelay vessel, flowline t-junctions (ILTs) and riser delivery of the final equipment expected Subsea 7’s work scope is to in 2013. bases on the Goliat field in the Barents during Q2 2013. engineer, procure, install, tie-in and pre-commission 24km of 10in gas and 2in methanol pipelines – connecting the new unmanned Ensign satellite platform with the existing subsea pipelines at the Jack St Malo Audrey ‘A’ platform. J P Kenny has been awarded a The approximately 136-mile 24-in McDermott ‘s subsea construction In addition, Subsea 7 will engineer, contract to perform detailed design pipeline will originate in a water vessel Agile has been contracted procure, install, tie-in and pre- for Amberjack Pipeline Co. LLC’s depth of 7000ft sea water (2100m). by Petrobras to install subsea commission 2km of 10in gas Jack/St. Malo deepwater oil export flexible pipelines and umbilicals pipeline and associated control pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico. It will start at the Chevron-operated in up to 2000m of water offshore umbilical connecting the Ensign Jack/St. Malo hub production Brazil. platform to a new subsea well. The one-year contract follows J P facility in Walker Ridge block 718, Kenny’s successful completion of the approximately 280 miles south of The company will also provide Engineering, project management front-end engineering and design for New Orleans, and connect to the subsea installation engineering for and procurement for the Ensign the project. Shell Boxer A fixed platform at the duration of the contract, which Project is underway at Subsea 7’s Green Canyon block 19. is for a five year term. Aberdeen office. Fabrication of the rigid pipelines is planned to The design must allow for technical Work is expected to begin at the take place at Subsea 7’s North Technip’s vessel Deep Blue challenges that include routing of end of the second quarter of 2011, Sea Spoolbase at Vigra, Norway the pipeline to minimise spans, with McDermott’s dedicated subsea with installation taking place design for pre- and post-installation engineering team mobilizing to Lower Tertiary during the third quarter of 2011, vortex-induced vibration and stress Macae in Brazil in the coming utilising Subsea 7’s pipelay and spans, collapse testing of the pipe months for the duration of the construction vessels. to verify wall thickness design project.

Cal Dive Cascade They must also include the Serimax APAC installation of in-line valves and St Malo sleds. Cal Dive has been awarded a Serimax APAC recently completed Jack contract by Pemex Exploración y the welding of four pipelines of the Producción for the installation of a Seligi project with TL Offshore for 20in subsea pipeline located in the Exxonmobil in Malaysia. Abkatun Field in 24m of water. The project involves the welding of Abkatun The lump sum contract will generate 16 km of clad lines (Inconel 625) total revenue of approximately with 0.99% repair rate and with Cal Dive International has been awarded a contract by Pemex $24 million and will use two of the production of 60 welds per day. Exploración y Producción for the installation of a 20in subsea pipeline Company’s key assets. located in the Abkatun Field in 24m of water. The lump sum contract will Two pipelines and 698 generate a total revenue of approximately $24 million and will utilise two The offshore construction is consecutivewelds of this project have of the company’s key assets. The offshore construction is expected to Pipe welding operations at Vigra expected to commence in mid-2011. been performed without repair. commence in May 2011.

UT2 April 2011 24 25 UT2 April 2011 Deepwater Pipelay System

IHC Engineering has completed its first deepwater rigid pipelay system for Saipem. The company was originally awarded the in the third quarter of 2007 Pipelay Pipelay and quickly invested heavily in its technology and engineering pool. In June last year, following over two years of intensive design and manufacture, the J-Lay tower left its manufacturing location on Teesside, Northern England and transited to Samsung Heavy Industries’ (SHI) Geoje shipyard in South Korea.

Here it was successfully offloaded and installed onto the clients’ new build vessel, Saipem FDS2 (Field Development Ship).

The project team is currently commissioning and testing the 2,500 tonnes of equipment in Korea, prior to its first commercial operation in summer this year (2011).

With a second delivery of supporting equipment having recently arrived requiring significant checks, the team is currently integrating and testing the system before its sea trials. IHC EB will provide support during these trials as well as during the first operations of Saipem FDS2 as she enters service.

The new system, one of the world’s largest and most versatile, is able to accommodate pipes from 4in to 36in and is rated at 2000t hang-off capacity.

By adjusting the angle of the tower, from 45 to 96 deg, the system is capable of laying pipe in shallow or deep water up to 3000m. Key design drivers have been the optimisation of pipe handling operations to ensure low cycle time, highly constrained working envelopes, and ensuring safety in all aspects of operation.

“Safety is a fundamental requirement.” said a spokesman. “With this in mind, the tower incorporates back up systems such as Safety PLCs for safety critical functions and is regulated to a Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3, demonstrating the level of risk-reduction that has been provided.

With a significantly congested deck, there is minimal clearance between the tower and its Assembly Station (AST), which meant that optimisation of the deck layout and the system was vital.

UT2 April 2011 26 27 UT2 April 2011 Underwater Pipelines High Pressure Swagelining Technip awarded Subsea contract in the North Sea

Pipeline connecting technology 24hr hydrotest saw a Swagelined 14in injection pipelines systems for over 15 delivered by Swagelining is set to water injection pipeline joined using the years around the world. Underwater Pipelines bring increased benefits to operators WeldLink connector subjected to after being proven to withstand hydrostatic pressure of 410 bar. significantly higher pressures during exploration and production activity. The results demonstrated that the WeldLink joint lost no pressure The company’s patented WeldLink during the test and provided a fittings have been proved to be complete water-tight seal. effective in pressure applications of up to 410 bar. A recent hydrotest WeldLink enables polymer lined confirms that this technology can carbon steel pipelines to be now be used in even higher pressure fully welded. This allows the applications throughout the oil and pipeline system to operate at gas industry. high pressures without the risk of leakage from flanges. This connector system has been in Previously certified to be effective for Liner Installation through the Weldlink connector use in up to 344 bar pressure, the use in high pressure water

Plough in Baltic for NordStream SCAR Last February, the world’s biggest The PL3 plough works by raising the Ecosse Subsea has completed trials submarine pipeline plough, PL3, pipeline into its roller boxes using on its novel SCAR plough. This novel arrived in the Baltic Sea on the deck of hydraulic grabs, and is then towed system is based on a conventionally mother ship Far Samson. The subsea by the Far Samson, creating a trench shaped plough with basic instrumentation plough will be used to entrench the of pre-determined length, depth and designed to cut a 2m trench with multi- Nord Stream Pipeline in Swedish and width into which the pipeline is laid pass, 1.4m trench with single pass. Danish waters. as the plough progresses. Natural sediment movements from waves It is designed to be launched and Model simulation showed that and currents will gradually backfill operated primarily from a conventional ploughing will have no significant the ploughed trench. anchor handling vessel with no lifting impact on flora and fauna as apparatus, but depending on the location sediments will settle quickly. As The PL3 plough was developed and soil type can be operated from any part of its environmental monitoring and built in the UK between 2007 suitable vessel, e.g. a DSV. programme, Nord Stream will monitor and 2009 by IHC Engineering the water quality before, during and Business for Saipem UK. It weighs The 2m SCAR plough weighs 17t but can after trenching to confirm that the approximately 200t and is 22m long. be ballasted to 40t and is robust enough results of the model simulation are It can excavate a trench up to a to be launched and recovered over a Driven by SEM 600 electronics, FMC’s smart subsea controls and data management technology accumulates and correct and that Nord Stream is maximum depth of 2.5m. conventional stern roller. fulfilling permit requirements. It can be towed with forces ranging from performs real-time analysis on vast amounts of data. That means you can make better decisions to increase oil During a pull test, the Far Samson 25t to 250t. It is operated without an recovery in the most complex subsea operations, both day-to-day and over the life of the field. And you’ll have the established a world record when it umbilical The pipeline plough, PL3 confidence of working with the leader in subsea controls and data management, with over 1,500 systems installed Image: Nord Stream/Saipem achieved 423t continuous bollard pull. “SCAR has almost no moving parts,” worldwide. See how smart it is at www.fmctechnologies.com/smartcontrols said a spokesman, “and will therefore be Construction of the Nord Stream highly reliable and operable in very rough Pipeline is presently on track. Over terrain. 1000km of Line 1 have been laid in the Baltic Sea and pipe-laying works Ecosse have also developed the have already been completed at the SCAR Ultra system which gives a landfalls for Line 2. trenching system that can dig ultra deep trenches greater than 10m in depth “Gas deliveries from Line 1 will begin over very arduous terrain. It has many before the end of 2011, and Line applications on steep slopes and in 2 will be launched in 2012,” says Arctic environments where iceberg scour Matthias Warnig, Managing Director renders traditional shallow trenching of Nord Stream AG. redundant.

2 2 UT April 2011 28 29 UT April 2011

Cables Cable Laying Feasability Study Completed nkt Cables Wind Farm Cables

Blue Offshore and Integrated Blue Offshore director Gerard Tonjer and its operating team nkt cables has signed a cable will connect to the NSW has won a contract to supply Subsea Services have completed Kroese concludes: “We believe have been demonstrated in the contract with the Dutch-German transmission grid of TenneT and install 65km of medium-voltage Underwater Pipelines their feasibility study on the possible that Normand Tonjer is suitable for range of survey, diving and ROV transmission system operator at the substation Emden- submarine cables for the first use of multipurpose DP2 vessel for conducting subsea cable installation services provided to renewables TenneT for the manufacture Borssum, located near the construction phase of the Trianel Borkum array cable installation on offshore and burial operations. projects over the past year,” and delivery of a high voltage German village of Pilsum. West II offshore wind farm. wind farms. said David Gault, Renewables submarine cable to the Riffgat In fact, the addition of cable lay Department Manager at Wind Farm located 20 km “Winning this project is another The order is worth an amount in excess The scope of the study included and burial equipment on top of the Integrated Subsea Services north-west of the island of prestigious step when it comes of €22 m ($28 m). The installation work development of deck layouts for existing ROV, survey and air diving (ISS). Borkum in the Wadden Sea. to offshore projects”, says Dion is scheduled for the second half of 2012. cable installation and cable burial capabilities will make Normand Metzemaekers, CEO of nkt together with vessel properties, Tonjer one of the most versatile “This study shows that the nkt cables will deliver 50 cables Group. The cable will The Trianel Borkum West II wind farm, mobilisation and installation dynamically positioned vessels in the vessel could also be a cost- kilometres 155kV AC cable. be produced in two lengths, 56 square kilometers in size, is located strategies. The study was carried renewable energy industry.” effective answer to the shortage The scope of services from nkt minimizing the need for joints. about 45 km to the north of Borkum’s between November 2010 and of capacity for installing array cables includes production and coast. In the first phase of construction, January 2011. “The capabilities of the Normand cables on offshore wind farms.” installation of HVAC submarine As subcontractor nkt cables 40 wind energy systems each rated at cable systems and accessories has chosen Beluga Offshore 5 MW will bebuilt, for a total output of for the transmission system. Cable in Bremen, Germany, 200 MW, enough to supply 200,000 Contract value is more than € for the laying of the submarine households. 50 million. cables. Another 40 systems will be The cable is to be produced The project extends over added in a second phase of construction. in Cologne, Germany, and is different water depths and Responsibility for the order is vested in scheduled for 2012. has to meet the many the Submarine Cable Division located environmental requirements in Nordenham, through the holly owned The capacity of the wind farm coming from operating in subsidiary Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke will be 108 MW. The submarine Wadden Sea. GmbH (NSW).

Cable Survey The ‘as laid cable survey’ on the Baltic 1 wind farm has been successfully The vessel with an RDS unit The vessel cable carousel completed by Submagnetix. It survey commenced within 24 hours of the equipment being mobilised. The Normand Tonjer The cable survey, including data processing, was carried out by two Innovatum technicians per shift. They operated both the ROV and the survey systems.

Submagnetix was set up in June 2010 as the survey division of Innovatum to provide a cost-effective, compact and complete, inshore and shallow-water survey service for all sub-marine cables, and sub-marine steel pipelines.

The survey spread includes a Saab Seaeye Falcon ROV, a Smartrak cable and a pipeline tracking system. The surface equipment consists of the ROV controller and the Innovatum iPSS integrated portable survey system, which is housed in two rack- mounted cases. Preparing for launch of ROV Falcon with Smartrak

UT2 April 2011 30 31 UT2 April 2011 Underwater Umbilicals Statoil Control Umbilicals CLOV (Power) CLOV (Production and Water Injection Laggan

Aker Solutions has signed a contract with Statoil to Aker Solutions has also signed a contract with Framo A consortium of two Technip of 76km of dynamic and static Nexans wins subsea umbilical supply control umbilicals to the Norne field located Engineering AS to supply a subsea umbilical and subsidiaries, Angoflex (owned production and water injection contract from Subsea 7 for North Underwater Umbilicals in the Northern part of the North Sea. The contract associated equipment for Total’s CLOV development jointly with Sonangol) and DUCO umbilicals, which will be Sea Laggan-Tormore gas project value is approximately NOK 200 million. project located in the deepwater Block 17 offshore has been awarded major umbilical manufactured at the Angoflex print Send link contact us Angola. contracts. facility in Lobito, Angola. The The scope of work for the Fossekall-Dompap project umbilicals are scheduled for A total length of 143km of electro- includes a control umbilical system with a total of 26 The contract value is approximately NOK 80 million. Acergy Angola and Acergy West delivery in 2013 and will be the hydraulic control umbilicals will kilometres of dynamic and static sections. The control Africa announced the contract first to be delivered following the be manufactured and supplied to umbilicals provide hydraulic, electrical and fibre optic Aker Solutions will supply a 10.6km multiphase power concerning the CLOV field. This expansion of the plant capacity. Subsea 7 including a single length functions for three planned four-slot templates and and control umbilical (MPP umbilical) that will provide field is located in Block 17 offshore of 126 km, which will be one of the have a 2.5 inch MEG line (mono ethylene glycol) for all system functions for the Framo Multiphase Pump Angola in water depths down to The expansion includes longest umbilicals in the world. hydrate prevention and inhibition during shutdowns. Station. 1410m. The development operator is the installation of two large Total E&P Angola. manufacturing carousels, an Paris, February 8, 2011 – Nexans, The Norne field is located 200 kilometres west from The CLOV development comprises of the Cravo, Lirio, upgrade to the existing helical lay- worldwide expert in the cable Sandessjøen in a water depth of 380 metres and Orquidea and Violeta fields. A total of 34 subsea wells The contracts cover the supply up machine and the installation of a industry, has been awarded occupies blocks 6608/10 and 6608/11. The field has will be tied back to the CLOV FPSO unit, which has load-out path. a contract by Subsea 7*, for been developed with a production and storage off- a processing capacity of 160 000 b/d and a storage the design, engineering and loading ship tied to subsea templates. capacity of 1.78 million barrels. This expansion will allow Angoflex manufacture of a total length of to fabricate 100% of the CLOV 143km of static subsea electro- “This contract signifies our leading position in the “We are very pleased to sign our first contract with umbilical workscope in its Lobito hydraulic control umbilicals for control umbilicals market. We are delighted to be Framo Engineering. This is a very important award manufacturing plant. It constitutes the Laggan-Tormore gas field awarded this fast track project from Statoil in the for Aker Solutions and confirms our strong position of a significant milestone in Angoflex development, 125km West of the North Sea” says Tove Røskaft, senior vice president providing umbilicals to the most demanding subsea shareholders’ objective to Shetland Islands in the UK. of Aker Solutions’ umbilical business. projects” says Tove Røskaft, senior vice president of maximize Angolan content. Aker Solutions’ umbilical business. The umbilical product will integrate Engineering of the control umbilicals will be managed The award of the contracts steel tubes for fluids, 3 kV power out of Aker Solutions’ facility in Oslo, Norway and Engineering of the umbilical will be managed out of continues Angoflex’s proven track cables and fibre optic cables. control umbilicals will be manufactured at Aker Aker Solutions’ facility in Oslo, Norway and the MPP record in the supply of umbilicals The project will be carried out Solutions’ facility in Moss, Norway. Final deliveries umbilical will be manufactured at Aker Solutions’ facility major umbilical contracts including at Nexans’ specialised umbilical will be made in Q2 2012. in Moss, Norway. Final deliveries will be made in 2013. Dalia and Pazflor projects. facility in Halden, Norway, with delivery scheduled for early 2012. Above and below: the Angloflex facility The subsea production system offshore will consist of two production template-manifolds. The system will be controlled by two Nexans static subsea electro- hydraulic umbilicals that will link the Laggan and Tormore fields over a distance of 17km and then a further 126km to the Shetland shore.

The 126km umbilical will be one of the longest in the world.

The cable design

Aker Solutions’ facility in Moss, Norway

UT2 April 2011 32 33 UT2 April 2011 Subsea Survey

Subsea Survey

Subsea Survey M/V Fugro Galaxy On 1st March 2011, Fugro formally took delivery of a new-build vessel, M/V Fugro Galaxy; the second of Fugro’s FSSV 65 series of dedicated survey vessels

“FSSV 65” is the design name for a state of the art 65m long Fugro Standard Survey Vessel. Designed to Fugro specifications the specially designed hull form and propulsion system ensures acoustically quiet and economical running at higher than standard survey speeds.

Fitted with the latest survey equipment the FSSV 65’s are the most advanced vessels of their type in the world. The first vessel MV Fugro Searcher was commissioned in March 2010 and is also operated by Fugro Survey Limited of Aberdeen, UK. This vessel has proved to be an extremely capable survey platform; receiving highly complimentary feedback on reliability, comfort and excellent data quality from client’s offshore representatives.

M/V Fugro Galaxy is a multi-tasking DP1 vessel with a permanently mobilised suite of high resolution geophysical and hydrographic survey equipment including Kongsberg EM710 multibeam, Topas PS 40 parametric subbottom profiler and solid digital seismic streamers. Environmental, Geotechnical and ROVSV equipment will be deployed using both stern and side hydraulic A frame deployments and handling equipment.

The vessel is fully networked to provide plug- and play interconnectivity and has Fugro’s dual DGPS high precision surface positioning and HiPAP acoustic underwater positioning.

The vessel will be able to carry out the full range of site and route survey tasks to obtain the high resolution data necessary for safe, efficient and cost-effective planning, design and engineering activities for the installation of pipelines, platforms, manifolds, wind turbines and other seabed structures.

M/V Fugro Galaxy represents the first phase of a global vessel replacement schedule with the objective of replacing older tonnage from the fleet and clearly differentiating Fugro’s Offshore Survey Division from other providers.

UT2 April 2011 34 35 UT2 April 2011

Tyrihans Tyrihans Tyrihans Inaugurated

On Thursday 24th March, the Tyrihans subsea field enjoyed its long-awaited opening ceremony. Curiously, production started back in July 2009. Since then, however, the field has exceeded all production expectations.

Tyrihans currently produces around 100 000 barrels per day and, together with the Kristin field, it fills the total capacity for the export of oil and condensate from the Kristin platform. It lies in the in the Norwegian Sea. The field consists of Tyrihans South, a gas-capped oil field, and Tyrihans North, a gas and condensate field with thin oil zone.

The field has been developed by ive seabed templates. Four of the templates are used for production and gas injection, while the fifth is used for sea water injection. The well stream is transported through a 43.6 km long pipeline to Kristin for processing. The gas is exported from Kristin via the Åsgard transport pipeline to the Kårstø facility in Rogaland.

Oil and condensate are piped to the storage vessel Åsgard C for onward transport by tanker. The volumes in the field are of similar magnitude to those on Kristin and both fields share a joint operational organisation.

Øystein Michelsen, executive vice president, Development and Production Norway said, “Tyrihans will for many years to come make a considerable contribution to our production on the NCS, and will be strategically significant for the development of our activities in the Norwegian Sea,”

Early involvement and close cooperation between the various disciplines within petroleum technology, drilling and well, made possible the development of well equipment specially designed for this field. New well technology has ensured that the recovery rate on Tyrihans is higher than initially expected when production started up in the summer of 2009. Multilateral and smart wells with downhole regulatory equipment have improved the overall control of reservoir production.

Pumps for sea water injection placed directly on the seabed also help boost recovery. The Tyrihans subsea template before field installation template Image: Geir Otto Johansen, Statoil

UT2 April 2011 36 37 UT2 April 2011

Vega Vega Vega Inaugurated

Statoil’s Vega field in the Norwegian sector North Sea was officially opened during a ceremony at Bergen in March.

The Vega area has two main fields in the development.

Vega (Vega North and Central) is located in block 35/8. Vega North is approximately 80km west of Florø in Sogn og Fjordane county.

Vega South is located in block 35/11, approximately 10km south of Vega Central, which is in turn, located approximately 10 km south of Vega North. It is 10 kilometres northwest of the Fram fields and 45 kilometres northwest of Troll.

The plan for development and operation was submitted to the authorities on 15 December 2006. Vega production commenced on 2 December 2010.

The Vega field has been developed with three seabed templates, sending gas and condensate to the Gjøa platform. The ocean depth in this area is 370-380m,

Vega contains gas and condensate. The recoverable reserves are estimated to be 18 billion standard cubic metres of gas and 26 million barrels of condensate. At its height, production will be 7 million m3 of gas and 25 000 barrels of condensate per day.

The wellstream from Vega is sent in a joint pipeline from Vega South via Vega Central and Vega North, and on to the Gjøa field, which also process the wellstream. The plan for development and operation of Gjøa was submitted to the authorities together with the Vega and Vega South plan.

A new gas pipeline from the Gjøa field is connected to the British FLAGS pipeline. Vega gas will be transported through this pipeline to the receiving facility at St. Fergus in Scotland.

The condensate from Vega and Vega South is exported via a new oil pipeline from Gjøa. This pipeline is connected to Troll oil pipeline II, which will transport the oil and condensate to the Mongstad refinery.

The Vega discoveries were proven by Gulf Exploration with Well 35/8-1 in 1980 and Well 35/8-2 in 1982. Mobil identified Vega South with Well 35/11- 2 in 1987. Vega Installation Image: Andre Osmundsen/Statoil

UT2 April 2011 38 39 UT2 April 2011 Subsea Processing

Subsea Processing Asgard Late last year, Aker Solutions was Subsea Processing Pilot Ready for Testing awarded the contract for the Åsgard subsea compression system by Statoil. A year or so ago, Aker Solutions located underwater, the system is The contract value is approximately formally opened an imposing 26m- also insensitive to severe winds and NoK 3.4 billion. tall building at its Egersund facility. waves,” he said. “Furthermore, there This was a purpose-built clean are risk advantages in the offshore Åsgard is located at Haltenbanken hall designed to accommodate the facilities being unmanned. It has a outside Norway in water depths compression train for the Ormen significantly lower environmental varying from 240-310m. The Midgard Lange subsea pilot project. footprint and requires less power and Mikkel gas fields are tied back to during production.” the Åsgard B platform. These two gas This compression train is now and condensate reservoirs have been complete, the individual modules have Depending on results, the testing developed with seabed installations, been hooked up and loop tested, programme is likely to conclude and their wellstreams are piped to the and the departure of the assembly in 2012, when the Ormen Lange gas production floater about 40-50km to Statoil’s facilities at Nyhamma partners will come to a decision away. is imminent. There, a rigorous concerning which option to choose. programme of submerged testing will Should the subsea compression Analyses show, however, that pressure commence. station be selected, this will result in will become too low to sustain the construction of a larger structue their ability to produce to Åsgard B “By 2015, the pressure of the Ormen housing four identical compression towards the end of 2014. Installing Lange field will be such that it will trains, each with a 12.5MW compressors will make it possible to require some from of boosting,” compressor and a 400kW pump. This recover up to 28 billion m3 of gas and explained Håkon Skofteland, project will then, be installed in a 900m water 14 million barrels of condensate. manager at Aker Solutions. depth, 120km from land. Aker Solutions’ scope of work for the “After considering a variety of options, Process Train subsea compression system includes Statoil, operator of the development a subsea compressor manifold stage, selected two competing The compressor train is designed with station (SCMS), subsea compressor technologies for further perusal. These its process systems (e.g. cooler and station (SCSt) template structure, were a 22 000t compression system separator) on one end, the control three identical compressor trains, all housed in a tension leg platform (TLP) system in the centre and the electrical electrical control systems, high voltage and an 8000t compression station to system (transformer, circuit breakers Components assembled in Egersund electrical power distribution system, be located on the seafloor.” etc) at the other. topside equipment, and tooling, transport and installation equipment. The wellstream is routed to the To test the viability of the subsea Compressor Variable Speed Drive Modules option, Statoil awarded a contract for separator which is housed in a 3m The project will be managed out of 3 the design and fabrication of a single long vessel. This can handle 10m Separator Aker Solutions’ headquarters in Oslo process train to Aker Solutions. Long- liquid slugs and has sand handling while the equipment will be primarily term submerged testing at Nyhamna capabilities. Any liquids are routed to a Circuit Breaker manufactured at Egersund Tranby, will reveal how the systems respond to 400kW centrifugal pump powered by a Cooler Norway, and in Aberdeen. a variety of flow regimes, wellstream glycol-filled electric motor. contents, etc. A 6395t process module Final equipment deliveries will be arrived at Nyhamna in mid-January to Featuring active magnetic bearings, made in stages with the SCMS and facilitate this testing programme. the gas booster module is based on a the SCSt template structure delivered vertically placed compressor housed in in 2013 and the compressor trains, “A subsea compression system has a a pressurised and hermetically sealed controls and power equipment number of advantages over a floating operating enclosure. delivered in 2014. equivalent,” said first chief engineer, Kjell-Olav Stinessen. “It is less To accommodate expected flow expensive, both in terms of CAPEX, fluctuations, rotating parts are not Correction: and, being unmanned, in terms of designed to move at a constant In the last issue on UT2 on p10, OPEX. From a technical viewpoint, speed. This, therefore, necessitates we stated that the Skandi Aker can being located closer to the wellheads variable speed drives which in turn, use the AX-S system, developed in Liquid Pump is better for recovery. require a specialised control system. cooperation with Expro. In fact, Aker The train also has its own back up Transformer and Expro mutually separated in “Similarly, the stable temperature power system to provide a safe early 2009. Expro has been solely of the sea water is beneficial for and redundant supply to the entire involved in the development of AX-S cooling the equipment. Being electrical control system. Individual items of equipment technology.

UT2 April 2011 40 41 UT2 April 2011 Offshore News

Offshore News Jubarte SBM Offshore and Petrobras recently announced first oil from the new FPSO P-57 on the Jubarte field. SBM delivered the P-57 two months ahead of schedule and on budget and will operate the P-57 for a period of three years

Since the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the P-57 was signed between SBM Offshore and Petrobras in 2008, the project has achieved a number of significant milestones.

l It is the first contractor designed and supplied FPSO to achieve over 65% local content on Brazilian contracts.

l It is the first FPSO sold to Petrobras to be built to SBM specifications

l It is SBM’s largest ever FPSO and 8th supplied for Brazilian waters

l It is the first turnkey FPSO to be supplied by SBM Offshore to Petrobras

l It is the largest FPSO in terms of oil throughput, off the Espirito Santo coast

Given the success of P-57, both in design and cost, Petrobras has said that the P-57 will serve as a model The P-57 FPSO is a spread moored completed in Brazil at the UTC for the design of future FPSOs vessel and has the possibility to Engenharia site in Niteroi and at the intended for use in the Santos Basin offload both forward and aft. With a BrasFELS shipyard in Angra dos pre-salt area. daily production capacity of 180 000 Reis. barrels of oil per day and 2 million m3 The FPSO will operate in the Jubarte of gas per day, it is the largest FPSO In April 2010 the P-57 FPSO arrived field, in the Espírito Santo portion that SBM Offshore has ever built. at the BrasFELS shipyard for the final of the Campos Basin, 80 km off the integration and commissioning phase. Espírito Santo coast The topsides weigh 14 500t and the SBM Offshore Builds Effective Local spread mooring arrangement was an Partnerships It is anchored at a water depth of achievement in technical design with 1260m and will produce oil of 17deg 21 mooring lines of varying lengths. During the development of P-57, SBM API. Once on stream, the P-57 will Offshore achieved a level of local be connected to 22 wells, 15 of The Accord oil tanker hull was content surpassing 65% - a first for which are producers and 7 water converted from the at Keppel a contractor-supplied unit in Brazil. injectors. With its ability to process Shipyard in Singapore. While the The P-57 design was simplified and heavy oil, the P-57 will be the first hull refurbishment was underway, its equipment standardized pursuant unit of this complexity to operate on fabrication of the oil and gas to the highest operating safety the Espírito Santo coast. processing modules (topsides) was standards. The P-57 ready for installation on Jubarte

UT2 April 2011 42 43 UT2 April 2011 Offshore News

Offshore News Aegir Heerema Marine Contractors The Aegir is a customised Ulstein waterdepth. The tower has a 1500t There is also a 750t auxiliary is currently building a new Sea of Solutions SOC 5000 design. static top tension. hoist at 23–92m radius and a deepwater construction vessel. It is 210m long, 46.2m wide and 110t whip hoist at 31–123m It will be called Aegir, after 16.1m deep, with an operating The reel lay is based on a pair of radius. the Norse god of the sea, draught of 7–11m. Its displacement 3000t reels accommodating 16in sometimes also referred to as a 82000t at an 11m draught and it as OD pipe. It is laid with a 500t top The Aegir also has two knuckle sea giant. a deadweight of around 40 000t. tension. boom cranes, each 40t safe working load (SWL) at 20m Together with his wife, the sea The vessel can accommodate The abandonment and recovery radius and 5t at 40m radius. goddess Ran, and their nine 289 persons in single and double system centres around a 1500t, daughters, named for different cabins (maximum capacity 305 4000m wire. The vessel has two ROV work types of waves, Aegir rules the persons). It has a 14kt transit class systems, launchable from seas. speed. At the stern is a revolving mast type ROV hangars at the starboard heavy lift crane with a boom length and portside. These are certified HMC’s new monohull vessel will The pipelay equipment is based on of 125m. It has a lifting capacity of for a 3500m waterdepth be capable of executing complex a combined pipelay tower for J- lay 4000t between 17m–40m radius or Storage capacities infrastructure and pipeline and reel lay over a moonpool. 1500t at 78m radius. projects in ultra deep water and The vessel’s power if 44 MW is will also have sufficient lifting The J-lay can handle steel quad The lifting height is 96m above the provided by six diesel generators capacity to install fixed platforms joints up to 32in OD and can main deck. It has a maximum radius rated. It has a class 3 dynamic in relatively shallow water. carry out operations in a 3500m of 79m. positioning system

UT2 April 2011 44 45 UT2 April 2011 Offshore 200 Years of Cumulative News Operating Experience,

Offshore News an Uptime Average of

As part of its continued Jan van den Akker, product manager, “The Omni-Choke will be an commitment to develop all- controls. “Unfortunately, this requires important component in the 99 Percent and the electrical field development normally more electric power than a long-term strategy of developing solutions, Cameron has recently typical electro hydraulic system has the all-electric field.” While launched its new Omni-Choke, available.” most of the parts are available, Largest Floating a spin-off technology from its at present, the missing key successful installed all-electric “We have opted for a standardised SIIS component is the electric production controls system level 2 compliant outlet which defines downhole safety valve. Production Fleet CameronDC. power (48W) and protocol (CANopen) for a standard system. This feeds into Halliburton are presently doing While this is an electric choke, it the electric choke. prototype testing under a JIP can be run from a normal electro with Total and Statoil, while in the World. hydraulic multiplexing (EH MUX) We have put an operating system in Baker is also believed to be system. “Normally an electric front which combines an energy storage looking at developing their own choke or an electric actuator and motor control unit to drive the electrical downhole safety valve. requires relatively high electric electric choke.” While this gives 48W of Once the whole package is power to operate,” explained power, it actually needs more to run it. commercially available, the The system, therefore, incorporates an Omni-Choke will be a key energy storage buffer to run it. component. Even now, however, it is 7KDW¶V&RQ¿GHQFH commercially attractive to have the electrical choke instead of a hydraulic choke. One of That’s SBM. the advantages of this and electrical systems in general is that you get considerably more feedback. This helps in condition monitoring. The other advantage is how the system works.

Accuracy and position feedback are fast and independent from water depth or step-out distance. Hence this set-up lends itself ideally for conditions where flow assurance requires fast and continuous control. For example, fast closure of the well is required, without having the need to operate main bore valves or even avoiding a trip of a HIPPS system, or to optimise the flow through a PID, the choke is constantly in operation. In an increasingly complex environment, SBM Offshore is the partner you This, therefore, requires can rely on. In addition to proven in-house project execution valves that are constantly expertise, we alsooffer innovative technologies that lower costs, while moving. Hydraulic valves extending access to deeper waters and hostile environments. Today, our do not lend themselves offshore systems are making a difference for clients around the globe. to continuous and rapid Learn how they can make a difference for you. valve changes. sbmoffshore.com Technology Creating Value

SBM Offshore: SBM Atlantia SBM Monaco SBM Malaysia GustoMSC Cameron’s Omni-Choke

UT2 April 2011 46 47 UT2 April 2011 Offshore News

Offshore News Ultra High Flow Injection Hyperbaric Test Chamber Cameron has introduced the latest chemical injection GE Oil and Gas has opened a new hyperbaric testing Arnison added, “The reliability Hyperbaric testing is the only way main subsea equipment controls metering valve (CIMV) in its product range, for hall and newly refurbished its electrical and electronics and performance of subsea to effectively simulate subsea manufacturing facility in Nailsea, increased accuracy and reliability in ultra high flow assembly plant in Nailsea. controls equipment fundamentally conditions and to verify the GE Oil and Gas is now able to take mono ethylene glycol (MEG) injection applications. determines production output over reliability of crucial hydraulic and greater advantage of support from its Dean Arnison, site leader and director for subsea the life of oil and gas fields. Our electrical components in deepwater comprehensive on-site engineering This high flow CIMV is based on the established control systems, at GE Oil and Gas said, “With growth goal is to help operators maximise environments. As such, it is the final resources. An on-site facility on-board closed loop control system in deepwater spending by oil and gas exploration and production and reduce risk from the opportunity for product assurance provides greater flexibility to modify architecture, as Cameron’s other CIMV production companies expected to reach double digits complex process, by providing ultra- under hyperbaric conditions before test regimes, including retesting designs, but has a number of advanced annually in the next five years, it is vital that industry growth reliable equipment and systems.” site integration testing and delivery where necessary, and increases features, including its patented non-intrusive is underpinned by safe and reliable technologies. The new of the finished product for offshore overall productivity. ultrasonic flow meter, that bring it into line with hyperbaric facility provides the rigorous conditions to test The new hyperbaric test chamber installation. modern field demands. up to 300 mission-critical subsea control modules each year facility simulates extreme The opening represents the latest in by simulating the extreme challenges of ultra deepwater deepwater pressure conditions up GE’s rigorous test programme is a string of investments in the Nailsea This insert-retrievable self-regulating depths and pressures.” to 6382psi, (or 440 bar pressure) designed to identify any potentially site worth approximately US$9 metering valve has a flow range up to 26 500 equivalent to 4400m (14 436ft) critical issues and thereby enable million over the past 2 years. In litres/hr (7000 gal/hr). water depth, enabling the precise them to be corrected before October 2009 GE opened its Subsea testing of subsea control modules installation – resulting in significant Monitoring and Remote Technology “The practice of chemical injection has and other components that are reliability gains for subsea Center (SmartCenter) at the Nailsea become increasingly important in mission critical to safe and reliable production projects. site to support remote monitoring the production of many large fields, subsea oil and gas production, and diagnostics of subsea field especially for gas developments where including in the fast-growing With the new hyperbaric test centre control and instrumentation facilities MEG is injected as an anti-freeze deepwater segment. housed immediately adjacent to its around the world. to prevent hydrate formation,” said David Simpson product manager Flow Control at Cameron. “These can require considerable volumes of chemicals.”

Such chemicals are expensive. If the Closing a BOP in 45 secs with an ROV/Accumulator operator is unsure how much is being injected, they would have to overdesign Oceaneering International, Inc. engineered to allow an unrestricted allowed a full 1-inch ID flow path the system to be on the safe side. Simply has successfully closed a subsea path to the ram actuator. The BOP from the subsea accumulator increasing a chemical line from 1in to a 3in BOP ram in less than 25 seconds was fitted with an Oceaneering- module to the BOP actuator line can become very costly. Furthermore, at 4300 fsw. provided intervention panel that at the surface, it is necessary to remove the chemicals from the system. The test used a company Remotely Operated Vehicle This is also an expensive process. (ROV) and a Subsea Accumulator The new high flow CIMV gives the field Module that was designed and operator considerably tighter control on manufactured by Oceaneering’s the chemical distribution. Knowing how Deepwater Technical Solutions much is being injected allows the chemical (DTS) group. volumes to be optimised. The test proved that closing times “For a number of years, we have had a for Emergency BOP Override chemical injection metering vales aimed Systems can meet or exceed at measuring very low volumes,” said API recommended closing times Simpson. “This latest development lets us of 45 seconds on ram functions. accurately control much higher volumes of To reach the override timing, all MEG and Methanol.” The Cameron HIGH ROV intervention points on the FLOW CIMV can work in pressures up BOP were first verified to ensure to 10 000psi and operating temperatures that they were designed and between -5°C and +70°C, with a metering accuracy of +/- 1.5% of reading.

Chemical injection metering valve

UT2 April 2011 48 49 UT2 April 2011 Underwater Underwater Pipelines Flow Assurance Using Radioisotope Technology

Radioisotope Technology (RT) is Determining A sensor placed

Underwater Pipelines a well established method of non- the flow rate by above the pipe In a case study for a 70km (43.5-mi) intrusively analying the internal measuring the can detect the pipeline, units were placed subsea at contents and structures of an organic time a tracer passage of a 15km (9.3 mile) intervals. The use of body. Similar technology, interestingly, travels past two tracer internally a suitable and optimised radioisotope can be transferred to analyse subsea detectors Image: Tracerco was injected into the pipeline, and it pipelines. Not only can RT be used to Image: Tracerco was discovered that 6% of the 18% determine blockages in pipelines, but total pipeline deposit volume was it can also be a useful tool in detecting contained within a 15km section. areas of wall thinning. The benefits for the operator are productivity, Due to the requirement to pig the line lower operational costs and reduce as part of a cleaning programme, downtime. further investigations were required; “The barium meal is used as a “These measurements can be used to depend on the precise circumstances The size and shape of slugs of material hence the non-intrusive gamma “The increasing demand for oil and tracer. The basic principle of a tracer directly measure fluid velocity, flow rate but the mean velocity can usually be can be sent directly to the operations ray transmission technique was gas has resulted in discoveries investigation is to follow it through a and phase distribution,” said Wilson. measured to better than +/- 0.5%. team, therefore alerting them to the deployed. The results showed that considerable distances from land, body or system using suitable external “Conversely, by knowing the velocity potential for a process upset. Likewise, there were local deposits present, often in deep waters,” said Matt detectors,” said Wilson. and flow rate, the average bore size “The total accuracy on the volumetric long term slugging effects can have resulting in only a free volume of Wilson, global subsea business can be calculated between detector flow depends on how accurately the a detrimental effect on the pipeline 5% being present – and therefore, a development manager at Tracerco. “In the subsea system, sensitive locations.” internal diameter is known. This is condition, and hence the data can be pig would have become stuck in the “These reserves are often produced detectors, often with wireless typically 3-4% working from piping used to confirm modelling information. pipeline. through long pipelines tied back to communications, are strategically This measurement can give critical specifications, although this can be existing infrastructure. placed on the outside surface of a pipe information prior to any proposed improved by measurement of outside Hydrates (or other process system). They are pigging operations and provides diameter together with wall thickness Flow Assurance Hydrates forming within pipeline “Because of the ambient cold waters, positioned at known distances apart operators with the confidence to measurements. While tracer studies are usually systems and have a detrimental effect the long flowlines may be subject to along the pipeline. These positions are successfully run pigging campaigns, employed in basic flow measurement, on process operating conditions, potential blockages, as hydrates or particularly critical on a pipeline laid on safe in the knowledge that a pig will “Offshore processing is a complex they have been particulary successfully resulting in lost production through wax deposits come out of solution in a seabed that has many undulations or not get stuck and cause significant process and, with ever-evolving fields used in the area of flow assurance, blockage and restriction. The need to response to the low temperatures. depth changes production losses. and deeper wells producing more and especially the location and extent understand where and what size of Furthermore, as assets mature, more three phase flow, it is imperative of solids within a pipeline. In this hydrate plug or restriction is present pipelines generally require more A pulse of radioisotope tracer is then “Access is not needed to the entire that slugging is understood, monitored application, the flow rate through in the pipeline can greatly assist routine inspection. added. This tracer is formulated to pipeline (it can be buried or subsea), and controlled’” said Wilson. the system must be known and kept the operator in getting the pipeline satisfy a variety of requirements just specific positions for detector constant. back into full production as soon as “If deposits/blockages and corrosion depending on the individual application. location,” said Wilson. For example, “With an array of in-field flowlines possible. points form, they have to be examined As the tracer flows past the detector a recent study of a 110km (68 mile) tied back to an FPSO, the need to Wax and quantified, and appropriate positions, it is measured and the pipeline between two offshore understand and map slugging is Tracers have been use successfully “In one case, the operator’s gas intervention action taken before any difference in transit time is equal to the platforms was conducted with single also a key requirement for pipeline to determine wax build up rates within well started to produce water small problem becomes much larger. velocity through the pipeline. measurement positions at each end of integrity. With real-time data collection oil lines such that a pipeline cleaning unexpectedly, much earlier than had Failure to do this could potentially the line to give a total deposit inventory and analysis, a series of in-field flow pigging strategy can be implemented been predicted,” said Wilson.” result in pipeline failure and unwanted of the line. lines can be accurately measured and and production increased. By emissions to the environment.” Tracer Properties monitored. determining an accurate build up rate, “As such, a standard procedure of A similar study was conducted with both time and money can be saved injecting methanol was started, but The basic requirements of a tracer are subsea detectors deployed every 10km with any pipeline intervention and unfortunately, production stopped and Pipeline Investigation l It should behave in the same way (6.2 miles) along a 60km (37 miles) cleaning operation. a hydrate plug was suspected as the Over the years, a number of non- as the material under investigation pipeline to provide information of the probable cause of the blockage. The intrusive subsea pipeline testing l It should be easily detectable at total amount of deposit in each 10km “The position and build up of waxes operator then added a chemical to systems have been developed. A low concentrations section. can reduce the flow and hence the the line to clear the restriction.” practical difficulty arises, however, l Detection should be unambiguous profitability of the pipeline and also when the pipeline is buried, which is l Injection and detection should increase the risk of getting an object “A build up of pressure, however, common in many subsea applications, be performed without disturbing the Flow Regimes (such as a cleaning pig) stuck, said indicated that the chemical injection and access is therefore difficult. studied system By measuring the time interval between Wilson. “The cost of removal and/ had little effect. l The residual tracer concentration detector responses and knowing the or recovery of a stuck pig can be One solution is to use tracer in the product should be minimal. distance between the detectors, it is significant and is likely to involve “The real-time, non-intrusive scan of techniques which are broadly similar The criteria can be met by the use of possible to calculate the mean linear many specialist third-party contractors. the line showed the pipeline density to a barium meal commonly used in radioisotope tracers and by careful velocity. If full bore turbulent flow can The lost production time will cost the profile and therefore the hydrate, medical practices. This can not only be selection of the most appropriate tracer be assumed, then the velocity can be The sensors can be installed by ROV operator many millions of dollars, and methanol, chemical and gas could used to determine flow regimes, but for a particular application. converted to volumetric flow knowing Image: Tracerco therefore prevention is better than all be located and monitored during also pinpoint deposit location. the pipe internal diameter. Accuracy will cure.” remedial operations.”

UT2 April 2011 50 51 UT2 April 2011 Underwater Pipelines Advantages

Deepwater Composite Riser The use of composites afford a number of different advantages: Underwater Pipelines

Risers for deepwater developments The composite consists of one steel. This improves fatigue issues Spoolability have been traditionally composed of thermoplastic polymer and a fibre at the touch down point. The lower The thermoplastic composite tubulars rigid steel or a complex arrangement system. It is divided into three layers weight of the TCR reduces the loading allow higher spoolability than thermoset of flexible concentric tubes. – the internal liner, the fibre reinforced on the top tension system by 60% or tubulars. structural layer and the outer coating. more. This increases the operational In the past, companies have looked Throughout all three layers, one envelope to greater water depths. Fatigue to spoolable composite tubulars as polymer is applied, including the matrix In some applications, tubulars can be an alternative. These are relatively in the fibre reinforcement. These three The designers also point to good run in and out of wells or run as service common in topsides applications layers are melt-fused together which fatigue resistance high ductility and intervention lines offshore. Experience but have yet to be proven subsea. provides an inherently strong bonding spoolability. The composite also has has shown that thermoplastic tubulars This year, however, the results of between the components. lower thermal conductivity and higher do not show any fatigue. a testing programme conducted by heat capacity than steel, better thermal Airborne Composite Tubulars will be One particular area that Airborne properties for flow assurance. It has Collapse Strength appraised. The company expects considers the composite is particularly other advantages when compared with The use of the same material for all to demonstrate their suitability to suitable is in the riser market. conventional flexible pipes. three layers not only optimises bonding, the deepwater environment. This thermoplastic composite risers (TCRs) but also improves the collapse strength follows the supply of two high-end have a number of benefits over more A notable cause of damage in significantly. This makes thermoplastic continuous pipe systems delivered to traditional steel risers. flexible pipes is the friction between composite tubulars appealing for many the test laboratories mid-2010. reinforcement layers. This is not offshore applications as a low-cost The stiffness is a factor of 10 present in the bonded composite alternative to hybrid solutions seen in “The thermoplastic composite lower then steel. This allows for a layers. Because of the solid cross- umbilicals and flexible pipes. tubing that we have developed smaller mean offset, reducing stress section, load transfer at the end-fittings has a number of advantages over fluctuations. This, in turn, opens is more efficient and less complex. Abrasion existing technology,” said Martin possibilities for single catenary In dredging, thermoplastic van Onna, managing director, configurations in shallow waters, even Another offshore area where Airborne’s polypropylene liners are used Airborne Composite Tubulars. “They with large diameters. technology acts as an enabler, is extensively as their wear resistance are lightweight, spoolable, fatigue the offshore service intervention outperforms steel in working with rocks, resistant, corrosion free, strong and The TCR also has a minimum bending line. Although not well known, many stones and sand. collapse resistant with a smooth radius a factor 8 or more smaller than operations are carried out at larger bore.” depths, for which smooth bore A composite tubular spooled Corrosion resistance collapse-resistant spoolable pipe is an Composite Tubulars are completely enabler. corrosion resistant and have high chemical resistance in general. This Airborne is currently quoting and return lines, pipeline downlines, subsea offers viable solutions for instance well decommissioning lines and manufacturing pipe systems for in H2S /CO2 or brine environments. applications such as riserless well deepsea power lines. Also for well intervention using acids, intervention lines, jumpers, seabed thermoplastic composite pipe is an excavation systems, riserless mud In most of these applications, as attractive alternative to steel coil. Airborne points out, the smooth liner Composite in manufacture surface gives lower friction and pressure Electrical / Magnetic Conductivity drop, allowing for high flow rates and The electrical and magnetic properties fast offshore operations. of the tubular can be tailored. This is important for logging applications or Airborne claim to have the only system tubulars that need to include power worldwide, that combines collapse conductors such as in our Composite strength with internal pressure strength Coiled Tubing application. and tensile strength in a smooth bore spoolable system. Cost Airborne can assess the application quickly and advise on cost benefits either on the tubular cost directly, on installed cost or on total cost of ownership. End fittings on a Section through a composite tubular Section through a composite composite

UT2 April 2011 52 53 UT2 April 2011 Marine Well Containment

Apache Deepwater is the latest standard ft3 per day of gas) with storm for the safety of the operating company to join the Marine Well potential for expansion. personnel. Once the storm passes, the Containment Company (MWCC) vessels will return and be reconnected scheme as a full member. MWCC It includes a 15 kpsi single ram to the subsea containment is a not-for-profit, independent capping stack and dispersant injection components within days. organisation committed to being capability. The interim system includes continuously ready to respond a capping component and dispersant to a well control incident in the capability, which are not currently Subsea Components deepwater Gulf of Mexico. available from other providers. A newly designed and fabricated subsea containment assembly (SCA) The company was set up last will create a permanent connection July with the aim of building and Expanded and seal to prevent oil from escaping deploying a rapid response system While this interim system provides the into the ocean. The assembly will be that will be available to capture assurance of cover in the case of a equipped with a suite of adapters and and contain oil in the event of a problem, the company has been also connectors to interact with various potential future underwater well working on a larger, higher capacity interface points, including any well blowout in the deepwater Gulf of system that will be more suited to the design and equipment used by oil Mexico. deeper water wells of tomorrow. and gas operators in the US Gulf of Mexico. The original members were By 2012, the expanded containment Chevron, ConocoPhillips, system will be ready. This is designed If there is well integrity, this assembly ExxonMobil and Shell, with for use in deepwater depths up to can shut in the well and stop the BP subsequently joining. The 10 000ft and has the capacity to flow of oil, without additional system companies have committed contain 100 000b/d of liquid (and 200 equipment. If there are well conditions $1 billion to fund the initial costs of million ft3/d gas). that require that the oil continue to the system. flow, the SCA will attach to risers and This expanded system will be based other containment equipment to direct Aims of the new system is that it on a 15000psi subsea containment the oil to ships for safe storage. is flexible, adaptable and able to assembly with three rams stack, start mobilisation within 24hrs. It is dedicated capture vessels and a Capture caisson assemblies will also engineered to be compatible with dispersant injection system. The be built for use if well containment is a wide range of well designs and expanded containment system can compromised; for example, to enclose equipment, oil and natural gas flow also be expanded using additional a leak outside the well casing. Then, rates and weather conditions. vessels. a SCA will be attached to the caisson It includes specially designed to connect to other containment subsea containment equipment There are two aspects to the system equipment. connected by manifolds, jumpers – the vessels at the surface and and risers to capture vessels that subsea components The oil, captured by the SCA, will will store and offload the oil. flow through flexible pipes to riser Surface Components assemblies, configured to connect to the capture vessels at the ocean Interim The expanded system design includes surface. An additional component MWCC started by developing an use of capture vessels, modified will be available to inject dispersant interim containment system, which tankers, existing drill ships and/or into the subsea system during a was completed last February. This extended well-test vessels, all of which hurricane when surface vessels must initial response system included can process, store and offload the oil disconnect. a subsea capping stack with the to shuttle tankers, which can then take ability to shut in oil flow or to flow the oil to shore for further processing. In the event of an incident, MWCC the oil via flexible pipes and risers will provide the capping stack and to surface vessels. Modular, adaptable process equipment the dispersant injection system to the will be installed on the capture vessels incident operator for installation on The system also included subsea and will connect to the riser assembly the damaged well. The company will dispersant injection equipment, that directs the oil from the subsea also install and operate the interim manifolds and, through mutual aid components. The process equipment containment system, including subsea among members, capture vessels will separate the oil from gas, safely flowlines, manifold and risers. to provide surface processing and store the oil and flare the gas. Then storage. the oil will be offloaded to shuttle After the incident, deployment will tankers which will transport the oil to begin within 24 hours. Equipment will It has been engineered to be used shore. be available to responders as needed, in deepwater depths up to 8000ft as directed by incident command. and has capacity to contain During hurricanes, capture vessels will response times will vary, according to 60 000b/d liquid (and 120 million disconnect and move away from the the particular situation. The incident

UT2 April 2011 54 55 UT2 April 2011 Well Containment operator must secure the capture accessible to the member company in This project will be executed by vessels needed to complete the the event of an incident. Technip’s operating center in Fast Response Containment System (HFRS) interim containment system through Houston, Texas, with specialist mutual aid. support from other Group Helix Energy Solutions played a key Fast Response Containment System Calling off working vessels is Technip centres. The flexible pipes will role in the Macondo hydrocarbon (HFRS) for future spills. operationally preferable to a Subsea components of the interim Technip was awarded it a contract be manufactured at Technip’s spill response, providing assets modular system that would take system are currently stored in for the design, procurement and plant in Le Trait, France, and and offshore teams to assist in the The system uses proven longer to deploy and Fourchon, Louisiana, in Houston, fabrication of the umbilical, riser and the umbilical will be fabricated completion of containment efforts. methodologies to provide spill go untested for extended periods. Texas, and at vendor facilities; the flowline components of MWCC’s at the Group’s wholly owned response capacity. expanded system will be stored at expanded well containment response subsidiary, Duco Inc., based in Helix’s Q4000 multipurpose semi- The subsea components built and onshore locations currently under system for the US Gulf of Mexico, set Channelview, Texas. submersible vessel and the Helix Benefits of the Helix HFRS include: staged in advance. Key subsea evaluation. for completion in 2012. Producer I floating production unit systems to transport hydrocarbons This contract follows the front- each played prominent roles in the l Vessels and crews currently to the surface for capture and MWCC has identified equipment Technip’s scope of work includes two end engineering scope awarded that can be made available through deepwater riser systems for operation to Technip in October 2010. effort. operating in the Gulf. disposal are kept in inventory mutual aid, including capture vessels, in water depths up to 10 000ft (3000m) at Helix’s Gulf of Mexico spoolbase, riser equipment and other necessary using buoyancy elements, connection Based on the lessons learned l The Helix Producer I and Q4000 where they are maintained and equipment. systems and flexible jumpers; and two and technologies developed from operate in the Gulf of Mexico full available for deployment at a shallow water systems for water depths The layout of the expanded system. this, Helix has developed its time, with experienced crews. moment’s notice. Also, MWCC continues to develop up to 2000ft (600m) utilizing a lazy Image: the Marine Well Containment and maintain a database of mutual wave catenary configuration and one Company aid equipment, which will be control umbilical.

UT2 April 2011 56 57 UT2 April 2011 Subsea 2010

Subsea 2011 Subsea 2010

SODA SODA- node (Self Riser Monitoring Orienting

The Subsea UK awards dinner. Image: Julian Whitfield

Subsea UK RBG flexGuard During the Subsea 2011 event, the The Subsea Innovation and Technology RBG will invest more than £3 million Diving operations will also be able Subsea specialist flexlife has rise to 5000 by 2015,” said CEO British subsea industry recognised Award, sponsored by Simmons & to boost the capability of its offshore to be carried out remotely from the launched the flexGuard riser Stuart Mitchell. Around 35% of risers the outstanding organisations and Company International, went to Tritech diving fleet. This will involve the vessel, utilising one certified MCA monitoring tool to help maintain suffer some form of outer sheath individuals who are driving the sector. for its multi-beam imaging sonar. addition of two new 15m purpose- Category I craft, and one MCA asset integrity and safeguard the damage, according to recent market The winners were announced Traditionally a time-consuming built crafts and two 8.5m support Category II transfer craft. Both have environment. surveys of operators. Once seawater during Subsea UK’s annual awards process which often produces a craft to its existing fleet. The new self launch capability. breaches the outer sheath, corrosion dinner, sponsored by Forum Energy distorted image, the Gemini 720i vessels will include dedicated launch flexGuard incorporates flexlife’s rapidly follows, leading to premature Technologies, at the Aberdeen multibeam imaging sonar revolutionises and recovery systems as well as The vessel also has the capability of ultrasonic scanning technology in the failures. Exhibition and Conference Centre. underwater imaging through the introducing efficiencies in air nitrox launching two work-class ROVs from form of a collar permanently fitted to clarity of its images and the speed at diving, WROV works and surveying. both the port and starboard sides of flexible risers. “Our technology can give an More than 700 business leaders which it allows underwater tasks to be the vessel. accurate depiction of the condition attended the fifth annual dinner which completed – operating at 130 times the With a focus on maximising safety The subsea riser monitoring tool of a flexible pipe or riser, from celebrated the innovation, hard work speed of traditional sonar units. and operational flexibility under Its main crane is capable of lifting provides the operator with instant, the first stages of corrosion or and exceptional achievements across pre-defined weather limitations, the 150t at 10m, 75t at 20m and 25t continuous access to the degradation, allowing operators to the subsea sector. The Subsea Global Exports Award, vessels will provide specialist marine- at 35m, and is also fitted with a 20t condition of any riser remotely plan maintenance in advance and sponsored by Scottish Enterprise, went based services to rigs, platforms, auxiliary crane. from any location in the world avoid unplanned shutdowns. It The evening’s top honour, ‘Subsea to Andrew Palmer and Associates/ FPSOs and support vessels, – ensuring a fail-safe early offers a cost-effective, permanent Company of the Year,’ went to Soil Penspen. The company has grown its throughout RBG’s global operations. warning system providing major solution to monitoring and peace Machine Dynamics (SMD). This award exports by 90% to £75million over a Subspection cost and safety benefits. of mind for operators increasingly was sponsored by Brewin Dolphin. three year period. RBG has also chartered the specialist Technical integrity and asset aware of their role in preserving the dive support vessel Olympic Triton to assurance experts iicorr and It incorporates the latest environment.’’ As one of the world’s leading subsea The Safety Leadership Award, support its diving, ROV and subsea its specialist subsea division ultrasonic and subsea engineering companies, specialising sponsored by OPITO, recognised capabilities. With the vessel, air nitrox Subspection have launched a new communications technology flexGuard in the design and manufacturing of RBG for demonstrating leadership diving operations will be able to be product to market that will extend the and is able to wirelessly, remotely operated vehicle systems, throughout their organisation with a carried out from diver launch and life of offshore applications through either on command or at SMD has seen its annual turn over positive and proactive safety culture. recovery ‘A’ frames (LARS) located cathodic protection (CP) technology. scheduled weekly inspection rise from £12.5 million to £42.8 million on the port side of the vessel. times, provide the status of in just five years. Mel Fitzgerald, chief executive officer Through parent company Stork the flexible pipe’s annulus and of Subsea 7, was honoured for his Technical Services iicorr and underlying armour wires The Emerging Talent Award, outstanding contribution to the subsea Subspection have developed an sponsored by Fugro Subsea sector. innovative new design of anode flexGuard can Services, has been won by Stuart that can be readily field deployed be fitted either Holley, a senior product manager Subsea UK chief executive, Alistair and withstand the demands of the during installation at GE Oil and Gas. Stuart has Birnie, said: “Every year it is a great offshore environment. This alternative or by retrofit to been instrumental in the design, privilege to recognise the pioneering solution provides a means to replace risers already in development and launch of the organisations and individuals that depleted or damaged systems without use in the field, SemStar5 subsea electronics module. are leading the way in the subsea the need for more costly dry dock or offering permanent sector. This year was as tough as diving and ROV intervention. monitoring for Viper Subsea was rewarded for its any to distinguish a winner among corrosion/breaches. rapid growth with the New Enterprise the finalists. This truly underlines SODA-node (Self Orienting Award, sponsored by Technip. Viper the dynamism, determination and Directional Anode) has been “There are around Subsea provides the design and innovation of our subsea community developed for offshore applications 3000 risers in service supply of subsea distribution systems against a backdrop of global economic such as FPSOs, FSOs and other at present, with the and equipment. uncertainty in 2010.” Olympic Triton similar structures in seawater. number forecast to

UT2 April 2011 58 59 UT2 April 2011 Underwater Equipment Laser Scanning As oil prices rise, fields that were once submarginal can suddenly become cost-effective to produce. One way of developing these small OE14-208 Image courtesy of MARE/TNC/CSUMB

Underwater Equipment fields is to tie them back to an existing host platform, however, this may REVEALING mean extending the facility beyond its original design life.

Retrofitting structural members UNDERWATER into the jacket, help it to withstand prolonged loading. This typically means adding bracing at structural nodes. Unfortunately, because of DIGITAL STILLS engineering uncertainties, it is not always possibly to fabricate steelwork based on the original plans. Important dimensions of the jacket have to be Scanning the image. Inset above, Cross bracing, Inset Right: The Scanner re-measured. One useful metrology The all new OE14-408 Digital Stills Camera tool that is being increasingly adjacent profile lines. Specialised however, the level of detail captured from Kongsberg Maritime provides superb considered, is underwater laser compression algorithms transmit with the ULS-100 is far beyond the scanner technology. these measurements to a PC on the capability of sonar systems,” said image and colour quality and a range of surface where adjacent profile lines Gillham. Last November, 2G Robotics used its are combined to create a complete improved features: ULS-100 underwater laser scanner understanding of the scanned surface “It however is impractical, due to the in the Persian Gulf, looking at nodes or object. range limitations of the underwater yIncreased 10 Megapixel Resolution 60m below sea level. The ULS-100 laser scanner compared to sonar, to “The ULS-100 was deployed by a completely replace sonar and scan an yImproved Colour Depth and Dynamic Rangeange was designed to make highly accurate OE14-408 Digital Stills Camera close-range measurements which single diver and secured to the nodes entire asset with the laser system. shown with the were then processed to obtain a 3D by ropes at various locations and yOn-the-Fly USB or Ethernet Image Downloadnloadnnload OE11-242 Flashgun model of each node. From this, the orientations, focusing the majority of “Instead, these technologies should engineering contractor could correctly the scans toward the joints between be viewed as complimentary, with yFlexible Control Interfaces size and fabricate the structural beams,” said Jason Gillham, director of sonar being used to obtain an overall bracing. operations at 2G Robotics. “Sufficient understanding of the asse,t and yCompact Housing overlap between adjacent scans laser scanning being used at specific The ULS-100 works by emitting a allowed them to be merged without locations of interest that have been laser line onto the target surface. The the need to place artificial target points identified in advance or through the When used in conjunction with Kongsberg reflected light is detected by a sensor. that are an alternative way of tying the sonar inspection.” Circuitry built into the ULS-100 scans together.” Maritime’s dedicated Flashgun (OE11-242) then processes the return signal to measure the distance at hundreds of These scans were merged using the TTL through-lens flash metering gives points along the line, creating a two- the 2G Robotics post processing accurate exposure control allowing you to dimensional profile. software to create the final surfaces. By importing these surfaces into capture strikingly revealing images. An internal motor rotates the laser SolidWorks a solid model and and sensor in unison, to obtain engineering drawings of the nodes were created and provided to the engineering contractor. Applications Using these drawings as a guide, the This technology can be applied to engineering contractor custom made the inspection of a wide range of sub each support bracket with confidence, sea assets where measurements knowing that they had accurate are required from detailed pipeline information about the current geometry inspection to hydroelectric dam and of the structure. bridge pier analysis. In all of these Kongsberg Maritime Ltd OE14-208 Image courtesy of MARE/TNC/CSUMB cases, currently, decisions must be “Using the ULS-100 to capture the Telephone: +44 1224 226500 made with a level of assumption and 3D models is a more time consuming Detail of a joint guess work. process than using a 3D sonar, Email: [email protected] Discover more at Stand N1 www.km.kongsberg.com/cameras 5 - 7 April, 2011 UT2 April 2011 60 61 UT2 April 2011 Underwater Equipment The UK’s leading HMS Audacious TOGS manufacturer BAE Systems has chosen iXSea CDL has been awarded the first military MARINS inertial navigation systems contract for its TOGS-S unit. The of hydrographic and for HMS Audacious, the fourth boat purchase order of 12 TOGS Surface

Underwater Equipment in the UK Royal Navy’s Astute-class, fibre-optic gyro systems was placed by oceanographic instrumentation. nuclear-powered attack submarine Marine Electronic Systems of Totton, construction programme. England as part of its integrated bridge s4IDE'AUGES s3OUND6ELOCITY system solution to be installed on 12 HMS Audacious will be equipped Griffon hovercrafts bound for India. s7AVE2ECORDERS s/CEAN%NGINEERING with two MARINS units. iXBlue will also supply a third unit for preliminary TOGS-S is a North seeking FOG s#URRENT-ETERS s#4$-ULTIPARAMETER test work at BAE Systems’ Astute with heading accuracy up to 0.2deg s%CHO3OUNDERS"ATHYMETRY Shore Integration Facility and provide with GPS aiding (0.5deg unaided) engineering and project management designed for surface application support for the installation of the including commercial shipping, military units on board the submarine. BAE craft, yachts and land vehicles. With Tel: +44 (0)1803 869292 Systems has options on further its extremely flexible functionality it MARINS units for Astute-class boats can work in conjunction with any GPS E Mail: [email protected] five, six and seven. system to also provide a positioning Web: www.valeport.co.uk for an inertial navigation system (INS) MARINS was designed by iXSea as well as a full attitude, heave and to meet the growing need of the heading reference allowing full motion TOGS-S world’s navies for more accurate and tracking. reliable inertial navigation systems and represents the state of the art in strap-down, fibre-optic gyroscope High Res Multibeam technology. The military-specification HULS PAVS Vertical Array unit outputs position, heading, roll, Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Teledyne RD Instruments has Chelsea Technologies Group has L-3 ELAC Nautik has been awarded a contract for pitch, depth and velocities, and is design and manufacturer Bluefin introduced the 150 kHz phased array delivered a novel acoustic array a SB 3030 system to replace the existing system perfectly silent. Robotics has been awarded a $30 velocity sensor (PAVS150) – the to the Norwegian University of on the GAS Survey vessel Odin Finder million contract modification to exercise industry’s first 1000m depth rated Science and Technology (NTNU). Drift is less than 1Nm in 24 hours option III for the explosive ordnance Doppler velocity log (DVL) designed to The six metre long, oil filled array, This high resolution multibeam system will be operating in pure inertial mode, i.e., disposal hull unmanned underwater provide precision velocity data at up to houses six omni directional identical installed to perform depth cable routing, oil without GPS input. It is compatible vehicle localisation systems (HULS). 500m of altitude above the seafloor. hydrophones. The array is designed offshore and pipeline routing surveys in the with a wide range of aiding sensors to be suspended from a small boat Mediterranean area. The 1.5 x 1 deg resolution will This extended range bottom tracking and can be up and running within The HULS systems support naval or buoy to depths of 100 metres. double the vessels survey capability and comes minutes. forces in conducting hull, piers capability makes the PAVS150 ideally with the Water Column Imaging (WCI) option. and pilings searches. The contract suited for aiding navigation systems on Dr Zhang Guosong of NTNU The MARINS units are virtually was structured in three phases: board any platform where the ability to commissioned Chelsea to build commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS), demonstration, prototype, and transition from the deep waters of the the custom hydrophone array to though some modifications have production. The Naval Surface Warfare open oceans to the shallow operating been made to accommodate specific Center, is the contracting unit. environments of the littoral zone is conduct novel underwater acoustic operational requirements. seen as a critical enabler. experiments in the Trondheim fjord. The programme objective was to Dr Guosong and his team are deliver a small and relatively low- Designed specifically with unmanned looking to exploit spatial cost autonomous vehicle capable of underwater vehicles (UUVs) in mind, diversity in order to precision manoeuvring, with a focus on the PAVS150 is compact enough to achieve stable ship hull inspection. The requirement to be packaged into vehicles as small communications inspect ships’ hulls has long been one as 12.75in (32.39 cm) in diameter in a time-varying of the most manpower intensive and and uses state of the art electronics underwater time consuming tasks that divers must to provide expanded connectivity with acoustic routinely perform, for both security and other sensors while minimising overall channel. husbandry purposes. power consumption. Chelsea has previously These features are not exclusively With increasing demands on some supplied a range of of the Navy’s diving community, the advantageous to UUV applications, acoustic transducers mission of hull searches has emerged and can also be leveraged for surface and hydrophones to NTNU. as an ideal application for unmanned and submarine craft manned and . MARINS unit systems. unmanned alike. Oil filled array

UT2 April 2011 62 63 UT2 April 2011 AN UNDERWATER TECHNOLOGY STORY:

June 2010 near Dunwich, England “Uncovering secrets from the past...

The greatest enemy of the east coast of England beats relentlessly Underwater against the coastline and has claimed countless settlements and towns as cliffs are pounded into surrender and swallowed by the Equipment turbid waters of the North Sea. One of the most famous towns to have succumbed to the waves is the medieval town of Dunwich in Suffolk. Largely buried in the mud PDM Neptec Control System off the coast and long since abandoned to the encroaching sea, the PDM Neptec has produced It is one of the smallest fibre optic Kongsberg Maritime systems historic capital of East Anglia has been losing buildings to the North Omicron, a compact, dry mate, connectors and extremely compact, chosen for another advanced Sea since the 1300’s. Though the site is well-known, just what it looks single way fibre optic connector. making it ideal for installations specialist vessel. The new Heerema like has been a mystery for hundreds of years. Attempts to gain any Featuring low loss, high requiring minimum connector size. Marine Contractors owned monohull detailed view of what lies beneath the water, the silt and the sand Underwater Equipment performance and rated for use to pipe lay vessel. have been made near-impossible by poor visibility near the seabed. 5000m, Omicron is designed for Omicron is extremely competitively single mode or multimode fibre priced and available from PDM stock Kongsberg Maritime Korea has In June 2010, a team examining the Dunwich site deployed a special with insertion loss performance of along with a full range of cables and been awarded a contract to supply sonar camera. The combination of high frequencies, acoustic lenses <0.5dB at 1310nm and 1550nm. underwater electrical connectors. an Integrated Control System for a and very narrow beams increased image detail and gave sophisticated new Heerema Marine Contractors owned monohull pipe archaeologists greater detail of the site than ever before available, lay vessel, under construction at enabling them to identify carved stonework from lost historic Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine buildings. New technology opened up this hitherto secretive site Engineering Co, Korea (DSME). and could help reveal centuries of history hidden by the waves.”

The 210m specialist Deep Water MacArtney – dedicated to the underwater industry Construction Vessel, which is scheduled for completion of all Read more at tests & trials by mid-2013 will benefit from Kongsberg Maritime’s WWW.MACARTNEY.COM/SECRETS proven integrated automation and manoeuvring systems.

The complete package of sector leading technology includes: K-Pos DP-3 System, K-Thrust Thruster Omicron next to a standard ST fibre optic connector Control, K-Chief 700 Integrated Automation System, HiPAP Hydro systems. It comprises a triple- Functions are integrated to reduce Acoustic Positioning System and redundant DP system controller the overall need for hardware and Motion Sensor GNSS reference system. software and to reduce interfacing unit and three identical operator Teledyne TSS has launched an SV Sensors stations and is designed for requirements, which leads to less extensive range of motion sensors. With an investment of US$600- integration with K-Chief (marine demand for specialist software Called the DMS-500, it will be of OSIL/AML have supplied a set of pressure and very high salinity/brine 700 million, the new vessel will automation system) and K-Thrust development, cabling and testing. particular interest to operators of specialist SV sensors, calibrated conditions), the requirement for boost Heerema Marine Contractors (thruster control system) via a dual vessels equipped with dynamic accurate sound velocity readings to 2000m/s, as part of the already significant capability to Ethernet LAN. Furthermore, integrated systems positioning (DP) as it has been instrumentation package for use in becomes increasingly more execute complex deep water offer a far greater degree of developed specifically to meet their water-filled cavity survey and well important. infrastructure and pipe line projects Integrating all functions for redundancy, and therefore needs while also remaining capable logging applications. in ultra deep water and also, with monitoring and control of a vessel increased system availability of a variety of other motion sensing With this in mind, OSIL/AML have sufficient lifting capacity, enhance provides tangible benefits both and operational performance is tasks. In order to survey a well or cavity developed a specialist SV sensor, the company’s ability to execute technically and economically. possible. it is necessary to use a specially capable of operating over the installation of fixed platforms in Teledyne TSS manufactures a range designed vertical sonar instrument. range of 0 – 2000 m/s at elevated relatively shallow water. of motion sensors, gyro compasses, The vertical sonar instrument was temperatures and pressures. The Heerema pipelay vessel inertial navigation systems and pipe designed around a standard 4” units have already been successfully Greater degree of redundancy and cable trackers. bore to enable easy access to the deployed in both well logging and The Kongsberg Maritime K-Pos majority of situations. The sonar is brine cavity monitoring applications. The DMS-500 DP-3 System (DP-32), combined motion sensor capable of surveying subterranean with high quality position reference caverns, sub-sea caverns from HiPAP and GNSS will ensure and wells. SV sensor pinpoint positioning during these highly complex operations. As some of these environments may have The K-Pos DP-3 satisfies the parameters outside the requirements of IMO normal range for seawater Equipment Class 2 and (such as high temperatures, high Equipment Class 3 DP

UT2 April 2011 64 65 UT2 April 2011 Underwater WE BRING CLARITY Precision survey Equipment TO THE WORLD BELOW EM 2040 - High resolution Multibeam echo sounder

• Frequency range: 200 to 400 kHz Mooring Communications • Swath coverage: 140 deg/200 deg • Dual swath capability, allowing a high sounding density alongtrack

Underwater Equipment A new mooring communications at a reasonable survey speed system has been developed to • FM chirp allowing much longer provide fast, low power wireless range capability communication. Off the coast of the islands of Morea, a system • Complete roll, pitch and yaw provided by MacArtney Underwater stabilization Technology Group transfers data • Nearfield focusing on both transmit via wireless modem. and receive • Operates with very short pulse Traditionally, moorings have had lengths to rely on the mobile telephone • Ping rate more than 50 Hz network or radio to transmit data to onshore bases. This new technology opens up areas otherwise unavailable by mobile www.km.kongsberg.com networks and unsuitable for conventional radio transmission systems.

“In the drive to understand the mechanics and effects of global warming on our planet,” said system is the communications moorings – including inductive directly access various testing and a spokesman, “oceanographic system. Information gathered from measuring of current profiles sending parameters. institutes are installing buoys in the range of instruments on the – and high speed wireless Ethernet various areas to map the water mooring needs to be transferred in connection. “MacArtney’s innovative mooring conditions and wildlife and to some way onshore. Typically, data solution combines inductive chart any changes over time that from buoys is relayed to onshore MacArtney developed and telemetry and wireless Ethernet relate to an increase in global information centres via mobile delivered an innovative, real time connectivity for adaptive temperatures. telephone networks, by radio transfer full communication package to the sampling and near real time or by cable. Marine Science Institute at the data transmission to shore. The “The sites of such buoys vary UCSB. The communication system communication system makes greatly and one of the more recent When the Coastal Research Centre collects data from 9 underwater it feasible to collect data at this installations has taken place In of the Marine Science Institute at instruments on the mooring that valuable site that will help scientists the coastal waters of the volcanic the University of California, Santa measure temperature, conductivity to understand the effect and island of Morea, 15km North West Barbara (UCSB) commissioned and pressure, temperature and mechanics of global warming,” said of Tahiti in French Polynesia.” their monitoring buoy system in pressure and a tide recorder. Systems Sales Manager for Ocean the shallow coastal waters off the Science at MacArtney, Andrew Chosen for its well-established islands of Morea, they needed a It sends the data at preset intervals Ziegwied, who helped to design the coral reef and its abundance of communications system that would to the onshore base through a high mooring and communications. life, this location is expected to take into account the unsuitability of speed wireless Ethernet data link. provide valuable information about radio and satellite data transfer and MacArtney supplied the complete changes in a range of underwater avoid cable along the seafloor. The data link is 2.4 GHz with data communications system, including parameters, including water speed up to 11Mb/s. Data from each data loggers, Ethernet connection temperature, changes in current Radio transfer demands high instrument is gathered at preset and solar charged batteries; a speed and water levels. Yet placing power levels, satellite transfer intervals and sent through the range of sensors, including for moorings and designing buoys using mobile telephone networks wireless connection to a wireless temperature, conductivity and requires expertise and cooperation is not available in all areas and Ethernet action point at the shore pressure sensors, temperature between scientists, engineers and running a cable along the sea bed station every 20 minutes. Real time and pressure sensors, water underwater experts. could damage the coral reefs. The data can be accessed through the temperature, tide and pressure resulting system was a breakthrough internet and this communication is gauges; and a special manta Of the many considerations in in buoy communication technology, 2-way, allowing not only for access ray anchor, designed for shallow designing and building a mooring combining for the first time inductive to data but also allowing operators to waters.

UT2 April 2011 66 67 UT2 April 2011 Tsunami Tsunami Detection An explanation of thunamis from the Sonardyne has delivered of its specialised tsunami warning relatively confined nature of the The TWERC system will consequently tsunami detection technology for technology that is already in Mediterranean. consist of an array of seismometers incorporation within an advanced operation in the Bay of Bengal to working in conjunction with the Sonardyne National warning network being installed in help protect the Indian coastline. Tsunamis originating in the deep ocean pressure sensors that are configured Underwater Equipment Cyprus. The order includes sensitive water may travel thousands of miles before to create an offshore communications pressure sensors and a software they come ashore and this gives backbone (OCB) that can also support Oceanography Centre CSNet is working with the algorithm developed to control the more time to register and distribute a the region’s emerging offshore energy Oceanography Centre of system. warning. The Mediterranean, on the enterprise. The OCB covers several Following the recent tsunami in Japan, a number of explanatory Cyprus to develop a prototype other hand, is seismically active and hundred kilometres of seafloor off the articles have appeared in the media about such a wave works. tsunami warning system to The Tsunami Warning and Early could generate a tsunami that hits the southern coast of Cyprus and will provide One of the best is on the National Oceanography Centre’s web protect Cyprus and the eastern Response system for Cyprus coast in less than an hour and this real-time, continuous communications with site and can be seen online at Mediterranean coastline. They (TWERC) will differ from other demands a warning system capable of a control centre ashore. http://noc.ac.uk/news/how-tsunami-wave-works There, you would turned to Sonardyne for some warning systems because of the rapid activation and response. see the following TWERC will be using four Sonardyne sensors to detect the changes in water Tsunamis are long, powerful waves that are created by sub-sea pressure that indicate a tsunami. They earth movements – earthquakes, land and ice slips, meteor will be analysed by the Sonardyne strikes. But not all Earth movements create these waves, many software algorithms that will also generate give little or no effect. various messages time-tagged and formatted to meet the specific operational A tsunami occurs because the water mass of the ocean is requirements. displaced and, much like throwing a stone into a pond, waves are generated. The displacement in a tsunami creates a wave which These messages will be sent at regular is very long – up to 200 km (125 miles). These waves travel in a intervals and contain data on pressure very predictable way that is determined by the water depth. and seabed system health. The precise message will depend on the status of the Anyone with a calculator can predict its speed (square root of system and whether it has been ‘triggered’. 9.81 times the water depth) so in the deep ocean at 5,000 m this is 221m per second, about 800 km an hour (500 mph) – the The sensors will be hardwired to a power speed of a jumbo jet. In spite of this speed and power, out at sea and communications network that provides the wave is usually less than one metre high. It would take about an immediate link to the shore control 15 minutes to pass a boat and would be barely noticeable. centre. This will avoid the delays inherent in mid-ocean systems that use acoustic As the wave hits the shoreline it rapidly slows to about 50 km an and satellite communication to relay their hour (30 mph) but the back of the wave is still travelling faster in warnings. deeper water and so is catching up with the front – a water traffic jam is taking place. The water has to go somewhere, so it goes Dr Georgious Georgiou, director of the up, building a wave of 10, 20, even 30 m in height (some 30 to Oceanography Centre of Cyprus and 100 ft). This wall of water finally arrives at the coast travelling at TWERC project leader said, “The system 30 to 50 km/hr (30 mph) causing massive destruction. will include both offshore technology and capacity building onshore, including public Why does the water level drop before the tsunami hits? Because education and outreach. it is like a tide, the tide goes out before it comes in. Traditionally we used to call these features ‘tide waves’ because they behave Detecting the wave is only part of the like a tide. The water particles haven’t travelled from the epicentre solution. Transmitting that warning quickly of the earthquake, they have oscillated back and forth and the to a population that knows what to do tidal flow does just the same. when they receive it is equally critical.” As the tsunami approaches water is drawn back from the beach Dr Andrew Clark, president and chief to effectively help feed the wave. In a tide the wave is so long that executive officer of CSnet added “This this happens slowly, over a few hours. In a short small ‘wind wave’ system will not only serve to protect we see it happening every few seconds as we dodge waves citizens and visitors of Cyprus, but also all on the beach. A tsunami is short enough to have a rapid effect, those along the entire, densely populated in minutes, but long enough to carry enormous energy. There eastern Mediterranean coast, a very is nothing physically unusual about tsunamis, they are normal Tsunami detection technology seismically active region,” he said.” waves, but their features are awesome.

UT2 April 2011 68 69 UT2 April 2011 Underwater Cameras

Underwater Digital Stills

Kongsberg Maritime will stored on the inbuilt 8GB solid- launch its most advanced state storage. The images underwater digital stills can be the uploaded ‘on the camera at the Ocean fly’ via USB2 or Ethernet, Business 2011 technology meaning that they can be exhibition in Southampton transmitted immediately to (Stand N1) on April 5 2011. the surface or to shore – and The OE14-408 is the latest viewed anywhere on the underwater digital stills globe, therefore increasing camera to be revealed in operational efficiency of ROV the company’s portfolio or lander deployment. of underwater and harsh environment cameras and David Mackay general imaging systems. manager at Kongsberg Maritime said, “Kongsberg The OE14-408 provides high Maritime is recognised image and colour quality and for technical innovation in a range of newly enhanced professional underwater and features since the previous harsh environment cameras OE14-208 model. These including underwater digital include: 10 mega pixels stills, HDTV and low light per image (double the pixel camera technology. The OE14- resolution), improved colour 408 is our most advanced depth and dynamic range, underwater digital stills camera Ethernet upload connectivity, to date and we are confident a much faster flashgun that its enhanced specification refresh rate and a more and performance will position compact housing for ease of it as a strong successor to our deployment. previous OE14-208 which sold more than 170 units globally When used in conjunction to the world’s leading ROV with Kongsberg Maritime’s service companies and marine new dedicated flashgun research organisations.” (The OE11-442), the camera offers accurate exposure In addition to the OE14-408 control via through-the- Kongsberg Maritime will also lens (TTL) flash metering be revealing a number of resulting in striking image other new enhancements to clarity. The flashgun its camera and imaging sonar recharge rate has been range at Ocean Business doubled, allowing improved 2011, including: its new wider productivity for inspection (7deg) angle OE14-502 HD operations. Camera option; the OE15- 110/11 compact inspection The OE14-408 has a 5 camera, fourth generation x zoom capability and is underwater 3D/stereo TV depth rated from 4500m development programme; and to 9000m. Each image is the M3 multi mode, multi beam framed and temporarily imaging and profiling sonar.

UT2 April 2011 70 71 UT2 April 2011 Cameras and Lighting Cameras and Lighting University of Plymouth Flora and Fauna Survey Pan and Tilt Camera Aurora

A towed array featuring a Bowtech The Marine Institute at Plymouth Imenco has launched the latest camera in its shark range. BIRNS has launched its most powerful, cutting- Surveyor-HD video camera and LED- University, jointly with Peninsula Called the Lizard, it gives good access to previously edge underwater vehicle light, the Aurora. 1600 lamps has been deployed to Research Institute for Marine unreachable areas with its pan and tilt function. It also has

Cameras and Lighting survey potential offshore renewable Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE), have built-in dimmable LED lights which makes it useful for ROV This new high-intensity, light emitting plasma (LEP) energy sites. This is to characterise developed this new survey method, work. deep submergence light provides dazzling 14 000 habitats and monitor how benthic allowing them to quantify the seabed lumen brilliance to usher in the next generation of organisms (living in, on or near as well as the associated flora and This ROV colour video camera has a depth rating of extreme depth subsea lighting systems. the seabed) are affected by such fauna living in adverse wave and tidal 1000msw. developments. Bowtech also designed conditions over heterogeneous habitats LEP is an exciting new lighting technology that is and supplied the topside control (from sandy, pebbly flats to challenging The fixed focal length camera has a 3.5mm/f1.4 lens in front a more powerful and efficient alternative to LED, system and umbilicals. boulder fields and rocky ledges). of a 1/2in interline transfer CCD. It has a sensitivity of tungsten halogen and metal halide lighting. Its light A video camera, LED lights and 0.0001lux and a resolution of 570 TVL. It has an auto/ sources use a solid-state device to generate radio Previous methods using bottom-towed laser scale markers on a flying array manual focus. frequency (RF) energy to power a plasma light sledges, SCUBA divers or remotely- source. operated vehicles were inappropriate speed tows of the gear behind a boat. The Lizard Shark has a length of 155mm and a 70mm due to cost and practicality. It was The HD video and randomly selected diameter andis rated to 3000m water depth. Unlike traditional metal halide lights, the BIRNS necessary, therefore, to develop frame grabs are analysed to quantify Aurora does not require metal electrodes to drive a method that was cost-effective, species distribution. power into the source and thus has a more robust relatively non destructive and suitable quartz vessel. for a range of habitats. The equipment was tested over two years in Lyme Bay, UK (25m depth), This unique LEP light has a 30 000 hour lamp life The methodology is based on a high- then subsequently in a deep (>50m) produces a continuous spectrum, and delivers definition video camera, LED lights high-energy wave hub site off Cornwall, an exceptionally high lumen density – in fact, the and laser scale markers, mounted on and a potential tidal stream energy site single bulb (approximately 2mm long) produces a flying array that can maintain itself in Guernsey, Channel Islands (1.5m/s a blazing 14 000 lumens of brilliant white light at above the seabed grounded by a current). This is the first time remote 5300K, at a Colour rendering index (CRI) of 94. length of chain, thus causing minimal samples from such a habitat have been The flying array with equipment damage. Samples are taken by slow- achieved. The Shark Lizard The BIRNS Aurora offers physical dimensions that are smaller and more efficient than costly metal halide systems, and is engineered with a robust aluminum housing with a tempered 6km True Lumens borosilicate glass lens. It has an overall length of just 11in, and a housing In the days of the halogen light, it Since 2006, DeepSea Power and Light using the integrating sphere. The in their specs and none came close to the actual output of length of 5.5in, so immensely powerful, yet very low was common for underwater light has been using an integrating sphere competitors’ light output claims were DeepSea’s comparable LED lights. profile for a wide range of demanding applications. manufacturers to simply repeat the manufactured by SphereOptics and 70%–90% above actual measurements light output data published by the calibrated to standards traceable to and none came close to the actual light To ensure that users have an honest idea of what to expect With a mounting diameter of 2.5in, it can be tailored manufacturers of the halogen lamps the National Institute of Standards and output of DeepSea’s comparable LED from the output of its SeaLite Sphere lights, DeepSea is to fit large or small vehicles, and runs on 28VDC when specifying the light output Technology to accurately measure lights. supplying a TRUE LUMENS report as measured by its with a 9.3A power draw. of their own light assembly. This the output of its lights as well as integrating sphere with every SeaLite Sphere light. In practice, however, didn’t take into provide this service to other light DeepSea then sent competitive addition, the report also provides data about other spectral account several factors including manufacturers. lights as well as its own lights to an parameters including dominant and peak wavelength, reflector performance or light independent optical laboratory. The CIE chromaticity and colour rendering index. absorption by a pressure window. Early in the development cycle of LED results were the same the competitors’ lights, it became clear that many of the light outputs were grossly over-stated The same practice is now being spefifications published by competitive extended to light emitting diode manufacturers of underwater LED (LED) lights whereby manufacturers lights were over-stated compared are taking the specifications for a with what was actually being single LED and multiplying it by the achieved by those number of LEDs included in the products. assembly. DeepSea This ignores the same reflector and purchased some window considerations, plus factors of the leading unique to the performance of the competitive lights LED drivers, and overstates the and measured output of the light. their output SeaLite Sphere TRUE LUMENS Report Aurora

UT2 April 2011 72 73 UT2 April 2011 U n d e r w ate r Vehicles World’s Longest Multi-sensor AUV Pipeline Inspection Integration The Autosub Long Range AUV completes its first sea trials Kongsberg has completed the Kongsberg Maritime subsidiary Hosted by the research ship the RRS when it senses an interesting event. AUV flew straight and level, with world’s longest multi-sensor AUV Hydroid is integrating a high precision Discovery, the latest in the Autosub This opens up many interesting deviation in depth of only a few

Underwater Vehicles pipeline survey using its HUGIN 1000 acoustic positioning (HiPAP) system series of autonomous underwater science mission opportunities, from, centimetres, and heading and pitch autonomous underwater vehicle into its family of REMUS AUVs. This vehicles (AUVs), Autosub Long for example, long transects across controlled to within 0.5 deg. The (AUV). The pipeline inspection took technology will provide REMUS users Range, has successfully completed the ocean basins to very detailed and Autosub engineering team, lead place in the Hjelte fjord near Bergen, with a faster, more accurate way to its first set of sea trials in a location long-term monitoring of a small area. by Steve McPhail of the NOC, also Norway. The HUGIN 1000 was obtain an AUV’s exact position and in the deep Atlantic Ocean, 300 miles obtained very useful data on the operated from the Royal Norwegian to update the vehicle’s navigation south-west of the Canary Islands. The sea trials on Discovery in vehicles hydrodynamic drag and system. Navy vessel HNoMS Maloy. January were the first time that the control properties.

Autosub Long Range is a new type AUV has been operated The subject of the inspection was HiPAP is a family of high precision in water. The objectives of two subsea pipelines routed to the baseline acoustic positioning systems, of AUV developed at the National Mongstad oil refinery. The HUGIN which can provide precise range and Oceanography Centre (NOC) in the trials were to confirm 1000 AUV was equipped with an bearing to an acoustic transponder Southampton, UK. By travelling that the AUV could dive advanced suite of Kongberg imaging on the vehicle. When combined rather slowly (0.4m per sec), and from the surface, control equipment including the HISAS 1030 with heading, pitch, roll, yaw and keeping a tight rein on the power its heading and pitch synthetic aperture sonar, EM3002 ship position data, it can support the available to its sensors, it will be accurately, and surface multibeam echo sounder and an computation of the vehicle’s subsea capable of missions of up to six (giving good exposure to optical camera with LED lighting. The position in near real time. months duration and ranges of its radio antenna which are instruments were used to inspect 6000km. It can dive to a depth of used for communications around 30km of subsea pipeline in an The REMUS navigation system 6000m. with operators anywhere in 8hr, two-pass mission. currently provides an accurate real- the world through an Iridium time estimate of its position, velocity, The vehicle will also have the satellite modem). In the first pass, side-scan data from and heading. This allows the vehicle The first 8-hour mission (green line) capability of powering down and the HISAS 1030 sonar was used to to autonomously self-navigate as hibernating while anchored to the The trials were a success detect and track the pipelines in real In the second pass, the HUGIN well as to geographically reference seafloor, waking up periodically or in all of these respects: the time using PipeTracker software. followed the pipeline tracks identified and time stamp all data collected The Autosub LR being lowered into the water The software, which was developed in the first pass at low altitude and during a mission. If desired, the in a collaborative effort with the inspected the pipelines using the onboard navigation system may be Norwegian Defence Research EM 3002 multibeam and the optical assisted by acoustic transponders Establishment (FFI) in a project camera. After the mission, the located on the seafloor, or, in shallow funded by the Norwegian Research recorded HISAS 1030 data was post- waters, by surfacing and using global Council, runs as a plug-in module in processed into high-resolution positioning. the standard HUGIN payload system. (4x4cm) sonar images and bathymetry maps of the pipeline. HiPAP will provide an additional The HUGIN 1000 control system in verification by transmitting an turn uses the identified pipeline tracks Together with the optical images and independently established location, to position the vehicle at an optimal the multi-beam data recorded in the calculated by the HiPAP system range for HISAS imaging. The whole second pass, this gave a detailed on the surface and then sent to the process is fully automated inside view of the pipeline surroundings submerged REMUS vehicle over an the AUV and requires no operator and the pipeline itself. The complete acoustic communication link. intervention. procedure was repeated the next day over the second pipeline in a new 8hr, The HiPAP information can be used two-pass mission. either to track the vehicle or to update and bind the vehicle’s position if it Both pipelines were surveyed at a is accurately time stamped over the Demanding applications Versatile system solutions constant speed of 4kts and at 4–25m acoustic communication link. HiPAP’s altitude, depending on the sensor unique transducer technology and and reliable performance? with excellent control. in use. Water depth was 180-560m. advanced digital signal processing The greater speed of the HUGIN form an ideal solution for obtaining 1000 compared with that of a ROV an AUV’s exact position at any time From strength to strength meant that 60km of pipeline could when it’s in range of the ship. Hägglunds, part of Bosch Rexroth, has the experience of supplying drive systems to be inspected in a little over 16 hours meet tough requirements on productivity. Our solutions are uniquely designed during the two passes. Furthermore, The components of a HiPAP to provide robust performance, high flexibility and long term reliability in the most the HUGIN’s stability and the ability to positioning system required to support demanding environments. Bosch Rexroth. The Drive & Control Company. simultaneously operate both at high REMUS consist of the vessel- A single 3 Megapixel camera image. speed and at low altitude resulted in mounted spherical acoustic array, The altitude was 4.6m and the clear images from the onboard optical the HiPAP processor, and a vehicle- Hägglunds Drives Ltd. Foxbridge Way, Normanton. Wakefield, West resolution 2x2mm. camera. mounted subsea transducer. Yorkshire, WF6 1TN, United Kingdom Switchboard:+ 44 (0)1924 220100. E-mail: [email protected], www.boschrexroth.com/hagglunds

UT2 April 2011 74 75 UT2 April 2011 U n d e r w ate r Vehicles

Marport Ocean Server Underwater Vehicles Marport Deep Sea Technologies, OceanServer has been awarded The Centre will also take advantage very strong position in the research developer and manufacturer of a contract from CIDCO (Centre of the Iver vehicle’s unique open space for Autonomous Underwater sonar products for the defense and interdisciplinaire de développement system platform as a test bench Vehicles, sensors and behavioral commercial fisheries markets, is en cartographie des océans to develop new applications and studies. to spin off its underwater robotics /Interdisciplinary Centre for the technologies. The multi-purposed division. The division will be Development of Ocean Mapping) vehicle will help CIDCO explore The VectorMap program can transferred to a new wholly-owned for an Iver2 Autonomous these new methods and tools input NOAA ENCs or any geo- subsidiary company called Marine Underwater Vehicle (AUV). to facilitate the logistics of data referenced charts, maps or photo Robotics Inc. acquisition in shallow water. images, allowing the operator to CIDCO has a long history intuitively develop AUV missions By creating Marine Robotics, of facilitating new mapping The Iver Platform using simple point-and-click Marport is taking steps to separate technologies to further develop All Iver2 AUV models come standard navigation. its sonar and underwater robotics the maritime industry in Quebec, with OceanServer’s VectorMap businesses into two distinct private Canada. Mission Planning and Data The base vehicle, with a starting companies. Both companies have Presentation tool, which provides price at just over $50,000 USD, unique market opportunities that The new autonomous vehicle, geo-registered data files that can gives university, government and require a different focus. Marine equipped with Marine Sonic’s HDS be easily exported to other software commercial users an affordable Robotics, as a separate company, Sonar, will be used in near coastal analysis tools. base-platform for sensor will have greater flexibility and waters including ports, harbours, development or survey applications latitude to pursue growth strategies lakes, and rivers for bathymetric This unique AUV design has in water quality, sub-surface than if it remained as an operating surveys and modelling. enabled OceanServer to carve out a security and general research. division of Marport.

Over the past several years, Marport has built a significant industrial capability in Newfoundland in the design and manufacture of unmanned maritime vehicles.

The company has collaborated with Canada’s National Research Council, Institute for Ocean Technology and worked with the Autonomous Ocean Systems Considerable investments by The demand for Unmanned Laboratory at Memorial University manufacturers, research institutes Maritime Vehicles and Systems is to accomplish this. St. John’s is and the military – followed by high and will continue to increase emerging as a centre of expertise a number of early commercial as military and commercial services in this field and Marine Robotics deployments – has meant that augment their fleets of autonomous Inc. will continue to build upon AUVs are starting to replace and platforms. Marport’s past contributions to this outperform traditional underwater rapidly emerging industry. technologies. The World AUV Market Report 2010 -2019, from business analysts Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Underwater robotics will be an Douglas-Westwood, considers (AUVs) and Unmanned Surface essential technology of the future the prospects for this truly market- Vehicles (USVs) make up the as human dependence on ocean changing technology and values Unmanned Maritime Vehicles resources increases. AUVs are the future markets for AUVs to and Systems market segment. already being used for activities 2019. In the most likely scenario, Although over 600 AUVs have such as pipeline inspection, location the report forecasts 1,144 AUVs will been produced to date, they are of objects, seabed surveys and be required over the next decade still regarded as a relatively new military intelligence, surveillance and – resulting in a total market value of technology. reconnaissance applications. $2.3 billion over the forecast period.

UT2 April 2011 76 77 UT2 April 2011 U n d e r w ate r Vehicles

by Tom Parisi, Northern Illinois University Bluefin Contract Underwater Vehicles Sub Arctic ROV Northern Illinois University (NIU) beneath the Ross Ice Shelf adjacent “This is absolutely the first project into open water the submarine goes hidden beneath a thick layer of Autonomous underwater vehicle and DOER Marine has unveiled a to the WAIS. About two miles of of its kind,” Scherer added. “Ross through an elegant exercise to relatively fast-moving, grounded (AUV) manufacturer Bluefin new 28ft long, cigar-shaped robotic cable will tether the submarine to Powell came up with the idea of transform itself into ‘flight mode.’ This WAIS ice and might host a Robotics, has been awarded a submarine to be used in exploration a control centre on the ice, where using a robotic submarine, and we is really a unique feature. complex community of microbial contract to develop a robotic ship beneath the Ross ice shelf in images and data will be collected. first proposed a project like this life. hull mine and Improvised Explosive Antarctica. 10 years ago. It has tremendous “We wanted to pack as much into Device (IED) identification and The robotic submarine will allow potential. Up to now, all we know the submarine as we could, so we In addition to NSF, Powell and neutralisation capability for use in “This one-of-a kind remotely scientists for the first time ever to about conditions at the base of the can retrieve as much data per hour NIU colleagues previously joint service explosive ordnance operated vehicle (ROV), built by observe melting and other conditions ice shelf is from theory and remote of operational time as possible,” she received funding from disposal. DOER Marine especially for NIU, is at the interface between seawater data from surface instruments. The added. “If you’re going through all the National Oceanic and truly a feat of ingenuity, engineering and the base of the glacial ice. submarine will provide scientists that time and trouble, you want to Atmospheric Administration for A manipulator arm will be integrated and technology,” said Ross Powell, with images of the environment and make sure whatever you’re putting design and construction of the onto the HAUV, a hovering AUV an NIU Board of Trustees professor Scientists also will use the physical, chemical and biological down there is a data pig.” robotic submarine. designed specifically for ship hull of geology. submarine to investigate the measurements of the ice, water and inspection. HAUN-N is the name of sea floor and layers of sediment sediment conditions.” The information that will be gathered Gordon and Betty Moore the new variant of the HAUV. “The entire project will be beneath. The project is scheduled is critical to glacial and climate Foundation, based in San groundbreaking in several ways,” for late 2013, but the submarine will DOER Marine, a robotics modelers trying to project potential Francisco, contributed $1.3 “We are looking forward to the Powell said. be tested this coming March at Lake engineering firm located in the San future rises in global sea levels million in funding for the robotic opportunity to leverage the work Tahoe and at the end of 2011 near Francisco Bay area, spent nearly due to global warming. Substantial submarine’s instrumentation done on the HAUV and under “We have developed new McMurdo Station, the United States’ three years building the submarine. melting at the base of the ice shelf, and testing. our other underwater systems technology and new instrumentation main base in Antarctica. which floats atop seawater, and the programs for this important US to explore parts of our planet that “We’ve built some wild things before, ice sheet, which is grounded on land, Stefan Vogel, a former Navy requirement,” said David. P. have never been seen before and to “The submarine has an array of but to pull all these things together would lead to a more rapid sea-level researcher at NIU, significantly Kelly, President and CEO of Bluefin collect unique scientific data that are high-definition and still cameras, and into this one big vehicle is pretty rise. contributed to technical Robotics. aimed at helping plan for humanity’s has the ability to retrieve geologic fantastic,” DOER President Liz development of instrumentation future as the earth’s climate cores,” Scherer said. Taylor said. “The vehicle must fold The National Science for sub-ice exploration. NIU The current practice for hull mine/ changes.” up compactly to get down through Foundation has already undergraduates and graduate IED identification and neutralization “But what makes the submarine the borehole, yet when it is released awarded $10 million in students are expected to involves sending divers to scan the The 2200lb vehicle is equipped with really special—and the reason support of scientists at nine participate in the Lake Tahoe hull for targets and, when found, five cameras, a water sampler, a it’s so large—is the incorporation U.S. institutions involved in test dives, as well as in each of to mark them and neutralise them sediment corer, a Doppler current of equipment that will provide the Antarctic project. That three research field seasons in manually. meter, more than two dozen geophysical images of the structure figure includes $2.5 million the Antarctic. sensors, a laser-beam for measuring of sediments beneath the seabed. awarded to Powell for his The Bluefin Team—consisting of objects, a robotic arm with “fingers” It’s analogous to taking an X-ray to lead role in the project. The dive at Lake Tahoe, one of Bluefin Robotics, Oak Ridge National for gathering samples, a device for find out what’s beneath the sediment The funds were generated the world’s deepest freshwater Laboratory of Oak Ridge, Tennessee imaging and mapping the seafloor surface. through the American lakes, is designed to test the and Orca Maritime of San Diego, surface, an acoustic sounder for Recovery and Reinvestment extensive instrumentation on California—proposes to accomplish profiling sub-seafloor sediment and Act, or federal economic the submarine and gather the task with an HAUV-N equipped numerous other instruments. stimulus. information on fault lines with a high-precision manipulator beneath the lake. arm and a video camera. Powell, Scherer and scientists The University of California at Santa from other institutions will use the Cruz and Montana State University The Alfred E. Alquist Seismic The AUV will be capable of remotely operated submarine to are also lead institutions in the 5- Safety Commission is maintaining station at the target investigate melting near the base of year Antarctic program, known as providing $50,000 in funding while a remote operator neutralises the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). WISSARD, for Whillans Ice Stream to retrieve fault-line images the device, thereby keeping divers Subglacial Access Research Drilling. and data, Powell said. Small out of harm’s way and completing The researchers intend to drill to moderate earthquakes are the task more expeditiously. through more than a half mile of ice The project will include a drilling common in the Lake Tahoe and lower the submarine—which investigation of Subglacial Lake region, and geologists have Development of HAUV began in can collapse to a width of just 22in Whillans—although the submarine found evidence that a powerful 2002 as an Office of Naval Research in diameter—through a 30in wide is not involved in that aspect of quake thousands of years ago (ONR) program to automate hull ice borehole into the ocean water The robotic submarine in flight mode. Graphic credit: DOER Marine the research. The interior lake is triggered a tsunami in the lake. searches.

UT2 April 2011 78 79 UT2 April 2011 U n d e r w ate r Vehicles CDS If a problem occurs unexpectedly This challenge prompted SeaBotix infrastructure, including the control underwater, it is often desirable to develop the containerised delivery room, winch, LARS, tether management to examine the relevant area for system (CDS). It is designed to system, workbench and spares, can fit damage and assess any action be deployed in less than 24hrs into a single 20ft container. This can be that may be required. Typically, the compared with 72hrs for a more lifted onto a ship of convenience, ideally sooner this is carried out, the better. conventional work-class ROV. a smaller vessel to minimise costs.

For shallow-water applications, this “Deepwater ROV systems invariably A small plinth with walkway and base can be often executed by employing require a launch and recovery system is pre-set onto the deck and welded in the latest generation of small ROVs, (LARS),” said Vice President of place for stability. When installed on many of which feature control Marketing, Jesse Rodocker. this plinth, the base of the container is at equipment that can be contained in a “In general, the larger the ROV, an elevation above the side of the deck small number of crates. the larger this spread has to be. wall. The container is then linked to Conversely, the smaller the ROV, the ship’s power and communications In water depths measuring smaller the support systems need system. After pre-testing, the ship can thousands of metres, however, there be and the greater the underwater then get underway. is little alternative than contracting a vehicle’s ability to fit into tight spaces dedicated support/diving vessel with for observation. Upon reaching the desired location, the a ROV spread. This is not only very ROV is deployed. The container doors expensive, but also, such facilities In the CDS arrangement that open and a boom is extended out over are often unavailable. SeaBotix proposes, the entire support the side of the vessel. This locks in

place, with a safety net installed in shut down during the hurricane. Prior in lost production. an open doorway to prevent anything to coming back online the subsea falling over board. The ROV/garage structure has to be checked for “Another use could be for black box TMS is then lowered down to the damage. recovery such as the Air France target, up to 4000m below the sea Flight 477 disaster in 2010. It could surface. “The CDS can be onsite for be used to inspect deep water The ROV can then fly out of the inspection much quicker than a wrecks like the Titanic or even to garage, to reach distances up to WROV system. Saving days in conduct scientific research in deep 150m away. The ROV has dual mobilisation potentially save millions water.” vertical and four vectored horizontal thrusters to provide motion similar to a work class ROV (WROV).

It also contains a range of equipment such as multiple forward, reverse, side-pointing cameras, scanning sonar, multibeam sonar and tracking system.

Once the investigation is complete, the tether management system is engaged, withdrawing the ROV and umbilical into the garage. The ROV is then retrieved to the surface.

“The CDS can be used for any deep water inspection such as oil and gas, scientific research, archaeology, military or crash site investigation,” said Rodocker.

“ A typical scenario might be in response to hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico. The platforms are Inside the CDS. Image developed by see3d The ROV garage lowered down up to 4000m from an arm Image developed by see3d

UT2 April 2011 80 81 UT2 April 2011 U n d e r w ate r Vehicles Cougar Rockdump ROV The Spanish-based subsea is possible to adapt a wide variety dual five-function heavy duty Seatools of Numansdorp has An additional wish was that both assembly didn’t grow to three

Underwater Vehicles services company, ACSM, has of sensors and ancillary equipment manipulator, HD grabber jaw kit, a landed its largest order. Royal ROVs preferably would be easily times its size. All the while, the boosted the top end of its ROV and tooling. It is not too big and it cleaning brush assembly and tooling Boskalis Westminster has operated. This meant that current configuration needed to be kept fleet with a Saab Seaeye Cougar. has a smaller footprint on deck, so skid. Its cameras include a 2000m commissioned the specialist operators working the fallpipe simple in order to make it easy to This comes as ACSM builds we save cost, but more importantly rated low light colour camera and submersible company to build a ROV – which is also known as the operate. an ROV fleet that can offer a we save on weight and bulk when low light mono camera, along with a unique underwater robot that will rock-dump ROV – had to be able to full range of ROV services to mobilising the equipment.” colour zoom camera with a pan and combine the functions of a survey operate the survey ROV. “In the design, a single failure in the subsea market, alongside tilt unit. ROV (remotely operated vehicle) a working component of the total its core business of providing “We can remove the manipulator with those of a rock-dump ROV. “We therefore had to come up with a system must never result in an ROV personnel and services to skid to have a very light A 2000m rated mini bland and concept in which the rock-dump ROV uncontrolled termination of a rock- customers with their own ROV configuration for inspection in high white camera is fitted to the Tether The ROV will be stationed on board operated as a tether management dumping job.” resources. currents.” Management System, also from a new, 159m long fallpipe vessel system. “We have several options for jobs Saab Seaeye. The sonar installation currently being built at the Keppel Both ROV’s are based on robust David Cedron, ACSM’s ROV in the upcoming year,” said Cedron, is a Tritech Super SeaKing with dual Singmarine shipyard in Singapore. The solution proposed by Seatools mechanical designs of the supervisor, said, “We already own “but the most requested is oil rig frequency sonar head. comprised a main ROV fitted with components (differently than a Perry TXL simulator that we use inspection and non-destructive Seatools will handle the two lateral thrusters, with a stainless at standard ROV concepts) to for training purposes, and a sub- testing NDTs, and also we are also The Cougar has 6 thrusters – construction and the entire steel frame housing the survey ROV. minimise repairs and maintenance. Atlantic inspection ROV. When we being offered seafloor survey and 4 vectored horizontal thrusters and engineering of this spectacular new Once at its operating depth, the This is why redundant design decided to go for a heavier and other research options. We are two vertical thrusters, each having project, and develop the advanced survey ROV would fly away from the has been used for all the main more capable vehicle our choice confident that the vehicle is capable velocity feedback for precise control software that will enable the ROV to rock-dump ROV to perform its own components in the integrated ROV, was the Cougar.” of all these and some light work- in all directions. Each thruster is be easily controlled from on board task semi-autonomously. including the power packs. class operations.’ interfaced to a fast-acting control the mother vessel. “It can carry out light work-class system and gyro for azimuth The link between the two ROVs All the software required to control jobs but also survey tasks and it ACSM’s Cougar comes with a stability. A standard rockdump procedure is comprises a pair of tethers, which the two ROVs was developed in- to use a single fallpipe. At the end are always under tension. This house by Seatools. A mathematical of this pipe is an ROV with sonar allows the survey ROV in fact only model was first made of the equipment to position the base two instead of four freedoms of complete ROV as well as of the above the correct dumping location. movement, which simplifies the fallpipe vessel and the umbilicals. operator’s job. This model is now being used The silt thrown up by the process to test the design of the control as well as air bubbles, however, Jan Frumau said “All in all, we’re system. In other words, before the make it impossible to use multi- dealing with a rather complex and assembly of the integrated fallpipe beam sonar to survey the end result fairly large structure. The fallpipe ROV commences in early 2011, the in the same pass. Therefore, a ROV can develop a lot of power entire design will have been tested separate survey run is traditionally and carries a substantial amount in a virtual environment at the made, or a separate free-flying of survey equipment, but now the survey ROV is carried to perform a survey ROV has to be added to survey at a suitable distance behind that. It had to remain manageable the rock-dump ROV. and compact enough to be lowered through the moon pool, so it certainly Although these are perfectly posed a double challenge to our workable solutions, the extra time engineers. Components had to and equipment involved make it an be carefully shoehorned into the expensive practice. available space to make sure the

Jan Frumau, managing director of Seatools, said “We were asked if we could find out whether a survey ROV could be integrated into a fallpipe ROV in order to enable the rock-dumping and survey procedures to be combined in a single pass.

UT2 April 2011 82 83 UT2 April 2011 AC-ROV

AC-ROV distributor ITER has also purchased a 100m tethered The craft is deployed in a rapid delivered a block order of three AC-ROV with three-jaw, two-function response security intervention micro ROV systems to the Ocean manipulator, rear view camera role as well as carrying out hull Sensing and Mapping Laboratory system and extensive spares and suspect target inspection. (OSM) of the research institute package. Escort has also delivered an ENSTA-Bretagne in Brest, France. 80m tethered system to the West The system will be used for Pomeranien State Fire Brigade. OSM focuses on extracting educational purposes. and using data in uncertain The AC-ROV fulfills the environments through the operation AC-CESS’s new Polish distributor Brigades underwater technical of smart self-controlled systems. Escort has got of to flying start requirement for special and Deployed in a research and training with the AC-ROV, delivering three emergency operations. The role, the AC-ROVs have been systems in quick succession. State Meteorology and Water modified to enable target inspection Management Institute (Poznan, as a PC-controlled coordinated The Polish Naval Academy (Gdynia, Poland) have also bought an 80 group, rather than separate pilot- Poland) has utilised the compact metered system. The system controlled individuals. nature of the AC-ROV system is deployed in inland waters to integrating it to an unmanned inspect and monitor flora, river The systems employ optical remotely operated high speed bed ecosystems and the effect of character recognition (OCR) to surface craft. sediment build up. enable auto depth, reflected light activated object avoidance and other vehicle and tether recognition. Ageotec The project has so far achieved Ageotec delivered the first 900t autonomous behavior for a customised version of its Perseo single AC-ROV. The vehicle has GT model remotely operated successfully inspected the inside vehicle to Cabaco Marine of of a 2m long, 300 mm diameter Singapore. pipe. The use of ‘smart vehicle swarms’ has potential applications The ROV is outfitted with a Tritech in various industries including Super SeaKing DST Chirp Sonar, subsea inspection, environmental 5-function Hydrolek manipulator, monitoring and military and security wire cleaning brush, multi- operations. parametric probe, pipe tracker, thickness and CP probe. AC-CESS has also sold its first AC-ROVs to China via LinkOcean. The ROV is designed for fast The North China Sea Monitoring deployment for many applications Center (Qingdao, China) has including the offshore market, tunnel purchased a 100m tethered AC- inspections and scientific work. Ageotec ROV ROV with rear view camera system and extensive spares package. Ageotec modified the very initial The vehicle itself has numerous 600Mt version design in a matter spare bulk head penetrators, The system will be deployed in of days to satisfy customer’s surplus fibre bandwith for video a rapid underwater inspection request. The Perseo GT comes fully and data channels which allow capacity. The Hangzhou Dianzi equipped with a LARS winch fitted immediate integration of a large University (Hangzhou, China) have with fibre optics and slip rings. array of equipment. AC-ROVs in the test pool

UT2 April 2011 84 85 UT2 April 2011 U n d e r w ate r Vehicles Mojave in China First Marine Recovers Survey Equipment First Marine Recovers Survey Aberdeen-based remotely operated Sub-Atlantic sales and marketing Moray First Marine, based in ‘lost’ data, and proved itself for further Phoenix International Holdings by the investigation team. xBot’s Underwater Vehicles vehicle (ROV) manufacturer Sub- manager, Alasdair Murrie said: Lossiemouth on the Moray Firth in recovery operations. successfully performed a detailed unique design features allowed Atlantic, part of the Forum Energy “We are all extremely proud of Scotland, was recently successful video inspection of the Deepwater the collection of information within Technology group of companies, the Mojave system which has in locating and recovering lost It is now planned for further use where Horizon control room lying in 5000ft the jumbled wreckage otherwise has delivered two Mojave inspection proved to be extremely popular recording equipment, including a Acoustic Releases are not available or of water in the Gulf of Mexico using unobtainable if more traditional class vehicles to a major client in the – being low cost and offering high 170kg (375lb) ground weight, in for when they fail. its xBot III ROV. The inspection was underwater systems had been Peoples Republic of China. technical specification including the 54m (177ft) of sea water from the part of an investigation led by the used. Multiple excursions were advanced subCAN control system expeditiously conducted, with all The vehicles are fitted with a number Moray Firth, a triangular inlet of Moray’s VideoRay Pro 3 GTO with grabber U.S. Coast Guard and conducted by combined with excellent thrust and arm, scanning sonar, and protective cage with of sensors including state of the art the North Sea, north and the Navy’s Office of the Supervisor project goals met ahead of schedule. manoeuvrability. the recovered data recorders. Tritech Gemini 720 multibeam sonar east of Inverness. of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV). Photo: Moray First Marine Upon completely satisfying the system for operations in fast moving “Given that we launched the system turbid waters. in April 2010 and that we had Phoenix is SUPSALV’s prime investigators’ video requirements, reached unit sales in double figures This was achieved using contractor for underwater search xBot returned to its cage onboard The vehicles are to be used for a before Christmas, is testament to a Videoray Pro 3 GTO and recovery and, for this effort, Deep Drone where its umbilical variety of tasks including survey, the appetite for such a vehicle in ROV fitted with a three mobilised and operated one of the was cut free using Deep Drone’s specialist underwater construction the marketplace.” jaw grabber and a Tritech Navy’s deep water ROVs, Deep manipulators. monitoring, emergency rescue Micron Sonar. Drone. The Navy also contracted standby and a variety of high profile The sale was brokered through for use of xBot for commercial Deep Drone then returned to the security tasks. Forum Energy Technology offices The recording equipment operations. xBot and its cage were surface and a new fibre optic in Singapore via Sub-Atlantic’s was lifted onto Moray integrated onto Deep Drone prior to umbilical spool was quickly installed Sub-Atlantic was awarded the exclusive agent in China – CHORE, First’s survey/ workboat mobilisation to the job site. on xBot in preparation for its next contract following trials with several located in Qingdao. MV Solstice. The ROV excursion. xBot’s performance small to medium sized ROVs from a Operation saved £1000s Deep Drone collected extensive throughout the project attests to its variety of suppliers. The Mojave was Originally established as a for their client, pleasing external video documentation on the reliability, operability, and suitability chosen for its advanced technology subsidiary of the Institute of them that a more present condition of the sunken rig, for such challenging tasks, and and superior capabilities, its size Oceanology, China academy of expensive dive team was while xBot was used to penetrate its modular design permitted very and power to weight ratio and its science; CHORE specialises in confined spaces and conduct short turn-around times between excellent performance in extremely consultancy, technical sales and not necessary, gained the missions. low visibility and strong current training support for offshore oil internal inspections as directed conditions. and gas, underwater engineering, hydrographic survey, oceanography and environmental sectors. Mojave Underwater Training The Ocean Modules V8 Sii ROV has successful placement is achieved with been used recently as the remotely- the ROV hovering upside-down! operated vehicle component of the two-year training course at Färjenäs Finally, a diver is rescued from the Diving School in Gothenburg. bottom, pulled over rubble near the surface and had his weight belt The control system keeps the removed. vehicle entirely stable while allowing movement in any direction and around All these exercises were performed any axis, even with a lead weight by students during the first day of the clamped in the manipulator jaws. course, without any prior experience or instruction. Just imagine what would be The precise movement is used to pick possible with a little practice! up golf balls and place them in an egg cup. The balls are easily disturbed by l V8 Sii ROV has been independently the slightest thruster wash, so utmost clocked at just below three knots fully precision is required. loaded with cameras, sonars, lights, a manipulator and a positioning system as The most difficult part of the mission part of the evaluation for a government is due to the lack of depth perception contract, and the V4 exceeded 3kts by a through the camera. Note that the wide margin

UT2 April 2011 86 87 UT2 April 2011 Sonar Sonar DEFENDER III Sonar Processing

Kongsberg has launched its DEFENDER III, a complete wide- band sonar signal processing, detection, tracking and classification, fusion and display unit developed and manufactured by Kongsberg Defence Systems for use with Kongsberg Mesotech diver detection sonars, DDS 9000/1.

Kongsberg’s multi-sensor Integration (MSI) software for autonomous detection tracking and classification (ADTC) has DEFENDER III Tactical Display provides visual and audible display of threats, track been developed over the past 30 management, and system status. years, in collaboration with NATO acoustic experts. The MSI software move from Windows based PCs to divers and marine life such as often- applies data fusion capabilities to LINUX based open architecture using present seals or dolphins, which are diver detection. The capability to servers. The advantages to military of similar size and speed to human combine data from different sensor clients are a solid development divers. types as well as data from multiple history or and proven hardware sensors exceeds basic multistatic effectiveness and reliability. LINUX The target icons and tracks are capability provided by earlier provides a secure, low-maintenance, displayed on operator’s screens with generation systems. reliable, predictable and reproducible NATO STANAG icons as a standard. environment. Navies will be able Divers are classified as threats within The current Kongsberg DDS 9000 to maintain programs more easily operator specified alert zones and sonar, based on the proven SM over operational lifetimes with the announced with audio and visual 2000 sonar design, has evolved architecture of DEFENDER III. alarms. Target data can be exported into a MOTS or Militarised Off to other equipment for confirmation or The Shelf version based on the On the computer hardware side, interdiction. requirements of military customers. the use of blade server processing hardware improves reliability and DEFENDER III also provides a far This development also signals a serviceability, reducing downtime and higher level of operator support and simplifying upgrades. A ruggedised analysis capability than seen on earlier laptop serves as the operator generation systems. Support systems console, providing a simple, reliable include sonar performance analysis, human machine interface (HMI). system status, and sonar performance Ruggedised approved laptops can analysis. serve as MOTS replacements. This combined development has Individual track data can be examined truly taken underwater surveillance in greater detail to aid in confirmation to higher levels of capability and or elimination of targets as potential reliability. threats. The System Status window reports overall conditions and text descriptions for different parts of the DDS system. Different access levels are The system detects targets, divers provided for the control of system and swimmers, in designated areas parameters. Sonar Performance within a port environment using high Analysis enables operators to frequency sonar. Once identified maximize sonar detection capability by and tracked, targets are classified modelling performance under current and direction of travel predicted. The environmental conditions. The effect of autonomous detection tracking and altering settings to cope with changing The DDS 9000 on classification software developed by environmental conditions can be adjustable tripod Kongsberg distinguishes between evaluated and then implemented.

UT2 April 2011 88 89 UT2 April 2011 Sonar

Sonar Gemini 720i For ultimate visibility underwater...... choose the award winning technology

Depth rating 4000m Imaging Sonar Now available in 300m and 4000m versions Following the success of the shallow- sonar vision. As the next water real-time imaging sonar, generation in real-time Navigation Gemini 720i, Tritech has launched multibeam imaging Ultra wide 120° field of view a deep-rated version of the popular sonars, Gemini has sonar, Gemini 720id. quickly captured the Obstacle Avoidance Real time sonar imagery up to 30Hz refresh rate global subsea market, most Available now in 300m and 4000m recently achieving a nomination versions, Gemini is a forward-looking for the Subsea UK Innovation and an inaugural Target Recognition sonar which utilises an array of Technology Award. deal to present 8mm range resolution provides superb image clarity transducers to provide a 120º field of to the rental market, Subsea Inspection view, for a real-time sonar image of Gemini’s rapid and dynamic the latest generation of 2D Integrated velocimeter for accurate ranging & measurements the underwater scene ahead. visualisation of the underwater multibeam sonar technology in the scene makes it perfect for deep- Americas region. With its high-resolution specification water applications where successful Search & Salvage Gemini has near-field focus capability navigation and obstacle avoidance Chris Echols, VP of North America, Wide area coverage, user selectable 0.2m - 120m range ideal for very short-range manipulator is required. Gemini provides instant Ashtead Technology Offshore work as well as very long range target feedback on changes happening in (US), said, “We believe this will Suitable for a host of underwater vehicles detection. Gemini sonars can be the underwater scene, which reduces revolutionise the way ROV service and platforms. easily integrated with a variety of ROV overall operation time and increases contractors navigate in low visibility and AUV platforms. ROV effectiveness. situations because of the Gemini’s wide field-of-view and real time Gemini is the technology for subsea Ashtead Technology (US) has signed imaging capabilities.”

SALT Sonar 294 A passive positioning device has been Anti-fouling measures can ensure the Units of 50–200mm diameter are GeoAcoustics has launched the designed by Subsea Asset Location surface is not obscured, and it is available. Sonar 2094 Digital, the successor Technologies (SALT) to provide a ‘beacon’ easily deployed and recovered. of its dual frequency side-scan that can recognised on sonar systmes. “Most asset marking is currently sonar, which was first launched Called SonarBell, it works by focusing and “While the SonarBell can be individually carried out by battery-based in 1996 and developed into an reflecting sound energy, much as a lens or callibrated, SALT has developed a transponders,” said Tulloch. industry standard. Over 1000 units mirror can focus light. number of models based on response “SonarBell allows for long term were sold world wide. frequency power and size,” said Andy asset marking without the large By re-radiating the sound energy, a 200mm Tulloch, chief executive officer of SALT. associated overheads, thereby Sonar 2094 Digital combines SonarBell can deliver the same sonar target rendering economically the system’s ease of operation strength as a 2m diameter metal sphere viable, assets that would and reliability with latest digital whilst being relatively light weight and easy otherwise not have been technology, which allows to handle. marked.” simultaneous acquisition of the 114 kHz and 410 kHz SALT was spun off the UK Ministry of They can be used by the data channels with pioneering Defence’s, Defence fishing for equipment, 24 bit resolution. It was also Science and Technology Laboratory recovery and the oil and demonstrated that the sonar (Dstl), with the aim of making this military- gas industry for marking has a 30% wider range than derived technology available to a wider wellheads, pipes, cables its predecessor, up to 150m for market. Having spent many years reducing and flexible rises. They 410kHz per side. This is achieved underwater sonar signatures, the scientists are also suitable for using digital oversampling at Dstl turned their knowledge on its head to ROV/AUV marking and techniques. develop a passive device that was ‘as loud navigation, oceanographic as possible’ when exposed to an incoming surveys, marking mine A 2000m rated system was signal. locations and purchased by the Spanish Riser and pipeline path Ministry for Environment, Rural The SonarBell is an inert, stable and marking. They can alert and Marine Affairs and is due completely passive device. It is omni- telecoms and oshore to be commissioned on R/V directional, visible at up to 2km and does power generation Vizconde de Eza for carrying out not require maintenance. providers of cable environmental mapping for fishery Anatomy of a SonarBell exposure. Marking using the passive system research

UT2 April 2011 90 91 UT2 April 2011 Sonar Sonar

P Series Order

BlueView Technologies has received an order for one hundred high-resolution P TWIPS Series Imaging Sonar systems. BlueView will deliver the compact, low- power 900 kHz imaging sonar systems to VideoRay for integration onto their world- class microROV systems providing their Scientists at the University of Water, which handles seven “Key ingredients of a TWIPS customers with real-time underwater Southampton have developed per cent of the UK’s entire system appear in separate search and navigation capabilities. a new kind of underwater sonar seaborne trade. The seabed species but they have never device that can detect objects in this area varies in depth been found all together in a BlueView’s P Series Imaging Sonar are through bubble clouds that would between 10 and 20 metres. single species,” said Leighton. effectively blind standard sonar. available with 3 field-of-view options – 45deg, 90deg, and 130deg “TWIPS outperformed standard “There is currently no evidence (the widest available), and operate in low Just as ultrasound is used in sonar in the wake of large that dolphins use TWIPS or zero visibility conditions minimizing medical imaging, conventional vessels such as passenger processing, although no-one downtime due to water clarity conditions. sonar ‘sees’ with sound. It uses ferries,” said co-author Dr has yet taken recordings of the differences between emitted sound Justin Dix of the University signals from animals hunting Engineered to operate while in motion pulses and their echoes to detect of Southampton’s School of with bubble nets in the wild. and identify targets. These include Ocean and Earth Science or from a stationary position, BlueView 2D Imaging Sonar enhance detection, submerged structures such as (SOES) based at the National “How they successfully detect tracking, monitoring, and inspection reefs and wrecks, and objects, Oceanography Centre, prey in bubbly water remains operations for a wide variety of including submarines and fish Southampton. a mystery that we are working underwater applications, including: shoals. to solve. Possible future marine search and rescue; offshore oil and gas; structure and hull inspections; dive However, standard sonar does Prof Timothy Leighton with a dolphine applications for TWIPS include I have to pay credit to the team operations and equipment and material not cope well with bubble clouds harbour protection and the – students Daniel Finfer and placement. resulting from breaking waves or “To catch prey, some dolphins be able to enhance scatter from detection of bubbles in marine Gim-Hwa Chua of ISVR, and other causes, which scatter sound make bubble nets in which the best the target while simultaneously sediments and manufacturing. Paul White (ISVR) and Justin and clutter the sonar image. man-made sonar would not work. It suppressing clutter from bubbles. In Technologies based on the Dix of SOES. Our applications occurred to me that either dolphins principle, it could therefore be used same basic principles could for funding this work were Professor Timothy Leighton of were blinding their sonar when to distinguish echoes from bubble be used in medical ultrasound repeatedly turned down, and it the University of Southampton’s making such nets, or else they have clouds and objects that would imaging, which was already took real grit and determination Institute of Soundand Vibration a better sonar system. otherwise remain hidden. using pairs of inverted pulses to keep going for the five years Swathe Sale Research (ISVR), who led the to enhance (rather than it took us to get this far.” research, explained: “There were no recordings of the In their latest study, the researchers suppress) contrast agents Swathe Services sales division has type of sonar that dolphins use in set out to see whether TWIPS injected into the body. The paper describing study is sold its first SONIC2024 wideband “Cold War sonar was developed bubble nets, so instead of producing would work in practice. Using a based on the RWB Stephens high resolution shallow water mainly for use in deep water where a bio-inspired sonar by copying large testing tank, they showed The TWIPS principle would Medal address that Leighton multibeam echosounder. bubbles are not much of a problem, dolphin signals, I sat down and experimentally that TWIPS work with other sensors such gave last year, when he was but many of today’s applications worked out what pulse I would use if outperformed standard sonar at as in Magnetic resonance awarded the 2009 RWB Having proved the capabilities of involve shallow waters. Better I were a dolphin,” said Leighton. detecting a small steel disc under imaging(MRI), and Leighton Stephens Medal of the Institute the SONIC2024 , it received an detection and classification of bubbly conditions resembling those has proposed TWIPR (Twin of Acoustics. order to supply the complete SONIC targets in bubbly waters are key As its name suggests, TWIPS uses found under oceanic breaking Inverted Pulse Radar) for 2024 system including the Valeport goals of shallow-water sonar.” trains of twinned pairs of sound waves. the detection of improvised Publication: MiniSVS. pulses. The first pulse of each pair explosive devices or covert Leighton, T. G., Finfer, D. C., Leighton and his colleagues has a waveform that is an inverted Encouraged by their findings, they circuitry. White, P. R., Chua, G.-H. & The flexibility, frequency and swath have developed a new sonar replica of that of its twin. The first next conducted trials at sea aboard Dix J. K. Clutter suppression agility of the SONIC2024, along with concept called twin inverted pulse pulse is emitted a fraction of a the University of Southampton’s But what about the original and classification using twin its simplicity of operation, reliability sonar (TWIPS). TWIPS exploits second before its inverted twin. coastal research vessel the RV Bill inspiration for the research inverted pulse sonar (TWIPS). and high quality data output has the way that bubbles pulsate in Conway. They compared the ability – do dolphins and other Proc. R. Soc. A466,3453–3478 proved a winning combination for sound fields, which affects the Leighton’s team first showed of TWIPS and standard sonar to echolocating animals use (2010). our clients and further orders are characteristics of sonar echoes. theoretically that TWIPS might discern the seabed in Southampton TWIPS? imminent.

UT2 April 2011 92 93 UT2 April 2011 Sonar Diving

Mighty Clear Sat Diving Diving Training Diving equipment technology Phoenix International Holdings, has tractor trailers, and can be installed culminate with a 1000 foot deep ocean A leading commercial diver training centre is to embark on a £5 million company Divex, has provided designed, developed and delivered on any suitable commercial vessel of saturation dive in 2011. improvement and expansion programme to cement its position as a world- assistance to the Discovery a portable, 6-man, 1000ft depth opportunity. leading subsea training facility. The Underwater Centre in Fort William has Channel for a Mighty Ships capable, saturation diving system to Phoenix was the prime contractor been awarded £1.5 million by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). episode. This involved using its the U.S. Navy. SAT FADS will support 6 divers to responsible for the design, fabrication, HeliCom Helium Unscrambler depths of 1000 fsw for 30 days. integration, and unmanned testing of The project will create 20 new jobs and safeguard the 53 already at the technology to unscramble raw Called the Saturation Fly-Away the system. Centre, as well as increasing diver training capacity by around 100 per helium audio for an episode. Diving System (SAT FADS), it was The entire system requires 40ft by 70ft year. procured by the Naval Sea System of deck space and consists of five major The system has been designed and The Mighty Ships series follows Command’s Office of the Supervisor components: fabricated to Det Norske Veritas and various types of vessels on a of salvage and diving (SUPSALV) l main deck decompression chamber NAVSEA manned diving system journey, depicting how the ship and and delivered to the naval l 3-man diving bell certification requirements. its crew operate. experimental diving unit (NEDU). l the bell handling system l a control van, Subcontractors included Silvan While filming onboard the Skandi SAT FADS will provide a critical l two auxiliary support equipment Industries, Caley Ocean Systems, Arctic, the channel made a number saturation diving capability to vans. Living quarters are located in the Val-Fab, TrimMaster, OceanWorks, of raw helium audio recordings of support Navy salvage and recovery decompression chamber. Highstar Industrial Technologies, diver speech, including those of operations around the world. The General Dynamics Information divers in saturation chambers and system is designed to be deployed System testing will continue through Technologies, Unique Hydra, MOOG while diving at depth. using military or commercial aircraft additional operational evaluations, a Components Group Halifax Operations, and commercial over-the-road series of manned dives pier-side, and Cortland Fibron, Amron and Divex. With its breakthrough Helium Unscrambler technology, Divex unscrambled the raw helium audio files at their Westhill facility, using the HeliComT Unscramblers. This meant they were able to provide the Discovery Channel with clear audio files which can be used The Underwater Centre within the documentary. Finlay Finlayson, of The Underwater Centre, said; “This redevelopment Divex’s HeliCom achieves project will improve our existing facilities including the pier infrastructure, a superior, crystal-clear diver new diver training barge and various other training amenities at the Centre. helium voice communication This will undoubtedly give us a great platform for future growth in Fort through advanced DSP (digital William. With a growing oil and gas industry and a new focus on marine signal processing) helium speech renewables, improving the training for divers and ROV pilots is going to be decoding techniques. The helium fundamental for us to take real advantage of these opportunities. This is speech from the pressurised divers the largest investment we have ever undertaken and we are grateful for the and the chamber occupants are support of HIE.” mixed in an audio mixer before decoding to the selected gas and The Centre was purchased by current owner Finlay Finlayson in 2004 and environmental settings by a digital has successfully established itself as a leading player in the commercial signal processing circuit (DSP). diver training market. In operation since the 1970s, its main focus has traditionally been on the oil and gas sector but with the growing importance HeliCom is a step forward over of marine renewables, including offshore wind, the Centre’s focus is existing implementations because evolving to reflect this in its training offer. As well as commercial diver of the incorporation of precise training courses for both air and mixed gas diving, The Underwater Centre modelling of the translations also undertakes Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) training and sea trials. introduced by the Heliox mixture on the human voice including both David Oxley, Head of Operations for HIE in Fort William, said: “The pitch and envelope distortion. Underwater Centre in Fort William is a unique facility in the area and a world leader in subsea training. It already has a strong reputation for the The Skandi Arctic Mighty Ship’s quality of training it delivers and this expansion will allow the company to episode is due to air on the further position itself on the forefront of the world market.” Discovery Channel imminently. Divex’s HeliCom Helium Unscrambler

UT2 April 2011 94 95 UT2 April 2011 Sonar Sonar UUV L-3 Klein Associates has developed The UUV 3500 was developed as a vehicle (AUV), remotely operated powerful, state-of-the-art multi-channel exceed the performance of standard L-3 Klein’s proprietary wide-band a UUV 3500 high-resolution side- side-scan sonar with the benefit of vehicle (ROV) and UUV markets. processing electronics, offering both multi-beam echo sounders. technology for long range and high scan sonar for unmanned underwater an advanced bathymetry payload for photo-quality side-scan imagery resolution while operating at lower vehicles (UUVs). the growing autonomous underwater L-3’s UUV 3500 product line leverages and swath bathymetry that together In addition, the new system uses power.

UT2 April 2011 96 97 UT2 April 2011 Tidal

2

Tidal The Aug/Sept 2010 issue of UT looked at wavepower as an alternative energy source. This issue examines tidal systems. The Tide is Turning

Tidal power exploits the kinetic national grid. This is many times While intensive cavitation in pumps control the pitch of the blade as the energy stored in the natural ebb and more than the output of all the other Tidal Stream Devices Tidal Current Turbines and hydro turbines can cause speed of the water flow rises and falls flow of coastal tidal waters. Tide mills tidal devices put together. surface damage, this is unlikely during a tide. The blade moves around date back to the 18th century and Tidal energy systems fall into three Tidal energy devices fall into a number to be a problem with the limited the centre to change its aspect to the water mills, hundreds of years before Loch Linnhe Project, Seaflow and basic categories. of basic forms, with some turbine light cavitation a tidal turbine rotor best possible angle of operation. that. It it is only relatively recently SeaGen were are all part of Marine designs combining more than one experiences. that more advanced systems have Current Turbines research and 1 Tidal Barrages concept. A Savonius turbine is a scoop-shaped started to show promise on a larger development programme. These are based on dams located The speed of a tidal turbine rotor device. Wind gauges or anometers with across a bay or large coastal area. scale. Horizontal Axis Turbines depends on the diameter and will three cups on a central spindle would The sector has also received a They capture the rise and fall of the typically be limited to a tip velocity of fall into this category. Typical Savonius Tidal power does, however, have the significant amount of financial support tide behind the containing wall, then The horizontal axis turbine extracts about 12m/s. Smaller devices will run efficiency is 15% compared with about potential to provide a sustainable and investment. This has helped to employ special bulb-type turbines to energy from moving water in much faster than 18rpm and bigger ones will 35% for a Darrieus and 45% or more contribution to the world energy build invaluable infrastructure such capture energy as the water passes in the same way that wind turbines take run slower than 14rpm. for an axial flow rotor. demand. as the European Marine Energy and out. energy from moving air. The majority of horizontal axis turbines have two Centre in the Orkney Islands.” By housing the device in a duct, this Oscillating Hydrofoil Many tidal power designs are based These barriers are characterised by or three blades, some contra-rotating, has the effect of concentrating the on turbine-based systems already This centre is the first of its kind to vast construction works and are the while others are shrouded or ducted flow past the turbine. This is a hydrofoil attached to an proven to harness wind energy. be created anywhere in the world, subject of environmental concern. to increase the water flow past the oscillating arm. Any movement caused Water is 840 times denser than air. offering developers the opportunity blades. The funnel-like collecting device sits by the tidal current flowing either side The consequence of this is that to test full scale grid connected 2 Tidal Lagoons submerged in the tidal current. The of the wing results in lift. underwater turbine rotors can be prototype tidal and wave devices. If a tidal barrage were to be sited The speed of a tidal turbine rotor flow of water can drive a turbine smaller and turn more slowly, yet still Called the Fall of Warness tidal test off the coast, it would be called a depends on the diameter but is limited directly or the induced pressure The water acts on each side deliver a significant amount of power. site, this tidal site has proved popular tidal lagoon. It would have fewer by the need to avoid cavitation. This is differential in the system can drive an alternatively. The paddle moves up and in the past and is currently being environmental issues but, conversely, localised vaporisation and dissolved air-turbine. So far, there have been down. This motion can then drive fluid Concentrators may also be used used by a number of projects. involves greater construction costs. gasses coming out of solution in the no successful ducted wind turbines in a hydraulic system to be converted around the blades to streamline and water in the form of bubbles. These and some consider it unlikely that into electricity. focus the flow towards the rotors in The first to use the site was Dublin- 3 Tidal Stream Turbines bubbles can cause boundary layer ducts will be very effective with tidal order to increase the turbine’s flow based OpenHydro, which began the The majority of tidal stream devices separation and, in turn, this can cause turbines. and power output. installation of its open-centred turbine are broadly analogous to submerged loss of efficiency due to premature Which is Best? wind turbines. While many of the stalling of rotor blades. in 2006. Full testing is now underway Vertical Axis Turbines All turbine designs have advantages “The UK probably leads the world in with its device being the first in solutions appear relatively simple, over others depending on how tidal power generation at present,” the UK to successfully generate the challenging conditions can easily A number of devices exist where the and where they are deployed and said Paul Hales, principal of Hales electricity into the national grid. result in equipment failure. These rotational axes are vertical. Sometimes constructed Energy. This is probably because UK- normally consist of individual turbine called the through-drive, these devices based companies started work before Amongst the other projects using the units or clusters arranged as a ‘farms’. extract energy from moving in a similar The two main areas of energy those in other countries, but having site are They are anchored in the tidal flows fashion to the horizontal turbine. They collection that these turbines work in, 11 000km of coastline, featuring some in a variety of ways, such as a large are based on foils hydrodynamically wind and water, have greatly different fast and very fast tidal flow sites is l Tidal Generation Ltd successfully ballasted base on the seabed, a steel shaped to deflect the passing water stress loadings and forces. an asset. In some places, these fast deployed and connected its 500kW pile driven into the seabed, a floating and induce rotation. sea currents can be concentrated by tidal turbine in 2010 unit tethered to an anchor, etc. The flow through an axial flow rotor geographical features, forcing the Two common types of vertical turbine follows a spiral screw-like path so water through narrow channels and l Atlantis Resources Corporation These units can be relocated if the are the Darrieus and the Savonius the rotor blades do in fact contact increasing flow. successfully deployed its AK-1000 need arises and, while effecting the designs. The Darrieus turbine has virtually all the flow. If you added tidal turbine on its subsea berth in environment slightly, are a great deal vertical foils, often with an elaborate more rotor blades it would have to run less obtrusive or expensive than the The world’s first tidal turbine was August 2010 A shrouded venturi turbine. Image: EMEC system between the ring and foil to more slowly and inefficiently. The well tested in Loch Linnhe, Scotland in other two types. known “blade element theory” used 1994-5. The world’s first full size and l Hammerfest Strom is preparing by wind and hydro turbine designers first truly offshore tidal turbine – the to install the HS1000 tidal turbine in develops the optimum “solidity” 300kW at 2.5m/s Seaflow system, 2011 – i.e. twist and chord length for rotor was installed off Devon in 2003. blades. In fact thicker blades or more l Voith Hydro and RWE Innogy blades would reduce efficiency and The world’s first and so far only will jointly install a 1MW tidal turbine increase the material requirements commercial scale tidal turbine is in 2012 through the joint venture thereby reducing cost-effectiveness. the 1200kW at 2.4m/s SeaGen company Voith Hydro Ocean Current installed in Strangford Narrows Technologies Oscillator designs depend on Northern Ireland in 2008 and officially operating angles and their accredited by OFGEM as a UK power l Scotrenewables will be installing mechanical form and cannot compete station. SeaGen has already delivered the SR250 floating tidal energy again a full rotational turbine unless well over 2.5 million kWh into the device at the test site in 2011. special features are added. Horizontal axis turbine. Image: EMEC Vertical axis turbine. Image: EMEC Oscillating Hydrofoil. Image: EMEC

UT2 April 2011 98 99 UT2 April 2011

Tidal Tidal MCT Beluga 9 UK tidal energy company, Marine Current Turbines, which Alstom’s Ocean Energy business will undergo designed and deployed SeaGen, the world’s first commercial- inaugural testing of its tidal electricity generating scale offshore tidal stream energy system in Northern Ireland’s turbine in 2012 in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. Strangford Lough, is investigating the feasibility of a tidal farm in Kyle Rhea, a strait of water between the Isle of Skye and the Called the Beluga 9, it has been designed to At home in Scottish mainland. accommodate the very powerful currents (up to 4.5m/s, or 9kts found at the surface during spring The project will have the capacity to generate electricity for up tides). Once mounted, it will have a diameter of 13m the ocean to 4000 homes in the Highlands and Islands by harnessing the and a total height of 20m. It will be suited to sites power of the fast tidal currents that pass through Kyle Rhea at depths of 30m or more, such as in the English Easytrak Nexus is the second generation USBL Channel. 14 hours a day. tracking system from Applied Acoustics. The development is subject to securing a lease agreement from In 2009, Alstom signed a technology/licensing With Broadband Spread Spectrum technology at its heart, The Crown Estate, securing planning approval from Marine contract with the Canadian company Clean Current Nexus has the ability to transfer digital data from subsea Scotland (part of the Scottish Government) and raising the which developed and patented the technology. While to surface, all the while continuing to provide secure and finance for the project. Marine Current Turbines (MCT) estimates this will be Alstom’s first tidal turbine generator, the stable positioning information in challenging environments. that the cost of the 5MW Kyle Rhea scheme, consisting of four company is no stranger to the renewables market, Versatile, flexible and simple to install and operate, Easytrak accounting for 25% of global installed hydropower SeaGen tidal units, will be £35 million. Nexus is tracking, made easy. capacity. The worldwide capacity of the group’s For the past nine months, MCT has undertaken a series of wind turbines, either installed or currently under environmental and technical studies and consulted a range of construction, exceeds 2685MW. Nexus USBL Acoustic Tracking System local and national organisations. The work to date has confirmed Broadband Spread Spectrum Technology the suitability of the site and subject to further studies being Alstom’s Ocean Energy activities will be located on Digital Data Telemetry carried out and further consultations, MCT aims to submit a the island of Nantes (Ile de Nantes) – historical site Multiple Target Tracking planning application towards the end of 2011. of the French shipyard industry – under the direction of Philippe Gilson, Alstom Hydro’s ocean energy +44 (0)1493 440355 : [email protected] : www.appliedacoustics.com If the Kyle Rhea tidal project is approved and financed, the manager. scheme will not only generate clean energy but also give local firms the chance to be involved in the tidal farm’s installation “If all suitable underwater locations were equipped and operation. In Northern Ireland, a number of local companies with tidal generators, it would be possible to such as marine support vessels, engineering and electrical generate 100TWh of electricity annually, enough to contractors, civil engineers, environmental scientists and divers, supply power to 20 million households in Western as well as local hotels, pubs and restaurants, have benefited Europe,” he said. from MCT’s Strangford Lough project. It is estimated that the project has contributed more than £4 million into the Northern In addition, the Nantes division has just begun Irish economy over the past three years. preliminary studies for the development of a second model, intended for sites at greater depths where the Bio Power tide is less powerful; The Australian renewable energy company, BioPower testing should begin Systems, has developed a range of tidal energy designs in Brittany in 2013. based on biomimicry. These look at how nature has evolved The SeaGen tidal converter in Strangford over the past 3.8 billion years and try and emulate some of Lough the biological mechanisms. This leads to the engineering design of lightweight structures with lower costs.

The company’s two main designs are bioWave, which copies the swaying motion of sea plants and harnessing wave power, and the tidal energy converter bioStream. A key advantage of both is their inherent survivability. Both devices are designed to employ biomimetic mechanisms that enable them to avoid excessive loads that occur in The bioSTREAM tidal energy coverter adverse weather conditions. These are a common reason for engineering failure. Through biomimicry, the propulsion mechanism is reversed The bioSTREAM is based on the highly efficient propulsion and the bioSTREAM mimics the shape and motion of swimming species such as the shark, tuna and mackerel. characteristics of these species but is a fixed structure in The motions, mechanisms and caudal fin hydrofoil shapes a moving stream. In this configuration, the energy in the of such species have been optimised through natural passing flow is used to drive the bioSTREAM oscillatory The Beluga 9 selection and are known to be highly efficient at converting motion against the resisting torque of an onboard electrical body energy into propulsive force. generator.

UT2 April 2011 100 101 UT2 April 2011

Tidal Tidal The Bourne Alternative Nexus Positioning Malibu-based Bourne Energy It may be a challenge to position the off the island of Eday,” said senior In initial trials, Easytrak was deployed envisages the setting up of a tidal component devices of a tidal system surveyor Tristan Thorne, “because firstly with a small ROV used to power development based on an and their connections to shore on it was important to know what was visually inspect and verify a cable array of up to several hundred the ocean floor. One such company happening in the deep inlet where route for a seabed-mounted current interconnected self-contained power experienced in hydrographic/seabed surges of water are funnelled profiler, then again with a towed side- modules. The basic building block investigation is survey company along a particular channel. As the scan sonar for a salvage contract. is its TidalStar with a generating Triscom Marine. It was recently turbine is mounted on the seabed, capacity of up to 50kW in a 4kt stabiliser, energy absorber, energy involved in the installation and testing its positioning is critical as are the “We were looking for a very small current. transmission, communication of a tidal energy test rig in Orkney. cables in the vicinity that lead to seabed asset in a difficult tidal site, and mooring system, as well as shore.” and towing the sonar in a straight line Unlike other hydrokinetic tidal an energy conversion and control In 2010, Triscom added the latest was impossible, but we were able to systems, TidalStar is not mounted to system. It collapses into a 20ft by 6ft ultra-short baseline (USBL) positioning “We carry out a lot of work like this – track it with the Nexus and this gave the bottom, but lies 95% underwater by 6ft module for shipping. system, the Applied Acoustics’ mapping inshore cable routes which us an accurate fix on our targets,” said using low profile surface and fully Easytrak Nexus, to its equipment pool are often in shallow and dynamic Thorne. submerged stabilisers and moorings. TidalStar claims a number of to meet the increasing requirement for environments,” said Thorne, “and Capturing the hydrokinetic power near advantages. From the beginning, it accurate underwater positioning tasks. very often find damage or anomalies “After the sonar sweeps, the Nexus the surface avoids the turbulent lower was designed for optimum EROI (net that must be accurately marked for guided the ROV to these targets and speed flows along the tidal bottom. energy) by using the efficiencies of “We were required to inspect some reporting to clients. We have found enabled us to locate the missing asset, The design has a low vertical profile, hydropower technology and cutting subsea cabling in the area of a the Nexus performs in the most survey it and report its position to our Easytrak Nexus working near the making them ‘stackable’. They can the cost side by reducing fabrication, massive OpenHydro tidal turbine challenging acoustic environments.” client.” OpenHydro tidal turbine therefore be positioned along a vertical transportation, installation, service and tidal column and can be configured to decommissioning. fit a variety of project sites. The units require no piling or Hales Turbine Norwegian Ocean Power TidalStar modules are designed to construction on tidal bottoms, avoiding concentrate all major loads into a the use of barges, floating cranes or Hales Energy is presently testing The Hales Turbine, however, also improve its output The Pulsus turbine designed by small area which allows a simpler, jack-up rigs and allowing them to be its prototype Hales Turbine at a site and potential use by the addition of a small section of Norwegian Ocean Power is more robust structure and a reduction installed quickly without effecting marine on the Thames in London. With Savonius-type turbine above or below the main side drive based on a relatively simple in overall unit size, weight and cost. habitat. There is, consequently, minimal input from the University of Kingston turbine to induce rotation at the changes of tidal direction. and well-known design from The hydrodynamic design structure impact on the seabed and the University of Sheffield, this the Darrieus turbine (patented minimises flow disturbances and hence follows trials at Isleworth last year. It also combines latching extractors to the power blades around 1930). vibration and unfavourable dynamic There is a growing resistance to which not only prevents the power blades from being effects upon the unit. some forms of renewables due to The Hales Turbine is a hybrid based wrongly located at any time, but also allows the turbine to This has a considerably significant noise and visual pollution. on two common designs. Side drive be stopped and started by remote control. greater rotational velocity The higher density hydropower source The TidalStar has no noise emissions, tidal turbines have large blade compared with many allows the use of turbines running is 95% submerged and uses bio-based areas that allow them to operate designs used until now. at lower speeds, reducing gearbox lubricants and coatings. Because of successfully in water flows between and main bearing problems while tidal’s predictability the annual power 1–2 m/s. NOP is cooperating with providing better cooling. This creates a output of TidalStar systems at any site leading experts globally ruggedised power generating system. will be known before installation. These lower speed water flows for optimal design of both are found in a great many tidal turbine and generator. Measuring 20ft by 20ft by 22ft, Its low operating speed, rounded areas of the world and also include the self-contained unit includes a surfaces and minimal anchor cables several ocean currents, making the The main characteristics of its makes it safe for aquaculture. The possibility of local energy extraction turbine are: rotors are much slower than ship’s a reality. The Pulsus turbine propellers causing minimal disturbance l High efficiency compared with to sea mammals. Studies say that the As side drive turbines rotate slowly, the available energy in tidal currents slower turbines actually repel fish with a the blades operate in a drag type l Robust, low maintenance design able to operate slight pressure wave that forms in front mode. Turning at the speed of the for decades, combined with an easy maintenance and of the turbine. water flow, the blades can be made relocation concept stronger to withstand the high stress l Low production cost based on few standardised TidalStar use low energy manufacturing, loads created by the water flow. components and efficient mass-production composed of small parts and designed Unlike propellers and foils which l Flexible location, both with regards to depth and to be mass-produced. This allows them also try to produce a lift effect to current velocity to not only scale up rapidly but to be improve their performance, they built in many countries. Their ability to have to be finely shaped and angled NOP has developed three designs with an output of be rapidly transported and installed aids because of such a small contact 650KW 1.5MW and 2.5MW. The largest design has a the chances of being scaled up. area between blades and the water The Hales turbine featuring a Savonius-type turbine foundation height of 5m, a 25m turbine width and a 20m TidalStars located in a farm flow to absorb the energy. below the main side drive turbine turbine height.

UT2 April 2011 102 103 UT2 April 2011 Wave and Tidal Wave and Tidal Tidal Tidal ORPC Turbine Generator Oyster 2 Wave and Tidal Spend to reach $1.2 billion Last August, Ocean Renewable Aquamarine Power is due to install its New research released by energy The World Wave and Tidal Market Power Company (ORPC) installed latest generation 2.4MW wave energy business analysts Douglas- Report 2011–2015 highlights that the largest tidal power plant in US capture system, Oyster 2. It will use Westwood reveals the world wave the challenges facing the growing waters. It successfully generated grid- data collection and transfer systems and tidal current stream sectors will industry are considerable. compatible power from tidal currents designed and supplied by MacArtney. see expenditure of $1.2 billion over at its Cobscook Bay site in Eastport, This is based on technology that the next five years. With few commercial-level devices Maine. The system was deployed has proven to be resilient to hard installed to date and fewer still from the research and testing vessel, conditions and be reliable for long Annual capital expenditure in multiple-unit installations, the the Energy Tide 2. periods without servicing. estimated at $52 million in 2010 is full cost of wave and tidal farms forecast to rise to $500 million in remains uncertain. Costs are high The turbine has a maximum design “Maximising maintenance intervals 2015. at present but there is significant capacity of 60kW. The aim of the for the system is a key factor in the reduction potential as the supply project was to fine-tune the design design. All maintainable component Installations in 2011 are more than chain develops and dedicated for the launch of a commercial power systems must function reliably for at double those in 2010 and a total of manufacturing begins. system, planned for installation in least five years between servicing,” 150MW of wave and tidal current Eastport in late 2011. The University The tidal power system successfully tested by explained David Kaye, engineering stream capacity is forecast to be As a result, there is recognition of Maine has been involved in and we can configure it differently ORPC in 2010 manager of Aquamarine Power. installed between 2011–2015. The that wave and tidal projects will environmental monitoring programmes depending on where it will be used.” UK, Canada and US are the three require higher levels of support from to observe the marine environment for As with all power generating systems, biggest markets. The UK leads with appropriate market mechanisms, both projects. There are three basic models: being able to monitor the system 110MW of installations forecast. such as feed-in tariffs or green constantly is critical for ensuring safe certificate schemes. The RivGen power system is designed operation and minimal down time. This According to lead report analyst, How It Works for small river sites, particularly in is especially true for offshore energy Ian Jones, “Capex here will total The financing of wave and tidal At the core of the power system remote communities with no large, capturing setups, where equipment is almost $900 million over the next projects and devices is dependent design is the turbine generator unit centralised power grid. It can connect often difficult to access and conditions five years, with annual expenditure upon long-term industry confidence (TGU) which works on the same directly into these existing diesel- are poor. approaching $500 million in 2015.” and visibility. To ensure sufficient principle as a wind turbine – rotating electric grids and provide automatic investment appetite is created, foils that power a central permanent fuel switching, so that whenever it is Aquamarine Power will install control An excellent wave and tidal individual countries must create the magnet generator. generating power, the diesel generator and instrumentation systems on their resource, together with encouraging correct environment. ORPC’s RivGen Power System automatically turns down or off. three linked wave energy converters levels of government funding, Built primarily with composite (WECs). Due for delivery in early market mechanisms and site “Commitment to long-term market materials, the foils resist corrosion in All system components fit into standard 2011, the data acquisition and licensing make the country the mechanisms and targets must fresh and salt water alike. As gearless shipping containers, so that they generate electricity at water depths of handling system and the control and strongest market for both wave and be given so that investors gain units, they also require no lubricants, can arrive on-site ready to install. 50–100ft, and is consequently used at instrumentation system will interface tidal. confidence; initial commercial and thus no emissions into the Depending on community needs, the shallow tidal and deep river sites. with their onshore SCADA system and projects must have strong support surrounding water. system can include up to several dozen provide the monitoring station with a Driven by a strong tidal resource, from government, given the high TGUs, each generating up to 30 kW in Groups of TGUs connect directly to an range of data from monitors installed good research and development costs involved,” Wright commented. “The TGU has a modular design that a 10ft/s river current. on-shore substation through a single on the underwater equipment. and support, Canada is the second “The financial sector will not respond makes it easy to adapt to the varying underwater transmission line. Each largest market. The US is also otherwise,” he warns. needs of different site environments, The TidGen power system can TGU generates up to 150kW in a 6kt High speed multiplexers offshore and making progress, again with much water current. onshore ensure rapid data transfer R&D funding attracting developers. Grid connection represents a major from MacArtney supplied sensors, constraint for marine renewables Lastly, the OCGen power system is the including proximity, inclinometer, “Small commercial projects are deployment in several countries. largest and most powerful of ORPC’s hydrophone and camera data, via a starting to be realised with a The variability of the output together modular systems. It is designed for fibre-optic link in the control umbilical. dramatic increase towards the end with the remoteness of many sites use in water depths of more than 80ft. of the forecast period, led in large makes grid connection a challenge to Up to four TGUs are stacked together part by the UK’s first licensing commercial development. to create larger power-generating round which has encouraged large modules. projects to come forward from utility With projects often located away companies,” explains Frank Wright, from areas of demand, grid upgrades Anywhere from a few to several dozen renewable energy manager at are required. In some countries such modules will be located at the same Douglas-Westwood. as Portugal, this is not a significant site, and connected in groups to an issue, but countries such as the UK on-shore substation through a single “The next two years will be vital in (in particular, Scotland) have much underwater cable. A module composed creating an investment environment to overcome. Whilst grid upgrades of four TGUs will have a peak that allows the financial community are planned, these have not yet been generating capacity of 600kW in a 6kt to fund these projects and to invest considered with marine renewables water current. in the necessary supply chain.” in mind. ORPC’s Beta Pre-Commerical Turbine Generator Unit which was tested in 2010 Oyster 2

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Cybernetix Intermoor Aker Solutions builds technology large scale construction project “When we started planning the new organisations and technology adventure. At the same time, InterMoor ihas opened a new 24- experience centre in Oslo at Fornebu outside Oslo. At the building complex, we identified an companies. Engineering Expo will customers and employees of Aker acre facility in Morgan City, La. 24 March 2011 - In April 2012 Aker K2 lot, close to Aker Solutions’ opportunity to tell a story about focus on the themes technology Solutions will be able to utilise This ISO 9001:2008 approved site Solutions opens the doors to the headquarters, new offices for Aker engineering and technology and innovation, energy and the innovative working methods to contains a fabrication facility that company’s new 2 000 square metre Solutions is currently being built, with development to a broad audience,” environment, and the oil and gas solve tomorrow’s challenges,” said includes two fabrication buildings, technology experience centre in Engineering Expo and a new hotel said EVP Communications at Aker industry’s social development role. Drangeid. both with capabilities to design Oslo, Norway. and conference centre by Nordic Solutions, Geir Arne Drangeid, and produce comprehensive The centre aims to demonstrate Choice Hotels – called Quality Hotel who adds that the centre will “The increase in prosperity we By showing how engineers utilise offshore mooring systems, subsea the art of engineering at its best, Expo – part of the same complex. accommodate all age groups. have experienced in Norway textbook theory during their foundations and equipment. and show how science subjects and other countries would not working-day, and demonstrating The site also has a nearly 13 contribute towards development of A unique collaboration is planned Engineering Expo intends to have been possible without the the breadth of an engineer’s 700ft2 multi-purpose building for technology and what this means to between the hotel and Engineering become a meeting space between technology development the oil duties and responsibilities, the administrative and operations society as a whole. Expo. The partnership is the first the petroleum industry, educational industry has been responsible for. objective is to motivate more personnel of its kind in Norway, where a institutions and the general public. school children to choose science The technology experience centre, technology experience centre and The centre is being developed At Engineering Expo we aim to subjects at school, and later gain Beyond increasing InterMoor’s with the current working title of a hotel plus conference centre are in close cooperation with local tell the story about the Norwegian an engineering degree. overall capabilities, the Morgan Engineering Expo, is part of a new cooperating closely. secondary schools, industry and international oil and gas City site also has nearly 1300ft of “The oil industry’s engineers waterfront access. The bulkheading are amongst the most capable of this slip will commence in in the world. They solve huge January and take about three to tasks, develop solutions and four months to complete. technologies, and execute projects for customers all over the world. “InterMoor is extremely excited to open its new Morgan City facility,” That is what we intend to show said a spokesman. “This facility will through our own educational set- allow us to build our client-based up, where school children gain an services and expand our fabrication insight into the many opportunities capabilities to include larger that arise if they choose science projects such as suction piles, subjects,” concluded Drangeid. foundations and conductors.”

Cybernetix

Cybernetix has opened a new as developing robotics equipment subsidiary based in Rio de Janeiro for inspection, maintenance and (Botafogo). Following the discovery repair of offshore and subsea of new presalt deepwater fields off installations the coasts of both states of Rio and São Paulo, Brazil became one of l Integration or complete the most important places in the manufacturing of equipment in world for the oil and gas exploration order to guarantee the local content and production. required by Brazilian customers

This new subsidiary is in line with l The establishment of the Cybernetix’s strategy to grow partnerships with local research in the asset integrity monitoring laboratories to adapt its solutions to sector. The Brazilian subsidiary will the specific constraints of targeted support: environments

l Promotion of permanent l Associated services to ensure solutions in integrity monitoring for the commissioning and the offshore and onshore units as well operations of such equipment.

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Schilling Southampton University/Lloyds Register Schilling Robotics has leased a World-leading expertise from the unique opportunities to interact with range of marine businesses on the new 15 000ft2 (1393m2) building University of Southampton and Lloyd’s real-time development projects and south coast. at Kirkhill Commercial Park Register is being brought together in connect directly with potential future in Aberdeen, Scotland. This the largest research collaboration of its employers.” The Institute will aim to stimulate investment reinforces Schilling’s kind in the UK. innovation, create new businesses sales and service centre expansion Richard Sadler, Chief Executive of and establish the city of Southampton for their regional customers. Drawing together the engineering Lloyd’s Register, adds: “Today is an and the wider south Hampshire excellence of both organisations in a exciting and historic day for Lloyd’s region as a magnet for inward new research hub in Southampton, The new Aberdeen support centre Register and our colleagues at the investment in the marine sector in the collaboration will focus on University of Southampton. We have increases Schilling’s comprehensive the UK. innovations in transport, energy and been brought together by the mutual local presence, and provides its the environment. Academics and belief that sustainable industries will Councillor Royston Smith, Leader of customers with the best manipulator industry experts will combine forces be increasingly driven by the need for Southampton City Council, comments: and ROV support services in the throughout the entire process of new technology and expertise to meet “This demonstrates that Southampton Eastern Hemisphere. identifying and researching challenges the demands of society and emerging continues to attract investment from faced by businesses and communities regulation. leading global companies, despite “It has been a particularly busy worldwide to more effectively deliver the current financial climate. I am time for us at Schilling Robotics solutions. “The agreement combines the certain this is just the beginning for and this move reflects our recent best of academia and business to the University’s Centre of Excellence, success and growth,” stated Hundreds of staff and students from simultaneously support industry and which will create even further George Shirreffs, managing director the University and engineering and society by promoting vital research investment in the city.” of Schilling Robotics. “We have technical staff from Lloyd’s Register will into subjects such as cleaner fuels, expanded our customer base and work together at a new technology and safer work environments and more Professor Nutbeam adds: “This is product lines which required an education campus. dependable infrastructure.” great news for the University and for integrated support facility that is Lloyd’s Register. It’s also excellent designed to meet our customer Work will commence in the New Year The University has received funding news for the city, the region and for on the state-of-the-art University of needs.” from the Higher Education Funding UK plc. Research and innovation Southampton Centre of Excellence, Council for England and the South are key drivers for building a strong which has an initial investment of £116 of England Economic Development Schilling’s Aberdeen operations knowledge economy, and we know million. The campus will include the Agency to enable the new Centre of that governments around the world are currently split between two Lloyd’s Register Group Technology Excellence to take shape. are looking to collaborations such buildings, and will be consolidating Centre, the cornerstone of the as ours to help secure a strong into this one location. The support organisation’s global research and At the heart of the Centre there will also economic future.” centre will include dedicated space development network. be a Maritime Institute, drawing on the for offices, a parts warehouse University’s wide range of expertise in The first phase of the development at with over $3M of inventory, Schilling Robotics’ new building “This marks the beginning of a maritime engineering, ocean science, the University’s former Boldrewood comprehensive workshop facilities, groundbreaking collaboration between law and business and strengthening campus is scheduled for completion professional training facilities, and The support centers in both The Singapore facility has already the University of Southampton and one links with the existing, highly varied in 2014. a dedicated ROV simulator for ROV Singapore and Brazil will be in started taking customer orders and of the world’s leading knowledge-based pilot training. partnership with FMC Technologies will be providing technical support, organisations,” comments Professor The new facility in Southampton and will be located in FMC facilities. including onsite repair of all Don Nutbeam, Vice-Chancellor of the Additional yard space of 13 000ft2 Schilling manipulator systems. The University of Southampton. will also allow accommodation of The support centers will be staffed support facility in Macaé, Brazil will larger equipment by comprehensive teams of local be a custom designed 3000ft2 (914 “By locating the cornerstone of personnel who have all been trained m2) building, and local employees Lloyd’s Register global research and development network alongside the Earlier this year, Schilling Robotics, by Schilling. The level of service will are currently being trained to staff University’s internationally renowned be comparable to Schilling’s existing this facility when it formally opens formally opened a new support engineering scientists, we will establish in the second quarter of 2011. centre in Singapore. It has also Gulf of Mexico and North Sea a research and innovation hub that is commenced construction of another Regional Offices, offering dedicated, unique in scale and ambition for the UK. support cenre in Brazil which will local personnel, spares inventory, Once complete, Schilling’s open imminently. This international product repairs, and technical customers operating in any of the “Building on our 40-year history of expansion of Schilling’s product training. world’s major offshore locations collaboration in ship science, marine support services into key offshore will benefit from the reassurance and energy-related projects, we will oil and gas regions will provide Each support facility will carry and convenience of being able extend our cooperation to create new customers with the ROV industry’s approximately $1 million of spare to obtain comprehensive product technologies that address some of most comprehensive support parts inventory to ensure efficient support from dedicated Schilling society’s most pressing problems, as available on a global basis. service to customers. personnel well as providing our students with

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Exhibitions Exhibitions The Torbuster UDT Advanced Instrumentation for Research in Diving The Undersea Defence Technology Array Systems (UDT) conference and exhibition and Hyperbaric Medicine brings together naval procurement Array Systems Computing will have specialists, defence scientists and personnel on hand to demonstrate key technology providers for three its Acoustic Signature Classification Given the amount of professional Thus, with regard to performance association with the development of days of discussion, networking and Software (ASCS). The ASCS is (commercial, scientific, rescue, of physiological measurements, a functional support infrastructure. the examination of new technology. designed to aid sonar operators to Torbuster etc.) and recreational diving that is underwater medicine lags behind any To ensure that function remains This year’s conference and exhibition quickly classify unknown targets being Rafael Advanced Defense Systems undertaken around the world annually, comparable land- or space-based accurate and consistent, sensors takes place at ExCeL, London 7 – 9 tracked. The operator can search will highlight Torbuster – a fourth there is actually very little detailed discipline by many years (if not and transducers require correct June 2011. the database using any available generation torpedo decoy for knowledge of diving physiology. decades). selection, placement and protection, information from the target in order to submarines that provides effective especially where long-term UDT 2011 will focus on a broad compare the received signals with the defence against all types of acoustic Much of this is caused by the lack With the lack of direct measurements, monitoring is involved. spectrum of undersea defence and signatures in the database. homing torpedoes by means of of accurate and reliable monitoring the field of diving physiology security topics, including underwater combined soft and hard kill. It will of vital parameters during diving commonly adopts results of series of These tasks form the basis warfare and sub-surface platforms; also showcase its Sea Spotter naval related to the near total absence ‘models’ of underwater diving that are of Sieber Life Support (SLS) detection and combat systems; the Edgetech IR staring and tracking system on of instrumentation suitable for considered as valid surrogate and research, a research and expanding security requirements EdgeTech – an affiliate of ORE offshore the exhibition floor. Sea Spotter underwater measurements of simple inferences from the clinical world. development group focusing on new of civil sub-surface systems; – will showcase a selection of its is an infrared staring system but crucial physiological parameters. technologies/instrumentation for and resource infrastructure and underwater sonar systems, which that will enable a naval vessel to Unfortunately, both processes hyperbaric medicine/physiological communications. include side-scan sonar, sub-bottom automatically locate and pinpoint Measurements of, for example, heart can be intrinsically uncertain and measurements; diving rebreathers; profilers, bathymetric, combined and threats and targets located around rate, blood pressure, cardiac function scientifically incorrect. Thus, adapting and diving computers. The organisers are anticipating integrated systems for towed and it without being exposed to enemy and blood oxygen saturation are routine clinical instruments for routine similar exhibitor and visitor levels to hosted platforms as well as custom systems. all straightforward standard clinical use underwater would represent a The SLS group derives from the last year’s event where 1520 visitors installations. assessments on land and even in significant advance, both in terms of Institute of Clinical Physiology CNR, walked through the doors – 35 of space. However, at present, none of knowledge and safety. Pisa, Italy and the Scuola Superiore whom were military flag officers DiveTracker the available clinical devices used in Sant‘Anna, Pisa, Italy, and is led – to meet and interact with the 88 First time exhibitor Ruco will have everyday for assessing health status This task is more than simply by Dr Arne Sieber. Since 2002, Dr exhibitors. on display an array of underwater can be used underwater because of waterproofing selected instruments. Sieber has been using his strong equipment for divers including video a variety of problems related to the The process requires the design background in medical sensor This year’s UDT conference will see equipment, digital video recorders liquid environment, its salinity and the of novel underwater diagnostic technology to improve the safety of a significant widening of the agenda, and its new DiveTracker product. high hydrostatic pressure. and monitoring instrumentation in rebreather diving systems. which will look at the future of global This works by using magnetic threats to underwater security and sensors, embedded in a tether, to Adapting medical sensors for use in their relation to current and future measure the earth’s magnetic field diving rebreathers are the key topic naval capability requirements. The and thus position the diver with of his project ‘Lifeloop’ (FP7-People- conference will also look at future Edgetech’s LMCS reference to the vessel. IEF-2008, project nr. 237128), which technologies as well as addressing he carries out at IMEG AB, Sweden. new methods of utilising existing Below: The plane was imaged using UDT will for the first time feature underwater platforms. the 600kHz frequency sonar a waterborne demonstration The group has recently published programme with the 800m of two papers that highlight their work The four main streams of the dockside adjacent to the exhibition in this area in the current issue conference are: hall providing the perfect platform. of the Society for Underwater Ultra Electronics have confirmed Technology journal Underwater l Submarine warfare that it will undertake a series of Technology. These are: l Harbour protection, civil demonstrations that will cover topics authority and force protection such as Harbour Surveillance and Bubble model based decompression l Anti-submarine warfare Anti-Submarine Warfare. algorithm optimised for l Mine warfare and mine implementation on a low power Countermeasures There will also be a 7.5m diameter microcontroller by Benjamin Kuch demonstration tank that will be and others (pp195–202) Running concurrently with the situated on the exhibition floor and conference in the same venue will be used as a platform for smaller Development of a graphical head- will be an exhibition featuring waterborne demonstrations. up display (HUD) for rebreather products, technologies and diving by Bernhard Koss and Arne services from a diverse range The Society for Underwater Sieber (pp203–208) of exhibitors from world-leading Technology is taking an active part in defence companies to smaller the event by organising a dedicated specialist suppliers. pavilion. Hyberbaric research in a test tank

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London Aberdeen AGM Aberdeen AGM and Dinner 9 December 2010 Wednesday 1 December 2010, Marcliffe Hotel, Aberdeen By Michaelagh Shea

For the second year, a dinner was held aboard HQS The Aberdeen Branch of SUT held Wellington following the AGM and awards ceremony. its Annual Dinner and AGM on the Following a drinks reception, dinner was attended by evening of Wednesday, 1 December around 80 members and guests. The evening again proved 2010 at the Marcliffe Hotel. to be very successful, with positive feedback from all the attendees. Considering that it had snowed non-stop for the week leading up to After the dinner, a game of ‘Heads and Tails’ was lead the event, an amazing 220 people by Dr Bob Allwood, and was eventually won by Brian made the effort to turn up and enjoy Green, who immediately contributed his winnings to the a champagne reception sponsored Educational Support Fund. The game raised a fantastic by Apache, a four-course meal with sum of £750 for the Fund, and all participants were the wine sponsored by Fugro and a thanked for their contributions. Preceding the dinner was very entertaining after-dinner speaker, the SUT awards ceremony, which featured various awards Mr David Gillanders, sponsored by honouring those who have made exceptional contributions Framo. to underwater technology. The Martin Richmond Award was The Houlder Cup was awarded to Dr Nic Flemming presented during the dinner. The for his contribution to underwater operations. Of his award, in its fifth year, was set up many contributions, Dr Flemming was Chairman of the between J P Kenny and SUT in Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Diving memory of Martin who died from David Kaye presenting the Award of Merit to Phill Roberts Officers Committee from 1978 to 1987 during which cancer in January 2006 at the age of he was responsible for the Code of Practice which 52. Martin was employed by final Honours year of the Printmaking of the Society. The Award of Merit defined the safety procedures, standards of training, and J P Kenny at the time of his death programme. for 2010 was awarded to Mr Phill medical standards for government research laboratories and was Chairman of the Aberdeen Roberts of Shell. undertaking diving operations at that time. Left to right: (front row) Dr Nic Flemming; Branch of SUT. The award is made Another award presented during the (first row) Prof Gwyn Griffiths, Dr David Kaye; to a mature postgraduate student dinner was the Award of Merit and is The mandatory game of ‘Heads He has been the Honorary Secretary of the Scientific (second row) Alistair Birnie, Phil Roberts, Garry Momber; who has performed most diligently given to an individual that has made a and Tails’ raised an outstanding Committee of the World Federation of Underwater (third row) John Howes and Dr Ian Frazer throughout the course under contribution to SUT Branch activities, amount of £2132 for SUT’s Education Activities (CMAS), the Chairman of the CMAS Committee demanding and mitigating personal underwater technology, the underwater Support Fund. SUT is grateful to all (1975-87), and Vice President of CMAS since 1973. profile research programmes. He is perhaps best known circumstances. industry and the aims and objectives who took part and contributed. Dr Flemming was also a founder member, Council for his major involvement with the Autosub programme that member and first Honorary Secretary of the Society for was to define the UK’s activity in the field of underwater This year the award went to Niki Underwater Technology. autonomous vehicle development for more than a decade. Mackenzie who graduated in MSc Drilling and Well Engineering from After accepting his award, Dr Flemming entertained Gwyn is a prolific author of high quality scientific papers in Robert Gordon University earlier in the audience with a story about his involvement many his field and presenter at international conferences, and is 2010. Whilst studying for her MSc years ago in negotiating with the HSE to deliver safety rightly recognised for his achievements in all corners of the Niki was in full-time employment regulations for scientific diving, which was enjoyed by all. world. with Nexen as well as supporting her husband, giving birth to her son Jack It was announced that the The David Partridge The winners of the BP/SUT Under- and Postgraduate and training for the Great Kindrochit Commemorative Award, was awarded to Gerhardt Awards for best thesis in offshore and subsea engineering Challenge (the challenge was to swim Rohlfing. The actual presentation will take place at a and technology had yet to be identified and these awards across Loch Tay, do seven Munros, suitable event next year will be presented at appropriate events next year. The same kayak seven miles and cycle 34 miles applies to the Fugro-GEOS award for best postgraduate round Loch Tay). Phew! The Ministry of Defence-sponsored Oceanography Award thesis in applied and operational oceanography or was made to John Hufnance. John was unable to attend meteorology. The form of the award is actually the awards ceremony, so arrangements were made for him derived from a separate competition to receive his award at a later date. SUT Fellowships were awarded to Alistair Birnie, Dr Ian involving RGU’s Gray’s School of Art Frazer, John Howes, Dr David Kaye, Garry Momber and for an original piece of artwork. The The President’s Award this year was presented to Phil Roberts. Others receiving Fellowship awards to be winner of the art competition receives Prof Gwyn Griffiths in recognition of his long and given locally are Ray Farrier and Dr Julie Morgan in Perth, a monetary award sponsored by distinguished career in underwater technology. During Australia; Chris Lee in Melbourne, Australia; Neil Oakes in J P Kenny. This year, the award his career, Gwyn has initiated and led a number of high Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Paul Jukes in Houston, USA. went to Andrew Wilson who is in his Anne Richmond and Niki Mackenzie

UT2 April 2011 112 113 UT2 April 2011 SUT SUT London UDT Europe is the leading global exhibition and AGM Perth conference for undersea security, underwater Wednesday, 17 November 2010 Lisa King, UWA; Robert Ong, Curtin Perth Branch 2011 Committee warfare and sub-surface platforms. University; and Ziad Zammer, Curtin By Joyce Bremner, Events Manager, University. The committee were named as: SUT Perth Branch Held 7-9 June 2011, ExCeL London, UDT brings together Joyce Bremner, Perth Branch Ray Farrier representatives from the industry, armed forces and The 2010 Perth Branch AGM was Events Manager; Corelle Charles, Ian Finnie held at the Maritime Museum in Events Assistant; and Lisa Gagiero, Conor Galvin government sectors in one location. Fremantle, Australia. There was a Administrator, were all thanked for Philip Griffin great turnout for the event, with more their contribution to the branch over Terry Griffiths A visit to UDT 2011 gives you the opportunity to: than 80 guests attending. the last twelve months and were Elizabeth Lakey each presented with a bottle of Jim Leven Understand the latest, most cost effective technology on offer from SMEs The formal part of the evening was champagne. John Loughridge through to prime contractors presented by the SUT Perth Branch Harry Mackay Network with decision makers and experts in a relaxed environment Chairman, Terry Griffiths; Secretary, The formal part of the evening was Julie Morgan at the UDT dinner and drinks reception Dr Julie EP Morgan; and Treasurer, followed by a very interesting talk Norman O’Rourke Ray Farrier. During the presentation, by Corioli Souter, Curator at the Ewan Rowell See the latest technology in action in the Waterborne Demonstration Programme the branch’s six sponsored students Department of Maritime Archaeology, Chris Saunders for 2011 were each awarded a WA Museum, on the topic of ‘HMS Brett Silich By registering as a conference delegate you will gain certificate and cheque for $5000 AUD. Swift: A British Sloop-of-War lost off Ian Wilson Patagonia, Southern Argentina 1770’. Ben Witton additional access to: The sponsored students for 2011 The UDT conference – understand what the underwater landscape will were as follows: Aaron Boase, After the presentation, members look in 2020 Curtin University; Bassem Samir adjourned to the terrace where they Youseff, UWA (University of Western spent a relaxing hour and a half Q&A sessions to help establish how the latest innovations can help improve Australia); Jia Chen Khoo, UWA; networking over drinks and canapés. effi ciency and optimise existing assets Unique scenario based agendas, helping you prepare future strategic procurement and technology programmes Food and refreshments during the conference sessions

Maximise your time spent out of the offi ce by meeting with key suppliers and engage with the whole undersea community in one location.

Reserve your place as a UDT delegate or visitor now to benefi t from Early Bird rates. Visit www.udt-europe.com/register. Terry Griffiths, Perth Branch Chairman, and five of the six students sponsored by the Perth Branch for 2011: Aaron Boase, Jia Chen Khoo, Lisa King, Robert Ong and Ziad Zammer Lead Media Partner For more information about the UDT exhibition and Organised by conference visit www.udt-europe.com UT2 April 2011 114 115 UT2 April 2011 The SUT head office has moved to

1 Fetter Lane London EC4A 1BR UK t +44 (0)20 3440 5535 f +44 (0)20 3440 5980

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