June/July 2011 UT3 The magazine of the Society for Underwater Technology

Offshore Engineering Subsea Equipment Underwater Vehicles

 UT2 July 2011 UT2 July 2011  Contents

Subsea News 4 June 2011 UT2 The magazine of the Acquisitions 17 Society for Underwater Technology Offshore News 18 Subsea Projects 22 Offshore Support 34

Offshore Engineering Tidal Energy Subsea Installation 36 Underwater Equipment 52 1 UT2 July 2011 Offshore Vessels A submarine that went missing in 1917, discovered by a Subsea Equipment 54 Remus 100 AUV Pipelines 64 Image: Kongsberg Maritime Umbilicals and Cables 78 Sonar 88 Positioning 100 Underwater Vehicles 102 3 Diving 114 UT Underwater Equipment 122 Society for Underwater Technology Oceanography 130 1 Fetter Lane London EC4A 1BR Seismic 134 +44 (0) 1480 370007

People/Companies 140 Editor: John Howes [email protected] SUT 152 Sub Editor: Michaelagh Shea [email protected]

US: Published by UT2 Publishing Ltd for and on behalf of the Society for Underwater Stephen Loughlin Technology. Reproduction of UT2 in whole or in part, without permission, is prohibited. The publisher and the SUT assumes no responsibility for unsolicited Production: Sue Denham material, nor responsibility for content of any advertisement, particularly infringement of copyrights, trademarks, intellectual property rights and patents, Design and Layout nor liability for misrepresentations, false or misleading statements and illustrations. Torpedo Design These are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Opinions of the writers are not necessarily those of the SUT or the publishers. ISSN: 1752-0592

 UT2 July 2011 Subsea News

Subsea News Subsea production Subsea Market Report

Considerably more oil and gas Infield Systems has released East Asia, China, India and is currently being produced from its latest edition of the Global Australia are also likely to figure subsea wells on the Norwegian Perspectives Subsea Market prominently. continental shelf than from Report to 2015. platform wells. The total 2011 to 2015 subsea The seventh edition of the report capital expenditure is forecast to The Norwegian Petroleum is devoted to the global subsea be more than US$94bn. Compared Directorate has collated market and provides in-depth to the previous five year period, production from the fields in 2010 analysis of trends, issues and 2006 to 2010, the biggest change and found that subsea wells technological developments. The in the top 10 country composition dominate the picture. report analyses the subsea market is the expected upturn in subsea at a number of levels: it provides activity in China, and more broadly Last year, almost 131.3 million regional information, it details the South East Asia. m3 oil equivalent (oe) were activities of the predominant oil produced from subsea wells and companies and subsea equipment With regard to oil companies, about 125.4 million Sm3 oe from manufacturers and it dissects Petrobras is the operator with platform wells. subsea capital expenditure into the highest expected subsea different components. expenditure over the next five Large gas producers, such as years. the Troll field in the North Sea and Ormen Lange and Åsgard The Subsea Market West Africa and US-focused BP in the Norwegian Sea, contribute The report highlights that over the comes in second, followed by Total extensively with their many next five years the primary area of primarily for projects in West Africa subsea facilities. growth will be West Africa. and the UK. Subsea activity is expected to be highly concentrated In the past ten years, the trend In addition to the traditionally strong among a small number of of more subsea wells has been markets of Angola and Nigeria there operators with the top 10 oil rising. The steady improvement is also likely to be subsea equipment companies expected to contribute in technological solutions has demand from the emerging markets more than three quarters of the made it possible to develop many of Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and total subsea development costs. small reservoirs using subsea Congo (Brazzaville). Brazil, the facilities in instances where a mature areas of the North West Development drilling is anticipated solution with a fixed platform has European Continental Shelf and to account for the majority of not been commercially viable. the US Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and subsea total capital expenditure greenfield developments in South over the next five years. The

250 Total production on the NCS Subsea and fixed installations 200

150

100

50

Source: NPD 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Fixed Installation wells Subsea Wells

UT2 July 2011  Subsea News

largest part of this development drilling expenditure is forecast for deepwater regions such as the US GoM, Angola, Brazil and Nigeria.

In addition, significant expenditure is expected for the detailed engineering, procurement and construction and installation of subsea equipment such as subsea trees, manifolds and subsea processing units.

The Subsea Market Report highlights that operators are moving towards deeper water environments. This can be clearly seen by the number of subsea trees expected to be installed in the next five years.

Approximately 58% of these installations are forecast to lie in water depths of more than 500m with a significant proportion in the ultra- deepwater environment – 1500m water depth and greater. Total Global Subsea Capex 2011-2015 Over the 2011 to 2015 period, there are a number of announced subsea developing technology projects that are anticipated to be installed.

These include seabed separation units at Total’s Pazflor, and Petrobras’ Marlim, Corvina and Congro projects and seabed compression units in Statoil’s Asgard projects among others.

Infield expects that such methods will gradually become a proven way of enhancing production and that their future is bright despite the “prototype” issues associated with their use.

The Subsea Market Report presents historical information on subsea tree orders indicating that 2010 award activity showed a significant improvement from the previous year. This increase could have been more substantial had it not been for the Macondo oil spill in the US GoM. Subsea Tree Orders by Manufacturer

 UT2 July 2011 Subsea News Subsea News Subsea Radio Users Group Sintef

The newly formed Subsea so the organisation will develop and Statoil and Sintef have signed Radio Users Group was formally define these standards to facilitate a new framework agreement launched at the Offshore wireless equipment interoperability – one which likely to be the Technology Conference, last May. across the industry. most comprehensive individual research agreement ever signed As a not-for-profit organisation SRUG will also engage with industry in Norway. headquartered in Houston, the bodies to encourage the integration Subsea Radio User Group (or of radio with other wireless and With a potential value of NOK SRUG) will be dedicated to wired technologies and promote 1 billion, the agreement is valid defining the standards and guiding best practice across the industry. for four years with an option for future adoption of the rapidly an additional two plus two years. expanding uptake of subsea SRUG will be a forum for new ideas radio-frequency in the oil and gas to be shared, and for business “Sintef has both wide and expert industry. connections to be made. Members knowledge in disciplines that will be ahead of industry trends, are important to Statoil, such This industry is experiencing a setting the agenda for others to as deepwater and multi-phase new wave of interest in radio follow. technology,” says Statoil research technology and how it is being and development head Karl used in challenging subsea Founding members of the Johnny Hersvik. applications. organisation are: Yokagawa, WFS Technologies, HIMA, Contros Statoil entered into its first Successful deployments in recent Systems and Solutions, Monitor framework agreement with years are driving more interest in Systems Scotland and Saab Sintef in 1985. The cooperation how radio frequency technology Seaeye with representatives has solved many technological can be used to overcome from every point in the supply challenges and placed Statoil performance issues with traditional chain waiting to come on board: among the most technologically underwater communications operators, systems integrators, advanced companies in areas techniques, or can increase control systems, vehicle such as liquefied natural gas confidence when combined as manufacturers and sensor (LNG), multi-phase and materials hybrid solutions. manufacturers. technology, as well as carbon dioxide handling. The setting up of the Subsea Members of the SRUG will have Radio User Group (SRUG) access to a range of materials and “This agreement is important has been borne from the need activities including documentation to Sintef, and it is a recognition to promote and direct the use regarding standards, white papers, to be chosen as Statoil’s of radio-frequency technology workshops at a discounted rate; cooperation partner,” says Sintef for subsea communication, quarterly membership meetings; chief executive Unni Steinsmo. navigation, networking, location, eligibility for nomination and “The agreement ensures both metrology and sensing. election to the Board of Directors, predictability and a long-term participation on advisory committees perspective in our research work.” There are currently no standards and technical assistance from in place for use of radio subsea, others. Statoil will spend half of its NOK 2.4 billion total research and development budget in 2011 on external suppliers, of which Sintef Correction plays a vital role. In the last issue, we mentioned that Cameron has signed an agreement “The international focus on with Schlumberger Integrated research is greater than ever,” Project Management (IPM) for the says Hersvik. “Our responsibility supply of flow equipment products is to make sure that Statoil and services. This is untrue and we possesses the necessary apologise to both companies for this research expertise and capacity, error. and the agreement with Sintef is an important part of this.”

UT2 July 2011  Subsea News

Sintef Subsea Well Response Project The Subsea Well Response The SWRP team’s work will assist improve well incident prevention, Project (SWRP) has been set up the industry in making a significant intervention and response. The by a consortium of nine major oil contribution to minimising the impact project was set up to take forward companies in order to assess, of any future well control incidents. the intervention recommendations design and develop, or arrange of the International Association of the availability of, the necessary In the near term, the project team Oil and Gas Producers’ dedicated equipment required to respond to will: Global Industry Response Group. major well control incidents. l Design a capping toolbox with a range of equipment to allow wells to The group has been assembled to Over the coming months, the be shut in examine ways for the industry to SWRP team will assess, and l Design additional hardware for identify, learn from, and apply the where deemed necessary, design the subsea injection of dispersant lessons of recent well incidents. equipment and operational plans. l Further assess the need for and feasibility of a containment system SWRP is made up of a number The intention is to enhance the for shared use. of operators including BG Group, speed and efficacy of oil spill BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, response in different regions of SWRP is just one component ExxonMobil, Petrobras, Shell, the world. of a wider industry-led effort to Statoil and Total.

AN UNDERWATER TECHNOLOGY STORY:

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

The greatest enemy of the east coast of England beats relentlessly against the coastline and has claimed countless settlements and towns as cliffs are pounded into surrender and swallowed by the turbid waters of the North Sea.

One of the most famous towns to have succumbed to the waves is the medieval town of Dunwich in Suffolk. Largely buried in the mud off the coast and long since abandoned to the encroaching sea, the historic capital of East Anglia has been losing buildings to the North Sea since the 1300’s. Though the site is well-known, just what it looks like has been a mystery for hundreds of years. Attempts to gain any detailed view of what lies beneath the water, the silt and the sand have been made near-impossible by poor visibility near the seabed.

In June 2010, a team examining the Dunwich site deployed a special sonar camera. The combination of high frequencies, acoustic lenses and very narrow beams increased image detail and gave archaeologists greater detail of the site than ever before available, enabling them to identify carved stonework from lost historic buildings. New technology opened up this hitherto secretive site and could help reveal centuries of history hidden by the waves.”

MacArtney – dedicated to the underwater industry

Read more at

WWW.MACARTNEY.COM/SECRETS  UT2 July 2011 Subsea News Subsea News Houston hears how WA expertise is helping kickstart LNG

The international resources sector Professor White gave an overview recently had the opportunity to of three major LNG projects Oil and gas technology hub … Professor hear firsthand how researchers in being developed in the Browse David White (right) and Winthrop Professor Western Australia are underpinning Basin off WA – Shell’s recently Mark Randolph beside the geotechnical the next generation of LNG projects. announced Prelude floating LNG beam centrifuge at the Centre for Offshore plant; Woodside’s Browse Basin Foundation Studies in Perth, Western That was the theme of a standing development and Inpex’s Ichthys Australia, which is used to simulate offshore geostructures at small scale. room only, 45-minute presentation project – and outlined the technical that Professor David White gave to challenges and solutions being some 300 delegates at the Offshore devised to make such projects a Technology Conference in Houston reality. in May. Those challenges include Professor White is a Professor at constructing projects and their the Centre for Offshore Foundation infrastructure in extremely remote Systems (COFS), which is part locations, coping with the possibility of The University of Western of cyclones and huge tides off WA’s Australia’s Oceans Institute. northern coast, and securing the foundations and anchors of offshore “Almost all the attendees at our platforms and pipelines. presentation were US-based oil and gas professionals who were there Professor White explained that WA’s to find out about the emerging oil expertise in offshore foundations and gas technology hub in Western grew from studies needed to Australia and the huge LNG remediate the foundations of two developments that are underway,” giant gas platforms – North Rankin he said. A and Goodwin – in the 1980s and 1990s. Professor White said Australia is already the world’s fourth largest Like much of Australia’s coast, producer of LNG, after Qatar, the seabed around those projects Malaysia and Indonesia – but that consists of calcareous sediments – in was set to change in the next few effect, brittle shell fragments – that years. are vastly different to the seabeds in other oil and gas regions. “Most people are aware that WA is big in mining, and that much of the In the following years, the Centre for world’s iron ore exports – 38% in Offshore Foundations Systems was fact – head off for delivery off the formed at UWA and has developed North-West coast of WA,” he said. expertise in areas such as shallow foundations, anchoring systems and “But less well known is this pipeline-seabed interaction, enabling new generation of industrial pipelines to cope with steep inclines development beginning with some as they cross onto the continental huge LNG projects. shelf.

“As a result, the Reserve Bank Professor White also showcased predicts that, in a few years’ time, a new system of using grooved Western Australia will be the second foundation piles to fix them largest LNG producer in the world, more securely to the seabed, despite Australia having only a which has been adopted on a small fraction – 2% – of global recent project located offshore reserves.” Australia. This solution had been

UT2 July 2011  Subsea News

Houston hears how WA expertise is helping kickstart LNG By Tony Malkovic

devised by research graduates from COFS, working at the Perth- FRS based consultancy Advanced Geomechanics. l Winthrop Professor Mark Randolph, has been elected to the “This ‘groovy’ pile foundation is unique prestigious Royal Society. worldwide,” Professor White said. Professor Randolph is one of “It represents the latest generation 44 new Fellows to join the ranks of novel foundation types that have of the United Kingdom and been designed to suit the unusual Commonwealth’s leading scientists geotechnical conditions offshore as the Royal Society marks 351 Western Australia.” years since it was established.

He explained to his audience that UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor virtually all of the Australian oil and Alan Robson said Professor gas industry is now headquartered in Randolph’s election to the Perth, and that Centre for Offshore Society put him alongside the Foundation Systems is an example of leading scientists, engineers and an oil and gas technology centre that technologists of his generation. has sprung up to support the industry. “Professor Randolph is an “COFS already has a high profile internationally recognised in Houston, through collaborations geotechnical engineer working in with the US-based operators, many a world-class Centre for Offshore of whom are joint venturers in WA’s Foundation Systems at our projects,” he said. University,” Professor Robson said. “There’s been great support from overseas operators for COFS to be “He has worked hard to align nurtured in WA, because they know the Centre’s research themes to they want a local technology centre facilitate developments within the that’s close to these projects, and oil and gas industry.” understands the local issues.” The Royal Society is the world’s Professor White said in the past three oldest scientific academy in years, COFS had carried out specific continuous existence, and has studies for nine different projects – been at the forefront of enquiry five in WA – to help them develop long and discovery since its foundation pipelines networks far from shore. in 1660. The backbone of the Society is its Fellowship of the “These studies involved test programs most eminent scientists of the using the centrifuge modelling day, elected by peer review for life technology we developed at UWA in and entitled to use FRS after their 2007, when we began investigating name. how pipelines interact with the seabed,” he said. Professor Randolph is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy “Within four years of this beginning as of Science, the Australian a research topic, it has matured into Academy of Technological a technology that is routinely applied Sciences and Engineering, the in design, utilising unique centrifuge Royal Academy of Engineering modelling techniques developed at in the UK and the Institution of UWA.” Engineers Australia.

 UT2 July 2011 Company News

Company News Kvaerner (re)Launch

Kvaerner is back! It has been two TLPs on the Browse field and “Concentrating on EPC activities launched, or rather re-launched with prepare the piles on the Skarv FPSO lets us respond to the unique the phrase ‘The world has got a challenges and opportunities of the new engineering procurement and Kvaerner was spun off from the field development market,” said the construction (EPC) contractor with Pre-January 2001 Aker Solutions. new company’s Chairman Jan Arve 160 years of experience.’ At that date, the metals, mining and Haugan, “ while also being more chemicals business was sold off and flexible. Indeed, the new company Aker Solutions was repositioined to immediately becomes a global aim at the subsea drilling, process, “We can meet low cost requirements market leader for floating platforms, well services, oilfield services, through strategic partnerships while concrete platforms and for harsh mooring and loading and life of field satisfying local content requirements environments. engineering work. through local partnerships.”

It is Europe’s leading provider of large steel jackets, it is experienced specialist in deep water developments and has a strong position in North America within energy and environmental, and industrial construction. It is Norway’s leading supplier to oil and gas development projects offshore and onshore.

Its references include high pressure high temperature gas platform (Kristin), ultra-deepwater semi- submersible platforms (Blind Faith), and a 17 5000t platform jacket (Grane) as well as various liquefied natural gas terminals.

From the first day of operation, it already has a large order book. This includes the EPC for the Gudrun platform jacket and the EPC for two steel jackets and associated piles for Clair Ridge.

It is carrying out the topsides and bridges on Eldfisk 2/7S as well as bridge support jackets on Ekofisk 2/4L.

In the Nordsee Ost wind project, it will build 49 steel jackets and piles. It will carry out the gravity base structure (GBS) for Sakhalin-1 EPC for Arkutun-Dagi and the front end engineering design (FEED) for the Hebron GBS with an EPC option.

It will complete the FEED for the Jan Arve Haugan

UT2 July 2011 10 Company News

Industry Firsts ASME Awards

Two products from SBM Offshore won 2010 OTC Spotlight on Technology At OTC in May, the IPTI Petroleum Awards at this year’s Offshore Technology Conference. Division honoured winners in the Woelfel Best Mechanical The Cryogenic Offshore Offloading and Loading (COOL) system is the Engineering Achievement Award industry’s first fully qualified offshore liquefied natural gas LNG transfer system. Reception. See p18 and 20 It is comprised of flexible cryogenic floating LNG hoses and connectors designed to allow the safe and reliable transfer of LNG between vessels in a The Lubinski Best Paper at OTC: tandem moored configuration. The COOL system fills a key technology gap OTC21611 Field validation in the offshore LNG business. Previously, the open sea offloading of LNG and learning of the Parque cargoes to offtake carriers in a side-by-side configuration was only possible in das Conchas (BC-10) Subsea benign environmental conditions. Processing System and Flow Assurance Design Because of the potentially harsh sea conditions in locations where floating LNG by C. Deuel, Y.D. Chin, J. Harris, J. production vessels are being planned, ship-to-ship transfer of LNG requires Germanese and N. Seunsom a tandem offloading configuration. Tandem offloading is standard practice for traditional FPSOs, using a floating oil offloading hose string. This system has ASME Fellow: Doreen Chin contributed to the global growth of floating production facilities over the last four decades. Geoca Mechanical Engineering In 2005, SBM Offshore began the development of a cryogenic transfer system Achievement Award (Oil Drop): for this purpose. The COOL system represents a step change in the safety of Ken Bayne, Knarr Development, the critical operation of LNG transfer. This system will also allow FLNG projects BG Group to be considered in harsher locations without excessive downtime due to offloading system availability, and with significantly reduced risk. ASME Dedicated Service Award: Terry Lechinger, Stress The other award was for a high voltage electrical AC swivel. Engineering Services, Inc.

Petrobras Subsea Frame Agreement

Petrobras has awarded GE Oil and capable of state-of-the-art inspection, The frame service agreement builds Gas, a four-year service agreement maintenance, repair, spares parts, on the announcement that Petrobras to deliver repairs, maintenance rental tools and field services for has awarded GE’s Wellstream and retrofits on Petrobras’ fleet of capital drilling, subsea wellhead business a long-term, $200M-plus subsea equipment installed in the systems, and subsea production and flexible pipe and subsea equipment Campos Basin offshore Brazil. controls equipment. logistics services contract.

The scope of the agreement, Fernando Martins, vice president— This will be supported from a valued at approximately $120M, Latin America, GE Oil & Gas said: dedicated new 55 000m2, $90M includes service and repairs on “GE will apply its latest high-tech investment Logistics Base that GE over 300 exploration and 250 subsea equipment service and will build adjacent to Wellstream’s production tools, as well as repair technologies across much of existing manufacturing site in retrofitting six subsea production Petrobras’ Campos Basin installed Niterói, 14kms outside Rio de trees each year with GE advanced fleet to help minimize downtime and Janeiro. technology. epitomise production output. We will deliver this important assignment In February GE Oil & Gas received GE will conduct the service from our Macaé Service Center $50M in contracts to supply programme from its Macaé Service which is currently under expansion subsea wellhead and installation Center, located in Rio de Janeiro and delivers critical offshore tooling systems to Petrobras for state, which is currently undergoing production servicing projects for deployment in Campos and Santos a $30M investment refurbishment customers including Petrobras, basin projects, bringing to over and expansion. The 91 000m2. Transocean, OGX and Brasdrill and 1400 GE’s tally of mission-critical facility, which employs over 200 all the IOC’s currently operating in subsea wellhead systems installed highly skilled employees, will be Brazil.” in Brazilian waters.

11 UT2 July 2011 Subsea News Subsea News New Chief Executive at Subsea UK Subsea UK, the industry body that represents and supports the UK’s subsea sector, has appointed its new chief executive. Neil Gordon will take over at the helm in the beginning of July 2011.

Gordon is currently the general manager of the National Hyperbaric Centre in Aberdeen. Originally from Braemar, he has over 20 years management and business development experience, as well as over 10 years subsea experience.

During his time at the National Hyperbaric Centre, Gordon has successfully project managed saturation diving operations and hyperbaric weld trials. He has helped develop the diving safety and the subsea training and consultancy part of the business, and regularly lectures to subsea engineers and delivers training courses.

Neil Gordon has experience of working in India, the Middle East, Africa and Brazil. He has worked with the association of Oil and Gas Producers’ Diving Operations Sub- committee on client representative training and competency for subsea projects.

He is also a member of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Diving Safety Medical Technical and Training Committee.

Following a business studies course at the former Aberdeen College of Commerce, Mr Gordon trained as a commercial diver.

He spent eight years carrying out numerous diving assignments in the UK and Norwegian waters. While working for Oceaneering and other companies, he was involved Neil Gordon, the new Subsea UK chief executive

UT2 July 2011 12 Subsea News

New Chief Executive at Subsea UK in new construction projects, pipeline surveys, welding and inspection.

Neil Gordon has also held director and manager level business development roles in the information technology, communications and hospitality sectors.

Commenting on his appointment, Subsea UK chairman, Bill Edgar, said, “We are delighted to have secured Neil’s services. His background and hands-on experience in the subsea industry, together with his diverse management experience outside the subsea sector, provides an ideal profile for the post.

“I am confident that he will continue the growth of Subsea UK’s range of services to members at home and abroad that was initiated by Alistair Birnie, who expanded the activities from the comprehensive base created by David Pridden.”

Mr Gordon said, “I am honoured to be joining such a well- respected and influential industry organisation. Over the years, I have been impressed by its rapid growth in size and stature and have the highest respect for both my predecessors.

“My initial aim will be to build on the successes achieved to date with a focus on delivering services that meet members’ needs and promote the globalisation of the UK subsea industry.”

l Subsea UK has launched a new service for members which provides valuable market intelligence on the global industry.

The project database reveals that there are more than 300 major on-going or up-coming subsea projects globally, which will require more than 1300 subsea trees, 110 manifolds, and 12 000km of subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines. These include 70 projects in the UKCS, as well as those in major centres of activity in Norway, Brazil, West Africa, Australia, Asia-Pacific, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Information provided in the projects data base includes the name of the project, the operator, main contractor, equipment suppliers, along with the project status, where it is located, water depths, as well as the current number of trees, manifolds, umbilicals, flowlines and risers currently in use and required in the future future meet demand. The database also hold information on FPSOs and subsea vessels.

The contracts database reveals that more than 100 major subsea contracts totalling over £4.5 billion have been awarded globally during the first four months of 2011. These include 23 EPIC, 33 manufacturing, and 13 installation contracts.

13 UT2 July 2011 Subsea News ABS Goes Subsea

In the past few years, the American placed great emphasis on deepwater “All of the above,” said Sudheer Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has subsea production. Chand, Director of Offshore seen the amount of work from Technology. “We are looking at a the subsea sector expand. It “Setting up a more targeted broad spectrum from wellheads has reached a point where the SURF initiative is just one of ABS’ and templates to flow lines and company has decided to establish technology initiatives driven by pipelines, roughly mirroring the a specific group dedicated to this industry and client need,” said path of the well stream as it is work, particularly looking at subsea, Montaruli. transported from the seabed to umbilicals, risers and flowlines the surface. This includes subsea (SURF). The company expects that “ABS is a membership driven production equipment, risers, in future this group will increase its organisation and our members are subsea pumps and separators,” staff and technical contributions to telling us the time is right for us to added Chand. the subsea sector. provide technical guidance in this area. Our subsea engineering group “For instance, research into the “In many ways we have been is handling an increased flow of dynamic behaviour of risers involved with the subsea industry design reviews and submittals from is ongoing. As knowledge is for quite some time,” said Bret energy companies worldwide as accumulated, it is necessary to Montaruli, ABS Vice President, exploration and production operators incorporate this into the general Offshore Technology. “When search for oil and gas reserves in standards,” said Chand. One of the you look at classification over ever-deeper waters.” main challenges facing the group, the years, we have been very however, is that a lot of equipment active in the subsea sector via the The new ABS SURF group will is purpose-designed to meet floating aspects of mobile offshore reside within the organisation’s specific challenges. The equipment drilling units (MODUs) and floating Corporate Technology Division. is characteristically innovative and production units. This has largely It consists of a core group, often unique. In such cases, formal focused on areas such as drilling permanently assigned in Houston standards have not yet been set,” riser integrity, templates and to serve as the centre for its said Chand. moorings, and anchoring in tension activities. One of its great strengths, leg platforms (TLPs).” Montaruli however, is that this group can call “In such cases, we have the ability says it is a natural extension to upon a huge resource of expertise to provide support and make a move from floating assets to drilling residing in locations all over the valuable contribution by reviewing and now to subsea as industry has world to provide a both detailed and the technical specifications and comprehensive range of support engineering drawings to verify input. that the equipment complies with the purpose for which it has been ABS engineers with experience designed. We can also carry out in mechanical engineering, independent annual surveys to thermodynamics and hydraulics monitor performance. for offshore engineering are ready for design reviews and surveys for “While a lot of this novel equipment subsea pipelines, for both deep and may not currently have standards, shallower water depths, subsea this was the same when we were pumping and pressure boosting involved in the design of the first installations, subsea heating and spars and TLPs,” continued Chand. separation and subsea construction. “We, therefore, had to work closely So what exactly will be group be with the designers while also involved in? Developing standards? carrying out searches on available Design analysis? Engineering information and gathering data survey? Material inspection? from testing. We were then able to Damage and repairs monitoring? develop an inclusive classification that could be modified if necessary, to meet the demands of this ever- Bret Montaruli evolving technology.”

UT2 July 2011 14 Subsea News ABS Goes Subsea

Many of the subsea systems are This is particularly true of subsea. society to promote cooperation too new to have accumulated a “There are likely to be areas that and to ensure standards cross long service history. In such cases, local classification societies have international boundaries. developing standards can involve not had experience in,” said Chand. carrying out bespoke research, “It is here that ABS can contribute Another example is the cooperative development and testing. This has the experience that we have gained effort between ABS and the China prompted ABS to set up research from operations elsewhere in the Classification Society (CCS) partnerships with universities, world.” to provide classification and establishing a number of worldwide certification services for the Liwan technology centres. One subject that illustrates this point 3-1 gas field in the South China is the harsh polar environment that Sea, reportedly China’s largest The most recent of these, the ABS looks to be increasingly important offshore natural gas discovery. China Offshore Technology Center in oil exploration and production (COTC) was announced in May. activities. At present, work has The field development plan of It was set up in partnership with been conducted in areas such as China National Offshore Oil Shanghai’s Jiaotong University the Beaufort Sea in Northern US/ Corporation (CNOOC) and (SJTU). This is the fourth centre Canada and Barents Sea, North of Canadian independent Husky of its kind. Other similar facilities Russia/Norway/Finland and south of Energy calls for connecting a are the ABS Harsh Environment Svalbard. Russia has recently said deepwater subsea system via a Technology Center (HETC) on the that it plans to carry out more work pipeline to a central processing campus of Memorial University in in the Arctic Ocean platform in water depths ranging St. John’s Newfoundland; the ABS from 650ft to 5000ft. Brazil Offshore Technology Center “The American Arctic and Russian (BOTC) in Rio de Janeiro and the Arctic each have their own Gas will be piped to shore for ABS Singapore Offshore Technology challenges, opportunities and full processing. Production is Center (SOTC). developments,” said Montaruli. scheduled to begin in 2013 with “The Arctic is going to be critically Liwan 3-1 expected to produce The SOTC, now in its fifth year, important in exploration and has become a key research and development. Contd p16 development facility in Southeast Asia supporting the latest offshore “We have experience in looking developments. at structures designed to resist “There are a number of projects that the movement of the ice, as well require long-term structural testing,” as others designed to avoid the said Montaruli. “This takes time impact of icebergs and bergy bits and costs money but there is no by locating the production units alternative if safety and integrity are outside the ice zone, or shoreside to be paramount. We also back this and installing subsea equipment in up with field testing programmes. protective ‘Glory Holes’.”

Work in the subsea sector is In the future, however, operators are international. This requires ABS already looking for ways to develop to work in co-operation with other these fields using long distance international organisations. subsea infrastructure. This is very much an emerging technology. “In every country we are active In the past, ABS has worked closely in, we need to make sure that our with, and has developed an alliance work is in compliance with their with the Russian Maritime Register local laws. In some cases, their of Shipping (RS) classification local classification societies are still acquiring knowledge in certain technologies – and that is where we can provide input. Sudheer Chand

15 UT2 July 2011

ABS Subsea News ABS goes Subsea Contd Torpedo Piles In February 2012, ABS will present its findings of a the between 6.6 to 8 billion m3 of gas per year. Installations first research project carried out at the Brazil Offshore in ultra deep water are not new to ABS, but it brings Technology Center, in partnership with the Federal with it several unique problems. University of Rio de Janeiro.

Tore Halovorsen, senior vice president of FMC This focuses on the application of torpedo piles as an Technologies, said subsea systems located in alternative mooring anchor system. The pile is installed in ultra deepwaters will require a whole new type of a free fall operation from a support vessel. engineering (UT2, May 2009, p12). It has been considered for use in mooring floating Up until now, for example, all the sealing technology is production systems and mobile offshore drilling units based on internal pressure being greater than external (MODUs). pressure to energise the seals. The concept has been developed by Petrobras for continued use offshore Brazil. A lot of functional items within a subsea system works by being functionally assisted by the pressure. In deep The study is examining state-of-the art techniques waters, however, the external pressure can increase to available to simulate soil conditions and determine a set a point where these pressures can equalise, reducing of requirements and criteria that address the holding the effectiveness of sealing. Deeper still, it is reversed. capacity and structural strength of torpedo piles in operation. It is likely that many accepted engineering principles will have to be revisited and a whole new type of It is expected to result in the development of a rational engineering reinvented. This could require setting approach for the class review and approval of the up joint industry projects, and being overseen by proposed mooring system. independent bodies, with research carried out by universities and technology centres. Some of the key considerations surrounding the design of offshore foundation systems, in particular those “We care carrying out, commissioning or overseeing using torpedo piles, are the uncertainties related to the a wide range of subsea research,” said Chand. Such determination of holding capacity values. projects range from examining the long-term holding The determination of relevant parameters of soil power of torpedo anchors to High Integrity Pressure characteristics and the final installed position angles, Protection Systems (HIPPS).” together with the safety factors to be considered in the design, are being addressed in this study. HIPPS systems are necessary when sudden surges in pressure could potentially exceed the bursting point of a pipeline. The two options are to increase the pipeline’s wall thickness and burst point, or the considerably less effective method of measuring and choking down any high pressure surges.

“It is one thing to get to understand these systems and how technology can be applied to reduce the problem, but it is another thing making the equipment suitable for installation on the seabed where it is not readily accessible,” he added.

No doubt technology has taken projects into deeper water and now to the seabed floor. For ABS the goal is to anticipate and enable operators to pursue their field developments by providing them with technical guidance. For Montaruli and Chand and their team of subsea engineers the challenges – and the excitement they bring - are never ending. Torpedo Piles being installed

UT2 July 2011 16 Subsea News

Acquisitions

Atlantic Volantis Fugro JDR Netherlands Acteon NCS P/F Atlantic Petroleum’s wholly Fugro has reached agreement with Subsea services group Acteon has owned subsidiary, Atlantic JDR Cable Systems (Netherlands) acquired Aberdeen-based NCS Petroleum UK Limited, has signed to acquire JDR Cable Systems Survey Limited. The acquisition an agreement to acquire the entire Holdings Netherlands BV and its adds to Acteon’s capability in the rig- issued share capital of the UK- marine cable subsidiary JDR Cable positioning market and provides an based private exploration company, Systems BV, together comprising additional suite of survey services to Volantis Exploration Limited. JDR’s Marine Cables division. clients that operate rigs and vessels.

Atlantic Petroleum is a Faroese JDR Marine Cables designs and NCS Survey provides high-precision independent exploration and produces special marine cables rig-positioning, construction-support production (E&P) company. Its for oil and gas (subsea lead-in and subsea-visualisation services to group has oil and gas interests in cables, array cables, control cables), the global offshore market, including the North Sea, East Irish Sea and geophysical (airgun umbilicals, upstream oil and gas and offshore Celtic Sea and on the Faroese lead-ins) and defense (towed arrays) wind. Continental Shelf. market segments. Volantis Exploration holds equity The facility is based close to Unique Seaflex in a total of 15 licences in the Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Southern North Sea on the UK and the division has around 110 Unique Maritime Group has continental shelf including equity in employees. The division will operate completed the acquisition of the Centrica (Venture) operated gas as an independent unit and aims Seaflex, a specialist in marine discoveries Fulham and Pegasus. to further develop its current range buoyancy products and water filled of products and services and to test weights . This development On completion of the acquisition continue the supply to all its clients. is the latest in a series of recent Atlantic will have interests in 29 acquisitions which have enhanced licences containing around 50 Current annual revenues of the Unique Maritime Group’s product fields, discoveries, prospects company are in the order of Euro 25 and services portfolio as part of its and leads. Furthermore, Atlantic million. The division will be renamed ongoing growth plans. Petroleum will have partnerships to De Regt Marine Cables. with 27 international oil companies Headquartered in the Isle of White, operating in North West Europe. UK, Seaflex specialises in the Fugro Bluestone design, manufacture and supply Stork RBG Fugro has reached agreement of subsea air lift bags, inflatable with Reef Subsea AS to acquire buoyancy units, WaterLoad Stork Technical Services and Arle Bluestone Offshore Pte and test weights, cable and pipeline has acquired RBG Limited, the UK its subsidiaries. buoyancy, lifeboat testing ballast based supplier of inspect, assess bags, yacht fenders and yacht and repair services to the global Bluestone Offshore Pte Ltd is a racing marks. energy industry. specialist provider of geotechnical services in Southeast Asia and The acquisition includes all of Australia and currently operates RBG’s primary activities in the one chartered DP deepwater HTT IVS 3D UK, Europe, Americas, Caspian geotechnical vessel in the region. HITT NV, supplier of traffic and the Middle East, as well as management, hydrographic and 4,500 personnel. The addition of The staff of approximately 40 also navigation systems for aviation RBG’s portfolio, which includes provides laboratory and engineering and shipping has signed a share complex support services such services in their office in Singapore. purchase agreement with the as oil platform decommissioning, The office will be consolidated owners of IVS 3D. fabric maintenance, inspections into Fugro’s existing operations in services and access solutions, will Singapore. The operations of IVS and QPS, provide Stork Technical Services’ HITT’s subsidiary in Zeist, the clients with additional expertise and Revenues for Bluestone Offshore Netherlands, will be combined and more choice from a single trusted for 2010 were in the order of US$ 20 together form a joint workforce of 56 partner. million. employees.

17 UT2 July 2011

ASME Subsea News Woelfel Best Mechanical Engineering Achievement Award (BMEA)

At a reception in Houston at the – mechanical/hydraulic devices is first positioned or ‘landed’ on the OTC conference, the winner of which bring together the two sides component, an ROV uses a ‘stroking the best mechanical engineering of a connection before joining them. tool’ to draw the two hubs together, achievement award for 2011 was These are heavy, require large followed by a ‘torque tool’ to close the Aker Solutions for its vertical service vessels to transport the clamp around the two hubs and the connection system (VCS). This is a equipment to the offshore location, metal seal between them. The seal new generation of diverless subsea and more service hands to carry out is pressure tested by the ROV and connectors making the installation the operations - altogether a slower the connection is complete. The ROV of subsea systems in deep water and more costly process. moves on the next connection. easier, faster and more reliable. Aimed at overcoming such Two versions of the connection For today’s deepwater offshore drawbacks, Aker Solutions system have been developed by developments, far beyond the has worked with several client Aker Solutions, one for vertical depth limits for divers to work companies, including oil companies connections (VCS) and one for underwater, sophisticated remotely and leading installation contractors, horizontal connections (HCS). operated tools are needed to to develop a new generation of The connector design has been interconnect subsea hardware on subsea connectors, which are standardised for use in 12 000ft the seabed. A range of pipelines already being used offshore. (3650m) of water. Internal operating and pipework – flowlines, jumpers pressure can be up to 10 000psi, and umbilicals – some of them Qualification testing and feedback although a 15 000psi design could be rigid, some of them flexible, must from the client companies has qualified if required; normal operating be securely tied in to subsea wells, ensured the connectors have temperature design is up to 250ºF manifolds and other equipment. been designed to meet client (121ºC), but connector seals for requirements, targeting cost 356ºF (180ºC) are also available. “Making such connections safely effectiveness and reduced time and reliably, often thousands of feet offshore. The VCS is based around Aker below the sea surface, requires Solution’s highly successful purpose-designed systems which “The new connectors offer many connector clamp technology which can be operated by remotely advantages over existing systems,” has notched up 1700 applications operated vehicles,” explained Bård says Kristiansen. “They are more over the past twenty years. Among Kristiansen, Aker Solutions’ product compact and can be mobilised the many attractive features of the and concept manager for subsea faster on smaller vessels by fewer new VCS is the tolerance for a tie-ins and structures. service hands; the installation tools starting offset of ± 8deg between the are lightweight and can be moved two hubs for rigid spool installation “As subsea developments have around subsea by standard work- (±15deg for flexibles), which will moved into ever deeper waters to class remotely operated vehicles subsequently become perfectly access fields which frequently have (ROVs); no heavy running tools aligned when the clamp is closed. higher operating pressures and or additional external guiding are The connector is already being temperatures, the tie-in connection involved; there are no integral installed offshore Ghana for the systems have grown in size and hydraulics built into the connectors; Jubilee field development, where 135 complexity, and installation costs and the overall connection connectors of 6in and 12in diameter have increased accordingly. operations are much faster. We (168-324mm outside diameter) will be believe these are the most efficient installed during 2010. This is why Aker Solutions set out connectors available.” a couple of years ago to develop “The VCS installations are a range of new subsea connectors The basic procedure for using proceeding very well, with positive which are lighter, easier to install the connector to attach rigid or feedback from the client,” notes and more cost effective, to meet flexible pipes to subsea hardware Kristiansen. “And we already have the current and future needs of our on the seabed involves bringing further orders for the VCS for Brazil clients.’ together two ‘hubs’, one fixed as the and the Gulf of Mexico. The intention termination at the end of the pipe, is to build a portfolio of VCS sizes, Many existing connection systems the other pre-installed on the subsea up to 28in diameter (711mm outside depend on large ‘running tools’ component. The termination hub diameter).”

UT2 July 2011 18 Subsea News

Woelfel Best Mechanical Engineering Achievement Award (BMEA) Story: Alex Markland

Vertical connection system

The HCS is an evolution of Aker subsea systems in fishing zones, a 42in (1059mm) connector is Solutions’ tried and tested guide and or where a subsea tree or manifold also in the early development hinge-over system for horizontal is to be retrieved to the surface stage. connections, some 350 of which without also retrieving the jumper. have been delivered to date. Adding to the advantages of Aker Solutions HCS has been both VCS and HCS is the fact While a vertical connection is usually designed to accommodate these that the connection process the preferred solution in the industry and other requirements and a 12in is readily reversed – the due to the relatively straightforward HCS is currently undergoing full connectors can be opened to installation procedure, there are scale testing at the company’s allow seal replacement or hub circumstances where horizontal Tranby facility in Norway. cleaning, without employing a connections are required – for surface crane for assistance and example for flowlines pre-installed The plan is to have a range of HCS without subsea hardware being on the seabed, for low profile connectors up to 28in, although brought back to the surface.

19 UT2 July 2011 Offshore News

Offshore News Innovation The Woelfel Best Mechanical Engineering Achievement Award (BMEA) went to Deep Down for the 3400t umbilical storage carousel. The scalable 1000–5000t carousel system was manufactured for Core Industries’ deepwater port facility near Mobile, Alabama. That particular carousel was rated for 3400 MT and was designed to be volume limited where if a product can fit, it will be within the 3400t maximum payload.

It provided umbilical storage on its carousel, allowing the customer will be able to spool or carry umbilicals to the installation vessel while simultaneously loading out the vessel with the remaining requirements. Deep Down will also be able to perform full scale systems integration testing and have installation equipment on site that supports the carousel available to rent to installation contractors for immediate mobilisation.

Brazilian FPU The first Floating Production Unit (FPU) completely built in Brazil was christened at Keppel’s BrasFELS shipyard in the presence of Brazilian President Dilma Rouseff. The consortium of Keppel Offshore & Marine and Technip Engenharia is on track to deliver the P-56 Floating Production Unit (FPU) to Petrobras Netherlands BV (PNBV) on time and within budget.

The P-56 achieved 9 million man-hours without lost time incidents. With a displacement of 50 000 tonnes, this massive FPU, one of the world’s largest, measures 110m in length and width, and 125m in height. Brazilian President HE Dilma Rouseff witnessed the christening of P-56 by congresswoman Luiza Erundina at Keppel FELS Brasil’s BrasFELS shipyard in Angra dos Reis. Also present were the Governor of Rio de Janeiro, Mr Sergio Cabral, Petrobras’ President Mr Jose Sergio Gabrielli, Keppel’s management and over 8000 Brazilian shipyard workers.

Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Chairman of Keppel O&M and non-resident Ambassador of Singapore to Brazil said, “P-56 is a shining example of the technology expertise and execution capabilities built up by BrasFELS and Brazil’s offshore and marine industry. This achievement has been built up incrementally through previous projects such as the P-52 and P-51 FPUs. Today, we have turned vision into reality in establishing Brazil as a centre for world class shipbuilding, with the first 100% Brazilian-built rig. “We are proud to be able to support Brazil and Petrobras as they grow their fleet of highly capable production units. Through our near market, near customer strategy, Keppel remains committed to Brazil and her comprehensive oil and gas development programme to increase output from Brazilian oil fields with significant local content.”

When completed, P-56 will be capable of processing and treating 170 000 barrels of liquids and 100 000 barrels of 16deg API oil, 6 million m3 of natural gas, and of injecting some 280 000 barrels of water in the reservoir. P-56 will be positioned at depths of 1670m off the Marlim Sul field in the Campos basin. P-56 is another significant milestone in a series of firsts achieved by Keppel in Brazil since its BrasFELS yard was established in 2000. BrasFELS carried out the first ever in-country FPSO conversion of P-48 and delivered the P-52, the first with a minimum 60% local content The P57, sister ship to the P56 requirement.

UT2 July 2011 20 The P57, sister ship to the P56

21 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Projects

Subsea Projects Shell Cardamom and Appomattox The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has approved only two deep water exploration plans since the lifting of the moratorium. Shell has received both.

In March, it received the green light for its Cardamom plan. It has since received approval for its Appomattox Exploration Plan, which is a significant new oil discovery. Cardomom The multi-billion dollar Cardamom field is expected to produce 50 000boe/d at peak production and more than 140million boe. Cardamom was discovered in Garden Banks block 427, in a water depth of 800m (2720 ft). Location of Cardamom

UT2 July 2011 22 Subsea Projects

Ekofisk South, Eldfisk II Shell discovered the Cardamom field in 2010 Total has launched the Ekofisk South and Eldfisk II from a well drilled from Shell’s Augur platform projects offshore in the southern Norwegian North in December 2010. The well has a measured Sea on Production Licence (PL) 018. The operator depth of 9462m and a vertical depth greater holds a 39.9% interest in the licence. than 7620m. The first Cardamom exploration well has been producing directly from the Auger The plan for development and operation for each platform since that date. project has been approved by the Norwegian authorities. It will be developed as a subsea development tied back to the Augur TLP. The completed The Ekofisk South project will include a new subsea system will include five expandable platform (Ekofisk 2/4Z) and a new subsea facility manifolds, a dual 8in flowline and eight well (Ekofisk 2/4VB) at the Ekofisk complex. The umbilicals. platform will have a 40 years design life and a capacity of 70 000 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) To handle the production from Cardamom, per day. Shell will modify the Auger TLP by installing additional subsea receiving equipment, a The new facilities will enable the drilling of 35 new production train, and weight mitigation, production and 8 water injection wells to further which is expected to significantly increase develop the Ekofisk field and increase oil recovery. the Cardamom liquid handling, cooling and Production start-up is expected early 2014. production capacities. The Eldfisk II project will include a new platform Location of Cardamom For Shell, this development represents the (Eldfisk 2/7S) at the Eldfisk complex and next step for the company’s deepwater energy substantially upgrade the existing facilities on the production activities in the Gulf of Mexico. Eldfisk field. The multi-billion dollar project will follow on from Perdido – the world’s deepest offshore The new platform will have 40 years design development – which came onstream last year, life and a capacity of 70 000 boe per day. It will and the Mars B platform development also in provide accommodation, new process facilities, the US Gulf which Shell approved later last and will enable the drilling of 30 production and 9 year. water injection wells to further develop the Eldfisk field and increase oil recovery. Production start-up Appomattox is expected in 2015. Following discoveries in 2009, Shell announced These two projects will enable the development the Appomattox development the following year. of around 450 million barrels of oil equivalent of reserves. Appomattox is located in more than 7000ft of water in Mississippi Canyon blocks 391 “These two projects represent major investments and 392. Shell drilled the discovery well and for Total and clearly demonstrate our long-term encountered approximately 530ft of oil pay. commitment to continued value creation in Shell then drilled an appraisal sidetrack and Norway” said Patrice de Viviès,Total’s Senior Vice encountered approximately 380ft of oil pay. President, Exploration & Production Northern Europe. In 2009, Shell also announced discoveries at West Boras, Vito, and Cardamom Deep, which The Ekofisk and Eldfisk fields were discovered is currently being drilled. in 1969 and 1970. First production was achieved from the Ekofisk field in 1971 and Eldfisk came on Shell operates and holds an 80% working stream in 1979. The two fields produced around interest in Appomattox, with partner Nexen 260 000 boe per day on average in 2010. holding the remaining 20%. Appomattox is located about six miles west of a Shell 2007 PL 018 partners are Total (39.9%), ConocoPhillips discovery, Vicksburg in the eastern Gulf of (35.11% and Operator), ENI (12.39%), Statoil Mexico (7.6%) and Petoro (5%).

23 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Projects

Subsea Projects Visund South Valemon

The Norwegian Ministry of In the course of June everything will The plan for development and Petroleum and Energy has set for the installation of the seabed operation of the Valemon gas approved the plan for the template, so that the project can and condensate field in the development and operation (PDO) commence drilling in August. North Sea has been approved for Visund South. Production is by the Norwegian parliament. planned to start up in the third The template is the first one built that Production start-up is planned quarter of 2012, and a subsea has its basis in a standard catalogue for 2014. template is already on its way out to for subsea equipment, which was the field. compiled in collaboration with the Gas from the Valemon field will suppler industry. This catalogue will be transported via Heimdal to Visund South is located between be used for the forthcoming fast-track the European markets. The the Visund and Gullfaks (left) fields. developments. condensate will be piped via Visund South, which is located Kvitebjørn to the Mongstad 10km from both the Gullfaks C and Visund South will be installed on the refinery near Bergen. Visund A platforms in the North field in conjunction with the Marulk Sea, is a subsea development development, which Statoil is carrying The Valemon field is one of consisting of a template with four out now on behalf of operator Eni. Statoil’s largest development slots, from which three wells will projects on the Norwegian be drilled and tied to Gullfaks C for continental shelf (NCS) in the processing. Visund South: next few years. “With the approval of the ministry, Location: Between the Visund and The recoverable reserves are this first project in a series of Gullfaks, North Sea estimated at 206 million barrels fast-track developments is well Reservoir: Two structures, Pan and of oil equivalents – including underway, just four months after the Pandora, with approximately 340 26 billion m3 of gas, five million PDO was submitted in January. bar reservoir pressure m3of condensate and one Volumes: 67 million barrels oil million m3 of natural gas liquids This also means we’re one step equivalents (1/3 oil and 2/3 gas) (NGL). closer to our goal of halving the Estimated lifetime: More than 15 time taken from discovery to years The partners will invest almost production,” says Statoil senior vice Partners: Statoil (operator NOK 20 billion in the platform, president of Norwegian continental – 53.2%), Total (7.7%), Petoro pipelines and production wells. shelf field development Ivar (30.0%) and ConocoPhillips (9.1%) Aasheim.

Visund South is located between the Visund and Gullfaks (left) fields Image: Statoil

UT2 July 2011 24 Subsea Projects

Valemon

Gas from the Valemon field will be transported via Heimdal to the European markets. The condensate will be piped via Kvitebjørn to the Mongstad refinery near Bergen.

Development of Valemon involves The Valemon reservoir is contract is worth an estimated a fixed platform with a steel complicated because it is NOK 2.3 billion. jacket for the separation of gas, fragmented, but also because condensate and water. of its high pressure and high Design work will be carried temperature. out by the Grenland Group in The normally unmanned platform Sandefjord, Norway and Technip will be remotely controlled from “Production from Valemon will in Malaysia. Grenland Group will the Kvitebjørn platform when enable us to utilise spare capacity also build the flare stack. Hertel drilling operations are completed in the processing facilities on the Marine in the Netherlands will be in 2016/17. Kvitebjørn and Heimdal platforms. responsible for the construction of the accommodation quarters. Gas from Valemon will be Meanwhile, the platform and transported via the existing transport systems provide The contract for steel jacket pipeline from Huldra to Heimdal, an excellent basis for the construction was previously a hub which enables the gas development of further oil and gas awarded to Heerema Vlissingen to be exported to European fields in the area,” says Statoil B.V, while Heerema Marine markets. senior vice president of NCS field Contractors Nederland B.V. development Ivar Aasheim. landed the contract for transport The condensate will be piped to and mating of jacket and Kvitebjørn for stabilisation and The contract for building the topsides. further transport to the Mongstad Valemon topsides was recently refinery in Hordaland. At peak, awarded to Samsung Heavy Saipem was awarded the contract Valemon is expected to produce Industries, following broadly based for installation of the topside approximately three billion m3 of international competition between facilities. Pipeline design was gas annually. pre-qualified suppliers. The awarded to IKM Ocean Design.

25 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Projects Golden Eagle Subsea Projects Nexen’s board has approved development plans for the Golden Eagle project in the Central UK North Sea.

Golden Eagle is located in Blocks 20/1N, 20/1 and 14/26a, approximately 70 km from the nearest UK coastline. The development will comprise two subsea drilling/production centres and a newly installed wellhead y7(W) platform bridge-linked to a new production/utilities/quarters (PUQ) platform. These will be described collectively as the Golden Eagle Area Development (GEAD) platform complex.

To assist in the extraction of these oil reserves, seven water injection wells will be required and each production well will require gas lift. The majority of the GEAD wells the SAGE export pipeline, through The central production facility Map showing will be drilled by the heavy duty an existing connection point for the which will comprise a PUQ the location jack-up drilling rig over the wellhead neighbouring Ettrick field. This will platform of Golden platform located in the centre of the involve installing one new pipeline- bridge-linked to the W platform. Eagle development area, in a water depth end manifold (PLEM) at the tie-in of approximately 100m. to the SAGE gas export line by the The PUQ and W platforms will existing Ettrick PLEM. be supported by steel piled The remaining wells will be drilled jacket substructures. The bridge by a semi-submersible drilling A new 17km long pipeline will be between the two platforms will be rig, at two satellite drill locations, laid between the new PLEM and the approximately 70m in length. one to the north and one to the existing connection point. south of the development Process facilities will be required area. These will each consist For oil export, a new oil export PLEM for gas lift to all production wells of a subsea pipeline connector near the platform complex will be and for water injection to all (manifold) and individual required. There are currently two oil subsea production manifolds. wells, located approximately 25m export pipeline route options under apart and tied-back to the manifold. consideration for GEAD: Pipeline and subsea structure installation operations are Each manifold will be linked to the l Option 1: export to the Forties anticipated to start in early 2013 platform complex, at a distance Pipeline System, via the neighbouring and take approximately eight of approximately 5km, by way of Buzzard months. The installation of the fluid and gas pipelines, and cables field. This option requires the platform complex will take place (umbilicals) carrying the hydraulic installation of a pipeline approximately in stages between second quarter control lines, electrical power, 20 km long. 2013 and third quarter 2014. electrical signals and chemical injection piping. l Option 2: export to the Flotta Oil First oil production is expected Terminal, via the Claymore platform. in fourth quarter 2014, peaking Up to six new shut-off valves This option requires the installation of between 2016 and 2018, with a (SSIVs) will be installed on the a pipeline approximately 75 km long. maximum production rate of 70 underwater pipelines. 000 bbls of oil per day. The exact construction of the infield GEAD gas will be exported from and export pipelines has yet to be The proposed GEAD has an the platform complex to shore via determined. expected lifespan of 25 years.

UT2 July 2011 26 Subsea Projects

Hyme Fast-track Statoil has submitted a plan for development and operation (PDO) Left: The Njord A paltform. Photo: Statoil/Oyvind Nesvag for Hyme (formerly Gygrid) in the Norwegian Sea to the Norwegian Below: A location map for Hyme. Ministry of Petroleum and Energy Image: Statoil (MPE).

Discovered in June 2009, the Hyme field is located some 19km northeast of the Njord field in 250 metres of water.

The recoverable reserves are estimated at 24 million barrels of oil equivalent (mboe) – the majority of which is oil.

The investments are estimated at NOK 4.5 billion (in current NOK). First oil is scheduled for the first quarter of 2013.

Hyme will be tied in to existing infrastructure on the Njord A platform The Hyme PDO is the fourth fast- track development plan submitted to the MPE this year. Contracts Statoil has previously submitted fast- ”Tying in Hyme will extend Njord’s track development plans for Visund productive life from 2015 to 2020 Subsea production system: South, Vigdis North-East and Katla. and will help revitalise and ensure good utilisation of our long-standing Awarded to FMC in the fourth “Our fast-track development plans experience and skills in this area,” quarter of 2010 through an option are now being materialised. We says Arve Rennemo, head of Njord in the Visund South contract have now submitted PDOs for the operations. discoveries that represented the Umbilical: start of this part of the portfolio. Contract awarded to Nexans in Facts about Hyme the first quarter of 2011 By halving the time from the Location: The Halten Terrace in the discovery to first oil by means Norwegian Sea, 19km east of Njord Flexible risers: of standard solutions, smaller Contract awarded to NKT in the discoveries become profitable,” said Recoverable volumes: 24 mboe first quarter of 2011 Ivar Aasheim, head of Statoil’s field Investments: NOK 4.5 billion development on the Norwegian (current NOK) Subsea template installation: continental shelf. Awarded to Subsea7 in the first Discovered: June 2009 quarter of 2011 An oil discovery on the Halten Terrace, the Hyme field development First oil: Scheduled for the first Pipelines and other manned will include a production well and a quarter of 2013 installations: water injection well through a subsea Awarded to Technip in the first template with four well slots. Partners: Statoil (operator) 35%, quarter of 2011 Petoro 7.5%, GDF SUEZ E&P The field will be tied in to existing Norge AS 20%, E.ON Ruhrgas The last major contract, which infrastructure on the Njord A Norge AS 17.5%, VNG Norge covers platform modifications on platform, which has idle processing AS 2.5% and Norwegian Energy the Njord field, will be awarded in capacity. Company ASA 17.5%. the second quarter of 2011

27 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Projects

Subsea Projects Jack St Malo The Jack and St. Malo fields are supply three subsea production Work is expected to start in 2013 located within 25 miles (40 km) of control umbilicals. with the fabrication of 21 rigid one another, about 280 miles (450 jumpers. km) south of New Orleans, The Last April, Chevron awarded KBR Jack and St. Malo platform will be the contract to carry out detailed MyCelx won a contract to design installed in 7000ft sea water (2134 design engineering. KBR will provide and deliver a produced water MSW) in the Lower Tertiary trend design and engineering support treatment system, to remove oil of the deepwater Walker Ridge through fabrication for the deep and water soluble organics to section of the US Gulf of Mexico. It draft semisubmersible including: below 10 parts per million. will have an initial design capacity hull, deck box, accommodations, of 170 000 barrels per day of oil. appurtenances, equipment InterMoor will design and fabricate foundations; mooring system design; 11 suction piles. The 11 suction J P Kenny was recently awarded and anchor suction piles. piles are 18ft (5m) in diameter, the contract for detailed design for ranging from 55 to 75ft (17–23m) the deepwater oil export pipeline The semi will be designed to in length and weighing up to 115t. while Mustang won the contract minimise vessel motion and allow for detailed design of the topsides acceptable fatigue lives of the The design and the engineering of facilities and the integrated control moorings, risers and umbilicals. the piles – carried out by InterMoor and safety systems. has been completed. The the last Chevron awarded McDermott the pile will be delivered in January Aker Solutions was selected to fabrication and installation contract. 2012.

Chevron Deepwater Assets

Petronius

Chevron Deepwater Assets Gemini Fields on Production Blind Miocene Development Projects Tubular Faith Wilcox Development Projects Bells Exploration Lease Position Potential Wildcats Genesis

Tahiti Knotty Head Tahiti-2 Mad Dog L o w e r Caesar - Miocene Te r t i a r y Oceanographer Tonga Trend Tr e n d Coronado Big Foot St. Malo Moccasin Buckskin Perdido Jack

2 © 2010 ChevronUT July 2011 28 Subsea Projects

ON STREAM The contract covering the engineering, fabrication and subsea installation of more than 53 miles BHP Billiton Shenzi of 1.75in outer diameter flowlines, BHP Billiton Petroleum has 610, 653 and 654. BHP Billiton steel catenary risers, pipeline end become the first company in the Petroleum is the operator with 44% terminations, manifolds, pump deepwater Gulf of Mexico to bring equity. Joint interest participants stations and tie-in skids went to a newly drilled well into production are Hess Corporation and Repsol, Technip. since the moratorium was enacted each with 28%. in May 2010. The well was brought It also received a lump sum contract into production on 30 May 2011 on l BHP Billiton has produced by Enbridge Offshore Facilities for the the BHP Billiton operated Shenzi first gas from the Angostura Gas development the whole gas gathering field. Project offshore Trinidad and system. Tobago. The SB-201 well was drilled to a The company will develop the export total measured depth of The Greater Angostura Field pipeline which will run from the 25 126ft and is currently producing includes oil and gas discoveries at Jack/St. Malo platform to Enbridge’s approximately 17 000barrels of Aripo, Kairi and Canteen. The new hub platform located in 450ft (137m) oil per day. This is the eleventh gas export platform has a design of water. producing well within the Shenzi capacity of 280 million ft3 of gas/ field and our ongoing development day and is located alongside the The Gas Later system will run from program will ensure that this Company’s existing facilities within the Big Foot platform (Walker Ridge operated tension-leg platform (TLP) the Greater Angostura Field. The Block 29 in 5300ft of water) to the remains a significant contributor to project was delivered on schedule main gas pipeline in Green Canyon BHP Billiton’s high value, Gulf of and budget. Block 906. Mexico production. The development also includes The contract covers the engineering, BHP Billiton Petroleum Chief modifications made to the existing fabrication and installation of 160 Executive, J. Michael Yeager, said, Angostura facilities and the miles (257km) of steel catenary “We are pleased to be able to installation of new flow lines. risers and pipelines, as well as the demonstrate that deepwater drilling The National Gas Company of installation of subsea equipment. and production can resume in a Trinidad and Tobago Limited Offshore installation is scheduled for safe and reliable manner. We have will take delivery of the gas and completion in 2013. worked very hard over the past transport it into their 36in diameter several months with regulators to Northeastern Offshore pipeline. Late last year, Amberjack awarded have the ability to resume drilling Saipem the contract for the Walker operations.” BHP Billiton holds a 45% interest Ridge export pipeline for Jack and on behalf of Total (30%) and St. Malo development in the Gulf of BHP Billiton Petroleum also Chaoyang (25%). Mexico. received approval and began drilling a second deepwater The scope of work includes the production well (SB-101) on the transportation and installation of Shenzi field on 2 June 2011. the 61in crude oil export pipeline, measuring 137miles (220km) and The Shenzi facility is located reaching a maximum water depth of approximately 120 miles (195km) 7021ft (2140m) – connecting to the off the Louisiana coastline and is JSM floating production unit. installed in approximately 4300ft (1300m) of water on Green Canyon The Castorone pipelay vessel will Block 653, making it the second perform the marine activities starting deepest TLP in the world. in the first quarter 2013. The joint development project is operated by The overall field comprises four Chevron (50%). Partners include blocks: Green Canyon 609, Statoil (25%) and Maersk (25%). Shenzi

29 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Projects Congro and Corvina Subsea Projects FMC Technologies has been awarded a contract by Petrobras to supply two subsea separation and boosting systems for the Congro and Corvina fields, located offshore Brazil in the Campos Basin.

The contract has a value of approximately $130 million in revenue to FMC Technologies.

In addition to a subsea gas/liquid separation and boosting system for each field, FMC’s scope of supply includes two subsea manifolds that will each perform production and gas lift injection for 10 wells.

Other equipment includes two subsea boosting module stations, pipeline tie-in equipment and subsea control systems. The control system incorporates an innovative subsea robotics technology, designed by Schilling Robotics, to operate the manifold and separation station valves. The equipment will be engineered and manufactured at FMC’s facilities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Congro and Corvina project Petrobras CEO Jose Sergio Gabrielli (left) and FMC Technologies is FMC’s fourth implementation of President and CEO John Gremp (right) subsea processing technologies in Brazil, following phases I and II of Shell’s Parque das Conchas (BC-10) field, and the state-of-the- art heavy oil separation and water Hibernia re-injection system for Petrobras’ FMC has signed an agreement one manifold and associated control Marlim field. with Hibernia Management and systems. All equipment will be Development Company Ltd. manufactured at FMC’s St. John’s and “The significance of this project (HMDC) to manufacture and supply Houston operations. Deliveries will is it will allow demobilization of subsea systems for the Hibernia commence in the second quarter of one existing production platform Southern Extension Project. 2013. and replace it with two subsea separation systems,” said Tore The Hibernia Southern Extension “Hibernia Southern Extension is a Halvorsen, FMC’s Senior Vice Project is an expansion of the significant offshore project,” said John President of Global Subsea Hibernia field, located on the Grand Gremp, President and Chief Executive Production Systems. “This is Banks, approximately 200 miles Officer of FMC Technologies. a major milestone for subsea (315km) southeast of St. John’s, processing technologies and Newfoundland and Labrador. “We look forward to supporting opens a new and attractive ExxonMobil Canada and its co- alternative solution to extend the FMC’s scope of supply includes venturers’ efforts and to expanding life of mature fields and increase provision for up to six subsea our technologies in Canada’s offshore oil recovery.” injection trees and wellheads, fields.”

UT2 July 2011 30 31 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Projects

Subsea Projects Fossekall/Dompap Statoil has awarded Subsea 7 and Nexans, the latest contracts in connection with development of the Fossekall/Dompap discoveries off the coast of Helgeland in northern Norway.

Discovered one year ago, the location of Fossekall also made it possible to develop the earlier find Dompap. This is Statoil’s fifth fast- track development and the largest so far. Statoil considers it vital to reduce the time from discovery to production.

This development will only take two and a half years.

Subsea 7 won the contract for marine installation and pipe-laying The contract value is around NoK 970 million without options and extra charges due to the weather.

Nexans won the €20 million direct electrical heating (DEH) contract. Nexans previously supplied DEH systems for pipelines to Urd and Alve.

Fossekall/Dompap The Fossekall/Dompap development will comprise three subsea templates tied back to the Norne ship in the Norwegian Sea. The distance from the field to the Norne ship is around 26km.

Recoverable reserves in Fossekall/ The Norne ship in the Norwegian Sea Image: Anne-Mette Fjærli/ Statoil Dompap are estimated at around 100 million barrels of oil equivalent. The majority of this is oil. The contract covers the delivery of a The piggyback cable incorporates complete system, based on a DEH a new integrated protection system. “These additional volumes are riser cable with four power cores, This has been qualified by Nexans important to Statoil, and they help armoured feeder cables. It includes in order to ensure protection from extend the lifetime of the Norne a 25km piggyback cable and all mechanical loads such as trawling. ship,” says operations north cluster associated accessories for connection head Morten Loktu. to – and installation on the pipeline “Direct electrical heating (DEH) is that will connect the Fossekall a technology for flow assurance, The field partners are Statoil (64% Dompap subsea facilities with the developed to safeguard the and operator), Petoro (24.5%) and Norne floating production, storage wellstream flow through the pipeline Eni (11.5%). and offloading (FPSO) vessel. to the platform,” said Ragnvald

UT2 July 2011 32 Subsea Projects

Reef/Technip How DEH works The principle behind a DEH system is to pass an alternating current (AC) through the pipeline wall.

By controlling the current, the pipeline inner wall can at all times be maintained above the critical temperature for wax and hydrate formation.

As a result, problem free and reliable transportation is achieved. Traditional methods for flow assurance, by the use of chemical treatments and pressure evacuations, have considerable operational costs with long down times and may present a risk to the environment.

The DEH cable for Fossekall Dompap system for Statoil in the Åsgard field in 2000 and we already have DEH systems operating from the Norne FPSO that serves the Urd and Alve fields”.

The cables for the Fossekall Dompap DEH system will be manufactured at the Nexans factory in Halden, Norway, for delivery in April 2012.

Aker Solutions won a NOK 200 million contract to supply control The Norne ship in the Norwegian Sea Image: Anne-Mette Fjærli/ Statoil umbilicals with dynamic and static sections. The control umbilicals provide hydraulic, electrical and Graff, sales and marketing director, “Nexans has worked in close fibre optic functions for three energy division, Nexans. cooperation with Statoil to pioneer planned four-slot templates and the development and commercial have a 2.5in MEG line (mono “Alternating current (AC) transmitted application of DEH and this latest ethylene glycol) for hydrate from the DEH cable runs through the contract for Fossekall Dompap prevention and inhibition during steel in the pipe, which heats up due confirms its proven capability as shutdowns. to its own electrical resistance. a reliable, eco-friendly and cost- effective method of maintaining flow Statoil plans to start production in This allows the pipeline to be in subsea production pipelines.” December 2012. Statoil estimates operated in a cost efficient and to recover a total of 63 million bbl of environmentally safe manner. “Nexans completed the first DEH oil and gas, mostly oil.

33 UT2 July 2011

Offshore Support Flotel Sarah

Offshore Support Keppel FELS has been awarded with its new and improved DOFCON, a subsidiary of DOF a contract worth about US$260 features is customised to meet Subsea AS, has entered into a million by returning customer, these challenges.” sales and purchase agreement Floatel International (Floatel), with the Court of Session, to build a new generation “We have built up a good Edinburgh, Scotland, in respect of accommodation semisubmersible track record with Floatel, the vessel MV Sarah (semi) for delivery in early 2014. having delivered Floatel Reliance and Floatel Superior The vessel is one year old and was This new rig developed by to their satisfaction. This delivered to its current owners in Keppel O&M’s Deepwater contract reinforces our win- December 2009, she is of Ulstein Technology Group, will be built win partnership and we look SX121 OCV/IRM design, built as a to the SSAU4000NG design forward to provide yet another light well intervention and subsea with dynamic positioning (DP) 3 quality vessel to Floatel safely, construction vessel. The vessel capability. on time and within budget.” has a 140t crane and a module handling tower. It marks Keppel FELS’ third Floating accommodation accommodation semi project with platforms are needed to Delivery of the vessel to Floatel, after the delivery of the provide additional living DOFCON is planned to take place Floatel Reliance (SSAUTM 3600 quarters for drilling and imminently. with DP2) and Floatel Superior production personnel. Such (DSSTM 20NS with DP3) last support is required during year. hook-up and commissioning in the development phase, for The SSAU4000NG is an maintenance and upgrading enhancement of the proven during the production phase, as MV Sarah SSAUTM 3600 design, with well as for decommissioning. improved capability and operability. It meets the stringent UK HSE requirements to work in the UK sector of the North Sea as DOF agreement with ConocoPlillips well as the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and Western Australia. DOF has entered into three The contracts will commence late long term charter contracts with 2012, with a firm period for each Equipped with state of the art ConocoPhillips Skandinavia for contract of 7 years. ConocoPhillips accommodation and recreational operation in the Norwegian Sector. has an option to extend the facilities, the SSAU4000NG contracts. provides increased comfort for the DOF has entered into three 500 persons it can accommodate long term charter contracts with To serve these contracts DOF has in one-man and two-man cabins. ConocoPhillips Skandinavia for entered into three new building Featuring the latest technology operation in the Norwegian Sector. contracts with STX OSV AS for such as DP3 and enhanced Station-Keeping, the SSAU4000NG is capable of operating alongside fixed platforms, floating platforms and floating production storage and offloading vessels, with a full complement of deck cranes and fire fighting capabilities.

Mr Wong Kok Seng, Managing Director of Keppel FELS said, “As more E&P activities move into deeper waters and harsher environments, the SSAU4000NG

UT2 July 2011 34 Offshore Support

Brazil Siri construction of three vessels of Technip has been awarded by Subsea 7 has won a call-off design respectively STX MRV 05, Statoil Brasil Óleo and Gàs, a frame contract under the offshore STX MRV 05 ROV and STX MRV agreement for engineering studies. engineering and construction 05 SP. The scope of this 3-year contract frame agreement with DONG covers feasibility, concept and front- energy for the Siri caisson The vessels will primarily be end engineering design studies for permanent support project. employed in supply service, stand Statoil’s existing offshore production The value of the call-off contract is by service, ROV operations and fields and future developments in approximately $220 million. seismic activities. Brazil. The scope involves the All work will be performed by engineering, procurement, Technip’s operating center in Rio fabrication and all associated de Janeiro, Brazil with support from construction and commissioning the Group’s European centers, and activities in relation to the Siri will achieve a minimum 60% of local caisson permanent support content. project.

This award reinforces Technip’s This project involves the leading position as engineering permanent support of the Siri services supplier to the Brazilian platform via installation of cable market where the Group previously stays between the platform legs carried out similar feasibility, and the permanent securing of the conceptual and front-end caisson through the installation of engineering design projects for a support structure connected to Petrobras, OGX, OSX and Maersk. the wellhead caisson.

DOF has entered into three long term charter contracts 35 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Installation Island Intervention Subsea Installation

The Island Intervention

Island Offshore has taken in water depths of up to 600m, and delivery of the Island Intervention. is currently operating in the North This is the sister vessel to Island Sea (both NCS and UKCS). Trico Constructor and will become the The North Sea Alliance was formed Trico Marine Services has 4th vessel in the worlds largest in 2004 to provide integrated completed an out-of-court fleet of intervention units. wireline services to the growing restructuring of Trico Supply Group, subsea intervention market. which includes Trico Supply, Trico The vessel will remain in Shipping, DeepOcean, CTC Marine Ulsteinvik until end of July to The Alliance currently operates Projects Ltd. and other subsidiaries. complete installation of ROV- 3 monohull vessels specifically systems from C-Innovation and designed for intervention tasks. In that transaction, Trico Supply to commission topsides to be Group completed a debt for equity ready to commence operations in Approximately 50 well interventions swap of outstanding high yield August. are performed each year, providing notes and other funded debt services such as scale milling, of more than $500 million and l Island Offshore and the North gauging and logging operations, settlement of other intercompany Sea RLWI Alliance have been plug setting and re-perforating claims and interests held by Trico awarded a frame agreement for requirements. Marine, the parent company of the Light Well Intervention services Trico Supply Group. from Statoil. Island Offshore is furthermore providing services such as On May 25, 2011, a disclosure The frame agreement duration is engineering in conjunction with the statement for a liquidating plan of 3 years + 1 year option. The first intervention activities also including reorganisation was approved. ourchase order issued under the tree on wire operations. agreement has a value of over Such plan provides for a wind-down NOK 300 million. Island Offshore and the North Sea of those estates and distribution, RLWI Alliance are currently the among other consideration, of Island Constructor, which started world leading RLWI provider and equity and warrant interests in operation in 2009, will be used. have to date done close to 150 well reorganised Trico Supply Group to The Unit is designed to operate interventions. creditors of Trico Marine.

UT2 July 2011 36 Subsea Installation

Mandy

SURF Subsea has completed 25ft by 23ft moonpool in Mississippi The SURF Challenger a tree setting project for LLOG Canyon 199 as part of LLOG’s Exploration Company. Mandy project. The SURF Challenger is a 292ft, DPII vessel with a 100t kunckle The 292ft SURF Challenger vessel, The company recently celebrated boom crane, two Triton XLS using its 113t heave compensated its one-year anniversary of remotely operated vehicles, and lifting tower, set a tree through its incorporation. accommodation for 73.

Geoships

Aberdeen-based SeaHold It chartered its first multi-purpose marine management provider for Geoships has acquired the marine offshore vessel, the Stril Explorer, Geoships two new vessels due in management services company from Mokster until 31st August 2012 the next nine months and its current Brooklyn Shipping Ltd (BSL). to support the growing offshore vessel, the Stril Explorer, which is renewable energy market and the currently on charter with RBG. The acquisition is expected to lead subsea sector. to BSL’s staff numbers more than In addition to its office-based doubling to 80 this year and also Ellon based BSL was formed management resource, BSL has 35 contribute to a significant increase in 1983 and over the years has sea-going staff and this number is in Geoships pre-tax earnings on created a compact, cost-effective also expected to increase following its projected turnover of nearly marine services organisation the acquisition, to at least 80 in the £50million for 2012. with substantial experience of next six months. the management of dynamically Formed in 2003, GEOSHIPS has a positioned subsea operations It will become a division of the strong focus on offshore renewable support vessels. Geoships Group and it will energy projects, whilst also being continue to be managed by BSL’s able to offer services in support of The deal with BSL will secure access existing managing director, Rennie subsea oil and gas related projects. to the services of the experienced Cameron.

37 UT2 July 2011 Mooring and Installation New Vessel Build Goes to HHI

Dockwise has awarded the fabrication contract for its newbuild vessel to service the emerging market for ultra-large transports, Dockwise , to Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) of Korea. HHI is scheduled to deliver the vessel during the last quarter of 2012, Mooring and Installation following sea trials, when it is intended to undertake its initial commercial voyage.

The the largest class of vessel, with cargo capabilities between 41 000–73 000t has been previously designated Type 1. Dockwise, is the only provider in the market to have two such vessels in service. As the new design is considerably bigger, the new vessel has been categorised a ‘Type 0’ (T-0) .

With an overall deck size of 275m by 70m, and a revolutionary bowless design, the new vessel will have a carrying capacity of more than 110 000t. This will make it the first of its kind in service in the maritime transport industry.

The business rationale for this new vessel is based on current trends for upcoming projects in the oil and gas industry, which indicate that there is a need for this type of larger vessel.

“Exploration and production is shifting from more shallow waters in traditional areas to extremely deepwater floating production units (FPUs) and more remote areas. Furthermore, the demand in the industry is for larger, heavier equipment, which can be built as a completed, integrated unit,” said Dockwise Managing Engineer Michel Seij.

According to Seij, floating production structures such as tension leg platforms and semi-submersible platforms, as well as gravity based structures with a deadweight of more than 50 000t must be currently transported separately and then integrated, or even built at the destination. Other production structures, like SPAR buoys, are limited to a certain size by the transpiration. The latest newly-built FPSO’s and semi-submersible crane vessels have to be tugged to their destination.

The maximum carrying capacity of the current biggest semi- submersible heavy lift vessels in the world is up to 50 000t. Only the Blue Marlin can transport structures up to 73 000t – depending on the vertical centre of gravity.

The Blue Marlin stands 225m long, with a width of 63m and a maximum water above deck of 13m. Dockwise concluded that if it could offer a vessel to transport these larger offshore cargoes as integrated structures, it would significantly reduce risks and insurance costs, as well as expensive offshore man hours for hook-up and commissioning for clients.

In addition, time to production could be significantly reduced. From experience, Dockwise has also learned that a new vessel with even larger dimensions will trigger new design opportunities within the industry. Contd p40

UT2 July 2011 38 Mooring and Installation

‘Type 0’ vessel from Dockwise The AMC Connector

39 UT2 July 2011 Mooring and Installation New Target for Type O

A key target market for the new strength, extreme wind load “The construction of our new vessel Dockwise Type 0 super vessel capabilities, and stability will change the opportunities for concerns all offshore structures characteristics to carry the state of clients to build their structures between 50 000t–110 000t. the art semi-submersible production completely integrated,” said Seij. structures in line with the latest air Mooring and Installation These structures can be categorised gap requirements. There will be “This is not only interesting from in floating production structures for two diesel electric main propulsion a cost perspective, but it’s also water depths of more than 1500ft, trains. In addition, there will be two interesting for platforms in remote gravity based production structures azimuthing thrusters on the ship. areas, where there is basically no for shallow water depth (less than integration infrastructure. In addition, 300ft) in harsh environments, “There is no self-propelled vessel we have the flexibility to transfer FPSOs, floating liquefied natural of this size in the market and we larger modules and cargoes around gas (FLNG) structures and semi- are keen to provide a solution that the world. This means we can really submersible crane vessels. will meet the needs of our clients in go where no one has gone before Dockwise has recognised a the oil and gas industry all over the – and focus on challenging projects significant number of such projects world for decades to come,” said in harsher climates in remote areas in upcoming years. André Goedée, Dockwise CEO. such as West Africa, and Western Australia. This will afford us new However, the company says that The Dockwise Type 0 Super Vessel opportunities in the LNG market as it is not only the vessel’s size that can also serve the top end of well.” makes it unique. It also has a the current market for structures revolutionary innovative design – It between 25 000t – 50 000t, as it Transporting large integrated units has no bow. In addition, the design is better equipped to transport the onboard the new Type 0 Super makes use of its optimal deck length latest fifth and sixth generation Vessel provides customers with a and provides more flexibility. semi-submersible rigs, due to its number of benefits, including the large maximum submersible draft option of building and assembling The accommodation block and of 16m. large projects or parts of projects navigation bridge are located on the in lower cost environments, extreme starboard side. The vessel In addition, structures with a very shorter transit times, and operating also has a dedicated design for ultra high vertical centre of gravity are efficiencies arising from the reduced heavy semi-submersible production best suited for transport onboard need for on-site support equipment. platforms. the new super vessel. Its innovative construction has unlimited potential “There are definite opportunities in This includes optimsed deck for the future as well. the offshore industry. The vessel offers innovative solutions in terms of safety, flexibility, and cost efficiency,” ‘Type 0’ vessel from Dockwise Goedée says.

The company also believes that the new Dockwise Type 0 Super Vessel offers clients and the industry a chance to rethink their design concepts.

“It will open up the market for fully integrate semi-submersibles. It will lift a lot of the restrictions in the design process as well,” Seij says. “For Dockwise, it will set new boundaries for what we can transport. In addition, we’ll be able to rethink how we approach integrated builds that simply were not feasible before because of the weight limitations for transport.”

UT2 July 2011 40 Mooring

Dyneema Petrobras has specified ultra polyester. This is important because strong, lightweight Dyneema fibres fewer resupply trips are required. for a complete set of mooring Drilling locations in the Pre-Salt ropes for a semi-submersible province are around 200 km mobile offshore drilling unit offshore, and rental rates for supply (MODU). ships are high.

Petrobras specifically asked for the DSM Dyneema and Petrobras ropes to be made with SK78 grade worked closely together for several of ultra high molecular weight years on this project from fiber polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres specification to comprehensive from DSM Dyneema for its high testing. strength at low weight properties. SK78 grade fibre was developed “Petrobras tested the performance Dyneema fibre specifically for this type of mooring of SK78 grade from DSM Dyneema application. Although it has a at both fiber level and in full- particularly concerned about the proven track record of success in scale ropes,” sais Jorn Boesten, creep properties, and the ropes Asia, US and European waters, Offshore Segment Manager at made with Dyneema SK78 met all the Petrobras order marks the first DSM Dyneema. “They were requirements.” time they will be used for MODU mooring in Brazil. Petrobras is expected to use Mooring disconnect and reconnect eight mooring ropes made with Dyneema SK78 fiber on a MODU ATP and Intermoor have successfully packs. The MoorLOK connectors in its new Pre-Salt deepwater overseen the release and were successfully relocated fields off the Southeastern coast reconnection of 5 Balltec MoorLOK and reconnected to new female of Brazil, site of one of the largest mooring connectors from the ATP receptacles after minimal servicing. recent oil discoveries in the Innovator Semi-Submersible on the Western Hemisphere. Petrobras Gomez Oil Field. The Semi has Bob Emmett, Managing Director of plans to start using the ropes been in-situ for the past 6 years in Balltec Ltd said: “The unique design around mid-year. the Gulf of Mexico and has recently of the MoorLOK release clamps undergone compulsory mooring can deal with any residual torque Petrobras has chosen to use upgrades. present in the mooring line during ropes made with Dyneema over disconnection, without detrimental polyester because of the lower On release, all sealed surfaces in risk to the ROV. As a direct result weight and greater ease of the MoorLOK male connectors of the swift release and reconnect handling. Polyester ropes with had suffered zero internal corrosion of the MoorLOK connectors it has the same mechanical properties providing valuable in-service been estimated that Intermoor, weigh around three times as much data. The results of the data have in partnership with Balltec, have and are almost twice as thick as provided verification of corrosion reduced the overall cost of the ropes made with Dyneema. Steel protection utilising corrosion inhibitor mooring upgrade by approx. $1m. ropes would weigh around seven times more than ropes made with ‘The Balltec MoorLOK Dyneema fibre.

Ropes made with Dyneema fibre will allow Petrobras to moor the MODU more quickly, saving on equipment costs, as well as on support vessels, delivering lower operating costs and a positive return on the investment.

Furthermore, ropes made with Dyneema fibre take up half the space of those made with

41 UT2 July 2011

Installation Installation Laggan Towmore

In June 2011, Jumbo’s DP2 offshore heavy lift vessel Fairplayer installed four subsea protection structures for production flowlines at 600m water depth in the Laggan and Tormore fields.

These gas condensate fields, owned by Total and Dong Energy, are located 125 km north-west of the Shetland Islands. This region contains around 17% of the remaining UK oil and gas reserves. The subcontract, commissioned by client Allseas, will combine transport and installation, Jumbo Offshore’s hallmark.

The fields’ subsea production and pipeline system is the deepest system in UK waters and includes two 18in production flowlines. The flowlines will connect

UT2 July 2011 42 Installation

the subsea production The installation concerned two facilities to the onshore consecutive trips. Each trip Jumbo processing terminal at Sullom transported and installed two Voe (Shetland). The two structures in three lifts. flowlines require protection structures at the Tormore Using its Deepwater Deployment starting point and at the System (DDS), the structures could Laggan tie-in location. be installed at 600m water depth in a single voyage. The four structures (composed of six elements) vary in weight Jumbo plans to keep from 180t –270t and measures HLV Fairplayer in the North Sea area 38 by 21 by 6m. for other installation opportunities.

43 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Installation Jack and St. Malo

Subsea Installation McDermott has been awarded a “We are pleased to be able to fabrication and installation work support Chevron’s deepwater from Chevron to support the developments in the Gulf of Mexico development of the Jack and and believe that our combined St. Malo fields in the Gulf of solution of NO102’s high payload Mexico. and top tension capacity coupled

Work will begin in 2013 with the start of fabrication of 21 rigid jumpers at McDermott’s Morgan City fabrication facility in Louisiana.

Offshore installation will begin in early 2014 using McDermott’s subsea construction vessel North Ocean 102 (NO102) and the DB16.

UT2 July 2011 44 Subsea Installation

with our ability to fabricate the high lease blocks, the Jack South and St. vessel’s capability by installing a spec jumpers in house provides Malo North and South subsea drill high-capacity flexible-lay system a unique benefit for this project’s centers tie back to the Jack and St. for ultra deepwater installation delivery,” said Stephen M Johnson, Malo floating production platform. work. The upgrade will include President and Chief Executive installation of a new 250t crane. Officer of McDermott. The 427ft NO102 enables McDermott to offer versatile North Ocean 105 (NO105), the The NO102 and its crew will installation capabilities in the flexible sister ship to NO102, is currently transport and install more than 60 pipe and product market worldwide. under construction at a Spanish miles of umbilicals, including three The vessel has two cranes and a shipyard. The 427ft vessel will control and two power umbilicals. moon pool -to support deepwater be outfitted with a high capacity The jumpers and remaining subsea subsea construction work and has rigid-reeled pipe-lay system with controls system components, a fast transit speed. It is currently top-tier payload capacity. The including more than 80 flying leads, equipped with a 7000t capacity system will also accommodate will be installed by the DB16. cable and umbilical and flexible pipe installation of flexible products carousel with horizontal lay system. including submarine cables Located in up to 7150ft of water in Plans are underway to upgrade the and umbilicals and the US Gulf of Mexico Walker Ridge flexible pipelines. The anticipated delivery date of the NO105 is 2012.

45 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Installation

Rockwater 2 to carry out Kumang Cluster work Subsea Installation Subsea 7 has won a contract by Petronas Carigali for work on the Kumang Cluster Project

The project involves the transportation and installation of subsea structures, 5km of umbilical cable, pipeline jumpers and electrical flying leads, including the pre- commissioning of an existing 24in, 5km pipeline and new umbilical in the Kumang Field.

The workscope comprises project management and engineering associated with the installation of the subsea equipment.

A combined team from Subsea 7 and Petronas Carigali will deliver the project enabling greater development and understanding of deepwater technologies and allow most operations to be completed utilising diverless intervention techniques.

The work involves a high level of Malaysian content and will be managed by Subsea 7’s office in Kuala Lumpur.

The project will be completed in two phases utilising Rockwater 2 in 2011.

Dick Martin, Subsea 7’s Vice President for Asia said: ”Subsea 7 is delighted to be awarded the contract by Petronas Carigali to work on this prestigious project.

This award underlines and further enhances our reputation in Malaysia in particular to provide safe and quality services to strategic partners such as Petronas The Rockwater 2 Carigali.”

UT2 July 2011 46 Subsea Installation

Rockwater 2 to carry out Kumang Cluster work

47 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Installation Peregrino Papa Terra BP

Subsea Installation Maersk FPSO has completed Intermoor has been awarded a Technip has been awarded a the retrieval and pull-in of a contract for the installation of the 10-year master agreement by BP submerged turret production drilling and production conductors Exploration and Production. The (STP) buoy into the Maersk for the Papa Terra project, that has agreement covers the design, Peregrino FPSO, offshore Petrobras as operator and Chevron procurement and construction of Brazil, using a First Subsea ball as non-operator, announced hulls and mooring systems for spar and taper, buoy pull-in tool. InterMoor president Tom Fulton. platforms to be located in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the design of top Moored in 100m of water, in InterMoor is going to be responsible tension risers for dry tree units. This Peregrino field, block BM-C-7, for the design, procurement, award follows a design competition Campos basin, Brazil, the STP fabrication and installation of 15 and confirms Technip’s leadership buoy is held in place with 10 conductors for the project. All 15 in spar technology, secured over mooring lines each attached conductors are 36in in diameter. time through the construction of 14 to the side of the STP buoy of the 17 existing spars worldwide. using Ballgrab mooring line InterMoor is going to fabricate all connectors. the conductors at its new 24acre Technip’s operating centre in Morgan City, La., facility. The Houston, Texas, will execute the A male Ballgrab connector was conductors are going to be installed agreement. It stipulates that the also chosen to retrieve and pull in water depths up to 3937ft Spars will be fabricated at the the 600t buoy into the Maersk (1200m) off the coast of Brazil in Group’s yard in Pori, Finland, where Peregrino FPSO by integrating the southern Campos Basin. 12 of Technip’s 14 Spars have a female connector receptacle already been manufactured. within the top of the buoy The installation is scheduled to begin in the 4th quarter of 2011 Within the framework of this Prior to the Maersk Peregrino using DOF Subsea’s Construction agreement, pre-front-end FPSO arriving on-station, the Anchor Handling Vessel Skandi engineering design activity for the male Type III Ballgrab (MBL Skolten under charter to InterMoor. Mad Dog Phase II spar has already 1200t), attached to the pull- begun. in rope, was lowered into the “We are proud to have signed this female connector on the STP contract with Petrobras and proud The front-end engineering design buoy by the installation vessel to be part of the first TLWP in for this project is scheduled to Maersk Attender. Brazil,” said Fulton. commence mid 2011.

Once the FPSO was in position the buoy, held 22m below the surface, was pulled into the vessel’s mating cone module. With the STP buoy locked in position, the Maersk Peregrino FPSO is permanently moored at its location.

The Ballgrab pull-in tool performed well, enabling the STP buoy to be lifted into position within the project schedule.

The Peregrino STP Buoy and mooring system is supplied by Advanced Production and Loading (APL), a National Oilwell Varco company. A male Ballgrab connector

UT2 July 2011 48 Subsea Installation

Derived from subsea installation technology - a Casing Holder Canrig’s SureGrip ball-and-pocket OTC Spotlight committee chose The SureGrip CRT marks a gripping technology was recently only 15 winners from hundreds of significant advance in the efficiency selected for one of the Offshore submissions. Selections were based and safety of casing operations Technology Conference’s (OTC) on the following five criteria: new, by reducing manual handling, prestigious “Spotlight on Technology” innovative, proven, broad interest equipment and personnel needed awards at the 2011 show. and significant impact. during casing operations.

First Subsea is the exclusive “We are delighted that Canrig’s Moreover using the ball and taper, manufacturer and technology partner SureGrip will receive a “Spotlight multi-point grip has been shown for SureGrip. on Technology” award at this year’s to minimise damage to the pipe OTC show. The tool’s innovative casing and overcomes technical Award recipients are recognised gripping technology is already and load limits of traditional die for innovative technology with shaping the way people think about slips. Sharp indents from die teeth the potential to have a significant pipe handling during casing running,” are eliminated as well, reducing impact within the oil and gas said Brian Green, general manager, potential casing failure methods industry in coming years. The First Subsea . later in wellbore life.

SureGrip

49 UT2 July 2011 Development Plans

Subsea Installation More contracts for Saipem Subsea Installation Saipem has been awarded new contracts in Egypt, in the North Sea and in Russia, worth in excess of $1 billion.

In Egypt, Burullus Gas Company awarded Saipem the EPIC contract for new subsea developments in the area of the West Delta Deep Marine Concession, located about 90km offshore the Northwest Nile delta, at water depths between 400m–1000m.

The development encompasses the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of a total of seven new subsea wellheads and relevant infrastructures, umbilicals and flowlines.

Saipem has already carried out two earlier phases of the West Delta Deep Marine Concession’s subsea development. The work will be connected to existing infrastructure. The offshore activities will be carried out mainly by the highly-specialised vessel, Saipem FDS.

Saipem has also been awarded contracts to operate in the Norwegian and British sectors of the North Sea, mainly relevant to the deployment of the Saipem 7000 vessel for platform transportation and installation, and to the deployment of the Castoro 7 vessel for the installation of subsea pipeline and structures.

Among these contracts, some are EPIC and, in addition to the activities mentioned above, include engineering and procurement phases. Offshore activities will be performed in different periods during summer 2012 and 2013.

In Russia, Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) awarded Saipem the contract for the expansion of the structures relevant to the CPC marine export terminal, near Yuhznaya Ozereyevka on the Black Sea shores in the Krasnodar region of the Russian Federation.

The development includes the engineering, procurement and installation of a new offshore export pipeline for hydrocarbon transportation which will have a diameter of Saipem FDS 2 42in and a length of about 5km and for the

UT2 July 2011 50 Development Plans Subsea Installation

More contracts for Saipem installation of a new offshore mooring system for hydrocarbon export. Offshore activities will be carried out during the second half of 2012 by the S355 vessel.

Furthermore, Saipem has agreed to increase the scope of its work on existing contracts in the Caspian sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

New contracts worth over $1 billion to be executed by the newly-built FDS 2 vessel

This follows contracts worth in excess of $1 billion in China and Brazil. The offshore activities for both the contracts will be performed mainly by the newly-built and highly-specialized Saipem FDS 2 vessel, in different periods between 2012 and 2013.

In China, Husky Oil China Ltd awarded Saipem the contract for the Liwan 3-1 Field – Deepwater EPCI. The scope of work includes the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of two 22in diameter 79km-long pipelines, umbilicals, along with the transport and installation of a subsea production system linking the wellheads to a processing platform.

The Liwan 3-1 gas field, is located in the Block 29/26 in the South China Sea in 1500m water depth and approximately 300km south of Hong Kong. It represents the first offshore field developed in deep water in the South China Sea.

In Brazil, the Brazilian oil company Petrobras has awarded Saipem an EPIC contract for the Guara and Lula-Northeast gas export pipelines, in the Santos Basin, approximately 260km off the coasts of the Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo States, in water depths of between 2100 and 2200m.

The contract encompasses the transportation, installation and pre-commissioning of two export sealines, as well as the engineering, procurement and construction of related subsea equipment: the first line, 18in in diameter and 54km-long, will connect the Guara FPSO vessel (floating production storage and offloading) to a subsea gathering manifold in the Lula field; the second line, 18in in diameter and 22km long, will connect the Lula-Northeast FPSO to the same manifold in the Lula field.

51 UT2 July 2011 Offshore Vessels

Offshore Vessels Blue Tarpon Stimulation Vessel

Baker Hughes has launched its state- of-the-art fracturing and stimulation vessel.

The 300ft ship, one of the world’s largest stimulation vessels and the seventh vessel in the Baker Hughes fleet, is designed to provide high- rate and high-volume stimulation treatments for demanding offshore operations.

With one of the largest proppant and fluid-carrying capacities in the world, the ABS class-certified ship can perform complex, multiple-zone completions without traveling back to port for resupply.

With a maximum pump rate of 80 barrels per minute, proppant capacity of 2.1 million pounds, and accommodations for up to 44 people, the Blue Tarpon is designed to perform round-the-clock operations in deepwater plays.

The vessel’s 10 separate high- pressure pump units—housed in a fully enclosed structure to protect the equipment from the environment— can deliver up to 24 000 hydraulic horsepower and pump up to 32 000 pounds of proppant per minute.

The Blue Tarpon also features a DP-2 dynamic positioning system with twin bow thrusters and a stern thruster specifically designed to operate safely in the widest possible weather and sea conditions.

“We are excited to launch our second world-class stimulation vessel into the Gulf of Mexico,” says Richard Williams, president of Gulf of Mexico operations for Baker Hughes.

“This milestone further demonstrates market leadership and our commitment to the return of activity in deep water.”

UT2 July 2011 52 Offshore Vessels

53 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Equipment

Pazflor

Subsea Equipment Begun in December 2007, The subsea production system for boost the liquids, and a manifold development of the Pazflor oil Pazflor’s three Miocene reservoirs to distribute the effluents to the field 150km offshore Angola is one includes three subsea separation separator and pumps. of the biggest projects currently units. Each one consists of four Purpose-designed for Pazflor, operated by Total. retrievable packages: a gas-liquid the hybrid pumps are yet another separator, two hybrid pumps to world first. They combine A number of technological challenges — including subsea gas/liquid separation, a world first — are being met to bring the field on stream successfully.

Earlier this year, the Acergy Polaris finished installing the three subsea separation units (SSU) for the Pazflor project, in 800m of water in Block 17 offshore Angola. The flagship innovation of the project, these units constitute a world first in terms of technology.

For Pazflor is the first-ever project anywhere to deploy a development plan based on gas/liquid separation at the mudline spanning several reservoirs.

This milestone technological innovation is what will make it possible to meet the challenge of producing the heavy, viscous oil contained in three of the four reservoirs in this gigantic development in the Angolan deep offshore.

The Pazflor oil field comprises four reservoirs. One of them, Acacia was formed around 25 million years ago in the Oligocene and contains light oil. The other three — Perpetua, Zinia and Hortensia — are younger, dating from the Miocene, just five to seven million years ago. They contain more problematic oil that is heavier and much more viscous.

Subsea gas/liquid separation is the key to the economics of producing these challenging reservoirs, making Pazflor a deepwater trailblazer.

Pazflor separation

UT2 July 2011 54 Company News

GE Frame Agreement multiphase stages, compatible with GE Oil and Gas has signed a development targets in ultra-deep the presence of gas in the liquid, three-year frame agreement water reservoirs efficiently, saving and a centrifugal stage, to improve valued at approximately $30 operational rig time and costs. efficiency. million to supply 26 subsea Most of the new projects will be wellhead systems and associated located in the Santos and Campos The SSUs are the culmination of services to Shell Brasil for basins offshore Brazil. several years of R&D work and a exploration and production projects rigorous qualification program to offshore Brazil. Under the new frame agreement, ensure the optimum efficiency and Shell Brasil will be able to leverage reliability of this vital production The agreement means GE Oil and the operational lessons learned equipment. Fabrication, completed Gas will supply all Shell Brasil’s and benefits coming from earlier in 2010, entailed nearly 350 000 requirements for subsea drilling applications of the same MS-700 man-hours of work. systems for all offshore exploratory Slimbore technology. GE had a and development wells to be similar contract with Shell Brasil drilled by Shell Brasil at least until from 2007-2010 for the supply of the end of 2013. wellhead systems for the BC-10 phase 1 development. Under the agreement, GE will Visund Nord supply 13 MS-700 Slimbore Much of the equipment will be FMC Technologies, has signed and 13 MS-700 deepwater high manufactured at GE’s facility in an agreement with Statoil for the capacity (DWHC) systems. The Jandira, São Paulo State, Brazil. manufacture and supply of subsea GE MS-700 is the only subsea Shipments are expected to start production equipment to support the wellhead system on the market by September 2011. Visund Nord offshore development. with metal-to-metal sealing, and The contract has a value of has demonstrated high reliability The latest agreement with Shell approximately $50 million in revenue for projects offshore Brazil. Brasil underlines GE’s position to FMC Technologies. as a leading supplier of subsea Suheyl Ozyigit, Wells Delivery drilling systems for offshore Visund Nord is a fast-track oil and Manager for Shell Brasil operators in Brazil. Since 2007, gas field located in water depths of said: “Based on our previous when GE acquired VetcoGray, the approximately 1150 ft (380m) in the experiences, we are confident GE drilling & production business Norwegian sector of the North Sea. that the new agreement with GE has provided more than 300 FMC’s scope of supply includes the will help us to reach our ongoing subsea wellhead systems to 11 manufacture of two subsea production exploration and production goals. different operators for projects trees, one manifold and associated The agreement also meets our offshore Brazil. subsea and topside control systems. delivery requirements, provides competitive pricing and includes Underscoring its commitment The equipment will be based on a substantial local content.” to Brazil, GE has announced standard subsea solution designed that it plans to invest $500 by FMC for Statoil. The integrated Fernando Martins, Vice million to expand its operations structure and wellhead systems will President—Latin America, Drilling in the country, including the be delivered in the spring of 2012 and & Production, GE Oil & Gas, establishment of a multi- final deliveries will occur in the first said: The new frame agreement disciplinary Research and quarter of 2013. builds upon our successful Development Center in Rio de relationship with Shell Brasil and Janeiro. “Visund Nord is the fifth fast-track further supports our growing project we have been awarded role as a technology supplier for Among the focus areas for the from Statoil in the last two years,” projects offshore Brazil, one of the new center will be advanced said Tore Halvorsen, FMC’s Senior world’s most active oil and gas technologies for the oil and gas Vice President of Global Subsea development regions.” sector. In addition, GE’s recent Production Systems. “We are pleased acquisition of Wellstream, a that Statoil continues to recognise GE’s MS-700 technology offers leading producer of flexible pipe our strengths and capabilities in high flexibility in terms of casing equipment, significantly expands supporting their tie-back and fast-track programs and is designed to help GE’s capabilities to serve the developments.” Shell Brasil reach exploratory and Brazilian offshore market.

55 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Equipment

Subsea Equipment The All-Electric Jigsaw

For many years, the ability to exploit “At present, nearly all subsea fields are after either a total black out (the worst the various advantages associated powered and controlled by electro- case scenario being a total platform/ with developing fully all-electric fields, hydraulic multiplexed (EHMUX) field shutdown due to loss of power has been delayed by the absence of systems,” explained Jan van den and communications), or else an a key component – an electrically- Akker, Product Manager, Control emergency shut down (which is similar powered downhole safety valve. Last Systems at Cameron. to the black out but carried out in a May, however, Halliburton announced controlled manner). Using electrical that it has been successful in “This technology is quite adequate systems, this can take only several developing such a device. for many applications, however, it minutes, compared with several hours has potential limitations as a solution for traditional E/H-Mux systems. This, One company that has particularly for the sort of long distance step-out consequently, can have a significant welcomed the news on this missing scenarios that typically characterise impact on non-productive time. piece is Cameron, which has invested many future subsea field development heavily in assembling the remaining plans. EHMUX also has issues This fast response and accuracy can parts in the jigsaw. This new associated with the hydrostatic effects also allow it to contribute to improved combination could now potentially of extreme water depths.” subsea high integrity pressure unlock the development of extremely protection systems (HIPPS). This long distance tiebacks. As a leading player in the development concept is based on rapid reaction of subsea control valves that can shut-in a line, should technology, Cameron has pressure rise to a point where it long since recognised that exceeds the pipeline’s burst pressure. one solution could be to substitute DC electricity for “Such near-instantaneous commu- hydraulics as the medium nication with electric equipment also for providing the power has the ability to provide feedback on necessary to turn or actuate subsea equipment conditions. The subsea valves. amount of feedback data and its ac- curacy in particular derived from the “Most of the advantages of electric drive motors can be used for all-electric systems lie in performance and reliability monitoring greatly improved functional- of the subsea equipment,” said van ity,” said van den Akker. den Akker.

“A typical electro-hydraulic “It is likely that in future, electric power system is based on will be increasingly more common assemblies of solenoids, subsea. Already, electric-powered- directional control valves, subsea processing systems and heat hydraulic couplings and tracing systems are becoming well accumulators. By replacing established. A wide range of other these with electronic companies presently looking for ways components, the number that they can take advantage of this of moving parts in the evolution. system can be reduced significantly. This has “The greater the number of compa- ramifications in improving nies, employing DC power, the more the reliability of the overall cost-effective it will be to use this as system. the base case of a subsea develop- ment. “With continuous electric power, the valves “Lastly, by removing the hydraulic sup- can be operated both ply lines (both high and low pressure) instantaneously and in from the control umbilical, this would rapid succession. This can reduce the controls umbilical to an be seen in the short time it electrical cable, providing installation takes for system start-up flexibility and cost savings.

UT2 July 2011 56 Subsea Equipment

“Reductions in umbilical size, can be of true benefit, For instance when instead of a big carousel vessel, a reel can be instead. This widely opens the Motor availability of applicable installation vessels. Drive Assembly

Cameron and Total installed the world’s first all-electric trees in 2008. This was part of a two-well subsea SSSV Piston Rod system development located in the relatively shallow waters of the Dutch sector of the North Sea. This modular pilot system was designed to develop and prove the technology that could be required for future deep water electric fields. At this moment a third electric tree is placed on order, scheduled for installation in 2012

Located at the seabed is the power regulation and control module, which regulates the voltage from 3000VDC transmission to 300V DC, which is The electric SSSV required to operate the electric actua- tors assembled to the 6,500 psi rated tree valves. This safety device is located in the upper wellbore to pro- While all the tree mounted valves can vide emergency closure of the producing conduits in the be operated electrically, it was neces- event of an emergency. It isolates the wellbore in the event sary to also install a hydraulic line Layout of an of any system failure or damage to the surface production- for the sole purpose of engaging the electric field control facilities. downhole safety valve (DHSV). development This prompted Halliburton to apply its downhole expertise to the problem. The result is the electric safety valve. It consists of a linear electric actuator that closes the valve Master control station Electric subsea by means of a piston rod assembly. Like all SSSVs, it is control module designed to be fail-safe. The position of the valve (closed, open or in transit) is made available to the surface opera- tors in real time. It also provides information on tempera- ture and performance data.

“The design is fully compatible with electric trees to provide an all-electric solution” said Tom Swan, product DC Christmas Trees manager SSSV/SSFC at Halliburton Completion Tools. “It is IWIS and ISO 13628-6 compatible, which ensures seamless integration with the latest generation of all-elec- tric control systems.

“Apart from being able to be activated instantaneously, the electric valve is also environmentally friendly by eliminating

Power regulation and the hydraulic fluids from both topsides and subsea. communications control module It eliminates the need for a topside hydraulic pressure unit and the requirement for fluid recovery,” said Swan.

57 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Equipment

Subsea Equipment BOP Control

Nautronix has received orders monitoring of 8 or 16 functions. retrieval of the transducer over the side from a major drilling contractor to of the rig. supply Emergency BOP (EBOP) Power for each SCU is provided digital acoustic control systems by high capacity internal Lithium For existing Nautronix NASDrill RS925 for their new build ultra-deepwater battery packs. Depending on the customers, an upgrade system is drillships. duty cycle and output acoustic power offered which makes use of the existing level required, these packs typically power amplifiers and hull mounted This follows previous orders from provide 270 days battery life when transducers. By making use of pre- the dynamic positioning system operating continuously. To preserve installed topside components on the rig, (DPS) provider to supply Nautronix battery life, the SCUs can also be owners can make a significant saving market-leading NASDrill RS925 powered from an external 24 VDC on hardware and installation costs for DPS for these latest generation supply. The SCU electronics and the EBOP system. drillships. batteries are contained in a 4000msw pressure rated housing. In this configuration, the EBOP FTU The Nautronix EBOP system makes use of a NASDrill RS925 hull provides a wireless control method EBOP surface equipment consists of mounted transducer to perform EBOP to safely disconnect the drillship a ruggedised hand portable control functions. When the EBOP unit is not from a well in an emergency unit (HPU) supplied with cable reel in use, control of the transducer can be situation, providing backup to the and dunking transducer. The HPU restored to the NASDrill RS925 system. primary control system. If hardwire is housed in a protective case that control and communication with provides shock, vibration and water The ultra-deepwater drillships have the drillship’s blowout preventer resistance. The dunking transducer been supplied with both EBOP portable (BOP) has failed or cannot be is supplied with 60m of cable and is and fixed topside units, making them safely reached, EBOP can be the interface between the portable compliant for drilling operations used to quickly and safely unlatch control unit and the subsea system. worldwide. the riser from the well. EBOP can then continue to provide wireless The HPU and dunking transducer monitoring of the shut-in well are to be stored close to a lifeboat following disconnect. muster station to allow easy transport onto the lifeboat in the case of an ADS2 The EBOP system satisfies the emergency evacuation. The portable EBOP utilises Nautronix proprietary drilling safety requirements for nature of the surface equipment ADS2 (Acoustic Digital Spread operating areas such as offshore means that the system can be Spectrum) broadband signalling Norway and offshore Brazil, as operated from a vessel’s deck, from technology at the heart of the system. required by Petrobras, where a lifeboat, or any other safe location drilling vessels are required to within transmission range of the Nautronix ADS2 digital signalling is have emergency acoustic control subsea equipment in the event that optimised for high integrity control capability for their BOP. the drilling rig has been abandoned. and monitoring of subsea assets, to ensure there is no interference from Nautronix EBOP system meets As an option for the EBOP system, unwanted sources such as other these requirements via a stand- a permanently installed fixed acoustic noise or the environment. alone portable system with dunking topside unit (FTU) can be located The handshaking protocol used transducer and cable reel, and a in the driller’s office on the rig. maintains the very highest level of permanently installed option. Communications between the FTU system integrity. and the EBOP subsea components EBOP subsea components is through either a hull mounted ADS² has been proven, with over comprise of two subsea control transducer, or where this is not ten years of successful subsea units (SCU) mated to remote possible, a surface transducer operations, as a highly reliable and transducers. The SCUs provide deployed on a winch and A-frame extremely robust digital acoustic dual redundancy as each can be direct deployment system (DDS) signalling technology for critical used independently for control and for quick and easy deployment and operations such as BOP control.

UT2 July 2011 58 SPE Offshore Europe | Innovation. Debate. Learning. Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 6 – 8 September 2011 | Aberdeen | UK

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59 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Equipment Annulus B Measurement

The annulus of an oil well is the testing, however, this has been Subsea Equipment space between two concentric hindered by the lack of access to objects, such as between the the the annulus B in subsea wells. wellbore and casing or between Testing is both cumbersome and casing and tubing. Fluid typically expensive , and the fault detection flows in this space. process is particularly time consuming. In a completed well, there are normally at least two annuli. The A Operators often insist of the annulus is the space between the excessive and expensive over production tubing and the smallest dimensioning of casings that can casing string with the B annulus take place to compensate for worst located between different casing case scenarios. strings. This has prompted Emerson Cement seals behind the wellbore to develop an ingenious online casing provide a barrier against the pressure monitoring system called high pressures encountered deeper the Downhole Wireless PT Sensor in the well. System – Annulus B.

It is possible, however, for cement The new wireless PT Sensor System sealing to deteriorate or become and its permanent monitoring ineffective. The casing will be capabilities will give added certainty exposed to varying temperatures to the well integrity monitoring from completion to flow or injection. process as well as valuable input Thermal coefficient differences during well trouble-shooting. This (between the casing, formation and will potentially provide operators with trapped completion fluids) will put a significant cost savings previously strain on the system that can lead incurred in shutting in wells, due to to leaks or even the collapse of the their lack of ability to verify barrier casing. This loss in casing integrity integrity. can allow oil or gas to migrate vertically towards the surface along “The Roxar Downhole Wireless the outside of the casing. PT Sensor System – Annulus B represents a real step change in This can lead to potentially serious protecting subsea well integrity, safety and well integrity issues. It as it tracks pressure in an area wells and looking for improved well can result in hazardous situations, which was previously off limits for integrity monitoring, and for government especially during workover all operators,” said Terje Baustad of regulatory agencies overseeing safety operations, where uncontrolled Emerson Process Management. and environmental protection, the Roxar gas may escape at the surface. Downhole Wireless PT Sensor System In the worst case scenarios, oil or “The new wireless instrument represents a milestone moment.” gas may migrate to the seabed attaches to the same cable as the as a shallow gas blow out, or reservoir monitoring gauges and will The Roxar Downhole Wireless PT Sensor perhaps form injection gas escaping detect any variations in pressure System monitors the B Annulus pressure through failed barriers in the casing behind the casing string. and temperature without any degradation systems. to the original barrier element consisting of “It will provide early warning of these the A casing system and can be retrofitted So how can the operator verify the conditions and allow intervention to the monitoring system design of current well’s integrity? How would it know or other remedial actions to be subsea systems. when to shut down the well because planned and implemented in a timely of barrier failures? manner. The system consists of an Integrated Downhole Network (IDN) system to carry In the past, it has been possible to For oil and gas operators planning signals from the wellbore to the customer test for any leakage by pressure subsea production or injection monitoring system with a downhole

UT2 July 2011 60 Subsea Equipment

Pipeline Support Fieldwatch

Hallin Marine Subsea International, a The annulus B measurement Superior Energy Services company, system is fully compatible with is providing a vessel plus an ROV to Roxar Fieldwatch. Emerson Process assist in the deep burial of a major Management has launched the Indonesian offshore pipeline. latest version of its production management system The 16in pipeline from the Kodeco Processing Platforms in the Madura The new version 2.3. incorporates a Sea to the onshore Receiving wide range of Emerson’s reservoir Facility in Gresik, East Java, is being monitoring instrumentation, providing reburied to a greater depth under operators with a more complete a contract awarded to PT Cape an picture of the reservoir and of Acteon company and managed by production activities. Offshore Installations Services (OIS) . Instrumentation and modules that Hallin will supply the DP2-rated will be incorporated into Fieldwatch 2.3 include

l The Roxar acoustic and intrusive sand monitors and erosion probes. The combined system results in the faster identification and validation of sand production and more effective remedial action to establish production control

l The Roxar downhole pressure and temperature gauges

l An updated well testing module which will generate results based on Annulus B Measurement flow data direct from Emerson’s third generation multiphase meter, the Roxar MPFM 2600.

Benefits of the new well testing network controller card (DHNC) placed in up to 302 degF and pressures up module include an integrated the subsea structure and connected to a to 10 000 psi. workflow from meter installation to ¼in electrical cable coupled to a tubing well test reporting and post analysis, hanger penetrator and a series of up to The system is also based on the user friendly tracking of well test 32 sensors distributed throughout the an electronic wireless system, jobs, and easy access to data for completion string. where the signals and power are later analysis or inspection. transmitted wirelessly, ensuring a Other key components of the system long life. The first installation of Fieldwatch include a wireless reader, a wireless 2.3 is taking place on Statoil’s PT Transponder and antennae to The key system components Sleipner oil field in the North Sea. monitor activity in the B Annulus, and a include a wireless PT transponder Three Roxar sand erosion probes transponder and reader carrier. carrier, wireless transponder and and 94 acoustic Roxar sand reader antenna a wireless reader monitors will give Statoil will have The system works in conditions o f -5 and carrier. The system has gone an instant overview of asset sand to 150oC and 0-10 000psi. It has an through extensive component production and erosion, allowing it accuracy of + 2.5 psi +0.18 degF. testing at -10–250oC with random to validate data through smart alarm vibration and destructive testing. systems, and optimise production The system is qualified to last for a Mechanical shock testing was by establishing maximum sand and minimum of 20 years at temperatures of carried out at up to 10 000g. erosion-free production rates.

61 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Equipment Flexjoints for Guara and Lula NE Riserless Mud Recovery pressure operating conditions. It also Statoil has signed a two-year, Subsea Equipment Oil States Industries has been awarded a contract from Subsea 7 offers a new reduced weight design NoK66 million contract for to supply 27 flexJoint steel with broader operating angles of up the riserless mud recovery catenary riser (SCR) terminations to approximately 20 eg. system (RMR) from AGR and 40 receptacle assemblies for Drilling Services. The the Guara and Lula NE oilfields in Oil States Industries’ breakthrough deal concerns rigs on the Brazil. FlexJoint technology was originally Norwegian continental shelf. introduced to the offshore petroleum This order represents part of industry more than 30 years ago The contract also includes one of the largest engineering as a frictionless, maintenance-free two optional extension periods procurement installation and alternative to the ball joint. of two years each which, if construction (EPIC) subsea taken, will bring the estimated umbilicals, riser and flowline It has since become the industry total value of the contract to (SURF) contracts awarded to date standard for a wide range of NoK200million (US$38 million). in Brazil and is one of the world’s subsea applications where robust, largest contracts for SCR end flexible and durable connections AGR, which has its head office in terminations ever awarded. are required between the surface Straume, Norway, has performed and seabed. FlexJoint technology 33 RMR well installations since The Guara and Lula NE fields are is used for drilling and production 2004 for Statoil. The RMR provides part of the giant pre-salt discoveries risers, tension leg platforms, steel a number of benefits. made by Petrobras in the Santos catenary risers, deepwater moorings Basin, Brazil, at a water depth of and a growing range of deepwater Recycling over 2100m. applications. The option of reusing drilling fluid is closely connected with the higher Manufacturing of the FlexJoint “Our customers are operating in success rate for top hole drilling. equipment will be performed by harsher and more demanding Oil States at its Texas, Louisiana, regions every day, and they need Singapore, UK and Macae’ Brazil technology that will withstand those locations, with weld qualification rigorous environments and provide and execution to be managed by for easier servicing,” says Cindy Oil States ATS-Cybersolda in Brazil. B. Taylor, Oil States International’s The project will also be supported President and Chief Executive by the sales and projects office of Officer. Oil States in Rio de Janeiro. “Operators depend on FlexJoint’s Delivery of the FlexJoint equipment flexible, frictionless and pressure- is scheduled to begin in 2012. tight joints to accommodate extreme Oil States’ scope of supply will loading and motion dynamics. also incorporate the exclusive field-proven bellows and HPHT After five years spent on the FlexJoint technology that Oil States development, the new Gen II developed for the offshore industry. FlexJoint offers operating enhancements that include:

Gen II Flexjoint l Increased service life at constant Oil States International launched high-pressure operation and high its newly enhanced FlexJoint riser flow-line temperatures connector technology. This was l A more efficient, reduced weight announced at the recent Offshore design Technology Conference in Houston. l An increased operating angle range of up to approximately The innovative Gen II FlexJoint 20 deg riser design has been upgraded l Higher operating pressures to to extend service life at sustained 15 000 psi high temperatures and under high-

UT2 July 2011 62 Riserless Mud Recovery Operators can employ drilling fluid of much l Oil and gas company E.ON higher quality because recycling makes both Ruhrgas has signed a contract to financial and environmental sense. This also use RMR for multiple wells on its means a reduction in the amount of casing needed Huntington Field in the UK sector. to stabilise the borehole. At the same time, the fluid RMR has been used on the 36in provides effective pressure control, thus keeping the and 26in sections using the oil or gas in place in the reservoir. jack-up rig Ensco 100.

Cost savings l Statoil has signed an In its initial phase, RMR technology has been used agreement for RMR on exclusively during top hole drilling operations. However, two deep-water rigs it has experience from the Caspian Sea clearly indicates that this under contract in the Gulf same technology can be used successfully for deeper parts of Mexico. of the borehole. Statoil has already As long as the operator can maintain the pressure balance using successfully used the heavier drilling fluids with the correct viscosity, many short lengths of RMR in the GoM from casing can be replaced by a few long ones. This concept requires the use the Discoverer Americas of a pump to achieve effective pressure control. drillship on the Krakatoa well in the Mississippi The benefit for the operator lies in reduced drilling time, as well as potential Canyon block at a reduced conductor/casing strings. depth of more than 620m (2000ft). Riserless The developers of the RMR system ponder a future where the entire drilling process using risers can be eliminated. In this case, the need for costly and heavy riser systems would be eliminated altogether. This project is feasible, and AGR currently have ongoing studies to successfully avoid the use of risers.

This latest contract with Statoil also includes the continuation of cutting transportation system (CTS) operations on two rigs, with provision for AGR to be optional CTS supplier on a number of others. Statoil has used CTS, which takes cuttings up to 2km away from the well area, on 209 wells since 1998.

63 UT2 July 2011 Pipelines Pipelines First Nordstream Gas Pipelay Completed Nord Stream AG has announced that all three sections of its first 1224km gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea have now been laid. They will be joined together underwater off the coast of Finland and Sweden in the summer.

The new pipeline system will start transporting natural gas from Russia directly to the European Union on schedule in the last quarter of 2011. Construction of the second of the twin pipelines is scheduled for completion in 2012.

Contd p.66

UT2 July 2011 64 Pipelines

First Nordstream Gas Pipelay Completed

Last Pipe of Nord Stream’s Line 1

65 UT2 July 2011 Pipelines Pipelines

First Nordstream Gas Pipelay Completed

Europe will soon have the security Each of the three sections is are turning out to be even less than of the privately-financed, €7.4 billion gauged and thoroughly pressure- assessed in our pre-construction Nord Stream project providing a tested before being joined together Environmental Impact Assessments,” fixed link between the European and linked to the landfalls in Russia he added. gas grid and some of the world’s and Germany. largest gas reserves in Russia for at Nord Stream has managed to least 50 years,” said Nord Stream’s The pre-commissioning activities complete the first of the twin pipelines Managing Director Matthias Warnig. for Line 1 have started as planned. on schedule in just over 12 months. For the offshore sections 1 “At a time when recent world events and 2, cleaning, gauging and Nord Stream’s Construction Director have led to increased concern pressure testing have already Ruurd Hoekstra explained how: about nuclear energy and energy been successfully completed. The “The smooth-running construction imports from North Africa, our major pressure test for section 3 will now programme has been made possible new infrastructure project takes on follow the mechanical completion of by our meticulous planning of every more importance for both Europe pipe laying. part of this complex infrastructure and Russia,” he added. project, including technical, logistic, On the site of the German landfall safety, environmental and operational When both lines are completed in all piping has been completed and aspects. late 2012, Nord Stream will have successfully pressure tested. For the capacity to transport 55 billion the Russian landfall site pressure m3 of gas per year from Russia testing is expected by the end of to Europe, enough to supply 26 May after completion of all welding million homes. No other major new works. Further rigorous testing will pipeline with a capacity over 10 be carried out on the whole system billion m3 is expected to come on- before it becomes operational in the stream before 2015. last quarter of 2011.

Nord Stream was able to design “One of the reasons for the success its 1224km pipeline to operate of our project is that from the start without an intermediate compressor we have been totally committed to station, but with three different safety and the environment and design pressures and pipe wall meticulously planned every metre thicknesses as the gas pressure of the pipeline,” added Mr Warnig. drops over its long journey from Russia to landfall in Germany. “All in all, Nord Stream invested €100 million and consulted widely The connection of these three with governments, authorities, pipeline sections will be carried out experts and stakeholders in all at the two offshore locations where Baltic Sea states to ensure that the the design pressure changes from design, routing, construction and 220–200bar and from 200–170bar operation of the pipeline will be safe respectively. and environmentally sound.”

The Gulf of Finland section and the “We are now also investing a further Central section will be connected € 40 million in a comprehensive off the coast of Finland in spring at environmental monitoring a sea depth of approximately 80m. programme with approximately The connection of the Central 1000 survey locations measuring and the South Western section 16 parameters during construction off the coast of Gotland, Sweden, and the first three years of in the summer, at a depth of operation. approximately 110m, will mark the completion of construction of “I am pleased to say that many of Line 1. the actual environmental impacts Last Pipe Line 1 with attached PIG Launcher Lowered into Water

UT2 July 2011 66 Pipelines

“Our planning has even proved 23t concrete weight coated pipes in spring 2012. Saipem’s resilient and robust enough to needed for the twin pipelines. subcontractor Allseas with the cope with exceptionally challenging pipelay vessel Solitaire will again weather conditions in the Baltic This environment-conscious solution lay the Gulf of Finland section. The Sea leading to periods of enforced ensured that the supply vessels do completed twin pipeline system is downtime. At any one time, at least not need to travel more than 100 scheduled to be fully operational in 30 ships have been working on the nautical miles (approximately 185km) the last quarter of 2012. project in different parts of the Baltic to take the pipes to the pipelay Sea, and everything has fitted into barges anywhere along the 1224km place according to plan,” he added. route,” Mr Hoekstra added. Nord Stream All the pipes for Line 1 were “This smooth progress has also The pipelay vessel which has laid manufactured in Germany or Russia been facilitated by Nord Stream’s most of Line 1, Saipem’s Castoro and concrete weight coated in either green logistics concept, which Sei, is now en route to Turku in Finland or Germany, and each is has enabled the most efficient Finland, where it will undergo individually monitored. and environmentally-sound way extensive maintenance before of producing and supplying to resuming pipe laying for Line 2, The last pipe started life in the pipelay vessels the 202 000, which is scheduled for completion November 2009 in the German town of Dillingen, in the Saarland, where Dillinger Hütte GmbH manufactured the original heavy steel plate. This plate was then made into a 12t, 12m long 48in diameter pipe in Mülheim on January 8, 2010 by EUROPIPE.

From there it was transported by train on January 2010 to Mukran, on the German Baltic coast, where it was coated in concrete by the French company EUPEC S.A. to double its weight to 23 tonnes for added stability on the seabed.

In April, 2011, it was trans-shipped to Nord Stream’s marshalling yard in Slite on the Swedish island of Gotland. Here, it waited its turn before being taken out to sea and loaded onto the Castoro Sei, a pipelay vessel operated by Italian company Saipem.

Its destiny was fulfilled on May 4 when it finally entered the firing line, was bevelled, welded onto another pipe and its end capped. The double 24m pipe was then welded on to the rest of the pipeline and lowered on to its precise location on the seabed at KP 674, 674km from the Russian landfall, next to the pipeline’s first pipe, which had been Last Pipe Line 1 with attached PIG Launcher Lowered into Water laid by Castoro Sei in April 2010.

67 UT2 July 2011 Pipelines Pipelines McDermott to lay Pemex line McDermott International was awarded a contract by PEMEX Exploración y Producción for procurement, construction and installation of three oil and gas pipelines ranging from 8–20in in diameter, in Mexico’s Bay of Campeche. The contract is valued at more than US$50 million.

“We are pleased to be working again for PEMEX in the Gulf of Mexico. Our installation solution for this project will be supported by our subsea engineering design group in Houston and fabrication work from our construction yard in Altamira, Mexico,” said Stephen M. Johnson, McDermott’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Pipeline installation engineering is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2011, with subsequent fabrication of the risers, clamps and guards, subsea tie-in assembly and additional platform piping and structural items from Altamira. McDermott’s DB16 will perform the installation work, with completion expected by the end of the year.

DB16 is outfitted with a customised Automatic Welding System that offers high weld production rates and production flexibility. The vessel and its crew are recognized for producing repeatable high-quality welds with exceptional mechanical properties. Also impressive is the vessel’s underwater block, capable of lifting large amounts of tonnage into deepwater.

The field development in the Gulf of Mexico sits in approximately 170ft of water. The pipelines will run from the Kambesah Wells Recoverer Structure to the Kutz TA platform and the Ixtoc-A platform.

DB16 is a dynamically positioned, shallow and deepwater combination barge with the flexibility of installing structures or S-Laying pipe up to 48in in diameter. The vessel is equipped with three 100 kip tension machines and five pipelay welding stations, an abandonment and recovery hoist for laying down pipelines in deep water. The DB16’s 200ft long deep water truss stinger with an A- Frame and an underwater block enables it to lower heavy structures up to 62t into water 10 000ft deep, and lift up to 94.5t in water The DB16 depths of 6000ft.

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Vigdis NE Technip awarded a Subsea contract for the Vigdis NE project in NorwayTechnip was awarded by Statoil a contract, worth approximately €55 million, for the Vigdis NE field development located in the Norwegian Sea at a water depth of 220 - 310m.

This contract covers:

l welding and installation of flowlines*, including a 1.5km pipe-in-pipe production flowline and a 9km plastic-lined water injection flowline, l supply of flexible tails for the flowlines, l subsea equipment installation, l nstallation and tie-ins of flowlines flexible tails, jumpers and umbilicals.

Decommissioning

Aberdeen-based DOF Subsea UK has secured a contract with Hess to provide diver-less decommissioning services from its new multipurpose support vessel, the Skandi Skansen in the Ivanhoe/Rob Roy field, in the North Sea.

The project will last for approximately 21 days and is scheduled to start in in the next few months. The project is worth approximately £5 million.

The scope of work includes a decommissioning programme which involves the engineering and recovery of 4 mid-water arches, 8 flexible risers and associated structures and umbilicals.

This contract represents one of the first diver-less decommissioning projects in the North Sea and demonstrates DOF Subsea’s commitment to its ongoing expansion in the subsea engineering market.

69 UT2 July 2011 Pipelines Pipelines Bacchus Installation

Subsea support company Flexlilfe, Wick to undertake the bundle has achieved a major milestone launch. Under control of site by overseeing the successful based Launchmasters, the launch installation of a 6.7km pipeline commenced with two leading tugs bundle at Apache’s Bacchus field being connected to the large 190t development. Bacchus towhead via pre-installed wire rope pennants. When weather In 2009, Apache awarded Flexlife and tide conditions were suitable, a subsea engineering and pipeline the 6.7km long bundle assembly was operational support contract to pulled into the sea via a launchway oversee the management of specifically installed on the beach. Forties subsea projects and routine maintenance of subsea pipelines With the bundle floating several and subsea infrastructure. metres above the seabed, a trail tug was connected, the site holdback By way of Apache’s main Bacchus winch released and control passed contractor Subsea 7, Flexlife to an ROV support and command managed the engineering, vessel. The move to the field procurement, fabrication and commenced with the tugs applying installation of the pipeline bundle sufficient power to place the bundle and a riser caisson. Integrated into a suspended catenary in the with towhead fabrications at each controlled depth tow method. end (weighing 190t and 106t), the 6.7km, 40.5in diameter pipeline The command vessel towmaster is one of the longest elements of was provided with real time North Sea infrastructure installed in information on bundle position, recent years. depth, shape and catenary via an acoustic link with the bundle’s The Subsea 7 contracted bundle in-built data highway. This allowed comprises two insulated 6in tow parameters to be adjusted to piggable production lines, two maintain full control of the bundle insulated 4in heating/produced to compensate for effects of Apache’s Bacchus water reinjection lines, a gas lift movement, weather and tide. field development line, scale inhibitor and control system lines. The latter include Arriving in the field, the bundle was electrical power and instrument laid down in a pre-surveyed parking cables, high and low pressure area where final checks and weight Later this year, over a number of hydraulic lines, a chemical injection control adjustments were made diver interventions, the bundle will line and a methanol line. before the tow fleet was reconfigured be tied in to the platform and the by placing one of the two large tugs three new wells and then tested. Tie Subsea 7 fabricated the bundle at each end for the final ‘off bottom’ in to the platform is achieved via the at its Wester site facility in the tow to the installation area. 149t, 48in diameter riser caisson north east of Scotland. After the that the project safely installed in towheads were integrated to In off-bottom tow the bundle floats September 2010. the pipeline bundle, there was a 4–5m above the seabed and is 4-week programme of onshore moved at between 1 and 2.5kts to The riser caisson houses riser tie-ins and testing followed by a site its final destination, being a pre- pipelines, chemical injection and integration test programme to prove surveyed area with a target box at control tubing as well as control control system functionality. each end. The acoustic monitoring cables. system was again deployed to A specialist fleet of vessels ensure accurate positioning of both Andrew Hoggarth, Flexlife’s Bacchus mobilised to Sinclair’s Bay near bundle ends. project manager said: “Compared

UT2 July 2011 70 Pipelines

with an individual pipeline concept, installation of potential future tie-backs the subsea control system, comprising the bundle solution is a cost- to maximise hydrocarbon recovery. tree and manifold mounted control effective means of controlling modules, hydraulic power unit and pipeline temperature to yield field- In support of the Bacchus a spare tree set. GE VetcoGray is life corrosion, hydrates and wax development, Apache awarded overseeing the modification and management benefits. It yields Petrofac a contract for brownfield testing of the subsea horizontal trees. significant vessel time cost savings engineering, procurement, fabrication by avoiding multiple individual and offshore construction of the Discovered in May 2005 in UK Central pipelay installations. topsides modifications. The scope North Sea block 22/6a, the Bacchus includes tie-ins to process and field has an anticipated 15-year life The piggable lines enable production utilities systems, new subsea control, and peak production is estimated to rates to be optimised throughout emergency shutdown, fire and gas be 18mbopd and 5.7mm ft3/d gas. field-life and allow individual wells and safety systems. The Rowan Gorilla VII jack-up rig is to be routed to the test separator expected to arrive at the Bacchus when necessary. Additional subsea Weatherford Production Optimisation location before July to start drilling the connections are provided to facilitate was awarded the contract to provide three producing wells.

71 UT2 July 2011 PIPELINES

Cristobal Colon Pipelines Islay ETHPiP Carrier Pipe

In 2010, Total awarded Technip a Second layer €70 million contract to carry out passive protection the engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) of a 6km pipeline for the Islay gas Fibre optic field. This also included the supply Cable and installation of a control umbilical, subsea structures and seabed preparations. The Islay field is located Flowline in the northern North Sea, 440km northeast of Aberdeen, Scotland. First layer Not only will the Islay project feature Passive Insulation a number of “world firsts” but it is recognised by many as a pilot project for the development and qualification Centraliser Components of ETH-PiP of a new generation of electrically trace heated pipe-in-pipe (ETH-PIP) systems.

“ETH-PIP is of massive importance technologies to counter these effects. wrapped around the pipeline. for both Total and Technip,” One method for improving thermal ETH-PIP combines the two explained Islay project manager Rob performance of a pipe system is to use technologies into one single solution Fisher. “There are now a number pipe-in-pipe (PIP) technology which and Total has targeted Islay as an of developments worldwide which provides excellent insulation by taking ideal pilot to prove the development require heating in one shape or advantage of the annulus between the of incorporating electrical trace form and Islay will serve as the flowline and the carrier pipe, ensuring heating within a PIP design. technology’s first implementation the production fluid temperature does following Technip and Total’s joint not drop below the critical point. This efforts to complete the qualification passive insulation solution is often How Does the ETH-PIP work? phase.” used in combination with methanol The production fluid flows injection. through an inner flowline where If the production fluid is cooled heating elements (and fibre-optic down due to the ambient seawater Another method to improve thermal temperature monitoring systems) are temperatures, hydrates and waxes performance of the pipe system is by wrapped around the outer surface can form within the bore of the trace heating. Both Technip and Total which is surrounded by a layer of flowline, causing potential flow have opted to pursue trace heating highly efficient thermal insulation. assurance issues. In the past, the strategies based on energy-efficient During ETH-PIP manufacturing subsea industry developed two main electrically trace heated cables assembly, this inner pipe with

North Islay Alwyn Islay is located in North Sea Block 3/15, and an estimated peak gas production rate 440km northeast of Aberdeen, in 120m of 2.5 million m3 per day plus associated Dunbar of water depth. It partly straddles the condensates. median line in Blocks 29/6a and 29/6c Islay of the Norwegian sector. Total is the operator and sole owner of the Islay field as well as the Alwyn North, Dunbar, The wellstream is highly corrosive and Grant, Ellon, Nuggets, Forvie North and Jura characterised by very high temperatures fields in the same region. Jura and pressures.

Nuggets Although a separate field, Islay is just 3km It has estimated reserves of near to east of Jura and will be connected to Total’s 17 million barrels of oil equivalent, Alwyn facility. Location of Islay

UT2 July 2011 72 PIPELINES

The 65t Cable Application Machine which will allow simultaneous application of trace heating and fibre-optic cables during the standard pipe-in-pipe insertion operation.

It is located at Technip’s Evanton Spoolbase.

centralisers is inserted into the bore dredging areas at both pipeline ends communication, two subsea control of the outer carrier pipe to keep the – similar to glory holes, the protective pods and a high integrity pressure flowline and carrier pipe apart during features commonly found in Atlantic protection system with its own pipeline reeling, reel-lay installation Canada, but with highly accurate subsea control pod. Much of the and in-place conditions. The cables slopes – another world first. control system is being assembled will be applied using a purpose- in Aberdeen. The manifolds (16m built machine at Technip’s Evanton With the preparation of the seabed by 10m by 10m), within which the Spoolbase. completed, the pipeline will be laid control system will be housed, are in its predefined route corridor and currently being built in Invergordon. “Heating is not the base case for further post-lay dredged by specially the field but will be used to prove modified tooling deployed from Offshore installation is scheduled the technology,” added Fisher. Canyon Offshore’s T750 trencher. for mid 2011 and will be carried out “In fact, Islay’s significant hydrate by vessels from the Technip fleet, mitigation challenge will be met by Last October, Technip awarded a including pipelay vessel Apache II another novel strategy called seabed $20 million contract to Dril-Quip for and diving support vessels Skandi conditioning.” the advanced subsea fibre-optic Arctic and Skandi Achiever.

The principle behind seabed conditioning is to adjust the seabed profile to allow all sections of pipe to drain to specific locations where it is possible to inject methanol. It is relatively easy to inject methanol at the pipeline ends via manifolds incorporated in the field architecture, while the challenging aspect is injecting methanol at a midline location.

This has required the design of the world’s first reeled tee, which in principle is broadly similar to a bulkhead in the midpoint of the pipeline, but it incorporates an injection port for the methanol.

The first phase of seabed conditioning was carried out last year by the world’s largest trailing suction hopper dredger vessel, Jan de Nul’s Cristobal Colon, which prepared the seabed slopes by

Apache II

73 UT2 July 2011

Pipelines Pipelines SCR Strain Measurement BMT Scientific Marine Services (BMT) has patented a strain measurement system and unique attachment scheme that can be integrated into the insulation and anti-corrosion layers on ultra deep water Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs).

This technology was developed because production SCRs typically have thick anti-corrosion and insulation layers that make the measurement of the strain in the underlying pipe challenging.

Full scale bending strain measurement results from the touch down zone (TDZ) of two Steel Catenary Risers show that BMT’s Insulation Strain Measurement System produces a very accurate estimate of the strain in the underlying pipe steel without threatening the integrity of the insulation and corrosion protection Insulation strain measurement layers. for insulated pipe. The process dimensional changes in the insulation This technology was first deployed avoids the need for removal or layer due to changes in temperature offshore Nigeria to monitor bending degradation of the insulation and the and pressure of the contents of the strain and fatigue on production gas integrity of the attachment system pipe. Furthermore, the elements of export risers in the TDZ. and concomitant data validity is the attachment system that would be not threatened by the substantial subject to corrosion are eliminated. The bending strain sensors are BMT’s Subsea Strain Sensors (SSSA) configured to create a long-based “strain gage,” the foundations for which are welded to the polypropylene insulating material of the subsea risers.

This assured that the clamps expanded and contracted at the same rate as the insulation itself so that no stresses developed due to changes in temperature or pressure. The process allows the sensors to be securely attached to the pipe without removing or degrading the riser’s insulation.

This attachment process has a number of advantages over a mechanical clamping system Strain measurement system

UT2 July 2011 74 Pipelines

Leda Flow

LedaFlow, its next generation multiphase flow

Kongsberg oil and gas technologies “LedaFlow uses detailed three- understanding and improved (KOGT) has released the first phase dimensional physical modelling and accuracy in critical transient events. of LedaFlow, its next generation is designed to exploit the power multiphase flow assurance simulator. of high-performance computing to LedaFlow Suite is available as a support decisions that may improve point model plug-in for third party A product of nearly a decade safety and production in real time. software, as an engineer tool with of collaboration between Total, It offers application possibilities an easy to use interface and as an ConocoPhillips and SINTEF, that cover all engineering aspects integrated plug-in to Kongsberg’s KOGT has further developed and including design, commissioning, proven dynamic process simulator, commercialised LedaFlow as a operation and training,” explains K-Spice. Integrated, LedaFlow unique tool to improve production for Alick Jamieson, Product Manager and K-Spice will provide highly oil and gas engineers. LedaFlow, KOGT. accurate data in real-time for production management in addition LedaFlow is a step change in flow Utilising improved measurement to a planning mode for production assurance, offering vastly improved technology, new, large scale planning. functionality, fidelity, flexibility and experimental data has been accuracy for reduced risk, better implemented with new field “We are delighted to be making performance and improved return on measurements to improve the basis LedaFlow commercially available investment. on which LedaFlow’s multiphase to the market as it is the result of a models are developed. huge development project involving In order to provide engineers with key industry players,” continued highly accurate simulation and LedaFlow increases the resolution Jamieson. “In response to market data, LedaFlow is closer to the of modelling: solving mass, energy requests LedaFlow has a simple actual physics in the pipeline, rather and moment conservation for each pricing structure with pay-per-day than empirical data, and provides of the three common fluid phases. use in addition to normal leasing accurate 1D or quasi 3D simulation. This provides a step change in and perpetual licensing options.”

75 UT2 July 2011

Pipelines Pipelines Flexible Pipe Integrity

One of the most important initiatives Operating Flexible Risers Water Depth vs ID to examine flexible pipeline integrity 2000 has recently released it findings. Called SureFlex, all the major 1800 operators of flexible pipe worldwide 1600 have contributed to this 20-month joint industry project (JIP). 1400 1200 “The report, devised on behalf of 1000 Oil and Gas UK, was based on 188 questionnaires” said Keith Anderson, 800 engineering manager at MCS Kenny, 600 which carried out the work. Depth (m) Water 400

“In the past decade, we have built up 200 an in-house database of flexible pipe 0 use, damage and failure incidents. We also assembled a population 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 database that included 1900 flexible risers and 1400 static flexible Internal Diameter (in) flowlines covering 130 production facilities. The database now includes between pressure (P) and internal otherwise failed in the past, in 315 individual damage and failure diameter (ID). The majority of flexible order to consider ways of obviating incidents from around the world.” pipe in use is below a PxID value of this in future. This is recognised 50 000psi-in. The database showed, in the SureFlex report, which has The SureFlex initiative database, however, that the largest PxID value documented failure or damage revealed: was 80 000psi-in which was designed incidents against damage/failure type. for a 12in flexible pipe. l 58% of flexible pipe is installed The data reveals that external sheath as risers When designing flexible pipe systems, damage remains the most common l 76% of flexible pipe has a design it is desirable to know and understand failure mode, and indeed, has pressure below 345 bar (5000psi) how they have been damaged or increased since the 2001 although l 90% of flexible pipe is below 10in in internal diameter l The majority of flexible pipe has Flexible Pipe Failure/Damage Mechanisms a pressure x internal diameter (PxID) 40% value of less than 50 000psi/in. The current PxID limit is 80 000psi/in. 35% 2002 UKCS and Others: l 70% of flexible pipe has been Norway only Smoothbore Collapse 30% Pigging Damage designed for a temperature of less 2010 Worldwide Upheaval Buckling than 80oC Excess Torsion 25% Excess Tension l 70% of flexible risers are in a Sheath Cracking Armour Wire Failure water depth of less than 1000m. 20%

There is a relationship between the 15% internal diameter of the pipeline and the water depth. Flexible riser 10% diameters of over 16in have been

% of Damage Mechanisms 5% installed offshore, but not in water depths beyond 400m. The deepest 0% is installed in a water depth of about 1900m, and has a flexible pipe Other Corrosion Overbend Birdcaging Ovalisation internal diameter of about 7.5in. Vent System Anomalies Wax Blockage External Sheath End Fitting Leak Carcass Failure Damage / Flood

Another flexible pipe design Aged Internal Sheath consideration is the relationship Pull-out Internal SheathAncillary Device Failure Flexible Pipe Failure

UT2 July 2011 76 Pipelines

this could simply be interpreted as a to result in the improved designs. This retirement decision was taken result of the considerable uptake in In the past, it has not always been due to uncertainty in the ability to flexible pipe annulus monitoring since clear whether this venting area is predict remaining safe life due to the original 2001 work, which has the responsibility of the flexible pipe corrosion fatigue. improved detection of any annulus manufacturer or the topsides design breach. contractor. Armed with this knowledge, Feedback from the study following the two groups can collaborate more. retired riser dissections, however, External sheath damage is of particular suggested that the remaining life concern, particularly at the splash Another area registering an increase of predictions were too conservative. zone or where the riser connects to incidents is carcass collapse failure. There is, therefore, a significant the vessel and is shielded by vessel The report showed that was prevalent industry incentive to improve the structures such as an I-tube. in high pressure gas lines with a accuracy and dependability of multi-layer PVDF sheath flexible pipe corrosion fatigue assessments. The splash zone area is characterised structure. by aerated zones within the flexible MCS Kenny suggested a number of pipe annulus. This can increase Over time, gas pressure sometimes recommendations: tensile armour wire corrosion rates built up in the spaces between the significantly, leaving the cathodic PVDF layers. The gas’s inability to “The industry should be more protection of the armour wires escape rapidly through the pipe end expansive in its approach to the ineffective where vessel shielding is fitting meant that shutting in the line S-N curve (stress range S plotted present. Armour wire breakage has resulted in carcass collapse due to the against the number of cycles N) been known to occur under these high gas pressure in the annulus. definition for corrosion fatigue” said conditions. Anderson. “We need to improve our At the original design, this failure mode methodology for corrosion fatigue Work carried out by the industry to was unknown, and consequently, it assessment. better monitor, control and understand took some time in operation before the phenomenon of internal sheath the problem became apparent. The “The industry must also focus more aging at elevated bore temperatures solution rests in the redesign of the on improving the annulus vent and high water content has resulted in pipe cross-section and end fitting, system design, commissioning and a notable decrease in such problems. together with limiting the rates of maintenance. This new updated Another area of reduction is in PVDF depressurisation during shut-in guidance document is just a first internal sheath pull-out failures, which operations. step in this direction.” has coincided with the introduction of new end fitting designs. “The work concluded that there is “The SureFlex research also still a lack of coherent strategy that highlighted the necessity by the The number of recorded vent system details all design and operational data industry to establish a consensus anomalies has also risen since the to be monitored and recorded, said on deepwater failure mechanisms 2001 survey, although again, this trend Keith Anderson. “There needs to be involved in tensile armour birdcaging is likely to have been influenced by a greater follow-up on recording and and lateral buckling. This can only increased industry focus on annulus assessing inspection data.” be carried out through honest condition monitoring. discussion and information sharing While handover practices from project between the relevant stakeholders. Access to the annulus is by way of the execution to operations has improved, pipe end fitting vents located at the top the report realised that a lot of work is “Lastly, the industry would benefit riser connection. The questionnaire still required. from an annual update of the respondents said that often, these monitoring and inspection guidelines vents were blocked, malfunctioning or “The study showed that the principal to keep pace with ongoing just “poorly designed”. cause of damage remains external developments and field application sheath breach. Because of this, there of monitoring and inspection A likely major contributory factor to is a, a particular focus in armour wire techniques for flexible pipe,” said this outcome is that flexible pipe vent corrosion in the splash zone.” Keith Anderson. system design is at the interface between flexible pipe supply and the “ From the SureFlex questionnaire, a The report is available from topside design. number of operators around the world Oil and Gas UK said they had retired risers due to www.oilandgasuk.co.uk under The revelation of this issue is likely corrosion fatigue. Publications and then Code OP010

77 UT2 July 2011 Pipelines and Umbilicals Jack and St. Malo Aker Solutions has been selected to supply three subsea production control umbilicals for the Chevron operated Jack and St. Malo field developments in the Pipelines and umbilicals Gulf of Mexico. The contract value is undisclosed.

The production control umbilicals will provide hydraulic, electrical and fibre optic service to the Jack and St. Malo subsea fields. Scope of work includes three electro-hydraulic steel tube production umbilicals totalling 40 miles (65km).

Engineering, project management, and manufacturing will take place at Aker Solutions’ state-of-the-art umbilical facility in Mobile, Alabama. The three umbilicals will be used at Chevron’s Jack and St. Malo field, located in the Walker Ridge Area of the Gulf of Mexico in water depths of approximately 7000ft (2100m).

“Aker Solutions is excited to see Chevron come back to us with a repeat order and is proud to contribute to this very important project for Chevron and for the Gulf of Mexico region,” said Erik Wiik, President - Subsea North America, Aker Solutions.

Opened in 2003, Aker Solutions’ umbilical manufacturing facility in Mobile is strategically located to serve the Gulf of Mexico and global markets. The facility, with its high capacity horizontal cabler, is specially designed to meet the challenges of demanding deepwater applications.

Aker Solutions is the market leader within steel tube umbilicals. This position has been backed by a strong focus on health, safety and the environment (HSE) which has been exemplified through reaching an important milestone of five years without a lost time injury (LTI) at both production sites in Moss, Norway, and in Mobile, Alabama.

Over the past 15 years Aker Solutions has delivered more than 400 umbilicals to some of the world’s most challenging fields, from harsh environment to ultra- deep, high-pressure water conditions.

UT2 July 2011 78 Pipelines and umbilicals

Aker Solutions’ state-of-the-art umbilical facility in Mobile, Alabama

79 UT2 July 2011 Pipelines and Umbilicals Pipe Blockage Removal

Paradigm Flow Solutions has of the pulse. The system operates allow energy to be transferred into developed a patented technology using a complex series of control the pipeline in a safe manageable to tackle the persistent industry valves, which are contained within way, which is far more effective than

Pipelines and umbilicals challenge of restrictions and the main body of the Pipe-Pulse unit, applying pressure alone. blockages in subsea pipelines, that are automatically operated by During test phases it successfully taking the treatment to the topside the touch screen control panel. cleared a 4in multi-phase flowline for for the very first time. Shell UK that had been blocked with Proprietary algorithms determine sand and wax for 11 years, and also This coincides with a $250,000 the optimum wave structure for each removed a stuck pig in a deepwater contract with an operator to pulse, of which there are potentially 8in flowline for Petrobras Americas. unblock a pipeline in the North millions generated for each particular Sea and has secured more than job. The Pipe-Pulse system is also used $1 million of orders for its other to accurately detect the location technologies in the last two The Pipe-Pulse unit then physically of blockages and leaks in subsea months. creates and injects the manufactured infrastructure, without the need to pulse into the pipeline, which is then deploy expensive vessels. The Aberdeen headquartered transmitted to the front face of the company says that subsea blockage. These controlled pulses Rob Bain, managing director of blockages cost operators tens of millions of dollars each year, which before now could only be properly treated by very expensive methods such as deploying a coiled tubing system from a rig into the pipeline, or undertaking subsea interventions using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) or saturation divers.

Pipe-Pulse is a remote, non- intrusive method of locating and removing blockages in long distance pipework up to 30 miles. The system is designed to be connected on the topside facilities of the host platform through either the pig launcher or the umbilical termination unit to clear the blockages.

The Pipe-Pulse unit delivers high energy and volume pressure pulses into the pipeline or subsea umbilical, which are transmitted at the speed of sound to the blockage several miles away.

Operated by Paradigm Flow Solutions’ team of expert engineers, persistent blockages can be completely removed in a matter of days by sending high frequency low amplitude pressure pulses into the flowline, whilst controlling the length and pressure Pipe Pulse

UT2 July 2011 80 Pipelines and umbilicals

Cable Installation and Trenching

Paradigm Flow Solutions said: Offshore Marine Management (OMM) has recently secured a “Subsea blockages and restrictions contract with Fluor for the installation and subsequent trenching of have been a challenging industry 29 inter-array cables at the Greater Gabbard wind farm 14Nm from problem for many years. Pipe- Felixstowe, East Anglia. Pulse effectively revolutionises the treatment of subsea blockages, taking OMM will start work immediately on the 500MW Greater Gabbard the treatment to the topside for the Offshore Wind Farm project, which is the most prestigious cable first time. Given the cost implications installation project the company has been involved with and a great of the alternative methods, Pipe-Pulse achievement for the rapidly expanding operation. Both OMM’s provides an appealing, fast-acting, independence and its unique approach to providing flexible solutions cost effective solution.” for projects are crucial to its on-going success.

The company, a subsidiary of the Under its contract with Fluor, OMM will provide a full range of Netherlands-based Paradigm Group, installation services, from front end pre-engineering support, burial developed the innovative Pipe-Pulse trials and installation of the inter-array cables to delivery of the final service in direct response to flow reporting using in-house survey capabilities. is working closely with assurance and integrity issues being the client and its offshore team to ensure successful completion. experienced by global operators.

Cable installation and trenching

81 UT2 July 2011 Cables and Umbilicals Malaysian Power Cable SBSS has completed a 31km power line interconnection for Shell in Malaysia. Cables and Umbilicals The Shell Cili Padi power cable installation project required the precision laying and interconnection of 31.76km of power cable between platforms F23R-A and CDPR-A (Cili-Padi) situated in Sarawak Malaysia. This power line is vital to oil production and is critical for the power supply and remote monitoring of the Cili Padi platform.

Before project commencement, The Fu An detailed engineering analysis, cable stress calculations and installation The SBSS Sealion II ROV was caused severe damage to international methodology had to be performed deployed extensively for J -tube subsea communication lines routed to ensure the highest level of inspection and delicate intervention along the North Eastern part of her conformance and quality of this works close to the base structure of territorial waters. This caused major complex operation. each platform. disruption to internet traffic in Japan, China and the Asia Pacific Region. SBSS used the DPII cable ship Post Lay Inspection and Burial The damage to these communication CS Fu Hai fitted with a purpose- (PLIB) performed by the ROV was lines can be felt through the delays in built cable lay spread and a also specified by Shell after the internet transmission felt across the specialized 200hp Work Class completion of lay to enable better region, affecting millions of internet ROV. The 11kV cable had to be laid protection of the cable within the users across the world. precisely along a given path and 500m zone of F23R-A platform. concrete mattresses have to be SBSS deployed Cable Ship Fu An to installed to stabilise and protect the l Japan’s devastating earthquake assist in cable restoration works. The cable at specific points along the and tsunami on 11th March 2011 vessel, crewed with a highly trained route. cable jointing team was equipped with specialised deep water tools and cable handling equipment onboard to undertake the delicate task of retrieving and repairing the cables laid down to 7000m deep under the sea. The whole operation was taken with great care and accuracy so as not to affect the crossings of other submarine cables in service that are strewn across the seabed.

SBSS played a significant role in ensuring the swift restoration of the region’s submarine network. By 14th May 2011, the Fu An had successfully completed 4 cable faults for 3 international cables helping telecom carriers in ensuring their submarine network infrastracture is restored to enable a stable and effective telecommunication network across the region. The Shell Cili Padi power cable installation project

UT2 July 2011 82 Cables and Umbilicals

Lan Do Nexans Technip’s wholly-owned subsidiary, DUCO received Nexans has been awarded a €4.8 million a contract from BP for the Lan Do field development contract by Norske Shell to supply the 6.5km in Vietnam. The scope of work includes engineering, infield umbilical for the Ormen Lange North project management and fabrication of a main umbilical Field project. The Ormen Lange natural gas and an infield umbilical. The umbilicals will use a hybrid field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf started technology developed by DUCO, which uses steel tube production in 2007. and thermoplastic hose fluid conduits for hydraulic control and chemical injection services. This Ormen Lange project will add a fourth subsea production template (Template C) around 6 km to the north of the existing main production area that contains three templates (A, B and D).

Hibernia Extension The Nexans infield umbilical will be used to tie Technip was awarded a contract by Hibernia Management template C back to template B by supplying and Development Company (HMDC) for the Hibernia the hydraulic fluid, electrical power and fibre Southern Extension project. This project is part of the optic signals required to operate the subsea continuing Hibernia field development. Hibernia is located production systems located at a water depth of on the Grand Banks approximately 315km offshore approximately 850m. Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, in 90m of water. Nexans is in charge of the engineering, The contract covers engineering, procurement and procurement and construction (EPC) of the construction services for flexible flowline and steel tube infield umbilical which will be manufactured at its umbilical, together with the installation of all subsea specialised plant based in Halden, Norway. It is equipment. Technip’s operating center in St. John’s, scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2012. Canada will execute the contract. “In 2004, Nexans was awarded the contract to supply the two 125km main umbilicals and the infield umbilical that are now playing a vital JDR role in the successful operation of the subsea JDR Cable Systems has been awarded two subsea systems at Ormen Lange. production umbilical (SPU) contracts – one from Subsea 7 for the Medway development and the other from We are happy to be working with Norske Shell Wintershall Netherlands for the Kotter field development, again to extend our involvement with one of both in the Dutch sector of the North Sea. Europe’s most important gas field developments”, says Ragnvald Graff, Sales and Marketing The Medway development project aims to extend the life Director, Energy Division, Nexans. and increase production of the De Ruyter oil and gas field until 2020. It is due on stream by the fourth quarter of 2011. “This contract is further recognition of our De Ruyter is operated by Dana Petroleum. Dana Petroleum proven capability in the field to design, engineer awarded Subsea 7 the two-well subsea tie-back contract, and deliver on-time, complex high-technology along with dedicated flowlines and umbilicals from Van Nes umbilicals for the oil and gas sector.” and Van Ghent to the De Ruyter platform.

The scope awarded to JDR by Subsea 7 includes a 150m riser umbilical to the De Ruyter platform, one 8km umbilical linking the De Ruyter platform to Van Nes field and a 5km umbilical linking the platform to the Van Ghent field.

Wintershall Netherlands chose JDR to supply two subsea production umbilicals. The scope awarded to JDR includes one 10km umbilical linking platform to manifold and a shorter 200 m umbilical linking manifold to manifold. The SPU’s will be installed at Wintershall’s K18-Golf reservoir The umbilical in the Kotter field which is located in the Dutch sector of the designed for North Sea 50km west of Den Helder. Ormen Lange

83 UT2 July 2011

Cables Cables Oman-Mumbai Cable Global Nexus Nawras is celebrating the successful landing of its Global Nexus Telecommunications, has signed a supply first sea cable in the Sultanate of Oman. contract for phase one of the Global Nexus Cable System to This new cable link will be fully functional before Subcom. end of 2011. It will be used to instantaneously route traffic from Nawras customers in Oman Phase one of the Global Nexus network will provide to Mumbai, India and onwards to the rest of the low latency, resilient and diverse, ultra high capacity world, via the Tata Global Network. rates between Canada and the Bahamas, with onward connectivity to the USA, Latin and South America and serve “This represents the second provider in Oman as a catalyst to mesh hemispheric and regional networks. to directly transmit international traffic,” said a spokesman. “As a result, the Nawras sea The system will be initially deployed with advanced 40GBit/s cable will contribute to the nation’s development transmission technology and is designed to be compatible by creating even greater competition in the with SubCom’s 100GBit/s transmission equipment. The telecommunications market. This important step system itself will be delivered under a nineteen month forward has been achieved with the help of the programme Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.”

The cable will enable Nawras to economically meet the ever-growing demand for voice and data services from customers using both its mobile Caucasus Upgrade and fixed services. Nawras will see a reduction Georgian telecommunications provider Caucasus in international interconnection costs as well as Online and TE SubCom (SubCom), an industry pioneer national and international transmission lease- in undersea communications technology, has signed a line costs. Once the new cable is functioning, contract to upgrade the Caucasus undersea cable system. Nawras will be able to control end-to-end quality for customers, whether they are making calls or The upgrade of the almost 1200km system, which using data to send an MMS or surf the Internet. provides high bandwidth connectivity between Poti, Georgia and Balchik, Bulgaria, will be conducted in stages over the next several years.

In operation since the end of 2008, Global Tech I the Caucasus Cable System has Global Tech I Offshore Wind GmbH (Global Tech) has signed an order successfully served Georgian with a consortium of Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke (NSW) and Global markets by providing direct access Marine Systems to deliver and install over 100km of medium-voltage to Western Europe via a state-of- submarine array cables for the Global Tech I offshore wind farm. The installation work will start in late 2012, with the project scheduled to be completed in 2013. Pre-cut trenching

The Global Tech I wind farm is located about 138km northwest off the CTC Marine has successfully German coastal city of Emden. The windpark will consist of 80 wind completed pre-cut trenching work turbines, each rated at 5 MW. Upon completion Global Tech I will supply on Nexen’s Telford Field in the an expected 445 000 households with renewable energy. The package North Sea for client Subsea 7. awarded to the consortium covers the production, delivery and installation of the infield submarine cables. NSW will manufacture and supply 122 km Pre-cut trenching for a 10.4km of medium voltage submarine array cables. replacement water injection pipeline was conducted utilising The installation work, in water at around 40m depth, will be carried out by CTC’s ‘VMP’ heavy pipeline Global Marine. plough onboard the high bollard trenching support vessel Maersk “With Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke (NSW) and Global Marine Systems Assister. we have two extremely experienced companies as partners, and both have successfully completed a range of offshore projects already,“ said CTC will remobilise the VMP Tim Kittelhake, Technical Director of Global Tech I Offshore Wind GmbH. and Maersk Assister for further “NSW won us over with their state-of-the art cable manufacturing. ploughing campaigns in the North Sea.

UT2 July 2011 84 Cables

IWOC Cable the-art undersea fibre optic link. FMC has chosen JDR Cable Block 17 is located around 140km Systems to supply intervention from Luanda and 40km northwest SubCom’s flexible upgrade solution workover and control (IWOC) of Dalia, in water depths ranging will enable Caucasus Online to umblical and reeler systems. The from 1100 to 1400m. The block enhance its services, as needed, umbilical systems will be delivered partners include, Total, Statoil, through boosted international in 2011 as part of FMC’s supply of Esso Exploration and BP. capacity. integrated subsea systems to Total for CLOV project, one of Angola’s Four fields will be brought on- The Caucasus Cable System most prestigious and important stream in the development of is comprised of a two-fibre pair projects. the CLOV project: Cravo, Lirio, point-to-point link connecting the Orquidea and Violeta with 34 main Georgian port of Poti with the JDR has won the contract to supply subsea wells tied back to the Bulgarian coastal city of Balchik. It nine IWOC umbilical and reeler CLOV Floating Production, has an ultimate design capacity of systems for this project. JDR will Storage and Offloading (FPSO) 1.2 Tbps. be responsible for the design, unit. manufacture and testing of the A staged upgrade plan allows for the umbilical and reeler systems built to The systems will be delivered addition of 10 Gbps wavelengths, full DNV standards. from JDR’s Littleport, UK factory using technology installed in the throughout 2011 with final delivery original system. CLOV, in Angola’s deep offshore expected in October 2011.

BIRNS ABS Certification Omicron Connector BIRNS has received American Bureau of Shipping PDM Neptec has recently launched two products. (ABS) Product Design Assessment (PDA) Certification for its popular lines of penetrators. The low loss Omicron subsea fibre optic connector This certification process includs rigorous testing is rated for use to 5000m (mated), and designed for and review by the organisation, and has resulted compact installations requiring minimum connector in ABS pre-approving all design, drawing and test size. procedures for BIRNS electrical penetrators and cable assemblies for underwater vehicles, systems Omicron incorporates proven ferrule carrier and and hyperbaric facilities for use on a variety of ABS- alignment technology, producing insertion loss class vessels. performance of <0.5 decibels at typical operational wavelengths with single or multi-mode fibres. The testing procedures include high-pressure helium leak detection to the inboard side with multiple Secondly the compact Quickcure moulding system cycles of high-pressure saltwater to the outboard (QMS) is a single slot, portable hotplate system for side, dielectric withstanding voltage and insulation quick and easy cable splicing and repairs offsite. It resistance testing. comprises a single slot custom made mould heating block, Quickcure heater and temperature probe.

An ABS-approved penetrator Sachet based twin pack elastomers are available for use in custom made moulds which are supplied with a peg spanner and mould drift for de-moulding. The Compact QMS heats up to the required temperature in 10 minutes, achieving uniform heat distribution within the mould, which is an essential factor in producing repeatable quality mouldings.

It is suitable for cable installations up to 12mm in diameter which are awkward or costly to remove for repair and maintenance.

85 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Software Software Solutions for the Underwater Space Subsea Software

As the chosen tool for a succession of operations and data. Using SeeByte’s vehicle control, which has been proven underwater applications, unmanned smart software technology, inspections to take half the time of many subsea underwater vehicles (UUV’s) are can be achieved in 20% of the time tasks. rapidly becoming an imperative taken for a manual inspection, data is requirement in subsea operations for clearer and surveys and missions can Emmanuel Ekpeyong, CEO of Geodetic the military, coastal security and oil be pre-planned and stored for future Offshore Services Limited, has recently and gas industries. use and reference. chosen to use smart software for offshore pipeline surveys, inspection Though such vehicles are built to Not only will these technologies surveys and tooling capabilities. withstand some of the world’s most improve current operations, they can harsh environments, the quality and support performance evaluation of Ekpeyong said, “The concentration and accuracy of the mission, inspection personnel and other assets, monitor skill required to manually manoeuvre or survey is often dependent upon changes to the subsea environment the vehicle shows what a difficult task many external factors, such as the over time and integrate with the pilots are faced with, and by simply experience and ability of the operator, industry’s most recognised vehicles and adding smart software, the mission the quality of hardware and the hardware. becomes a much simpler and efficient capacity to interpret and present act.” multiple layers of data. Within the oil and gas industry, current requirements placed upon UUVs Smart software is also a regularly SeeByte, an Edinburgh-based for tasks such as pipeline surveys, used solution by the world’s militaries, software company, specialises in underwater structure inspection specifically for identification and creating the most advanced smart and salvage missions are becoming classification of objects. The need software systems for unmanned increasingly demanding, meaning that for situational awareness within the vehicles, providing a higher level of the vehicles and operator’s abilities are underwater battle space is imperative awareness, autonomy and control pushed to their limits. for creating a safe environment for that is less operator dependant and is human operators. centred upon transforming data into In order to lessen the demands placed actionable information for imminent upon operators, smart technology, such Prior to the development of this decision-making and planning. as SeeByte’s SeeTrack Copilot which technology, missions were conducted can be easily retro-fitted to a wide by a series of assets from which data SeeByte’s SeeTrack Military software selection of commercial ROV’s, offers was gathered, manually assessed and is the de facto tool for mission vehicle control for changing and holding pieced together before any further planning and mine countermeasures position and heading, moving relative action could be taken. This resulted in for twelve of the world’s navies, whilst to a target and cruising at a constant time-consuming processing, putting SeeTrack CoPilot and SeeTrack speed and heading. front-line operators at risk. AutoTracker have seen the company partner with leading oil and gas By providing these capabilities, SeeTrack Military, SeeByte’s smart corporations such as BP, Chevron operators can focus on the task at hand software solution for the military, and Subsea 7 to provide unsurpassed with a higher level of confidence in the provides users with the capability to control for remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) duties.

Why Use Smart Software? Fast, safe and reliable operations are key to producing cost-effective and productive missions – a fundamental requirement for sub-sea industries. SeeByte’s smart software has led the way in providing these capabilities, saving customers money and valuable man-hours.

Such technology lessens the risk of human error by providing a level of autonomy and control to UUV’s, allowing accurate and responsive SeeTrack CoPilot used to orbit a bottom target

UT2 July 2011 86 At home in the ocean Easytrak Nexus is the second generation USBL tracking system from Applied Acoustics. With Broadband Spread Spectrum technology at its heart, Nexus has the ability to transfer digital data from subsea to surface, all the while continuing to provide secure and stable positioning information in challenging environments. Versatile, flexible and simple to install and operate, Easytrak Nexus is tracking, made easy.

Nexus USBL Acoustic Tracking System Broadband Spread Spectrum Technology Digital Data Telemetry Multiple Target Tracking

+44 (0)1493 440355 : [email protected] : www.appliedacoustics.com

rapidly plan a mission, gather data and team with leading seabed-to-surface coming months, Subsea 7 look forward integrate it into one layered image of engineering, construction and services to bringing the first commercial AIV into the underwater space in a significantly company Subsea 7. Supporting operations towards the end of 2011. reduced time with fewer errors or false the development of Subsea 7’s first alarms. commercially autonomous inspection Neil Milne, Subsea 7’s Vice President vehicle (AIV), SeeByte has designed also commented about AIV: “With the Announcements made at the end and implemented the software required arrival of the AIV, subsea structures of last year by the US Department to dynamically control this hover- such as manifolds, wellheads and of Defense show continued support capable vehicle, which is to be used risers will be able to be inspected by for smart software solutions through routinely in life-of-field projects. this tether-less technology, significantly on-going funding of control software Following completion of extensive increasing flexibility and efficiencies for navy explosive ordnance disposal trials and further development over the throughout the life-of field cycle.” teams.

Todd Webber of Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, PACIFIC, commented, “Speedier and smarter decisions, enabled by the intuitive assistance provided by SeeByte’s smart software solutions, will significantly enhance the timeliness and effectiveness of our operations.”

Bob Black, SeeByte CEO, commented, “It is clear that the future of smart software will see UUVs used for fully autonomous inspections, for deeper operations and in harsher environments. SeeByte intend to lead the way through our innovative smart technologies to continue to make subsea operations more efficient and cost effective.”

Most recently, SeeByte has shown the significance of smart software solutions through working in a combined project SeeTrack AUV mission planning

87 UT2 July 2011 Synthetic Aperture Sonar: The Next Generation

AquaPix is the latest result of Marport Deep Sea Technologies drive to advance acoustic imaging science. This new interferometric synthetic aperture sonar is targeted at mine countermeasures, hydrography, seabed survey and other underwater imaging markets.

UT2 July 2011 88 Synthetic Aperture Sonar: The Next Generation

89 UT2 July 2011 Sonar Sonar AquaPix AquaPix is the latest product bathymetry. Effective swath widths Such advanced imaging capabilities to be based on Marport’s are up to 12 times water depth in will provide the critical level of Software Defined Sonar concept, shallow water, to a maximum width image detail required in missions an underwater acoustics of 600m. such as underwater ISR, mine technology platform that enables countermeasures, hydrographic advanced underwater sensing, This swath width more than doubles survey and search and recovery. communications and imaging that achieved by currently available products. high resolution bathymetric sonars. “Underwater imaging markets With a broad dynamic range and present very demanding The majority of Marport products excellent imaging performance, the requirements not only for sonar – ranging from single channel new sonar is ideal for applications performance but also overall image acoustic sensors to sophisticated where seabed image quality is quality,” said Karl Kenny military sonars – are supported from critical. a common electronics platform. “With AquaPix, we are again This step change in quality greatly leveraging our latest software It is priced to compete with premium facilitates the unambiguous detection defined sonar technologies to bring side scan sonars, but sets a new of small objects, such as mines and critical improvements in quality and standard for high-speed, high- underwater improvised explosive performance. resolution underwater imaging. devices; and changes in seabed texture such as that caused by oil AquaPix provides the underwater The sonar is frequency agile from spills. 200 – 400 kHz and offers range independent resolution of 2.5cm “Contemporary medical imaging Syntehtic Aperture Sonar by 2.5cm with co-registered 3D techniques often employ multi-aspect sensing to construct internal maps of Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) patients,” said Karl Kenny, President is a type of sonar in which Software Defined Sonar and CEO of Marport. sophisticated signal processing of successive acoustic pings is Software Defined Sonar “For example, a computerised axial utilized to form an image with technology is part of Marport’s tomography (CAT) scan moves a much higher resolution than unique development philosophy. probe around the patient and the conventional sonars. The image multi-aspect data is processed to formation can require aligning There are a number of different construct high resolution images of the echoes to less than 0.1 forms of sonar, all based on the the areas of interest. millimetres. same principle of a signal being sent out, reflected off an object, “In contrast, acoustic imaging of This is made possible through and bounced back to a receiver. objects on the ocean floor often recent advances in broadband The hardware governs the rely only on high resolution sensing sonar technology combined with specific properties of the device from limited aspect angles using adaptive focusing techniques data gathered on straight-line similar to those used in optics, but Marport argues that a better way trajectories.” performed in software rather than of sonar design is to develop in hardware. a hardware shell and allowing With the integration of AquaPix within the software to control the autonomous underwater vehicles, The practical realization of SAS, application. the system can reconstruct images on surface ships and underwater taking advantage of sonar sensor vehicles, is one of the most This simplifies design, lowers data with multi-aspect diversity. significant advances in ocean production costs and shortens systems engineering in recent the time-to-market for new sonar It is expected that a future times. Modern SAS systems products. The software-centric application of AquaPix will be circular provide an area coverage rate of architecture enables digital signal synthetic aperture sonar (CSAS) several square kilometres per hour processing to be executed in using techniques similar to medical with centimetric resolution which multiple cores allowing dynamic imaging to reconstruct scenes of enables an optical-like image reconfiguration and massively interest from data obtained over a full quality, greatly facilitating the parallel processing performance. circular aperture. recognition of mine-like objects.

UT2 July 2011 90 Sonar

imaging markets with a price tasks ranging from detection to cables for connectivity to a host competitive solution to replace and identification using video imagery. pressure vessel. overcome the performance shortfalls of conventional systems.” Sonar imagery is very challenging, The pre-amplifiers and sampling requiring even higher resolution rates exploit many years of Synthetic Aperture Sonar has the than video, due to the presence of SAS science and engineering potential for providing image quality speckle noise which is not present in development and achieve true 24 bit that is unmatched by current sonars video. AquaPix has been designed sampling with a power consumption and is a key technology whenever to address these requirements and of 150mW per channel. The transmit high resolution is required. The will therefore interface seamlessly electronics achieve 97% efficiency, technology can contribute towards with real-time automatic target with fine phase and amplitude the reduction of several capability recognition (ATR) applications. control. shortfalls identified by NATO navies, It is expected that real-time ATR such as difficulties in detecting will ultimately replace the human The modular arrays are designed and classifying maritime mines for operator to detect and classify to be integrated into a range of reasons of size, shape, material or mines. platforms such as autonomous location. underwater vehicles, towed vehicles The unique AquaPix sonar design and hull mounts. In addition, when combined with exploits a dual row frequency depth estimation techniques which multiplexed transducer array which The electronics design and exploit two SAS arrays with a large allows selection of the vertical wideband arrays facilitate vertical separation between them beamwidth of both the transmitter operation on multiple frequencies for high accuracy interferometry, and the receiver on the fly in order to simultaneously, for multipath SAS can deliver high quality 3D optimally suppress multipath. suppression and adaptive focusing, images of the seabed which are but also for target classification sufficient to meet or exceed even Two beams with different beam- purposes. the most demanding standards for widths are transmitted at the same hydrographic surveys today. time, at different frequencies, The embedded computer provides and the best beam is dynamically increased data throughput for Furthermore, a by-product of SAS selected by frequency filtering, a faster image processing, a reduced is a highly accurate ground velocity technique which is directly inspired “click-to-capture” time for improved estimate which is of great interest from orthogonal frequency division sonar imaging response, and for underwater vehicle navigation multiplexing (OFDM) used in radio lower power consumption for applications, to further limit the drift communications for the same increased operational endurance of aided inertial navigation systems purpose. when deployed on autonomous and to ensure the positional accuracy underwater vehicles. requirements of the IHO standards The AquaPix sonar solution is are met for surveys using underwater modular in design, using broadband Other features and capabilities of vehicles. piezocomposite ceramic arrays the AquaPixsystem include: which are fully encapsulated The results of recent modelling for robustness against harsh l Superior area coverage rate of sonar sensing requirements, environments. - meets IHO standards up to 12x undertaken by the NATO Undersea water depth Research Centre, the UK Defence The use of piezocomposite ceramics l Ultra high resolution seabed Science and Technology Laboratory, not only provides unsurpassed imagery - 2.5cm x 2.5cm resolution and other similar institutions in the bandwidth and flexibility, but also cell across full swath USA, have shown that to achieve delivers repeatability in manufacture l Precisely co-registered seabed a given level of target recognition of sonar arrays with precisely imagery and 3D bathymetric data a combination of a minimum signal defined beam patterns to provide the - real time geo-referenced data to noise ratio and along and across spatial filtering crucial to achieving l Unsurpassed shadow depth – track resolution is required. high performance. high image contrast due to multipath suppression This extends the Johnson criteria Transmit and receive electronics are l Modular and flexible system which provide the minimum fully encapsulated within the sonar architecture – low power system resolution requirements for different array modules, with small, flexible designed for all water depths .

91 UT2 July 2011 Sonar Sonar UUV L-3 Klein Associates has developed The UUV 3500 was developed as a vehicle (AUV), remotely operated a UUV 3500 high-resolution side- side-scan sonar with the benefit of vehicle (ROV) and UUV markets. scan sonar for unmanned underwater an advanced bathymetry payload for vehicles (UUVs). the growing autonomous underwater L-3’s UUV 3500 product line leverages

UT2 July 2011 92 Sonar

powerful, state-of-the-art multi-channel exceed the performance of standard L-3 Klein’s proprietary wide-band processing electronics, offering both multi-beam echo sounders. technology for long range and high photo-quality side-scan imagery resolution while operating at lower and swath bathymetry that together In addition, the new system uses power.

93 UT2 July 2011 Sonar Sonar Finding the body

Retrieving bodies and related items from the seafloor is important for those left behind after human tragedies at sea and is essential for investigations. Locating and retrieving valuable evidence can be critical for inquest or trial, yet finding objects underwater is not always an easy task.

At the Ocean Business exhibition in Southampton, UK, sonar experts from Kongsberg and MacArtney demonstrated how synchronised viewing of the same area with two sets Kongsberg rotating sonar head was pinpointed for further identification. of sonar eyes optimised sonar aided placed on a tripod and lowered into search and recovery. the harbour basin. Once a suspected target has been located, it needs to be identified. Search areas can stretch over wide 360deg sweeps soon identified key Using divers with lights and cameras distances and pinpointing the exact references, including the harbour wall, to identify a target can be problematic location requires both large-scale vessels moored, entering and leaving in deep or turbid waters. sweeping and fine-detail searching. the harbour and an unidentified object – the simulated body. Poor visibility can significantly affect Poor visibility can also be a hindrance the identification process by video or when searching with camera or by Product group manager, Bogdan diver search. In some areas, divers sight as turbid waters dramatically Constantinescu from Kongsberg are barely able to see further than reduce the viewable field. Mesotech, demonstrated how their arm’s length. readings on the screen relayed Sonar systems are used to survey detailed information about the size Mike Sawkins from MacArtney target areas and during the and shape of the object and how demonstrated the advantage of using demonstration in Southampton, a the object can be geographically the DIDSON sonar system for close- up identification in turbid waters. Once identified by the fixed, rotating sonar head, the DIDSON moved in to gain more detailed information about the subject.

Detailed, near-video quality sonar imaging revealed the body in more detail – and when mounted on an ROV or in the diver held version, even closer study reveals even greater detail. Such detail is also important for identifying potential related evidence on the seafloor.

Searching and retrieving objects from underwater crime or tragedy scenes can be made more effective by combining the strengths of two different types of sonar systems.

The demonstration of the two sonar systems side-by-side, reflected how combining the two types facilitate the search, locate and identification process, making retrieving vital evidence from under water, precise Preparing the dummy for sonic identification and efficient.

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Sentinel Contract

Sonardyne has won a multi-million dollar contract from It has been led by Marine and Remote Sensing systems integrator Westminster International for the Solutions Ltd (MARSS) and has been designed to supply of a multiple-head, networked Sentinel Intruder provide a cost-effective and simple-to-operate maritime Detection System. The contract represents one of the domain awareness solution. The system is available largest ever orders for Sentinel which will be used as for the operational protection for ports, oil and gas part of a waterside infrastructure security system in the platforms, commercial shipping and superyachts. Middle East. The Middle East installation is being presented as a When installed, the complete system will include a large milestone in the development of Sentinel as both an number of Sentinel diver detection sonars integrated expeditionary system and as a multi-sensor installation with surface radar and thermal Imaging cameras. The for the permanent protection of fixed assets. Sentinel contract follows a lengthy tender process followed by is currently the underwater surveillance system at over major system performance trials in April 2011. 30 sites around the world with more than 60 systems having been sold since the first was delivered in January These demonstrated the integration of all of the above 2009. and below water sensors into NIDAR, which is an innovative maritime domain awareness system that The Sentinel range of underwater sonars now features combines all of the sensor data with AIS and satellite three different platforms including the Sentinel 1500, information. The data is then presented on a single a long-range system capable of tracking underwater tactical display with networked access and control of threats out to 1500m with interfaces especially suited to countermeasures. trained sonar operators.

NIDARis the result of a multi-million Euro, multi-agency The Sentinel 900 is the original and most widely used European Union Framework 7 research programme. underwater surveillance sonar in the world.

Echoscope in Spain HarborGuard

UTE Langosteira is a consortium involved in one of the Klein Associates (L-3 Klein) announced the first largest port expansion projects currently being undertaken. deliveries of its HarborGuard integrated waterside The project, situated on the north western coast of Spain, security and surveillance system for a major US security consists of forming a 240ha deepwater shipping basin upgrade programme. protected by a man-made breakwater running for almost 3.5km across the bay. With its ability to provide immediate alerts and updated threat positions, L-3’s HarborGuard system is a key Detailed civil engineering works have been carried out to component of new security measures ensure this advanced breakwater will withstand the forces throughout the United States that of the large Atlantic swells that periodically strike this area. provide continuous coverage and monitoring of all surface activity around On the seaward side, the breakwater is being formed dams, with special attention on security using 150t concrete armouring blocks. On the inward zones to protect critical infrastructure. side, it is designed to have thousands of 52t rectangular concrete blocks placed in a wall-like arrangement to a HarborGuard solves the unique depth of about 14m. challenges of providing security to dams that have dramatic changes in Placing these blocks underwater was a great challenge water levels. which the engineers met by turning to CodaOctopus and the Echoscope 3D real-time ie, 4D high-definition Unlike traditional radar systems multibeam sonar. that need constant mechanical and electrical adjustments to compensate Since testing and subsequently purchasing the system, for any water level changes, their productivity and accuracy for block placement HarborGuard features specialised has almost trebled. More importantly, due to the now products and software that allows it to infrequent use of divers to check alignment, there have easily accommodate changing water been no reported safety issues. levels. HarborGuard

95 UT2 July 2011 Sonar Sonar Multiple Corers Gulf of Bothnia OSIL (Ocean Scientific International Ltd) has Fugro awarded EUR 3.1 million hydrographic survey received an order for a specially modified contract by the Finnish and Swedish Hydrographic Offices Mega Multiple corer for use in a local research programme. OSIL’s range of Multiple Corers are Fugro has been awarded a €3.1 million hydrographic the only way of collecting a truly undisturbed survey contract by the Finnish and Swedish Hydrographic sediment sample from the seabed. Each of the four Offices for a 13,000 km2 area taking in shipping routes corers, Mega, Maxi, Midi and Mini, provide a simple between Sweden and Finland, in the Gulf of Bothnia, Baltic and reliable way of collecting the most accurate Sea. sample possible. The areas to be surveyed in the summer of 2011 are The corers use a unique hydrostatically damped within the Swedish and Finnish EEZ, but outside of each coring mechanism (penetration rate ~1 cm/s) to country’s territorial waters. Results from the survey will be attain the undisturbed sample. for updating nautical charts and associated navigational information, e.g. HELCOM routes. Water depths in the The hydrostatically damped head allows a true project area range from less than 10m to deeper than representative sample that has not been disturbed 130m. Fugro will use two vessels, both fitted with multi by the bow waves seen in front of traditional corers. beam echosounders of highest resolution.

In order to fully maximise its use, the modified corer Survey operations are expected to begin as soon as ice- has been extended to provide a longer core tube conditions allow, with an expected completion of acquisition length of 800 mm (standard length 600 mm), which in October 2011. will result in an increased sample for work/study. The project consists of separate contracts with both, The corers collect the undisturbed sediment the Finnish Transport Agency’s (FTA), and the Swedish sample together with overlying supernatant water, Maritime Administration (SMA) organisations. which provides a unique insight into the sediment water interface.

The rugged frame of the corers is made of 316 stainless steel and the core tubing itself of acrylic. With a deployment rate of approximately 1 metre HIPA and SIPS per second on the descent coupled with a retrieval rate at winch speed the corers are ideal for rapid CARIS has today released a 64-bit version of its assessment work. comprehensive hydrographic processing software HIPS and SIPS. OSIL’s corers are currently used worldwide by companies HIPS and SIPS 7.1 with 64-bit support will provide users such as IAEA, Petrobras, who have access to a 64-bit computer the ability to handle Altima, NOC, BP and The large multibeam sonar datasets even faster. This will University of Aberdeen for provide organizations with significant timesavings, which sampling in applications is crucial for marine surveying organizations that wish to related to environmental make efficiencies. impact assessment, geochemical analysis, 64-bit versions allow much more data to be loaded into interstitial waters and system memory, enabling operations to take place more biological survey. efficiently. In-house tests revealed that the CUBE surface creation and Merge processes are now 15-30% faster respectively.

HIPS and SIPS supports over 40 sonar and LiDAR formats, allowing it to process data from virtually any Mega Multiple system configuration. The software also includes the corer latest seafloor classification tools and workflows, allowing the optimum amount of information to be extracted from organizations’ seafloor measurements.

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S Boom By harnessing the combined Already recognised for producing overall versatility. power of three of their AA202 high resolution seabed profiles, the Boomer Plates to provide a single fusion of these three transducers As with all Applied Acoustics’ sub pulse, the Applied Acoustics’ S- delivers a source level high enough bottom systems, the S-Boom forms Boom System is re-defining the to significantly increase sub-bottom part of a modular package able to boundaries of shallow seismic penetration without loss of data operate from a number of energy surveying. quality. sources from the renowned CSP range. The fusion of these three Capable of operating at a maximum transducers delivers a source energy setting of 1000 Joules per For optimum results, the fast level high enough to significantly pulse, and firing at three pulses per charging CSP-S1200 power supply increase sub-bottom penetration second, the S-Boom has achieved has been designed as the energy without loss of data quality. penetration results of over 200mS source of choice for this system, through sand and limestone whilst although the system can operate By harnessing the combined delivering the high quality resolution just as well with a source from the power of three of their AA202 records expected from boomer larger CSP-S range. boomer plates to provide a single systems. pulse, the Applied Acoustics’ S- Furthermore, some existing Boom System is re-defining the The high repetition rates and variants of the CSP-D range can boundaries of shallow seismic pulse stability allow for faster also be used at lower settings and surveying. surveying, adding to the system’s longer pulse intervals

HIPA and SIPS

HarborGuard

97 UT2 July 2011

Sonar Sonar London Array With the return of their final survey vessel to Ramsgate, Emu Limited reports the successful completion of an 11-month series of geophysical surveys for the London Array Wind Farm.

Emu were commissioned to Colour shaded representations of the Multibeam bathymetry undertake a number of pre- construction surveys of the wind Emu used their high resolution farm site and export cable route, UXO/debris detection system, channel in the Thames estuary. to be sited in the outer Thames developed in 2009, which has since The wreck, which was previously Estuary some 20km from the Kent collected over 35 000km of data. undiscovered despite having been and Essex coasts. The Emu system offers developers passed over in previous years by maximum freedom with cable other surveys, is 45m long and Objectives included providing routing and turbine siting using lies in 4.5m of water. The hatch accurate spot-heights for turbine high precision data, which provides coamings and thwarts of the ship locations, providing pre-construction accurate location of dangers. Of are preserved and can be clearly baselines, environmental benefit to London Array, the system seen on the side-scan and swath assessments and the identification enables large areas to be surveyed sonar imagery gathered by Emu of possible wreck sites, pipelines, in relatively short periods. Limited. The wreck’s identity and seabed obstructions and other the circumstances surrounding its ferrous objects including UXO During their London Array windfarm loss are not yet known. around the site. geophysical survey, Emu Limited discovered a wreck on the seabed Emu’s RV Discovery located the For the final engineering survey in the approaches to Foulger’s Gat wreck, which lies just east of part of the planned export cable route. As a result a new Archaeological Avoidance Zone has been put in place. The cable will be re-routed to further west to avoid this zone and will require additional surveys of the new route. The anchor patterns for the installation vessels may also require some amendment.

Four vessels were employed during the survey, the Emu vessels Emu Surveyor, RV Discovery and Ceejay and the chartered Nab Cat II

Multibeam Bathymetry image of an unknown LondonArray Sidescan Wreck image: Klein 3000 and GeoAccoustics wreck on the London Array windfarm site Geoswath Plus bathymetry image of a previously uncharted wreck on the collected with a Reson 8125 hull mounted on London Array windfarm site. It is believed to be a Thames transport barge RV Discovery that has recently been uncovered by the highly mobile dunes in the area

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AUV Side Scan Gap Fill The newly updated P450-45 2D Imaging Sonar from BlueView Technologies, can now perform AUV side-scan sonar gap fill functions with Oceanic Imaging Consultants’ (OIC) GeoDAS product line.

BlueView recently upgraded the P450-45 with improved imagery detail, and extended the optimum range by 75% to 175m (574 ft.).

OIC recently completed integration of the new upgraded BlueView P450-45 2D Imaging Sonar, providing GeoDAS users with traditional side-scan nadir gap-fill, forward-looking navigation, and obstacle avoidance capabilities.

This translates to significantly reduced mission times by eliminating the overlapping runs associated with traditional AUV side- scan surveys to cover the nadir gap.

Using the BlueView forward-looker installed ahead of the side scan to fill the nadir gap gave us both an Screen shot of gap filling sonar alert system to survey ahead for possible hazards while eliminating the nadir gap” stated Thomas B. Reed added “By eliminating the nadir targets at nadir were detected, and Reed IV, President of Oceanic gap we would also increase survey eliminating the need to waste survey Imaging Consultants. efficiency, by guaranteeing that time running gap-filling lines.”

Navy Contract Tritech has been contracted to supply Ultra Electronics, the defence, security, transport and energy company, with a suite of sonar equipment over a twelve-month supply programme.

With delivery of the first consignment completed, Tritech is the sole supplier of the integrated homing sonar mounted on the German- designed ATLAS ELEKTRONIK Seafox. This is a one-shot mine disposal vehicle supplied to the Royal Navy by Ultra Electronics in support of its strategic mine hunting operations.

Mines are very cost-effective weapons which have the capability to quickly take out a substantially large and expensive warship or merchant vessel.

Tritech’s industry-recognised sonar equipment is the first choice for many NATO Navies mine-countermeasure and neutralisation operations. Seafox

99 UT2 July 2011 Positioning Positioning Ranger 2 to Ashtead PPP Two Sonardyne Ranger 2 USBL company’s latest sixth generation C-Nav, the premier supplier of (Ultra-Short BaseLine) acoustic (6G) acoustic instruments, international GNSS Precise Point positioning systems have Wideband 2 signal architecture and Positioning (PPP) services, has been purchased by Ashtead Lodestar inertial navigation sensors. announced thele, UHF broadcast Technology in Singapore as part These technologies enable multiple corrections module, the acclaimed of a multi-million pound investment subsea targets to be positioned with decimetric C-Nav worldwide programme in the latest subsea survey-grade accuracy in any water Correction Services and centimetric technology. depth while reducing operational C-Nav RTt LAN, USB and 1PPS as time and vessel costs. standard. Ashtead Technology has chosen the high specification Ranger 2 Customers have a choice of Pro variant and complementary During a recent visit to Sonardyne’s single frequency (<0.6 m) or dual Wideband Mini Transponders which offices in Singapore, Neil Christie, frequency (<0.1 m) performance are now available to rent in Asia for regional director of Ashtead receivers. Four slots are available the first time. Technology, was enthusiastic about for GNSS correction modules and the benefits Ranger 2 will offer his future expansion. Ranger 2 is designed for deep customers in the region. water, long range tracking of underwater targets such as ROVs He said, “The Ranger 2s we now and also position referencing have on the shelf are easy to set-up for dynamically positioned (DP) and use and deliver the highest BGL-1 Pipeline vessels. levels of precision and performance. The equipment can be quickly Veripos has been awarded a The new version builds on the installed on vessels-of-opportunity long-term contract by Petrobras simplicity and performance of so that our clients can get up and for provision of positioning Sonardyne’s original Ranger running with their subsea projects services in support of the system by adding support for the without delay.” Brazilian state-owned company’s BGL-1 pipeline installation barge operations.

Under the two-year contract, which includes an option for a further two years, Veripos will provide the 122-metre dynamically-positioned barge with continuous choice of its all-purpose Standard, Ultra and Differential Glonass positioning services. These are supported by by LD2-G2 mobile receiver equipment and Verify QC software for real-time position and quality control information.

The contract is the second to have recently been awarded to Veripos by Petrobras following an agreement last year to provide the Brazilian organisation with comparable positioning services in support of rig moves and 15 vessels engaged in pipelay, anchor-handling and flowline installation undertakings. Sonardyne Ranger 2 USBL

UT2 July 2011 100 101 UT2 July 2011 U n d e r w ate r Vehicles WW1 Submarine discovered A REMUS 100 AUV has assisted The REMUS vehicle and the EOD in the discovery of the World War I divers descended 40m in order to

Underwater Vehicles German submarine U-106, which had explore the area, where a brass plate been missing since October 1917. bearing the serial number of the The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN), submarine was eventually discovered. located the missing submarine off the coast of Terschelling in the After further exploration as well as Netherlands. confirmations from the German Ministry of Defense and the families of crew In October 2009 the RNLN members, the submarine was positively hydrographic survey vessel HNLMS identified as the German U-106, which Snellius located an unidentified object perished during the First World War. while charting shipping lanes. This was followed two months later by an The German U-106 was one of the inspection by a MCMV, the HNLMS 329 submarines serving in the Imperial Maassluis. German Navy in World War I. It was commissioned on July 28, 1917 under A wire-guided remotely operated the command of Captain-Lieutenant vehicle, designed to locate mines, Hans Hufnagel. detected the shape of the vessel. The discovery prompted a series of The U-106 is noted for sinking the HMS research missions, which employed Contest during the First Battle of the Hydroid’s REMUS 100 as well as Atlantic on September 18, 1917, and divers from the Royal Netherlands also for damaging the City of Lincoln Navy’s Diving and Explosive a 5867t steamer. The U-106 was lost Ordnance Disposal Group (EOD). after striking a mine in October, 1917. The U-106 submarines

Critical Design Review Hydroid has passed Critical Design The recognition of CDR is the next for processing and dissemination of Review (CDR) tests to provide littoral milestone in Hydroid’s contract to these data. battlespace sensing (LBS) AUVs provide SPAWAR with REMUS 600 and associated technologies to the AUVs equipped with technologies for This technology will enable superior Space and Naval Warfare Systems meteorological and oceanographic decision making based on information Command (SPAWAR). data collection, as well as technologies that is collected by a system of networked sensors and shared through a network of interoperable Naval and Joint networks information systems.

The ultimate end user for the contract is the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO), who acquires the relevant data and provides specialized services to all elements within the Department of Defense.

The work will be performed at Hydroid’s headquarters in Pocasset, MA, and the engineering development model (EDM) phase is expected to be completed by April 2012.

If all options are exercised, deliveries of LBS-AUVs will continue through 2017.

UT2 July 2011 A Remus 600 AUV being102 recovered Sub-Atlantic (Mojave) – UCi 3_11_Sub-Atlantic (FP) 11/05/2011 15:11 Page 1

E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected]

103 UT2 July 2011 U n d e r w ate r Vehicles AIV Launched Subsea 7 has completed the developed to cover the requirements in which a field inspection campaign Underwater Vehicles design and build of the first of general visual inspection. It would use three or more AIVs to commercial autonomous inspection comprises the latest sonar technology optimise mission coverage. All the data vehicles (AIV), a technology which coupled with high quality video will be recovered and sent ashore for has the potential to revolutionise cameras and low power LED lighting. processing, only requiring a minimal life-of-field projects.This is the first deployment and maintenance crew part of an ambitious plan to develop A significant software integration onboard. a series of hover-capable vehicles and development project has been able to carry out general visual running in parallel with the hardware Another idea concerns a similar inspection tasks, possibly leading development, and this too has used inspection campaign in which smaller to fully capable work-class sized the most advanced techniques to packages of work can be undertaken by intervention vehicles. manage, debug and control the a single AIV, which would be deployed development. from a vessel already within the field A combined project team comprising hardware developers and operational personnel from Subsea 7 and software developer Seebyte has been working together to deliver this first vehicle.

Now that the design and build of the vehicle is complete and the in-water trialling has been concluded, the commissioning phase is underway. The first commercial AIV is expected to be available later this year.

Through the development process, many technical challenges have been overcome. The vehicle’s The initial appearance has changed from the AIV will be capable original design concept, following of undertaking general visual significant work done using the inspection (GVI) of subsea structures latest computational fluid dynamics such as manifolds, wellheads and The newly designed AIV modelling to optimise the vehicle’s risers, within offshore fields. These will shape with regard to stability and carry 3D sonars and cameras. carrying out construction work using manoeuvrability, while conserving standard work-class ROVs. the onboard power resources. During a field development, there are some basic tasks that the AIV Elsewhere, a more permanent The vehicle is fully autonomous will have to carry out during every deployment could be from a fixed and can operate for a 24hr period mission, and others that will be platform or floating production vessel. It on a single charge of its lithium- mission specific. It is important to note would be ready to be deployed whenever ion batteries, which are housed that, unlike a seabed survey, where a specific visual inspection or planned in pressure vessels within the an AUV’s task is to find out what is on inspection campaign is required – all at hull. These batteries have been the seabed, the AIV will be deployed the operator’s convenience without the specifically designed for the vehicle into a field development where the need for a vessel mobilisation. and provide a more cost-effective seabed infrastructure is relatively well solution to pressure-tolerant understood. Future developments beyond this initial batteries, with a lower capital cost Mark 1 AIV are already being considered. and much improved cycle lives. The designers envisage a number These will include the ability to carry out of deployment scenarios. One is the contact measurement, and eventually, The sensor package has been multi-AIV or ‘lobster pot’ scenario light intervention tasks.

UT2 July 2011 104 THE ULTIMATE TOOL FOR HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGERY AND BATHYMETRY

EM 2040

EM 2040 - High resolution multibeam echo sounder • Frequency range: 200 to 400 kHz • Close to photographic image • Allows for flexible installation • Swath coverage: 140 degree single/200 degree dual system • Multiple swaths in the water at one time for higher alongtrack density and higher survey speeds • FM chirp allowing much longer range capability • Active roll, pitch and yaw stabilization • Nearfield focusing on both transmit and receive • Designed for ROV, AUV and Surface deployment • Depth rated to 6000m Seafloor Information System - SIS

• Easy operation of all echo sounders • Realtime control and visualization • 3D terrain modelling in real time THE FULL PICTURE • Complete suit of quality assurance tools • Automatic calibration • Support of background maps • Import of XYZ-data from other sources www.km.kongsberg.com 105 UT2 July 2011 U n d e r w ate r Vehicles Canyon Offshore Subsea 7 IHC Engineering Business, a part of Canyon, having previously supplied Cetix, based in Stavanger IHC Merwede group, has recently a 95 tonne SWL system for the i- Norway, has been awarded

Underwater Vehicles been awarded a contract for the Trencher, which was built in 2008. a contract by Subsea 7 for supply of a 35 launch and recovery delivery of an active heave system (LARS) to Canyon Offshore. Sales and Marketing Director, Toby compensated umbilical reel and The bespoke A-Frame system will be Bailey comments on this award, hydraulic power unit for the new used to launch and recover a new inspection, maintenance and build trenching ROV. “We are delighted to secure this repair vessel. order - the i-trencher handling IHC EB engineers have been system again demonstrated the The contract confirms Cetix designing and building launch and reliability and performance of IHC position as a strong supplier recovery systems for over 25 years. EB launch and recovery systems. to the business segment of These have been used to handle a We look forward to continuing to electrical driven umbilical reels wide range of equipment from ROVs work closely with Canyon on this and winches, said Ragnar to the largest cable ploughs. new project.” Sach, Vice President sales and marketing at Cetix. All of the systems are designed to The new LARS will be able to maximise productivity, provide a long launch and recover the 35 tonne The scope includes engineering, and reliable service life and minimise vehicle in up to Sea State 5. design, manufacturing and through life operational costs by testing of the winch, umbilical careful design and high quality The system will be designed and hydraulic power unit. construction. over the coming months, before assembly and testing at IHC EB’s Cetix already has an established This award will mark the second Port of Tyne support base for track record as a supplier for LARS that IHC EB has built for delivery in 2012. IMR and ROV vessels.

The contract has an 8-figure i-Trencher Launch value and will be completed and Recovery System built in 2008 within quarter 1 of 2012.

MASH MacArtney Middle East has secured an order for a MASH type hydraulic winch for Fugro in Egypt.

The winch, which is based on a standard MacArtney MASH design, will be installed on a working sonar vessel and used to control launch, operation and recovery of sonar equipment.

MASH winches are specially designed to handle industry standard large work class ROVs. They are electronically controlled and designed to

UT2 July 2011 106 AN UNDERWATER TECHNOLOGY STORY:

March 2009 near Texel, Netherlands “Protecting more than the sea floor... Subsea 7 You would be forgiven for doubting that an invention could half fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for fishing trawlers while improving the catch and protecting the sea floor. But a recent innovation in the Netherlands does just that.

Fisherman trawling the seafloor for flat fish can use up to 20,000 litres of fuel a week dragging the network of heavy chains across the seafloor, scraping up the flat fish into enormous nets. With the environmental cost of emissions and financial cost of fuel, halving fuel consumption must be every fisherman’s dream.

This new technology does away with fuel-thirsty chain dragging along the seafloor. With the help of underwater electricity specialists, engineers designed a system that emits small electronic pulses. Streamers on aerofoil shaped booms glide just above the seafloor and tickle the fish with these pulses so they swim up from the seabed into the path of gliding nets.

Electrical fishing could change the way we catch flatfish and benefit us all by slashing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide discharge.”

MacArtney - dedicated to the underwater industry

Read more at

WWW.MACARTNEY.COM/PROTECTING

MASH hold a range of armoured lift umbilicals with a full drum line pull of 15t to 18t.

The MASH 5000 winch will be delivered to Fugro in July 2011.

The standard MASH 5000 winch model is adapted to suit Fugro, with a specially sized drum.

MacArtney’s MASH hydraulic winch

107 UT2 July 2011 Underwater Vehicles GOSL Lyyn/VideoRay Sub-Atlantic and SeeByte have Having never piloted an ROV prior LYYN has shipped its thousandth unit successfully integrated and delivered to this demo, Emanuel Ekpeyong, to long-term partner VideoRay. It will be

Underwater Vehicles SeeTrack CoPilot with a Sub-Atlantic CEO of GOSL, was given the integrated into a delivery of a Pro 4 CD Mohawk to Geodetic Offshore Services opportunity to discover for himself 300 ROV system and delivered to the New Limited (GOSL) of Nigeria. the advantages using SeeTrack London naval submarine support facility in software. Groton, Connecticut. GOSL recently purchased the Mohawk inspection class ROV to offer offshore “I was very pleased to see for “The relationship with VideoRay goes pipeline surveys, inspection surveys myself how easy it was to way back in LYYN history,” said Bengt and tooling capabilities in order to control the ROV using Sahlberg, president of LYYN. It started support the growing needs of their SeeTrack,” commented recommending and selling the LYYN clients. Ekpeyong. T38 as early as June 2007 and were one of the first to implement the LYYN Realising the benefits of the solutions “The concentration and Hawk Board in their products. offered by SeeByte’s SeeTrack skill required to manually CoPilot software, GOSL has also manoeuvre the vehicle l VideoRay recently sold an ROV purchased a SeeTrack licence to shows what a difficult task to the Ottawa county sheriff’s office accompany the Mohawk. The system pilots are faced with, and in Michigan. It will be used for was demonstrated and accepted at the by simply adding SeeTrack diver support. The divers train for poor Sub-Atlantic test tank. CoPilot, the mission becomes a conditions such as zero visibility, under the much simpler and efficient act. ice, in river currents, and during night dives. “It was great to have GOSL witness its new SeeTrack CoPilot software “I am looking forward to providing With the addition of a VideoRay Pro 4 in action with their Mohawk ROV,” this capability to my pilots and also PS ROV system (specifically configured said Ioseba Tena, sales manager at improving the standard of service for underwater port security and law SeeByte. “SeeTrack CoPilot offers available to oil companies.” enforcement applications), the sheriff a range of benefits for ROV service divers will have an added safety and providers, and the intuitive interface “This has been an interesting security measure, not to mention the ability makes piloting the ROV a simple point- project and we have worked hard to quickly deploy for inspection (or even and-click task. This means that the to ensure that GOSL are satisfied recovery) in emergency situations. performance and data gathered during with their system,” said John subsea inspections is much improved.” Ferguson from Sub-Atlantic. The contract includes the submersible (depth rated to 1000ft (305m) and weighing around 13lbs without accessories), and a Pro 4 control panel which integrates all of the accessory software, ROV software and controls, viewing monitors, and hand controller into one lightweight Pelican 1550 hard case. There is also a manipulator arm for evidence (and sometimes victim) retrieval, an integrated 15in daylight viewable video monitor, and 630ft (190m) of segmented plug and play tether (as opposed to one continuous length).

Because the visibility in the lakes of Ottawa county can be quite poor, the ROV system was enhanced with navigation and location aids including a P900- 90 multibeam imaging sonar, the smart tether, non-acoustic ROV positioning system, and a LYYN real-time video enhancement feature.

Right and above: A SubAtlantic Mohawk A VideoRay Pro 4

UT2 July 2011 108 C-Innovation Schilling Robotics has won a number The UHD system of orders in recent months. will be supplied with a 1500m C-Innovation has placed a contract capacity for multiple ROV systems in support XE tether of its expanding international management operations. This contract includes the system (TMS), launch supply of both HD and UHD model and recovery system, systems that will be deployed globally, and topside controls including Brazil and Singapore. equipment.

This continued expansion of In April, the company C-Innovation’s ROV fleet with a mix received an order for of the HD and UHD systems will three new ROV systems broaden its regional capabilities and from Subsea 7. This target markets, especially with the includes a 150hp, 3000m addition of the mid-size HD system rated ACV ROV system that complements C-Innovation’s and two 50hp, 4000m rated existing fleet of over 25 UHDs. HD ROV systems.

Two ROV systems were also ordered The ROV system is an addition by specialist subsea service company to Subsea 7’s existing fleet of CSA International DOF Subsea. The award is for one construction vehicles and will be CSA International (CSA) has 200hp UHD ROV system and one mobilised on Subsea 7’s new pipelay/ acquired a state-of-the-art 150hp HD system. Deliveries of the heavy lift vessel, the Seven Borealis. inspection class remotely operated ROVs are scheduled to commence vehicle (ROV) system to support in the third quarter of 2011. This Incorporating advanced power sharing its offshore environmental and order follows a September 2010 technology, the ACV is capable of scientific fleet. commitment from DOF that now performing the most demanding expands their fleet to include eight subsea construction tasks and has The ROV is now on its first project Schilling ROVs. a comprehensive track record for in the Gulf of Mexico. Due to its delivering both performance and compact size, the ROV system is More recently, Schilling has reliability. easily shipped to both domestic announced an order for eight HD and foreign locations in a cost- ROV systems from integrated At the same time, the company effective manner and is able to offshore oil and gas solutions provider announced an order for a new 150hp, work from a variety of vessels. EMAS, the operating arm of Ezra 3000m-rated HD ROV system from Holdings Limited. GMB USA, for delivery to the Republic “We’ve utilised ROV systems for of Korea (ROK) navy. many years in our segment of the The HD systems will be rated for industry, but only recently have we 4000m and will be supplied with This order reflects the expansion been able to pull together all of the 850m capacity tether management of the ROK Navy’s salvage and components for HD imaging and systems. EMAS will install the HD rescue operations. The exceptional archiving in a cost-effective and ROV systems onboard its subsea performance, reliability and portable package,” vessels in support of the company’s configurability of the HD results in an said Kevin Peterson, expanding international offshore ideal solution for such applications. CEO of CSA. construction business. “The HD has been designed to be a Most recently, Schilling compact, yet powerful and flexible received an order for a new system that can be configured for a 200shp, 4000m rated UHD ROV variety of market applications,” said system from Global Industries for Tyler Schilling, chief executive officer SeaBotix delivery in the third quarter of 2011. for Schilling Robotics. ROV

109 UT2 July 2011 ROVs

Panther XT Plus AC ROV Applications Remote Vehicles Trinidad-based Offshore Technology of ownership, including needing a Micro-ROV manufacturer AC-CESS Solutions Limited (OTSL) has ordered quarter of the deck space and far has reported more contracts with the new Saab Seaeye Panther XT fewer crew than a hydraulic vehicle. its underwater inspection system. Plus electric work ROV. With ten These include powerful thrusters, 50% more power The configuration chosen by OTSL and swimming 30% faster than any includes a Seaeye wide-angle black Dong/Inspectahire other electric work ROV of its class, and white low light camera and a Dong Energy has purchased and OTSL says the Panther XT Plus will Kongsberg colour zoom camera, deployed two AC-ROV systems on greatly extend its operational role in together with pan and tilt system; its North Sea-based Siri platform. the offshore oil and gas industry. a Tritech Super SeaKing sonar; a The mission involved entering a five- and six-function heavy duty seafloor chamber attached to the “It means we can target both deep- manipulator with grabber; a water- platform’s oil storage tank to inspect shelf support work and shallow-water jetting system, a Cygnus ultrasonic dangerous cracks that resulted in it work with an ROV resource across thickness gauge with CP contact being taken offline. a wide range of tasks, including probe, BlueView imaging sonar and inspection maintenance and repair, state-of- the-art Visual Soft DVR and Operated by Inspectahire, a pipe and platform inspection, drilling inspection software. 120m tethered AC-ROV system support and emergency response.” was launched from the hydraulic For pipe survey work the ROV manipulators of a Fugro Rovtech With the company specialising in has two, three-function hydraulic work-class ROV through purpose marine construction, maintenance camera booms, a wheeled skid and cut holes in the wall of the damaged and subsea services from the Gulf of manipulator system, plus two Seaeye chamber. At 80–100m water depth Mexico, through the Caribbean and cameras. the work-class ROV fed the down into Latin America, the ability AC-ROV’s tether through the hole of the new Panther to hold steady in A tether management system is as it flew into the chamber. It was strong shallow-water currents makes included with 200m of tether cable deployed in this manner for three it ideal for a wide range of work and and its own camera. 10hr sessions. Its role was to map survey tasks as well as deep water the congested internal structure of operations over 1000m. Also supplied is a control container the chamber. and a launch and recovery A-frame Operations business leader, Antonio with 1100m umbilical cable capacity, British Geological Survey: Donawa said that the Panther a certified bullet assembly and lock The British Geological Survey (BGS) XT Plus will give the company an latch assembly with snubber rotator. is the lead European operator in the ROV resource with the work class Integrated Ocean Drilling Program capability of a small hydraulic work (IODP) to explore the Earth’s ROV – yet at a much lower cost history and structure as recorded in seafloor sediments and rocks, as well as monitoring sub-seafloor The Panther XT Plus environments.

BGS purchased a 120m tether AC-ROV with slip ring, two-function manipulator and custom reel. The system has been successfully deployed on the IODP New Jersey Shallow Shelf Expedition, 40 miles offshore Delaware.

The AC-ROV completed multiple dives to inspect seabed debris and pipes deployed during the research drilling programme.

Cameron Cameron Subsea Systems, supplier of subsea production systems, has purchased a 40m tethered AC-ROV system for use at its Leeds site.

UT2 July 2011 110 Remote Vehicles

Historically, rented ROV underwater inspection equipment had been deployed capability. The vehicle has to monitor subsea equipment being successfully deployed during pressure testing. for culvert inspection with Cameron went ahead with British Waterways, with the purchase after witnessing Terebro now an approved AC- the AC-ROV’s market-leading ROV operator. mobility, picture quality, easy of control and ability to ingress all Marine Scotland Science but the smallest spaces in the Marine Scotland Science has a fabric of the targets. mission to manage Scotland’s sea and freshwater resources. Terebro To do this, it required an ROV Terebro is a specialist plant hire for freshwater operations. company serving the utilities, civil engineering, construction The 100m tethered AC-ROV and land management markets. with slip ring and rear view It has purchased a 100m camera will be deployed tethered AC-ROV with slip ring in freshwater locations for An AC-ROV vehicle and rear view camera. It will pollution and marine life be used to extend Terebro’s monitoring across Scotland.

111 UT2 July 2011 ROV

Remote Vehicles Barcode Pinpoints Fish Stocks

On a dark stormy night, when fish farmers lay awake wondering if their huge kilometre-long cages, filled with tons of stock, are drifting away in the open sea, one company has found the answer to a good night’s sleep.

Tasmanian-based Dive Works has integrated three complimentary technologies, including barcode technology, into a comprehensive solution that will reduce the risk to investment and maritime safety, of cages coming adrift.

The three systems include verification of anchorage, mapping to monitor a shift in location; and a check on the integrity of links and shackles.

When setting the anchor points, Dive Works use a Saab Seaeye Falcon ROV to observe the procedure and ensure the correct positioning and soundness of the anchorage.

Next the latitude and longitude of each anchor point is recorded into a mapping system. A reflector with a barcode is located at each anchor point so that the ROV can roam around making routine checks and alert the operator to any shift in a location.

Ongoing, the Falcon ROV is used to check the thickness of chains and shackles using ultrasonic thickness technology, ready to replace those at risk before they break. The UT probe fitted to the ROV does not need to touch the metal part to capture a reading and transfer the data topside, where time, date and thickness is displayed and logged.

Dive Works chose the top selling Saab Seaeye Falcon for its power to hold steady in strong cross currents whilst undertaking delicate tasks or filming, yet is small enough to be manhandled. It is also packed with technological innovations, such as intelligent ‘plug-and-go’ electronics Essential to check integrity of chains and shackles

UT2 July 2011 112 Commencing operations

that enable different tooling to be added and changed as needed.

With fish farming a growing industry across the world and yields of 90 million tonnes a year, Dive Works’ MD Andrew Ford sees the Net Secure System as having a global appeal.

No other integrated system of its type exists, and is born from Andrew Ford’s long experience in using ROVs in the fish farming industry.

He was first to devising ingenious ways to solve problems that had beset the early industry, particularly removing morts and keeping nets clean from growth to allow the free flow of water. Inventively he created specialist tooling that attached to the Falcon and took advantage of the vehicle’s thruster power and easy tool attachment capability.

Ford was early to spot the advantages of using ROVs in the fish farming industry and was able to identify those tasks best suited to an underwater vehicle rather than his diving team. He was particularly attracted to the fact an ROV can work tirelessly and safely.

In his new Net Secure System he has again found clever ways to exploit advanced ROV technology to solve underwater problems.

113 UT2 July 2011 Diving Diving Nepsys

Neptune has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Singapore’s Unidive Marine Services Pte Ltd (Unidive) for the marketing and application of the NEPSYS technology in Singapore and South East Asia.

Under the terms of the agreement, Neptune and Unidive will collaborate on the investigation, tender and execution (where appropriate) of projects using the NEPSYS technology.

For its part, Neptune will provide a range of services including engineering and technical support; welding certification and approval; habitat fabrication; and NEPSYS welder divers. All patent and intellectual property considerations associated with the technology will remain with Neptune.

In return, Unidive will provide a range of local diving support and project management services.

Neptune’s Group Engineering Services Manager, Dave Husband, said the agreement would help to raise the profile of NEPSYS in South East Asia and allow for rapid project deployment within the region.

“The South East Asian region holds a number of potential opportunities for the application of the NEPSYS welds that satisfy AWS 3.6 Class Neptune Pacific will sell the technology. Unidive’s industry A and various other structural vessel for a total consideration of reputation for subsea and topside dry welding codes and has a US$14,025,000. The proceeds IRM expertise combined with its proven track record in numerous will allow Neptune to eliminate commitment to workplace safety applications including platform and outstanding term debt. bodes well for a mutually beneficial floating facility repair, ship repairs, relationship with Neptune,” he jacket strengthening, jack-up and Neptune’s Acting CEO, Robin King, added. pipeline repairs. said “The emerging potential for ongoing operational losses against NEPSYS is Neptune’s proprietary, l Neptune Marine Pacific the vessel following the cancellation class approved technology that (Neptune Pacific), has signed a of anticipated work scopes resulted produces a permanent surface Memorandum of Agreement with in the decision to sell being brought quality weld in an underwater PT Wintermar, of the Indonesian forward. environment. listed PT Wintermar Offshore Marine group, for the sale of the Neptune “Concurrently, we are investigating It consistently achieves quality Trident vessel. the establishment of an operational

UT2 July 2011 114 Diving

1000 dives from the Seven Atlantic The Seven Atlantic dive support equipment and the hyperbaric vessel has reached a major environment. milestone in achieving 1000 . dives without lost time incident The development of the integrated (LTI). The vessel which has control and monitoring system been in operation for a year is is based on established SCADA owned and built by Subsea 7 and (supervisory control and data encompasses a Divex designed acquisition) as well as PLC and built state-of-the art saturation (programmable logic controller) and system. HMI (human machine interface) systems. George Thomson, team lead – underwater vessel operations The dive system, which meets for Shell said: “The performance NORSOK standards has been of the Seven Atlantic has proved paramount during the design and to be fantastic after over one year build process. of operation. The success of our joint ventures is wholly attributable Divex worked closely with Subsea to the professional approach of 7 to ensure that the system has our personnel. been integrated successfully, which at times has been extremely As we look forward to further challenging. demands in the coming years, I am Safety, diver comfort, quality and confident that with the vessels and traceability are all benchmarks for teams in place, we will continue this and similar. to see ever more efficiencies and improvements in our combined The key features of the diving activities.” system onboard the vessel are: the chamber layout, enhanced diver The Divex designed and built dive living standards, dual hyperbaric life system includes ergonomically boats, bell configuration, bell location, designed divers’ living space as triplicate power supply, bell Launch well as SATCON, a computer and recovery system (LARS), control based control system providing rooms and offices, and the advanced automation of life support gas management systems.

agreement with Wintermar that would provide for collaboration and the potential for Neptune to utilise the vessel on future projects,” he added.

The sale value achieved for the Neptune Trident falls within the $12- $15 million valuation range that is indicative of current market rates.

The Neptune Trident has a written down value of $21.5 million giving rise to a loss on sale of approximately $7.5 million that will be recorded in the current half year Hyperbaric accommodation report. in the Seven Atlantic

115 UT2 July 2011 Installing platform riser and pipeline tie-in Oceaneering Subsea Projects Group Diving division has installed 7 riser clamps, 28 riser and bottom subsea spool sections and 39 subsea flanges. The tie-ins were supported with 64 concrete mats and 138 pallets of bags over 8 crossings. There were 0 incidents/ injuries during the 240 dives.

UT2 July 2011 116 117 UT2 July 2011 Diving Diving NSRS On 4 March 2011, the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) was formally granted the award of Full Operational Capability (FOC).

Designed for rapid world deployment in the event of a submarine accident, the system has been in service for over two years.

NSRS is a 3-nation collaborative programme providing the participants, France, Norway and the UK, with equal shares in a Submarine Rescue Capability.

The Divex designed and built TUP (Transfer Under Pressure) system has been designed to transfer up to 72 rescuees in two-double lock chambers and one transfer lock. Designed for careful decompression, the air- saturation system is equipped with decontamination and life support systems.

The NSRS system, of which the TUP is a major component, is capable of rescuing submariners who have ben trapped in submarines at depths of up to 600m below sea level.

Derek Clarke, Joint Managing Director at Divex stated: “The NATO Submarine Rescue System is the first fully air portable submarine rescue system to achieve full operational capability for unrestricted world wide use. Divex are proud to have developed and built the Transfer Under Pressure and Decompression facilities for this world leading system which demonstrably improves submariner safety.”

The FOC coincided with the start of at sea operations which has seen a full air-mobilisation of the Rescue and TUP system from Scotland to Norway.

UT2 July 2011 118 Diving

119 UT2 July 2011 Subsea Welding

Subsea Welding University reaches record deep sea welding Research at Cranfield University has led to new world record depths in deep sea subsea welding. The results will significantly impact the offshore pipeline industry across the oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors.

For depths up to 180msw divers may be used for subsea pipeline maintenance and repair, but below these depths, mechanical couplings and other remote welding techniques are necessary.

This research, carried out over a period of over 10 years, has enabled new depths of up to 940msw (metres of seawater) to be reached, over 600msw deeper than previous records.

The research was funded initially by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), who installed the world’s highest pressure dry hyperbaric welding chamber at the University in 1997, able to simulate up to 2500msw water depths. In this first phase, the chamber was used for the detailed theoretical and practical research on welding techniques at high pressures, and in 2004, the results demonstrated that welding at these previously unreached deep sea depths was indeed possible.

Since 2004, following the success of this research, pre-qualification and qualification work has been performed by industry partner Statoil to determine the practicality’s of achieving these depths in the field. This has culminated in the first successful deep sea trials conducted in Norway this year.

Neil Woodward of Isotek Oil and Gas Ltd, who has been working at Cranfield on behalf of Statoil on the qualification work, said “It is excellent that the field trials demonstrated the practicality of using hyperbaric MIG welding for deep water remote applications.”

The University is now conducting further detailed research, supported by the EPSRC funded Cranfield Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre in collaboration with the Nigerian Petroleum Technology Development Fund, focused on improving weld quality and process reliability.

UT2 July 2011 120 Subsea Welding

Individual items of equipment

121 UT2 July 2011 Oceanography

Oceanography Pacific Radioactivity

The Woods Hole Oceanographic at labs at Oxford University (UK), the Institution (WHOI) will lead the University of Tokyo and the Tokyo first international, multidisciplinary Institute of Technology (Japan), the assessment of the levels IAEA Environment Laboratories and dispersion of radioactive (Monaco), the University of Bremen substances in the Pacific Ocean (Germany) Comenius University off the Fukushima nuclear power Bratislava (Slovakia), Savannah plant—a research effort funded River National Laboratory, Lamont by the Gordon and Betty Moore Doherty Earth Observatory, and the Foundation. University of Hawaii (US).

“This will address fundamental The 15-day expedition will use the questions about the impact of this University of Hawaii’s research The map above depicts the trackline the ship will follow, with white dots representing the sampling stations. The plan covers an area release of radiation to the ocean, vessel Kaimikai-O-Kanoloa. 200x200 km off Fukushima as well as expected pathways along the Kuroshio Current (shown in yellows and reds). (Woods Hole and in the process enhance Oceanographic Institution) international collaboration and The release of radioactivity from sharing of scientific data,” said Vicki the partial meltdowns, hydrogen shore, where radiation levels have Chandler, Chief Program Officer, explosions and fires that began been highest. Science at the Gordon and Betty March 11 at the Fukushima plant, Moore Foundation. “It is our hope and the runoff from the subsequent As the radiation moves offshore, it is that through this adverse event, we attempts to cool the reactors diluted and mixed through the ocean can increase our current knowledge represents an unprecedented depths along the way, so that levels about various natural and man- release of radiation to the ocean. of some contaminants just 15 miles made sources of radioactivity in The total amount of radioactivity offshore are 100 to 1000 times lower the ocean, and how they might that has entered the ocean as a than waters near the reactors. To ultimately impact ocean life and result of this accident is not well put it in context, even these elevated health around the world.” understood, and until now, only levels are not far removed from the limited assessment of the impacts on US Environmental Protection Agency The shipboard research team the ocean has been undertaken. drinking water standard for cesium- includes scientists from WHOI, 137 or from natural radionuclide Scripps Institution of Oceanography, “It’s critical to gather early concentrations found in the ocean. Oregon State University, Univ. of observations of the radioactive California, Santa Cruz/Lawrence contaminants, or radionuclides, in Although the elevated levels offshore Livermore National Laboratory, the water and marine biota so we pose little direct hazard for human Univ. of Hawaii, Univ. Autonoma de can establish a baseline,” said chief exposure, questions remain about Barcelona (Spain), and the Univ. scientist Ken Buesseler, a WHOI the impact of long-lived isotopes that of Tokyo (Japan). They will collect senior scientist and a recognised can accumulate in the food chain and water and biological samples and expert in the study of radioisotope remain present in sediment, emitting take ocean current measurements geochemistry. “Together with a persistent low-dose in the marine in an area 200km x 200km offshore measurements of ocean currents, environment for years to come. of the plant and further offshore we can begin to understand the along the Kuroshio Current. potential near- and long-term Operating with the permission of the severity of the releases and related Japanese government, the ship will Their work will build on efforts public health issues.” follow a track line from east to west by Japanese scientists and lay and operate at 34 sampling stations, the foundation for expanded The Japanese government and criss-crossing the Kuroshio Current, a international collaboration and long- Fukushima plant owner, Tokyo strong, western boundary current akin term research of questions related Electric Power Company (TEPCO), to the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic, that to releases from the Fukushima began measuring radiation in could rapidly carry the radioactivity into plant. the ocean—iodine and cesium the interior of the ocean. isotopes—10 days after the accident In addition to those on board, and have been monitoring the water Deploying water sampling rosettes, collaboration will include scientists around the reactors up to 30km from the team will collect and analyse

UT2 July 2011 122 Oceanography

Information - The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution measurements, among the first to be collected offshore, will be gathered using a variety of filters and nets in an effort led by Nick Fisher of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Fisher’s team will focus on phytoplankton and zooplankton at the base of the food chain and juveniles and adults of key fish species to determine the extent to which radionuclides are accumulated in these organisms.

“Currently, we do not know the extent to which some of these radionuclides have been bioaccumulated and passed up local food chains,” said Fisher. “This is obviously of interest, since the principal concern about the dispersal of The map above depicts the trackline the ship will follow, with white dots representing the sampling stations. The plan covers an area radionuclides in the ocean stems from the fact that they can 200x200 km off Fukushima as well as expected pathways along the Kuroshio Current (shown in yellows and reds). (Woods Hole potentially be toxic to marine organisms or even humans Oceanographic Institution) who consume seafood, and the potential for toxicity is dependent on the extent to which the radionuclides are the samples for many radionuclides – among them bioconcentrated in marine organisms.” isotopes of cesium, iodine, ruthenium promethium, strontium, plutonium, radium, and uranium – to learn All of the collected samples will be analysed using the how much contamination was released into the ocean, most sensitive techniques and tools in the world, which will its potential impact on marine life and human health, provide a more detailed picture of where radioactivity is and and provide input to models for better understanding of where it travelled, and to detect radiation above background contamination pathways and dispersion. levels, including radionuclides in marine organisms.

Steve Jayne, a physical oceanographer from WHOI Sample analysis will be performed over several months, and and an expert in the Kuroshio Current and ocean the end product will be a set of concentration maps for many circulation in the vicinity of the Japan archipelago, will different radionuclides obtained independently by several lead the effort to understand the fate and pathways of groups allowing for inter-comparison of analytical methods. radiation in the ocean. In addition to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation- His team will deploy drifters to directly track water funded work, Buesseler is also conducting research funded parcels in the region of the Fukushima power plants, by the National Science Foundation to analyse water collect profiles of temperature, salinity and oxygen samples from a network of stations where the ability to through the water column, and will use shipboard retrieve ocean water samples already exists. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) to measure ocean velocity. These efforts will allow Jayne and his “While early data will tell us about possible health impacts colleagues to characterise transport and water masses to humans and marine biota, follow-up work will be needed required for modelling dispersion and removal of for years and decades to come before we are able to say radionuclide contaminants. with any certainty that we understand the fate of these radionuclides in the ocean and the effect they have had on “It is important that we have in situ data on the the marine environment,” said Buesseler. trajectories of the water parcels. There has been a lot of numerical modelling of the where the contaminated “These early field data will immediately increase our water is going, but very little real data to validate the understanding of how radioactive pollutants travel through models. Satellite data is useful, but the surface drifters ocean currents in this region and will enable more effective and other ocean data will provide ground truth to response to events that might occur in the future.” check the model predictions,” Jayne said. “This research expedition would not have been undertaken In addition to bringing warm tropical waters north, the without Moore funding,” said WHOI President and Director Kuroshio Current transports organisms long distances Susan Avery. “Private support can be key to enabling an and is an important migration route for a variety of immediate, urgent response due to the independence and commercially important marine organisms in various nimble nature of this source of funding. The Foundation stages of their life cycles. Biological samples and made a decision to step in when no one else could.”

123 UT2 July 2011 Underwater Oceanography Oceanology Retrieving Oceanographic Instrumentation

Getting heavy objects down to the For one thing, seawater blocks most can be very difficult to locate in the seafloor is easy – in a best-case radio waves, so most oceanographic open ocean, particularly in rough scenario, you just drop them over instruments have to be brought conditions. the side of a ship, and hope that back to the surface before scientists they land right side up on the ocean can download the data they have Finally, there’s the issue of the bottom. However, getting those collected. heavy “drop weight” left sitting on same objects back to the surface the seafloor. In the old days, these can be problematic. MBARI researchers often use our iron weights were typically left on the remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) seafloor, where they would gradually MBARI Marine Operations to place instruments on the seafloor rust away. Technician Mike Conway recently and then bring them back to the developed a new device called a surface. However, the ROVs cannot However, both researchers and public “line elevator” that will make this bring back instruments that weigh agencies are becoming increasingly process easier. One result will be more than a few hundred pounds in concerned about the amount of fewer anchors and other heavy air. This means that such instruments trash on the seafloor. Thus, MBARI objects sitting on the seafloor of must be hauled back to the surface researchers now try very hard not Monterey Bay. using a crane on board a ship. to leave any objects such as drop weights or anchors on the seafloor. When NASA sends space probes Unfortunately, attaching a line from to the moon or Mars, these multi- a ship to an instrument 900 meters To address these issues, in 2005 million-dollar probes don’t usually (3000ft) below is a tricky business. At MBARI partnered with the Monterey come back. They are considered that depth, you can’t simply lower a Bay National Marine Sanctuary to disposable. In most cases, line and hope to snag the instrument. open a design competition for an oceanographers do not have that And you can’t send an ROV down environmentally-friendly anchor “luxury.” with a line because of the danger system. More than a dozen entries that the ROV’s control tether could were received from across the United get tangled in the line. States. In the end, two conceptual designs won awards. However, at the Sometimes a researcher will attach time of the contest, neither of these large floats and a heavy weight to had actually been built or tested in the an instrument. The heavy weight ocean. causes the instrument to sink to the seafloor. To get the instrument back, Over the last year, Mike Conway the researcher sends a sound signal has been addressing a related to the instrument. This triggers the task—how to get heavy instruments instrument to release the weight, back to the surface without the use of which allows the instrument to float cumbersome floats and drop weights. back to the sea surface. Conway’s system is called a “line elevator,” because its key element is This process seems straightforward, a platform that can descend into the but is fraught with risks. Both the ocean bottom to deliver a spool of number of floats and the weight the line, and then rise back to the surface instrument have to be very carefully to bring the free end of the line back balanced, or the instrument will to a ship. refuse to sink, or (worse yet) refuse to rise back to the surface. Conway was able to build this device quickly and cheaply by using the Another challenge is that the frame of an older elevator used to lift ocean is a surprisingly noisy heavy sediment cores to the surface. place, so acoustic releases don’t In between his other projects at always release or may be released MBARI, he somehow found time to accidentally. Even after the design and fabricate all the additional Mike Conway and his line-elevator instrument reaches the surface, it parts he needed.

UT2 July 2011 124 Oceanology

Retrieving Oceanographic Instrumentation by Kim Fulton-Bennett, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)

This is how Conway’s new design 5. After the elevator reaches the crews. When it reaches the sea works surface, the ship’s crew lifts the surface, the line elevator will not drift elevator and the drop weight out with the currents because its drop 1. The line elevator is released from of the water and then attaches the weight acts as an anchor. a ship and allowed to sink to the lifting line to a winch. seafloor. Conway hopes that the advantage 6. Using the lifting line, the ship’s of not having to chase instruments 2. After the line elevator reaches the crew lifts the heavy instrument off around the bay, combined with the seafloor, an ROV is launched from the seafloor and on to the ship. environmental benefits of keeping the ship. the seafloor clean, will more than In April 2011, Conway finally got a make up for the extra gear involved 3. The ROV moves the line elevator chance to test his new system in in using the line elevator. close to the instrument and attaches the open ocean. The line elevator the lifting line from the elevator to the worked just as he had hoped, Conway is optimistic that the new instrument. allowing MBARI researchers to line elevator will be a useful tool lift two heavy instrument stands for MBARI’s marine operations 4. After the ROV returns to the ship, (“benthic instrument nodes”) from crews, helping them recover heavy an acoustic signal is sent down the bottom of Monterey Canyon. instruments from the deep sea. “The to the line elevator. The elevator ROV pilots have assured me that then releases a “drop weight” that In addition to providing a new tool we’ll have a lot of opportunities to is attached to the lifting line. Now to help keep the floor of Monterey use this,” he says. “The gear we’re positively buoyant, the elevator Bay free of unused equipment, putting out there keeps getting begins to rise toward the surface, the line elevator provides another bigger.” spooling out line as it goes. advantage for marine operations (www.mbari.org)

The line-elevator

125 UT2 July 2011 Underwater Equipment HMS Audacious TOGS BAE Systems has chosen iXSea CDL has been awarded the first military MARINS inertial navigation systems contract for its TOGS-S unit. The for HMS Audacious, the fourth boat purchase order of 12 TOGS Surface Underwater Equipment in the UK Royal Navy’s Astute-class, fibre-optic gyro systems was placed by nuclear-powered attack submarine Marine Electronic Systems of Totton, construction programme. England as part of its integrated bridge system solution to be installed on 12 HMS Audacious will be equipped Griffon hovercrafts bound for India. with two MARINS units. iXBlue will also supply a third unit for preliminary TOGS-S is a North seeking FOG test work at BAE Systems’ Astute with heading accuracy up to 0.2deg Shore Integration Facility and provide with GPS aiding (0.5deg unaided) engineering and project management designed for surface application support for the installation of the including commercial shipping, military units on board the submarine. BAE craft, yachts and land vehicles. With Systems has options on further its extremely flexible functionality it MARINS units for Astute-class boats can work in conjunction with any GPS five, six and seven. system to also provide a positioning for an inertial navigation system (INS) MARINS was designed by iXSea as well as a full attitude, heave and to meet the growing need of the heading reference allowing full motion TOGS-S world’s navies for more accurate and tracking. reliable inertial navigation systems and represents the state of the art in strap-down, fibre-optic gyroscope technology. The military-specification HULS PAVS unit outputs position, heading, roll, Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Teledyne RD Instruments has pitch, depth and velocities, and is design and manufacturer Bluefin introduced the 150 kHz phased array perfectly silent. Robotics has been awarded a $30 velocity sensor (PAVS150) – the million contract modification to exercise industry’s first 1000m depth rated Drift is less than 1Nm in 24 hours option III for the explosive ordnance Doppler velocity log (DVL) designed to operating in pure inertial mode, i.e., disposal hull unmanned underwater provide precision velocity data at up to without GPS input. It is compatible vehicle localisation systems (HULS). 500m of altitude above the seafloor. with a wide range of aiding sensors and can be up and running within The HULS systems support naval This extended range bottom tracking minutes. forces in conducting hull, piers capability makes the PAVS150 ideally and pilings searches. The contract suited for aiding navigation systems on The MARINS units are virtually was structured in three phases: board any platform where the ability to commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS), demonstration, prototype, and transition from the deep waters of the though some modifications have production. The Naval Surface Warfare open oceans to the shallow operating been made to accommodate specific Center, is the contracting unit. environments of the littoral zone is operational requirements. seen as a critical enabler. The programme objective was to deliver a small and relatively low- Designed specifically with unmanned cost autonomous vehicle capable of underwater vehicles (UUVs) in mind, precision manoeuvring, with a focus on the PAVS150 is compact enough to ship hull inspection. The requirement to be packaged into vehicles as small inspect ships’ hulls has long been one as 12.75in (32.39 cm) in diameter of the most manpower intensive and and uses state of the art electronics time consuming tasks that divers must to provide expanded connectivity with routinely perform, for both security and other sensors while minimising overall husbandry purposes. power consumption.

With increasing demands on some These features are not exclusively of the Navy’s diving community, the advantageous to UUV applications, mission of hull searches has emerged and can also be leveraged for surface as an ideal application for unmanned and submarine craft manned and MARINS unit systems. unmanned alike.

UT2 July 2011 126 Underwater Equipment

Wide Angle Camera Underwater camera specialist, match different lighting set-ups. the leading OE14-502 camera, Kongsberg Maritime has added to offshore oil field and scientific the OE14-502-WA with Wide Angle The unique Kongsberg maritime IR customers around the globe. Lens Option to its camera and remote Control also allows camera imaging sonar portfolio. control configuration. Camera control “The original OE14-502 HD Camera can be single wire (tri-state), two wire was introduced three years ago and This new version of the OE14-502 (bi-polar), USB RS232 and RS485. there are now over 60 units in use, in HD Camera has been developed some of the most hostile underwater in direct response to increased Key product features include: environments imaginable. customer demand for a wide angled high definition underwater l Pixel resolution 1920 x 1080 “In this newly enhanced product video camera for use in harsh l High definition (measured 800 TV we have created an affordable high environments for many applications lines per picture height) definition compact colour zoom including pipe surveys. l 10:1 optical zoom lens inspection camera that delivers wider l 50 or 70° diagonal angle of view vision, yet with next to no compromise The affordable OE14-502-WA HD (in water) to the quality of the picture. Camera with Wide Angle Lens l Exceptional dynamic light range Option offers an angle of view as l Multi-standard video formats Making the angle too wide would wide as 70° in water, while retaining (1080i or 720P 50/60 Hz, composite have resulted in optical aberrations superb image and colour quality PAL or NTSC) such as image distortion or resolution and no optical aberrations often l HD-SDI out coax or fibre degradation and we were determined associated with wide angle viewing. connector options not to concede the level of quality l Long line cable drive (component) offered by our previous lens. This represents a 20° increase to l Single or two wire analogue or the diagonal viewing angle when digital control (USB, RS485, RS232) All components of the 70° wide compared to the standard 50° l IR remote module select and full angle lens have been developed version of the OE14-502. GUI camera control by our experts in house to provide l 4500 metre depth rating (deeper a consistently high quality solution, The OE14-502 is a rugged multi depth ratings available) which is something our customers standard ROV HD video camera l High levels of temperature, have come to expect from us.” used for a range of detailed ROV humidity, shock, vibration, over inspection and intervention tasks, voltage and electromagnetic The OE14-502-WA including manipulator work and compatibility protection. pipeline inspections. David Mackay General It offers 800 TV lines per picture Manager at height horizontal resolution , 10 x Kongsberg optical zoom, 4500 metre depth Maritime Ltd rating and has multi standard video comments, capability with the ability to change “Kongsberg video formats by using Remote Maritime is Control (RC) or by Graphical User the pioneer Interface (GUI). of affordable underwater Long line cable drive can be set HDTV by RC or GUI and allows the technology component signal to drive three and over the matched coax cables with no last five years degradation over two hundred has delivered metres. Colour balance can also a wide range of be set to 3200k, 6500k, outdoor HDTV inspection or Auto Tracking White (ATW) to systems, including

Oil filled array 127 UT2 July 2011 Survey Equipment PAM Portable The new 3510 PAM Portable has

Survey Equipment been specifically designed to meet the harsh operating conditions associated with offshore marine operations.

Housed in a waterproof rugged enclosure with a clear LCD display and splashproof key pad, the PAM Portable is perfectly designed for operations on deck. It is a multi- functional tool used for beacon configuration and testing, and as a command unit for acoustic release transponders. It has acoustic telemetry/command and control applications.

In addition, the 3510 PAM Portable The 3510 PAM Portable configures the Applied Acoustics’ 1000 Beacons via a serial link, is Spread Spectrum-compatible The PAM Portable is supplied with 30m cable and protection cage. and operates the new 1500 series a lightweight test transducer and acoustic release transponders for subsea applications, including The portability of the unit, long recently introduced to satisfy the ranging, relocation, release battery life, intuitive keypad menu growing number of oceanographic operation and telemetry, a new 3190 functions and weather proof applications. dunker transducer, with its integral features make it a versatile tool.

Teledyne RD Ashtead Teledyne RD Instruments’ (RDI) Ashtead Technology has announced a options and lowering costs to the products have been selected by new Perpetual Rental Programme (PRP) customer, whilst simultaneously Fugro GEOS for use on two large that offers significant cost savings on improving access to our range metocean (meteorological and both long-term and frequent rentals. of rental instrumentation,” said oceanographic) measurement Ashtead’s general manager studies. The studies will include The PRP comes at a fraction of the Alan Hasson. the collection of current profile, standard rental rate and includes wave and seawater property data full technical support, making it an “Because the monthly costs are at various locations throughout the ideal option for longer-term rentals less than a typical rental, and with North and Norwegian Seas. or for customers who rent the same the overall outlay spread over 12 instruments frequently. months, the RTO scheme is ideal The Teledyne RDI products for companies wanting access selected to support this programme It combines the convenience of to the very latest instrumentation include: ownership with all the benefits of renting. without a large one-off payment. l Six 150 kHz Workhorse For example, Ashtead Technology RTO provides a lower-cost solution QuarterMaster acoustic doppler remains responsible for maintenance, for those with a frequent rental current profilers (ADCPs) annual calibration and repairs. requirement, but does provide l Six 1200 kHz workhorse ADCPs outright ownership if desired for current profiling measurement The new scheme is applicable and allows customers to release capability to a selection of the very latest valuable capital for other purposes. l Six Citadel units for instrumentation, including advanced conductivity, temperature and depth videoprobes and environmental l RESON has sold two SeaBat measurements. monitoring instruments, such as the 7125ROV2 systems to Ashtead Horiba PG250 gas analyser and the Technology. The 2011 year model The Teledyne RDI ADCP and advanced MultiRAE PID gas monitor SeaBat 7125ROV2 system is the conductivity, temperature and depth from RAE Systems. latest evolution of the SeaBat 7125 (CTD) products have been series, and is specifically aimed configured to integrate the collected “With the PRP and the rent to own at the oil, gas and renewables data into a single channel. (RTO) plan, we are increasing our rental market.

UT2 July 2011 128 REDEFINING UNDERWATER INSPECTION

Developed in direct response to customer y High Definition Compact Colour Zoom demand for a wider angled high definition Inspection Camera underwater video camera with no optical y 800TVL/PPH Horizontal Resolution (min) compromises for challenging inspection tasks such as pipe surveys, Kongsberg Maritime’s new y 70° Angle of View in Water OE14-502-WA offers an angle of view up to 70° y No Optical Aberrations diagonal in water while retaining superb image and colour quality and none of the optical y Multi-Standard Video Capability aberrations often associated with wide angle y Coax or Fibre Output (HD-SDI) viewing.

The New Wide Angled OE14-502-WA

Kongsberg Maritime Ltd Telephone: +44 1224 226500 Email: [email protected] www.km.kongsberg.com/cameras 129 UT2 July 2011

Survey Survey Mapping Seafloor Environments Using Multibeam Echo-sounders Multibeam echo-sounders (MBES) are widely recognised as one of the most effective tools for mapping seafloor environments. As well as providing high-resolution bathymetry, MBES are able to discriminate both physical properties of the seafloor and biological communities such as seagrass, algae and coral, referred to as habitats.

MBES can be used in a range of environments and, unlike aerial and satellite remote sensing techniques, are effective at mapping the seafloor in turbid and deepwater areas.

Methods to produce maps of bathymetry from MBES data are well established; however, there is no universal approach for discriminating seafloor environments using MBES. Researchers at the Centre for Marine Science and Technology (CMST) at Curtin University, Western Australia, have been working in this field using high- frequency MBES systems to develop methods for acoustic seafloor classification.

During a survey, MBES transmit acoustic pulses in a wide swath towards the seafloor. Part of the acoustic energy transmitted is reflected by the seafloor back to the MBES, which is known as backscatter. The time taken for backscatter to return to the MBES is used to calculate The multibeam echo sounder being deployed the water depth and the amount of backscatter energy returned can be used to infer the composition of the In addition, software developed by CMST to process seafloor for seafloor classification. MBES bathymetry and backscatter data has been used by researchers in the United States, UK, Malaysia, Italy, CMST has developed new processing and analysis Spain and China. An example of results from an area in methods for MBES backscatter data. These methods have the GBRMP called Morinda Shoal is shown in Fig 1 along been used to produce seafloor backscatter and habitat with screen shots from the underwater video that verify maps from MBES data collected from several sites around transitions in seafloor environment. The combination the Australian coast, including in the Great Barrier Reef of bathymetry and backscatter was used to map the Marine Park (GBRMP), Sydney Harbour and Ningaloo distribution of coral, sand and seagrass at Morinda Shoal. Reef Marine Park. Based on their experience in this field, researchers from CMST have recently published a two-part paper entitled “High-frequency multibeam echo-sounder measurements of seafloor backscatter in shallow water” in the current issue of the Society for Underwater Technology’s journal, Underwater Technology.

Part one describes different MBES backscatter data collection and data processing methods that have been developed by researchers in this field. Part two demonstrates the main methods for producing maps of seafloor backscatter and discriminating seafloor environments using MBES data.

Both papers illustrate the methods using data collected with a Reson SeaBat 8125 MBES in coastal shelf areas of Australia, although the methods discussed are relevant to Fig 1 Morinda Shoal survey other high-frequency shallow-water MBES systems.

UT2 July 2011 130 The Challenge Exciting frontiers from Alaska to Australia BP Industry-leading technologies and teamwork

You Technical expertise and a passion to learn

We’re hiring subsea engineering professionals now

From the Shetland Isles to Angola, from risers to autonomous underwater vehicles, and from developments to operations, BP’s portfolio puts you at the forefront of technology dedicated to meeting the world’s need for energy. BP isn’t about theory. BP is about the practical application of technology on a huge scale and in extreme environmental conditions. We need people who can achieve remarkable things – and make an impact on some of the biggest technical challenges as we push toward the challenges of subsea processing and HPHT production. With a $20bn organic investment in new development projects and structured development plans for our people combined with our exploration heritage, we offer new, varied and stretching opportunities. We have opportunities for talented subsea engineers with deep expertise in subsea pipelines, risers, hardware, controls, flow assurance, installation/ intervention and advanced robotics. BP is an equal opportunities employer.

Are you up for the challenge? bp.com/engineering/ut 131 UT2 July 2011

5223_UT2_Friday_15_July_297x210.indd 1 26/05/2011 16:11 Seismic and Survey Siesmic and Survey

UT2 July 2011 132 Siesmic and Survey and Siesmic

133 UT2 July 2011 S u r ve y Vehicles

Survey Vehicles R/V Shearwater Alpine Ocean Seismic Survey has Since its March commissioning, Protection. Clients tout the vessel’s launched its multi-use research the vessel has completed several unique configuration capabilities, vessel, the R/V Shearwater. projects on the Gulf and East spacious decks and workspaces, Coasts for clients including the US and a propulsion system that With the addition of this new vessel, Army Corps of Engineers and the facilitates high-precision line- and Alpine can now further expand its NJ Department of Environmental station-keeping. offerings of turnkey data collection and other surveying services to offshore clients, including wind, tidal, civil engineering, shoreline protection, submarine cable, pipeline, oil, and natural gas project developers. With offshore wind projects totaling 6800 MW in the works off the East Coast alone, experts say the demand for specialty vessels like the Shearwater will soar.

“The Shearwater is a state-of-the- art, multipurpose platform with fantastic maneuverability, and that means it’s a great choice for both offshore and near-shore projects,” says Robert Mecarini, executive vice president, Alpine Ocean Seismic Survey. “The flexibility means our customers can get a lot value for their money – we can deploy a variety of specialised equipment, collect data, and process it quickly right on board.” R/V Shearwater The shallow draft (6.5ft) 110ft x 40ft aluminum twin hull Shearwater has The R/V Shearwater is equipped l Dedicated laboratory space numerous advantages for offshore with state-of-the art propulsion, l Dedicated office space work. Its superior positioning and lifting and lowering equipment, and l 14-day autonomy line-keeping performance provides hull customisation that improve l Redundant generators the essential components for both underwater data gathering, l Desalination system research work and transfer and including: l Sleeping quarters for 20 people, supply services to development including separate client quarters sites and working installations. The l Hydraulic thruster propulsion hydraulic propulsion system results with 360-deg rotation capacity In operation since 1957, Alpine in impressive fuel-efficiency and l Hydraulic crane with two-ton has global experience delivering excellent maneuverability while capacity at 38-foot boom extension underwater services for offshore, reducing vessel noise. l One-ton hydraulic stern A-frame and inland marine and freshwater l Five-ton fixed starboard A-frame projects. The Shearwater also features two l Dedicated equipment-handling equipment moon pools, a crane, winches Now part of the Gardline Marine hydraulic stern A-frame, fixed l Equipment moon pools in port Sciences Group, the UK-based starboard A-frame, dedicated and starboard hulls company with decades of expertise equipment winches, laboratory in marine services for renewable and office space with onboard data The R/V Shearwater provides and other energy projects processing capabilities, and can numerous advantages for offshore worldwide, Alpine is a key partner accommodate up to 20 people on a work demanding extended periods to companies in the burgeoning US 24hr basis. at sea, including: offshore renewable energy market.

UT2 July 2011 134 Survey Vehicles

Gardline Mobilisers New Survey Vessel MV Ivero, the latest edition to the construction monitoring and cable mounted shallow water Kongsberg multi- Gardline vessel fleet, has recently burial surveys. beam bathymetry, DGPS and acoustic been mobilised in Lowestoft, ready positioning, side-scan sonar, sub-bottom to commence a geophysical survey Although only 34m in length and 3m profiler, survey and sampling winches. for a wind farm development, draft, Ivero uniquely for this class of offshore Germany. vessel, features accommodation for Latest additions include multiple up to 16 charterers, purpose built magnetometer deployment for more This follows on from a significant 25m2 survey laboratory, large after- efficient UXO survey, full integrated benthic sampling campaign over a working deck and 20t SWL A-frame. seismic geophysical capability, and large wind farm development site, modular system for rapid reconfiguration offshore of East Anglia. Twin screw and bow thruster offers between survey tasks. a high degree of manoeuvrability for The vessel has been extensively sampling operations combined with With typical endurance of 21 days and upgraded to perform a variety of low fuel consumption. 24hr capability to operate from 5m to marine survey tasks, including 150m water-depths, Ivero offers a flexible geophysics, benthic sampling, A high resolution survey sensor suite and cost effective solution for a wide shallow geotechnics, UXO and post has been installed including hull range of survey activities.

MV Ivero

Inside the CDS. Image developed by see3d

135 UT2 July 2011 Seismic Seismic Barents Sea Seismic Permission has now been given for seismic acquisition in the eastern part of the Barents Sea.

The necessary formalities surrounding the Treaty on Maritime Delimitation and Cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean between Norway and Russia are now in place. The activity can start now start.

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate will be responsible for the seismic acquisition on behalf of Norwegian authorities, and the PGS vessel Harrier Explorer will carry out the acquisition.

Harrier Explorer is now on its way to Jan Mayen to start seismic acquisition there. The vessel Harrier Explorer will acquire seismic in this area, starting 10 June and lasting three to four weeks, before setting option of an extension for approx. acquisition, characterised in part course for the eastern part of the one month. This entails that the by the fact that the streamer, which Barents Sea. The voyage from Jan acquisition activity in the Barents in this case is 8km long, is towed Mayen to the eastern part of the Sea East will take place for two to somewhat deeper in the water than Barents Sea will likely take four to three months. is the case in conventional seismic five days. acquisition. This means that the The data acquisition will take streamer can withstand higher An agreement has been entered place with the aid of PGS’ waves, thus making the acquisition into with PGS regarding hiring the Geostreamer technology. This is activity less dependent on weather vessel for three months with an a new technology for 2D seismic and consequently more efficient.

Polarcus Vessel on hold In May, Polarcus received a Letter of Intent for SeaBird Exploration has over the last few a 3D marine seismic acquisition project for an months worked with a Norwegian shipyard to undisclosed client. The project, subject to the develop and plan the construction of a second execution of a service contract, will commence in vessel in addition to the Hugin Explorer for Q3 2011 and is expected to run for approximately deploying, retrieving and servicing Ocean 35 days. Bottom Nodes (OBN).

Thw company also received a Letter of Intent SeaBird is still developing its plans for a for a 4D marine seismic acquisition project for second OBN crew, however, at present it an undisclosed client. The project, subject to the is not considered good timing to introduce execution of a service contract, will commence in further commitments on the company with a Q4 2011 and is expected to run for approximately firm construction contract for a second node 60 days. vessel.

UT2 July 2011 136 Seismic

137 UT2 July 2011 Seismic Seismic Barents Sea Seismic TGS has commenced the survey are infill in the Northern acquisition, TGS will be able to acquisition of multi-client 3D area of the 2009 survey and provide extended coverage for future seismic data in the Hoop Fault the remaining 1300 km2 are an rounds. Complex area of the Barents Sea. extension to the east of the 2009 survey area. TGS is very pleased The M/V Polar Duke towing ten 6000m This survey is an extension of the with the historical client response to streamers with 75 m separation will previously announced Hoop Fault the coverage in this new exploration acquire the 2011 survey. Complex survey and will add province. 1800 km2 to the existing data in Data processing will be performed by the area. Blocks have been awarded in TGS and will be available to clients in the survey area during the last Q4 2011. The survey is supported by Approximately 500 km2 of the two rounds and with the 2011 industry funding.

Barents Sea acquisition area

UT2 July 2011 138 Seismic

Bjørnøya 2D Spectrum Frame The Bjørnøya Basin has emerged as SeaBird Exploration has signed a The combined contract values one of the most interesting exploration Frame Agreement with Spectrum for these two contracts are areas on the Norwegian Shelf for for the acquisition of 2D seismic approximately USD 10 million with potential future substantial oil and data to a minimum value of US$ a potential of USD 12 million based gas discoveries due to the April 23 million over a period of 36 on expected MC sales. 2011 Skrugard oil and gas discovery months, and a Re-Let Agreement (250-500MMbbl recoverable oil for the MV GGS Atlantic on a l The Aquila Explorer has been reserves). The Bjørnøya Basin bareboat charter basis until August awarded two letters of intent for North High Resolution Survey 2011 2012. surveys of combined 4600 line km (BBN11) is located in the vacant area in Indonesia for approximately two approximately 30km North of the l The Osprey Explorer has been months work. The vessel will now Skrugard discovery, encompassing awarded an letter of intent by an be working in direct continuation 2,220 km2. oil supermajor for a 2D survey until mid September 2011. between 8000 and There has been no exploration wells 11 000km in South America. The l The Hawk Explorer after drilled to date in the area despite vessel will mobilise after her completing her scheduled dry- existing seismic data showing several current commitment in the Gulf dock in Las Palmas will mobilise to amplitude anomalies in leads in the of Mexico (GoM) and commence Mediterranean Sea where she will shallower section. the survey from September to commence a 1,500 line km survey December 2011. until mid July 2011. The combined MAGE has partnered with Searcher contract values for these contracts Seismic for the BBN11 and Front l The GGS Atlantic will be are approximately US$ 5 million. Exploration is sponsoring the project. mobilising from the GoM to The seismic data acquisition for Barents Sea for a multi-client BBN11 is currently ongoing. survey commencing July for Survey Size: 3121 km 8,600km employing the vessel until Multiclient Survey Acquisition Details: 24 bits digital mid October 2011. Management streamer expects cost recovery during 2011 TGS has commenced the RV Professor Kurentsov and with potential uplift following acquisition of a fourth 3D multi- Acquisition Parameters: sales of survey data in the first half client survey in partnership with Sample Rate: 1ms of 2012. PGS. The survey covers 2772km2 in the North Viking Graben over an area which has proven to be a very successful petroleum province of the North Sea.

The data is being acquired by PGS’ Atlantic Explorer using GeoStreamer technology. This year’s acquisition campaign, combined with the data acquired in 2009-2010, will total over 7500km2 of 3D data in this promising region. The survey is supported by industry funding.

TGS has exercised the first option for the M/V Polar Duke with Dolphin Geophysical AS. This extension is for two months which will take the total charter time to TGS through early October 2011. TGS still has Bjørnøya Basin a second option to extend the contract by another six months.

139 UT2 July 2011 Facilities

New Facilities ABS Opens in Stavanger

Classification society ABS has “We recognise that today’s high an asset during the operational phase, not opened an office in Stavanger, specification rigs require the just during design and construction.” Norway to further extend its global highest operational standards,” said reach and provide dedicated support Legland. “Owners are looking to ABS has a longstanding presence in to its growing Norwegian client base. ABS because of our experience, Norway, with operations commencing commitment and the service and in1991. The Stavanger office joins a The society’s Stavanger office will programs we can offer to support network of other well-established ABS be staffed with a professional team of offshore engineers and surveyors focused on delivering premium class service to the region.

“The opening of this office is part of ABS’ ongoing commitment to deliver uncompromising service to our clients,” says Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chief Executive Officer and President.

“Given the dynamic operating environment, our clients want us more integrated into their operational and safety program and to do that effectively, we need this local presence. For ABS it is an opportunity to better serve the industry and build upon our strong ties with the Norwegian Maritime Directorate (NMD).”

In 2009, the NMD extended its authorization to ABS to include mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) in its scope as a Recognized Organization (RO).

Country Manager for Norway Egil Legland says he and his team look forward to building and expanding the relationships ABS has in Norway.

“It’s not just the office – ABS just released several new services and programs that clients have been requesting including the Offshore Asset Integrity Management (OAIM) program, says Legland.

The OAIM program better leverages classification services and addresses other client needs by planning, tracking and servicing the structure and equipment throughout the life of ABS’ new base in Stavanger the offshore unit.

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.... and China offices in Norway – including Oslo, ABS has established the ABS around the world to support Aalesund, Bergen and Kristiansand. China Offshore Technology clients’ activities. These offices draw upon ABS’ global Center (COTC) in partnership network for support, in particular the with Shanghai’s Jiaotong The other facilities are: the ABS division headquarters in London. The University (SJTU). Harsh Environment Technology ABS Stavanger office will be located in Center (HETC) on the campus of Stavanger’s city centre. The focus of the center will be Memorial University in St. John’s on new technology research Newfoundland; the ABS Brazil for offshore facilities. While the Offshore Technology Center research efforts will support (BOTC) in Rio de Janeiro; and development activities in the the ABS Singapore Offshore Greater China region, applied Technology Center (SOTC). research will also be conducted on a wide range of oil and gas The SOTC, now in its fifth year, development issues. has become a key research and development facility in Southeast Heading up the COTC will be Asia supporting the latest offshore George Wang, ABS Manager, developments. Advanced Analysis Department, Shanghai. Wang and his team ABS has established these will be located within the ABS research centers as an extension Shanghai office and plans are of the society’s Corporate already underway for expansion Technology Research and of the COTC. Development Group. This network of offshore research “This partnership builds upon centers compliments work our existing relationship with the carried out within ABS and its University and its well-respected close association with leading naval architecture program,” universities around the world. says ABS Chief Technology Officer Todd Grove. “COTC will further enhance ABS’ presence in China as it has “The complexity and demands rapidly diversified into the gas and of offshore exploration and offshore sectors for both domestic production mean we must and international markets,” says continue to be proactive in Grove. assisting industry develop economical, safe and “The activity level within China environmentally sensitive ways that supports the development to address field development of a wide range of offshore challenges. exploration and production projects is increasing at a rapid Research centers like this are pace. an effective way to partner with academia and industry The COTC will serve as on a regional basis to conduct a premiere research and leading edge research which development center in the becomes the foundation for Greater China region in technical guidance and Rules.” terms of new approaches and technology solutions as the The COTC will be ABS’ fourth industry continues its expansion offshore focused research into more challenging offshore center strategically positioned environments.”

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New Facilities Marport goes to Ontario UTEC opens Canadian Office Marport Deep Sea Technologies Inc., a developer UTEC Survey has opened a new office in of advanced sonar technology for commercial and Newfoundland, Canada. The new office will compliment military applications, is pleased to announce the UTEC Survey’s Calgary office, while giving the company opening of a new office in Kanata, Ontario. a stronger presence in Eastern Canada.

Known as “Silicon Valley North”, Kanata boasts a Cory Goodyear will head up the new operational center strong and vibrant high tech community and is within a as the Regional Manager of Atlantic Canada. 20 minute drive of downtown Ottawa. According to Dave Ross, UTEC Survey’s Senior Vice The new office will provide engineering and sales President and General Manager of the Americas, “There support to Marport’s commercial, government, and are significant business opportunities for UTEC along defence industry customers. A dedicated R&D team the Canadian Atlantic coast, and we see this area as will also be located in the facility to support new offering considerable growth potential. development of underwater sensing, communications and imaging products based upon Marport’s award- Our new regional center in Mount Pearl, near St. John’s, winning Software Defined Sonar® technology platform. will allow us to more rapidly respond to clients’ needs in the region, while taking advantage of UTEC’s existing “Kanata is an ideal place to open our newest R&D pool of qualified and talented professionals already location because we are able to tap into the deep pool based in and around Newfoundland.” of talent that complements our leading-edge R&D efforts going on around the world,” said Karl Kenny, UTEC Survey is one of the world’s largest independent President & CEO of Marport. offshore survey companies.

Offshore Marine Management Offshore Marine Management The substantially increased development section. (OMM) has opened a new office in office space allows OMM to Cambridge. setup a dedicated survey and OMM is a global independent inspection engineering workshop provider of marine solutions Located at Conqueror House, and storage area including with a flexible approach, offering Vision Park, Chivers Way, an asset management suite, an extensive range of products Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9NL final deliverables preparation, and services to the offshore the expansion was necessary compilation and delivery area renewables, subsea telecoms and to accommodate the company’s and a new subsea engineering oil and gas industries. continued growth.

This growth is driven by a growing client base and a diverse range of sub-sea projects including the inter array cabling at the Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm.

The new office is more than four times the size of the previous one and now comfortably incorporates the submarine cable installation and maintenance, operations and maintenance, survey and inspection, subsea engineering and R&D departments.

The new office also includes the space required to accommodate planned growth in 2011 and 2012. Offshore Marine Management’s new Cambridge facilities

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Balmoral Subsea Test Centre Subsea buoyancy, insulation and projects manager, Fraser Milne. The announcement follows a recent elastomer product specialist, Balmoral “When deployed many of our decision by Balmoral to establish a Offshore Engineering, has announced products are the final link in the manufacturing facility in Brazil. the opening of its new test facility. subsea chain and installers must The new facility will service the have the confidence that the South American market by providing The Balmoral Subsea Test Centre, products are entirely fit for purpose. locally manufactured deepwater located at company HQ in Aberdeen, buoyancy and insulation systems offers a comprehensive range of Using this industry-leading facility as well as elastomer mouldings procedures including hydrostatic, ensures through-life performance for including bend stiffeners, restrictors mechanical and laboratory testing the products achieving certification. and cable protection. and represents a multi-million pound investment for the company.

“Our R&D programme is continually Balmoral Subsea developing new materials for use at Test Centre increasingly greater depths and in high pressure/high temperature (HP/ HT) environments”, said Jim Milne, chairman and MD at Balmoral.

“This outstanding test facility plays a significant role in our quest to lead the subsea buoyancy and insulation market in terms of product technology and materials development. We have vessels that can test to sea water depth equivalents of 7000m (23000ft).”

A custom-built pressure test vessel, ‘PV6’, thought to be the largest commercially available unit in Europe, forms the centrepiece of the new centre.

Installed vertically with an internal diameter of 1.83m (72in) an internal length of 9m (29.5in) and a maximum operating pressure of 410bar (6000psi), the vessel is fitted with penetration flanges to allow the connection of hydraulic and electrical lines.

Other tests carried out at the all-new centre include uplift determination, water ingress, bulk modulus, compression and creep. All equipment is fitted with or linked to the latest software to provide highly detailed results.

“It is vital that subsea equipment performs as expected in the field”, said Balmoral’s engineering and

143 UT2 July 2011 Company News Xodus Company News Inational energy consultancy Xodus Group has joined forces with Nigerian company Mos Baker to launch a new operation in Lagos called XMOS.

XMOS brings integrated field development and front end services to the African oil and gas markets with an initial focus on three divisions, process and facilities, flow assurance and subsea engineering. Ultimately the full suite of Xodus services will be rolled out which will add technical safety, environmental and subsurface capabilities

The partners are each investing more than $1 million setting up the joint venture which will recruit 20 people in the first year and grow to 100 people within three years. The Nigerian government intends to double national oil production from 1.8 million barrels per day and Xodus believes there are significant opportunites for XMOS and the experience it can bring to the region.

Colin Manson, chief executive of Xodus Group said: “Setting up a joint venture is a first for Xodus Colin Manson, Sam Unuigbe and Rod McInnes Group and we are making the move now because we have engineering contractors, is Managing Sam Unuigbe said: “We believe that tremendous confidence in the Director. by joining our local know-how and size of the market opportunity in business acumen with Xodus Group’s Nigeria and in our new partners. Rod McInnes has been appointed exceptional engineering experience, Many of the new developments operations director of XMOS. Mr we will grow to have a significant will be in very deep water off McInnes has more than 30 years presence within three years. the Nigerian continental shelf, of engineering experience with where our subsea and technical the last 15 in senior management We will be recruiting for the most credentials, integrated field positions. He has worked in West talented forward thinking engineers to development and front-end Africa previously and has extensive come on board with this exciting new experience are ideally suited. This international project management venture. We will be investing in training move presents a new chapter in experience with operators such as local people and will be looking to the evolution of Xodus Group.” ExxonMobil, Statoil and Texaco and attract skilled engineers working global oil refineries. overseas interested in returning to Sam Unuigbe, a former director Africa.” of Stanbic IBTC Bank and owner Colin Manson will sit on the board of Mos Baker will take on the role from Xodus Group along with Xodus Mr Unuigbe, a qualified chartered of chairman and his son Ohioze directors Stephen Swindell and Dave accountant is a well respected Unuigbe, a chemical engineer with Rayburn who will provide specialist businessman in Nigeria and until last an MBA from Imperial College support from the Xodus London year spent more than 17 years as a London and experience with UK office. director of Stanbic IBTC Bank.

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Senergy ITF Grampian Awards Aberdeen-headquartered global ITF, the industry technology Bowtech Products has been energy services company Senergy facilitator for the global oil and gas selected as a finalist in the has consolidated its rapid growth in industry, has opened a new base Grampian Awards for Business Norway by officially opening major in Houston as it plans to create Enterprise 2011 in the new business and training premises stronger links with the technology Business Success category in the region where the company’s development community and for businesses that have been technical innovation and wells increase membership in North trading for over 3 years. expertise have been pivotal to its America. success. The Grampian Awards for ITF will be encouraging more Business Enterprise recognise Senergy’s new business hub proposals for joint industry projects business achievements and in central Stavanger features from organisations in North entrepreneurship among extensive office accommodation and America with up to 100% funding companies and individuals expanded training facilities to meet available for innovative oil and in the north east of Scotland. growth in its team and an increasing gas solutions. It has set a target Growing enterprises and demand for its specialist services. of investing at least $15 million in inspiring entrepreneurs are These range from subsurface technology projects in the region leading the way in the shortlist services, well engineering and well by 2015. of the 2011 Grampian Awards operations to specialised technical for Business Enterprise. training courses and Senergy’s A not-for-profit organisation, proprietary industry-leading software ITF is owned by 26 of the Bowtech Products design, products. largest operator and oil services manufacture and supply companies in the world. They products to the subsea ROV, Senergy’s chief executive officer collaborate to fund technology AUV, Defence, Nuclear and James McCallum, said: “Norway solutions that address global Leisure markets for over 20 is a key region for Senergy industry challenges. years. and our relocation to larger business premises underlines our More than $5 million has been This includes underwater commitment to the market. distributed to US and Canadian cameras, video systems and research institutes and companies lights for harsh environments, By carving out a niche for ourselves through ITF so far, with targets to hazardous areas and in the delivery of specialist oil and increase joint industry projects by underwater, to any ocean gas technical services, we are 25% in the next four years and depth. well on track to double the size invest $1 million this year alone. of our Norwegian operations by The company also supplies 2012 and create new employment Dorothy Burke, Operations remote intervention solutions opportunities for a second Director at ITF said: “Through for use in all oceans and harsh consecutive year. building links with North America’s environments of the world. leading academic institutes “We have seen more than 20 and cutting edge technology projects initiated in the past three companies, significant funding months alone from our Stavanger can be provided to deliver game- base, including providing support changing technologies. to a number of clients in the 21st licensing round.” The collaboration model is proven to work. 100% funding is available Mr Roti, who was appointed for the right solutions, and managing director just under a year developers have direct access to ago, said the strength of Senergy’s our global membership of 26 major wells services is claimed to be oil and gas companies.” integral to the business’s significant growth The recent appointment ITF’s new office on Post Oak of Davide Gaggero as Wells Boulevard, Houston will provide Manager underpins the focus on the a strategic meeting point for the Bowtech company’s well engineering and well team and a full-time in-country lighting operations offering. manager will be in place next year.

145 UT2 July 2011 People People Martin Anderson Paul Job If your name is Martin Anderson, Hydrus Group formed in October Jee, the pipeline, riser and subsea you may apparently stand a higher 2010 after a management buy-in of engineering and training company than average chance of working at DE Engineering and DE Hydraulics. for the oil, gas and renewables the Aberdeen based Hydrus Group. industries, has awarded Paul Job Martin T Anderson said: “Martin’s internal promotion to the position The company has appointed Martin appointment strengthens our of Engineering Manager for the Anderson as its new Operations operational management and Aberdeen office. Director to develop and grow new will enable us to focus on new business as it aims to achieve a business and developing strategies “Paul is our technical guru and this turnover of £5 million in its first year to grow the Group. He has a promotion highlights the fact that of operation. wealth of experience in business we appreciate his knowledge and development, engineering, experience in pipeline and subsea In an unlikely coincidence the new fabrication and equipment services, engineering,” says Managing recruit shares the same name so is ideal to take over the Director, Trevor Jee. and birthday as the company’s operations side of the business. It managing director Martin T was a coincidence that we share “As Engineering Manager, Paul will Anderson, so both have adopted the same name and birthday, but I remain closely involved in projects their middle initials to help set them couldn’t let that put me off getting with our valued global clients, but apart! the right man for the job. We have also spend time acting as mentor and adopted our middle initials to make it technical advisor to our graduates. Martin F Anderson joins the easier internally!” This promotion is part of our strategic independent engineering and expansion plans for growth.” manufacturing firm for the drilling Operations Director, Martin F and subsea construction sectors Anderson started off his career as from Neptune Deeptech in an apprentice fabricator welder with Stonehaven where he was General Symons Engineering Fordoun and Manager and had worked for over worked there for nine years before Apache 14 years. joining Ross Deeptech. Apache Corporation has made a number of changes to its management team:

l Jon Jeppesen has been promoted to the new role of executive vice president overseeing the operations of the Gulf of Mexico Shelf, Deepwater and Gulf Coast Onshore regions. l Jon Graham has been named vice president of the global environmental, health and safety organisation. l Mark Bauer has been promoted to region vice president for the Gulf of Mexico Shelf. l Michael Bose moved up to region vice president and country manager for Argentina. l Graham Lawton was named vice president — liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, leading the Kitimat project team for the LNG facility and Pacific Trail Pipelines. l Kenny Paterson has been named vice president, LNG marketing and shipping, of Apache Energy Ltd.

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Louise Ledgard Nautronix In a bid to further strengthen its platforms. Louise has experience Nautronix has appointed Richard sales force BMT Group Ltd, the of working in numerous oil and Harris as the new Vice President leading international maritime gas producing countries, from as of Sales for the Americas region. design, engineering and risk far afield as Russia supporting a management consultancy, has planned gas terminal, to closer Harris held positions at Ashtead appointed Louise Ledgard as to home on a rig based system Technology, Sonsub, Technip and regional Sales Manager (Europe) west of the Shetland Islands in most recently as a Sales Manager providing vital support for all of the the UK. for Acergy/Subsea 7 in the Gulf subsidiaries that operate within the of Mexico. He will be based at the Energy and Environment sector. As Regional Sales Manager company’s Houston office, and for BMT Group, Louise will will be responsible for maintaining With a PhD in Materials Engineering be responsible for providing and developing Nautronix’ client and Design, a Bachelor’s Degree in coordination and continuity of base in both the US and Brazilian Applied Physics and a Masters in the sales effort within the energy markets. Business Administration under her and environment sector and belt, Louise joins BMT from Fugros conducting sales campaigns GEOS where she gained over 15 which are specific to the needs of years industry experience working the individual subsidiaries which within the offshore oil and gas include BMT Scientific Marine NCS sector. Services and BMT ARGOSS. NCS Survey has appointed John Meaden as chief operating officer Through this role, Louise Ralph Rayner, Sector Director reporting to Andy Gray, president. strengthened her international for Energy and Environment experience of business development comments: “I am delighted to John will assist NCS Survey with and sales, as well as her project welcome Louise into the team at the next stage of its growth. management skills of technical BMT. services and research projects. Gray stated, “We are delighted to She played an integral part in a I’m confident that her ability to have John join our executive team, number of large survey contracts proficiently prepare regional as his 30-year operations which involved full oceanographic sales plans and forecasts, whilst experience in the survey sector will studies to support the development providing strong direction for the help us to underpin our continuing of oil and gas infrastructure as well subsidiaries, will significantly regional and product line growth, as working offshore overseeing contribute towards enhancing while ensuring that we continue the deployment of oceanographic our sales activity and driving our to deliver the levels of service we equipment from vessels and offshore business forward.” have become known for.”

Jonathan Lindsay Industry specialist Jonathan Lindsay joined the management team of Jee. Jonathan will head up the Aberdeen office and be responsible for operations and performance.

Jonathan has worked in all aspects of the subsea oil and gas industry over the past 20 years, from dealing with offshore trenching and construction to running multi-disciplinary, multi- Louise Ledgard company project teams.

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Steve Bell Angus Jamieson

Professor Angus Jamieson has joined the board of Aberdeen based Software developers Pisys Limited.

He is a founder member of the Drilling Industry Steering Committee for Wellbore Survey Accuracy, and was appointed by the DTI to chair a committee to set reporting standards for oil companies drilling wells in UK waters. He was also appointed independent auditor for Shell Europe in 2003 to review drilling surveying and safety procedures and many of his recommendations are being adopted to improve best practice. He was a member of the UK Coastguard Navigation Standards Committee and is well known for his work on mooring design and safety for drilling rigs.

He was the original author of the COMPASS directional software, the most widely used well planning and anti-collision software for directional work across the industry.

In 2000 he helped pioneer the Drilling Visualisation Research Consortium with the BP Centre for Visualisation in Colorado University. Steve Bell DVRC has produced excellent, research results in 3D visualisation BIRNS has appointed Steve Bell degree in Optical Engineering. Prior to optimise drilling planning, as its new Optical/Photonics to joining the team at BIRNS, Bell surveying and anti collision. In 2003 Engineer. In his new position, Bell was a Senior Photonics Engineer he worked with Chevron Texaco will be responsible for the design, at Sabeus Federal Systems, LLC, in ground breaking Definer Survey development and execution of where he designed, built, and tested Analysis which allows the surveyor the company’s diverse fibre-optic fiber-optic hydrophones for prototype to make use of all available survey connector systems. towed acoustic arrays for the US data to optimise on survey position. Navy. In the same year he also worked He will continue to help BIRNS with TOTAL, building a structured expand and enhance its wide range Bell’s successful career has also database for storing deviation of popular fibre optic and hybrid included a position at Optiphase as data and reporting to allow ease connector solutions, including the a Senior Engineer, where he was of transfer of survey data between new BIRNS Millennium standard responsible for the optical design of companies. electro-optical hybrid series. fiber-optic interferometer systems and as an engineer for CalTech Angus is an internationally known Bell brings more than 20 years of on the LIGO (Laser Interferometer consultant and lecturer in the industry experience to his role, Gravitational Wave Observatory) drilling industry with over 30 year’s and holds a Bachelor of Science project. experience.

UT2 July 2011 148 The SUT head office has moved to

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

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Perth Branch North of England Branch Eye Candy Aspects of the Offshore OIl and Gas Industry Evening Meeting Technical Seminar and Dinner Cruise Wednesday 9 February 2011 Thursday, 7 April 2011 By Lanre Odina, Senior Consultant, S2V Consulting Pty By Jerry Baker, Atkins

The subject of the SUT Perth The next speaker, Ashkan Rafiee, The north of England is home “Eye Candy” evening seminar, presented a talk on “The Smoothed to a number of companies that held on Wednesday, 9 February Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) individually contribute significantly 2011, focused on the application of Method”. Ashkan gave a brief to the offshore oil and gas business computer graphics, visualisation and introduction on the history and worldwide, as well as many smaller virtual environments to a wide variety background of the SPH method, noting companies. of subsea challenges. This was the that it is a computational method used first technical evening meeting of the for simulating fluid flows. He also Between them, they contribute to year, and it was pleasing to have an noted that it is a mesh-free Lagrangian an annual turnover in goods and audience of close to 80 people. method (where the coordinates move services estimated to be in the order with the fluid), and that the method of £4–5 billion. The evening was sponsored by S2V works by dividing the fluid into a set Consulting, with three speakers of discrete elements, referred to as Unlike northeast Scotland, however, contributing to the evening: Dr particles. the offshore industry is much less Stephen Richardson, business evident in the north of England, and manager for HR Wallingford in the Ashkan presented a number of employees of these companies do Oceania region; Ashkan Rafiee, numerical simulations on sloshing not see offshore equipment in yards PhD student at the University of in partially-filled tanks, rising gas and on the backs of lorries, so they Western Australia; and Janos L bubble in liquid and turbulent flow. are not so aware of the general Herbaly, creative director for Global His case study on sloshing showed context of the offshore industry. Visioneering. Our Chairman for the good correlation for results from evening, Lanre Odina, welcomed experimental work and the SPH The North of England Branch of the the audience and introduced the simulation. SUT decided, therefore, to structure speakers. a one-day seminar to help provide Janos Herbaly’s presentation on “When some of that context. The evening commenced with Reality Matters” demonstrated how 3D a presentation from Stephen modelling is presently being used for We were extremely pleased that Richardson entitled “Water, Waves developing complex equipment and Dr John Lawson of the Chevron and Structures – Advanced Numerical components required for subsea, such Engineering Technology Company Modelling”. The presentation as trees, manifolds, ROVs and tooling. was able to come down from discussed how computational fluid He explained the basic process of 3D Aberdeen to chair our event. Dr dynamics (CFD) modelling is currently modelling, including development of Lawson is very keen to encourage being used to support water-related the asset base, model library creation, younger engineers, and the thrust developments. Stephen presented model texturing, scene creation, of his opening talk – that the future a number of case studies on single animation and post-production. of the offshore industry worldwide and multi-phase CFD, salmon smolt is subsea – must certainly have migration and the Manilla clam. Janos added that models can be encouraged many in the audience. animated to create a sequence of His case study on single-phase CFD actions that can demonstrate and verify Dr Lawson discussed some of the discussed assessment undertaken the mechanical operations, help to exciting challenges for engineers using 3D simulation to investigate monitor anomalies and defects, predict over the coming years: deep water, scouring concerns for a subsea failures and assist with emergency high pressures and temperatures, concrete gravity protection cover for a responses. Janos also noted that cold and harsh environments, etc. He pipeline wye piece structure. design flaws can be detected then encouraged younger engineers well ahead of the production and to become chartered, before Stephen noted that they were manufacturing stages, saving a large introducing the first speaker. able to demonstrate the detailed amount of money and valuable time. pattern of flow interaction with the subsea structure and seabed, and The presenters closed by addressing Geology of Hydrocarbons recommend effective scour control questions from the audience, and Dr Kuncho Kurtev of Newcastle measures. Stephen concluded his following the meeting’s conclusion, University began with some statistics talk by offering his thoughts on the the attendees advanced to the bar for for oil and gas, revealing that Canada future direction of the CFD field. further discussions and networking. has the second largest reserves of

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North of England Branch Aspects of the Offshore OIl and Gas Industry Technical Seminar and Dinner Cruise Thursday, 7 April 2011 By Jerry Baker, Atkins

crews and clients. The pros and cons of semi-submersibles and drill ships for deepwater drilling were explored – drill ships have larger storage capacity but experience higher motions than semi-submersibles which, in turn, are more stable but limited in storage. Subsea Hardware After an excellent buffet lunch, the next speaker was Nick Cune of Cameron, who took us through all the equipment that makes up the building blocks of a typical subsea field: trees, manifolds, pipeline end terminations and rigid and flexible tie-in spools.

We were introduced to both the topside and subsea components of the control system and to valves and mechanical equipment. Mr Cune then spent some time talking about the issues of installing these components, especially in deep water where Jerry Baker in front of the Tyne bridges everything must, of course, be carried out remotely. crude oil, thanks in part to tar sands. large part of the UK continental shelf. He noted that 55% of the world’s Mr Diemar then walked us through a Flow assurance was also discussed, gas is in Russia, Iran and Qatar. He modern semi-submersible rig with a with the aid of photographs of wax and then took us through the processes series of cut-away drawings, explaining hydrate (enough to send shivers up by which oil and gas, and indeed, that, in developing its R-class design, the toughest spine), and the problems coal are formed, and how oil and gas Maersk spent two years obtaining of insulating complex-shaped migrate to reservoirs. inputs on design improvement from equipment was illustrated.

With a large number of excellent slides, Dr Kurtev explained the different types of reservoir, how they form and how they can be identified by geologists. This talk made a fascinating foundation for the talks that followed. Drilling Jacob Diemar, a naval architect with Maersk Drilling, began by introducing the influence of water depth on offshore drilling, taking us through submersible, jack-up and semi- submersible drilling rigs. He explained that the modern jack-up can drill in up to 150m water depth, which includes a Staff from Wellstream by the Newcastle premises

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London Branch Intelligent Pigging Lateral Buckling and Walking of Pipielines Our fourth speaker was Paul Clayton many of the delegates and some guests who had not been able to of PII Pipeline Solutions. Paul began Evening Meeting attend the seminar met up on the by taking us through intelligent Thursday, 14 April 2011 quayside in Newcastle for a boat trip pigging technology, discussing By Mohammed Riyazuddin Shaik, MSc Pipeline down the River Tyne. magnetic flux leakage (MFL) and Engineering, Newcastle University ultrasonic technology (UT) and their application to both general wall loss It was a lovely evening as we passed Prompt arrival of all participants set and to crack detection, and showing underneath the Gateshead Millennium the tone for a high quality technical pictures of typical pigs. Bridge, which had been opened meeting at Imperial College, especially for us, even if it was a bit London. He then went on to describe the chilly on the foredeck once we turned inspection of BP’s CATS pipeline to head downstream. We were treated The evening meeting focused after it was snagged by a ship’s to a very informative narration as on lateral buckling phenomena anchor. After explaining with video we proceeded down river, pausing predominantly observed in offshore the steps they had to take to for a good look at the facilities of pipelines, and how these may be demonstrate that their pig would be Wellstream, our main sponsor. dealt with. able to pass through clapper-type non-return valves without harm, Mr Slowly, the numbers on deck dwindled The meeting was chaired by Clayton showed some inspection as it became colder, but some Emil Maschner of JP Kenny, who records – it was fascinating to see stalwarts were still on deck when commenced the evening with a the dents made by the two anchor we docked in North Shields to take brief introduction of the topic. He flukes so clearly displayed. on a load of fish suppers, though welcomed the participants and afterwards the deck was deserted as introduced the three speakers: we returned upstream. Life Extension Sherif El-Gebaly of Intecsea, Arek Our final speaker was Dr Afshim The cruise made an excellent end to Bedrossian and Graeme Roberts of Motarjemi of the Xodus Group, an informative day. who started by discussing aspects of integrity management (which will have rung bells with the Aberdeen Branch students of Newcastle University’s MSc in Subsea Engineering and Management, since they had Subsea Solutions for Arctic and Extreme Weather Conditions completed the Reliability and Integrity module only the previous Evening Meeting week). Wednesday, 9 March 2011 By Chris Milner, BPP-TECH Dr Motarjemi discussed the HSE’s KP3 and KP4 initiatives to engage Given the increasing interest in the satellite imagery. Drawing on a variety with industry and improve the Arctic region, particularly with regard of project expertise from the likes of condition of offshore infrastructure. to oil and gas exploration, a number of Sakhalin, Nikaitchuq and Kashagan, He then moved on to life extension speakers provided information based Glenn Lanan, as a natural progression of integrity on a variety of challenges that are management, citing the applicable faced when working in this area. Pipeline technical advisor, Intecsea, codes and standards, and finished highlighted a number of challenges with some examples. The arctic has a few disputed areas that are faced by subsea pipeline and is geographically surrounded by technology. These include seabed ice Video Greenland, Norway, Russia, Canada gouging, permafrost thaw settlement, We were also grateful to BP for and the United States. Besides the strudel scour, upheaval buckling, leak two videos which clearly illustrated temperature extremes, there are clearly detection and trenching issues. In the make-up of the Foinaven and environmental concerns at play which addition to these challenges, weather Schiehallion subsea fields. These apply to air and water environment, windows need to be considered for were shown between afternoon as well as power availability and conducting certain operations. sessions. consumption. Following on from this talk, Richard Perspectives ranged from pipelines Carter, R&D manager, Aker Solutions, River Cruise/Dinner to controls equipment, and even ice presented a perspective from a In the evening our seminar chairman, formation and location detection from controls equipment angle. Storage

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Lateral Buckling and Walking of Pipielines

Subsea 7, and David Bruton of Atkins Sherif concluded by explaining that induced, as a result of seabed Boreas. mechanical interaction between the topography, and man-made, as two pipes was considered during the a result of buoyancy units, dual Sherif El-Gebaly began by highlighting analysis, and a heavier pipeline would sleepers or pipe pulled from single the need for pipe-in-pipe (PIP) systems require more complex, user-defined sleepers at shallower depths. and associated design challenges, modelling. using the example of a J-lay project. The presentation described the Graeme Roberts of Subsea 7 next modelling approach adopted and the Engineers are now capable of presented post-buckle analysis of procedure used for determining the confidently designing these systems an offshore pipeline using the post- lateral soil friction. without overstraining the pipeline and operational feedback data. inducing fatigue. Graeme concluded the Due to rising product temperatures, presentation with an explanation Sherif illustrated the advantages post-operational analysis of reel-laid of the conservative approach of of making a section of the pipe pipeline was considered using a finite engineering criticality assessment buoyant, and the effect this has on the element (FE) model to determine the (ECA) and the feasibility of post- submerged weight of the pipeline and current pipeline condition and future operational re-analysis of operating predictability of buckling phenomena. pipeline integrity. lines. The effect of soil frictional resistance on the pipeline embedment determined The pipeline was found to have The final session was presented by using advanced finite element analysis buckled at a number of locations. David Bruton of Atkins, who briefly (FEA) was also demonstrated. The buckled sites were both naturally introduced the SAFEBUCK joint industry project (JIP) and its scope, along with the present work being undertaken during its final phase.

David demonstrated that the SAFEBUCK JIP simplified the Subsea Solutions for Arctic and Extreme Weather Conditions design process through its application of analytical models and FEA.

The pipe-soil interaction testing carried out by SAFEBUCK allowed and operating of this temperature allow for better resolution of data, development of the lateral cyclic sensitive equipment is critical and the higher frequency of updates and response, and has been observed merits of FPSO versus long offset data updates to be closer to ‘real to capture the essence of both DNV development options were discussed. time’ than was previously possible. OS-F101 and API RP 111 design Leak detection solutions were also standards. detailed and mention was made to Different types of ice, multi-year ice a new range of drilling vessels that versus first year ice, movement of David concluded that the have been engineered and built as ice and the users of this information SAFEBUCK JIP aims to raise “winterised” and have the ability to – not just oil and gas companies, confidence in the lateral buckling work up to the ice line. but fishermen, too – were all design approach and develop better explored. understanding of pipeline walking From subsea we moved to outer phenomena. space for an informative outline of All the presentations combined how information from satellite remote gave an interesting perspective on The presenters answered a number sensing can be used for operational how different technologies can be of the audience’s questions at the and planning activity when working in used in harmony for project activity end of each presentation. Emil ice-infested waters. in what will undoubtedly be another concluded the evening by thanking major development frontier. The the presenters and the audience for Recent improvements in synthetic evening was successfully chaired by contributing to a valuable and highly aperture radar (SAR) technology Adrian Phillips with a strong turnout. interactive evening meeting.

153 UT2 July 2011 FMC Technologies’ subsea solutions and experience are leading the way in all-subsea arctic development. And that makes life easier when you’re working offshore in a sea that’s ice-covered up to seven months of the year. Our total solutions include proven subsea processing and pumping, long distance tie-backs and clean, all-electric control systems with robust condition monitoring and flow manager systems. Don’t let the ice freeze you out of the arctic. Talk to us instead.

We put you first. And keep you ahead. www.fmctechnologies.com

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