December 2012 UT3 The magazine of the Society for Underwater Technology

Excavation and Trenching Underwater Intervention

1 UT2 December 2012 UT2 December 2012 2 December 2012 UT2 The magazine of the Society for Underwater Technology

Excavation and Trenching Underwater Intervention

1 UT2 December 2012

The T1200 trencher Image: FET/Helix

December 2012 Vol 7 No 4 UT3 Society for Underwater Technology 1 Fetter Lane London EC4A 1BR +44 (0) 1480 370007

Editor: John Howes [email protected]

Editorial Assistant: Rosa Houses

Sub Editor: Chantal Botha [email protected]

Production: Sue Denham Design and Layout Torpedo Design ISSN: 1752-0592

Published by UT2 Publishing Ltd for and on behalf of the Society for Underwater Technology. Reproduction of UT2 in whole or in part, without permission, is prohibited. The publisher and the SUT assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material, nor responsibility for content of any advertisement, particularly infringement of copyrights, trademarks, intellectual property rights and patents, nor liability for misrepresentations, false or misleading statements and illustrations. These are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Opinions of the writers are not necessarily those of the SUT or the publishers.

3 UT2 December 2012 News News

Technip Heerema Alliance and Heerema Marine These developments have significant and installation requirements of Contractors have signed a worldwide challenges for our clients, which the specialised pipe-lay vessels. alliance agreement where the alliance of Technip and Heerema two companies will combine their addresses – Increasing size and The five-year alliance agreement capabilities to address the fast complexity of ultra-deepwater projects makes available the complementary growing subsea ultra-deepwater require extensive project management assets of the two companies for ultra- market. skills and execution track record. deepwater engineering production construction and installation (EPCI) Ultra-deepwater projects are expected Complexity of deepwater reservoirs projects in all subsea markets to be the fastest growing part of the requires technology investment to requiring substantial tensioning subsea market over the next several optimise field design and provide capability. years. For example, ultra-deepwater solutions for high pressure, high infield pipelines are forecast to grow at temperature or highly corrosive It brings a worldwide commercial a yearly pace more than 15% between hydrocarbons. Deeper water and footprint and an international network 2012 and 2017. heavier pipes increase pipe-tensioning of engineering centres.

Cameron and form OneSubsea JV Cameron and Schlumberger technologies with industry leading Power and Controls businesses. have announced the creation of subsea technologies, all together Cameron will manage the joint OneSubsea, a joint venture to delivering enhanced productivity, venture and will consolidate it for manufacture and develop products, reliability and integrity. financial reporting purposes. systems and services for the subsea oil and gas market. Cameron and Schlumberger have Cameron will reflect minority interest 60/40 ownership of the joint venture, in its financial statements for This new company will offer a step respectively, and the transaction is Schlumberger’s interest in the joint change in reservoir recovery for the subject to regulatory approvals and venture (JV). subsea oil and gas industry through other customary closing conditions. integration and optimisation of the A key priority of the joint venture entire production system over the life Under the terms of the formation is to strengthen research and of the field. agreement, Cameron will contribute its engineering investment, including existing subsea division and receive complementary projects with the The integration of the production $600 million from Schlumberger. parent companies, towards the system will be accomplished by integration of the complete subsea combining superior reservoir Schlumberger will contribute its Framo, production system from pore space knowledge and wellbore Surveillance, Flow Assurance and to the export point.

TDW BP contract UTEC SBM T.D. Williamson (TDW)has signed a global pipeline UTEC are understood to have been awarded a intervention and isolation services contract with BP. significant multi-year framework agreement with SBM Offshore (Monaco). This will provide offshore survey and Activities covered by the agreement include hot positioning services carrying its construction vessel fleet, tapping and STOPPLE plugging, as well as SmartPlug initially covering operations on-board the OCV “Normand pressure isolation. The three-year contract earned Installer” and the new-build DSCV “SBM Installer.” by TDW is one of only four such contracts awarded worldwide by BP. The services contract will be managed though UTEC’s Italian office in Naples and regional sales manager Carlo This contract marks a significant achievement as the Pinto comments: “We are extremely pleased with the culmination of work with supplier engagement and faith SBM Offshore has placed in us to provide a wide evaluations. Safe isolations are important across BP’s range of survey services on its construction fleet. We operations for works such as valve replacement and for look forward to providing global support to the new SBM plant/platform shutdowns. Installer from early in 2013.”

UT2 December 2012 4 a31597 Offshore Engineer - Subsea A4 ad_Layout 1 28/11/2012 11:19 Page 1

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DEFINING SUBSEA SERVICES

5 UT2 December 2012 News News

Heidelberg Spar Technip received instructions from Anadarko Corporation to begin the engineering, construction and transport of a 23,000-ton Truss Spar(1) hull for their Heidelberg field development. This field is located in the US , at a water depth of 1620m (5310 ft).

The Letter of Intent allows Technip to begin construction work on the project and other early works including purchase of long-lead items for the hull and start of fabrication, in advance of the expected project sanctioning around mid-2013, after which it will enter into Technip’s backlog.

The Heidelberg Spar will have a capacity of more than 80,000 barrels of oil and 2.3 million cubic meters of natural gas per day.

Technip’s operating center in Houston, Texas will provide the overall project management and engineering. The detailed hull design and fabrication will be carried out by Technip’s construction yard Normand Subsea in Pori, Finland where most of Technip’s Spar projects have been manufactured.

David Dickson, Technip’s Senior Vice Subsea 7 Awarded $360M Shell USC Contracts Extension President, North America Region, Subsea 7 has been awarded a The Seven Atlantic was originally custom has declared: “Technip is really proud two year extension on both of its built specifically to meet Shell’s advanced to have received this Letter of Intent. Underwater Services Contracts by technical specification and commenced Not only does it strengthen our long- Shell Upstream International Europe, operations in 2010. She is one of the lasting relationship with Anadarko but worth approximately US$360 million. world’s largest and most capable vessels it also confirms its continuous trust of her kind, primarily designed for in the Group’s extensive know-how Under these contracts Subsea 7 saturation and air diving support works. and expertise in Spar technology. will continue to provide subsea After Lucius, awarded last year and construction, inspection, repair, The Normand Subsea was also currently being built in our yard in maintenance and decommissioning custom built to Shell’s specification and Pori, Heidelberg will be the 8th Spar services across Shell’s European commenced operations in 2009. She is a delivered by Technip to Anadarko.” offshore fields and facilities. state-of-the-art remotely operated vehicle support vessel (ROVSV), designed for The Heidelberg Spar will be the Subsea 7’s advanced vessels, the subsea inspection, maintenance and repair 17th delivered by Technip (out of 20 Seven Atlantic and the Normand with six ROVs and a module handling worldwide) and thus demonstrates Subsea will be dedicated to operate system all of which have been proven to the Group’s leadership for this kind of for Shell and, managed by an onshore operate simultaneously when required. floating platform and ability to tackle engineering and support team in ultra-deepwater developments. It excess of 50 people, they will provide The contract extension will commence in also confirms Pori’s track record 24 hour, 365 days a year, diving and 2014 and continue until at least 2016 with expertise and great capabilities to ROV support services in the harshest the possibility of up to a further two year deliver state-of-the-art platforms. of North Sea environments. extension.

UT2 December 2012 6 News

GiRi West Hub

Aker Solutions has signed a contract capabilities in Angola where with for the Block 15\06 West Hub Aker Solutions has invested for development project in the Angolan several years. We look forward to deep water region. The contract value executing this project together with is approximately USD 50 million (NOK the client ENI,” says Tove Røskaft, 300 million). head of Aker Solutions’ umbilicals business. NI has the operatorship of Block 15\06. The West Hub development The steel tube umbilicals will project, which is part of 15\06, is be manufactured and delivered located approximately 350 kilometres out of Aker Solutions’ facility northwest of Luanda and 130 in Moss, Norway supported by kilometres west of Soyo in Angola. The project management, design and West Hub consists of the main field engineering in Fornebu, Norway. Sangos and two additional satellite fields called Cinguvu and Ngoma. Subsea umbilicals are deployed on the seabed to supply necessary Aker Solutions’ scope of work includes controls and chemicals to subsea the engineering, procurement, oil and gas wells, subsea manifolds fabrication, and supply of static and and any subsea system requiring a dynamic steel tube umbilicals, totalling remote control. 34 kilometres, in addition to associated equipment and hardware. The delivery date is in the first quarter of 2014. The contract has “This contract reflects our strong been signed and booked as order ambitions for West Africa and our intake in the third quarter of 2012.

Steel tube umbilicals

FMC Tyrihans FMC Technologies has received an order from Statoil for additional subsea equipment for the Tyrihans field. The order has an estimated value of $39 million in revenue.

This order covers the supply of two subsea trees and three choke modules. The equipment is scheduled for delivery in 2013 and will be manufactured at FMC Technologies’ facilities in Norway and Scotland.

“FMC Technologies has been working with Statoil on the Tyrihans project since early in 2006,” said Tore Halvorsen, FMC Technologies’ Senior Vice President, Subsea Technologies. “This order reflects our experience as a provider of advanced subsea systems and we are pleased to deliver solutions to Statoil that help them solve the ongoing challenges in the Norwegian Sea.”

7 UT2 December 2012 News News SBM completes Teledyne Acquires Jee GustoMSC divestment PDM Neptec Expansion

SBM Offshore has sold GustoMSC, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Jee Ltd, a leading independent its non-core design and engineering has acquired the parent company of multi-discipline engineering and subsidiary, and that the approximate PDM Neptec Limited. PDM Neptec, training firm, has announced $185 million transaction with Parcom located in Hampshire, United further plans for expansion to Capital has been completed. Kingdom, provides underwater accommodate the company’s cables, fibre optic and electrical growth strategy and the creation of The sale of GustoMSC is a further subsea connectors and custom 150 new jobs in the UK. step in enabling SBM Offshore to engineering solutions. The acquired pursue its FPSO-driven strategy, company will now operate under the The company, which provides allowing its Dutch execution centre name Teledyne Impulse-PDM. a complete range of subsea in Schiedam to focus exclusively on engineering expertise, also FPSOs and FPSO-related products. “The thirteenth acquisition in our announced the appointment of new Teledyne Marine group, PDM Neptec board members Andrea Haywood, Over the years this execution centre further expands our line of harsh- Finance Director, and Jenny has developed a world-renowned environment marine interconnects Matthew, Director, who will help track record in designing FPSOs for provided by Teledyne,” said Robert drive steady growth plans, with the the Brazilian market, notably with the Mehrabian, chairman, president and aim of increasing turnover from ground-breaking FPSO Espadarte in chief executive officer of Teledyne. £5million to £20million in the next 4 2000. “In addition, PDM Neptec adds years. additional engineering talent and Over the last decade it has developed strengthens our international sales Jee managing director, Trevor Jee into a fully equipped execution channels.” said: “The Jee team, which is spread centre with approximately 550 staff, between Aberdeen and Tonbridge, with capacity to design two FPSO near London, has already outgrown projects simultaneously. The FPSO the current Aberdeen office, having projects Paraty and Ilhabela, both for doubled in size this year. As part of a client , are currently being FMC Chouest carefully managed growth strategy, designed out of the SBM Schiedam FMC Technologies has formed a we have plans in place to expand office. joint venture with Edison Chouest the Aberdeen team into new Westhill Offshore. The new company will be premises and open an engineering Bruno Chabas, CEO of SBM based in Houston. office in Central London, with the Offshore commented: “Our Schiedam potential of creating 40 jobs in the execution center, home to an Using the subsea technologies, UK by the end of 2013 and a total of innovative engineering skills base tooling and expertise of FMC 150 UK jobs over the next 4 years. within the Company, can now focus Technologies, and the vessel, fully on what we do best: FPSOs.” port logistics and ROV operations “Our biggest growth area has been of Edison Chouest Offshore, the in subsea projects, a large focus for new company intends to provide 2012 has been adding to our subsea integrated vessel-based subsea engineering team, building on the MMT name change services for offshore oil and gas wealth of knowledge the company Marin Mätteknik i Västra Frölunda fields globally. already possesses as our client AB has changed its company name portfolio rapidly increases in this to MMT Sweden AB. The corporate Services to be offered by the area. This recruitment drive will carry number is the same as before. joint venture include equipment on into 2013, allowing the Jee team intervention, riserless light well to continue providing clients with Ola Oskarsson, the founder of MMT, intervention, plug and abandonment the range of expert knowledge they comments the name change: and other services. are looking for in large and complex projects.” “ I named the company “Marin The company’s objective is to Mätteknik’ in the late ’80s, thinking provide cost-effective solutions “With our combination of that the exotic Swedish would to enhance the customer’s ability engineering and training, we are work like some other hard spelled to initiate, maintain, and increase also able to address the skills ice cream brand names. It´s production from subsea field shortage, developing engineers from now obvious that it´s too hard to developments through efficient outside of the industry into subsea pronounce and we all call ourselves operations, innovative technologies specialists through our conversion MMT anyway, so to avoid confusion and a broad inventory of vessels and programme, creating a bigger talent we changed the name accordingly.” tools. pool for this sector,” Mr Jee added.

UT2 December 2012 8 SUT

9 UT2 December 2012 BP IRM Contract

Technip has been awarded by BP a four-year extension to an existing contract. This renewed agreement confirms Technip as Subsea Construction, Inspection, Repair and Maintenance (SCIRM) BP’s contractor of choice until 2017 and could potentially frame agreement, for various assets in the UK Continental Shelf utilise DSVs (Diving Support Vessels) from Technip’s fleet (UKCS). for up to 80 days per year.

Under this contract, Technip will continue to provide solutions supported Trevor Garlick, Regional President BP North Sea, said: by highly skilled divers for BP’s existing UK subsea infrastructure until “We are continuing to invest heavily in our core North 2017. Sea assets and contractors with a strong presence in the north east of Scotland are playing a vital role supporting Bill Morrice, Managing Director, Technip’s UK operating centre said: this strategy. We look forward to continuing to work with “We are delighted to be awarded this extension that will see Technip Technip to safely maintain our existing and new subsea carry out work for BP’s UKCS assets as part of the ongoing SCIRM infrastructure.”

UT2 December 2012 10 11 UT2 December 2012 Reports Reports World Subsea Vessel Operations World Subsea Hardware Market Forecast 2012-2016 Market Forecast 2012-2016 Douglas-Westwood’s (DW) World Subsea Vessel Douglas-Westwood’s (DW) first edition of the Operations Market Forecast 2012-2016 builds on World Subsea Hardware Market Forecast was the success of the first edition to include a more published in 2011 to great acclaim. The new comprehensive supply-side competitive landscape with 2012 edition builds on DW’s market knowledge major players and their fleets, broken down by vessel and provides a comprehensive analysis of the type and geographic focus. Day rate analysis by vessel subsea hardware market through to 2016. type has been fully reviewed and updated. Expenditure of almost $135 billion is forecast DW forecast that between 2012 and 2016 $77bn will be over the next five years on subsea hardware; spent on subsea vessel operations in field development, an increase of 14% over the preceding five- inspection, repair & maintenance (IRM) and subsea year period. The ‘Golden Triangle’ of subsea . This is an increase of 63% over the will continue to dominate upstream hardware preceding five-year period, with global vessel demand for expenditure, West Africa, GoM and Brazil, with these markets expected to increase 33%. Africa remaining the largest market. Growth offshore Brazil is driven directly by Petrobras’ This strong growth is a result of confidence returning long-term deepwater and ultra-deepwater to the subsea industry, a move towards deep water strategy. in underdeveloped regions and towards ultra deep in those already developed, and the subsequent increased Deepwater hardware expenditure is forecast demand for higher specification vessels required for to grow considerably over the next five years. these operations. Developments in water depths greater than 500 metres will account for over half of the total The World Subsea Vessel Operations Market Forecast forecast market spend; illustrating the increasing 2012-2016 analyses the main factors driving demand for importance of harder-to-produce reserves. ROVSV, DSV, Flexlay, LWIV and Pipelay Vessels. The World Subsea Hardware Market Forecast The new edition contains: 2012-2016 contains: Market forecasting & field prospect data – the report uses a unique market model specifically developed in Field prospect data – analysis driven by collaboration with leading subsea industry participants. identified fields/prospects in the DW subsea Based on the DW proprietary databases covering database. Historic and forecast component and vessels and offshore oil and gas developments, the expenditure breakdowns are included for Africa, report includes a market forecast with an unmatched Asia, Australasia, Eastern Europe & FSU, Latin level of detail and presents analysis based on unique America, Middle East, North America, Norway, data. UK and Rest of Western Europe.

Macro-economic indicators – a review of those Regional forecasts – detailed by subsea influencing subsea markets including growing global production (trees, control systems, templates & energy demand and oil consumption, oil supply manifolds, flying leads & jumpers), SURF (rigid pressures, the role of deepwater, oil & gas prices drivers & flexible flowlines, risers, steel & thermoplastic & forward assumptions and E&P expenditure. umbilicals) and pipelines (trunklines). Enhanced analysis – throughout the report Vessel fleet supply-side analysis – global vessel supply new ‘speed-read’ sections summarising and trends for DSVs, ROVSVs, Flexlays, Pipelays and LWIVs explaining key points giving an enriching reader with historic vessel deliveries from 1965-2012 and vessel experience and understanding. supply expressed in total vessel days, split by type. Drivers, trends & themes – primary and Comprehensive analysis – of vessel demand for key secondary drivers for subsea field developments subsea sectors from 2007-2016. Expenditure and vessel are explained, with an overview of market sector day demand broken out by field development, IRM and trends & themes, production options and the well intervention. development of the sector. Supply chain – trends, main suppliers and Regional analysis – expenditure and vessel demand competitive landscape analysis. by market with trend commentary and speedreads for Africa, Asia, Australasia, Eastern Europe & FSU, Latin Concise Report Layout – industry background America, Middle East, North America, Norway, UK and and supporting materials condensed to enable Rest of Western Europe. quick review.

UT2 December 2012 12 News

Subsea Well Intervention Offshore Asia Pacific Oil Market Report & Gas Market Report Infield has published its latest For operators wishing to optimise Infield has produced its Offshore Subsea Well Intervention Market production from these recent Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Market Report report. discoveries, well intervention Despite the global economic downturn operations will be a necessity. and uncertainty still surrounding the The subsea oil and gas market Riserless Light Well Intervention Eurozone sovereign debt crisis, Asia continues to grow at an increasing (RLWI) has the potential to become is expected to see economic growth of pace, as oil and gas operators vital to any operator around the 6.9% in 2012 and 7.3% in 2013, with continue to discover reserves in world that possesses a substantial domestically driven economic growth deeper water areas where the only number of subsea wells. This is in China and India providing buoyancy economically viable recovery solution especially the case given that, in to the region. A significant constraint is a subsea development. order to service the unprecedented on the region’s economic growth is demand for hydrocarbons, operators its increased dependence on foreign As such, the requirement for face an ever increasing need to imports of oil and gas as domestic maintaining and boosting recovery optimise recovery rates and to consumption outstrips production. T rates from these subsea wells has extend exploration activity into increased and will continue to do so. deeper and harsher territories. his has been exacerbated following As a result of this need to maintain the Japanese nuclear crisis, which has and boost production, Infield Systems Statoil has been a pioneer of RLWI transformed Japan’s previously stable believes that well intervention activity, predominantly in the North energy market into the world’s most activities will play a key role in the Sea, and has contracts running demanding LNG importer. In an attempt future of the subsea oil and gas until 2020 to ensure it can achieve to decrease import dependency and market. its well intervention requirements, to boost energy security, the region’s whilst additional activity is beginning countries have an interest in meeting This unique report discusses the to come from Total in Angola, as much domestic demand as possible potential requirement for well Petrobras in Brazil and BP, Shell and from home sources. intervention services by applying a ExxonMobil in the North Sea, US probability model for subsea wells GoM and West Africa. This is not just the case for the region’s around the world. The report includes giants, China and India, but also for detailed information on intervention, Light well intervention demand is other major regional energy producers, IRM, subsea installations and the expected to continue to account including: Thailand, Malaysia and approach of various operators, for the greatest share of well Indonesia. Supported by these strong contractors and equipment providers intervention demand going forwards, fundamentals, Asia is becoming an to the use of well intervention at 53%. However, with the increasing increasingly important part of the world technologies. It provides a valuable age of existing subsea wells, for oil and gas exploration and drilling. insight into key developments within demand for medium and heavy The sector is dominated by offshore the well intervention market. interventions is also expected to production, and as a result, offshore increase, fuelling the need for Capex is expected to show significant Europe is anticipated to require larger Semi-Submersible specific growth over the coming five years as the largest market share of well well intervention vessels to carry countries attempt to expand indigenous intervention demand going forward, at out more complicated intervention oil exploration and production activity. 32%, as activity is fuelled by the large activities. As a result, Infield Systems expects the number of existing subsea wells in region to be the second highest investor the region. This report explores further the in offshore Capex in the world over the key reasons for carrying out well next five years, behind only Africa. Activity will remain primarily focused intervention activities, as well as on the well-established UK and highlighting the main differences that Despite its attempts to decrease import Norwegian markets, with Statoil exist between the three main types. dependency, Asia’s current energy continuing to lead the way in terms deficit cannot be ignored. ’s of performing well intervention work. In addition, the report aims to geographical proximity to the energy Elsewhere, the increasing number of provide the reader with a better hungry Asia Pacific markets means deeper water discoveries, particularly understanding of the new vessels that it is in a prime location to supply in the African and Latin American that are being built in order to this neighbouring region with natural markets, is expected to account for service this changing market as gas, although it could face competition the increase in demand in these well as providing an insight into the from Canada and the United States, regions, as these deeper water likely demand for well intervention which also have the potential to supply discoveries need to be developed operations from key operators over LNG to Asian gas markets. It is likely with subsea technology. the next five years. that throughout the forecast period and

13 UT2 December 2012 News News EMAS AMC scores a ‘Korean Double’

beyond, Australia’s emergence as a EMAS, has secured two contracts 3x3 anchor leg system, foundation piles, significant player in the global with major South Korean clients worth pipeline end manifold (PLEM), flowlines, LNG market will continue, driven in a combined total of approximately risers, power cable and related subsea no small part by the development US$200 million. structures. of its offshore gas resources The engineering and project management and onshore unconventional gas EMAS’ subsea division (EMAS AMC) work will commence immediately with reserves. was awarded an EPCIC contract in offshore execution scheduled for 2015 Asia by STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Currently Australia is ranked eleventh Co. Ltd for the engineering, Separately EMAS AMC has further in the world in terms of natural gas procurement, construction, installation entered into an agreement with DSME reserves and fourth in relation to and commissioning of a turret mooring for one of its accommodation and hook- LNG exports. It has the potential to and subsea system for use offshore up support vessels also for operations become the leading LNG exporting Africa. EMAS AMC’s scope includes offshore Africa. Offshore operations are country in the world overtaking Qatar, the turnkey delivery of an external expected to commence in the first quarter which currently holds this position. turret including the product swivel, a of 2014.

Australia will be one of the first few countries in the world to use FLNG technology; with notable projects currently under development Arbol Grande Cal Dive Kestrel including: Shell’s Prelude project and DeepOcean has been awarded Cal Dive International has recently GDF Suez’s Bonaparte FLNG project. a 18 months extension on Arbol commenced a two-year charter of the Indeed, Infield Systems expects that Grande with offshore contractor DP saturation diving vessel Kestrel 45% of the region’s total floating Constructora Subacuatica to a major contractor in Mexico to platform Capex could be directed Diavaz in Mexico. The new perform repair and maintenance work towards FLNG developments over contract is valid until end 2014. for Pemex. the next five years. Included is an option for Diavaz to declare an additional year The charter started in mid-October Whilst offshore Capex for both under same contract. and has a fixed term of two years regions is set to increase dramatically with an additional one-year option. during the forecast period, the DeepOcean was awarded the The charter is expected to result markets are likely to display different original contract in 2003 and characteristics. Asia will continue to Arbol Grande has been working be characterised by shallow water in Mexican waters since delivery. developments in the short term, and Kestrel thus Capex levels on pipeline and The vessel has shown an fixed platform developments will exceptionally high operational account for the largest proportion of regularity and proven herself regional expenditure. as a very good asset for Diavaz in the top side and subsea Capex growth in Australasia on the construction support, inspection, other hand is likely to be dominated maintenance and repair work for by the Australian pipeline sector, state owned oil&gas company with 44% of the region’s total PEMEX. Capex associated with pipeline developments. The increase in Earlier this year, DeepOcean forecast pipeline Capex is due to was awarded a 1 year option several major offshore projects by Statoil for the vessel Edda in Australia, which should attract Flora under the existing frame significant levels of expenditure in the agreement for Inspection, near future. Maintenance and Repair (IMR) the company holds with Statoil. The next five years look set to be an exciting time for both regions, with Edda Flora is now committed significant Capex growth expected until 1st December, 2013. The and changing market dynamics award represents a significant which could have far reaching addition to DeepOcean’s order consequences. book.

UT2 December 2012 14 News

Total Pazflor Technip

FMC Technologies announced today “The Pazflor field recently celebrated Technip has been awarded a €210 that it has received an order from Total its one-year anniversary of million contract by Inpex for the Angola for additional subsea equipment production,” said Tore Halvorsen, Ichthys LNG Project located in the for the Pazflor field. The contract has an FMC Technologies’ Senior Vice Browse Basin, Western Australia. estimated value of $33 million in revenue. President, Subsea Technologies. An integrated team will work on all The Pazflor field is located in Block “We are pleased to continue our activities related to the preparation 17 offshore Angola. The initial subsea support of Total E&P Angola and the and execution of the offshore systems delivered to Total for the Pazflor Pazflor project, which utilizes some commissioning for the floating, field have been in operation for more of the industry’s most advanced production, storage and offloading than a year. FMC Technologies’ scope technologies including three subsea (FPSO) unit and the central of additional supply for complementary gas/liquid separation stations to processing facility. development under today’s contract address hydrate formation, heavy oil, includes three additional subsea well and low reservoir pressure enabling l Technip was awarded an systems. increased oil and gas production.” engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPIC) contract by Total Angola for the second phase of the Girassol Resources Initiatives (GirRI) development project. The field is in earnings before interest, taxes, one of Cal Dive’s portable saturation located 210km offshore Angola, at a depreciation and amortisation diving systems while the third contract water depth of 1300m. (EBITDA) of approximately $10 will be performed from a third party million per year during the two-year vessel utilizing a built in saturation The contract covers the project charter term. The vessel is expected diving system. management, engineering, to generate approximately break-even fabrication and installation of: EBITDA in 2012. These three contracts are expected to generate total revenue of 21km of umbilicals, 13km of In addition, Cal Dive has been awarded approximately $20 million during 2013 interconnecting power cable three saturation diving contracts in and the first project is expected to between the Dalia and the Girassol Australia. Two of the projects will utilise commence in the first quarter 2013. floating production storage and offloading units (FPSO), both delivered by Technip, the recovery and disposal of four rigid spools, the installation of eight new flexible spools.

l Technip was awarded a lump sum contract for the development of subsea infrastructure for the Cardamom field located in the Gulf of Mexico, Garden Banks block 427. The field is at a water depth of approximately 830m.

The project consists of a subsea tie-back to the Auger tension leg platform, wholly owned by Shell Offshore.

The contract covers the project management, engineering, fabrication and installation of the East and West Loop 12.8km pipe- in-pipe flowlines with associated PLETs and steel catenary risers. The offshore installation is expected to be performed in 2013

15 UT2 December 2012 Transport and export will take place via the Gullfaks C export system. (Photo: Øyvind Hagen)

UT2 December 2012 16 Visund South comes on stream Statoil has started up production on of a template and four wells, where the Visund South oil and gas field in the first of three wells have been the North Sea. Visund South is the drilled and tied back to Gullfaks C for first of Statoil’s fast-track portfolio processing. projects. The Visund South volumes have been The development represents a estimated at around 67 million barrels total investment of roughly NOK of oil equivalents and the discovery is 5.6 billion. Transport and export will being characterised as a medium-sized take place via the Gullfaks C export one, in which oil accounts for 25% and system. gas 75%.

Visund South consists of the Pan “I would like to thank all the suppliers, and Pandora discoveries, which are including main supplier FMC located 10 kilometres from both the Technologies for delivery of the Gullfaks C and Visund A-platforms subsea production system, Subsea and have been developed by means 7 for marine installation, and topside of a subsea installation. This consists contractor Aibel for its contribution.

17 UT2 December 2012 News News

Dalmatian

Technip has been awarded a lump tie-back to an existing Gulf of Mexico Houston, Texas will perform the sum contract by Murphy Exploration platform. The contract covers: overall project management. The & Production Company – USA for the flowlines and risers will be welded development of the Dalmatian field. l Project management, engineering, at the Group’s spoolbase in Mobile, fabrication and installation of a gas Alabama. The field located in the Gulf of riser, an oil riser, Mexico, at a water depth ranging l a 38km flowline and a 34km pipe- Offshore installation is scheduled from 530 to 1800m. This field, jointly in-pipe flowline with associated PLETs to be completed in 2013 by the owned by Murphy and Ecopetrol and jumpers , Deep Blue, Technip’s deepwater America Inc., is comprised of the l installation of a main subsea pipelay vessel, the Pioneer, which De Soto Canyon Blocks 4, 47, 48 control umbilical , infield umbilical, was recently added to the Technip and 91. and associated foundation and flying fleet with the acquisition of Global leads,pre-commissioning. Industries, and the HOS Iron Horse, a The project consists of a subsea Technip’s operating centre in Technip managed multiservice vessel.

UT2 December 2012 18 News

Heidrun FSU Statoil has issued a letter of intent from the field has since the start been “To reach this goal we need robust to Samsung Heavy Industries for the exported via a buoy loading system systems on board and efficient and construction of a new permanent consisting of two buoys and purpose- secure oil export solutions. The floating storage unit (FSU) for the built shuttle tankers. new storage unit will provide such Heidrun field in the Norwegian Sea. an efficient and robust oil storage The new FSU will be permanently solution in the Heidrun area.” The contract is worth an estimated connected to a buoy, and the oil will be USD 230 million and includes lifted from the FSU by use of shuttle The unit will be built by Samsung at options to buy two additional units. tankers. The FSU will be permanently the world’s second-largest shipyard The new storage unit will replace the manned and has an expected design in Geoje Island, Republic of Korea. existing buoy loading system on the life of 30 years. Engineering will start immediately field. and the unit is expected to be on “Our ambition is to maintain Heidrun location at the Heidrun field in The Heidrun field has been production at least until 2045,” says the first half of 2015. Statoil has developed with a floating tension Morten Loktu, Statoil’s head of the also secured options to buy two leg platform with a concrete hull and operations north cluster on the additional storage units for use on has been on stream since 1995. Oil Norwegian continental shelf. other fields if required.

BP/ Subsea 7 Subsea 7 has annonced that BP Trevor Garlick, Regional President BP deep water environment west of has extended its contract for Subsea North Sea, said: “We are continuing Shetland since 1998 and today’s Construction, Inspection, Repair and to invest heavily in our core North announcement will see that Maintenance services in the North Sea assets and local contractors in relationship continue for at least a Sea. The five year contract extension the north east of Scotland are playing further five years. is valued at approximately US$300M a vital role supporting this strategy. and will run until 2017. We look forward to continuing to work “This award highlights our proven with Subsea 7 in safely maintaining track record for safely delivering Under the terms of this contract our existing and new subsea successful specialist Life-of- Subsea 7 will deploy the multi- infrastructure.” Field operations in one of the purpose support vessel Subsea harshest offshore environments. Viking to provide extensive support Steph McNeill, Vice President UK Subsea 7 has accumulated a services primarily for BP’s operations and Canada, said: “We are delighted considerable understanding of the in the Foinaven and Schiehallion with this significant award from BP unique challenges of working in fields, west of Shetland, as well as which will secure 100 UK jobs. Subsea this environment enabling us to support for BP assets elsewhere in 7 has successfully supported BP’s develop and implement innovative the North Sea. operations in the very challenging technology.”

Visund Aker Solutions has been awarded Visund is an oil and gas field located The five subsea trees for the Visund a contract by Statoil to deliver five 22 kilometres north-east of the field will be equipped with Aker subsea trees and eleven control Gullfaks field in the Tampen area of the Solutions’ most advanced subsea modules to the Visund field on Norwegian North Sea. The field came technology. This technology enables the Norwegian continental shelf. on stream in the spring of 1999. oil and gas production from intelligent Contract value is approximately wells which provides higher oil and NOK 300 million. “Aker Solutions has a proud heritage gas recovery and more reservoir at Visund with more than 30 trees data. The agreement is a call-off from an delivered overall. We look forward to existing frame agreement between supporting Statoil’s goal of increasing The Visund trees will be Statoil and Aker Solutions signed in the production rates at Visund,” says manufactured at Aker Solutions’ 2007. The agreement also includes Alan Brunnen, executive vice president facility in Tranby, Norway, while the an option of an additional four of Aker Solutions’ subsea business control modules will be manufactured subsea tree systems. area. at their Aberdeen facility in the UK.

19 UT2 December 2012 News News Split design support Subsea 7 Contract

Caxton Engineering Services has ubsea 7, a global leader in seabed- compliant Moray head, which allows developed a novel support system to-surface engineering, construction the installation contractor to maintain for conductor casing operations at and services to the offshore energy tighter routing in congested areas. ConocoPhillips Norway’s Ekofisk industry, has been awarded a BP Delivery is scheduled to begin in the field. The first commercial application project, worth approximately $30 second quarter of 2013. of this new system is currently in million, under the SCIRM Frame progress. Agreement Contract to support the redevelopment of the Schiehallion Caley on MARS The initial work scope for the system Field, west of Shetland. The scope Offshore handling systems specialist, is six wells this year; a second phase, includes the provision of a subsea Caley Ocean Systems has been which may include up to 30 more construction vessel for a period of five awarded a contract by Cameron wells, is being planned. months to perform the disconnection to develop a new deployment and of the risers subsea prior to the overboarding system for the MARS “We developed the new system in removal and replacement of the (Multiple Application Re-injection response to a customer request,” said existing FPSO. System) for deepwater scale squeeze Owen Lewis, Claxton Engineering applications. The modular handling project engineer. “ConocoPhillips The work will be engineered and system will allow the MARS hardware wanted a tool that would enable managed from Subsea 7’s office in to be more easily deployed onto the operations to continue once the Aberdeen, with offshore work due to seabed from smaller vessels. cement had been pumped through commence in early 2013. the wellbore to hold the conductor The MARS system is used to improve instead of having to wait for the Subsea 7’s UK and Canada Vice oil recovery as part of enhanced cement to cure enough to move on.” President, Steph McNeill, said: “We oil recovery (EOR) in mature are pleased to be awarded this basins, brownfield developments The system, supplied as part important project from BP. Subsea and greenfield projects. Caley is of Claxton Engineering’s risers, 7 has been providing subsea supplying a standalone handling conductors and flowlines business, construction, inspection, repair and system comprising a high performance supports the first well conductor maintenance in the harsh deepwater spooler, hydraulic power unit (HPU) casing string that the rig places in environment west of Shetland for more and control station. It will use a flexible each platform slot. The conductor is than 18 years. riser to deploy the MARS system, initially placed and cemented using and feature Caley’s proven clamping the rig. Following this, the split- technology to reduce fatigue loading design support system is moved into Equipment Order on the riser. position, attached and then elevated Deep Down has received orders to the necessary height. The rig then in excess of $2.4 million from two skids over to the next well while the international customers for the Deep Ocean IMR new system supports the conductor provision of subsea hardware for a DeepOcean has been awarded until the cement sets. This system shallow water gas field development in extensions and additional work under enables the rig to move on without the South China Sea. long term Inspection, Maintenance waiting on cement to set, which and Repair (IMR) contract with Statoil. typically could be for up to eight The first order is for the manufacture The awarded work includes a 1 year hours, and will deliver significant of six Moray umbilical termination option for the Edda Fauna and a 7 time and cost savings on a multi-well housing assemblies (UTH). Deep months option for Edda Fonn. The programme. Down’s unique Moray UTH was award represents an addition of several chosen primarily because the design hundred million kroner to DeepOcean’s One of the key features of this lends itself equally well to first and order book. conductor cementing support system second end umbilical installations. is that it can be moved without The Edda Fauna is specially designed needing a crane or forklift. This Additionally, the Moray UTH interfaces for IMR services and will continue to provides added flexibility in terms of directly to the tree and distribution work on various IMR activities The deployment and means that, while structures, thereby eliminating vessel is equipped with ROVs (Remotely the rig is working on the next well in a secondary foundations and auxiliary Operated Vehicles), module handling series, the system can be moved by hydraulic and electrical flying tower, AHC offshore crane, and an hand to wherever it is needed. leads. The second order is for the integrated scale squeeze system for The system is unique because it manufacture of seven loose steel-tube chemical well stimulation. Vessel is constructed in two halves and is flying leads to complete the hydraulic operations will be supported by the designed to be moved on the platform distribution for the field. These experienced DeepOcean project teams without relying on rig support. flying leads utilize a smaller more both on- and offshore.

UT2 December 2012 20 News

Jumbo main installation contractor for EnQuest Producer

Jumbo has been awarded a FPSO refurbishment at a repair yard in • Installation of the bottom chains (9 mooring, installation and hook-up Hamburg, Germany. x 130m, 142mm, 58t each) contract by EnQuest. • Installation of the mooring wires Jumbo’s Heavy Lift Vessel Fairplayer (spiral strand, 9 x 1150m, 94t each) EnQuest is redeveloping the Ardmore will install the mooring spread for the • Installation of the top chain (9 x and Duncan fields as Alma and Galia ‘EnQuest Producer’ in the middle of 715m, 142mm, 316t each) respectively. The project scope is the 2013. Utilizing the enormous hold and • Test loading of the anchor and mooring spread installation and FPSO the onboard 900t mast cranes Jumbo’s bottom chain tow out and hook up. This will be the Fairplayer takes all equipment on • Demobilisation of HLV Fairplayer first offshore project in which Jumbo board, transits to site and installs all acts as the main contractor instead of equipment in one go. To ensure station 3. FPSO tow out and hook-up being the subcontractor. keeping, the Fairplayer’s dynamic • FPSO tow preparations positioning system (DP2) will be used • Tow from Hamburg yard to the field Alma and Galia fields during installation activities. • Field approach and station keeping Alma and Galia fields lie in Blocks • Connecting of mooring legs 30/24, 30/25 and 30/29, 310km south- The complete EnQuest project scope: • Final tensioning of the mooring east of Aberdeen in the UK North 1. Storage of the chains and wires legs Sea. The fields will be brought on stream in 2013 using the Floating, 2. Mooring leg installation Jumbo awarded the FPSO Production, Storage and Offloading • Fabrication of the anchor piles tow-out and hook-up scope (FPSO) vessel EnQuest Producer, • Preparation, mobilisation of HLV to experienced and reliable formerly known as the Uisge Gorm. Fairplayer, transit to field contractor Boskalis Offshore - • Installation of the anchor piles (9 Marine Contracting (formerly This FPSO is currently under pieces length 32-40m, diameter 84in) SMIT Marine Projects).

21 UT2 December 2012 News News Bøyla field approved for development

The approved Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) for the Bøyla field (PL 340) has been ratified. The plan was submitted earlier this year to the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Norge.

The Bøyla field is located in block 24/9 in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea approximately 28 kilometres south of the Marathon Oil operated Alvheim Field. The PL 340 license was awarded in 2004 and the initial discovery was made in 2009. Subsurface evaluation and mapping conducted post exploration and appraisal drilling has resulted in a gross mean commercial volume estimate of 23 million barrels of oil equivalent. The development solution selected for the Bøyla field is a subsea tie-back to the Alvheim floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. The Alvheim FPSO requires minimum modifications to receive and process Bøyla production.

The total investment in the field development is estimated to be 4.9 billion Norwegian kroner. The first production from Bøyla is scheduled for Q4 2014.

The licensees in PL 340 are: Operator Marathon Oil Norge AS with 65% working interest, ConocoPhillips Skandinavia with 20%, and Lundin Norway with the remaining 15% Alvheim FPSO working interest.

Fram H Statoil is embarking on a plan to in the area as the licence partners Drilling, which is due to start in the recover around 10 million barrels of have approved the installation of a fourth quarter of 2013, will involve a oil equivalent through the construction four-slot standard template to be used well with two branches for the optimal of a seabed template on the Fram H for additional targets or for tying back draining of proven reservoir. The field North structure. The seabed template prospects in the event of discoveries. will maintain a high temperature in the is connected to the A2 template flowline to the host platform, Troll C. on Fram West, which transports Provisional estimates indicate that the production on to the Troll C platform. field contains recoverable reserves This will obviate the use of scale and Fram H North is the tenth fast-track of roughly 10 million barrels of oil wax inhibitors in the pipelines between project in Statoil’s portfolio. equivalent. The installation of all Fram and Troll C. It also secures the seabed equipment and laying of the production of oil and gas from The development of this field may be pipelines and control cables is planned acreage where there are considerable a door opener for new developments for the summer of 2013. supplementary resources.

UT2 December 2012 22 News

Svalin Cable Procurement The Norwegian Ministry of McDermott has been awarded a cable procurement, while fabrication will Petroleum and Energy (MPE) procurement and installation project be carried out at the Jebel Ali facility, approved the Plan for Development for in the Safaniya, Abu with cable installation by North and Operation (PDO)News of Svalin. The Safah and Marjan fields. Ocean 102. field is one of Statoil's fast-track developments, the ninth in a row. The contract will include the A 15 kV composite cable covering procurement, transportation, 26.9km will be installed in six "This is the first tie-in field to Grane, installation, hookup and testing segments in the Safaniya, Abu and it is one of the most profitable of seven composite cables and Safa and Marjan fields and a 35 kV projects in the fast-track portfolio, as corresponding anode sleds. composite cable covering 28.4km will a result of low development costs. be installed in one segment in the Good cooperation internally and The McDermott engineering office Marjan field. The offshore campaign with the license partners has led to in Al-Khobar will undertake design is scheduled to commence during the sound and cost-effective solutions," and installation engineering and second quarter of 2013. says Bjørn Herdlevær, project manager for Svalin. Fast-track developments are Gullfaks South characterised by the use of standard solutions and existing infrastructure. Technip has been awarded a contract The Gullfaks South project for the fabrication, installation and development will contribute to Statoil’s The Svalin field is located about tie-ins of flowlines by Statoil for the extensive initiatives on increased oil six kilometres southwest of the Gullfaks South field development. recovery and consists of two manifolds Grane platform, at a water depth of tied back to the existing Gullfaks 125 metres. Recoverable reserves The field is in the northern part of the South infrastructure by 20 km of new are estimated at approximately 75 North Sea, located approximately flowlines. This development will be million barrels of oil (corresponding 190 kilometers northwest of Bergen, based on the use of direct electrical to 12 million standard cubic metres). Norway, at water depths between 130 heating and pipe-in-pipe flowline The reserves are about equally split and 220m. technology. between the two structures on the field: Svalin C and Svalin M The Svalin field will be connected to Acteon the Grane platform. The wellstream from Svalin M will be produced Acteon has announced the in their relentless goal to build an through a designated well drilled acquisition of a majority interest industry leader, and we are delighted from the Grane platform. in the company by an affiliate of with the impressive success the Kohlberg Kravis Roberts from First company has achieved. Svalin C will be a subsea facility Reserve, with management retaining tied in to Grane by a six-kilometre a significant holding in the company. Since our initial investment in production pipeline. There will be a 2006, Acteon has completed eight joint processing and export solution. Acteon has built a significant subsea acquisitions, quadrupled its operating The gas compression facility on the services business in the oil and gas profits and significantly expanded its Grane platform will be modified to sector. This latest investment will geographic footprint. We thank the handle gas from Svalin. support the continued delivery of its entire Acteon team and wish them ambitions and of its goal to define every success for continued growth in Oil from Svalin will be transported the market in this relatively new the future.” together with Grane's own and expanding part of the upstream production in the existing pipeline industry. Dominic Murphy, a member of KKR, from Grane for storage and and Josselin de Roquemaurel, a shipment from the oil terminal at As part of the transaction, the director of KKR, said: “This is a Sture. Houston-based private equity firm growth investment in partnership with White Deer Energy will be investing a highly entrepreneurial management Svalin M was discovered in 2008, alongside KKR and management. team. and production start-up is slated for the end of 2013. Svalin C Will Honeybourne and Jeff Quake, “We are excited to support Acteon and was discovered in 1992 and is First Reserve Managing Directors, work with the team to develop it as a scheduled to start producing during said “We have enjoyed working with leading global franchise for offshore the summer of 2014. the company’s talented management and subsea energy services.”

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UT2 December 2012 24

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FOR227 UT4 Spread Ad_111412.indd 1 11/14/12 1:09 PM Skuld

Aker Solutions has successfully templates, was also delivered on destined for the Skuld field, which completed the manufacturing and budget and on time in line with Statoil’s is located north of the Norne field, subsequent load-out of one template standardisation objectives to reduce approximately 200 kilometres west of and three manifolds for Statoil’s cost levels as well as risk and time in Sandessjøen, Norway, in a water depth Skuld field in the North Sea. executing the project. of 360 metres.

“Together with Statoil our project “Aker Solutions was awarded the Skuld is a development project team has worked tirelessly to contract in April 2011. In just over covering the Dompap and Fossekall oil complete this important milestone. a year Aker Solutions has done a discoveries. Dompap was discovered I’m proud of my colleagues and fantastic job, where the three integrated in 2009 and Fossekall as late as April satisfied on behalf of our customer manifolds are the main deliverables. 2010. Statoil, that we are delivering this on schedule and on budget,” says A close follow-up, cooperation and The subsea installations will be tied Svein Oskar Nuland, head of Aker trust between the teams from Aker back to the Norne floating production Solutions’ yard in Egersund, Norway. Solutions and Statoil has been crucial storage and offloading vessel through in achieving such a complex delivery,” a production flowline. The delivery of the subsea manifolds says Erik Opøien, company responsible and template is the yard’s second for Skuld in Statoil. Skuld is implemented as a “fast track” hardware load-out for the Skuld project, with short execution time and project. The first, consisting of two The templates and the manifolds are optimal value.

UT2 December 2012 26 27 UT2 December 2012 UT2 December 2012 28 Next generation for Arctic

ABB recently won an order worth $35 million an Azipod propulsion system, with from the Baltic Shipyard Ltd. to supply up to 20 percent fuel reduction. The powerful propulsion and energy efficient delivery schedule is due to start in electrical systems for a new icebreaker vessel 2013 and the vessel will be delivered under construction for Russia’s state shipping to Rosmorport in 2015. company Rosmorport FSUE. ABB will provide integrated power The 25 megawatt (MW) line diesel- generation and distribution systems, electric icebreaker is the next-generation thruster motors, fire-fighting pump multifunctional diesel-electric icebreaker. motors as well as 25 MW propulsion The navigation area of the icebreaker is the systems. , the Arctic seas and estuaries of rivers discharging into the Arctic The propulsion system of the vessel Ocean. features two Azipod thruster units (power output 2 x 7.5MW) and one The icebreaker is able to proceed continuously centerline arranged shafting with both ahead and astern at the speed of 2 knots a fixed pitch propeller generating in compact ice field up to 2m thick with 20 additional 10MW output. All Azipod cm of snow cover and temperatures as low propulsion units for this project are as minus 35o Celsius. Considerable gains specifically designed for extreme Arctic in energy efficiency can be achieved using ice class RMRS Icebreaker-8.

29 UT2 December 2012 Tree installation from Edda Fauna

DeepOcean has, for the first time, Subsea tree installation is typically Skuld project in the Norwegian Sea. installed a subsea X-Mas tree from carried out from the drilling rig. Using an the specialised IMR vessel. This is a IMR vessel is a cost effective solution “This involves heavy lifting as this milestone in the company’s IMR work saving several days of expensive drilling Xmas tree with all control equipment for Statoil. rig time, while freeing capacity for weighing 55 tons,” says Sveinung Statoil’s contracted drilling rigs. Soma, Engineering Manager at The company performed the DeepOcean. valve tree on a drilled well before The operation was performed by Edda completion. Fauna for the fast track development “Lifting operations are critical and

UT2 December 2012 30 Tree installation from Edda Fauna

small weather window. The promise was carried out with the boat’s module handling tower and lowered through the ship’s moon pool.

“This is an operation which I think both we and the Statoil IMR organisation has wanted to perform for a long time.

31 UT2 December 2012 News News Cyclone simulator provides oil and gas industry with pipeline solutions In a big shed in , Western diameter pipe – which acts as a model providing information on the Australia, there’s an innovative piece offshore pipeline – rests on seabed soil hydrodynamic pressures created of equipment with a funny name that at the bottom of the tank. by the cyclonic flow conditions, as looks a bit like a giant fish tank. well as the soil resistance acting to The tank is completed by a giant tube stabilise the pipe. It’s called the O-tube – and it’s that connects each end of the tank. helping the oil and gas industry Within this tube is a powerful propeller Scour processes can be observed develop the skills and knowledge to which rapidly circulates 60 tonnes of through the viewing windows of the build better, safer offshore pipelines water back and forth within the tank, tank, and the surface of the model capable of withstanding the effects of under precise control, simulating the seabed can be scanned using infra- cyclones and other hazards. conditions at the seabed during a red photogrammetry. This allows cyclone. changes in seabed topography The O-tube was designed and built during a cyclone to be quantified – by researchers at the University of Unlike conventional open-channel or something which is impractical in the Western Australia’s School of Civil U-tube flumes, the O-tube can replicate field. and Resource Engineering and at full scale the seabed flow conditions the university’s Centre for Offshore created by cyclonic waves and currents. The research into pipeline Foundation Systems (COFS). The powerful yet precise control stabilisation is crucial. During a big system allows irregular flows such as storm, if the seabed soil liquefies, a To the casual observer, it looks random design storms to be accurately pipeline might float up or down. Or if like an oversize fish tank, some 20 replicated – a feature that the pendulum the soil scours away, the pipeline may metres long by two metres high. action of a U-tube prevents. be exposed, and also wash sideways.

Inside it, a section of 200 mm The model pipe is heavily instrumented, There’s a lot at stake.

Examining the O-tube, Image: Matt Galligan.

UT2 December 2012 32 LUXUS Cameras and Lights

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“An estimated 3,000 kilometres of Awards held in Perth in September. colleague Professor Liang Cheng in pipeline is due be installed offshore partnership with Woodside, Chevron Australia over the next 10 years, The judges noted that the O-tube and the Australian Research costing more than $15 billion – with program utilises local ingenuity and Council, with support from local about 30 per cent of this cost relating design skills to achieve a unique, engineering consultancies Atteris to stabilisation measures” says world-class facility that enables a wide and J P Kenny. Professor David White of COFS. range of further research and testing. They also pointed out that the O-tube “The O-tube has been used “Any minor reduction in stabilisation program has significant international to support pipeline design for requirements yields significant cost importance and impact. Chevron’s Wheatstone LNG project savings.” being built on the North West Shelf, Professor White says the O-tube as well as Woodside’s Browse LNG Professor White says the O-tube in a program is a good example of industry development,” says Professor Liang unique Australian invention conceived, and the university sector working Cheng. “It has also been used to re- designed and assembled by UWA. together to overcome the challenges assess the condition of an existing associated with the unique seabed and pipeline located offshore Australia.” “We’re very proud of the O-tube,” he metocean conditions found off Western says. Australia. In that example, the O-tube provided data that was used to “There’s nothing else like it in the Woodside recently announced that eliminate conservatisms identified world. It’s an Australian-designed the O-tube research program had in conventional design approaches, experimental facility which can already yielded a greater than 10:1 resulting in significant cost savings. simulate and monitor ocean-seabed- return on its investment. In addition, pipeline interactions.” the O-tube program has created a COFS is acknowledged as an unique facility within Western Australia international leader in the field of The wider engineering community which is becoming a worldwide hub offshore geotechnical engineering agrees. The O-tube program has for research, industry activity, and and apart from its work in Australia, picked up three awards recently, engineer training. its researchers also assist the oil including the Innovation and and gas industry in the US, Europe, Development category of the Western The O-tube program was initiated by Brazil, India, the Middle East and Australian Engineering Excellence UWA, led by Professor White and his Southern Africa.

33 UT2 December 2012 O-Tube

UT2 December 2012 34 35 UT2 December 2012 News News Russian Arctic SBM Offshore/ GE Environmental Protection CompactGTL Chevron President and Chairman of the SBM Offshore has signed a GE Oil & Gas has received a Management Board of Igor Commercial Development Agreement £102 million (US$165 million) Sechin and President and CEO with CompactGTL Ltd, the pioneer contract to supply production of Statoil Helge Lund have signed of modular gas to liquid solutions, to equipment to Chevron’s Lianzi a Declaration on Protection of work exclusively together on offshore project, situated offshore the Environment and Biodiversity projects. between Angola and the for Oil and Gas Exploration and Republic of Congo. Development on the Russian Arctic The use of GTL technology for Continental Shelf. floating production systems has the GE will provide a range of potential to significantly reduce gas technologies to enable EPC Acknowledging that the Arctic flaring, by transforming associated (engineering, procurement and environment consists of ecosystems gas into synthetic crude oil which can construction) project execution. with unique features and resources, be blended in to the produced crude This includes the supply of and as such, require special oil. The two companies have been seven trees, nine subsea control protective measures, Rosneft has working together since 2008 and this modules (SCMs), topside and taken the initiative for a declaration agreement opens the door for the subsea controls distribution on environmental protection in the world’s first, fully integrated, offshore equipment and vertical Arctic to be signed with its partners. modular GTL solution for the upstream connection systems. industry. The Parties will seek to coordinate Completion of the first tree is activities in order to preserve the The companies will combine their scheduled to take place in the biodiversity of the Arctic, including strengths for the marketing and fourth quarter of 2013, with a observing the principles and execution of projects involving cross-regional team from GE recommendations of the Convention associated gas challenges for oil fields Oil & Gas’ Aberdeen, Nailsea on biological diversity and the offshore. and Sandvika (Norway) sites standards set by IPIECA, the global collaborating on project delivery. oil and gas industry association for Mike Wyllie, Chief Technology Officer, environmental and social issues. SBM Offshore said:“SBM Offshore and Rod Christie, vice president of CompactGTL provide complimentary Subsea Systems, said, “West The Declaration also supports expertise, and by combining this we Africa is one of the world’s regular monitoring of changes to have been able to develop an exciting key hydrocarbon basins, and the natural landscape and seas of new FPSO product which will be a we are excited to be working the Arctic, as well as international attractive solution for associated gas with Chevron Overseas Congo cooperation as part of the Arctic disposal in ultra deepwater fields” Limited as operator of the Lianzi Environmental Protection Strategy project, the first cross-border (AEPS). SBM Offshore confirms that Talisman development in the region. and SBM Offshore have presented In order to ensure effective a plan to the Petroleum Safety This contract win is not just an implementation of the Declaration, Authority Norway regarding repairs expansion of our relationship Rosneft and its industry partners of the grouting of the legs of the Yme with Chevron. It represents our will consider the establishment platform. product competitiveness in the of a dedicated Coordination global marketplace, ongoing Centre with the participation of The repairs follow the decision by commitment to the region and representatives of Roskosmos, the operator of the platform Talisman continued demand for our state- the Ministry of Transport of the to de-man the platform and that the of-the-art technology solutions.” Russian Federation and the Ministry grouting in the legs needs repair. The of the Russian Federation for Civil repairs are scheduled to be completed The £1.2 billion (US$2 billion) Defense, Emergency Management before the end of this year. Lianzi development will include and Natural Disasters Response a subsea production system and (EMERCOM). After completion of the repairs, people a 27- mile (43 km) electrically will be allowed back onto the platform heated flowline, the first of its Rosneft plans to sign bilateral to inspect the consequences of the kind at this water depth. cooperation agreements with platform having been unattended for EMERCOM, the Russian Ministry a long period of time. Subsequently, The flowline will transport oil of Transport and Roskosmos within Talisman and SBM Offshore will be from the field to the BBLT the framework of the Declaration’s able to agree the plan forward for the (Benguela-Belize, Lobito- realisation. platform. Tomboco) platform.

UT2 December 2012 36 News

MT6020 DOF

Marin Teknikk has signed a contract The DOF Subsea Group has Geoholm, and together with the for design and engineering of a new secured multiple contract awards recent award the vessel Subsea Support & Construction in Asia Pacific, the Mediterranean will be fully utilised during the Gulf vessel for Otto Candies LLC in Des and in the Gulf of Mexico over the of Mexico campaign. Allemands, Louisiana, USA. last couple of weeks, with a total contract value of about US$ 50 l DOF Subsea Norway has The vessel will be built on the million. secured a contract with Kystverket owner’s private shipyard, Candies regarding survey of the wreckage Shipbuilders. The ship is a new In the Asia Pacific region DOF and surrounding seabed of U-864. design from Marin Teknikk called Subsea has secured several MT6020. contracts for a four month The first stage of the contract starts campaign offshore New Zealand, in December 2012 and comprises The MT6020 design is a continuation utilizing the vessel Skandi survey of mercury pollution in the of the lessons learned from a series Singapore with start-up late wreckage area. The second stage of MT6016 design, which has been December 2012. starts spring 2013 and comprises built more than 20 times during the removal of oil from the wreckage. last 8 years. The new vessel has In the Mediterranean DOF Subsea a length of 102m and a width of has secured a contract with Noble, The estimated value for the 20.6m, and will be equipped with a using the vessel Geobay for contract is NOK 30 million. 150T crane and two ROVs that can about 4 months with start-up early operate down to 3000m. January 2013. l The company has secured a contract with Statoil Petroleum Within this agreement there is also The two vessels Skandi AS for the Tordis Flex Jumper an option for another slightly bigger Constructor and Geoholm will Replacement - Marine Operations vessel, a MT6022 design with a transit to the Gulf of Mexico during part of the Tordis Flex Jumper length of 108m, beam of 22m and the Norwegian winter season. DOF Replacement Project. arranged for 110 persons. Subsea has been awarded the first contract on Skandi Constructor, in The contract is for removal of The vessel has accommodation for a three month campaign. flexible flowline ends, installation of 90 people and is designed according new flexible flowlines, installation of to the latest rules in terms of stability, DOF Subsea has also secured a new umbilicals, tie-in, testing, and security, and emissions of pollutants contract with Hess on the vessel survey. to the environment.

The MT6020 design

37 UT2 December 2012 Reef Excavating near Chiswick Island Reef Subsea Power & Umbilical The Kew Field Development is a Island Offshore has agreed a new excavated the seabed at gas field located in the southern 2 year contract for the SCV Island a depth of 40m near the North Sea, which is estimated to Pioneer with Ocean Mexicana SA Chiswick platform to allow the start production in 2013. de CV. The vessel has been working accommodation platform, Seafox Reef Subsea Power & Umbilical for OM since delivery in April 2006 7, to be able to place the spud also recently worked with Centrica and the new contract will go in direct cans safely on the seabed. for the installation and burial of continuation with the current contract. cables for the Lincs wind farm, The company managed which is off the Lincolnshire coast. The vessel is of P101 Ulstein Design all onshore and offshore and is equipped with DP II, a 140 ton engineering, project l Earlier this year, Reef Subsea offshore crane and accommodation management and survey Power & Umbilical was tasked with facilities for 87 persons. The vessel will services. Reef Subsea Dredging the installation and burial of 14 perform a variety of subsea and light and Excavation (RSD&E), a Reef high-voltage power cables at Lincs construction work during this charter. Subsea company, also provided Offshore Wind Farm located 8km dredging services throughout the off the Lincolnshire coastline. In October, Island Offshore took project. delivery of the 21’st vessel in the fleet. The wind farm will have a capacity Island Contender is of design UT 776 For this project, Reef Subsea of 270 MW and will transmit power CDG and equipped for operating on gas Power & Umbilical used its to the National Grid substation in alone. expertise to provide a detailed North Norfolk in 2012. survey using the latest data Called the Island Contender, it is the processing technologies prior to Reef Subsea Power & Umbilical sistership to Island Crusader which was excavation work commencing. will provide all onshore and delivered in may. offshore project management The ROV Survey system and and engineering for this project, Fuel consumption measurements RSD&E high power T8000 including all transpooling shows that it was correct to go for this excavation tool provided a single arrangements. During this project, configuration, 2 larger gas engines source solution to Centrica Reef Subsea Power & Umbilical which can be used alone or together in Energy, operated from Reef will utilise their MD3 Cable Plough, all operational situations, and 2 diesel Subsea’s CSV Polar Prince. and installation spread will be engines if more power is required. With deployed from the Maersk Assister. the actual prices on gas and gasoil it is The project was executed a considerable saving to utilize gas, and within the seven-day timescale In addition to winning this contract, from the environmental point of view it in accordance with the client’s Reef Subsea Power & Umbilical is much better. requirements prior the arrival of has also recently secured a the Seafox 7 accommodation major contract with Gwynt y Môr The vessel has no contract yet. In a few platform. Offshore Wind Farm Ltd, which is days, after onboard preparations, she expected to be one of the largest will be ready for duties in the Offshore wind farms in Europe, and ordered supply market. Excavation a Heavy Duty Cable Plough with turbine the capability to bury cables and subsea umbilicals up to 200 mm outer diameter and 3 metre bending radius.

l Reef Subsea’s subsidiary company, Reef Subsea Norway, based in Bergen, has been awarded an ROV service contract for seabed gravity and subsidence monitoring on Statjord, Mikkel and Ormen Lange subsea fields offshore Norway operated by Statoil and A/S Norke Shell.

Island Contender

UT2 December 2012 38 New-Build Diving Vessel To Join Subsea 7 Fleet Subsea 7 has signed a contract to performance in Dynamic Positioning build a new Dive Support Vessel (DP) Class IIISubsea 7 Executive (DSV). The new vessel will be Vice President Commercial Steve delivered in 2015. Wisely said: “To build and equip this Principal characteristics: vessel we are delighted to work with Length: 123m This state-of-the-art vessel will be built industry leaders HHI, Drass and Breadth: 24m by Korean company Hyundai Heavy Wartsila Ship Design. Depth: 10.5m Industries (HHI), one of the world’s Service speed: 12 knots largest ship building companies. The vessel will reinforce our leading Main crane: 120t AHC diving capabilities with one of the Knuckle-boom crane With accommodation for 110 people, world’s largest DSV fleets, and enable Deck area: c.980m² the DSV will incorporate an 18 man us to continue to serve our clients in Deck load: >1000t saturation system supplied by Drass an efficient, cost-effective and safe Accommodation: 110 POB and rated for 300m with two moon-pool manner on many future projects.” ROV: 1 x OBSROV; deployed three man diving bells and facilities for 1 x WROV. two 18-man hyperbaric life-boats. This will be the third new-build DSV to join the Subsea 7 fleet in recent The vessel will be equipped with years, having taken delivery of the six main engines in three separate Seven Atlantic in 2010 and Seven engine rooms designed to maximise Havila in 2011.

Diving vessel

39 UT2 December 2012 News News

Helicoaxial Pump Panyu 35-1/2 FMC Technologies and Sulzer yielding improved Cameron has signed an agreement Pumps have collaborated on a new, reliability and with CNOOC for the supply of high-speed 3.2MW, 5000 psi helico- faster response subsea production systems in axial pump. This is based on a high without single support of the Panyu 35-1/2 speed subsea motor that can also transmission time deepwater gas field developments in withstand high pressures. delay. the South China Sea.

“The system delivers an innovative Like all helico- The contract is valued at solution to subsea pumping based axial pumps, this approximately $100 million and the on FMC’s Direct Drive Systems operates on a rotor-dynamic pumping scope of supply includes: six subsea (DDS) motor expertise,” said an principle. It can be seen as a cross production trees, production controls, FMC spokesman. “Joining DDS’ between a centrifugal pump and an one manifold, associated subsea permanent magnet technology with axial compressor. equipment, rental tooling and service Sulzer’s multiphase pump expertise support. Deliveries are scheduled to provided FMC subsea systems with The pump consists of multiple stages commence in 2013. an option that exceeds traditional of impellers (helico-axial-type rotor) and motor capabilities. circles of guide vanes (diffuser-type This is Cameron’s second award stators). Compression of the fluid is in the China region, Liwan 3-1 “Smaller rotor diameters and larger achieved through the transfer of kinetic being the first. “This award further air/liquid gaps allow for lower drag energy from the rotating impeller blades cements Cameron’s strategy to take losses compared with induction through the fixed diffuser vanes. a leading position in China,” said motors. The positive thrust on both Cameron President Jack B. Moore. motor and pump thrust bearings also The technology has been developed “This project will be supported by our improve stability.” to handle hydrocarbon flow at high new Camserv aftermarket facility in gas volume fraction (GVF). The pump Shekou, China.” A cable wound motor allows use is capable of generating a differential Technical Trainer of water-based, environmentally pressure up to 200 bar (2900 psi) friendly barrier fluid for mechanical depending on the GVF and suction Part-time contract role seals, bearings and motor. The pure conditions. permanent magnet motor which offers Full training mechanical pressurisation system higher speeds, power, and efficiency also omits the use of solenoid valves, The pump is driven by a power-dense than an equivalent induction machine. Locations worldwide Knowing that people are benefitting from your expertise is a fantastic feeling. It means that your knowledge is being passed on, creating Girassol the next generation of industry experts. Framo Engineering has won a The pump system is based on the The system will be assembled and What’s more, at Jee it’s possible to teach on $200 million contract from Total latest development of the helico- tested at the Framo Engineering your own terms, without the commitment of Angola for the supply of a subsea axial technology, capable of a record advanced test facility at Horsoy, Norway. a full-time role. If you’re an authority in the multiphase pumping system for differential pressure of up to 120 bar. Delivery is planned for summer of 2014. the Girassol Resources Initiatives subsea area, we can give you the freedom to (GirRI) Project. work on a flexible contract basis, sharing your specialist knowledge. As well as an in-depth “This is our third contract to provide understanding of our field, you’ll need to be booster pump systems for Total professional and authoritative, with a gift E&P Angola’s Block 17 asset, the first one being the Pazflor pumping for imparting knowledge. If you’ve got the system,” said Ole Steine, managing confidence and credibility, there’s no limit to director, Framo Engineering. what you could achieve – or what others might learn. We’re also keen to add fresh talent to our The multiphase pump system, team in Engineering and Support roles. which will be installed in Block 17, offshore Angola at some 1350m To find out more please visit: water depth, will boost the rates www.jee.co.uk/careers from two production flow loops. The contract covers the complete system of topside power and control and two subsea pump modules. REACH FURTHER

UT2 December 2012 40

333304_p Jee 297x210.indd 1 13/08/2012 15:15 Technical Trainer Part-time contract role Full training Locations worldwide Knowing that people are benefitting from your expertise is a fantastic feeling. It means that your knowledge is being passed on, creating the next generation of industry experts. What’s more, at Jee it’s possible to teach on your own terms, without the commitment of a full-time role. If you’re an authority in the subsea area, we can give you the freedom to work on a flexible contract basis, sharing your specialist knowledge. As well as an in-depth understanding of our field, you’ll need to be professional and authoritative, with a gift for imparting knowledge. If you’ve got the confidence and credibility, there’s no limit to what you could achieve – or what others might learn. We’re also keen to add fresh talent to our team in Engineering and Support roles. To find out more please visit: www.jee.co.uk/careers

REACH FURTHER

41 UT2 December 2012

333304_p Jee 297x210.indd 1 13/08/2012 15:15 World’s first buoyant tower successfully set in Peru

The CX-15 buoyant tower designed by Horton Shallow Water Development (SWD) has been successfully set as planned for BPZ Energy off the coast of Peru. The Buoyant Tower is located approximately one mile from the existing CX-11 platform in a water depth of 175 feet (53 m) in the Corvina field in offshore block Z-1. Both platforms will be interconnected via a series of subsea pipelines.

The design of the platform features a number of specific areas that greatly reduced cost and simplified setting. The transport vessel; the Osprey, a submersible heavy lift ship, transported the topside and hull tower components of the platform to the field site and also launched the tower and was used for mating the decks to the tower. The Hull was initially floated off in a horizontal orientation and then upended with a controlled flood of the lower hull cavities. This process was complete in a single day. Additional ballast was then added to the hull structure before it was mated with the topside positioned on a cantilever structure, also on the Osprey.

All operations went to plan and the combined topside and hull was wet towed to the final location where the last phase was to set the whole structure into the seabed using the integral suction foundation.

UT2 December 2012 42 Tower Design The Buoyant Tower concept draws on the proven technology of the cellspar and the design provides multiple benefits for fields where other concepts would be problematic requiring high capital costs and expensive crane barges for installation. The buoyant tower can operate in water depths up to 800 feet (250m) and can be relocated allowing small marginal plays to be exploited in a cost effective manner. The design allows for oil storage if needed, can eliminate separate shallow water drilling units and provides a high level of flexibility for the operator.

The benefits of the design were recognized and adopted by BPZ Energy for their new CX-15 platform at the Corvina field. The platform is designed for 12,200 barrels of oil per day (1940 m3/d), gas compression capacity of 12.8 million standard cubic feet per day (0.36 million Sm3/d) and produced water handling and injection capacity of 3,500 barrels per day (557 m3/d). A total of 24 drill slots will be available, some of which will be used for gas and water reinjection wells.

43 UT2 December 2012 News News

Conductor-driving TDW completes pipeline isolation

Conductor Installation Services AS to provide engineering services TDW Offshore Services (TDW), a has been awarded a USD multi- and equipment offshore Norway. leading supplier of pipeline services million contract by Weatherford The contract will run for five years and equipment, has successfully Kazakhstan to provide conductor- with the option of three one-year completed a subsea pipeline pressure driving services in Kazakhstan. extensions. isolation operation in the Gulf of Mexico. The contract requires CIS to carry The contract work scope includes out up to eight conductor-driving inspection and logistics on the Jotun Carried out at a depth of 370 ft operations annually on wells and Balder fields in the North Sea. offshore in the for a IOS InterMoor AS’s scope of work number of major operators. will also include other mooring- SmartPlug related engineering tasks. CIS will employ powerful 90 kJ hydraulic hammers to drive the “IOS InterMoor AS was chosen conductors. Two hydraulic hammer because of its technical spreads, together with drive chasers competence, quality and 26-year and drive shoes were delivered track record of reliable service in to Kazakhstan where they will be the industry in Norway,” said David based throughout the programme. Smith, managing director for IOS The first installation operation is InterMoor AS. “The contract will call scheduled to commence during the on the breadth of our experience next few weeks. and the capabilities of our personnel and equipment.” The conductor-driving specialist is supporting the contract from “IOS InterMoor AS embraces health, the CIS global headquarters and safety and environmental focus operations base in Great Yarmouth, in our operations. This contract England. CIS will carry out the will provide us with an opportunity operations with a dedicated team to demonstrate the range of of specialists that will at times mooring services we can offer to be involved in performing two clients working on the Norwegian conductor installation operations Continental Shelf,” Smith concluded. simultaneously.

The two-year contract, which features two one-year options to renew, represents the first time that Riser Chain Inspection CIS will have worked on behalf Welaptega Marine has been awarded part of a wider integrity strategy.” of Weatherford in Kazakhstan, a contract to inspect riser moorings although the company has been on Petrobras’ Cascade Chinook A team of Welaptega engineers working in the region since 2005. development in the Gulf of Mexico. will deploy the Chain Measurement Over time, CIS has successfully System (CMS), a Welaptega patented completed numerous conductor The company will measure mooring technology, to measure the length of installation operations around the chains that connect four vertical risers each chain link and inter-grip zones on world for Weatherford International. to buoyancy tanks on the BW Pioneer four riser mooring systems. It is part FPSO. The Pioneer is the world’s of an on-going program of mooring deepest FPSO, operating in 2600m inspection carried out by Welaptega on Conductor-driving of water 180 miles off the coast of a six-monthly interval. IOS InterMoor signs five-year Louisiana. contract with ExxonMobil to provide The Pioneer is the first FPSO engineering services and mooring “This is part of a longterm life cycle production development approved in equipment in Norway mooring integrity inspection,” said the Gulf of Mexico. Tony Hall, CEO of Welaptega IOS InterMoor AS, an Acteon Marine. “Petrobras and the US This is the fifth inspection conducted by company, has signed a framework Bureau of Safety and Environmental Welaptega on this project. The contact agreement with ExxonMobil Enforcement (BSEE) recognize the was awarded to Welaptega by Veolia Exploration and Production Norway importance of regular inspection as Water special services division.

UT2 December 2012 44 News

TDW completes pipeline isolation

(113m) against 870 psig, this isolation enabled the safe and effective tie-in of a piggable wye to the Mississippi Canyon Gas Pipeline, a 30in natural gas line running between the West Delta 143 platform – a hub facility for deepwater oil and gas production – and the Venice Gas Plant in Louisiana.

SmartPlug in operation

The isolation project utilized two remote-controlled 30-inch SmartPlug dual module pressure isolation tools to isolate 45 miles of pipeline.

“The SmartPlug isolation tool is certified to ‘Safety Class High’ in accordance with OS-F101 for Submarine Pipeline Systems and is uniquely suited for use in connection with diving operations,” says Bjørn-Olav Gilje, project manager for TDW.

Each tool was composed of two plug modules and two pigging modules. One of the tools provided double block isolation on the high pressure side of the tie-in location.

The first module on the second tool provided a hydraulic locked barrier of the high pressure side for the divers installing the wye. The second module on the MWA handover in Batam second tool was used to perform a leak test to verify integrity of the Anchor Contracting, owned by umbilicals that will reach from the sea new wye after installation. Inocean, has delivered a complete floor up to the FPSO, which is planned Mid Water Arch (MWA) system to its for installation 4th quarter 2012. Following launch, TDW customer NOV Flexibles (previous technicians aboard dive support NKT Flexibles). vessel Norman Commander used the remotely-operated SmartTrack The MWA will be a part of a FPSO tracking and pressure monitoring set-up contracted by Indian state system to continuously monitor the owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp locations of the SmartPlug tools as (ONGC) and the Malaysian operator they traveled to their subsea set Bumi Armada for the D-1 oilfield at destinations. Bombay High offshore the Mumbai coast. The SmartTrack system uses two- way, through-wall, electromagnetic The system was handed over to NOV communication between a Flexibles in Batam on the contractual transponder and a receiver to date ultimo September this year. track tool progress. Once the tools were set, the isolation period The MWA will support three 9-inch was approximately two and a half and one 4 –inch risers plus two weeks.”

45 UT2 December 2012 News

NewsTeekay To Acquire HiLoad DP Teekay Offshore Partners has expected to commence operating at its destined for long-haul export are on the entered into an agreement to full time-charter hire rate in December rise. Instead of trans-shipping these GrandRefusal Canyon to acquire future HiLoad DP 2013 once modifications, delivery of cargoes into a shore terminal or an projects developed by Remora. the HiLoad DP unit to offshore Brazil FSO, the HiLoad enables conventional and operational testing have been tankers to directly load and export the As part of the transaction, Teekay completed. oil to any market. Corporation (Teekay) has also agreed to invest approximately $4.4 “The purchase of Remora’s innovative The HiLoad DP unit’s total purchase million to acquire a 49.9 percent HiLoad DP unit compliments Teekay price of $55 million, which includes the fully diluted ownership interest in a Offshore’s current market leading cost to purchase the unit and complete recapitalized Remora. shuttle tanker solution and broadens modifications, represents approximately the Partnership’s offshore loading 4.5 times the unit’s expected annual All elements of the transaction service offering,” commented Peter cash flow from operations.” remain subject to finalizing a 10- Evensen, Chief Executive Officer of year time-charter contract with Teekay Offshore GP LLC. Mr. Evensen added, “We believe the Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) Partnership’s new omnibus agreement in Brazil. The acquisition of the “In the North Sea, we believe that with Remora, coupled with Teekay HiLoad DP unit and investment in shuttle tankers will continue to be the Corporation’s significant interest in Remora equity are both expected most cost effective solution, but we Remora, will provide another important to close in December 2012. are seeing a need for new solutions in source of future growth for our offshore The acquired HiLoad DP unit is locations such as Brazil where cargoes business.”

UT2 December 2012 46 News

47 UT2 December 2012 News News

Grand Canyon

Helix Energy Solutions has completed Grand Canyon is capable of launching crucial when operating close to the sea trials of its newbuild charter five ROVs at once and will be coastline. remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operated by Helix ESG’s robotics support vessel, Grand Canyon, and subsidiary, Canyon Offshore. The Grand Canyon’s DP3 capability allows is ready to begin operations in the vessel will be the new home for her to operate in any sector, providing North Sea. During the sea trials the another recently completed asset, the offshore support in a wide variety of vessel’s propulsion system, dynamic T1200 trenching unit. roles. positioning system and all her cranes were tested. The Grand Canyon was designed to The vessel’s deck structure is provide a high capacity, stable working specifically designed to accept The vessel recently completed its platform for lay, burial and general trenching and flexible pipe or cable outfitting in Norway after the initial hull offshore construction work while still lay systems for safe and efficient construction was completed in Turkey. retaining a shallow draft, which is mobilisations.

UT2 December 2012 48 News

Bibby Polaris

Bibby Offshore has taken over ownership of the dive year time charter and pre-agreed purchase option. Bibby support vessel (DSV) Toisa Polaris. This vessel came Offshore has now exercised its option to purchase the under the control of Bibby Offshore in January on a two- vessel and has renamed it DSV Bibby Polaris.

The vessel has been one of the North Sea’s premier DSVs for a number of years and has an good track record since its delivery in 1999.

The deal gives Bibby Offshore 100% ownership of one of a small number of high specification DPIII North Sea class DSVs. The purchase of the vessel means that the marine crew will now be provided by subsidiary, Bibby Ship Management. DSV Bibby Polaris

Lewek Falcon

Lewek Falcon EMAS AMC has secured contracts on the Walker Ridge Gathering pre-commissioning support. Work is worth more than US$65 million in System (WRGS), which is an ultra- expected to commence in the early 2013. the Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. deep (2500m) setup to provide natural gas gathering services. The West Africa-Equatorial Guinea contract The Gulf of Mexico work will extends an existing general service see EMAS AMC introduce the The scope of work will consist of agreement with ExxonMobil for subsea Lewek Falcon, a versatile subsea the transportation and installation engineering, subsea construction and ROV construction vessel, into the Gulf of of suction piles, manifolds and support activities in West Africa through Mexico for a long-term campaign jumpers along with pipeline mid-2014.

49 UT2 December 2012 News News

Seven Viking

UT2 December 2012 50 Seven Viking The inspection repair and maintenance (IMR) vessel 90, and capacity to carry a litany of essential subsea Seven Viking has been launched from the dock hall at tools, thanks to a clever configuration whereby hull Ulstein Verft. space is maximised and equipment is integrated within the large hangar area. The vessel can launch The SX148 design will carry out a multitude of diverse and retrieve subsea modules weighing up to 70t. tasks for Statoil, including: inspection, maintenance and repair of subsea oil installations, alongside scale All operational personnel are gathered in one area treatment. directly above the hangar, with panoramic windows in the control room giving a full overview of this key The top speed is 16kts. The ship has a crew capacity of activity area.

51 UT2 December 2012 News News

Bibby Offshore Aberdeen-based subsea installation The vessel was named DSV “Bibby has an established track record for contractor Bibby Offshore has Polaris” to recognise both the new carrying out complex and varied announced it will increase staff owners and also to retain the link to projects, which is exactly the type numbers by a further 60 as it takes the vessel’s impressive reputation as of work secured by Bibby Offshore over ownership of the Dive Support an accomplished and proven North throughout the UKCS. Vessel (DSV) Toisa Polaris. Sea diving and subsea construction platform. The purchase of the vessel also The vessel came under the control of means that the marine crew will now Bibby Offshore in January 2012 on The vessel has been one of the North be provided by Bibby subsidiary, a two-year time charter with options Sea’s premier DSVs for a number of Bibby Ship Management, meaning to extend. This also included a pre- years and has an outstanding track the creation of around 60 offshore agreed purchase option as part of the record since its delivery in 1999. positions. deal with Toisa Ltd. Bibby Offshore has now exercised its option to The deal gives Bibby Offshore Bibby Polaris will join the company’s purchase the vessel and took delivery 100% ownership of one of a small international fleet which now consists of Polaris in Stavanger Norway on 31 number of high specification DPIII of five subsea support vessels, October 2012. North Sea class DSVs. The vessel including the most modern fleet of

UT2 December 2012 52 Dive Support Vessel (DSV) Toisa Polaris

DSVs in the North Sea. The purchase to the North Sea. We are forecasting its latest division, Bibby Remote of the vessel is being partially financed an increasing level of work in the Intervention Limited (BRIL), a by a facility from Standard Chartered region over the next year, which is why dedicated Remotely Operated Bank which provides £53 million of we are actively recruiting to expand Vehicle (ROV) company supplying funding to be deployed as part of this the size of the team further still. ROV support to the company’s deal and the refinancing of part of the own vessels and also diverless existing Bibby Offshore fleet. The vessel will primarily be working intervention services to others. within the North Sea, but it is Bibby Offshore currently has over 250 also ideally suited to operations Bibby Offshore is due to move into onshore staff and over 600 offshore. internationally. Staff numbers are its new purpose-built HQ in Westhill, Further recruitment of staff is planned expected to continue increasing in Aberdeenshire, in spring 2013 after for throughout 2013. line with growing demand for the outgrowing its current offices in company’s offerings within the UK Waterloo Quay, Aberdeen. The new Bibby Offshore’s chief executive, and globally.” 50,000ft2 office facility at Prospect Howard Woodcock said: “Purchasing Park, Westhill, will be three storeys the Bibby Polaris further underlines The company recently announced high and can accommodate more Bibby Offshore’s long term commitment a further £11million investment in than 400 people.

53 UT2 December 2012 News News

Brazil challenge The marine design consultancy specialist LMG Marin won a major design The company broadened its maritime Metizoft believes a new consultancy contract from two Brazilian yards earlier offering in 2011 by merging with contract offers western Norway’s this year, anticipating construction of Tomrefjord-based consultants Novomar. floating offshore engineering 14 drillships in Brazil for delivery 2015 - expertise an unprecedented 2019. The drillships will be deployed in “We have a strong network of diverse opportunity to tap into Brazil’s waters up to 3000m deep offshore Brazil. professionals at our disposal, brought expanding oil and gas drilling together so that customers can call in industry. Consulting engineering firm Metizoft is the required expertise to their project one of the world’s first companies to offer work as and when they need it,” says Metizoft, based in Fosnavåg, has a Green Passport/Inventory of Hazardous Metizoft Managing Director, Gry Cecilie secured a project support contract Materials approval and verification Sydhagen. from LMG Marin, Bergen. Naval package for newbuilds and existing architecture and marine engineering vessels. “We also have a long track record

UT2 December 2012 54 working in partnership with LMG use of the qualified people that Metizoft orders for the ships themselves and Marin. This breakthrough contract has to offer,” he says. the offshore support vessels that will will see our experts working closely be needed in the future.” with LMG Marin’s world-renowned “We believe this breakthrough Maritime Consulting & Construction contract opens up great opportunities “Metizoft already has a distinguished Management team.” for equipment manufacturers in marine reference list, including Sunnmøre,” adds Ms Sydhagen. large scale and smaller, specialised Geir Lasse Kjersem, Chief Executive projects,” says Ms Sydagen. “But LMG Marin, Bergen says that the “There are many well-known and I believe the LMG Marin contract company has extensive knowledge of experienced marine engineering names signals an exciting new phase in our Metizoft’s construction management in this region, and this project could development as a company. We are and consulting department. “We know have significant spin-off benefits for poised to carve out Metizoft as one of what we are getting when we make them in terms of specialised equipment the top names in Marine Consulting.”

55 UT2 December 2012 News News

H2X

H2X, a member of iXBlue’s marine navigational, positional and survey H2X president Sebastien Grall, works division, has been awarded equipment necessary to conduct added, “The contract consolidates a contract to build a 43m monohull scientific work from day one at water H2X’s position in the professional survey vessel by a leading Saudi depths to over 2000m. workboat market. In the past two Arabian university specialising in years, we have been asked to build a hydrographic and oceanographic Charles Nissard, H2X Sales total of six workboats, including three studies. Director said, “This is the second for scientific use. Before this we were contract that we have agreed with absent from this market.” The vessel will be of a standard this important client. The first was for design with various modifications to a 15m dual-hull survey vessel, which “The vessel will be built at H2X’s La meet defined operational needs. was delivered in October 2012. Ciotat shipyard in the south of France, near Marseille. Design work is almost Constructed mainly from lightweight “We have forged an excellent complete and construction of the composite materials, the vessel relationship with the client during the vessel should start later this year. will be propelled by two diesel and work. We believe that this, together Delivery is scheduled for the” two classical shaft lines for transits, with the strength of our commercial “second half of 2014. and by a pump-jet azimuthal stern proposal, was fundamental in thruster and have a bow thruster to securing this larger project. Contracts for the supply of the various ensure maximum manoeuvrability; onboard systems are expected to be it will also be fitted with a dynamic awarded in the coming months. positioning capability.

The vessel will be handed over to the owners complete with all the

H2X monohull survey vessel

UT2 December 2012 56 News

Britoil enters PSV Market

Shipowner Britoil Offshore Services “Britoil is a new customer for thruster, FiFi system, cargo handling has entered into a contract of design ULSTEIN,” says deputy CEO Tore system etc.). I also includes a large and equipment packages for two Ulstein in Ulstein Group, “and we are power and control package (electric platform supply vessels of the new very happy that the company is now propulsion system, integrated bridge PX121 design from Ulstein. selecting ULSTEIN designs for their solution, consoles, radio/navigation entry into a new market segment. We equipment, ULSTEIN IAS (integrated The vessels will be constructed at strongly believe that Britoil will find automation system) and ULSTEIN Britoil’s own yard, P.T. Britoil Offshore the new PX121 vessels to be a cost- COM® (internal communication Indonesia, on the island Batam. The effective and attractive complement to system), says Sigurd Viseth, managing X-BOW vessels will mark Britoil’s entry their fleet,” says Ulstein. director in Ulstein Design & Solutions. into the PSV market. “This is a break-through for ULSTEIN While having the same hull lines as Singapore based Britoil has a fleet of in Southeast Asia, and the first time “Blue Fighter” and “Blue Prosper”, 40 vessels, mainly anchor handling an ULSTEIN designed vessel will these vessels are customised tugs and barges. The company has be constructed at an Indonesian according to Britoil’s requirements. This more than 25 years of experience in yard. The contract comprises a includes one extra accommodation ship services and transport. The first comprehensive equipment package deck, allowing for a total complement vessel of this design from ULSTEIN, including basic design, engineering of 50 persons. The ships will be built “Blue Fighter”, was delivered from support and main equipment supplied according to IMO’s SPS Code (special Ulstein Verft earlier this year, and by ULSTEIN (generator sets, DP purpose ships), and will have OILREC a team from Britoil attended her system, main azimuth propellers, class notation (oil spill recovery in preliminary sea trials. tunnel thruster and retractable emergency situations).

PX121 design vessels from Ulstein

57 UT2 December 2012 News

Platform Supply Vessels for Brazil

Damen Shipyards is strengthening Damen and Wilson have enjoyed As one of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, its involvement in the Brazilian a business relationship for 20 India and China) countries, Brazil offshore market with six Platform years and the new vessels will be is very much an expanding market Supply Vessels, type PSV 4500, supplied to WSUT, a joint venture and particularly the offshore sector built under license by Wilson, between Brazilian operator Wilson, is demonstrating exceptionally Sons (Santos, Brazil) for Wilson Sons and the Chilean Ultratug strong growth. Sons Ultratug Offshore (WSUT). group for long term charter to Petrobras. Local manufacturing is a key factor Two vessels have been recently and the service through Damen delivered; the other four will be To date Wilson, Sons has built 16 Technical Cooperation (offering delivered throughout 2013. Damen PSVs, all for their own fleet. ships in kit form for completion

UT2 December 2012 58 pitch propellers of 2800mm diameter, with nozzle, deliver a speed of 13ks (at 5 m draught).

A Caterpillar C9 genset of 238 ekW at 1,800 rpm is for emergency use. Twin bow thrusters ensure good manoeuvrability and the vessel has a dynamic positioning DP2 classification. There is accommodation for 14 crew and up to six passengers.

New range Currently Damen is engaged in the design of a new range of PSVs. Based on operational studies, feedback and questionnaires from crew and operators of the Damen PSV 3000, 4500 and other non- Damen PSVs operating in the area, analyses are made to refine the specifications of the new design.

The new Damen PSV range will soon cover five models, the 3300 locally) ensures the shipbuilder Characteristics (the number relates to the vessels’ complies with the 60% local The 4500 DWT vessel has a length deadweight), the smaller 1600 content threshold imposed by the of 87m, 16m beam and maximum and 2500 and the larger 4000 and government. draught of 6.19m, providing a large deck area amounting to 840m². 5000, which are currently being designed. Together with Wilson, Wilson, Sons is the largest operator Sons Damen is developing several of harbour tugs in Brazil and A diesel electric propulsion system other vessel types for the Brazilian already has a large fleet of Damen comprising four Caterpillar 3512C offshore market, such as Anchor vessels comprising Azimuth Stern generator sets, each of 1570ekW at Handlers, ROV Support Vessels Drive (ASD) tugs and Platform 1800 rpm, power two Rolls-Royce and Well-stimulation Vessels. Supply Vessels (PSV). azimuth thrusters of 2500kW. Fixed

59 UT2 December 2012 Offshore PowerOffshore Power Generation Generation

In remote and ultra-deep waters, power capacity. The power generation be achieved with the installation of generation for large field developments arrangement may reduce CO2 additional processing capabilities, is demanding. By centralizing and emissions with approximately 40%. resulting in more oil production from sharing the power generation between The concept, Offshore Power system the same size installation. several production units, the new DNV for a new era (OPera), provides several concept can reduce both emissions and potential benefits for the connected With its centralized location, OPera costs. units. The need for topisde processing allows improvements in operational power generation at each and every logistics, by consolidating the Depending on how it is implemented, unit is eliminated, and available deck location of power generation the cost saving may also be space can be increased. Significant personnel, maintenance and spare complemented by enhanced production increases in revenue could potentially parts.

UT2 December 2012 60 How it works emissions. The power hub is fueled by it relevant for different types of The power hub has a gas fired associated gas or parts of the export fields. The power plant consists combined cycle power plant that gas produced. of modular gas and steam units increases power generation efficiency of 50 and 100 MW capacities, by more than 15%, compared with The OPera power hub can be designed allowing the combined capacity to conventional gas turbines alone. By in different variants, and can also serve be tailored. consolidating power generation, the as a logistical hub, a centralized CO2 power hub also allows equipment to removal unit, or part of offshore LNG Depending on water-depth, different run at more optimal load. T production. platform and hull-designs can support the power plant. The power his is a major benefit, as it further The OPera concept is highly flexible hub can connect with different reduces fuel consumption and overall in size and configuration, making numbers and types of installations.

61 UT2 December 2012 News 18 months extension for Arbol Grande

UT2 December 2012 62 DeepOcean has been awarded a 18 been working in Mexican waters since months extension on Arbol Grande delivery. with offshore contractor Constructora Subacuatica Diavaz, S.A. de C.V. The vessel has shown an (Diavaz), in Mexico. The new contract exceptionally high operational is valid until end 2014. Included is regularity and proven herself as a an option for Diavaz to declare an very good asset for Diavaz in the top additional year under same contract. side and subsea construction support, inspection, maintenance and repair DeepOcean was awarded the original work for state owned oil and gas contract in 2003 and Arbol Grande has company PEMEX.

63 UT2 December 2012 Cables and Umbilicals Power Grid Statoil has proposed a study to examine the supply of power from land as a basis for concept selection on four fields located on the Utsira High in the North Sea. These fields Cables and Umbilicals are Edvard Grieg, Ivar Aasen, Johan Sverdrup and Dagny. The power deliveries will start in 2018.

The timeline will make it possible to study the optimal location of a distribution platform for power. It also provides a better basis for final design in relation to planning for Johan Sverdrup, which will be the field with the greatest need for power.

The study of the electrification solution for Edvard Grieg, Ivar Aasen and Dagny started in 2010. The discovery of Johan Sverdrup in 2011 changed the terms and so the study for new fields The preliminary investment is on the fields is in the order of 1 on the Utsira High was continued. estimated to approach NOK10billion million tonnes of CO2 per year – Compared with a development with assuming a consumption of about The Utsira High may be well-suited for offshore power production, the savings 250MW. electrification due to the large power need, favourable distances and water depths. Preliminary estimates place the power need for the four fields at Italy-Motnenegro Cable around 250–300MW. Nexans has been awarded one of l Nexans has secured a 10-year two contracts for the supply and global frame agreement with BP to The plan calls for concept selection installation of a power cable for the supply umbilicals, direct electrical in the fourth quarter of 2013, with an high-voltage direct current (HVDC) heating (DEH) systems, accessories investment decision in 2014 by a joint link between Italy and Montenegro. and services for various oil and gas ownership. The various fields included This represents a value of projects worldwide. in the study have different start-up approximately €300million. times during the period 2015–2018. The agreement runs from Installation of a distribution platform The public tender was called 2012–2022. It covers the design, in 2017 and start-up of power by Terna, the operator of Italy’s manufacture and supply of bespoke deliveries in 2018 will increase the electricity transmission system. umbilicals that will carry fluid, power, chances of securing a comprehensive control and telecommunication electrification solution from the start. The new link between Italy and services for new subsea oil and gas

Montenegro will connect the Italian projects together with DEH systems The Edvard Grieg platform has also peninsula with the Balkans and will that provide flow assurance in made a concept selection in which the contribute to improve the integration pipelines. licence pre-invests in equipment to of the European Countries’ enable power supply from land. electricity systems. The HVDC Nexans has had two umbilical frame interconnection between Italy and agreements with BP, one secured Edvard Grieg and Ivar Aasen have Montenegro will be approximately in 2003 and the other in 2009 for two turbines installed on Edvard 415km in length, comprising 393km deepwater umbilical projects in the Grieg, which will generate power from of subsea cable and 22km of Gulf of Mexico. the start-up of production. Ivar Aasen underground cable for the onshore will get electrical power through a connections. Long-term agreement with dedicated power line. Nexans’ specialised facility in It will feature two 500kV HVDC Norway enables BP to benefit from When power from land becomes cables in a bipolar configuration (2 advanced design and manufacturing available in 2018 one turbine will x 500 MW), with one cable supplied technology, and security of supply be shut down on the Edvard Grieg by Nexans. for umbilical and DEH systems. platform.

UT2 December 2012 64 Cables and Umbilicals

Cable Repair Pharos Offshore Group has completed cable repair and burial for the London Array Offshore Wind Farm on a section of damaged subsea export cable. The work package involved locating, recovering, re-laying and re-burying the power cable off the Kent coast.

The 800mm² high-voltage direct current (HVDC) export cable has a 218mm diameter and weighs over 50kg/m in water and 86kg/m in air.

Pharos CEO Phil Walker said, “To our knowledge, this is the first diverless operation to de-bury, retrieve and repair a cable of this size and weight.

“With the use of a DP-2 vessel we were able to reroute the cable away from the original route to an area within the planned cable corridors.”

Tools for properly handling the large stiff cable did not exist in the market and standard grapnel operations were not possible due to The cable being paid out of the drum nearby cable routes.

Pharos developed operational plans that not only met the client’s tight schedule but allowed for the infield flexibility to deal with ‘as found’ conditions.

In addition to the complexities of cable retrieval, Pharos also converted a conventional telecommunications cable ship to accommodate the loading, storage, lay, splicing and safe handling of the product.

The equipment and procedures developed for this repair will work for other repair situations. This is especially true for those where increasingly congested cable corridors preclude anchoring and grapnel runs and/or are beyond diver limits. Dynamic Testing Facility London Array Limited is a consortium comprising of Dong Energy, E.ON and Engineering & Design Services Masdar who are combining their experience and expertise to develop and build the Cable Hardware & Systems world’s largest offshore wind farm in the outer Thames Estuary between the Kent and Essex coasts.

Phase 1 of London Array involves installing 175 turbines, two offshore substations, four Since 1969 undersea export cables with a total length of around 220km and over 200km of inter-array cables to connect the turbines to each other +1.216.881.4914 | www.pmiind.com | [email protected] and to the offshore substations.

65 UT2 December 2012 Long Distance Tieback

Cost reduction initiatives and conduit for communication to and from deep waters. The inner bore has low accessing new reserves in the field, and the transport of fluids to frictional effects.” inhospitable locations are widely the field. We have been busy looking recognised as two important at the role of umbilicals in extending Nevertheless, as the distance of the approaches that could lead to more tieback distances. tieback grows, this friction can become hydrocarbons being produced. One an issue to a point where hydraulics enabling strategy with the potential “An umbilical’s components can be gradually become unsuitable. The to make significant contributions in construed as a number of building alternative is electric power. both these areas, is the long distance blocks. Each of these must be tieback. reappraised in order to determine “Large subsea equipment items such as how it will be affected by substantially multiphase pumps, booster pumps and Long tiebacks could result in remote increasing its length.” gas compression systems work using an fields being produced from existing AC supply. The overall power demand, facilities many miles away, as These umbilical building blocks may however, is measured in MegaWatts,” opposed to having to install a new typically include power lines, fibre optic said Gjerull.

Cables and Umbilicals platform locally. The deeper the water and/or copper conductors and tubes and the more hostile the conditions, through which liquids pass. These are “Furthermore, power suffers from the greater these potential savings. commonly enveloped within some sort considerable losses when transmitted of protection to ensure it is not easily long distances. If an AC supply is used, These may even enable the possible cut or squashed. this is often in the form of three-phase delivery of the wellstream directly to distribution. land, obviating offshore construction. Each umbilical is purpose-designed Equally, they might be instrumental for a given application. Normally, the “Temperature can also become an issue in unlocking fields located under ice control system supplier dictates the with long distance cables. The smaller or in harsh environments, where number of and sizes of lines that are the copper core, the higher the power conventional surface platforms could required for the umbilical functions. loss and the higher the temperature be impracticable. generated. This can be a limiting factor in Other things to be considered are the power cables.” The tieback distance record stands at weight and diameter, stress and strain around 160km for a gas field although on the internal parts, fatigue and how it Direct current (DC) is recognised as a considerably shorter for oil lines. The would be best installed and recovered. better way for transmitting electricity long longer the distance of the tieback, distances. In general, the diameter of the the greater its potential for increasing Power power conductor is proportional to the production. In conventional fields, subsea amount of power it can carry. The largest equipment is powered hydraulically, power cables can have a cross-sectional “Maximising tieback distances will with electrical or fibre optic lines added area of 1600mm2.” require the parallel development of for control functions. a range of different technologies,” Chemicals said Finn Gjerull, head of umbilical Such an umbilical will consist of tubes Adding chemicals may be necessary for products and technology at Aker containing incompressible hydraulic combatting the emergence of hydrates, Solutions. “The umbilical is the fluid. Simply, pressure applied at one as well as inhibiting scale and corrosion. end of the tube is used to carry out These are transported along steel tubes A typical work on the other. umbilical “In some cases, the tubes are A three-phase constructed from a flexible power umbilical with packing thermoplastic hose (consisting of system an inner liner and an outer aramid braiding),” explained Gjerull. “Any expansion within the hose, however, results in a reduction in hydraulic response time and flow resistance.

This is why we only use steel tubing as the conduit. This gives good protection for impact loading and is more suitable to withstand collapse from the high pressures that are associated with

UT2 December 2012 66 built into the umbilical. “A larger centre “During the construction, the tube may be used for chemicals.” individual parts (tubes, wires, etc.) are housed on drums or bobbins and Like those carrying hydraulic fluid, steel are brought together. In our system, tubes have a long and predictable service however, the channel elements are life. The steel does not allow chemical also contained in bobbins. These are migration or permeation through the tubing then brought together in a closing walls. It has no risk of collapse, as limit to point.” the internal or external pressure is high. An integrated production umbilical Deepwater Control “If a dynamic umbilical is suspended Control lines are used to monitor the flowline measuring 5–10in diameter. from the surface, it is subjected remote subsea facility. They are used to Wrapped around the periphery, to stresses and strains from the measure pressure and, for example, if is a series of PVC layers that can sea currents, but particularly from valves are open or closed. While many incorporate a number of lines or tubes. having to support its own weight,” tiebacks can use copper wires, long said Gjerull. “As water depths distance tiebacks must rely on fibre-optical “Conductor wires can provide trace increase, these stresses can become systems. heating while fibre optic lines can be considerable.” used not only for two-way control and Optical systems not only exhibit lower monitoring of the seabed equipment, “To reduce the strain, we have signal losses along their extended lengths, but also the integrity and condition of developed a design based on a but they can also carry the extremely the entire flowline. series of carbon fibre rods what large amounts of information that are are inserted within channels in the generated by the latest generation of “This design is now fully qualified,” said matrix. These enhance the stiffness seabed pumping, flow control and safety Gjerull. It not only has the potential and strength while adding very little equipment. to save money by laying a single line weight to the umbilical.” instead of multiple lines, but also is Heating suitable for platforms with a limited Adding stiffness reduces the stretch Temperatures on the seabed can approach number of J-tubes. of the umbilical and keeps the stress 0degC. In long tiebacks, the warm and strain within the design envelope, wellstream has a considerable time to Construction and thus increases capacity to handle be cooled by surrounding seawater as it In a conventional umbilical design, the dynamic loads. It also reduces the travels along the flowline. This can cause individual component tube and wire requirement for buoyancy along the potential blockages unless treated by elements are gathered together, twisted line, while increasing the stability. expensive chemicals. in a helical arrangement to afford greater flexibility, and any interstices “At present, we are investing large “More and more field development are filled with packing strand. This body amounts of research time and scenarios incorporate some sort of flowline is then enveloped in an impervious money aimed at further pushing heating system,” said Gjerull. “This layer and an armoured sheath. the boundaries of long distance typically works using an electrical heating tiebacks,” said Gjerull. system, which in turn often involves one or “One important feature of our designs,” more power cables piggybacking on top of, said Gjerull, “is the novel packing “One area we are investigating is to or being sandwiched inside the insulating system. Each individual tube or line develop a flowline heating system skin surrounding the flowline.” is held in a channel element within for much longer distances than are a cellular matrix body. This provides available at present. Making the Integrated Production Umbilical a considerable amount of impact heating system uniform along the A normal field layout would envisage a resistance.” entire length is challenging. main flowline and control umbilical laid separately. With longer tiebacks, this may These channel elements afford “Another area of research involves become extremely expensive, especially in great protection from crush loading. the practical aspects of transmitting harsh environments with a shorter weather Importantly, there is a gap between the electrical power over long distances. window. One design currently receiving tube or wire and surrounding channel considerable interest, is the integrated sides, allowing the individual lines to We have developed and patented production umbilical (IPU). move freely. This affords a significant manufacturing methods to carry out reduction in internal stresses as it a preferred way of manufacturing the “The IPU is essentially, a combination of permits free axial movement of the cable so we can use the optimum a flowline and umbilical in one package,” wire or tube elements if the entire line lengths of power cores without said Gjerull. “At its centre is the main is bent. splicing,” said Gjerull.

67 UT2 December 2012 An Aluminium Alternative

Subsea pumping and processing are Simple three-phase copper power “There is a growing amount of evidence increasingly important tools enabling cables with helical armour can be from a variety of sources supporting the the recovery of hydrocarbons from optimised for large water depths. More view that aluminium should be considered challenging developments. Critical to sophisticated assemblies exhibiting for use in umbilicals and dynamic subsea their operation is the electrical power a larger cross-section, however, power cables,” said Dobson. link between these subsea systems incorporate a significant percentage of and the host facility. electrical conductor, especially where “Copper provides higher conductivity more than one three-phase circuit is than Aluminium 6201. This means that a One important aspect of medium required. Without proper consideration, slightly larger conductor area is required voltage (6–36kV) power cable design the copper conductor can reach its for the aluminium grade. Given the concerns the installation. The dynamic limiting stress for safe operation. relative density and strength limitations of section of the umbilical is required to copper, however, the resulting maximum withstand the load fatigue imposed Developments water depth that can be achieved with by its own weight, the motions of the One recent development has been to Aluminium 6201 is almost five-times that connected vessel and hydrodynamic incorporate strength members, such as of copper.” effects of waves and currents. It is carbon fibre reinforced composite rod vitally important, therefore, to fully or twisted members of high modulus Core Design understand the load distribution fibre, within the umbilical bundle. The construction of a typical medium mechanisms within the structure. These increase the stiffness of the voltage power core would consist of structure, reducing the strain on the a core of stranded helically wound The inclusion of medium voltage other functional components. conductor surrounded by a XLPE power cores within a conventional insulation sandwiched between two umbilical structure adds to the mass The inclusion of these components, semiconducting layers. without significantly adding to the however, can also add to the strength. This is largely due to the suspended weight of the umbilical. This would be enclosed in a copper relatively poor mechanical strength of The most effective strength member screen for stress equalisation and the copper conductors. This can be solutions can still fall short when conducting leakage/fault currents. compounded when the service of the employed in ultra deepwaters. Covering this is the outer sheath. This umbilical is in ‘extreme conditions’ - was the against which the such as high dynamic applications An ideal solution would be a high- aluminium was to be set. or operating in deepwater strength cable capable of sustaining An aluminium developments. the umbilical’s weight as well as any power umbilical additional ballast material, but without “A typical static power cable might the additional complication of strength consist of three 120mm2 medium members. voltage, plain annealed, copper power cores helically cabled together with a “The copper conductor is the limiting single fibre optic. Structural strength component for highly loaded power is provided by the cable cores and umbilicals,” said Dobson. “An the two layers of counter helically alternative approach would be to simply laid steel armour layers,” said Alan reinforce the umbilical by selecting Dobson, research and development a cable conductor that is capable manager at Technip Umbilical of meeting the required electrical Systems. functionality while also exhibiting improved mechanical characteristics. “The power circuits are cabled together with high chrome alloy tubes, Technip looked at a wide range of low voltage signal cables and fibre materials and conductor designs for optic cables. The structural tensile this role, including a range of copper strength is achieved through the alloys and designs with a variety of support provided by the steel tubes integral strain relief elements. It soon and cables.” became clear from the design exercise comparing various candidate materials “In order to ensure that the umbilical in terms of strength, stiffness, density has an adequate service life, its and electrical conductivity, however, constituent parts must be maintained that high tensile aluminium alloy 6201 in a stress state below which would began to emerge as the outstanding result in a static or fatigue failure.” material.

UT2 December 2012 68 Tensile Strength advantages in using the aluminium Mechanical Characteristics The average ultimate tensile strength cable for electrical transmission in use The mechanical characteristics of of the Aluminium 6201 is 305MPa, as a three-phase cable” said Dobson. the two umbilicals differ greatly due which compared favourably against the to the significant increase in strength 265MPA of copper. “Due to the larger conductor size of the Aluminium 6201 conductors. required when using the Aluminium This allows a reduction in weight and Fatigue Strength core compared to copper, the 12.5% increase in the cross-sectional The fatigue properties of the Aluminium cables capacitance is increased and diameter of the cores. 6201 was assessed through a series of inductance between phases is reduced. strain-controlled cyclic bending tests. “The aluminium structure weighs Samples of cable were subjected to “This means that for long-length approximately 40% less than the cyclic bending under constant tension transmission lines, the inductive losses equivalent copper design,” said against a series of sheaves of varying are reduced and there is more ability to Dobson. “This results in lower radii. supply reactive power” structural tension applied to any installation hang-off when in service.” On average, the Aluminium 6201 can “Another point is that the aluminium be subjected to ten-times the number of cable has a lower impedance. As a The aluminium umbilical is relatively cycles to a similar copper core before consequence, the line voltage losses stiff. As such, it will resist bending the material fails which correlates to ten- are reduced, which is a significant due to environmental loading. times the fatigue life. advantage for long-length tie back This, coupled with the higher systems. tensile capacity, will ensure the Corrosion Resistance service stresses, both statically Corrosion is seen as the biggest barrier The geometry results in the aluminium and dynamically, are lower than the to the acceptance of the conductor cable being subjected to a lower copper equivalent structure. material to industry. electrical stress. The lifetime is inversely proportional to stress. By “The improvements in both tensile Technip carried out a comprehensive comparing the stress at the conductor strength over copper should have evaluation of the long-term compatibility surface with its copper equivalent, a marked impact upon the service of the cable in seawater, to assess the it can be shown that the insulation envelope of the umbilical structure,” permeation rate and subsequent impact lifetime is effectively increased by a said Dobson. of permeated seawater on the cables factor of 2 in the aluminium cable. service life. “Aluminium has some significant advantages over Permeation tests on the polymer the copper design in terms of layers evaluated the susceptibility hang-off tensions associated of the cable to generate a with the extreme event and galvanic couple between the fatigue damage witnessed copper screen layer and the through life,” said Dobson. aluminium conductor. These tests reinforced findings from literature “In particular, there is a that free ion permeation does significant reduction in not occur through the sheath fatigue loading due to the material. lower weight and higher bending stiffness of the “The significant advantages aluminium design. the aluminium core has over its copper counterpart shown “This, coupled with the through the qualification process superior fatigue properties are further highlighted when the of the aluminium, provides cores are combined into cable a fatigue life thirty times circuits within an integrated greater than the copper production umbilical (IPU) design. These factors will or dynamic umbilical in ultra ultimately improve the deepwater service, such as in the reliability of the system. Gulf of Mexico and West Coast of Africa. Umbilical being manufactured on a “There are some significant helix machine

69 UT2 December 2012 Meeting the Challenge

What is the biggest challenge facing The companies that adapt best to this field development, any failure could today’s subsea umbilicals industry? changing market are the ones that potentially stop the entire field from will be eventually successful in the flowing. From a less severe viewpoint, Engineering materials that are new era. Treating this problem as a any reduction in efficiency of the strong enough to operate in the challenge could compel companies into umbilical could result in a diminution in extreme water depths characteristic developing new work practices and in the efficiency of the field. of frontier oil and gas exploration? doing so, become more efficient. The rubric is, however, that until there Or maybe it is developing umbilical Take bidding for work, for example. are enough engineers trained to the designs capable of conducting This involves examining the project in necessary proficiency, a standardised power and fluids over distances detail to derive a technical solution. This umbilical may be the only alternative approaching 100km that the next process represents an initial investment for some projects. generation of subsea tiebacks could based on many hours of design. demand? Future Design Issues

Cables and Umbilicals “Ten years ago, we might have carried Another issue to be considered is Cost reduction? Development of out 150-200 hours of engineering,” said how the industry is evolving. Fifteen new materials? Satisfying a global Matt Smith, OUS Global Technical Sales years ago, 500m was considered market? Manager. “With the modern umbilical ‘deep water’. Tomorrow’s umbilical designs, however, that can be an order engineers will conceivably have to While these are all reasonable of magnitude greater. Bidding for these deal with an entire new magnitude of conjecture, Oceaneering perceives increasingly sophisticated umbilicals parameters. that perhaps the biggest challenge requires an investment of considerable facing the umbilical industry amounts of engineering. This can be There are a number of liquefied is replacing the generation of expensive. natural gas (LNG) prospects in engineers that are retiring from the Australia and elsewhere which could business. Cognisant of this problem, “If we compete with, say, four require tiebacks of up to 100km. it has been occupied in developing companies for the design of an umbilical In the Norwegian sector of the North various strategies to offset the system, then by definition, 75% of the Sea, there is a drive to reduce the repercussions of this rapidly combined time and effort is wasted. carbon footprint by supplying power diminishing knowledge resource. There is a similar level of waste on from shore wherever practicable. This the purchaser’s side as well. There could see much larger volumes of “Engineering talent is retiring comes a point where this becomes power requiring distribution. from the industry every day,” said unsustainable. The impending skills Todd Newell, General Manager of shortage means that as an industry, Lower Tertiary reservoirs in the Gulf of Global Engineering Services for we have to explore alternative avenues Mexico and pre-Salt areas of Brazil lie Oceaneering Umbilical Solutions. of business practice. As a result, we in consistently deep (2500m-3000m) “For some years now, we have see more of our customers taking a waters. Optimal production from these recognised that if we wish to build ‘partnering’ approach, through frame areas will necessitate . In a best in class umbilical business agreements and similar arrangements. turn this raises a technical challenge over the next 10 years, we will need of supplying multi megawatts of to bring new engineers onboard and “Today, all umbilicals are purpose- power. Managing complex electrical provide them with the latest tools designed. While this trend is likely to interference and thermal effects and training. continue in the future, especially for provide their own challenges. complex or long distance applications, “Like many companies in the it is equally likely that companies will In recent years, increased subsea industry, we are making begin to offer standardised umbilicals. unconventional gas finds have brought a significant investment in the US gas price down to a level that training. We believe, however, “While the basic design of a typical off- we haven’t seen for some time. Gas that the problem is probably more the shelf umbilical would probably cost tiebacks have looked less attractive. complicated than this. less than a purpose-designed line, it To exploit these fields, cost reduction would be predictably less finely tuned to would assume a greater importance in “The umbilical industry will not only the specific application and, therefore, the design of an umbilical. need to compete with other subsea possibly end up costing more when industry sectors of the for the next considering all the various engineering A stitch in time generation of trained engineers. The issues.” By considering issues such as these shortage is also likely to influence at early stages, structures could be how the fundamental business of While the cost of umbilicals represent a set up to better prepare for later stage umbilical manufacture is carried out. relatively small proportion of a subsea challenges.

UT2 December 2012 70 Cables and Umbilicals

For example, umbilical system design is characterised by high level safety factors. Investing time now in a greater understanding of how the various parts of the umbilical work together can increase confidence that more demanding applications can be served by existing materials and manufacturing methods.

This requires building a knowledge base which can be used for built-in reliability. Constantly feeding information gleaned during product testing back into the design process makes a more intelligent use of those test results.

“One of the things we have done a lot of in recent years is to invest in our analysis capabilities, not only performing more complex analyses to see how umbilicals behave when loaded, but also reducing cycle time so that we can perform more analysis at earlier stages in our customers’ projects” said Newell.

“The circumstantial changes may make us work smarter. In a typical project, there are a lot of interfaces between suppliers and buyers of the end user. One supplier might provide the umbilical, another, the connection hardware, etc.”

One way that we can we can simplify the life of the end user is eliminating the interface between the umbilical and the connection systems (UTAs and flying leads), so the end user can manage their project more efficiently. By providing everything as an overall package the end user can be assured that everything is compatible.

The future generations of umbilical designers are likely to have recourse to new materials such as higher grades of steel tubing and other materials coming onto the market that will be more efficient at carrying out more demanding work.

“One competitive advantage that we have is that we work closely with other groups within our organisation” concluded Newell. “We believe that subsea umbilical systems, related Cable manufacture hardware and processes are fertile ground for pioneering advances”.

71 UT2 December 2012

Equipment Equipment

New SCAR Capability

Ecosse Subsea Systems has added rocks one by one, with operators the Laggan-Tormore cable laying and a new capability to its SCAR plough reluctant to tackle boulders larger than umbilical installation work had been design. For the first time, it can now a half metre in size. delayed due to boulder obstruction. In offer a robust and comparatively all, the SCAR1 trenching tool removed inexpensive method of subsea “Boulder clearance during seabed up to 1000 boulders. boulder clearance. This new feature preparation is so arduous and has proved useful in a recent project expensive, that operators often opt to The trencher cut a 10m wide swathe for Total on its Laggan-Tormore move the route of the pipeline. over a 67km route, displacing boulders project. up to 2m in diameter and removing soil Ecosse redesigned its original SCAR to leave a flat seabed for pipe laying to Subsea ploughing can be a cost- trenching tool to carry out boulder commence. effective way of excavating the clearing. It was redesigned and seabed prior to installing pipelines, fabricated within ten days. The clearing plough worked at depths cables, flexibles and umbilicals. of 640m, believed to be a record for Ploughs can cut a trench for the line The boulder clearance plough works this type of equipment, and at optimum to be installed in, and then often by deflecting boulders to either side performance was clearing up to 1000m backfill it to provide a covering of of the main chassis, and outwards of seabed per hour. protection. horizontally from the trench. While the plough has been designed to be Ecosse Subsea Systems Managing Operators are reluctant, however, structurally strong enough for this Director, Mike Wilson, said he hoped to carry out ploughing operations in purpose – it is constructed entirely the success of the project has created areas characterised by the presence of 50D steel, and reinforced to a fresh solution for other exploration of boulders larger than a half metre in withstand more substantial levels of companies faced with complex seabed size. In such cases, seabed clearance punishment – the main design feature clearance issues. is typically carried out using a ‘boulder is its shape. grab’. “We anticipate this will lead to work The triangular shape tends to cause on similar projects in the North Sea The boulder grab tool is deployed a torquing, or twisting of the obstacles and other major oil and gas producing from the crane of a support vessel. from their original position, along the regions,” he said. “Of particular note Normally aided by a remotely mouldboards and outwards, away from was the plough’s ability to remain on operated vehicle, the support vessel the trenched path. course by following the barge track of gathers up and moves each obstacle. the vessel – it remained on course to an The SCAR1 was then deployed to the impressive degree of accuracy of +/-2m, This is a slow process as it displaces west of Shetlands, where progress on even in very deep water.

Q1000 Trials

Reef Subsea has completed offshore trials of its new subsea Q1000 Trenching ROV. During trials on the Reef Despina, the Q1000 was tested in multiple conditions. All functions operated satisfactorily in accordance with design specification.

The trencher was delivered to Reef in October 2012 following ten months of design and build in collaboration with manufacturer SMD, based in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The Q1000 is a modern free-flying ROV jet trencher, which can operate in water depths up to 2000m and in a variety of soil conditions. The trencher SCAR trenching tool has 1000hp installed power and is

UT2 December 2012 72 Equipment

Skagerrak Turntable

DeepOcean has successfully completed Offshore handling systems specialist, for cable laying offshore. Caley is the pre-cut trenching contract on Caley Ocean Systems, has been undertaking all vessel modification Skagerrak 4 HVDC Submarine awarded a contract to supply leading design work and construction of the Interconnector project for Statnett & dredging and marine engineering 28m diameter turntable on deck. Energinet.dk. company, Jan de Nul NV, with a 5400t capacity cable turntable for the In addition to the 5400Te storage DeepOcean provided the engineering MPV Willem De Vlamingh. capacity turntable, Caley is supplying and project management for the project a modular loading tower assembly in Denmark, including pre-trench survey Mid-2013, Jan de Nul is installing comprising loading arm, inboard and pre-cut trenching of 23km of the 245kV export cable connecting the chute, tensioner and control cabin. Skagerrak 4 route. Northwind Offshore Wind power plant, on the Lodewijkbank off the coast of To facilitate loading and deployment Using the sophisticated APP pre-cut Oostende, to the Belgian power grid. of the cable offshore, the Caley trenching plough, DeepOcean executed In the first quarter of 2013, the MPV turntable includes an integral 5Te the project with zero plough downtime, Willem De Vlamingh will be outfitted tensioner and 10Te deck tensioner. cementing the company’s position as a leader in pre-cut trenching solutions.

l DeepOcean has established a subsea engineering department in Trondheim, .

The company says that there are several reasons that Trondheim is an attractive city. There is a very strong technology cluster in the city, and the availability of highly trained personnel.

“Strategically, this is a sensible location for us, and we also bring something new to the environment of the city through our complete subsea service package, says Sveinung Soma, Engineering Manager at DeepOcean. Schematic of the MPV Willem De Vlamingh and Caley turntable

ideally suited to the burial of rigid and flexible pipelines, umbilicals and cables for the oil and gas, renewables, power, telecommunications and subsea defence sectors, to 3m trench depth.

The trencher can operate on skids or tracks and has two high-pressure high-flow pumps with complete remote control over the pumps performance.

It can be fitted with a cable depressor, educator and trench wall collapse tool. A range of sensors and survey equipment are provided with the trencher to monitor the product during trenching and also carry out a post- Q1000 trials trench survey by the trencher.

73 UT2 December 2012 Consulting Excavator

Sherlock Holmes was famously MFE referred to as a consulting detective.

Trenching People approached him with non- Mass Flow Excavation routine problems to which he was able is a technique that uses to apply his specialist expertise to a large propeller to channel high generate a solution. volumes of water downwards at low This prompted Marin to use a water pressure to clear subsea material. motor that pushed a column of water While the excavation and trenching down to the tool and did not require a turnkey contractor Marin has a Early devices consisted of a return line. well-established programme of work hydraulically-powered rotor/stator assisting in pipe and cable lay, it is mechanism that was lowered down The company then moved to the being increasingly approached to carry from the surface from a single wire variable geometry piston that it used out specialist operations outside these and powered by a hydraulic hose. on its hydrodigger but instead used a normal activities. combination of low-pressure water and Using hydraulic power can become high-flow to drive it. This prompted the company to set less effective as water depth up an arm specifically focussed on increases, as the hydraulic fluid has to “Today, we have one of the largest carrying out specialist operations. be pumped greater distances back up selection of excavation tools under one Over the past few years, this group the return line, to the surface. roof for high-volume mass flow.” has been called out to provide assistance in a wide range of areas from asset recovery activities to kind of emergency. In our experience, the problem, a constantly maintained moving large equipment items that only 10% have an asset recovery lightweight emergency tooling skid can had become irrevocably stuck in the contingency plan in place. That is why be scrambled quickly to the site. soft clays on the seafloor. we set up the world’s only dropped BOP and lost asset recovery group All recovery operations are different but “One area in which we have been as we have seen all too often what they often involve excavating a hole called in is to recover lost assets, such happens when attempts are made at a to expose the asset and then either as blow out preventers (BOPs), risers, do-it-yourself recovery by people that cutting up the tubing or introducing crane blocks, templates and lower do not fully understand the dynamics of fishing equipment, such as a grab. marine riser packages which have a falling body. been accidentally lost,” said George The method of choice for uncovering Stroud, chief executive officer of At times like these, it is important for the asset is often a mass flow Marin. This could happen by a range companies to realise that they probably excavation device that can fluidise of factors such as human error or a need external assistance.” the seabed locally, leaving other parts simple riser failing in bad weather or untouched. from external stress. From its headquarters in Ellon, north of Aberdeen, Marin remains on 24 “Over the years, we have retrieved It would effectively cause the blow hour standby to send experts to any around 30 such items,” said Stroud. out preventer (BOP) on the end to location around the world. While its plummet thousands of feet towards experts work out how to best solve the seabed. The 300t structure could make a significant impact but the buckling riser often acts essentially as a 500t hammer behind it. This could punch a hole up to 60m in the seabed How could it be removed?

“The loss of such an asset can trigger a cascade of consequences for the oil company, leading to both an operational and financial disaster if the correct actions are not taken at the A compact unit right time,” said George Stroud. able to be quickly deployed around “Most drilling service companies are the world understandably unprepared for this

UT2 December 2012 74 Consulting Excavator Trenching

Pioneer Intecsea in George Stroud was instrumental in occur, such as a release of gas, it is pioneering mass flow excavation possible to move away very quickly.” equipment. In association with his Trenching JIP business partner Nick Sills, they A similar operation involving having worked together first on the Remote to break the suction on a flat surface, INTECSEA Canada has been Underwater Excavator (RUE), the first was carried out in the middle east, awarded a contract by Petroleum mass flow excavation tool, and then where Marin was asked to move Research Atlantic Canada (PRAC) the Jet Prop. two pipeline end terminations. This for Phase 1 of a Joint Industry was part of a pipeline replacement Project (JIP) for the “Development The pair then set up Underwater programme. of a Trenching System for Subsea Excavation Ltd (UEL) where they Pipelines, Flowlines and Umbilicals in went on to develop the first V-Jet and “We mobilised an EVO 80 unit which Ice Scour Environments”. claycutter systems. When UEL was works in association with a remotely taken over, they were involved in operated vehicle (ROV). It can The trenching system will be relevant setting up Seafloor Dynamex and in excavate trenches in cohesive soils to to Arctic and Subarctic waters 1994, unveiled the new Hydro Digger. 10m in diameter. wherever ice gouging is an issue. INTECSEA will be responsible for In 2002, Stroud and Sills established The first job was to wash off all the management of Phase 1 of the SeaVation and launched the tool the sedimentary material that had JIP and the provision of consulting marking the next generation of high- settled down on the structure and services to support the programme. volume excavation – the SeaVator. reduce its weight nearer to the 150t The JIP is sponsored by the Hibernia, SeaVation was sold in 2006, they then at installation. The excavation system Terra Nova, White Rose and Hebron started to develop Marin Subsea. then jetted around the perimeter Projects. with the intention of jetting round “We used these tools to carry out non- the underside and reducing any The goals of the new trenching routine specialist excavation work,” differential sticking. system will be a system that is said Stroud. “This included the Midgard capable of: l iceberg claycutting trials, Troll Tunnel Another recent project concerned the trenching to depths greater than piercing and the Ormen Lange pipelay excavation and removal of marine current industry norms (burial depths route. ordnance that were dumped into the greater than 3m, with potential trench sea during war in the middle east. depths as much as 7m); l “On Ormen Lange, we were able to trenching in soil conditions that carry out a range of techniques such “Because these were live munitions, are difficult and highly variable, as removing a 6m boulder from the it required a very slow seabed including the presence of boulders; l path of a pipeline by fluidising the bed excavation. A marine survey trenching in water depths beyond under it. One of the most demanding technology company positioned us the majority of trenching requirements non-routine projects concerned a in place and we carefully removed (waterdepths up to approximately project in Malaysia,” said Stroud. the seabed to allow a navy diver to 300m); l carryout periodic checks and identify operating in harsh marine “After a drilling programme, the whether the uncovered material was conditions (for example, the Western operator found that the leg of its jack- explosive. North Atlantic). up had penetrated 54ft into the ground. Marin were called out after the operator “Most of the shells were land-based The JIP is planned to be a research had already spent 45 days attempting rather than marine-based. There were and technology development project to free the leg. very few marine campaigns out there with four phases. The objective of the and these explosive devices carried a project is to prove a trenching system “We were able to carry out underwater different signature.” that is capable of meeting the above excavation where the jacket leg requirements and concluding with a punched through and within three These munitions needed to be full-scale field demonstration days, we had the vessel floating away cleared in order to reinstate the use of project in Phase 4. The goal of Phase as apposed to 40 days,” said Stroud. a pair of bulk loading terminals. The 1 is to shortlist a number of potential pipes to them had leaks due to the technology solution providers who will “Over the years, we have developed thinning of the walls over many years. carry out more detailed engineering some advanced but proprietary tooling and feasibility studies in Phase 2. and highly confidential techniques “While the water depth varied from that we were able to apply. One the shore to 30m deep, we were able The work will be performed at advantage of using a non-contact form to safely excavate the line with one INTECSEA’s office in St. John’s, of excavation is that should a problem tooling package. Newfoundland and Labrador.

75 UT2 December 2012 Groundbreaking Technology

Forum Energy Technologies (FET) has delivered its most powerful and revolutionary Perry jetting trencher to

Trenching date. Characterised by operational versatility and a novel hydrodynamic shape, this remotely operated trencher is designed to confront the challenges of high currents and variable soil conditions prevalent in areas such as the North Sea.

Called the T1200, Canyon Offshore has initially used the new acquisition to bury windfarm cables. The design, however, makes the vehicle equally suitable for trenching large diameter pipelines in water depths up to 3000m around the world.

The design follows the delivery of the 750hp T750 trencher that Canyon Offshore has been using with great success for nearly 10 years. When the operator decided it required a more powerful trencher in its portfolio, Forum proposed a new 1125hp design.

“One major design principle was not to stray too far away from the original vehicle could be designed. Canyon, work by using a single power source, T750 design that Canyon’s field in turn, provided a wide range of which is responsible for driving the entire operations teams were acquainted invaluable experience gained from vehicle. The new trencher, however, with,” said Charlie Field, senior operating trenching vehicles. The employs a dual high/low pressure power hydraulic engineer at Forum. insights from the combined exchange system. all went into the final design of the new “We held a number of meetings trencher, which was named T1200.” “We strongly believe that it was the with Canyon at which we were able competitive advantage conferred by to contribute ideas about how the One of the most distinctive features Hydrodynamic of the new T1200 is its shape. Most shape to improve trenchers generally feature a block- stability when Trenching working in areas of shaped body with straight sides. These high current Trenching is often the technique of are very simple and cost-effective to choice when cable burying. This is manufacture. For the new design, principally due to the fact that at no however, Forum proposed a more Lateral thrusters time, does the trencher physically challenging hydrodynamic profile. to fly the ROV touch the cable. to site “We reasoned that when working “Ploughing may have some in areas characterised by strong TSS Tracker to advantages, particularly in localised currents, a three-dimensional design determine the position of the hard compacted seabed, and chain that encourages water movement to cable cutters can also slice through hard flow around the vehicle, would have rock. These techniques may also handling advantages over a shape in be relatively cheaper to execute. which the flow would impact directly Wide channel against its side.” between the tracks enables Ploughing is unsuitable, however, burying of for use in congested areas or A fundamental design element of the pipelines up to for application where both of the T1200 is the way it distributes power. 36in diameter Current Buster Separator cables are connected. Most competitor’s trenching designs

UT2 December 2012 76 Trenching

this sort of feature, that 20 000–30 000 l/min to fluidise and encouraged Canyon to eject the spoil. return to us for design of its new flagship trencher,” said “It takes an enormous amount of Field. power to water jet,” said Field. “Removing the cut spoil with a high The remote vehicle is connected to the pressure system would simply be a surface by an umbilical. This not only waste.” Backwash Cutting contains the single-mode fibre-optic Nozzle Nozzles system used for control, but also a The active element of a trench cutting 1m long swords that are lowered to number of high power cores. Some of system is a pair or arms or ‘swords’. carry out the cutting. The T-1200 can these drive the 280kW/375HP hydraulic In operation, these are slowly swung take swords up to 3m in length power system. downwards to assume a position at each side of the cable to be buried. The hydraulic system is not only used inaugural project – trenching on to power the thrusters that are used to These swords are essentially tubular the Sheringham Shoals windfarm,” fly the vehicle to the starting location, conduits housing a number of ports said Gary Aylmer, vice president, and drive the vehicle’s locomotion staggered back along their length. Trenching and Renewables Services system, but it is also used to power the These jetting ports are angled at at Canyon Offshore. low pressure jetting system. around 60deg. Water, jetting out from these swords at pressures of 16 bar “Some seafloor areas consist of The remaining cores drive two high cut parallel grooves into the seabed, clays with very high shear strengths pressure pumps, each powered by a up to 3m deep. approaching 120kPa, which are variable speed electric motor. These extremely hard to penetrate. This allow the trencher to work in cohesive As the trencher passes, the eductor sort of challenge has vindicated our soils in excess of 150kPa. dredge at the rear of the vehicle decision to invest in a more powerful either removes the sand ejecting vehicle. The two systems work in harmony. The the slurry sideways, or fluidises it, high pressure system is used to cut into allowing the cable to sink into the “We expect it to have the same the seabed. The low pressure system localised quicksand. This requires impact as when the T750 was eductor is used to remove the spoil. lower pressure but high flow rates. originally delivered to the market.” Without this, the cable or pipe would The T750 was one of first trenchers not be able to sink. The system “The advantages of the T1200 designed specifically for oil and gas produces a flow of up to was immediately shown on its jet trenching.

Power and Caterpillar track control Eductor for movement umbilical discharge on the seabed. These can be exchanged for skids when Syntactic trenching in soft foam body for mud buoyancy

Lateral Thruster

Vertical Thruster

Eductor dredge system to clear the spoil from the trench

Backwash Jets

Arms to raise and lower the assembly

Cutting tool Hydraulic motor deployment Current Buster Separator driving the tracks system

77 UT2 December 2012 The Widest Range of Vehicles in the Industry From the two most experienced and respected brands Sub-Atlantic™ and Perry™

Mojave Mohawk Mohican Super Mohawk Tomahawk Comanche XLR125 XLR150 XLX150 XLX200

• Work-class and Observation ROVs • Data Acquisition Software • Trenchers • Subsea Simulation • ROV Components • Geotechnical Services • ROV Intervention Tooling • Offshore Joint Services • Equipment Rental • Geosciences Earth & Marine Services

In short, Forum Subsea Technologies is everything remotely possible.

To learn how Forum can help you solve your next subsea challenge email: [email protected] visit: www.f-e-t.com/subsea

UT2 December 2012 78

FOR227 UT4 Spread Ad_111412.indd 1 11/14/12 1:09 PM The Widest Range of Vehicles in the Industry From the two most experienced and respected brands Sub-Atlantic™ and Perry™

Mojave Mohawk Mohican Super Mohawk Tomahawk Comanche XLR125 XLR150 XLX150 XLX200

• Work-class and Observation ROVs • Data Acquisition Software • Trenchers • Subsea Simulation • ROV Components • Geotechnical Services • ROV Intervention Tooling • Offshore Joint Services • Equipment Rental • Geosciences Earth & Marine Services

In short, Forum Subsea Technologies is everything remotely possible.

To learn how Forum can help you solve your next subsea challenge email: [email protected] visit: www.f-e-t.com/subsea

79 UT2 December 2012

FOR227 UT4 Spread Ad_111412.indd 1 11/14/12 1:09 PM Previous designs, for example, had venture. We were delighted to find that “The T1200’s first job was carried out Trenching been based on direct online power. some of the people involved in the on the Maersk Launcher but it will be At start-up, the pumps would go design in the T750 were able to play united with our DP3 newbuild vessel straight to full jetting mode. The a pivotal role in the design of the new Grand Canyon after it completes its T750, however, employed variable vehicle. There is a high level of trust own inaugural contract, carrying out speed drives (VSD) where the between us and Perry.” decommissioning for Hess and Bibby frequency modulated transformers Offshore. enabled a smooth transition in and “When originally designing the T750, out of line burial. none of us knew how it was going to “That is not the end of the journey. We work because it was the first of its kind. are in the final throes of putting together “The T1200 represents the next We spent a lot of time devising the a plan for an even higher power T1500 generation,” said Aylmer. “It can specifications to see how fast it could trencher. We are hoping to deliver it into straddle bigger pipes and has much trench. the market in early 2014, to meet growing more power that equates to greater demand from both sectors,” said Aylmer. pressure and more flow. “When starting the T1200 design, “It will look very similar to the T1200 but however, we knew exactly what we will have the ability to carry out higher “The control system on the T750 wanted the trencher to do because we pressure trenching.” was bespoke whereas on the new had nearly 10 years of experience. We vehicle, we are now using the ICE were able to set down the specifications When cutting into stiffer clays, the amount control system that Forum uses in its at the beginning and these remained of pressure is the main limitation. This will large Perry ROVs. It gives a much unchanged right through the project.” mean upgrading existing subsea pumps. better way of faultfinding. At present, largest trenchers can jet “It was no surprise, then, that the T1200 at pressures of around 12 bar but the “Right from the start, the design worked well straight from the beginning, proposed design could increase this process featured two companies with 2–3% downtime over the entire considerably. A typical strength limit is combining best practices in a joint inaugural job,” said Aylmer. “The reason around 100kPa. We are targeting soil was that we had carried out weeks of strengths greater than nearer 150kPa as integration tests at Perry test tank at well as an improved performance in sand Kirbymoorside. and soft clay.

“We were able to mimic what it would Some areas such as the North Sea are experience offshore, but monitor and characterised by pockets of extremely test everything in a closed environment.” hard clays. The ability to cut through these without having to mobilise a second For the future, Canyon see a busy work chain cutter, would make the trencher programme providing a service to both considerably more flexible and result in the oil and gas and renewables sectors. savings for the client. A key feature of the design approach is that it can switch effort effortlessly between the two. Coupled with its deep water capability, it will be able to work anywhere in the world.

“We will take the vehicle wherever the work is. It is qualified to work in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. At the moment the plan is for it staying in Europe over the next couple of years.”

“We are targeting a range of renewables and oil and gas projects. We have already earmarked the trencher for working ENI’s Golait power cable burial under our long-term cooperation alliance with ABB. It was this agreement that allowed us to finance the T1200 in Testing in the indoor pool the first place.” Video image of the trenching operation

UT2 December 2012 80 T.TSS UT2 Advert 12/11/12 11:31 Page 1

Trenching Operation

A typical trenching operation commences with an extensive geotechnical engineering study. This is carried out to allow the systems on the T1200 to be set up in order to match the soil conditions it will encounter. Canyon Offshore uses Geomarine as its soils consultant.

This survey may include information on soil types and strengths along the route to add to previously taken core data. The pre-trench inspection to ensure the route is clear of devris, etc., is assisted by one of Grand Canyon’s new Perry XLX 200hp workclass remotely operated vehicles.

Canyon will also consider such aspects as the diameter of the product, sink weight, trenching speed, nozzle set up etc,. to design the trenching programme.

After sailing the support vessel out to site, Canyon will launch the T1200, flying it close to the product. The ROV has four 500mm horizontal thrusters that are distributed in a quad arrangement, as well as four vertical thrusters. These help position the trencher for the correct heading.

The vehicle will then travel along the path with the intention of transecting the cable. To assist in visually recognising the cable, the T1200 incorporates alternative location systems.

At the front of the vehicle is a Teledyne TSS pipe tracker which is swung down horizontally from its vertical parking position. The tracker’s three sensitive search coils employ pulse induction technology to pick up the presence of the cable.

Once the tracker locks onto the cable or pipe, its electronics can interface with the T1200’s control electronics to automatically steer the trencher. It is also possible to send a tone down the line that can be picked up by the detector.

In the majority of operations, the trencher movement will be based around its large caterpillar tracks. The T1200 weighs around 30t in air, however, the buoyancy provided by the syntactic foam effectively reduces this to nearer 1–1.5t in water. This is the optimum weight to allow the tracks to adhere with the seabed. In fine muds with a shear strength of 3.5kPa, however, the weight would cause the vehicle to sink.

One solution may be to replace the tracks with a set of skids. At this point, the T1200 becomes neutrally buoyant. The thruster array, both downward and backward pointing, is sufficient to move the vehicle along the correct route.

Using the caterpillar tracks, the T1200 can achieve trenching speeds of 350–1000m/hr depending on soil conditions and burial depth. When not trenching, it can move at nearer 2500m/hr.

81 UT2 December 2012 Multi-sensor AUV Pipeline Inspection

The main objectives of the inspection programme varies with the threat scenario, but a programme typically includes factors such as a determination of burial, free span and buckling, as well Survey as any kind of damage to the pipeline. In addition to the pipe itself, it is normally also of interest to gather data from its surroundings. Examining debris can reveal evidence of potentially damaging human activity.

These diverse tasks are best solved by recording data with a variety of sensors, both acoustic and optical.

Currently, external pipeline inspection is often performed with towed or remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). For the past several years, however, Kongsberg Maritime has been developing a concept for pipeline inspection using the HUGIN autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).

The primary advantage of using an AUV for this task is that it can operate at HUGIN in the 20ft container onboard M/V Icebeam substantially higher speedd – typically Due to the high cost of laying be complemented, however, by 4–5kt, compared with 1–2kts for an ROV. pipelines, there is usually little or no rigorous and extensive inspection redundancy allowed in the design of programmes. Secondly, AUVs can carry out their subsea transportation infrastructure. mission without being followed closely As a consequence, any disruption of The main threats to a pipeline differ by a large surface vessel. Thirdly, the oil and gas flow could have signficant with location and water depth. Natural higher stability of AUVs means that they financial and social repercussions. phenomena such as hurricanes, can effectively collect different types of If a leakage were to happen, seismic activity and sediment shift sensor data, such as synthetic aperture environmental issues would also need may be of vital concern in many parts sonar (SAS). addressing. of the world. The concept has been field tested in To ensure the necessary integrity, Elsewhere, human sctivities such as various scenarios since 2009, with a subsea pipelines are designed and bottom trawling or anchoring may full-scale test of the complete system built to a high standard. These must pose a risk to the pipelines. performed in the North Sea in July of this year.

Camera image examples showing debris near the pipe. AUV altitude 3.5m, speed 3.8kts

UT2 December 2012 82 by Per Espen Hagen, Senior Principal Engineer AUV

also used for real-time tracking of the HiPAP system for acoustic positioning, pipeline. a Seapath navigation system, acoustic, radio and satellite links, as When tracked, the vehicle will well as all necessary maintenance automatically adjust its position to a equipment. Concept fixed lateral distance from the actual position of the pipe. If track is lost eg, The following day, the ship transited due to burial, the vehicle will slowly to the area of operations and a revert to the prior pipeline position comprehensive 4hr HUGIN test A 20x20m detail of EM 2040 bathymetry data. The estimate. The automatically computed dive was executed. The AUV then pipeline diameter is approximately 1m. pipeline position will also be stored in performed two 13hr dives over the the vehicle. next two days. After transit back The main challenge when going from to port, the entire system was ROV-based to AUV-based pipeline This pass may also be performed demobilised in half a day. inspection is that the AUV must with a regular side scan sonar (SSS). autonomously perform many tasks The operator will then be faced with In the first survey mission, HUGIN that were previously carried out by the the standard SSS trade-off: Using a tracked and followed the pipeline ROV operator. This includes actually low frequency SSS (100–200kHz) continuously with HISAS for almost detecting and tracking the pipeline from provides a wide swath (similar to 7hrs, covering a 49km section at 4kts the sensor data, and positioning its that of HISAS), but resolution will be speed. HUGIN then turned around, sensors optimally relative to it. poor – potentially insufficient for the and tracked and followed the same pipeline inspection task. Using a higher pipeline section with EM 2040 (and In a joint project with the Norwegian frequency SSS (400–600kHz) provides optical camera) continuously for Defence Research Establishment (FFI), better sonar data quality, but the narrow around 4.5hrs, covering a 30km Kongsberg Maritime has developed swath means that the system is more section at 3.8kts speed. In this phase, advanced algorithms for robust vulnerable to loss of track (eg, after long the AUV operated at an altitude of detection, tracking and following of sections of burial). 3.5m, and excellent camera images underwater pipelines and cables. were collected. In some scenarios, this lateral pass may FFI has drawn on 15 years of be sufficient. The very high resolution Various combinations of AUV experience in sonar data analysis HISAS allows detection of free spans, speed, altitude and sensor settings developed for other applications such burial, lateral shift of the pipeline, as were tested in order to optimise as automated target recognition (ATR) well as many types of human activity multibeam coverage and sounding in mine countermeasure applications. near the pipeline. density. The EM 2040 achieved Trackers have been developed both for ping rates exceeding 40Hz, allowing side scan or synthetic aperture sonar Passing above the pipeline approximately 5cm sounding spacing (SAS) imagery, and for bathymetry. The other approach is to pass directly both along-track and across-track. The above the pipeline. In this mode, stable environment on the AUV allows Concept HUGIN will operate the EM 2040, practically every single sounding to be The main sensor instrumentation for and typically operate at an altitude of used, facilitating DTM production at pipeline inspection with a HUGIN AUV 4–10m above the pipe. Depending on cell sizes of 10x10cm or even smaller. is the HISAS 1030 interferometric SAS, visibility, the optical camera can also the EM 2040 high-resolution multi-beam be operated. In addition, HISAS can echo sounder, and the TileCam still be operated to increase the acoustic image camera system. The operational coverage to the side of the pipeline. concept may involve passing to the side If the pipeline position is well-known of the pipeline, directly above it, or both: before the operation, a pass directly above the pipeline will often be sufficient. Lateral Pass If the position of the pipeline is not well Demonstrations known – and especially if sections of it In July 2012, a HUGIN AUV was are buried or otherwise difficult to detect mobilised on the ship M/V Icebeam, - a first pass will be performed with a owned and operated by the Swedish lateral offset of 50–100m from the best survey company Marin Mätteknik estimate of the pipeline position. (MMT). The portable HUGIN system consists of one 20ft container for the HUGIN will operate the HISAS, AUV (including the launch and recovery recording very high resolution sonar system) and one 10ft operations Example of free spans over an 80m imagery (better than 5x5cm) as well as container. pipeline section – HISAS image from bathymetry from a continuous (one-side) the first pass, showing separation swath of 100–200m. The HISAS data is The system also includes a portable between echo and shadow.

83 UT2 December 2012 Damen Cutter Suction Dredger built in Egypt

A Damen Cutter Suction Dredger, type CSD500, has been built under license by Canal Naval Construction for the Egyptian General Authority for Fish Resource Development. The customer, a long term Damen customer, requested local construction which was supervised by Damen Technical Cooperation (DTC). Damen delivered a complete dredging package so that the customer could start the dredging job without delay.

The CSD500, named ”25 January” after the day of the beginning of the Egyptian revolution, has been built by Canal Naval Constructions Co (CNC) of Port Fouad, Egypt. Damen Dredging Equipment sent over all vital components such as the dredge pump, the control cabin etc in containers. Together with all required drawings and the DTC assistance, CNC built a perfect CSD500. The CSD500 is fitted out with a large number of optionals, as well as the auxiliary equipment required for the jobsite

The CSD500 has a max dredging depth of 14 m, and a max installed power of 1.293 kW. The cutter power is 180 kW. The CSD500 has a mixture capacity of some 4.000 m3/h. The standard dredger has been customized by adding a large number of optionals, such as a jib crane, navigation lights, a communication package, air conditioning, a bilge pump, heavier fenders, a fire fighting installation and a 500 L fresh water tank with tap and sink. The dredger received Bureau Veritas class approval as it will be working near the Mediterranean coast.

UT2 December 2012 84 85 UT2 December 2012 News News McDermott Signs Shipyard Contract for Construction of another High Capacity Reeled Pipelay Vessel

McDermott International will buildanother high capacity reeled pipelay vessel with top-tier payload capacity, tentatively named Lay Vessel 108 (“LV108”). The vessel will be a sister ship to the recently completed subsea construction vessel the Lay Vessel North Ocean 105 (“LV105”), and is to be built to similar specifications at Metalships and Docks S.A.U. shipyard in Vigo, Spain.

“LV108 is another milestone in our vessel renewal program focusing on the subsea construction market for flexible and rigid product installation,” said Stephen M. Johnson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of McDermott. “Market analysis indicates that the subsea and deepwater construction market is expected to continue to grow and there is demand for more tonnage in both the rigid reel lay and flexible lay markets. The LV108 is expected to meet this need.”

LV108 is designed for advanced deepwater operations with a high- capacity tower for rigid and flexible pipelay and state-of-the-art marine construction equipment that will enable installation of a variety of products to a depth of 10,000 feet, including rigid-reeled pipelines, subsea components and hardware, and deepwater moorings for floating facilities as well as flexible products – cables and umbilicals.

The principal characteristics of the vessel, such as payload, tension capacity and product size, will mirror those of the LV105, but McDermott anticipates enhanced functionality of the LV108 equipment design compared to the LV105. Delivery of LV108 is anticipated to be around third quarter 2014 for outfitting of the custom-designed lay system, built by a specialist fabricator in Europe.

The vertical reel will have a nominal payload of 2,500 tons plus, subject to vessel loading conditions, and a lay tower operational between 90 and 40 degrees. The nominal tension capacity is expected to be 400 tons, and the range of pipe the vessel can install is between 4 to 16 inches diameter. This 427-foot, dynamically positioned vessel will be equipped with a 400-ton heave compensated crane, will have a transit speed of 15 knots and will operate across a range of water depths up to more than 10,000 feet.

“In May we completed building and outfitting the LV105, a vessel that aims to improve our worldwide capabilities to meet the growing needs and technical challenges of the subsea and deepwater markets. The vessel will perform its first project in Asia in up to 4,430 feet of water. We look forward to LV108 joining the LV105 and other vessels in our fleet in 2014,” said Johnson.

UT2 December 2012 86 News

McDermott Signs Shipyard Contract for Construction of another High Capacity Reeled Pipelay Vessel

Main and inset: the LV108

87 UT2 December 2012 Stingray Van Oord’s first shallow water pipelay vessel Stingray was named at the COSCO shipyard in Nantong, China.

Stingray is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery to install pipelines from 6in–60in diameter. The prime focus for Stingray is S-lay pipelaying works in combination with shore approaches and other associated activities in shallow water from 5m–100m and more.

In addition, the vessel is also suitable for a wide range of light offshore installation works like buoy and manifold installation, hook-up, commissioning, piling and midline tie-ins.

The vessel is 120m long and has a 40m beam. Its design draught is 5m.

UT2 December 2012 88 Stingray

89 UT2 December 2012 News News

Wave Glider Works Through Sandy Sea Trucks Group gets A wave powered autonomous marine Category I hurricanes to successfully robot Wave Glider, named Mercury fulfill their missions,” said Dr. Edward first contract award battled through Hurricane Sandy and Lu, chief of innovative applications for successfully piloted through winds up Liquid Robotics. “This is a testament in Mexico to 70 knots, all the while transmitting to our robust and reliable technology Sea Trucks Group has won weather data in real time. and proof of its readiness for severe a contract award in Mexico weather data collection.” with Tradeco for a pipeline One hundred miles due east of installation project for Pemex. Toms River, New Jersey, the Prior to Hurricane Sandy, scientists weather sensors on the Wave Glider from Liquid Robotics, Sonardyne, It concerns the AKAL field gathered dramatic data from the Rutgers University and the Mid- project; 3 subsea pipelines of ocean surface, reporting a plunge Atlantic region of the U.S. Integrated 24” dia to connect 4 platforms, in barometric pressure of over 54.3 Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) located in the Gulf of Mexico, mbars to a low of 946 mbars as (MARACOOS) deployed the Wave approx. 90 km north east of Sandy neared landfall. Glider and two Sonardyne undersea Ciudad Del Carmen. nodes as part of an extensive ocean “Mercury now joins the fleet of other observing technology demonstration The EPCI project comprises Wave Gliders that have come through project. This collaborative project the extension of topsides of demonstrates the use the 4 platforms with process and cost effectiveness of equipment and associated AIS Antenna new subsea and surface piping, fire & gas, electrical and technology for advanced Weather Station control systems. Furthermore ocean measurement Marker Light the infrastructure between and enhanced tsunamis Solar Panel the AKAL platforms will be detection. Technical Trainer generated by installation of a number of subsea pipelines, Part-time contract role “In the midst of this epic Command & Aft Payload pig launchers / receivers, Control Dry Box disaster, Liquid Robotics Full training Dry Box spools and risers, including Forward Payload wishes to express our Dry Box pressure testing and trenching. Locations worldwide Handle sympathies for those Lift Point Payload Bay impacted by Hurricane Knowing that people are benefitting from your This is the first offshore project Payload Bay Sandy,” said Bill Vass, expertise is a fantastic feeling. It means that to be executed for Pemex CEO of Liquid Robotics. FLOAT by Tradeco / Sea Trucks. your knowledge is being passed on, creating “We are working closely To support the project, new the next generation of industry experts. with scientists around the UMBILICAL fabrication facilities and quay What’s more, at Jee it’s possible to teach on world to use the Wave side areas in Ciudad del Glider technology for your own terms, without the commitment of Carmen have been acquired by SUB better hurricane, typhoon a full-time role. If you’re an authority in the Tradeco, from which facilities and tsunami prediction subsea area, we can give you the freedom to fabrication and transportation so we can help reduce of materials, tugs, barges etc. work on a flexible contract basis, sharing your Wings Rudder the risk to human life and will be dealt with. specialist knowledge. As well as an in-depth property. understanding of our field, you’ll need to be Payload Mounts Sea Trucks will mobilize its professional and authoritative, with a gift DP3 pipelay construction for imparting knowledge. If you’ve got the vessel, Jascon 34, for the In addition to the core Wave Glider components, a wide variety of sensors confidence and credibility, there’s no limit to and payloads can be integrated. project. The offshore campaign will take place during Q1 and what you could achieve – or what others might Q2 2013. learn. We’re also keen to add fresh talent to our Corporate Headquarters Engineering & Test Center Liquid Robotics, Inc. Liquid Robotics, Inc. [email protected] team in Engineering and Support roles. 1329 Moffett Park Drive P.O. Box 44370 [email protected] Sunnyvale, CA 94089, USA 61-3661 Kawaihae Rd. [email protected] Fraser Moore, Group Managing Phone +1 408 636 4200 Pier 1, Kawaihae Harbor Director, commented: “Sea To find out more please visit: Fax +1 408 747 1923 Kamuela, HI 96743, USA www.liquidr.com Trucks is delighted to set sail www.jee.co.uk/careers for this new market and we look forward to a successful cooperation with Tradeco on our first project for Pemex in Mexico”. REACH FURTHER

UT2 December 2012 90

333304_p Jee 297x210.indd 1 13/08/2012 15:15 Technical Trainer Part-time contract role Full training Locations worldwide Knowing that people are benefitting from your expertise is a fantastic feeling. It means that your knowledge is being passed on, creating the next generation of industry experts. What’s more, at Jee it’s possible to teach on your own terms, without the commitment of a full-time role. If you’re an authority in the subsea area, we can give you the freedom to work on a flexible contract basis, sharing your specialist knowledge. As well as an in-depth understanding of our field, you’ll need to be professional and authoritative, with a gift for imparting knowledge. If you’ve got the confidence and credibility, there’s no limit to what you could achieve – or what others might learn. We’re also keen to add fresh talent to our team in Engineering and Support roles. To find out more please visit: www.jee.co.uk/careers

REACH FURTHER

91 UT2 December 2012

333304_p Jee 297x210.indd 1 13/08/2012 15:15 Remote Vehicles

Eagle Ray

Remote Vehicles International Submarine Engineering (ISE)’s Explorer autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Eagle Ray has set a new depth record. Eagle Ray is a cooperative venture of the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Mississippi.

Operated by the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology (NIUST), the Eagle Ray AUV completed a survey in the Gulf of Mexico to a depth of 1634m.

“The survey was conducted at 50m altitude while acquiring multibeam Eagle Ray AUV sonar and chirp sub-bottom profiler data,” said Roy Jarnagin, undersea vehicle systems engineer for NIUST. the Explorer class AUV is rated by sonar and conductivity temperature “We are currently operating from the the USM for deepwater operation and density (CTD) sensor. Surveys LUMCON vessel RV Pelican.” to 2200m. Its 5.5m length provides greater than 150km long and payload volume for mission-specific deployments over 36hrs in duration Initially built and delivered in 2003, sensors, as well as the multibeam can be achieved.

AUV Magnetometer OceanServer Technology has partnered with Marine Magnetics to bring a new magnetometer option to the Iver2 family of AUVs. This new AUV-towed device, coupled to enhanced data-logging software features, enables existing or new Iver2 AUVs to collect high quality geo-referenced magnetometer data.

The Marine Magnetics Explorer is the world’s smallest, lightest, and most efficient high-sensitivity total-field magnetometer with high-resolution output at 0.02nT RMS/rt-Hz. Pairing this powerful sensor with the Iver2 AUV provides users with a powerful new survey approach for collecting magnetic data. Mangnetomoter on an AUV AUVs can accurately sweep large areas at a defined height off the (2205) will allow users to collect photo- unexploded ordnance identification, and seabed with minimum on-site like images of targets along with high debris mapping support, and create geo-registered accuracy magnetometer data. . records for post-processing in any The Explorer option also extends preferred analysis software. This ability to simultaneously collect the Iver2 platform into traditional and fuse both datasets adds a new magnetometer markets such as inshore In addition, the recent development capability for shallow waters and geophysical surveys, archaeology/ of very high resolution sonars from resolution-intensive applications such wreck detection, magnetic mapping of Klein (UUV-3500) and Edgetech as mine countermeasures (MCMs), harbours and ferrous target detection.

UT2 December 2012 92 93 UT2 December 2012 News News

AUV Design for Deep-ocean Terrain BY MELISSA PANDIKA

Engineers at Stanford and the Sarah Houts, a doctoral candidate remote, hazardous underwater sites, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research in Stanford’s Aerospace Robotics take photographs and return intact, Institute (MBARI) have developed Laboratory, would for the first time Houts built on the terrain-relative a system that allows autonomous allow vehicles to autonomously image navigation (TRN) system developed underwater vehicles (AUVs) to better twisting ravines and other hazardous by Rock and MBARI engineer Rob anticipate obstacles in their path, topographical features. McEwen. TRN allows a vehicle to know enabling them to safely photograph its location by matching its altitude (its even treacherous, distant reaches of Until now, scientists could image these distance above the ocean floor) to an the ocean floor. tricky spaces only by remotely steering existing terrain map. a vehicle themselves from aboard Taking a series of photographs of a ship, an expensive, impractical But to ensure that the vehicle would the same areas over time helps operation for missions involving emerge unscathed, Houts had to give scientists monitor the seabed for periodic monitoring of the seabed. “It it the ability to anticipate and avoid change. For instance, a conservation allows much greater flexibility,” said obstacles. biologist might want to observe Stephen Rock, the director of the how species and habitats in marine Aerospace Robotics Laboratory. Using the terrain map, Houts protected areas are recovering from calculated the optimal trajectories, as bottom trawling, a commercial fishing Researchers from the aquarium well as the vehicle’s optimal altitude, method that involves dragging a research institute have recently speed and orientation at each point weighted net spanning hundreds of developed AUVs that can image the along the flight path, allowing the square feet along the ocean floor. ocean floor on their own, but only AUV to safely fly close to the ocean where it’s relatively level. But Rock floor. The autonomous craft applies Noting changes in species and and other researchers believe that the algorithms to steer itself around habitats can also help measure most interesting science lies hidden in obstructions in its path. climate change. steeply dropping canyons and other interesting terrain. Another test planned, will compare Photographing the ocean floor with that flight path to the one the AUV underwater vehicles isn’t new, but To design a system that allows a takes when programmed with Houts’ the software system developed by torpedo-shaped vehicle to navigate algorithms.

German Navy purchases a Hydroid AUV

UT2 December 2012 94 News

Houts wants to adapt the anticipatory technology for a related project with MBARI to monitor icebergs for change. Similar to how the AUV would take photos of specific sites on the ocean floor, the vehicle in this project would collect samples from specific parts of an iceberg – with one extra challenge.

“The iceberg is moving through the ocean, so the vehicle needs to be able to also have an estimate of how the iceberg is moving so that it can stay with it and follow it around,” Houts said.

“Now your map is not stationary. It’s moving through space. … The whole extra challenge of doing it around a moving object is really An autonomous underwater vehicle being deployed from the Rachel Carson research vessel. A system developed exciting.” by Stanford researchers and others helps AUVs better explore the ocean floor Image: Sarah Houts The engineers hope to make their merge real-time measurements with NASA’s program on Astrobiology AUV system fully autonomous by a map for areas where one exists. Science and Technology for next year. “The goal is to be able to Exploring Planets, which funds do this without a map and just take Rock said that his group’s work is the project, wants to use similar measurements ahead of you in the part of a “tremendous shift” from technology with asteroids hurtling terrain and fit a trajectory to that,” remotely operated vehicles to through the solar system. Houts said. But the researchers would autonomous vehicles.

After extensive trials by the German The recorded data will be used to Bundeswehr Technical Center for search for mines, lost objects, debris Ships and Naval Weapons (WTD and wrecks or simply to collect 71) in Eckernfoerde, the Federal topographic ocean floor mapping Office of Defence Technology & for hydrographic and scientific Procurement (BWB) in Koblenz has applications. placed a contract for six REMUS 100 Autonomous Underwater The REMUS 100 is a compact, Vehicles manufactured by Hydroid (a lightweight AUV designed for operation Kongsberg Company) to enhance the in underwater environments up to capabilities of the German Navy’s mine 100m deep. The vehicle can be divers. Delivery of the REMUS 100 configured with a wide variety of systems and operational training of standard and/or customer-specified military personnel will occur during the sensors and system options in next 12 months. order to meet specialized mission requirements. The easy to handle REMUS 100 AUV is equipped with side-scan sonar All of Hydroid’s REMUS AUVs are and various other oceanographic modular: They can be fitted with sensors. It navigates by transponder varying sensors for use in hydrographic interrogation and DVL-aided inertial surveys, harbour security operations, dead reckoning in pre-programmed debris field mapping and applied missions. research programmes.

95 UT2 December 2012 Hugin 1000 to DOF Kongsberg Maritime has delivered an AUV package featuring an advanced HUGIN 1000 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) and sophisticated multibeam echo sounder to DOF Subsea. The Bergen, Norway headquartered subsea services provider has already deployed the 3000 metre depth rated HUGIN AUV for operations in Australia.

“HUGIN 1000 and the sensor package chosen by DOF Subsea represent the state of the art in AUV and subsea survey technology,” comments Svein Otto Schjerven, Product Sales Manager, Kongsberg Maritime. “This delivery underlines the long and fruitful relationship between Kongsberg Maritime and DOF Subsea.”

The modular design of the HUGIN 1000 enables it to be packaged with systems to meet exact customer requirements. For this delivery, the HUGIN 1000 includes new lithium polymer batteries along with the latest versions of the KONGSBERG EM2040 multibeam echo sounder, EdgeTech sidescan sonar and sub-bottom profiler, forward looking sonar and camera system. DOF Subsea also specified Reflections; the new KONGSBERG Post Mission Analysis (PMA) system.

UT2 December 2012 96 HUGIN 1000 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)

97 UT2 December 2012 The Widest Range of Vehicles in the Industry From the two most experienced and respected brands Sub-Atlantic™ and Perry™

Mojave Mohawk Mohican Super Mohawk Tomahawk Comanche XLR125 XLR150 XLX150 XLX200

• Work-class and Observation ROVs • Data Acquisition Software • Trenchers • Subsea Simulation • ROV Components • Geotechnical Services • ROV Intervention Tooling • Offshore Joint Services • Equipment Rental • Geosciences Earth & Marine Services

In short, Forum Subsea Technologies is everything remotely possible.

To learn how Forum can help you solve your next subsea challenge email: [email protected] visit: www.f-e-t.com/subsea UT2 December 2012 98

FOR227 UT4 Spread Ad_111412.indd 1 11/14/12 1:09 PM The Widest Range of Vehicles in the Industry From the two most experienced and respected brands Sub-Atlantic™ and Perry™

Mojave Mohawk Mohican Super Mohawk Tomahawk Comanche XLR125 XLR150 XLX150 XLX200

• Work-class and Observation ROVs • Data Acquisition Software • Trenchers • Subsea Simulation • ROV Components • Geotechnical Services • ROV Intervention Tooling • Offshore Joint Services • Equipment Rental • Geosciences Earth & Marine Services

In short, Forum Subsea Technologies is everything remotely possible.

To learn how Forum can help you solve your next subsea challenge email: [email protected] visit: www.f-e-t.com/subsea 99 UT2 December 2012

FOR227 UT4 Spread Ad_111412.indd 1 11/14/12 1:09 PM Acoustic positioning in the search for Amelia Earhart

Following the discovery of a potential debris field at Amelia Earhart’s proposed crash site offshore Nikumaroro Island in the Western Pacific, Sonardyne International Ltd is now able to reveal that it’s Ranger 2 USBL tracking system together with a Lodestar GyroUSBL was the acoustic positioning technology of choice for the mission. Provided to Phoenix International, the expedition contractor, Ranger 2 was used to position both the ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) and AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) used in the underwater searches. The US. Navy’s primary source of ocean search and recovery expertise, Phoenix International was contracted by The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR).

wsUpon Release arrival at Nikumaroro Island, believed to be where Earhart crash landed, the Bluefin-designedAUV was Phoenixdeployed International to survey the selects primary search area. After each session, the data from the AUV’s suite of onboard Sonardynesensors was acoustic reviewed positioning by TIGHAR in the and Phoenix International sonar imagery experts to identify potential targets searchof interest. for Amelia The ROV Earhart was then deployed to further investigate these targets. From onboard the Ka`imikai-o- FollowingKanaloa (K-O-K) the discovery research of avessel, potential Ranger 2 monitored the positions of the ROV and AUV in real time as they debriscollected field data at andAmelia video Earhart’s imagery. proposed crash site offshore NikumaroroRanger 2 is Islanda high inperformance the Western underwater target tracking system designed upon Sonardyne’s latest 6G® and Pacific,Wideband Sonardyne 2 technology International platforms. Ltd The system calculates the position of a subsea target by measuring the range isand now bearing able to from reveal a vessel-mounted that it’s Ranger transceiver to an acoustic transponder on the target, a technique known as 2Ultra-Short USBL tracking BaseLine system (USBL) together positioning. Multiple subsea targets over a wide area and range of water depths withcan bea Lodestar simultaneously GyroUSBL and wasprecisely the positioned without having to deploy any additional equipment into the acousticwater. This positioning results in technology fast and efficient of survey operations. choice for the mission. Provided to PhoenixBecause International, of the short term the expeditionnature of the project, Phoenix International elected to install Sonardyne’s newly contractor,developed RangerLodestar 2 GyroUSBLwas used to acoustic transceiver on their vessel. The instrument combines a survey grade positionAHRS (Attitude both the and ROV Heading (Remotely Reference System) and a USBL transceiver in a single unit that can be quickly Operatedinstalled on Vehicle) a vessel and and AUV requires only an initial out-the-box calibration. GyroUSBL can be subsequently moved (Autonomousfrom vessel-to-vessel Underwater without Vehicle) the need to perform a re-calibration, reducing delays and generating cost savings usedfor owners. in the underwater searches. The U.S. Navy’s primary source of ocean search and recovery expertise, Phoenix International was contracted by The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR).

Upon arrival at Nikumaroro Island, believed to be where Earhart crash landed, the Bluefin-designed AUV was deployed to survey the primary search area. After each session, the data from the AUV’s suite of onboard sensors was reviewed by TIGHAR and Phoenix International sonar imagery experts to identify potential targets of interest. The ROV was then deployed to further investigate these targets. From onboard the Ka`imikai- o-Kanaloa (K-O-K) research vessel, Ranger 2 monitored the positions of the ROV and AUV in real time as they collected data and video imagery.

Ranger 2 is a high performance underwater target tracking system designed upon Sonardyne’s latest 6G® and Wideband 2 technology platforms. The system calculates the position of a subsea target by measuring the range and bearing from a vessel-mounted transceiver to an acoustic transponder on the target, a technique known as Ultra- Short BaseLine (USBL) positioning. Multiple subsea targets over a wide area and range of water depths can be simultaneously and precisely positioned without having to deploy any additional equipment into the

UT2 December 2012 100 101 UT2 December 2012 News News WFS Tests Innovative New Product At The Underwater Centre WFS Technologies has trialled the Seatooth S100 at The Underwater Centre, a unique subsea testing and training facility in Fort William, Scotland. The Seatooth S100 is a mobile, wireless subsea modem suitable for a variety of underwater applications from 100m - 4000m.

The modem can provide a reliable digital wireless communication link or logging device up to 5m range, even in challenging deep water conditions.

It is equipped with standard data communication interfaces, making it suited to sensor and underwater vehicle applications. It can be deployed swiftly on temporary or permanent installations to support safety and efficiency in a range of subsea applications including data logging, upgrading subsea equipment and wireless backup.

The key factor in the company’s decision to test the new Seatooth S100 at Fort William was The Underwater Centre’s 1.5million litre indoor seawater tank which allowed the WFS team to both observe and monitor their equipment in one location without tidal drift.

WFS is one of many companies who have used The Underwater Centre in recent months, utilising the diverse range of facilities on offer to ensure optimum testing is carried out of new industry equipment. The company recently used the Centre to showcase another piece of technology to a client – using the large windows on the indoor tank for viewing – and were also able to shoot a video on-site for use in promotional materials, highlighting the diversity of the Centre’s capabilities.

Ian Crowther, Executive Vice President of WFS, said: “We are always on the look-out for good quality underwater testing facilities, and have tried various harbours, marinas and even an aquarium. No one else has been able to offer the facilities and professional set-up that The Underwater Centre can.

“The tank is especially good for providing clear visuals of the work we are doing – lovely clear water, no tides, so you know that the vehicle or item you place in the water will remain in place during testing. Compare this to a harbour, for example, when you put the item in the water and the tides hit it, accurate testing becomes more problematic.

“The Centre also provides a great chance to get good footage of the test pieces in the water – whether video or stills photography, which is great for showing to our clients.”

Steve Ham, General Manager at The Underwater Centre said: “Our trials and testing facilities are increasingly being used to facilitate the ever- expanding range of new equipment coming into the industry.

“Our sea water facilities, onshore tank and support infrastructure offer companies the confidence and reassurance that the results they receive here during trials are what they will experience in practice, therefore saving them time and added expense.”

The Underwater Centre, Fort William, which also has a school in Tasmania, is based on the shore of a seawater loch, and is well sheltered by the surrounding mountains.

WFS Technologies trialling the Seatooth S100 at The Underwater Centre

UT2 December 2012 102 News

WFS Tests Innovative New Product At The Underwater Centre

WFS Technologies trialling the Seatooth S100 at The Underwater Centre

103 UT2 December 2012 Deep Submergence Systems Scope of Certification

OceanWorks International has been reauthorised by the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Note 5000 to perform Deep Submergence Systems Scope of Certification (DSS SOC) work in support of designated submarine rescue and intervention systems. This is a renewal of the existing Note 5000 authorization. OceanWorks International is one of only 8 civilian and 14 government/ military organizations in the world that have received this elite authorization.

Moreover OceanWorks received the highest level of compliance for each section that was audited. “Being able to demonstrate that we meet the world’s most stringent quality requirements for something as critical as manned subsea systems for the U.S. Navy is a true endorsement of the hard work we have put in over many years to develop and constantly improve some of the world’s most thorough quality and safety processes”, said Rod Stanley, the CEO of OceanWorks International.”

“OceanWorks International has been working with NAVSEA and the U.S. Navy for many years. As the OEM designer and manufacturer of both the Pressurized Rescue Module System (PRMS) submarine rescue system and associated systems, as well as the ADS2000 Atmospheric Diving Systems, OceanWorks International has played a key role in enabling the submarine rescue capabilities of the world’s largest submarine fleet.”

UT2 December 2012 104 105 UT2 December 2012 Remote Vehicles Full Pipeline Survey Spread

Remote Vehicles For the first time, a full pipeline survey An added bonus when working to a spread has been fitted to a Saab tight deadline in hazardous conditions Seaeye Panther XT Plus remotely is that ten thrusters in hand offer operated vehicle (ROV). This will a reassuringly high degree of bring savings in survey operating redundancy, should one or costs when compared with deploying more thruster become a 150hp hydraulic work class vehicle fouled – thereby allowing for the same task. Being acoustically the operator to quieter than an hydraulic vehicle, an keep the electric ROV will also produce more ROV on accurate multi-beam sonar data. task until recovery. Making this breakthrough possible is the power of the Panther XT Plus. Aberdeen- With 10 thrusters - eight giving based ROVOP horizontal drive - the Panther XT has been the first Seaeye Panther XT Plus can handle the large array of to order the Panther XT Plus with a full Plus equipment needed for full pipeline pipeline survey package. survey work. It can keep working in currents at which other ROVs must be Another company early to see the withdrawn from active service. potential of the Panther XT Plus was Australia’s Cal Dive International which The installation of a complete pipeline needed a vehicle to tackle the strong survey system on a compact electric currents in Australia’s offshore oil and ROV is considered a significant gas fields. Cement Returns Detection Saves Rig Time and Money technological achievement, particularly as it must work alongside Cal Dive saw the Panther was small other systems, including two powerful enough to work inside rig and platform Recognised across the global four and seven-function Schilling jackets, yet powerful enough to open subsea industry for its market Orion manipulators and a contact and close pipeline valves and operate leading leak detection capabilities, cathodic protection CP measurement in the strong currents of open water. the OceanSENSE Leak Detection system, amongst other possible tools. System has reinforced its cutting Its system was fitted with a Tritech edge technology credentials by The survey spread installed on the Super SeaKing sonar with dual forging a new and discreet subsea Panther XT Plus is a complete system frequency sonar head, and a Tritech application. that includes: a Teledyne TSS pipe- altimeter with auto-altitude option. tracker for precise location of pipes; Historically, the detection of two Reson SeaBat 7125 multi-beam It also has two Schilling Orion seafloor cement returns during sonars with dual frequency operation manipulators and, for debris clearance, the spudding of new wells was an for collection of seamless high a rotary disc cutter and a 38mm anvil expensive and inexact science. resolution survey data; a Sonardyne cutter. These can also fit a water jetting With ROV mounted PH meters Lodestar inertial navigation system; a system, cleaning brush assembly and and cameras often proving wholly Doppler velocity log; camera booms manipulator-held cleaning brush tool. inadequate for the job, rig time and and wheeled skid. Included in their multi-mission package money were wasted with operators is a Cygnus ultrasonic thickness gauge in some cases pumping up to The main benefit for operators is and CP proximity probe. 300% more cement than required the savings in the cost of ownership to spud the well. that comes from using a smaller Having experienced the power of and lighter vehicle requiring less the ROV, they have now added a OceanSENSE has removed the deck space – around a quarter of an torque tool held by the seven- function doubt and guess work from cement equivalent hydraulic vehicle – and manipulator, balancing the vehicle by detection and is proven to reduce fewer crew. shifting its hydraulic power pack and rig time and cementing related control box. costs. Operators quote the ease of moving a 14t system compared with one Abu Dhabi-based, CCC (Underwater Following exceptionally positive weighing 60t, and a faster set-up time Engineering) has said that its Panther feedback from key clients it was felt of 12hrs rather than four days, and can perform 90% of the tasks normally OceanSENSE would be powerful needing 150kVA of power generation undertaken by their 150HP hydraulic enough to detect insert trace dye instead of 500 kVA. workclass ROVs. through the high levels of sediment

UT2 December 2012 106 SMART METROLOGY o v e n p r

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Cement Returns Detection Saves Rig Time and Money

that can be kicked up during the cement pumping process. Deployed on its first cement detection job in Q2-2010, OceanSENSE has now completed over 70 such jobs with a 100% detection success rate.

The system has developed an unparalleled reputation for strength of detection return, reliability and ease of use. OceanSENSE is the only detection system on the market capable of repeatable success in this application.

With OceanSENSE deployed in a cement detection role, the overall operation is enhanced by the secondary benefit of having on site BOP leak detection. The ROV mounted OceanSENSE can be used in a routine inspection or rapid response capacity to Leak Detection ROV confirm the existence of and locate a BOP leak.

107 UT2 December 2012 News News Two Mojave Systems to Cummings Forum Energy Technologies, has signed a contract with Cummings Consulting, to supply two complete Sub-Atlantic Mojave Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) systems.

Both of the Mojave ROVs will be equipped with job specific tooling systems such as; electric winches, touch screen control monitors, Sub-can Control Systems, sonar, color and monochrome cameras. Also included are two three function manipulators and VisualSoft data capture capabilities.

The Mojave systems are capable of reaching depths of 300 meters, and will be deployed for assessment analysis immediately off the coast of Florida.

“The Mojave was the perfect observation vehicle for us because of its high thrust, low cost and easy deployment. Our relationship with Forum played an important role in our purchase as well. Over the years we have always received wonderful support throughout the transaction and beyond,” says Joe Cummings, President of Cummings Consulting.

Four XLX Rovs to Technip

Forum Energy Technologies has entered into an agreement with Technip Odebrecht PLSV CV for the supply of four complete Perry XLX Generation 2 (G2) 150 horsepower Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) systems including tooling packages.

Mojave All four ROV systems are scheduled ROV

UT2 December 2012 108 News

New technologies in marine archeology

A Swedish research foundation has granted MARIS at Södertörn University funds to develop non intrusive methods for deep water archeology together with MMT. This is as part of the initiative to promote cooperation between the industry and the academic world. The project focuses on developing new technologies and methods for documentation and identification of complex and inaccessible archaeological remains beneath the surface. MMT will support MARIS with knowledge and expertise.

New equipment known as a “Blue View”, is a kind of high-frequency scanner that can be placed on the bottom. By putting the transmitter in a wreck for example, a detailed documentation of the hull can be done in short time and with very high accuracy,

The scanner is particularly useful on wrecks in deep water where diving is difficult and complicated. These are the conditions in the newly discovered and spectacular wrecks, such as Mars (from 1564) and the Sword (from 1676). These two wrecks lays on the bottom of the sea by the island of Öland, Sweden.

There is often one problem with the archaeological remains in the Baltic Sea. The remains are covered with thick layers of sediment. This may explain why so few really old prehistoric archaeological remains have been found so far. To remedy this, new methods is needed to access the buried objects with higher resolution than normal sub-bottom profilers.

One type of equipment that could be used for this purpose is a synthetic aperture sub-bottom profiler and it is called “Buried Object Sonar System” (BOSS). By using the BOSS method, the marine archaeologists have an opportunity to see three-dimensional images of objects under the surface. This technique might even make Baltic boats from both the Bronze Age and Stone Age to be found in the future.

Professor Johan Rönnby, who leads the work at MARIS, Södertörn University, is delighted with the new allocation.

“All archaeologies, both onshore and offshore, are a combination The Forum XLX ROV of humanistic interpretation and practical knowledge of the source material,” he said. “The new equipment and cooperation with MMT provides us with exciting new opportunities to both find and reconstruct discoveries and whole environments submerged!”

“Swedish marine archaeological research has a very good reputation internationally and Sweden is considered one of the leading countries in this field. Södertörn University’s archaeological research department MARIS plays a central role in the scientific development of the field. for delivery in 2013 and will be “An important part of the development of this subject is new methods installed in two newly built vessels. for underwater archeology. Search, mapping and underwater excavating requires special techniques and special skills. This is Forum will work closely with the particularly evident in the case of examining the remains of the great shipbuilder, Daewoo Shipbuilding, and depths. Instead of using cutting spoon, ruler and tape measure, we use Marine Engineering in the Republic of underwater robots, multibeam and other subsea survey technologies. South Korea, to ensure efficient and MARIS and MMTS research and developments of these technologies smooth vessel installation and sea and methods have attracted international attention in various marine trials. archeological projects.”

109 UT2 December 2012 News News Sonardyne and Oceaneering demonstrate ROV dynamic positioning capabilities

A recent trials partnership between are subject to time and distance ‘Navigation’ mode is available Sonardyne and Oceaneering has based position errors and only continuously in all water depths when resulted in the development of a Fly- operate close to the seabed, meaning USBL data is available. If the INS By-Wire (FBW) system for remotely mid-water operations are conducted solution should become degraded or is operated vehicle (ROV) control via manual control so real world or unavailable, the system automatically in any water depth, allowing the relative coordinates cannot be easily reverts to ‘Passthru’ mode. ‘Passthru’ vehicle to hold station indefinitely and used by the ROV pilot. mode is a dead reckoned solution navigate to real-world coordinates using self contained AHRS data that automatically. To address these limitations, is inherently robust and reliable when Sonardyne and Oceaneering have combined with DVL data. A Sonardyne SPRINT system was developed a novel navigation and installed on one of Oceaneering’s control system solution utilising The results of the trial showed that Maxximum ROVs and integrated with the dual output of INS and AHRS continuous hovering of the ROV in mid- a Sonardyne Ranger 2 Ultra Short data from SPRINT to provide ROV water beyond DVL range was possible, Baseline (USBL) system for acoustic Dynamic Positioning (DP) in all water as well as automatic navigation to aiding of the Inertial Navigation depths with capabilities beyond waypoints. When the ROV was in DVL System (INS). The trials took place in current state-of-the-art, without range of the seabed the ‘Navigation’ the Gulf of Mexico in water depths of affecting reliability or ease of use. mode performed equally as well as 3057 metres (10,030 ft) and results the ‘Passthru’ mode but with the showed that continuous hovering The system has two methods of ROV added benefit of real-world referenced of the ROV in mid-water beyond control: ‘Navigation’ and ‘Passthru’. positioning data from the USBL Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) range In ‘Navigation’ mode, the ROV system. The faster update rate (20 was possible, as well as automatic control system uses INS positioning Hz, compared to the 5 Hz rate of the navigation to waypoints. optimised for DP with real-world DVL) has the potential to refine vehicle position, velocity and attitude data control precision. The majority of ROV navigation at high output rates. This speeds systems utilize an Attitude and up ROV operations by improving Commenting on the development, Heading Reference System (AHRS) vehicle control precision, automating Mark Carter, Business Development and DVL to provide a relative or dead station keeping and delivering FBW Manager for Inertial Systems at reckoned position. These systems capability. Sonardyne said, “Fly-By-Wire ROV control using real-world coordinates significantly improves operational efficiency compared to relative-only positioning methods. Faster navigation updates, automatic registering of waypoints and indefinite mid-water station keeping speed up ROV operations and ultimately save ROV and vessel time.”

Mark Philip, ROV Technology Manager at Oceaneering stated that, “Autonomous flight control is an increasingly important feature for ROVs. Oceaneering’s Fly-By-Wire system has greatly enhanced the efficiency of the service we provide to our customers since its introduction several years ago. The integration of the SPRINT inertial navigation system further enhances this capability by providing hands-free hovering and navigation throughout the entire water column. We place high importance on ease of operation and redundancy and are confident that our collaboration Oceaneering’s Maxximum ROV was fitted with Sonardyne’s SPRINT INS and Ranger with Sonardyne satisfies these 2 USBL systems to provide Fly-By-Wire station holding and subsea navigation requirements.”

UT2 December 2012 110 News

Remote-controlled world record at Åsgard

production,” says Torstein Vinterstø, For the very first time, remote- When that has been done, a remote- portfolio manager for subsea controlled machines and an controlled drilling machine will drill compression projects in Statoil. underwater welding robot have holes in the producing pipeline, with no installed a new tie-in point on a live effect on pressure and production. “The savings are measured gas pipeline, without the pipeline compared with what it would have being prepared in advance. “When the compressor module and cost to perform a similar operation, the manifold for Åsgard subsea including shutting down production These types of operations can save compression are installed next year, we in the pipeline we were working on. Statoil lots of money in the long run. will connect the pipeline from these to This would also have taken much the hot-tap tie-in point,” says Apeland. longer than the ten days we spent The hot tap installation is the first now - possibly as long as three to be carried out in connection with The Åsgard subsea compression months,” he says. preparations for Åsgard subsea gas project will be realised in 2015, The method was developed by compression in the Norwegian Sea, as the first of its kind in the world. Statoil, and there is no comparable and thus also represents a milestone Compressors will be installed on the technology. for the project. The tie-in point was seabed, instead of on a platform. This welded on to the Åsgard B production will improve recovery from the Mikkel The work to develop the technology flowline at a water depth of 265 and Midgard reservoirs by around 280 started in 1999, and was developed metres. million barrels of oil equivalents. in Statoil’s pipe technology environment at Killingøy outside After ten days on the field, the hot-tap Major savings Haugesund. Statoil’s expertise in tie- operation team on board the Technip- in and repair of pipelines is gathered owned vessel Scandi Arctic could Hot tap technology is a technological there. confirm success in the pioneering breakthrough, and a door opener for operation. developing marginal fields, as well as Open and constructive cooperation extending the lifetime of other fields. with our key suppliers has been “For a subsea engineer, this can be instrumental in achieving this. compared with landing on Mars,” The ability to connect anywhere on a says Kjell Edvard Apeland. He is pipeline, without stopping production, Statoil has already thoroughly tested project manager of the remote- yields considerable flexibility and the hot tap technology, with good controlled hot tap development in significant savings. results. Remote-controlled hot tap Statoil and head of the operation on has previously been performed on the Åsgard field. Tampen Link on the Statfjord field “Since we will be connecting a new in the North Sea and on the Ormen Simply explained, a remote- compressor station on the seabed Lange field in the Norwegian Sea, controlled hot tap operation consists to an existing pipeline system on but then the T-piece had already of a robot welding a T-piece on to the Åsgard, it is very beneficial to use the been installed on the gas pipeline in pipe, while gas is flowing through it. hot tap technology to avoid disrupting advance.

Illustration: Åsgard subsea gas compression.

111 UT2 December 2012 News News

IKM OMM IKM Subsea singapore awarded Marine solutions company, Survey operations will include the contract by Larsen & Toubro Offshore Marine Management following in respect of TenneT’s IKM Subsea Singapore has been (OMM) has recently been awarded existing and proposed subsea awarded a contract by Larsen & a three year survey frame assets, both offshore and nearshore: Toubro for ROV services onboard agreement from TenneT Offshore the LTS3000 for their project in GmbH. l Cable route surveys Myanmar. (hydrographic, geophysical and Equipment would be mobilized The Survey & Subsea department geotechnical) in mid-October and the project is of OMM will fully support the l Site investigations anticipated to run through till end agreement, which commences l ROV visual surveys and depth of January 2013 for pipeline and jacket with immediate effect, from their burial/subsea inspection surveys installation. We would like to build on Cambridge Operations offices in l Crossing surveys this project and establish ourselves the UK l LIDAR surveys as a strong player in this region. OMM are one IKM Subsea would be providing of several the in house built Merlin WR200 selected survey Workclass ROV and the Sub contractors to Atlantic Comanche onboard the provide the vessel to support the operations. German offshore IKM Subsea Business Development utilities company Manager, Mahesh Govindan says with survey this contract award is a significant services in the accomplishment for the company form of call-off who recently started the office in agreements Singapore early this year. within the German Bight The company intends to grow rapidly sector of the as a Stand Alone ROV operator and southern North would expand the ROV fleet further Sea. with 2 more Workclass ROVs in Q1 Survey equipment deployment 2013.

l Laboratory testing l Final deliverables (reporting, charting GIS and digital video)

Upon the recent award, Arron Burrows, OMM’s Director of Survey & Subsea commented:“This three year award allows OMM to further cement their relationship with TenneT since 2009 in their previous guises as Transpower Offshore and Eon Netz Offshore.

In this time, OMM have provided TenneT’s general contractors with multiple offshore solutions in the form of cable installation and burial, cable pull-ins, ROV depth of burial surveys, platform inspection, crossing surveys and mattress installation, PLGR and guard vessel IKM Subsea work class ROV, Merlin WR200 supply activities.

UT2 December 2012 112 News

Fully equipped Mohican ROV for the BKK Kollsnes – Mongstad project

MMT has conducted seabed surveys for BKK Nett AS, Norway. This was the first time MMT used its Mohican ROV fully equipped for geophysical survey.

BKK Nett AS contracted MMT for seabed surveys that were conducted in October and November 2012. The 420 kV link between Modalen and Kollsnes is planned to be in operation within a few years with new subsea cables and overhead lines.

MMT´s part in this project is to produce a detailed design for the submarine cable- route between Modalen and Kollsnes via Mongstad. The result from these surveys will assist BKK´s development of the final route planning. The seabed survey was conducted in three Western Fjords in Norway: Hjeltefjorden, Lurefjord and Fensfjorden.

MMT used its 40m long state of the art survey vessel IceBeam for this operation. An extremely detailed 200 meter wide corridor for the cable was mapped. The steep fjords and high trafficked area presented no complications for MMT´s experienced and skilled crew and survey team.

This was the first time that MMT used its fully equipped Mohican ROV for detailed geophysical mapping and investigation. The Mohican ROV, a remote-controlled underwater vehicle, was equipped with multibeam, side scan sonar, sub-bottom profiles and video cameras. In addition, MMT took geotechnical samples along the route with a vibrocorer, which is a type of drilling method.

Based on the collected data MMT presented charts with seabed features and topography. The charts are used for planning and laying of the submarine cable.

The fully equipped Mohican ROV that was used for this survey was a success. The result was the same as using the equipment on a large work class ROV, but this is a much more cost effective solution for the client. MMT´s Mohican ROV

113 UT2 December 2012 News News

Fish Farming

Applied Acoustics’ Easytrak Alpha stock densities and uncontrolled mass of waste lying beneath the farms on the fjord system, the entry level, compact production resulted in serious disease floor. With the fjord bottom several hundred tool for small subsea tracking that all but destroyed the industry, metres away from the surface, and net cages operations, has recently been requiring the government to implement filled with living salmon between, Mariscope used in an unusual application tighter controls and inspections of the realised the only way to find and mark the in the fjords of Chile by German once pristine waters. waste cost-effectively was with an ROV and company Mariscope Meerestechnik. an ultra-short base line (USBL) system. This interesting contract required In the past, ROVs merely inspected The cages, containing around 200t of fish, the positioning and tracking of a the salmon cages and moorings, but stretch along deep turbulent fjords, requiring Commander II ROV to investigate now the government is demanding that the range of the USBL system to be at least conditions beneath salmon fish faecal waste from the fish, food pellet 500m. farms in Chile. contamination of the sediment and the general submarine environment “The Easytrak system achieved good results Chile has produced huge amounts must be monitored so that Chile’s underneath the cages, where other systems of farmed salmon in the lakes aquaculture can thrive once again. had communication problems related to the and fjords of Patagonia over the lack of transmission power,” said Christian past two decades. However, high Critical to the new regime is the removal Haag from Mariscope.

UT2 December 2012 114 SUT

The biggest problems for USBL positioning systems not only relate to interference generated by the cages and nets, but are also to do with the extreme bathymetry in the fjords.

The extreme slopes of the Andes, which descend 200m or so into the fjords, generate acoustic reflections during the ROV inspections that often create false positioning information.

The USBL systems in use have to be able to discriminate between real signal and the reflected or echoed one, and the Easytrak Alpha performed well in this respect.”

115 UT2 December 2012 Subsea Equipment Equipment OptoLink Single Fibre Connector

The MacArtney Underwater warrants the robustness and Moreover, The OptoLink Singe Fibre Technology Group has introduced reliability of the connector, whether Connector is engineered for minimal the OptoLink Single Fibre Connector mounted on the deck of a vessel weight. In practice, this entails that to its connector range. under harsh sea conditions, on an the connector applies a minimum offshore platform, or at full ocean amount of strain on for instance Designed for subsea equipment depth. small and medium sized ROV’s, manufacturers, the low insertion thus allowing them to carry more loss and back reflection make In accordance with the industry equipment. this connector perfect for high tendency of progressive reduction speed data and video in equipment size, the new addition The single fibre (single pass) transmission. The to the OptoLink range has been OptoLink connector is available in rugged stainless specially developed to offer reliable a bulkhead (BCR) and cable mount steel design and efficient fibre optic connectivity (CCP) configuration with minimal in a minimal sized connector. attenuation between the mated connector pairs. It is available in Considering the fact that) the both single and multi mode. The OptoLink Single Fibre Connector connectors have SS316 stainless features a full ocean depth rating of steel housing as standard, however, 6000m as standard, – the connector other shell materials are available The OptoLink Single Fibre is very compact indeed. upon request. Connector

Laser Scanning

Jee is a leading independent multi- to fit first time. The laser scanner is fit riser and J-tube project where discipline engineering and training hand portable, maps the external fabricated clamp-guide assemblies business. The company offers a dimension to the millimetre, and is have to fit and be precisely positioned complete range of whole life-of- fast enough to do the job in a single on existing jacket members. Jee is field subsea engineering expertise, shift. We took measurements on looking to join the laser scan results including ongoing research and some straight spools as a belt- for the above-the-waterline members development of the subsea oil, gas and-braces cross-check on the with underwater acoustic scans for and renewables sectors. calibration. the submerged sections.

The latest technology to be “The downloading, merging and Trevor Jee, Managing Director pioneered by the company is the importing can be sorted on the of Jee, said: “Our customers see application of cutting-edge laser laptop on the boat back. Having value-add in this for their own scanning to design, fabricate and obtained the 3D scan and proved its purposes. The laser scanner not only fit new pig traps for an operational accuracy, we used them to design produces a 3D solid model, there is deepwater West Africa export the replacement spools and pig traps, a free viewer with gives you a three system. then scanned the fabrications to dimensional photo quality image verify that they will fit within tolerance, which you can view on your desktop, Project Manager, Brad Hale, Head something that is not always obvious so you can walk around the object of Research and Development at when you are working with six without leaving your desk, much like Jee, assessed and selected the degrees of freedom.” the street view in Google Maps or on technology for this demanding Google Earth.” application. This job is part of a wider capability in the technical assurance of As the needs for the integrity The remote location has difficult subsea systems, where Jee has management and operations support access, with obstacles of existing managed numerous in-line inspection grow over time, laser scanning pipework to work around, and a campaigns of critical and complex technology will play a significant shutdown access time so short that deepwater subsea pipeline, riser and role. Jee will continue to build fabricating a closing spool is not an flowline systems. on its capabilities, pragmatically option. implementing the new technology to The company is also going to be do things better and make customers’ Mr Hale said: “The trap has just got applying this technology to retro- lives easier.

UT2 December 2012 116 MB1 in Brazil As a result of a successful week of on water demonstrations Subsea History to over 70 interested parties in Rio de Janeiro, Teledyne Odom Hydrographic has made its MB1 multibeam echo When one company takes over another, it is sounder delivery into Brazil. understandable that they would want to change the name to reflect the new incorporated The MB1 Multibeam system was released in early January. It features a 120 deg swath coverage, phase and amplitude identity. Over the years, this has meant bottom detection at an operating frequency of 170–220 kHz. a number of well known and sometimes pioneering brands losing their name.

Subsea Offshore, Big Inch, W2T, Rockwater, NAVO Award Stolt Comex Seaway and until recently Kvaerner are all companies that are well L-3 Klein has received an award from the US Naval known names in the industry that operate under Oceanographic Office (NAVO) for seven life-cycle kits to the umbrella of other companies. upgrade existing L-3 Klein System 5000 sonar systems to the advanced Klein S5900 multi-beam side scan sonar. The UT2 history group would like to record their existence in a family tree structure which will The S5900 system will be deployed from six T-AGS eventually become available online. 60-class oceanographic survey ships that are designed and constructed to provide multi-purpose oceanographic If any reader has worked or is currently capabilities in deep ocean areas and shallow coastal waters working for a company that has taken over around the world. or been taken over by another, would you be kind enough to supply your part of the jigsaw. Once we get enough information to put online, hopefully this will allow others to add details of their own experience.

Please contact the editor at

[email protected]

117 UT2 December 2012 News News

2G Robotics Unveils New Mid-range ULS-200 System

2G Robotics has recently launched the ULS-200 is capable of underwater ULS-200, a mid-range underwater laser measurements in confined spaces, scanner. The most versatile of 2G and as with all ULS scanners, can Robotics’ series of ULS systems, the be easily deployed by a diver. ULS-200 provides many of the benefits of the small, short-range ULS-100, Low power consumption and while allowing for the extensive variety bandwidth needs - Requiring of applications provided by the larger, minimal power (12 VDC to 24 VDC long range ULS-500. @ 1A maximum) for operation, the ULS-200 also utilizes standard Advantages of the ULS-200: RS-485 and RS-232 connections, Increased scanning range - The ULS- making the system easily 200 ideal scan range is between 0.25m compatible with almost any ROV/ and 2.5m. This longer scanning range AUV. makes the ULS-200 relevant to a more extensive range of applications. Applications for ULS-200: These features make the ULS-200 Compact design - The ULS-200 retains extremely versatile. The system Underwater laser scanner. the compact, lightweight design of is relevant to a wide range of the ULS-100 (1.29kg in water). At just measurement tasks (in water or air) 29.2cm in height and 33.2cm long, the that require precision and accuracy.

UK-IMON Vessel Motion Monitoring Systems for Wind Farms

Chelsea Technologies Group is OSIL has launched a Vessel Motion Monitoring System. The transfer of participating in The UK Integrated Monitoring System (VMMS), designed wind farm technicians to the wind Marine Observing Network (UK- to monitor motion of a vessel in order turbines has inherent risks, which IMON) workshop. to increase safety of transfers during we are looking at improving with our offshore wind farm operations. new monitoring system. Rather than The aim of the UK-IMON initiative having to make a subjective decision, is to ensure that a national marine With a second generation 6 DoF users can now make informed, observatory is in place to improve (Degrees of Freedom) motion scientific decisions on safety the evidence base for future sensor, the Vessel Motion Monitoring measures”. assessments of environmental System monitors safety thresholds status, using the most cost-effective for heading, heave, pitch, roll, sway Vessel Motion technologies available to the UK and yaw. Monitoring marine science community. System This portable, battery powered (VMMS) The group will be exploring adding monitoring system has a removable value to existing key monitoring hard disk for data retrieval, and is sites. programmed to display a red signal to indicate when it is unsafe to transfer The workshop has been set up because safety thresholds have in order to identify the user- been exceeded. The Vessel Motion requirements for marine science Monitoring System’s safety thresholds and ascertain how to improve the are customisable to customer’s efficiency and quality of information specific operations, ensuring that from moorings throughout the UK. transfers are only made under the green light. The workshop will focus on biological and biogeochemical measurements Richard Williams, Managing Director taking into consideration all of OSIL, said: “We are excited to measurements for the development expand our product portfolio with of the network such as buoyancy our state of the art Vessel Motion gliders, wave glides and floats.

UT2 December 2012 118 News

New Test Rig for ‘Next Generation’ Deepwater Mooring Connectors

Subsea mooring connector (SMC) The metals forging research is now “This is a significant investment that specialist, First Subsea has invested being applied to the manufacture of will ensure our Ballgrab subsea over £200,000 in new mooring connector the company’s latest Ballgrab Series III mooring connector continues to test rig facilities at its production site male connectors - the largest produced set the standard for deepwater in Lancaster, UK. The test-rig is being so far with an un-corroded 2,599mT moorings,” says John Shaw, used in the manufacture of ‘next (25,491kN) MBL, and compliant with managing director, First Subsea Ltd. generation’ SMCs for industry leading, the ABS Mooring Guide 2009. deepwater mooring projects: the Jack & St Malo field’s semi-submersible platform and Lucius field’s Spar moorings, both in the Gulf of Mexico.

The SMC test rig is used for proof load and Minimum Breaking Load (MBL) testing up to 2,600t (25,497 kN).

First Subsea leads the world in research into large scale steel forgings. In collaboration with the University of Sheffield’s Institute for Microstructural and Mechanical Process Engineering (IMMPETUS), the company has systematically improved the performance of its mooring connectors.

ROV Services Energy services company ROVOP has secured a series of contracts worth a total of £7million for work on major offshore windfarms across Europe.

The increasing demand for the services of rapidly-evolving subsea business has also led the company to announce the strengthening of its management team with two senior appointments.

ROVOP, which supplies high- performance remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to the energy industry, is supplying its equipment and expertise to developments in the UK, Germany, Denmark and Belgium.

The unmanned submarines are used to support turbine tower installation and cable laying, providing powerful subsea tooling and sensors without risking divers. The work is at windfarms including Thornton Bank in Belgium, Anholt in Denmark and Global Tech 1 in Germany, as well as in the UK at London Array, the largest offshore windfarm in the world. Test-rig

119 UT2 December 2012 News News Wire Recovery Wire Recovery

KD Marine has completed the hydraulic anvil cutter fitted by the dive OceanWorks International has been removal and recovery of a damaged team just below the socket on the APL awarded a contract by the Fundy 114mm wire on the APL buoy buoy. Ocean Research Center for Energy designed mooring system and (FORCE) to instrument a cable replaced with a new 144mm mooring The wire was then recovered to the termination for a ground breaking tidal wire anchor handling vessel. The socket energy project in the Bay of Fundy. stub, still attached to the turret, was It was the first time this type of work then removed and recovered to the The project includes the design, has been completed beneath an installation by the KD Marine dive manufacture and integration of the FPSO, in addition to this the project team. subsea instrumentation, shore station, was completed without shutting down and commissioning. production on the facility. A new 144mm mooring wire was then deployed from the installation FORCE is deploying four power cables The project was completed within 21 and connected by the KD Marine to connect prototype instream tidal days with no incidents to personnel dive team to the STP turret. After the turbines to a dedicated electrical sub- or assets. successful connection of the socket to station. By providing this infrastructure, the STP buoy the end of the new wire FORCE is lowering the ‘barrier to The damaged wire was removed was transferred to an anchor handling entry’ for turbine manufactures to test by KD Marine then recovered to the vessel for connection to the seabed their equipment in one of the most deck of the Far Sapphire, in addition anchoring system. demanding tidal environments. to this the specialist diving contractor was also tasked with the installation With this project needing to be The planned deployment will take place of the new mooring wire. completed before winter and with the in Atlantic Canada’s Bay of Fundy, scheduled shut down of production which is renowned for having the The project was a “one for one” not till next year KD Marine were highest tidal range in the world. When replacement of a damaged mooring tasked with creating a solution deployed, the first of the our cables wire attached from the seabed which could be completed while the will be equipped with cable termination anchoring system to the STP turret. installation was still in production. The instrumentation which is provided by The existing (damaged) mooring wire other alternative was to shut down the OceanWorks International. This will add was recovered from the seabed by facility and cost the client 100 days of valuable information on the behaviour the Far Sapphire and then cut with a production in the process. and likely lifetime of the cables that are essential for the connection of turbines to the electrical grid, and ultimately to the end customers for the delivery of clean power.

Sensor Plate The wire being cut during the onshore trials

UT2 December 2012 120 SUT

Wire Recovery Multi-Million Growth for National Hyperbaric Centre

A specialist North-east oil and gas industry support and training facility is on track to double its turnover this year.

The Aberdeen-based National Hyperbaric Centre (NHC), which has been operating in the North-east for more than 25 years is set to see an increase of more than £3m in the annual figures following growth in its consulting, training, testing and hyperbaric welding sectors, over the past six months.

The substantial increase is mainly due to securing contracts with global organisations and expanding into new markets, including Africa and Brazil. As a result of the growth, the NHC has taken on an additional ten employees this year to cope with the demand for their wide range of technical dive support services.

The NHC is a privately owned company offering services including commercial diver training, hyperbaric welding, subsea testing and consultancyto clients in the UK and across the globe.

The NHC has secured a number of multi-million pound contracts with some major oil and gas operators this year and launched its own software program in April; DiveCert, which is a software package for the diving industry to ensure competence of all diving system equipment.

In addition to providing global subsea expert support and training, the NHC, which was launched in 1987, also boasts hyperbaric pressure test chambers rated to an operational depth of 8000m, a work chamber (rated to 1000m), saturation system (rated to 300 metres) and an outdoor water test tank. The company delivers a range of services including training courses, testing and trial facilities, research and development, auditing, diving medical support, equipment certification, senior consultancy and Sensor Plate hyperbaric lifeboat reception.

121 UT2 December 2012 Mine Counter Measures

Compact but powerful remotely would envisage a towed side scan operated vehicles (ROV)s can be system or alternatively, an autonomous effective in neutralising the threat of underwater vehicles (AUV) with side sea mines. The inherent stability and scan, being used to survey a list of high manoeuvrability of these remote possible targets.” vehicles allow them to accurately place explosive charges on or close Once an interesting image signature is to the mine target and detonate it, detected, small rigid hull inflatable boat without endangering human life. (RHIB) or larger vessel housing the ROV, would be deployed to a location Recently, SeaBotix carried out sea in close proximity to the site, where trials where it demonstrated the it would be anchored or use dynamic positioning. The co- ordinates would then be fed into the ROV’s positioning system software located on the Integrated Navigation The shaped charge being attached Control Console. of 40–50m provide a radar-like image with The operation commences a blip on the screen. Alternatively, multi- by positioning a dunking beam sonars provide a narrower field transducer of an ultra-short of view (around 120deg) with a similar base line (USBL) tracking effective range, but providing a much system, over the side of clearer picture of the target. the vessel. The moving ROV would interrogate the Additionally, multi-beam sonars provide responder/transponder real-time update rates where scanning to derive a continuous sonars require several seconds to positional update. complete a scan.

Alternatively, the side scan In good visibility, the operator is able Nautralised sea mine sonar data can be output as to stand off the target and investigate, a geo-referenced side scan although in poor conditions the operator effectiveness of its versatile vLBV image and used as the underlay for the must move the ROV in closer. From these ROV in mine countermeasures tracking system. views, the operator is able to determine (MCM). the optimum placement location for the Approaching the target location, the shaped charge, as well as the most “Over the years, a number of mounted sonar will aim to pick up suitable heading to allow ROV to be single-shot ROVs have been the target, allowing the ROV to move recovered to the vessel. The simplest and designed to detonate mines,” said in closer for a visual inspection. The most efficient method of recovery is often Jesse Rodocker. “These work operator can select various sonar simply to reel in the ROV. by flying directly into the mine, options including mechanical scanning where everything is consumed sonars and multi-beam imaging sonars. The SeaBotix vLBV in mutual destruction. While ultimately effective, the technique Scanning sonars provide a fundamentally presents a significant 360deg sector scan with a investment per detonation.” typical effective range

This prompted SeaBotix to look into developing an alternative system based on the premise that the ROV would not be sacrificed in the operation. This envisages attaching a charge to the mine and retiring to a safe distance before detonation.

“The first issue is to detect the mine,” said Rodocker. “A typical scenario

UT2 December 2012 122 In shallow waters (up to 55m), an The vLBV system was setup with the Cowan. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Tritech MicronNav USBL tracking Retreating to a safe stand-off dive team may be used for this system, Tritech SeaPrince mechanical distance within the range of the observation role. The divers would use scanning sonar and Sound Metrics wireless device (several kilometres these coordinates and use a handheld ARIS multi-beam sonar. Once onsite, possible), and fulfilling the security sonar to locate the target for a visual the Admiral Cowan held station protocol the remote was triggered, identification. approximately 150m from the target essentially sending the firing coordinates. command to the float. The next step involves preparing the returning ROV to receive the attachment The initial task was to locate “The surface disruption is a function device for the shaped charge. Firstly, and identify the targets. Prior to of the size of the explosives within the shaped charge is prepared with the deployment, the global positioning the mine and the water depth,” said energetic detonator and shock tube. system (GPS) coordinates were Rodocker. “In practice, the Soviet Once prepared the shaped charge entered into Seanet Pro. The dunking M-26 mine containing 250kg of TNT device is fitted to a neutrally buoyant transducer, secured over the side, at a depth of 75m, resulted in very deployment skid that mounts underneath allowed the ROV to be piloted to the little water disruption. The shaped charge being attached the vLBV. target coordinates. “Once detonation was complete, The deployment skid allows the device After a few minutes, the SeaPrince the float was recovered to the to be placed on or near the sea mine. scanning sonar revealed the first vessel and the spent shock tube The ‘shock tube’ of the shaped charge target. When within range, the ARIS spooled in.” feeds back to the vessel. The operator sonar displayed an image of the World must take care to keep the ROV tether War II Soviet M-26 mine. Depth was A further inspection of the mine was from entangling with it. A small float is confirmed at 74.4m. conducted to ensure a high order sometimes attached to the shock tube, was achieved. Upon reaching the to keep it up high and away from the The close investigation revealed target location the destroyed M-26 ROV. the most suitable point for attaching carcase was found. the shaped charge. The vLBV was The addition of the shaped charge has recovered to the Admiral Cowan and The use of a placed charge by a little impact on the manoeuvrability of the returned after picking up the shaped versatile MiniROV system such as ROV due to its shape and low mass. charge. The powder actuated nail gun the vLBV drastically reduces the pinned this charge to the M-26 mine cost to clear sea mines over single Once the ROV approaches the target on and the vLBV was slowly recovered to shot dedicated mine clearance the predetermined heading, it is slowly the Admiral Cowan. ROVs. Additionally, the vLBV is manoeuvred to the mine. When close well-suited to tasks beyond mine to the mine the shaped charge can be “While every care was taken to keep neutralisation where dedicated placed in the predetermined location to the two cables (tether and shot tube) mine neutralisation ROVs are ensure high order. The ROV can then from entangling,” said Rodocker, “we purpose built. reverse until it is clear of the mine and soon realised that the shock tube. shaped charge was so strongly attached With a vessel stand-off distance of 150m to the mine, it would and a depth of 75m the approximate time not pull away.” to target from deployment is 5mins. At the surface, the Trials shaped charge During surveys conducted in 2009, the was prepared for Swedish Navy located multiple targets detonation by reeling in the Baltic Sea. Two, within close and cutting the excess proximity to each other, were selected for shock tube. the vLBV and shaped charge in deeper water. The target coordinates placed This was secured to them approximately 30km northwest of a wireless device and base camp in a depth of 73m and only attached to a high 35m apart. visibility float, which was subsequently Operations took place aboard the deployed over the Estonian Mine Hunter Admiral Cowan. side of the Admiral Output from a Sound Metrics ARIS multi-beam sonar

123 UT2 December 2012 Subsea Equipment Under Pressure DeepSea Power & Light has pressures, over a user-selectable

Subsea Equipment announced a valuable update to its pressure range. English or metric units popular free Under Pressure software can be specified. The program uses UK National Facility for program, which is widely used to aid equations from Formulas for Stress and Scientific Diving in the design of pressure housings. Strain, sixth edition, by Raymond J. Roark and Warren C. Young. Under Pressure is a menu-driven, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly: They Work, But How Much Can We Rely On Diving Computers? interactive and user-friendly program Other features include graphic designed for the working engineer or representation of the pressure vessel In the UK there are three Diving Industry scientist. and online graphic display of radial and sectors that are permitted to control and tangential stress distribution. manage decompression obligations using It evaluates structural capabilities, diving computers. Diving Contractors deflections and weights of common Under Pressure 4.60 maintains the working within the Media, Recreational pressure vessel geometries such as same user interface and calculations as and the Scientific & Archaeological cylindrical tubes and spheres, as well in previous versions while enabling the Approved Codes of Practice can employ as hemispherical, conical, flat circular, program to work within several Windows diving computers for decompression and flat annular end enclosures made Operating Systems including XP, Vista, management if they wish. from a variety of materials. Windows 7 and Windows 8 x86 and x64 desktop versions (Under Pressure 4.60 It is unknown as to the actual numbers The flat annular end cap can be is not compatible with Windows RT for of UK “at work” diving operations that further delineated by choosing among phones and tablets.) Under Pressure are wholly reliant on diving computers several options, such as fixed, simply 4.60 contains its own internal database for this task, but it is assumed that there supported, guided and free. The user module eliminating the need to use could be significant proportions in some also selects the material, housing SqlServer, Access, MDAC, or .NET and of the sectors. component geometry and pressure simplifying the installation process. analysis range; the stress analysis is There is a growing body of anecdotal then rapidly calculated. For a free download of this latest 4.60 “evidence” to suggest that the main version of Under Pressure, go to the diving industry sector to place maximum A design loop can be selected and DeepSea Power & Light website at reliance of diving computers, the the analysis can be repeated while a www.deepsea.com and select the Recreational one, is experiencing single parameter (e.g. wall thickness) Design Tools pull-down tab and then marked reductions in the incidence of is varied. Stresses and deflections select Under Pressure and follow the decompression illness. are given for internal or external download directions. It is reasonable to hypothesise that near total reliance on diving computers has significantly altered dive practice in the Recreational sector to the extent that dive profiles are purposely (though not necessarily intentionally) tailored to accept that computer usage in that sector is near 100%.

This can deliver a near typical dive profile whereby an initial (but usually brief) excursion is made to a maximum depth, followed by much longer periods at medium and shallower depths.

In effect, this typical sort of profile is incorporating an element of decompression that is missing from a more straightforward square-wave form of dive profile that may be more typical of other of the occupational diving sectors.

Dive computers have always had Screen images from Under Pressure 4.6 a mixed reputation within the

Diving Computers UT2 December 2012 124 The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly: They Work, But How Much Can We Rely On Diving Computers?

occupational diving world. That aside, any explicit validation and there is no from different implementations of most divers, dive supervisors and dive CE marking that specifically covers these numerical methods. Although contractors will accept that a mechanism decompression. This is especially true Salm could not give a definitive that supports real-time calculation for so-called “modified” versions of the answer about the origin of these of nitrogen loading based on dive “accepted” decompression models variations he suggests the possibility profiles that largely start deep but work where there is no published technical that the implementation of the shallower, will always be a superior information relating to any of the algorithms by dive computers may procedure than using simple maximum mechanisms of modification. alter the application of the basic depth/total bottom time calculations. models in some way. In fact, in general, there is pitifully A certain amount of the within-Industry little published information supporting Both studies hint that there should anxiety about using dive computers for how dive computers work or have be a level of scepticism exercised decompression management can or been modified prior to sale. And when employing dive computers should be allayed by the fact that all dive yet, under three Approved Codes of in support of occupational diving computers sold in Europe must comply Practice supporting the 1997 Diving operations. On-going studies are with the CE marking protocols. at Work Regulations, dive computers already examining the working of are accepted methods of managing computers at increasing levels of However, when examined in detail it is occupational diving operations. detail. found that computer manufacturers or suppliers use a number of European Within Europe, there is a number In time, it is hoped that there will normatives to support their sale. These of groups that are examining and be greater participation from the range from the Personal Protective testing some of the methodologies manufacturer/supplier base with Equipment Directive 89/686/EEC to and assumptions that underpin the the ultimate aim of producing more the Electromagnetic Capability (EMC) operational capabilities of diving dive computers with validated and directive 89/336/EEC. computers. literature-supported functionality. In turn, this will produce a generation The most often cited European Two related studies have recently of dive computers that can be normative in support of dive computer been published in the SUT journal depended on more for use within the sales, EN13319:2000, explicitly states Underwater Technology. In a paper occupational diving sectors. that it does not cover decompression by Azzopardi and Sayer, 47 models modelling. An in depth review of the CE of dive computers were examined to Azzopardi E and Sayer MDJ. branding surrounding, but not clearly determine how accurately computers (2012). Estimation of depth and supporting, European dive computer convert and display basic time/ temperature in 47 models of diving sales can be found in Sieber et al 2012. pressure measurements as depth and decompression. Underwater temperature information. Although Technology 31: 3–12. So, decompression models/algorithms they discovered relatively low levels within dive computers may not require of variation in depth displayed, the Salm A. (2012). Decompression temperature information displayed by calculations for trimix dives with PC dive computers was seldom reliable. software: variations in the time-to- surface: where do they come from? In a separate study in the recent issue Underwater Technology 31: 43–47. of Underwater Technology, Salm 2012 examined some of the algorithms that Sieber A, Stoianova M, Jöbstl may be employed in dive computers E, Azzopardi E, Sayer MDJ that support deep mixed-gas diving and and Wagner MF. (2012). Dive found that there were differences in the computers: the need for validation calculation of decompression times. and standards. In: Proceedings of Validation of Dive Computers He hypothesised that the differences Workshop (Blogg SL, Lang MA and did not come from variations in the Møllerløkken A., eds.). EUBS and decompression algorithms but rather Akademika Publishing.

Diving Computers 125 UT2 December 2012 Lighting 2012

The Pisces security light HPSV Light

Oceanology 2012 BIRNS has introduced its latest stainless steel. With a tough 1.06in situ. It can be relamped, tool-free, by underwater security light: the new thick tempered glass lens further hand in 60 seconds, with commercially BIRNS Pisces. This rugged 130 000 supported by stainless steel reinforcing available, low mercury (toxicity lumen High Pressure Sodium bars, this incredibly durable and characteristic leaching procedure Vapour (HPSV) lighting system is powerful system is custom-engineered (TCLP) compliant; 0.06mg/l) lamps. designed for a range of underwater to withstand long-term immersion in security applications and for use seawater. The system comes with two robust wet alongside military submarine mateable BIRNS connectors, with gold docks. It can, however, be tailored The 1kW HPSV lamp operates in a plated contacts per MIL-G-45204. for many different applications dry, one atmosphere chamber, and has where long-term use, extremely a 24,000 hour lamp life and - in concert This intensely powerful light stands up powerful illumination and minimal with its high-reflectivity mirror-finish to the most punishing conditions at sea, maintenance is required. reflector - provides intense light output. yet it has a slim 13.2in wide by 19.7in long profile that can be The robust construction features a This high intensity gas discharge adapted to many rigorous applications. solid housing fabricated of 63AA- lamp has no filament, making it nearly In fact, the lamphead has a pan and tilt electropolished AISA type 316 impervious to shock and vibration in mouthing yoke, for maximum versatility.

Explorer Lite Atlans Bowtech has added a new camera ATLANS, a new cost-effective georeferencing and orientation system from to its low light camera range – the iXBlue, has been designed specifically for land and airborne mapping Explorer Lite. applications being conducted within a limited budget. Significantly, the unit is ITAR-free. The Explorer Lite, low light level, high resolution, monochrome charge- The user gets a compact, lightweight gyrocompass and motion sensor that coupled device (CCD) camera is consumes very little power and yet provides all of the required data for the ideal solution for extremely low demanding navigation, stabilisation and control applications. ATLANS can light level underwater viewing and be easily integrated with standard GNSS and DMI systems and is easily navigation, and produces excellent combined with most commonly used flight management, satellite tracking and images in high intensity illumination. mobile imaging systems. All of the interface and computing electronics are contained within a single housing that also features an embedded RTK GPS The camera can be manufactured with board for centimetre accuracy performance. high quality hard anodised aluminium housing rated to 1500m operating ATLANS is based on fibre optic gyroscope (FOG) technology, heavily depth as standard, or titanium housing developed by iXBlue over a period of 25 years and now incorporated into a rated to 6000m operating depth. It is range of high-performance positioning and navigational aids for use in civil, fitted with a wide angle, high speed, defence and space applications. Being solid state and having no moving aspherical lens giving a diagonal parts, FOGs have become renowned for their ruggedness and stability, and field of view of 103deg through a for their extended and maintenance-free service lives. fully water corrected front port. It also VA500 Altimeter features built-in reverse polarity and Benoit Kerouanton, product manager, said, “We have spent a great deal surge protection. of effort over the years developing FOG technology, not just to improve its a new approach to subsea performance and reliability but to get us to a position where we can provide The miniature high quality 1/2in CCD simple to use, highly practical systems at distance measurement sensor offers high resolution and low very competitive prices. light level sensitivity, making it the • 500kHz Broadband Transducer ideal camera for low light underwater ATLANS capitalises strongly on viewing tasks. this work. It is a small, high- • 0.1 - 100m range performance unit which comes • Digital & Analogue outputs as standard Explorer Lite at a price that will make it a very attractive option for users • 9 – 28v dc power input pursuing a range of UAV and • High accuracy 0.01% pressure transducer option LIDAR mapping, digital imaging and hyperspectral sensing applications.” ATLANS

Contact us now to improve your distance measurement. Tel: +44 (0)1803 869292 UT2 December 2012 St. Peter’s Quay, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5EW United Kingdom 126 [email protected] • www.valeport.co.uk LUXUS Cameras and Lights

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Contact us now to improve your distance measurement. Tel: +44 (0)1803 869292 127 St. Peter’s Quay, Totnes,UT2 Devon December TQ9 5EW United2012 Kingdom [email protected] • www.valeport.co.uk News News NASA/WHOI Voyage Set to Explore Link Between Sea Saltiness and Climate

A NASA-sponsored expedition is set measurements NASA’s Aquarius The researchers will spend to sail to the North Atlantic’s saltiest instrument has been collecting from about three weeks on site spot to get a detailed, 3-D picture space since August 2011. deploying instruments and taking of how salt content fluctuates in the salinity, temperature and other ocean’s upper layers and how these SPURS scientists aboard the research measurements, before sailing to the variations are related to shifts in vessel Knorr leave Sept. 6 from the Azores to complete the voyage. rainfall patterns around the planet. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Mass., and head They will return with new data to aid The research voyage is part of toward a spot known as the Atlantic in understanding one of the most a multi-year mission, dubbed surface salinity maximum, located worrisome effects of climate change the Salinity Processes in the halfway between the Bahamas and -- the acceleration of Earth’s water Upper Ocean Regional Study the western coast of North Africa. The cycle. As global temperatures go up, (SPURS), which will deploy multiple expedition also is supported by the evaporation increases, altering the instruments in different regions National Oceanic and Atmospheric frequency, strength, and distribution of the ocean. The new data also Administration and the National of rainfall around the planet, with far- will help calibrate the salinity Science Foundation. reaching implications for life on Earth.

Ocean glider vehicle

UT2 December 2012 128 News

NASA/WHOI Voyage Set to Explore Link Between Sea Saltiness and Climate

“What if the drought in the U.S. Midwest became permanent? To understand whether that could happen we must understand the water cycle and how it will change as the climate continues to warm,” said Raymond Schmitt, a physical oceanographer at Woods Hole and principal investigator for SPURS.

“Getting that right is going to involve understanding the ocean, because the ocean is the source of most of the water.”

Oceanographers believe the ocean retains a better record of changes in precipitation than land, and translates these changes into variations in the salt concentration of its surface waters.

Scientists studying the salinity records of the past 50 years say they already see the footprint of Deployment vessel an increase in the speed of the water cycle. The places in the sideways transport of salt.” de Aplicaciones Cientificas-D) ocean where evaporation has To learn more about what drives observatory, and be integrated into increased and rain has become salinity, the SPURS researchers real-time computer models that will scarcer have turned saltier over will deploy an array of instruments help guide researchers to the most time, while the spots that now and platforms, including interesting phenomena in the cruise receive more rain have become autonomous gliders, sensor-laden area. fresher. buoys and unmanned underwater vehicles. “We’ll be able to look at lots of This acceleration ultimately may different scales of salinity variability exacerbate droughts and floods Some will be collected before in the ocean, some of which can be around the planet. Some climate the research vessel heads to the seen from space, from a sensor like models, however, predict less Azores, but others will remain in Aquarius,” said David Fratantoni, dramatic changes in the global place for a year or more, providing a physical oceanographer with water cycle. scientists with data on seasonal Woods Hole and a member of the variations of salinity. SPURS expedition. “But we’re also “With SPURS we hope to find out trying to see variations in the ocean why these climate models do not Some of the devices used during that can’t be resolved by current track our observations of changing SPURS to explore the Atlantic’s satellite technology.” salinities,” said Eric Lindstrom, saltiest spot will focus on the outer physical oceanography program edges of the study area, traveling The 2012 SPURS measurements in scientist at NASA Headquarters in for hundreds of miles and studying the North Atlantic will help scientists Washington. the broadest salinity features. understand the behavior of other high-salinity regions around the “We will investigate to what extent Other instruments will explore world. the observed salinity trends smaller areas nested inside the are a signature of a change in research site, focusing on smaller A second SPURS expedition in evaporation and precipitation over fluxes of salt in the waters. The 2015 will investigate low-salinity the ocean versus the ocean’s suite of ocean instruments will regions where there is a high input own processes, such as the complement data from NASA’s of fresh water, such as the mouth of mixing of salty surface waters with salinity-sensing instrument aboard a large river or the rainy belts near deeper and fresher waters or the the Aquarius/SAC-D (Satelite the equator.

129 UT2 December 2012 News News Xodus delivers for UK’s first commercial scale tidal energy project

Independent, international energy project on the local environment as well The Environmental Statement (ES) consultancy Xodus Group has been as potential social and economic aspects. supporting the offshore marine license retained by MeyGen Ltd to provide application and onshore planning further environmental support for a Up to 86 1MW tidal turbines are planned application for the MeyGen Phase 1 major tidal project in the Pentland for Phase 1 of the project. The turbines Tidal Energy Project was submitted Firth, Scotland. will be located in approximately 1.1km2 to Marine Scotland and the Highland of the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth Council in July 2012. A nine month The initial contract for Phase 1 of off the north coast of Scotland between determination period now follows with the project, was awarded in March Caithness on the Scottish mainland and the outcome expected in April 2013. 2011 and is now valued at more than the Island of Stroma. The electricity £450,000. The work conducted to generated from the project will be Prepared by Xodus through its work date has considered the possible exported onshore for transmission to the with the developer MeyGen and other positive or negative impacts of the national grid. specialist consultants, the ES represents

UT2 December 2012 130 News

the culmination of four years’ of The group now boasts more than 25 throughout the UK. consultation, surveys and assessment. offshore renewable energy clients and is committed to developing its low carbon Liz Foubister, marine renewables Xodus is highly experienced in permit and renewables business. specialist based in the Orkney applications and environmental The Low Carbon team has 20 people at office, said: “This is a significant impact assessments. Through its fully its Orkney office who, in collaboration project globally. Xodus has seen the integrated offering, it also delivers with 50 colleagues across the UK, potential of commercial scale wave complete commercial solutions are working on a number of local and and tidal projects in the Pentland for renewable projects through its international projects to help make Firth and Orkney waters since it was extensive suite of capabilities from wave, tidal and offshore wind power a first touted more than a decade ago. engineering and project management sustainable reality. As a rapidly growing Working with MeyGen has allowed to technical safety and risk sector, the team recently welcomed five the company to fully utilize its broad management services. new members of staff who will be based range of capabilities in this sector.”

131 UT2 December 2012 News News

NIWA’s new Undersea New Zealand Map

NIWA’s new Undersea New Zealand map “The new detail shows the abundance of provides a unique insight into the shape of the sinuous canyons and channels that slice seafloor in one of the world’s most extensive through the continental margin, allowing marine jurisdictions. sediment from the land to flow into the deep ocean, both west and east of New Zealand. More than 90 per cent of New Zealand’s continental mass is underwater. We have one “The Kermadec Trench is formed by the of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones and subduction of the Pacific Plate under the Indo- Extended Continental Shelf in the world - more Australian Plate. It runs for over a thousand than 570 million hectares of diverse marine kilometres and, in some places, is over 10,000 environment, 21 times the size of our land metres deep. It is the deepest area within New mass. Zealand waters,” says Dr Neil.

NIWA’s ocean geologist Dr Helen Neil says, The new map illustrates the structure in that “This latest map is an asset for all New area. “You can see these folded ridges of Zealanders. It’s for the person walking down sediment, and can imagine it being scraped the street that is really fascinated by the off as one plate goes under another,” says Dr environment they live in, and it will also help a Neil. range of sectors understand more about our extensive marine environment. It shows in There is a lot more detail of seamounts never-before-seen detail the marine realm that in areas like the Havre Trough, Louisville surrounds us.” Seamount Chain, Antipodes Islands and along Chatham Rise. “New Zealand sits across a plate boundary, resulting in a diverse seascape of ridges, “While seamounts can have similar shapes, volcanoes, plateaux, canyons and seamounts. detailed mapping highlights the potentially diverse nature of the habitats on these “Recent technological advances mean we can features,” says Dr Neil. now map the seabed in detail approaching that of terrestrial (land) mapping,” says Dr Neil. The Undersea New Zealand map is a culmination of NIWA’s geological, The map is an updated version of the oceanographic, and fisheries research, and Undersea New Zealand map published in is created from NIWA’s database of high- 1997. This year’s version has been created resolution seafloor imagery from around using the latest available scientific data, and is New Zealand. It also incorporates significant also viewable in 3D. national and worldwide data sets.

The updated version shows the “texture” of Maps like these produce substantial benefit the seafloor and has more than 20 times the for all New Zealanders and for all users of resolution of the old map. It is generated from the marine environment, revealing potential digital elevation models using multibeam data, for fisheries, environmental management, combined with traditional bathymetric data that conservation, hazard mitigation, and energy reveal many, previously hidden, features. and mineral opportunities.

The new map uses some 1.5 million square Undersea New Zealand, a high resolution image kilometres of multibeam coverage, with over a of the complex and diverse marine realm around third of this mapped by NIWA’s research vessel New Zealand. Tangaroa. Undersea New Zealand provides a unique insight There are numerous areas on this new map into the shape of the seafloor within one of the showing more detailed information. These world’s most extensive deepwater jurisdictions. include the West Coast, the Bounty Trough New Zealand straddles an active plate margin, and the Hikurangi Channels. These were creating a highly complex and diverse seascape represented as simple curves on the original of submarine trenches, underwater volcanoes, map, but are now mapped in detail. active submarine canyons and quiescent broad plateaux. Photo credit NIWA

UT2 December 2012 132 133 UT2 December 2012 Investigating active undersea volcanos News

NIWA research vessel Tangaroa has just mapped the Kermadec volcano that erupted 800km north east of Tauranga, producing a pumice raft the size of Canterbury.

Tangaroa recently embarked on a 23-day voyage of discovery in the Kermadecs, north of New Zealand, to study the volcanic chain that stretches for 1000km north from Bay of Plenty.

“When we mapped the area yesterday”, says NIWA ocean geology scientist Dr Joshu Mountjoy, “we found a new volcanic cone which has formed on the edge of the volcano, towering 240m above the crater rim.

“It is fantastic to be able to record the change on the seafloor following these kinds of events.”

The Havre volcano eruption was strong enough to breach the ocean surface from a depth of 1100 metres. erupted in July. We know the shape have accumulated on the caldera floor, It produced clouds of ash visible of the volcano from previous research. raising the seafloor by up to 10 metres. by satellite, and a pumice raft that Using the multibeam echosounder, we covered an area of 22,000 square made a before and after comparison of Glassy volcanic rocks were sampled kilometres. the volcano to determine the size of the from the fresh crater wall, typical of eruption and the change it has made to newly erupted material. The voyage, led by NIWA’s the seafloor.” volcanologist Dr Richard Dr Wysoczanski says, “We found fresh Wysoczanski, comprises geology and NIWA had previously mapped Havre volcanic rocks related to the eruption biology scientists from NIWA, GNS volcano in 2002, showing a 1 kilometre all over the area, and there are new Science, as well as students from high undersea mountain with a 5km volcanic cones in one area. Victoria University of Wellington and wide, 800m deep central crater. This The University of Auckland. central steep-walled crater is a caldera, “We have collected volcanic rocks, up which is a type of volcano, like Lake to beach ball size, and analysis will Dr Wysoczanski says, “One of the Taupo, known to produce large and take place on these when we are back most exciting aspects of the cruise violent eruptions. at NIWA. The rocks vary in colour from is the chance to map Havre volcano black glassy material to pumice. Round which, we have now confirmed, Over the last decade there has been pebbles of pure sulphur were also one significant undersea eruption a retrieved.” year on average across this whole VA500 Altimeter area. Scientists want to know how the volcanos are changing over time, and a new approach to subsea Joshu Mountjoy’s interest is in the how the Kermadec and Colville ridges changing undersea landscape: “One have rifted apart by more than 100 distance measurement side of the caldera wall is bulging in kilometres. towards the volcano’s centre. • 500kHz Broadband Transducer “We want to understand, on a larger “The bulging may indicate where an scale, how the whole area is stretching • 0.1 - 100m range eruption may occur in the future, or it apart, and what new material is building • Digital & Analogue outputs as standard might lead to an undersea avalanche.” the rift. • 9 – 28v dc power input In addition to the material erupted out “The key thing, we think, is that the into the sea and atmosphere, several original ridge is the Colville ridge, and • High accuracy 0.01% pressure transducer option cubic kilometres of new material has that Kermadec ridge is deposits from been added to the volcano. Large that,” says Dr Wysoczanski. volumes of freshly erupted pumice “When the team deployed rock

Contact us now to improve your distance measurement. Tel: +44 (0)1803 869292 St. Peter’s Quay, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5EW United Kingdom UT2 December 2012 134 [email protected] • www.valeport.co.uk Right: 3D image of the Volcano caldera. Below: Map of the ridge sampling equipment on Colville processes on the Hikurangi margin sediment on the Pacific Plate. ridge they were surprised to recover subduction zone, offshore from the large volumes of very fresh pumice. North Island’s east coast. On this voyage, scientists will also be The pumice is interpreted as being looking at the distribution of biological from the July Havre eruption, though Onboard Tangaroa, this work is led communities below 3000m. this will be confirmed with lab by Dr Joshu Mountjoy. It is part of a analysis.” large international effort to understand This research was funded by the the earthquake behaviour of the Ministry of Business, Innovation & In addition to Kermadec volcano subduction system off New Zealand’s Employment (MBIE). The voyage mapping, the last four days of the east coast. A 380 km long seismic finished in Wellington in November voyage will be used to study tectonic profile will be collected to image 2012.

VA500 Altimeter a new approach to subsea distance measurement • 500kHz Broadband Transducer • 0.1 - 100m range • Digital & Analogue outputs as standard • 9 – 28v dc power input • High accuracy 0.01% pressure transducer option

Contact us now to improve your distance measurement. Tel: +44 (0)1803 869292 St. Peter’s Quay, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5EW United Kingdom 135 [email protected] •UT2 www.valeport.co.ukDecember 2012 Rapid response between ice volume and polar temperature News

A new study has revealed a the RSL record. The team was able than today) also holds for the very rapid response between global to apply the new dating method fast changes in climate today, then temperature and ice volume/sea- throughout the entire last glacial cycle we are coming into that ‘window’ level, which could lead to sea-levels (150,000 years), which resulted in an of time where we may expect to rising by over one metre. unprecedented continuous sea-level start seeing some unprecedented record with excellent independent age responses in the large ice sheets. During the last few million years, control. global ice-volume variability has This then may tie in with observations been one of the main feedback By comparing the ice-volume of the past decade or so of large mechanisms in climate change, fluctuations with polar temperature ice-shelf collapses around because of the strong reflective reconstructions from the and Greenland, the major melt- properties of large ice sheets. and Antarctica ice cores, the scientists area expansion over Greenland, found that changes in temperature changes in the flow speed of major Ice volume changes in ancient and ice volume/sea level are closely ice streams (both Antarctica and times can be reconstructed from coupled with a response time lag Greenland), and increasing ice- sea-level records. However, of only a few centuries. This timing mass loss over West Antarctica/the detailed assessment of the role relationship was previously unknown, Antarctic Peninsula and Greenland. of ice volume in climate change and it reveals a very fast response is hindered by inadequacies in between global temperature and ice “We cannot say whether this proves sea-level records and/or their volume/sea level. the case, but at least the time delay timescales. of the modern ice-sheet responses The study also found that periods of relative to climate change would Now, for the first time, scientists are extensive ice-volume reduction/sea- seem to agree with the response able to accurately date continuous level rise were always characterised timescales we have now found in the sea-level records, to allow detailed by very fast changes, of the order of palaeo-record.” comparisons of the ice-volume one or even two metres per century variability with independently dated sea-level rise. Co-author Christopher Bronk ice-core records from Antarctica and Ramsey, from Oxford University, who Greenland. Professor Rohling, who is currently helped with radiocarbon dating on based at the National Oceanography the project and developed some of Previous studies of the timing of Centre Southampton but will join the the age-modelling techniques used, past ice-volume changes relied Australian National University next adds: “What is new here is that our on the ‘Red Sea relative sea-level year, says: “This is the first time that dating of the marine sediment is (RSL) record’ for reconstruction these rates could be measured for any much more direct. This gives us far of highly resolved and continuous other period than the end-of-ice age more accurate age profiles for the records of sea-level variability over ‘terminations/deglaciations’. sedimentary sequences, which in the past 500,000 years. turn provides valuable insight into the Although it is always hard to step way the earth system has worked in The drawback of the RSL method, from palaeo reconstructions to future the past.” however, is that it did not have projections, it suggests that when independent age control. This significant ice-volume adjustments The study, which is published in the inhibited detailed comparison with happen, they are rarely slow. latest issue of Nature, also hints other well-dated climate parameters, that temperatures over Greenland such as temperature or CO2 “Ice sheet responses to a change in changed virtually simultaneously with records from ice cores. climate forcing are like the responses ice volume, whereas temperatures of heavy freight trains to firing up the over Antarctica were leading ice- An international team of scientists, locomotive. They are hard to set in volume change by up to 700 years. led by Eelco Rohling, Professor motion (slow to ‘spin up’), but once Professor Rohling explains why this of Ocean and Climate Change at they are reacting, they will be equally may be the case: the University of Southampton, slow to ‘spin down’. has developed a new method “Ice volume is related to ice area, and of dating the RSL record by So a lag of a few centuries is ice is very reflective. So a large ice using Mediterranean data from worrisome, because we have been volume/area reflects a lot of incoming radiometric (Uranium-series) dating warming up the climate for 150-160 solar radiation. When the ice volume/ of cave deposits. This provided years now. If the natural relationship area reduces, less incoming radiation a much improved timescale for (when changes in climate were slower is reflected, which leads to regional

UT2 December 2012 136 National Oceanography Centre, Southampton Rapid response between ice volume and polar temperature

In contrast, the Antarctic relationship suggests that temperature changes as recorded in Antarctic ice cores may have been driving the ice- volume changes.

Possibly, the Antarctic temperature changes reflect the fundamental underlying global temperature changes that drove the ice-volume changes, while the Greenland temperature record primarily represents a regional temperature response to the changing ice volumes.

These are intriguing hints at warming. Atmospheric temperature Greenland temperature changes fundamental aspects of the Earth has little inertia, so it will respond very may largely be regional responses to System’s response to climate quickly to ice-volume changes. changes in ice volume (at that time change, which merit further “Our observations suggest that the over North America and also Eurasia). investigation.”

137 UT2 December 2012 News

Chasing gas bubbles in the Beaufort Sea

In the remote, ice-shrouded Beaufort Sea, methane (the main component of natural gas) has been bubbling out of the seafloor for thousands of years. MBARI geologist Charlie Paull and his colleagues at the Geological Survey of Canada are trying to figure out where this gas is coming from, how fast it is bubbling out of the sediments, and how it affects the shape and stability of the seafloor. Although Paull has been studying this phenomenon for a decade, his research has taken on new urgency in recent years, as the area is being eyed for oil and gas exploration.

In late September 2012, Paull and his fellow researchers will spend two weeks in the Beaufort Sea on board the Canadian Coast Guard ship Sir Wilfred Laurier, collecting seafloor sediment, mapping the seafloor using sonar, installing an instrument that will “listen” for undersea gas releases, and using a brand new undersea robot to observe seafloor features and collect gas samples.

This will be Paull’s third Beaufort Sea expedition. As in previous expeditions, he will be working closely with Scott Dallimore of Natural Resources Canada’s Geological Survey of Canada and Humfrey Melling of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Institute of Ocean Sciences.

Paull’s work in the Arctic started in 2003, with an investigation into the enigmatic underwater hills called “pingo-like features” (PLFs) that rise out of the continental shelf of the Beaufort Sea. (Pingos are isolated conical hills found on land in some parts of the Arctic and subarctic.)

Over time, the focus of the team’s research has moved farther offshore, into deeper water. Their second expedition in 2010 looked at diffuse gas venting along the seaward These maps show the area to be studied during the current expedition. The lower edge of the continental shelf. The map shows the continental shelf and continental slope of the Beaufort Sea. The upper 2012 expedition will focus on three image shows detailed seafloor bathymetry of a portion of the continental slope that large gas-venting structures on the will be studied during the current cruise, as well as the three seafloor mounds that continental slope, at depths of 290 to the researchers will explore using their new ROV. Lower image modified from Google 790 meters (950 to 2,600 feet). Maps. Upper image: Natural Resources Canada.

UT2 December 2012 138 MBARI

Chasing gas bubbles in the Beaufort Sea by Kim Fulton-Bennett, MBARI

The Beaufort Sea, north of Canada’s Yukon and Northwest Territories, is a hostile environment by any definition of the term. It is covered with ice for much of the year. Historically, only from mid-July to October has a narrow strip of open water appeared within about 50 to 100 kilometers (30 to 60 miles) of the coast. Even at this time of year, winds often howl at 40 knots and temperatures can drop well below freezing at night. Researchers must allow extra time for contingencies such dodging pack ice and having to shovel snow off the deck of the research vessel.

Average annual air temperatures along the coast of the Beaufort Sea are well below freezing. Thus deeper soils remain permanently frozen throughout the year, forming what is called permafrost. Around the Beaufort Sea, permafrost extends more than 600 meters (about 2,000 feet) below the ground. This idealized cross section of the continental shelf and continental slope in the Beaufort Sea shows zones in the seafloor where permafrost and methane hydrate Permafrost also exists in the sediments are likely to exist, as well as hypothetical locations of methane seeps on the seafloor. underlying the continental shelf of Ocean depths not shown to scale. Image: © 2012 MBARI Beaufort Sea. This permafrost is a relict of the last ice age, when sea level was water and natural gas. As the seafloor During 2010, the research team also as much as 120 meters lower than has warmed, these hydrates have conducted ROV dives on a shallow today. At that time, areas that are now also begun to decompose, releasing underwater mound called Kopanoar covered with seawater were exposed to additional methane gas into the PLF. At the top of this mound they the frigid Arctic air. surrounding sediment. discovered “vigorous and continuous gas venting” that released clouds of As sea-level rose over the last 10,000 A 2010 expedition by Paull and his bubbles and sediment into the water. years, it flooded the continental shelf colleagues provided a tantalizing In one ROV dive, the researchers with seawater. Although the water in glimpse of how much methane is saw something no one had ever seen the Beaufort Sea is cold—about minus present on the continental shelf of before—a plume of gas bubbles that 1.5 degrees Centigrade—it is still much the Beaufort Sea. Using a remotely moved rapidly along the sea floor, warmer than the air, which averages operated vehicle (ROV) with video apparently following a crack in the minus 15 degrees C. Thus, as the camera to explore the shelf edge, they sediment that was in the process of ocean rose, it is gradually warmed up found white mats of methane-loving being forced open by the pressure of the permafrost beneath the continental bacteria almost everywhere. the gas coming up from below. shelf, causing it to melt. They also videotaped what turned The researchers also studied several Quite a bit of methane, the main out to be methane bubbles emerging deeper PLFs during the 2010 component of “natural gas,” is trapped from many of these mats. Based on expedition. They dropped core tubes within the permafrost. As the permafrost these observations, as well as the into the tops of these mounds. When melts, it releases this methane, which contents of sediment cores collected the cores were lifted back onto the may seep up through the sediments by the Geological Survey of Canada, ship, the sediments inside fizzed and into the overlying ocean water. the researchers concluded that the and bubbled for up to an hour. The shelf edge is an area of “widespread sediment was chock full of methane The deeper sediments of the Beaufort diffuse venting” and that “methane hydrates. Paull said, “We knew that Sea also contain abundant layers of permeates the shelf edge sediments in there was a lot of gas venting going on methane hydrate—an ice-like mixture of this region.” down there, and now we have good

139 UT2 December 2012 News News

reasons to believe that methane methane gas has a tendency to turn If there is time during the 2012 cruise, hydrates are present within the back into solid methane hydrate, the researchers hope to perform ROV surface sediments. But our ROV which blocks the flow of any additional dives on one or more underwater- couldn’t dive deep enough, so we methane gas into the system. The landslides. In Fall 2013, when the team weren’t able to go down and see new ROV’s gas collection system returns to the Beaufort Sea for a fourth what these areas actually looked includes a built-in heater to melt the time, these features will become the like.” That’s one reason the team is hydrates and keep the gas flowing. primary focus. During that expedition, heading back to the Arctic in 2012. the team also hopes to use one of In addition to collecting samples of MBARI’s autonomous underwater For the 2012 expedition, the team gas, the ROV will be used to look vehicles (AUVs) to make very detailed will continue its strategy of following for communities of tubeworms or maps of the shelf edge, the underwater the topography to study areas of gas clams that typically grow around landslides, and areas where methane venting in the Beaufort Sea. They seafloor methane seeps. Paull said, is bubbling out of the seafloor. plan to focus on three circular, flat- “Nobody has ever found a living topped mounds on the continental chemosynthetic biological community Oil and gas companies have known slope. The researchers believe that in the Arctic proper. But I think we for decades that deep oil and natural these pingo-like features form at have a good chance of finding them at gas deposits exist in the sediments the tops of “chimneys” or conduits the tops of these structures.” below the continental slope of the where methane is seeping up from Beaufort Sea. With the warming of the sediments hundreds of meters below Although the researchers have begun Arctic and the retreat of sea ice, these the seafloor. to understand where the gas in the hydrocarbons have become more Beaufort Sea is coming from, many accessible. However, it remains to be During his previous cruises, Paull other questions remain. One of the big seen whether they can be extracted used a small ROV that could dive questions the researchers are trying safely, economically, and without only about 120 meters below the to answer is whether the three gas excessive environmental damage. surface. However, the mounds on chimney structures on the continental Thus, the team’s research will not only the continental slope are in about slope are related to the gas venting provide new insights into previously 300 to 800 meters of water. So systems in shallower water, on the unknown geological processes, but will MBARI engineers Dale Graves and continental shelf. As Paull put it, also provide important information for Alana Sherman designed and built “Are they independent gas-venting decision-makers involved in oil and gas an entirely new ROV just for this structures that just happen to be permitting. expedition. The new ROV is small, together, or are they all part of the portable, agile, relatively inexpensive, same system?” and can dive to 1,000 meters. It can also be launched and operated Another important question is by just two people (for the 2012 how all this methane gas affects expedition, those two people will be the stability of the seafloor. When Graves and Sherman). methane hydrates warm up and release methane gas, the gas takes Amazingly, the new mini-ROV went up much more space than the solid from initial design to final field tests hydrate, putting pressure on the in only 15 months. But the vehicle’s surrounding sediments. Similarly, simple yet elegant design reflects the decomposition of either methane Graves’ decades of experience hydrate or permafrost can reduce designing ROVs and underwater the mechanical strength of the control systems. “It was a fun project surrounding sediment. Either process for me,” Graves said. “A dream come could make the seafloor more true. We designed it from scratch susceptible to submarine landslides. with a budget of just $75,000, not including labor. We mostly reused Undersea landslides are common parts from MBARI’s older ROVs, along the continental slope of the and built the rest in house. MBARI’s Beaufort Sea, but researchers do electrical and mechanical technicians not yet know when or how they form. and machinists worked on it in However, decomposing methane between their other projects.” hydrates are believed to have triggered major landslides in other In addition to a state-of-the-art high- deep-sea areas. Such landslides MBARI researchers tested this new mini- definition video camera, the ROV could potentially destabilize oil ROV in the institute’s test tank before carries a special system for collecting platforms, pipelines, or other sending it out to face the challenges of the methane gas bubbles. This is not equipment on the seafloor, and have . Image: Todd Walsh © 2012 as easy as it sounds, because the the potential to generate tsunamis. MBARI

UT2 December 2012 140 News

New Funding Propels Uvic’s Ocean Observatory Into The Future

Completion of the world’s largest Fund, which supports a portion of the and events, as they happen. deep-sea tsunami array, new operating costs of selected big science instruments to improve marine safety projects across Canada. Of the total, “The significance of this funding support in the Strait of Georgia, and the CFI is contributing $32.8 million and the cannot be overstated,” says Dr. Kate first subsea instrument platform in BC government, $8.9 million. Moran, president and CEO of Ocean the Arctic—these are three exciting Networks Canada. “ It enables Canada developments underway at the “UVic is extremely grateful to the to maintain global leadership in cabled University of Victoria’s world–leading governments of Canada and British ocean observatory technology and Ocean Networks Canada Observatory. Columbia for their commitment and research while playing a major role in support of major science,” says understanding our oceans in an era of Today, the governments of Canada UVic President David Turpin. “This significant change.” and British Columbia announced a investment ensures that the Ocean total of $41.7 million in new funding Networks Canada Observatory—the Development of the ONC Observatory to support the operating costs of the VENUS and NEPTUNE Canada to date has been made possible observatory, which is managed for the subsea networks—remains a leader in with capital funding from the University of Victoria by the not-for- global ocean research.” Government of Canada through the profit organization, Ocean Networks Canada Foundation for Innovation, Canada (ONC). The ONC Observatory pioneers a CANARIE and the Natural Sciences new generation of advanced ocean and Engineering Council, and The funding is awarded through the observation systems that, using power from the Government of British Canada Foundation for Innovation’s and the Internet, provide continuous, Columbia through the BC Knowledge (CFI) Major Science Initiatives 24/7 monitoring of ocean processes Development Fund.

Last Voyage of Discovery

RRS Discovery has completed her was launched in 1962 there was no Expedition included Antarctic heroes last scientific mission. After 50 years satellite navigation (this didn’t begin Captain Scott and . of service, the UK’s oldest research until 1969); Harold MacMillan was vessel concluded operations at Prime Minister; there was no GPS RRS Discovery is owned by the 1044hrs on Friday 23rd November. (this was fitted in 1986); and John F Natural Environment Research Dr Gerard McCarthy of the National Kennedy was President. Council and operated by the National Oceanography Centre led this Oceanography Centre. The building of expedition, the 382 undertaken by Discovery follows in a line of a replacement vessel, also to be called Discovery. distinguished ships dating back Discovery, is under way. to 1602 when Discovery will be taken out of service the East India on her return to Southampton, a Company half-century of science that has commissioned included surveying the ocean floor, the first recorded measuring ocean currents, monitoring Discovery to climate change, and discovering new explore the waters species around the globe. In addition now known as the to increasing a body of scientific Hudson Strait in knowledge, the ship has also grown the long search for – by 10 metres. During a refit in the elusive North- 1990-1992 the hull’s middle section West Passage. In was extended, increasing her length the 20th century to 90.2 metres. a new Discovery was specially Earlier this year researchers, officers commissioned and crew associated with Discovery for the British met to celebrate the scientific and National Antarctic technological achievements made Expedition of 1901- over the years. When RRS Discovery 04. The Discovery

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OPT Awarded Contract by Mitsui Atlantis Completes Narec Testing Programme Ocean Power Technologies, has “We are very pleased to Pioneering onshore accelerated life received a ¥70 million (approximately announce this additional work testing programme inaugurates world- US $900,000) contract from Mitsui with our partner in Japan, Mitsui leading facility designed specifically for for further work towards development Engineering & Shipbuilding,” the tidal energy industry of the Company’s PowerBuoy said Charles F. Dunleavy, Chief technology for application in Japanese Executive Officer of OPT. Blyth, Northumberland, 15th October, sea conditions. 2012: Atlantis Resources Corporation “Ocean Power Technologies is has completed the first ever tidal Under this contract, OPT will continue viewed throughout the globe as a turbine testing programme at the to analyse methods to maximize leader in the area of wave power National Renewable Energy Centre’s buoy power capture using advanced generation, and we believe Japan 3MW capacity, onshore, turbine drive optimization methodologies as well as is a nation that can clearly benefit train testing facility. In two weeks modeling and wave tank testing. OPT from our unique ocean-based of full testing on its AR1000 turbine, will team with MES staff to develop energy technology. the international marine energy PowerBuoy enhancements that, under developer has secured performance normal Japanese wave conditions, “We appreciate the trust that MES data equivalent to four months of tidal would provide for improved power has placed in us and the progress exchanges. capture. this represents towards bringing utility-scale wave power to the Working closely with their Narec This analysis and design work is Japanese people.” colleagues, Atlantis’ engineers ran expected to be completed by the end a series of tests designed to yield of OPT’s fiscal year ending April 30, Mr. Hirotaka Ohashi, Deputy data on drive train efficiency, control 2013 after which a decision will be General Manager of Business system validation and the analysis made on the next steps toward ocean Development and Innovation at trials of a demonstration PowerBuoy MES, added, “As we remember system. This would provide the the 2011 earthquake and tsunami basis for a prospective build-out of a that had such a devastating impact commercial-scale OPT wave power on the nuclear power industry station in Japan. in Japan, we are working with Ocean Power Technologies to commercialize ocean-based clean energy alternatives.

“We have several years of experience with OPT and respect the position their technology holds in the market. Working together, we look forward to bringing a series of new PowerBuoys to Japan.”

The Japanese Environment Minister has recently released Japan’s new strategy to increase the present generating capacity of renewable energy in Japan by more than six times. The Japanese government specifically identified wave energy as a key component of this policy, setting a goal of 1,500 MW in new power generation capacity by 2030 using wave and tidal power sources

UT2 December 2012 142 News

Atlantis Completes Narec Testing Programme of the thermal properties of major our engineering process. Our team “We thank Atlantis for being the components under full electrical load. and all of our technology contractors first on the rig and look forward to Narec’s controlled testing environment will now take time to review and digest working with its engineers again in allowed the team to study turbine the data collected, which will feed due course, as well as welcoming performance under a demanding, into future design considerations. As many others from across the simulated offshore operating we move towards customer delivery, industry to our facility. The gauntlet conditions, accruing a wealth of data in we plan to continue to invest in both has been thrown.” a short space of time. onshore and offshore testing.” Drew Blaxland, Chief Technology “We’ve learned an awful lot about Tony Quinn, Operations Director at Officer at Atlantis, said: “I’d like to the AR1000 turbine as a result of this Narec, said: “I am really pleased with take the opportunity to thank the testing programme,” commented Tim the success of our first drive train entire team at Narec, as well as Cornelius, CEO at Atlantis. test in the new Nautilus facility, which our various supporting contractors. has delivered the mission-critical Working as a seamless unit, the “Most importantly, the solid information it was designed for. test programme team helped us get performance of the turbine in tough, the most out of a world-class facility. simulated offshore conditions has Accelerated life tests, conducted from given our engineering team confidence the relative sanctuary of an onshore For a technology developer, in the performance, integrity and test facility, will significantly advance the opportunities that this reliability of the AR1000 turbine the development cycle for tidal turbines facility offers in terms of control system. and give developers in the UK a real system optimisation and fast edge as the marine energy industry track commissioning are game “Narec testing is an important step in approaches commercialisation. changing.”

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MacArtney Agreement

The MacArtney Underwater Technology Group has entered into an agreement with JCS Tetis Pro, to function as MacArtney’s official representative in Russia. Tetis Pro will administer the promotion and sales of MacArtney products on the Russian market.

Through the provision of access to relevant and high-tech underwater technology segments, contacts, knowledge and strategic locations, the appointment of Tetis Pro as a MacArtney representative, marks a significant strengthening of MacArtney’s presence in Russia. In turn, Tetis Pro will gain access to MacArtney’s well established products and global knowledge within the realm of underwater technology - especially with regards to the steadily emergent Russian offshore industry.

Initially, Tetis Pro will to provide potential Russian oil & gas, ocean science, state agency and defence clients with direct access to well- known MacArtney products such as SubConn and OptoLink connectors and LUXUS cameras.

In support of this, Tetis Pro will Andersen, is confident that Tetis in terms of corporate profile and product permanently carry an extensive Pro will prove the perfect choice as portfolio, MacArtney and Tetis Pro are an stock of SubConn connectors MacArtney’s representative in Russia. excellent match...”...MacArtney is capable for immediate delivery. However, of supplying several products necessary empowered by the MacArtney Group, “The cooperation with Tetis represents for us, and in turn, within diving and Tetis Pro is in fact fully capable of a huge boost to MacArtney within a underwater equipment, JSC Tetis Pro supplying a full range of MacArtney complex, however exciting and highly is the largest manufacturer and market products, services and system prospective Russian underwater leader in Russia. Together, I am sure that solutions. technology market” said Anders both MacArtney and Tetis products will Andersen. reinforce their foothold within the Russian Within this context, in order to market for underwater technology...”.. provide full ongoing support and keep “Above all, Tetis possesses the up with development and potential invaluable local insight which is Local presence takes pride of place challenges, MacArtney is committed necessary to access, decode and The appointment of Tetis Pro as to work in close contact with Tetis harness the potential of this emerging MacArtney’s official representative in Pro and offer a high level of support market, and given the time and Russia should be regarded as part – including prompt answers to support needed, Tetis Pro will definitely of a consistent strategic effort by the enquiries, updated material and derive a positive impact on the sale of MacArtney Group, aiming to strengthen relevant training. MacArtney products in Russia”. its global network of subsidiaries, representatives and agents across the Having pursued intensive efforts to At Tetis Pro, Head of ROV department globe. Therefore, more agreements locate the strongest possible partner Dmitry Voytov is looking forward to a with external representatives in other in Russia, MacArtney Business close and mutually beneficial working countries are expected to follow in the Development Manager, Anders relationship with MacArtney. “...both near future.

UT2 December 2012 144 News

Lankhorst opens new Deepwater and Offshore Ropes Factory

Lankhorst Ropes Offshore Division dedicated manufacturing facility has relocated its rope production The factory covers some 3,600m² for deepwater ropes and SPM facility for deepwater mooring production facilities together with hawsers,” says Wilco Stroet, ropes and single point mooring 2,400m² storage area. In addition managing director, Lankhorst (SPM) hawsers to a new purpose to new rope production machinery, Ropes. built factory at Viana do Castello, the factory includes a significantly on the coast about 80 km north of larger SPM make-up and storage “Our investment in synthetic Porto, Portugal. The new facility will area reflecting the factory's ropes manufacturing and storage make it easier for the large reels increased SPM production capacity. resources means that Lankhorst of deepwater mooring rope to be is well placed to supply the needs transferred to the quayside ready for “For the first time, the new of our offshore customers for the load out. factory provides us with a coming years.

Lankhorst deepwater rope and SPM hawser manufacture at new Portuguese factory.

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Huisman in Brazil Hydroid

Huisman, specialist in lifting, drilling and subsea Hydroid has broken ground and begun construction on solutions, has announced its plans to build a new its new manufacturing and applied research facility in production facility in Brazil and recently initiated the land Pocasset, Massachusetts. fill works. “Outgrowing our old space gave us the opportunity to The new facility will be located alongside the river Itajai- design a facility that will protect the environment and keep Açu in the city of Navegantes in Santa Catarina state, a Cape Cod the wonderful place it is today, all while creating state in the southern part of Brazil bordering the Atlantic great jobs,” said Chris von Alt, Hydroid’s president and Ocean. This facility will be used for the manufacturing CEO. “Hydroid’s leadership team has worked closely with of construction equipment for the Brazilian offshore the town of Bourne and the Cape Cod Commission to market. ensure this new facility does just that.”

The first investment phase includes over 15,000 square The new headquarters, located just a short distance away meter of production facilities. The next investment from Hydroid’s current home, will have 40,000 square feet phase will include a 200m long quay side with an of floor space. The building will provide a venue for the artificial bay to protect vessels from the seasonal river’s company to further its mission of building the world’s best high currents. AUVs for both military and commercial use, providing room for the company to grow substantially. Hydroid plans to add With the quayside in place, the Huisman do Brasil to Kongsberg Maritime’s industry-leading total of more than facility will be easily accessible for seagoing vessels, 300 vehicles in the field, and the company expects to hire allowing for fast installation, commissioning and testing at least 21 new employees during 2013. of the Huisman designed and built offshore construction equipment onboard. The new Huisman production “Hydroid is the type of business communities strive to facility is planned to be operational in the second half of attract and keep,” added Chris Farrell, chairman of the town 2013. of Bourne’s planning board.

UT2 December 2012 146 News

COAST

The successful first commercial experiment using Plymouth University’s new cutting-edge wave tanks has been completed ahead of the Marine Building’s Royal opening.

The Coastal, Ocean and Sediment Transport (COAST) laboratory, located in the new £19 million facility, was used to simulate extreme conditions in order to test a new wave energy device.

The technology, developed by Offshore Wave Energy Ltd (OWEL) and IT Power Ltd, is part of a £5 million Technology Strategy Board project, and will ultimately be deployed at Wave Hub, off the North Cornwall coast, in 2013.

Ned Minns, OWEL’s CTO, said: “We are delighted to be the first user of Plymouth University’s COAST Lab. These tests were carried out to the highest standards and have provided data on the extreme loads that the machine will experience during the deployment. We will use this data to refine the hull design and will deploy our machine with confidence in its ability to survive the extremes of the marine environment.”

The 3-week long test was designed and conducted by Peter Arber, an MSc Marine Renewable Energy student at the University.

Peter said: “It was a great opportunity for me to work on this exciting project with the support of OWEL and IT Power and to utilise the fantastic new research facilities at the University. This type of physical testing is vital to the effective design and optimisation of wave energy converters prior to installation offshore and this work will help to contribute to the continued development of OWEL towards a large-scale demonstration device.”

The COAST labs are a key facility for the Marine Building, as they enable researchers to simulate a huge range of sea conditions, using multi- directional wave, current, and wind conditions. The Coastal, Ocean and Sediment Transport (COAST) laboratory

147 UT2 December 2012 News News

Bowtech to invest in new headquarters in Aberdeen Nautronix Global Heqadquarters

Subsea and energy sector imaging can accommodate our ambitious In support of continued growth, systems specialist Bowtech Products growth plans. Ury House, Howe Moss Crescent, is investing more than £3million Dyce consolidates the company’s in the development of its new “We currently have a staff base of 40 engineering department and greatly headquarters, as it is unveiled as the and, with capacity for more than 70 expands their existing production first occupant of Aberdeen’s major at these new premises, which we aim facilities; enabling Nautronix to deliver new international business park, to see completed by the end of 2013, more advanced and high-value acoustic ABZ. we are effectively looking at doubling communications and positioning our workforce and workload. solutions to the global Oil & Gas Bowtech Products has secured a industry. prominent entrance plot at ABZ, “With operations across the where it will develop a substantial international marketplace, including “Increasing demand has prompted the high specification office and South America and Australasia as expansion of our offices in Aberdeen manufacturing facility, to service its well as our home markets in the UK and marks an important step for growing customer base. and Norwegian North Sea, our focus Nautronix as we continue to expand was on securing a base which has our geographical footprint. I am excited The move is crucial to Bowtech direct connections in terms of road, by the opportunities our new global Products’ growth ambitions, which rail and air as well as providing us headquarters will provide us with as this will see the company’s operations with modern facilities.” move addresses our evolving needs, centralised to one site from its whilst allowing us to provide enhanced existing premises at Howe Moss Bowtech Products has a wide- services and support to our customers. Crescent and Dyce Drive, with the ranging client base across the oil In addition, the production facilities at potential for a doubling of its staff and gas exploration and production Nautronix House have been upgraded base in the next five years. upstream and downstream to incorporate a modern customer marketplaces topside and subsea, training suite and state-of-the-art Steve Bowring, managing director nuclear energy sector and also major acoustic test and calibration lab facility.” of Bowtech Products Ltd, says: defence construction projects. “We are investing in our future by Ury House will accommodate the establishing our new headquarters at Investment in ABZ is expected to recently expanded commercial ABZ, where we are able to develop be in the region of £100m for the department, engineering and bespoke premises at a site which construction phase alone. technology, finance and HR teams.

Bowtech’s new facility

UT2 December 2012 148 SUT

Nautronix Global Heqadquarters Aker Facilities

Global Headquarters, Ury House, Dyce

Aker’s Sandnessjøen facilty Aker Solutions has acquired a even more competitively, in line with Headquarters, Boardroom fabrication facility in Sandnessjøen, our customers’ expectations,” says Norway, to increase its fabrication Tore Sjursen, head of maintenance, capacity in the Norwegian Sea and modifications and operations (MMO) further north. The purchase is part in Aker Solutions. of Aker Solutions’ northern Norway strategy. The facility in Sandnessjøen has not been in use since autumn 2011. The facility, which is located at Helgelands Industrial Park in Before start-up buildings and Sandnessjøen, Norway (Helgelands equipment will be upgraded to Næringspark), is being acquired prepare for the planned activities. from Ruukki Construction Norge AS. At the same time, work will start to Historically, the core competence at transfer knowledge and competence the facility has been within fabrication is transferred from Aker Solutions’ of steel structures, including product fabrication yard in Egersund to the Nautronix House, Dyce deliveries to the oil industry. The facility in Sandnessjøen. This is transaction value is undisclosed. necessary, to be able to carry out This facility will complement Nautronix the complex operations that Aker House, the company’s production site, “As the oil and gas industry moves Solutions’ customers require. located at Howe Moss Avenue, Dyce, further north, it is important to build up Aberdeen and both sites will continue our capacity in northern Norway. The In February this year, Aker Solutions to support the company’s international facility in Sandnessjøen will enable acquired engineering company offices in Houston, Brazil and Norway. us to provide fabrication services Sandnessjøen Engineering AS.

149 UT2 December 2012 Office Office

Damen

Arnout Damen, Chief Operating the 2H group with over 250 employees Centre in Norway is well-equipped Officer of Damen Shipyards Group worldwide. The office is focused on through a major investment in the latest has officially opened a new office in recruiting more talented engineers in simulator technology. The centre-piece Norwegian Stavanger. the near future. is a full-scale offshore vessel bridge with a 360 degree field of vision where When asked why Dutch l 2H Offshore has expanded its ship manoeuvring, anchor handling and headquartered Damen Shipyards office space in Woking to mirror the other precise offshore operations can sets up an advanced base in continued growth of the company. The be simulated. Stavanger, its new Sales Manager additional site is located within a short Remko Hottentot said: “It is the walking distance from the main office A number of individual simulators allow European Oil & Gas capital and and includes additional office space, trainers to operate winches, cranes the place the ONS Exhibition and and new training and conference and other equipment, while a separate conferences are held. Stavanger is, facilities to meet the growing needs of and enlarged dynamic positioning (DP) so to speak, a mini-Houston”. the organization. simulator caters for this specialist area.

2H’s expansion into additional facilities A fully-equipped workshop as well as 2H comes following continuous project classrooms and conference facilities 2H Offshore Engineering has successes and enables 2H to maintain allow crews to train with systems and relocated to new premises on St. an ongoing commitment to recruit and equipment identical to those on board George’s Terrace at Level 2, 89 retain the most talented engineers. their vessel. St Georges Terrace Perth, 6000, Australia. The new office is centrally The Technology and Training Centre located near the Perth Convention Rolls Royce is located in the newly built Norwegian Centre and close to a large number Rolls-Royce has officially opened its Maritime Competence Centre, on the of 2H’s major clients. new European Marine Technology and campus of Ålesund University College. Training Centre in Ålesund, Norway. In addition to the training facilities, Elizabeth Tellier, General Manager the centre will house more than 500 of 2H Perth, commented, “We The celebration, whose guest of Rolls-Royce employees in purpose built are pleased with the new office honour was HRH Crown Prince office accommodation. as it allows room for continued Haakon of Norway, marked the formal growth over the next two years. We opening of this 3,000m² ultra-modern now have improved meeting and facility, in the heart of Norway’s 2H conferencing facilities and more maritime cluster. Balltec has moved from their original space to encourage collaboration premises in October 2011 to much and discussion among our The centre features the latest Rolls- larger premises, four miles away engineers”. Royce marine technology and in Morecambe. 12 months later, equipment to support customer training with continued demand for mooring The continued growth of the 2H and simulation requirements and systems, pipeline recovery tools and Perth office mirrors that of the rest of is particularly focused on offshore bespoke engineering solutions, Balltec deepwater oil and gas exploration and have taken on an additional adjacent production activities. unit.

Tony Wood, Rolls-Royce, President Balltec Ltd, the UK based provider of – Marine, said: “We are delighted to subsea mooring connectors, pipeline welcome HRH The Crown Prince to recovery tools, heavy lifting tools officially open our new Technology and and bend stiffener connectors, have Training Centre. This excellent new recently acquired further buildings on facility will provide our customers with their site in Morecambe, UK, to cope access to a broader range of support with their continued growth. and training. This includes direct, hands-on training for engineers, crew The new 12,500ft² facilities, which and service technicians.” boasts 48ft eaves height and 115ft width, will house more office space, As the head office in a global network extensive storage space for the of marine training centres that includes PipeLOK™ fleet and allow the facilities in Singapore and the USA, the development of larger engineered Rolls-Royce Technology and Training solutions for the oil and gas industry.

UT2 December 2012 150 Offices

Intermoor

InterMoor has opened its new mooring equipment yard at Loyang offshore supply base in Singapore. The new facility provides mooring equipment storage and an ideal support location for maintenance, preparation and mobilization.

Allowing easier access, this purpose-built yard will meet customers’ needs better and will provide a safer working environment for InterMoor staff. It will play a pivotal role in the company’s development plans for South East Asia particularly in support of deepwater and permanent mooring operations. At 2300 m2, the new yard offers a much more efficient and cost-effective base in which to service mooring equipment. In addition to providing a full range of mooring equipment and spooling services, the new yard has a better layout and benefits from having a covered storage area.

“The logistics requirements for the recently completed and highly successful Lufeng permanent mooring project convinced us to establish the new base,” said Martin Kobiela, InterMoor Pte Ltd operations director. “This, we believe, will greatly enhance the support we can offer clients in the rapidly developing South East Asia market.” InterMoor is part of Acteon’s foundations and moorings business. Intermoor’s Loyang facility Sonardyne

Sonardyne has moved into a new purpose-built Brasilian base has been designed to meet the needs of the Brasil offshore market

At 10,000 square feet, the new Zen building is five times the size of the company’s previous office and has been fitted out to the highest specification. The new facilities include a large acoustic test tank for equipment to be tested and re-calibrated prior to delivery whilst training rooms provide opportunities for operators to simulate using the equipment. A large onsite warehouse also allows for stock holding of spares and new products so that immediate requirements for equipment can be met.

Commenting on the opening of the new premises, Paul Smith, Operations Director for Sonardyne Brasil said, “Sonardyne is well known within the local offshore industry as being a provider of the highest levels of support as well as innovative equipment. The investment we have made in the new premises is in response to the sustained growth in business we’ve seen across the industry in the last few years. Supporting our customers offshore is key to our business objectives.” Sonardyne’s new purpose-built Brasilian base

151 UT2 December 2012 People People

MacArtney Hodgson

The MacArtney Underwater SMD CEO, Andrew Hodgson has Technology Group is pleased to been named The Journal’s business reveal the accession of two new executive of the year for 2012. members to its board of directors. Hodgson, picked up the top honour The new board members, Slimane at the North East Business Executive Bouabbane and Jón Ferrier, are of the Year awards, sponsored by both senior executives with well Brewin Dolphin, after one of the most developed international profiles successful years in the Wallsend firm’s and vast professional experience, history. obtained through residence and employment in organisations across Since the former BAE Systems the globe. strategy director was brought in to lead the company in 2008 after private equity investor Inflexion acquired a 60% stake, its fortunes have been Jón Ferrier transformed, with turnover more than trebling to around £130m. MacArtney CEO Niels Erik Hedeager is keen to welcome the new board The business has witnessed members and is confident that they significant growth and staff numbers will provide a valuable injection have doubled from 250 in 2010 to of international and professional more than 500 today. Hodgson is experience, to further empower the particularly committed to supporting global focus of MacArtney Underwater apprenticeships, and company also Technology. run a graduate scheme. Coastline Surveys As well as the day job at SMD, Hodgson has thrown himself into Coastline Surveys has appointed the North East business community, Andrew Johnson as Hydrographic Slimane Bouabbane and holds positions on the board of Services Division Manager. Andy has the North Eastern Local Enterprise Slimane Bouabbane, currently VP amassed a wealth of experience during Partnership and chairs the industry of Projects and Investments at PA his professional 25 year career in the body Subsea North East. His exporting Resources, is a well versed business marine industry worldwide. Andy has prowess was recently recognised with professional with a solid international particular talents and enthusiasm in a prestigious Queen’s Award. track record and experience from the team building, business development Oil & Gas industry. Mr. Bouabbane’s and Client relationships whilst being a Chairman of the judges, John knowledge of the Oil and Gas sector successful technical project manager. Mowbray, said Hodgson was a is both technical and commercial and deserving recipient of the honour and has been acquired over the last 15 Andy’s career includes a healthy had been the unanimous choice of years with companies such as variety of field and project surveyor the panel. “We had an exceptionally Subsea 7 and Technip. positions including Senior Surveyor strong field of candidates this year and at the Hydrographic Office of Bahrain the judges who went out to visit all of Jón Ferrier, currently SVP of Maersk have led to senior management roles in those shortlisted spoke very highly of Oil and Gas AS, is a successful geodesy and systems assurance at the what they found,” he said. executive leader with at track UK Hydrographic Office, management of record of delivering growth, results LIDAR surveys and latterly Operations “At a time when manufacturing and strategic development at Manager at specialist survey support exports are being touted as the international companies such as company Swathe Services. great hope for the future of the UK ConocoPhillips and Petro Canada. economy, it is quite fitting that the Liaison with the Royal Navy whilst at North East’s exceptional endeavours MacArtney’s board of directors is UKHO included geodetic surveys in the in this area are being recognised now composed of: Winnie MacArtney Falklands and South Georgia. Elsewhere with an award for an individual who (Chairman), Jón Ferrier, Slimane Andy has provided survey consultancy to has played a key role both within Bouabbane, Glenn MacArtney and oil and gas majors and civil engineering his own company and the business Niels Erik Hedeager. dredging projects worldwide. community in general.”

UT2 December 2012 152 People

Adam Junner and Pim Kuus join RESON Team Julian Rickards

In order to meet increasing demand “We welcome Adam and Pim to our Applied Acoustic Engineering has and to provide added expertise for organization and are confident that strengthened its Sales team with their expanding market presence, the expertise they bring will add even appointment of Julian Rickards as Danish based RESON has more value to the SeaBat support Technical Sales Advisor. Julian has added two new resources to the and solution services we provide to more than 15 years experience company’s Aberdeen, UK based our clients,” says John Fraser, Vice within the industry with Acoustic staff. President Sales at RESON. and Inertial manufacturers so brings a wealth of valuable expertise to the company, including time spent operating positioning equipment Stefan Eliasson offshore. Stefan Eliasson was appointed a solid business concept and a “I’ve admired Applied Acoustics for MMT’s new Managing Director in strong corporate culture,” said some time, not only for the quality 2012. After 11 successful years Stefan Eliasson. of the products but also its top at the Swedish shipping company class customer service, “explained TransAtlantic and after years “Along with motivated employees, Julian, “so I’m delighted to be of business relations with Ola I will continue to carry on the joining the company, taking on new Oskarsson (founder of MMT), strategy and ensure the continued responsibilities and contributing to Stefan Eliasson became the new development of MMT´s activities its ambitious growth agenda.” leader of MMT. in the offshore industry. I see good development in terms of Commenting on the appointment Stefan has extensive experience core business, as well as other Gavin Willoughby, Sales Manager, of the shipping business and in growth opportunities,” he said. stated that, “Julian is an excellent the oil & gas industry. He brings addition to Applied Acoustics. expertise in financial strategy and Ola Oskarsson (founder and management, as well as expertise Managing Director between 1976 His extensive knowledge, technical in business development for new and 2012) is today responsible capability and strong personal markets such as in the Arctic. of MMT´s market strategies and understanding of this industry will be key clients and is part of MMT´s invaluable to us as we develop new “MMT is an exciting company with Management. markets and increase our product portfolio.”

Dan Williams, Tony Evans, Suzanne Menzies autronix Strengthen Sales Force to joining Nautronix, Dan gained his Nautronix is also pleased to announce with Appointment of Senior VPs experience in sales and business the appointment of Edward H. Smyth as Nautronix specialists in through development through previous VP Sales, Americas. Ed brings over 30 water communications and positions at subsea equipment years of oil and gas sales and business positioning technologies, is pleased manufacturers Reson and latterly development experience to Nautronix to announce the appointment of 3 Kongsberg. having spent the last 20 years in senior Vice Presidents to its sales team. positions at ABB and in Tony Evans also joined the Houston, Ed is well positioned to front the Experienced subsea development company as VP Sales, NASNet. head of Nautronix Houston operations. manager, Dan Williams, is Tony is responsible for developing serving as the company’s VP the awareness and understanding In addition to the new sales recruits, Sales, Commercial Acoustics. In of NASNet® positioning technology, Nautronix has recently appointed an his new role, Dan will assume the broadcast-only system for ultra- experienced marketing professional, direct responsibility for building deepwater vessels and managing Suzanne Menzies. Tasked with managing the awareness of Nautronix the field sales activities therein. the international marketing activities ADS² technology in the global Tony has a solid reputation in the including enhancing the company’s marketplace. He will also facilitate industry, built across the subsea global image and communications, the company’s development in the construction and engineering Suzanne will report directly to Dan diver communications market. Prior sector. Williams.

153 UT2 December 2012 2436_IX_OB13_Advert_IOS_Layout 1 28/07/2012 09:54 Page 1

Don’t miss out! REGISTER

NOW The hands-on ocean technology exhibition and training forum National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK • 9 – 11 April 2013

The hands-on ocean technology exhibition incorporating in-classroom and on-water demonstrations and training sessions

Find out more… www.oceanbusiness.com

• Join 4,000+ visitors from over 50 countries For more information contact: • Explore an exhibition of over 300 T: +44 (0)1453 836363 companies representing the world’s E: [email protected] leading ocean technology suppliers and service providers • Experience hands-on training and

demonstration workshops, both Incorporating: dockside and at sea

Organised by: In partnership with: Hosted by:

Ocean Business is one of the best organized and well attended events in the industry. “ Pete Fitzgerald, CEO, Global Dynamix Inc, USA UT2 December 2012 154 ” AllEnergy, Melbourne, October 2012 – Marine Energy

This year’s conference and exhibition sessions and Stephanie Thornton, signifying a growing awareness and was a watershed for the marine the CEO of the newly formed Marine need to show that technologies in energy sector with one of the two Energy Industry Australia, the other. this harsh environment are being days having one of its five streams de-risked as they progress through dedicated to this sector – another A total of nine marine energy TRL’s 1-9. indication of the progress that is presentations were made across being made along its journey to the day, with three Q&A sessions Australia is in a rather unique position commercialisation. and all were well attended. CSIRO’s with its resources boom, meaning presentation on Australia’s potential that massive human resources are Australia has great potential to marine energy resource followed their being mobilised to deliver those become a global leader in harnessing earlier publication on this topic and projects. Whilst that is great news energy from the ocean, with continued to reinforce the message for employment it does mean that excellent resources, over 18 wave that just 10% of the available resource renewable energy has to compete and tidal energy device and project along the southern coast could power for the skilled people it needs to developers, and with substantial and the entire economy. The growing engineer, build and maintain its recent government investment in resource base as the ocean warms projects at a time when it is struggling leading edge technologies. was also a highlight for anyone used to get down the cost curve to to being in an industry where resource commerciality. The Society of Underwater depletion is an inevitability. Technology is AllEnergy’s learned This is a challenge for the immediate society patron both in the UK and Project developers for the OPT future and highlights the need here in Melbourne where it was one Portland wave power project, to encourage more people to be of the 274 exhibitors with a stand Oceanlinx’s 1MW South Australia involved and trained in all aspects of at the exhibition, manned by its project, Carnegie’s converted array off the offshore industry as it expands to Committee members, which afforded Perth WA and Biopower‘s project at new areas, including underwater, for the opportunity to look for new SUT Port Fairy in Victoria were supported devices unfamiliar to the mature oil members as well as speak to young by presentations from Aquagen’s and gas industry. people interested in the sector and surge drive, Seaurchin’s sustainable those already passionate about it. business model, MPT’s hybrid wind/ The SUT is well positioned to support wave concept as a wave island, and and participate in this growth and The two-day free to delegate Ecowave’s power’s solution. notes that the recent decision by conference saw SUT member the SUT to establish an offshore Dr Hayden Marcollo, principal It was interesting to note the adoption renewable committee in the UK engineer and eesearch & of NASA TRL system of describing may well set a precedent for other development Manager, AMOG Technology Readiness Levels was branches around the world to follow Consulting chairing two of the widely used by many of the presenters in due course. Watch this space!

Golf Challenge Cup By Tony JA Laing, Framo Engineering UK

This year’s golf event held on Scottish Tour Player. It is fair to A number of factors contributed to the Thursday 30 August was hosted say those who participated in the success of the event, as the weather at Edzell Golf Club, a heathland/ coaching not only thoroughly enjoyed shone down upon us, although breezy parkland course at foothills of the the experience, but learned some at times, and we enjoyed a superb Angus Glens, some 35 miles south of interesting tips – as you would say carvery dinner along with some light Aberdeen (www.edzellgolfclub.com). “opportunities for development”. refreshments.

The facility is steeped in history and The fifteen teams played in the The tales of who missed that putt and dates back to 1895, being designed traditional Stableford competition in the drive that disappeared flying well by one of the great Scottish golf the afternoon, with prizes for the best down the fairway contributed to a architect forefathers, Bob Simpson. team and individuals (1st, 2nd and great atmosphere and a fun day. The event was very successful and 3rd), the longest drive and nearest supported by sponsor Oceaneering, to the hole, and the mandatory ‘most The event would not have been a along with prize donations from golf played’ trophy. success without the organisers on the member companies and SUT day (Kirsty and Dawn) along with the services companies. Winner of the 2012 SUT Challenge assistance from our hosts at Edzell Cup Trophy Golf Club. The event aimed to offer a difference, Ronald Whyte, Schoolhill which not only included a new venue Engineering Next year’s event is planned for Friday for this event, but offered an extra 6 September at the end of Offshore round on the Edzell 9 hole course 1st Team SUT Challenge Cup 2012 Europe, no doubt a good way to chill and a coaching session by the local Schoolhill Engineering/SUT (Ronald out and finish off the week, and we professional Alistair Webster, Senior Whyte, David Whyte, David Kaye) shall keep you posted on our website.

155 UT2 December 2012 SUT SUTSUT

North of England Branch Wednesday, 3 October 2012 Open Panel Discussion – We’re Innovative…So What? By Sarath Sreekumar and Jonathon Doyle

Around 65 people attended the open and education has, and should Dermot described how there was a panel discussion on the future of continue to be, exported worldwide. lack of venture capitalists in the north subsea-related industry in the north of England. On the topic of funding, of England and UK in general – an Also noted was the fact that he also hinted that for every pound put interactive event which was different underwater technology extends beyond towards research and development from the usual SUT seminars. The the oil and gas industry and involves a of new technology, approximately £63 event was conducted in the Great broad range of disciplines and that one had to be put towards implementation Hall of the Discovery Museum at of the aims of the SUT is to encourage of working technology in the field. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. cross-pollination of ideas/innovation Tony advised on the importance of between various energy industries. assessment of innovative projects The panel members were: Dr Tony Adding to the point, George Rafferty before funding was put down. Trapp (Entrepreneur and Head of quoted several successful examples of OSBIT Power), Dr John Lawson family-owned subsea businesses from Tony’s view was that this was the (Senior Technology Advisor, Chevron the north of England. reason for the failure of many Engineering Technology Company), government funded ideas. Dermot George Rafferty (Chief Executive, The next topic put forward from the concurred and proposed that rather NOF Energy) and Professor Dermot audience was on how the UK would than funding, government should put Roddy (Science City Professor of stay ahead of emerging countries in forward policies to encourage private Energy, Newcastle University). terms of technology. John suggested investment. Lack of a government the possibility of taking available and energy policy was discussed as The event was sponsored by Technip, reliable technology and developing currently discouraging investment in SMD, PDL Group, Atkins and Bell it further. Tony proposed that since new technology/innovation. Valves. The discussion was chaired the UK had unparalleled experience by Dr Jerry Baker (Atkins Oil & in underwater technology, pioneering This lead to the discussion of examples Gas), who welcomed the audience, development should be used to push of recent changes in the taxation introduced the speakers and opened innovation to compete with emergent (and subsequent U-turn) of North the table for discussion. global regions. Sea facilities that affected funding for technology to exploit smaller/dwindling Jerry Baker opened the event by Tony elaborated on the significant reserves. This raised a discussion as inviting questions from the audience. levels of bureaucracy resisting to whether entrepreneurial backing The first topic of discussion brought innovation. Furthering the discussion would weed out non-starters and focus forward was on the non-technical on innovation, John described how investment on the most potent ideas. aspects of innovation such as larger companies are generally funding, government policies, the risk averse, opting to buy other’s economics of nurturing technology, innovations once they have etc. This was initially fielded by demonstrated a successful track Tony Trapp, who spoke on the record of deployment. Tony explained exploitation of innovative ideas and how the incentive towards innovation entrepreneurship. for some smaller companies is the payout when selling the technology This consisted of themes on how the to bigger organisations. However, north of England has had a history this was discussed as a short-term of innovation (citing examples of approach to innovation that could be farming, shipbuilding and the oil detrimental to actual development. and gas industry), good technical universities and how there is still a Dermot Roddy elaborated on the skills shortage: both at a senior level lack of interest by investors towards and new engineers entering industry. innovation as they generally ‘play safe’. A member of the audience suggested John Lawson added that the UK that the hardest part of innovation had brought subsea engineering might be the first deployment and technology to the world through that the way around this might be innovative technologies used in the to encourage government support and gas fields. He went and exemptions in taxation for new on to describe how this innovation technology.

UT2 December 2012 156 Acoustics

Aberdeen Branch Wednesday, 10 October 2012 Macondo – Lessons For The North Sea By Donald Thomson, Schlumberger Subsea

On the topic of the potential for lobbyists Everyone in the offshore industry is of misrepresenting it. Ewan’s slides (such as SUT and others) to stimulate aware of the Macondo well are available on the SUT website, if business funding to maintain the UK in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, which you would like further detail. as a centre of excellence in subsea resulted in the death of 11 people. technology, George commented that To complement the talk on the legal part of NOF Energy’s goal was to build a That the Aberdeen Branch meeting aspects of the Macondo incident, supply chain community and to integrate on the topic of Macondo attracted Brian Kinkead (Consultant and Tier 1 and Tier 2 companies to engage the maximum attendance ever Lead on the OSPRAG, Technical with the supply chain since they are of 184 people at an Aberdeen Review Group which produced the aware of the challenges faced by the evening meeting, is testament to the OSPRAG capping device) gave a service industry. recognition that the fallout from the presentation on the development of incident continues to have far-reaching the OSPRAG cap. He also added that technology need implications for the offshore industry. not always be revolutionary but that Brian explained the structure of evolution of existing technology should The evening started with a pre-talk Oil and Gas UK, and where the be embraced as well. organised by SUT, aimed at recent Technical Review Group fitted graduates and new entrants to the in, before covering the reasons Other topics that were discussed energy industry, which provided a the OSPRAG capping device included the importance of health and background to legislation and its was developed – a reaction to safety within innovation which all agreed implications for the offshore industry. the questions being asked as to cannot be ignored. Dermot suggested The talk was given by Malcolm whether a similar incident could that the ‘race to second position’ in Gunnyeon of Maclay Murray & Spens occur in UK waters and how it would innovation means that in case of worst LLP (MMS) to the 35 attendees. be dealt with. He then described the case scenarios, it would be easier Feedback was very positive and the fast track process which resulted in to drop back to a tried and tested content would be of interest to many in the capping device being available technology. There were suggestions on the industry. within a year, with the support of 35 how the gap between university spin-offs operators. The unit has a 20 year to successful entrepreneurships could The main talk of the evening was design life and one year deployment be bridged. given by Euan Palmer from the time, and can deal with a 75 000bpd Commercial Dispute Resolution flow. It has a transition connector to Funding issues such as using venture Department of MMS. Euan’s ensure a fit for all subsea wells, and capitalism was also discussed. John professional presentation style and is deployed through the moon pool also mentioned that the simple analogies, used to explain of a suitable vessel. training available for the complexities of the various legal new engineers is better cases and judgments to date, held The design has been reviewed than ever before, partly the audience while covering what since its inception and due to UK-Spec which potentially could have been a very improvements are ongoing. In ensured that level of dry subject. The talk focused on conclusion, Brian indicated that engineering remained the allocation of risk and the claims there were now six different comparable on a global and counterclaims by the various groupings now offering a subsea scale. parties, and how they related to the well capping capability, all with terms of the contracts which were in a variation on the theme. The The event was place between BP, and challenge for the industry was successful in engaging . to achieve commonality to allow the audience, making it greater flexibility in responding to a pleasantly interactive Euan pointed out that the jurisdiction any future incidents. and effective knowledge defined in the contracts can make exchange meeting. a big difference to the outcome, as Both talks generated a number of can terminology and definitions. questions and much discussion at The session ended Much of the judgements to date have the post-meeting buffet. Thanks to with Jerry thanking the centred on this, including ‘degrees all the speakers and in particular to sponsors of the evening of negligence’, thankfully something MMS for their sponsorship of the and inviting everyone to which is not recognised in contract evening. Our thanks also go to Neil enjoy the bar and buffet in English Law! I would not want to Gordon of Subsea UK for chairing available at the venue. attempt to précis Euan’s talk for fear the evening presentations.

157 UT2 December 2012 London Branch Thursday, 18 October 2012 SUT A Night At The Movies By Geof Boyd BG Group, UK

The chair for the evening, Alex Hunt development, in the US Gulf of Mexico. innovative feature. Whilst ‘submerged (BG Group, UK), guided us on a tour In 2450m water depth, Chinook– turret loading’ (STL) is fairly common, of world-beating subsea projects, by Cascade is the world’s deepest submerged turret ‘production’ is very means of carefully selected videos. production facility. It also has the Gulf rare and far more complicated. We were brought up-to-date on of Mexico’s first ever floating production milestone projects, such as: the Total storage and offloading facility (FPSO). A submerged loading buoy may need Oil ‘Pazflor’ Angola development; the to handle a single flowpath of export Petrobras ‘Chinook–Cascade’ Gulf FPSO facilities are common in other quality crude oil to a shuttle tanker. A of Mexico development; the Shell parts of the world, but not in the Gulf of production buoy, however, needs to ‘Ormen Lange’ development; and Mexico, on account of the hurricanes handle multiple flowpaths of untreated others. that regularly threaten the region. Any well fluids, power and injection fluids, fixed or moored facility in the Gulf must all through a single swivel joint that can The first video presented the Total either be strong enough to withstand rotate through 360°. Hence, Chinook– Oil ‘Pazflor’ Angola project, one the massive hurricane forces, or be Cascade FPSO has the world’s largest of the world’s largest deepwater able to be moved out of the way of a turret buoy, weighing 1000 tonnes. developments, which started hurricane. The third option (which is production ahead of schedule in 2011. common for many older, shallow water Our journey around the world’s most Pazflor has (at least) two specific structures) is that the facility is made challenging subsea projects continued claims to fame: it is the first project to safe, evacuated and repaired, rebuilt in this vein. We visited the Petrobras have subsea gas and oil separation or abandoned if directly hit by the Santos Basin Brazil development, a installed from day one; and it had hurricane. massive field with potentially 30 billion (at the time) the world’s longest and barrels of recoverable reserves, and a heaviest floating production facility. It would not be practical to make an massive project, with a planned total FPSO (a converted oil tanker) and of 13 FPSOs. The first FPSO, ‘Lula’, is Pazflor faces the challenge of its mooring system strong enough to under construction, and is planned to producing two quite different grades withstand hurricane waves, currents come on-stream in 2017, producing oil of oil, about a third of which is light, and winds. Likewise, it would not be from below 2000m of water and 5000m and the rest heavy and viscous acceptable to evacuate the facility, of sediments. (17 - 21 API), needing seabed which is massively expensive, and pumping to get it up the risers and contains thousands of barrels of oil, and The Total Laggan–Tormore, West of into the floating facility. In order for leave it to its fate. Hence the Chinook– Shetland gas and condensate field the seabed pumping to be efficient, Cascade FPSO has been designed is being developed via an ultra-long it is necessary to first separate the to be ‘disconnectable’, in the face of (125km) tieback from entirely subsea produced gas from the oil – hence storms. facilities in 600m of water. the world-beating subsea separation system. The disconnectable ‘submerged The Eni Norge Barents Sea Goliat turret production’ (STP) mooring buoy development will involve the first FPSO The next video took us to the arrangement, used on Chinook– in the Barents Sea. The FPSO will be Petrobras ‘Chinook–Cascade’ Cascade, is arguably its most of the innovative cylindrical ‘Sevan’ design, and the largest of its type. Houston Branch The Shell Norway Ormen Lange Thursday, 6 September 2012 gas field development is already in SUT Networking Event operation, but will require compression By Jodi Roberts,Global Communications, SUT Houston Branch in a few years’ time to boost production and improve recovery. Shell have been On the first Thursday of every services solutions to the energy services performing extensive full scale testing month the Houston Branch holds an sector, sponsored the September of subsea compression which, if it goes evening networking event. This ten networking event. Vince Kouns, ahead, will be a world first. The video year branch tradition encourages President for the Houston division and made clear that by far the biggest oil and gas professionals to network Sales Manager Mike Conroy were challenge will be the supply of electric with other industry professionals supported by marketing staff. power to the compressor station, in a laid-back setting. A company located at 1000m water depth. sponsor provides the first beverage Three US$50 US gift cards were and appetizers for the event. provided for a draw. The group came Last, but by no means least (especially fully prepared with marketing materials in terms of tonnes of steel) we were Networking is highly recommended and staff support. updated on the Shell NW Australia as a way to gain new clients and to Prelude gas field development. This build a sustainable business. Young The SUT Houston Branch would like to development, which is in progress, professionals are encouraged to thank our company sponsors for 2012! will involve the first floating liquefied attend this effective way to find jobs These include: The Subsea Company, natural gas (FLNG) facility – a vessel and internships. Dim Eye, Mid-Gulf Shipping, InSite 488m long (the length of four football Technologies, EnerMech, MCSKenny, pitches). No doubt we will be hearing EnerMerch, the established VFL Technologies and The Bull and a lot more about this project at future international provider of mechanical Bear Tavern. SUT events.

UT2 December 2012 158 2013 SUBSEA AUSTRALASIA CONFERENCE

More than 600 delegates will converge on Perth to discuss the perth convention exhibition centre latest commercial and technical developments impacting the fast-growing subsea industry for the 2013 Subsea Australasia Conference.

A joint initiative between Subsea Energy Australia, Subsea UK,

the Society for Underwater Technology and the Australasian Oil & Gas Exhibition & Conference (AOG), the conference will feature a host of topical sessions led by a diverse mix of local DISCOVERand overseas speakers. DISCOVERExplore new advances and solutions in subsea operations, drilling and well management, marine sediment transport, AuStglobalRAl demandIA’S lARfor subseagES talentt Suband subseaSEA fields CO nfof theERE future nCE at Australia’s largest subsea event for 2013.

NAME: Subsea Australasia Conference ExploreVENUE: the latest technicalPerth Convention and and commercial Exhibition Centre DATES: 20-22 February 2013 issuesWEBSITE: facing the Subseawww.aogexpo.com.au industry EVENT ORGANISER: Diversified Exhibitions Australia Flow assuranceCONTACT: | Drilling & well Tel:management + 61 3 9261 | Fields 4500 of the future | Operations Marine sediment transport Email: | Project [email protected] management | Demand for subsea talent

Register at subseaconference.com.au before 1 February 2013 for discounted rates

159 UT2 December 2012 Measure Once, Cut Once.

Making Impossible Jobs Possible A 12 meter spool piece metrology project for the Auk North reservoir n the North Sea was an extreme challenge since the target pipe flanges were recessed into the existing manifolds. A unique combination of Teledyne BlueView high-resolution 3D acoustic scans and Star Net terrestrial laser scans were used to provide unparalleled accuracy for subsequent manufacture and installation of the spool piece. Using the combined data the manufactured spool piece was installed with a perfect fit. First time. Every time. Any condition.

Contact: [email protected] +1 206-826-5844 www.blueview.com UT2 December 2012 160 Measure Once, Cut Once.

Making Impossible Jobs Possible A 12 meter spool piece metrology project for the Auk North reservoir n the North Sea was an extreme challenge since the target pipe flanges were recessed into the existing manifolds. A unique combination of Teledyne BlueView high-resolution 3D acoustic scans and Star Net terrestrial laser scans were used to provide unparalleled accuracy for subsequent manufacture and installation of the spool piece. Using the combined data the manufactured spool piece was installed with a perfect fit. First time. Every time. Any condition.

Maximized recovery means maximized return on investment. And FMC’s subsea separation technologies, combined with water injection and boosting, represent a whole new way to maximize the reserves you can economically recover across a wide range of challenging conditions. So stop leaving all that oil in the ground. Discover the results only subsea processing can deliver. Learn more at www.MaximizeRecovery.com

Contact: [email protected] +1 206-826-5844 TWO AWARDS for subsea separation: www.blueview.com MARLIM & PAZFLOR 161 UT2 December 2012 UT2 December 2012 162