Subsea Uk News the Newsletter from Subsea Uk June 2011

SUBSEA UK NEWS THE NEWSLETTER FROM SUBSEA UK WWW.SUBSEAUK.COM JUNE 2011

IN THIS ISSUE Subsea UK’s New CEO Announced Market Analysis Latest Business News New Technologies ...and more 2 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 3 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 SUBSEA UK NEWS SUBSEA UK NEWS

Tel: +44 (0)845 505 3535 Subsea UK to E-mail: [email protected] Subsea UK Appoints First Ever Induction Framework www.subseauk.com Award Annual for Subsea Launched to Scholarships in New Members New Chief Executive Radically Improve Safety Subsea Engineering Central Insurance Services Ltd, Ecosse Subsea Systems Ltd, The industry body which represents the UK’s Frazer-Nash Consultancy Ltd, ISIS Technical Services Limited, subsea sector has appointed a new chief executive. JDR Cable Systems, Kiltie Pipeline Technology Ltd, Litre Meter, Neil Gordon will take over the reins at Subsea UK Subsea UK’s safety forum has Subsea UK is to offer a series Marketec, PhiBre Pty Ltd, Subsea Deployment Systems Ltd, TESS-JNW Ltd, Universal Engineering Ltd, Weston Compliance at the beginning of July 2011. launched its fi rst ever pan industry of scholarships to increase the Services Ltd Currently general manager of the National sector common induction framework number of highly qualifi ed subsea Hyperbaric Centre in Aberdeen, Mr Gordon to reduce accidents and improve engineers in the industry. Member List has over 20 years’ management and business safety performance through a As a not-for-profi t body, Subsea development experience, combined with over 10 greater understanding of the risks UK has already invested surplus Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, Aberdeenshire Council, years’ subsea experience. and what is required. back into industry, creating value AC-CESS Co Uk, AGR Integrity UK, AGR Subsea Ltd, Aker During his time at the National Hyperbaric This is the fi rst of a series of best for its members and the sector. Qserv, Aker Solutions, Allomax Associates Limited, Andrew Palmer & Associates, ANSYS UK Limited, Ashtead Technology, Centre he has successfully project-managed practice initiatives that the industry The scholarship programme Atkins, ATR Group, Aubin Limited, Baker Hughes Process and saturation diving operations and hyperbaric weld body’s Subsea Safety Leadership is the latest in Subsea UK’s Pipeline Services, Baule UK Limited, Bel Valves, BG Group, trials. Having helped develop the diving safety Forum will be rolling out to improve initiatives, which will enable Bibby Offshore Limited, Bond Pearce LLP, BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, BPP-TECH, Bridge Energy UK, and subsea training and consultancy part of safety through industry-wide successful candidates to study Bruck UK Limited, Buchan Technical Services Limited, C3 the business, he regularly lectures to subsea collaboration. towards a post-graduate MSc in Global Limited, Caley Ocean Systems Limited, Cameron Limited, engineers and delivers training courses. The common induction framework subsea engineering. Castrol Offshore Ltd, Centrica Energy, Chevron Upstream Europe, C-MAR, Cognetas LLP, CorDex Instruments Company, He has experience of working in India, Middle-East, Africa and Brazil and has will ensure that everyone working Eligible candidates, who will be Cosalt, Cranfi eld University, CSL, CTC Marine Projects, Cutting worked with the Oil and Gas Producers diving operations sub-committee on offshore, onshore or on-board invited to apply before the 15th Underwater Technologies Ltd., Deepwater EU Ltd, Delmar North client representative training and competency for subsea projects. He is also vessels in the subsea sector will July every year, will be graduate Sea Ltd, DOF Subsea UK, Dominion Gas, DUCO Ltd, Dunlop Oil & Marine Ltd, Dynamic Positioning Services (DPS), E.ON Ruhrgas a member of the IMCA diving safety medical technical and training committee. receive a common induction process engineers normally living in the UK North Sea UK Ltd, East of England Energy Group, EPC Offshore Following a business studies course at the former Aberdeen College of before beginning work. It has been and who are supported by a Subsea Limited, Escape Business Technologies, ESS Support Services Commerce, Mr Gordon trained as a commercial diver and spent eight years developed by sharing best practice UK member company. Worldwide, Exova, Expro Group, EXSTO, Fathom Systems, First Subsea Ltd, Fisher Offshore, Flexlife Limited, Flowline carrying out numerous diving assignments in the UK and Norwegian waters from the main contractors to ensure such as technicians from equipment Subsea UK Chief Executive, Specialists Limited, Forum Energy Technologies, Framo involving new construction projects, pipeline surveys, welding and inspection a common approach to inductions. manufacturing companies and those Alistair Birnie, said: “We are Engineering UK Ltd, Fugro General Robotics Limited, Fugro with Oceaneering and other companies. Chief executive of Subsea UK, whose usual day job is desk-bound. delighted to be able to contribute impROV, Fugro Subsea Services Ltd, Furmanite International Limited, Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants, Global Energy Commenting on his appointment, Subsea UK chairman Bill Edgar said: Alistair Birnie, said: “This is a major However, every worker should have to the industry by developing both Group, Global Marine Systems Limited, Granherne Limited, “Neil brings a new dimension to Subsea UK. We are pleased to have secured step forward in the industry’s the same level of safety competence young and mature engineers alike Hallin Marine (UK) Ltd, Helix Esg - Well Ops, Hydrasun Limited, someone who has direct subsea experience, fi rstly as a diver and latterly collaborative approach to safety so the framework applies to everyone who will drive forward the next Hydratight, IHC Engineering Business, Imenco, Imes Systems, Infi eld Systems Limited, Innospection Limited, Inspectahire within the Hyperbaric Centre, but who also has diverse management and is targeted at further improving connected with offshore subsea generation of subsea services and Inst. Co. Limited, Integrated Subsea Services Limited, Inuktun experience outwith the subsea sector. performance across the sector. operations. technology. Europe Ltd, IPWL Limted, iXBlue Limited, J + S Ltd, J P Kenny “We are confi dent that Neil will continue to build on Subsea UK’s services “I have been particularly impressed “Many of the people involved in “As a self-sustaining membership Engineering, J. Ray McDermott, JDR Cable Systems, K.D. Marine Limited, Kongsberg Maritime Limited, L&N (Scotland) to members and enhance the reputation of the sector at home and abroad.” by the willingness to share subsea operations are not as familiar organisation, we are entirely Limited, Liquavision, Marin Subsea Ltd, Marlin Engineering Mr Gordon added: “I am honoured to be joining such a well-respected and information, the transparency in with the offshore environment and funded by our members, generating Limited, Master Flo Valve Co (UK) Limited, Matrix Composites infl uential industry organisation. Over the years, I have been impressed by the process and the commitment will not have had the same inductions revenue through subscriptions & Engineering, MCS Kenny, MODUS, Molecular Products Ltd, MSi Kenny, National Hyperbaric Centre, National Oceanography its rapid growth in size and stature and have the highest respect for both of members to work together for as people working for the major and our various initiatives and Centre, National Subsea Research Insitute Ltd, Nautronix, NCA - my predecessors. My initial aim will be to the benefi t of the industry and its contractors. By providing this services. The success in delivering Norse Cutting & Abandonment Ltd, NCS Survey Limited, NETmc build upon the successes achieved to date employees.” standard guidance, we can ensure these services has allowed us to Marine Ltd, Nexen Petroleum UK Ltd, NGP UK Ltd, Noordhoek “By coming together, they have that everyone will be briefed through continually build a surplus which Offshore B.V, NSIG (Northern Scotland Industries Group), with a focus on delivering services that Hot News NSW Technology Ltd, Nylacast Ltd, Oceaneering International meet members’ needs and promote the identifi ed the best of what is being a common induction as to what to we are investing in the industry’s Services Ltd, Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, ODS-Petrodata, globalisation of the UK subsea industry. Visit our website done by individual organisations and expect when travelling to and from future.” Offshore Installation Services, Offspring International Limited, combined this into a single induction The Subsea UK scholarship will OMB Offshore Applications Limited, Online electronics, Optical “Subsea UK’s recent work on safety for all the latest hot news and installation or working on a Metrology Services Ltd, Pan-Ocean Engineering Limited, and skills is of particular interest to me framework that will be available vessel at sea,” explained Mr Birnie. cover up to 80% of the total annual Paradigm Flow Solutions Ltd, PDL Solutions (Europe) Limited, and I hope to be able to make a valuable on everything subsea: to everyone working on a subsea Subsea UK’s safety forum, cost up to a maximum of £7,500 Perry Slingsby Systems Limited, PhiBre Pty Ltd, Photosynergy, Pipe Coil Technology Ltd, Polar Media, Port Services Group, contribution in these areas as well.” www.subseauk.com project.” established in 2010, brings together for a full-time course and £3,500 Project Development International Ltd, Proserv Offshore, The subsea sector operates in the leading players in the UK subsea for a part-time one. As well as Prospect, Quadrant EPP UK Ltd, Quest Offshore Resources one of the most mission-critical sector to ensure that the UK is the fees, the costs covered will include Inc, RBG Limited, RiserTec, Robert Gordon University, Rotech Subsea Limited, Roxar Limited, RRC Controls Services Limited, and challenging environments of safest place for those working in it course material, books, travel, Saab Seaeye Limited, Saint-Gobain Isover, Saipem UK Limited, Forthcoming Events in 2011 any in the oil and gas industry. from marine operators to subsea subsistence and accommodation Sonsub Division, Schilling Robotics Ltd, Schlumberger Subsea Recent statistics on subsea-related contractors and sub-contractors. where appropriate. Surveillance, Scottish Enterprise, Seal-Tite UK LLC, SECC, 02 June 2011 Subsea Asia 2011 Conference incidents reveal that a substantial The forum has been sharing The post-graduate masters Seebyte Ltd, SgurrEnergy, Shell UK Ltd, Simmons & Co Kuala Lumpur International Limited, SMD Ltd, Smit Subsea Europe BV, Society number of reported incidents information and the lessons learnt scholarships are intended to for Underwater Technology, Solstad Offshore (UK) Limited, 16 June 2011 Market Update and Networking Lunch are related to sub-contractor from specifi c subsea instances and be either a one-year full-time Sonardyne International Limited (Aberdeen), Sonavision Limited, Sonomatic, Specialist Subsea Services, Speciality Welds Ltd, AECC, Aberdeen personnel. The priority was therefore incidents. It provides leadership and programme or suitable part-time Strategic Resources European Consultants Ltd, Stronachs LLP, 21 June 2011 Subsea UK Networking Dinner to introduce an effective way of direction on improvements which will programme. Students applying Sub- Atlantic, Subsea 7, Subsea Integrity Group (SIG), Subsea making sure there was a common be rolled out in a planned and co- must have received an offer of Supplies Limited, Subspection Ltd, Technip UK, Teijin Aramid Inverness BV, The Underwater Centre, Titanium Engineers Ltd, Total standard for inducting people into ordinated way. a place at any UK university. E&P UK plc, TPG (UK) Limited, Tracerco, Trelleborg Offshore, 29 June 2011 Parliamentary Reception their worksite. This is not about The new chairman of the forum is The scholarship will be paid to Tritech International Limited, UKPS/SUBCO, UnderSea Sense Members’ Dining Room, House of Commons, London creating new safety guidelines but Stephen McNeil of Subsea 7, who the sponsoring company and Ltd, Underwater Engineering Services Ltd, Univation, Universal Pegasus, University of Aberdeen, University of Strathclyde, UTEC 29 June 2011 Parliamentary Reception Dinner about making sure existing guidelines replaces Ron Cookson of Technip. the student must undertake to Survey, Valeport Ltd, Vector International, VerdErg Connectors Quaglino’s, London are communicated clearly and The induction framework is continue in the employment of Limited, Vetco Gray UK Ltd, Viper Subsea Ltd, Visualsoft Limited, implemented consistently across all free to use and can be accessed that company for a minimum of Weatherford Production Optimisation (UK) Ltd, Webtool, 02 September 2011 Subsea UK Challenge Cup contractors. at www.subseauk.com. It will be two years after completion of the Welaptega Marine UK Ltd, Wellstream International Limited, Inchmarlo WFS Energy & Environment, WGIM, William Hackett Chains Ltd, The induction framework is maintained and updated by Subsea degree programme. Wilton Engieering Services Ltd, Wood Group Kenny, Worldwide 07 September 2011 Subsea UK’s Offshore Europe Dinner primarily targeted at new employees UK and a steering group of safety Interested companies or individuals Business Portfolios Ltd, Xodus Group Limited 2011 in the sector and those going into a should visit www.subseauk.com for The Marcliffe, Pitfodels professionals from the main marine environment for the fi rst time contractors. more information. Designed by www.designinc.co.uk Please visit www.subseauk.com for details of forthcoming events. 4 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 5 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 SUBSEA UK NEWS BUSINESS / TECHNOLOGY

Subsea UK Compiles Database Douglas-Westwood Forecasts $139 Billion to be of Industry Projects and Contracts Spent on Subsea Hardware in the Next Five Years Douglas-Westwood’s fi rst edition of its World Subsea production are tested and supply struggles to meet Subsea UK has launched a new Australia, Asia-Pacifi c, and the Gulf is now available in the contracts Hardware Market Report forecasts 23% growth in demand. The economic downturn did undoubtedly hit service for members which provides of Mexico. database including type of contract, capital expenditure compared to the last fi ve years, some subsea projects, due to their relative complexity valuable market intelligence on the Information provided in the companies involved, geographic with $139 billion to be spent on subsea hardware over and the associated costs, with most operators using global industry. projects database includes the name region, and value - when available. the 2011-2015 period. A proprietary model has been conservative hurdle rates to determine levels of The body which represents the of the project, the operator, main Subsea UK Chief Executive, developed for this study in collaboration with the leading investment. We have witnessed some moderation and UK’s subsea oil and gas sector contractor, equipment suppliers, Alistair Birnie, said: “This is the fi rst subsea hardware providers. Field-data, contract values reversal of the cost infl ation that occurred in the years has compiled a series of databases along with the project status, where time that all of this publicly-released and project-by-project scrutiny allows a ‘bottom-up’ leading up to 2008. containing vital market information on it is located, water depths, as well information has been available consideration of the market for a highly-detailed forecast. The volume and value of subsea production and subsea projects, contracts and new as the current number of trees, through one source and will provide Renewed upward pressure on oil prices is already processing equipment installed is detailed for the period discoveries, which will be updated manifolds, umbilicals, fl owlines and valuable key facts and fi gures for starting to be seen and this is expected to continue 2006-2010 and forecast 2011-2015. During the monthly and available from the risers currently in use and required business development. It adds value over the long-term as the limits of conventional oil forecast period, export lines account for over half of all members’ section of the Subsea UK in the future meet demand. The to membership of Subsea UK as expenditure, dominated by Eastern Europe, Asia and the website. database also holds information on the up-to-date intelligence would be Middle-East which have a number of large subsea pipeline The project database reveals that FPSOs and subsea vessels. otherwise diffi cult, costly and time- projects planned. Production expenditure is concentrated there are more than 300 major on- The contract database reveals consuming for companies to gather in West Africa, Brazil and the US Gulf of Mexico due to going or up-coming subsea projects that more than 350 major subsea individually.” strong deepwater sectors. globally, which will require more than contracts totalling over £6 billion The last review of the subsea The astonishing technical capability that exists within 1,300 subsea trees, 110 manifolds, have been awarded globally during sector in 2010 revealed that the UK the subsea sector today puts into perspective just and 12,000 km of subsea umbilicals, the fi rst four months of 2011. These subsea sector comprised around 760 how capital-intensive oil and gas extraction now is for risers, and fl owlines. These include include 23 EPIC, 33 manufacturing companies, supporting 50,000 jobs, upstream E&P players. The technology that is being 70 projects in the UKCS, as well as and 13 installation contracts. generating £5.9 billion in revenues deployed is unlocking reserves that would previously have those in major centres of activity Information on contracts that have and exporting around 50% of those been impossible to access, but at a price, and as a result in Norway, Brazil, West Africa, been awarded in the past three years revenues. the sector has become a very sizable opportunity for the oilfi eld service and equipment community.

Exova Develops New Capability for Subsea GLOBAL CONNECTIONS Materials Exova, one of the world’s leading testing and advisory 8IFSF4VCTFB1FPQMF%P#VTJOFTT businesses, has invested over £100,000 in its Oil and Gas 0JMBOE(BTt%FGFODFt8BWFBOE5JEBMt0GGTIPSF8JOEt0DFBO4DJFODF division, expanding its range of services to include fracture mechanics testing for its international offshore clients. Exova’s Aberdeen laboratory has expanded the number of testing experts, recruiting four new additional employees, including the appointment of a metallurgist which enhances the failure investigation capability within the business. The service offering within the laboratory has also expanded with the introduction of elevated tensile testing, crack tip open displacement testing (CTOD) and investment in a scanning electron microscope. Jason Clark, Exova’s general manager of Energy in Scotland and the North East, said: “Oil and Gas is one of the most signifi cant markets for Exova, with laboratories in nearly every major industry centre around Exova Aberdeen also offers for the very fi rst time the world. This investment comes at a time when Exova is scanning electron microscope testing, an essential tool for consolidating its position as one of the leading Oil and Gas investigative failure and forensic analysis. testing organisations and enhances our quality testing In addition to the new services, the UKAS accredited services to our locally-based offshore clients.” Aberdeen laboratory provides a range of corrosion, The investment in the fracture mechanics service mechanical and metallurgical tests for metals and metal further advances the laboratory’s already comprehensive products as well as being home to a welding centre of welding capabilities. The introduction of the elevated excellence. Subsea Asia 2011 Conference Parliamentary Reception tensile testing allows businesses to determine the The welding centre offers an expansive range of ,VBMB-VNQVS +VOF -POEPO +VOF materials characteristics when testing at temperatures services including welding engineering, support on welding above room temperature. processes, materials and mechanical testing, welder GPSNPSFJOGPSNBUJPO The addition of CTOD testing at a local level further testing and third party certifi cation. Tel: +44 (0)845 505 3535 &NBJMBENJO!TVCTFBVLDPN XXXTVCTFBVLDPN compliments Exova’s already extensive range of testing Exova’s Edinburgh laboratory supports the Aberdeen available, enhancing the business as leaders in materials facility to serve the Oil and Gas industry, with tests for analysis. material and welding procedure qualifi cation. 6 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 7 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 BUSINESS / TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY

Overcoming Oversupply in the ROVSV and DSV Market Roxar Launches Breakthrough Well Intervention Tool

It is well known that there is The graph below, taken from ODS- environmental expectations that have Roxar Flow Measurement Ltd, the oversupply in the diving support Petrodata’s ConstructionVesselBase, arisen following the 2010 Macondo Aberdeen-based arm of Norwegian vessel (DSV) and ROV support vessel highlights the average age of the fl eet disaster in the US Gulf of Mexico. company Roxar, has launched a (ROVSV) markets. This is bad from currently operating in the subsea Tighter vessel age restrictions may new wireless product that provides the contractor’s point of view as it market. be exercised in certain countries or the offshore subsea market with infl uences utilisation and, in turn, day In the DSV market there are 30 by certain operators. This is already improved well integrity monitoring rates are negatively affected. vessels that are over 26 years old. happening in some regions, including and signifi cant cost savings. The most obvious solution to this Of these, 10 are now over 30 and the Indonesia, Australia, the Middle-East The Roxar Downhole Wireless problem for contractors would be oldest is 44. and the North Sea. At the moment, PT Sensor System – Annulus B, for some of the older tonnage to be When a vessel is built it is the market is tilted in favour of the measures previously inaccessible scrapped, laid up or moved out of generally constructed to last 30 operators due to the amount of annular pressure and temperature the market. But is this really likely to years before heavy investment is available tonnage. But restricting the behind the B casing in subsea happen? required to keep it in class. While the maximum age of vessels in certain production or injection wells. There were 57 DSVs and 91 market is strong, contractors will regions would cause a reduction in The technology can save operators ROVSVs operating in the market at feel it is worth absorbing these costs the supply, resulting in day rates millions of pounds through verifying a the start of 2007. Since then the to reap the rewards of the market. starting to climb. well’s barrier integrity without having supply for DSVs has increased by But if utilisation and day rates start Demand is due to increase year- to shut down for maintenance. 48% to 83 vessels, while the ROVSV to drop, then vessel owners may have on-year in the shallow and benign Its application also provides fl eet has seen a more dramatic to rethink their strategies. market, but it is the deep and early warning of production fl ow Roxar’s new technology hailed as breakthrough for the offshore sector increase of 76% to 160 vessels The ROVSV fl eet is much younger harsh market that will be seeing problems allowing operators to during the same period. While annual than its DSV equivalent, with around the most dramatic increases in detect variations in pressure behind control system designs without are anticipating massive potential demand has also grown, it has been 75% of the vessels 10 years old or demand, driven in particular by the casing. If left undetected, high modifi cations, and offers operators a for new business in the UK offshore at a much slower rate. It increased younger. As the oil and gas industry Australia and Brazil. Oversupply in pressure can result in a shallow gas long-term solution to loss in casing sector and worldwide, given the 21% for DSVs and 18% for ROVSVs moves into deeper and harsher the fl eet is obvious at the moment, blow out. The device reduces safety integrity often caused by poor or ability of the technology to operate in between 2007 and 2010. environments, newer vessels will but as the industry moves into ever and environmental risks associated deteriorating cement sealing or challenging oilfi eld environments.” be increasingly utilised, especially harsher environments, it will likely with well interventions as a result. casing collapse. Mr Haugen continues: “The with the heightened safety and require more newbuild vessels that Roxar’s development of the Svenn Haugen, regional manager Roxar Downhole Wireless PT Sensor are capable of working in these technology has already gained Europe & North Africa of Roxar System – Annulus B, monitors vital environments year-round. This is industry wide interest and the Flow Measurement, said: “This new data from the annulus B online and especially likely if Arctic projects company introduced the technology wireless downhole instrument is a in real-time with absolute certainty enter the construction phase. at the OTC technical conference. breakthrough in protecting subsea of the results. The power to the So will the older vessels be Roxar will bring its Downhole well integrity, as it tracks pressure device is continuously transmitted scrapped? The short answer is, in Wireless PT Sensor System – in areas that were previously off wirelessly, rather than by battery, time, yes. But as long as owners keep Annulus B, to the UK North Sea limits for oil and gas operators. and we can therefore guarantee that their vessels well maintained, they market this year. It can be fi tted “This is a tremendous it will operate for a minimum of 20 can continue to be utilised, especially to current subsea template/ improvement for the industry and we years.” in shallow and benign regions. A turning point is likely to come when operators impose restrictions on the age and/or capabilities of the vessels they utilise. GOSL Takes Delivery of Sub-Atlantic Despite only a few vessels having been laid up or retired in the subsea market to date, it is likely that many Mohawk Integrated with SeeTrack CoPilot more will follow suit in the years to come. the growing needs of their clients. himself the advantages in using Realising the benefi ts of the SeeTrack software. “I was very solutions offered by SeeByte’s pleased to see for myself how easy SeeTrack CoPilot software, GOSL it was to control the ROV using have purchased a SeeTrack licence to SeeTrack,” commented Ekpeyong. accompany the Mohawk. The system “The concentration and skill required Vector Technology Groups’ OPTIMA was demonstrated and accepted to manoeuvre the vehicle shows at the Sub-Atlantic test tank in what a diffi cult task pilots are faced Subsea ROV Connector Selected for Blackburn, Aberdeenshire. with, and by simply adding SeeTrack “It was great to have GOSL CoPilot, the mission becomes a much Capping Stack Emergency Response witness their new SeeTrack CoPilot simpler and effi cient act. I am looking software in action with their Mohawk forward to providing this capability System ROV,” commented Ioseba, Sales to my pilots and also improving the SeeByte, the global leader in creating Manager at SeeByte. “SeeTrack standard of service available to oil In Q1 2011 VTG delivered several size 5 OPTIMA Subsea ROV connectors smart software technology for CoPilot offers a range of benefi ts companies.” to Transetter Engineering to integrate into their prestigious capping stack unmanned systems, has successfully for ROV service providers, the “This has been an interesting emergency response system in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The rating of the integrated and delivered SeeTrack intuitive interface makes piloting the project and we have worked hard to system is 15,000 psi and is capable of processing over 60,000 of barrels a day. CoPilot with the Sub-Atlantic ROV a simple point-and-click task. ensure that GOSL are satisfi ed with VTG Subsea Business Managing Director Chris Lee explains: “Having been Mohawk to Geodetic Offshore This means that the performance their system,” said John Ferguson called upon by BP last July to supply OPTIMA connectors to the emergency Services Limited (GOSL). and data gathered during subsea from Sub-Atlantic. “I am certain that response system deployed on the Macondo incident we were delighted when GOSL recently purchased the inspections is much improved.” the Mohawk is going to be of great our partner in the GOM TEI requested we support this prestigious opportunity. Mohawk Inspection Class ROV to Having never piloted an ROV value to GOSL and their customers.” The readiness of this system has been has been critical in allowing the offer offshore pipeline surveys, prior to this demo, Emanuel SeeTrack CoPilot software can commencement of drilling operations in the GOM and we are honoured to play inspection surveys and tooling Ekpeyong CEO of GOSL, was given now be integrated to all Sub-Atlantic our part.” capabilities in order to support the opportunity to discover for ROVs. 8 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 9 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY

Tritech’s Latest Version of SMD Receives Prestigious Seanet Pro Now Released Queen’s Award for Enterprise

Winner of the Subsea UK Innovation Pro’s straightforward ‘plug & play’ Winner of the Subsea UK’s Company turbine for Atlantis & Technology Award, Tritech functionality. of the Year Award, SMD, has been Resources Corporation. International, is pleased to announce Seanet Pro is accurate and user- honoured with the prestigious Engineering design work the latest release of its survey friendly, allowing subsea data to be Queen’s Award for Enterprise in also ramped up on the data acquisition, display and logging captured, processed and translated the innovation category for the development of world- software package. with ease. The advancement of design and manufacturer of Work fi rst deepwater mining Seanet Pro, version 2, now Seanet Pro is driven by the skills of Class Remotely Operated Vehicles equipment for Nautilus offers users the ability for remote Tritech’s software development team. (WROVS). Minerals Inc. networkability; allowing subsea data Working behind the scenes to The Wallsend-based company is one SMD’s most recent to be streamed between several capture the very best customer of the world’s leading manufacturers trenching ROV model, PCs connected to the same Local solution for acquisition, control of remote invention equipment, which the Q-Trencher, has been Area Network on the surface. visualisation and data logging, the operates in hazardous environments utilised by operators in Building on existing capability to Seanet Pro software development across the globe. China and Japan, where network multiple subsea sensors, the team comprises of Kevin Matson Seanet Pro windowed layout showing Gemini 720i Each year, the Queen’s Award is it has been involved in package has been updated in line with (Software Manager), Christophe sonar image of a sunken barrel presented by the UK Department subsea communications Tritech’s existing and imminent new Auger & Matt Chamberlain (Software for Business, Innovation and Skills cable repair following product ranges, including SeaKing Engineers), alongside three new and a common interface. Seanet to enterprises and organisations the recent earthquake Hammerhead DST sonar and the recruits; Pauline Jepp, Paul McMaster Pro version 2 takes everything to a in recognition of outstanding and tsunami. Andrew Hodgson, Chief Executive Gemini multibeam range. The system and Edward Thurman. new level with the movable windows, achievement in the categories of In addition to its riverside head of SMD, said: “We have led the also provides users with the ability to Jesse Rodocker from SeaBotix Inc. wizards and output functions; it International Trade, Innovation, offi ce and manufacturing facility in subsea ROV market for a number display a multitude of Tritech sensors comments on his experience of the complements Tritech’s impressive line and Sustainable Development. The Wallsend, and offi ces in Malton, North of years in terms of design and and third party data through SeaNet latest version of Seanet Pro: “Tritech of sensors.” Queen personally approves the Yorkshire, Singapore, Houston, and innovation and the Queen’s Award Pro at any one time. has always provided an impressive In addition, all new product ranges recommendations of the Prime Macae in Brazil, SMD has expanded is a marvellous acknowledgement With the new release, users integrated solution to sensor data can be connected and operated with Minister. its presence in the North East in the of our achievements. Through of Seanet Pro can now create that our clients fi nd great value in. existing Tritech products all from Following the restructuring of its past 12 months. the creation of the fi ve business their own windowed layout by With so many of our clients using a single Surface Control Unit, with operations into fi ve business streams SMD recently added a dedicated streams and the emergence of new selecting their Tritech products and sonar, tracking and video the ability to simultaneous control and display – ROVS, Trenching, Renewables, design offi ce at the Cobalt Business energy markets such as renewables adjusting how they are displayed work in one software package means of all data through the Seanet Pro Nuclear and Mining – the company Park and an additional production and new nuclear, we have further on screen; highlighting Seanet reduced training, synchronised data graphical user interface. has experienced strong growth. facility at the Tyne Tunnel Trading developed our product range to meet Turnover for the period 2009-10 Estate, which will become an ROV the challenges of these sectors increased by almost 50% to £61 Centre of Excellence. and increase our presence in global million and the company is targeting This expansion, to meet the markets. another considerable rise in turnover growing contract wins secured by “This award is testament to the Caley Ocean Systems Delivers New 400-tonne Mobile by the end of 2011. SMD, has enabled the business creative skills and technical expertise In 2010 SMD won the industry’s to more than double its workforce of our engineers in our Research & Turntable to Mooring Systems largest ever single work class ROV from 120 to almost 300. Further Development and Production units order for 20 vehicles from Subsea 7, recruitment is underway for an supported by an outstanding team of product protection and highly accurate product spooling. as well as the manufacture of the additional 30 positions for its North people who continue to excel in their Designed from the outset for rapid deployment from world’s largest free stream tidal East and Yorkshire operations. work for the company.” any port in the UK at short notice, the turntable is fully modularised for transport by road and standard 40 foot fl at rack at sea. Together with dedicated deck beams, the spooler has its own lifting gear allowing a single lift of the fully assembled system. Moreover, the combination of fully integrated hydraulic power unit (HPU), redundant drives VisualSoft Showcase New Software and integral dual redundant braking system, all rated IP56, suitable for a marine environment, signifi cantly The Ocean Business exhibition, held at the National Oceanographic Centre, was the ideal platform for Subsea reduce mobilisation times and ensure safe handling of Services business VisualSoft to showcase VisualWorks 9, a major upgrade to the Pipeline overhung loads. and Structural Inspection Survey Suite that incorporates new 3D The turntable has been transported to Mooring inspection tools and industry leading multi-beam scan cleaning tools. Systems’ warehouse and quayside facility at Montrose The VisualSoft team were delighted by the level of interest and on the east coast of Scotland, joining another 75 tonne support received from visitors to the stand and from delegates Offshore handling equipment specialist, Caley Ocean Caley Ocean Systems modular reel delivered earlier this who attended the demonstration and training sessions covering 3D Systems Ltd, has designed and built what is believed year. structural inspection management and the integration of inspection to be the most adaptable offshore, mobile turntable of Mooring Systems general manager Douglas Davidson tools with AutoChart and GIS. its kind in the UK, for spooling equipment hire company said: “The new turntable spooler has fi lled a gap in the Giving feedback on these unique inspection workscope planning Mooring Systems Ltd in Aberdeen. Capable of handling market for a mobile, modular and - most importantly - and tracking tools now being used in the fi eld, independent Data a wide range of fl exible products including cables, transportable system that has particular applications for Processing Specialist, Phil Reed said: ‘The novel way of generating umbilicals, dynamic risers and hoses, the 400 tonne the burgeoning renewables market. We expect that 2012 and previewing the inspection workscope visually means ROV pilots modular turntable spooler can be readily confi gured in will see a massive surge in the number of projects being and the rest of the inspection team can get a better understanding either ‘reel’ or ‘basket’ modes; and is both sea and road commissioned and we have already experienced increased of the job and can identify potential problem areas before doing the transportable. interest in our fl eet of spoolers. survey for real. Also, the built-in tracking makes it much easier Built to the latest Lloyds Register rules for lifting “The new spooler fi lls the space between conventional to see at a glance what has and has not been inspected, which is appliances in a marine environment, the Caley turntable reels, which carry smaller payloads and the 1,000Te-plus great for handovers. I particularly like being able to load captured is capable of delivering almost 20km (12 miles) of 100mm turntables and carousels that are less adaptable and video from the 3D structural viewer and directly relate it to events cable in one batch. The turntable’s carousel’s dedicated take longer to deploy. There is nothing quite like this in because it makes anomaly review and correction much more spooling tower and large drum diameter ensure maximum the UK rental market at present.” intuitive and quicker to do.” 10 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 11 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 GROWTH GROWTH

OMS Adds More Wilton Group Stuart Bell Qualifi ed Weld Inspectors to its Ranks Expands into Joins Penspen Pipe measurement specialist Optical Dundee as General Metrology Services (OMS) Ltd has further expanded its capability to Wilton Group has opened a new Manager of its offer comprehensive weld inspection fabrication facility at Dundee services to its clients. The company port in support of the upgrading, Aberdeen Offi ce has added a further two full time maintenance and refurbishment of CSWIP-qualifi ed weld inspectors to Drilling Rigs, FPSO and Offshore The Penspen Group is pleased to the team. Construction Vessels. announce the appointment of Stuart CSWIP is an internationally The Wilton Group through its Bell as General Manager of its recognised mark of competence subsidiary PD&MS Energy provides Aberdeen Offi ce, with responsibility for people engaged in welding specialist engineering services for the for all of Penspen’s business in and/or inspection related jobs refurbishment and upgrade of oil rigs Aberdeen, including the subsea and in manufacturing, constructing, berthed at the port. pipelines work executed under the operating or repairing high integrity Alex MacKay, Head of PD&MS Andrew Palmer & Associates brand. welded structures, plant or Energy’s Rig Refurbishment business Stuart joins Penspen from KW where components. unit, commented “We welcome the he held a range of Senior Management As well as qualifi ed weld investment that the Wilton Group are Positions including General Manager inspectors, OMS offers advanced making in Dundee, it will increase our of their Aberdeen offi ce. video and laser-based measurement presence in the city and help support Stuart, who will report directly tools to enable visual inspection the needs of the Drilling companies.” to Penspen’s Director of Offshore, and measurement of weld features Alex continued “Dundee is a great in the area to realise our growth Ernie Lamza, has previously held a in diffi cult to access structures location for our business; the port objectives; whether this is through range of engineering and project such as pipeline end terminations facilities and the deepwater access further acquisitions or organic growth management positions with Subsea 7 (PLETs), manifolds, and critical oil to the quayside are of course very has yet to be determined.” and Technip and others having gained & gas pipeline sections. OMS has important, but the Dundee location is The Wilton Group expects that the his extensive subsea and pipelines recently completed an extensive so much more accessible to Aberdeen Dundee facility will employ upwards experience over the last 30 years in weld inspection scope on the BP based clients than competing sites of 50 people at the site, growing the UK, USA and Australia. Galapagos project. elsewhere. towards 100 when blasting and Ernie Lamza, Director of Offshore, Richard Gooch, Director of Group Business Development painting capabilities are added later in said: “I have no doubt that Stuart Technology at OMS Ltd commented: Director Des Hatfi eld added: “The the year. will add valuable knowledge and “Having more qualifi ed weld Wilton Group’s core business is The Wilton Group acquired the experience to Penspen’s Aberdeen inspectors on our team means that based around large scale fabrications design engineers PD&MS Energy offi ce as well as to its Offshore in addition to our video and laser- for the Oil and Gas and Renewable in 2008. PD&MS operate from NCS Survey to Take Delivery of Stream as a whole. I look forward based pipe measurement services, industries. We see this investment in multiple offi ces in Aberdeen, Great to working with him to build on our we can support clients by assessing Dundee as positioning the group for Yarmouth, and Port Clarence. Gavia AUV with New Integrated many recent successes including the signifi cance of any weld defects further opportunities, especially in the PD&MS focus on the engineering of our recent winning of Subsea UK’s that we discover using these tools. offshore subsea and construction, Brownfi eld projects, rig upgrades and Business Award for Global Exports.” We can then make recommendations markets, giving us fabrication and refurbishment, asset life extension Sub-Bottom Profi ler System Stuart Bell said: “Penspen has as to whether these weld defects berthing facilities covering both the and subsea development engineering. earned an excellent reputation in the should be accepted or rejected Southern and Northern sectors. We PD&MS Energy employs some 250 Teledyne Gavia are to deliver one of the fi rst SBP modules, and the fi rst subsea and offshore pipelines sector. aginst the specifi cation.” expect to make further investments people across its business units. complete Gavia system to be delivered with a full survey suite of SBP, SSS and I am delighted to be working with Swath Bathymetry, as a part of NCS Survey´s 3rd Gavia vehicle. This makes the very strong team in Aberdeen NCS Survey the largest commercial user of Gavia vehicles with three systems and look forward to building on its Ashtead Technology Invests $2.25m in New Rental Equipment being operational after delivery of this vehicle. capabilities to grow the business and NCS Survey’s commitment to the Gavia range of AUVs comes on the back our global reputation.” innovations for use in the harshest of addition, Ashtead Technology have a of a number of successful contracts for seven different Oil & Gas clients, environments. planned Capital Expenditure budget including pipeline inspections, seabed scour monitoring, under rig surveys, and Included in the $2.25 million in excess of $6 million in the next 12 site and route surveys. order are R2Sonic Multibeam months. In just two years of operations NCS Survey has carried out projects Echosounders, Ixsea GAPS and PHINS Commenting on the substantial with their AUVs in Argentina, Azerbaijan, The Netherlands, UK & USA Positioning and Navigation Systems, investment, Mark Derry, Ashtead demonstrating how portable the systems are. Tritech Gemini 300m Imaging Sonars, Technology Offshore Managing Andy Gray, NCS Survey’s Chief Executive, commented: “Our clients and our Sonardyne Ranger Pro2 USBL Director said: “We are starting to fi eld staff are all tremendously impressed with the extremely high quality data Positioning Systems, Reson 7125 see the market pick up and in order and the speed with which systems can be mobilised onto a vessel. In many Multibeam Sonars and Hydro-Lek pan to support our subsea clients, we cases we are ready to go an hour after arriving on the vessel. This provides and tilt camera booms. endeavour to continue to provide huge cost savings at the same time as improving the standards of the survey This latest signifi cant investment them with one of the world’s largest results. is indicative of Ashtead Technology’s and newest fl eets of subsea rental “We are excited by the continued success of NCS Survey and the growth Ashtead Technology announces global strategy to provide the world’s equipment. This $2.25 million order of their Gavia fl eet of AUVs. The new sub-bottom profi le module will give them investments totalling $2.25 million, in leading fl eet of subsea equipment plus the further $6 million planned the effi ciency of full survey capabilities in a man-portable vehicle,” said Teledyne new high technology rental equipment with the highest levels of customer investments will provide our clients Benthos General Manager, Thomas Altshuler. from leading manufacturers including service. Further to this investment, with the latest positioning, navigation NCS Survey has pioneered the use of portable/low logistics AUVs in the R2Sonic, Reson, Tritech, Ixsea and Ashtead Technology have recently and imaging technology available in offshore Oil & Gas sector and is now recognised as a global leader in this fi eld. Sonardyne. Ashtead Technology expanded into the Middle-East and the market, available when and where The company was formed in 2005 and has grown from eight employees to over strive to remain at the forefront Australasia regions and opened new they require it, fully calibrated and 60 in less than fi ve years. Its turnover has doubled in the last year to over of the latest technology, meeting Calibration facilities in Singapore and backed by 24 hour technical support £8m. In the fi ve years since start-up NCS Survey has performed over 600 clients’ requirements for the latest Aberdeen and shortly in Houston. In for complete peace of mind.” Projects in 35 different countries. Stuart Bell - New General Manager, Penspen Group 12 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 13 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 TRAINING & SAFETY TRAINING & SAFETY

RBG Reaches Excellent Safety Peformance Sweden Adopts the WeldCraft-Pro™

Winners of the inaugural Subsea UK Safety Award, RBG, impact on the environment and enhance the quality Underwater Welding Programme the leading provider of inspect, assess and repair (IAR) service offering it delivers. services to the global energy industry, have announced Dave Workman, RBG’s CEO, said: “During its short The Gothenburg Fire and Rescue’s examination by Zurich Insurance. that the company’s REACH safety initiative was a major existence, it’s clear that REACH has been a great commercial diving school completed The average pass mark awarded was factor in reducing its lost time incident frequency rate success. However, we realise there is still some way to its fi rst WeldCraft-Pro™ underwater ‘Distinction’ (required over 87%). (LTIFR) by 38.5% globally and 51% in the UKCS in 2010. go in delivering world-class safety performance across welding course earlier this year. The programme, which is Client Representative students in Brazil REACH was launched in December 2009 with the our all our key regions. The North Sea has been a leader The class which was full had 17 accredited by EAL (part of SEMTA) aim of creating a stronger, safer culture throughout in offshore safety for many years now but I am very candidates attending, with over is the UK’s only fully approved NHC Delivers First RBG by encouraging all employees to ‘reach’ higher pleased with the progress we are making to ensure the 25 weldments produced for formal underwater welder training safety standards. Activities such as internal campaigns, safety standards of our international locations reach the programme. Mr Dan Hedberg, the Training Courses in Brazil monthly briefi ng papers and a safety awards scheme same exceptional level. head of the diving school, says: “This have all contributed to a major behavioural shift across “Extending REACH to encompass all areas of HSEQ training programme is the best The National Hyperbaric Centre (NHC) the company’s operations and a marked commitment to activity will bring signifi cant benefi ts to our employees programme of training I have seen of Aberdeen recently delivered its proactive safety engagement. and customers, and I am confi dent we can repeat the for commercial divers. The material is fi rst training courses in Brazil. The Going forward, RBG’s safety statistics and recording success achieved from our safety campaign.” excellent and easy to follow.” NHC signed an agreement with the methods will be aligned to the International Association Mike Mann, RBG’s Group HSEQ director, said: “We The programme, which is available Divers University of Brazil to provide a of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP), enabling the company to are pleased with the lost time incident frequency under licence, is monitored and range of Subsea training course under benchmark its performance against industry standards reduction and it could not have been achieved without audited by Speciality Welds’ senior an International Marine Contractors rather than its previous year’s statistics. our employees’ dedication to safety. The REACH ethos welding surveyor, Mr. David Keats, Association (IMCA) approved scheme. RBG’s REACH initiative won the 2010 Subsea UK has been engrained in our day-to-day working lives and and follows the International The Divers University is based in Safety Leadership Award and the company will hold its the success achieved so far bodes well for the future. Institute of Welding (IIW) and The Santos, the largest port in Latin own annual REACH safety awards in April 2011. The However, we are not complacent and understand that we European Welding Federation (EWF) America, has been working with Neil awards, a fi rst for RBG, will recognise the company’s need to continually improve to achieve our goal of zero guidelines 570-1 for fi llet welder- Gordon (General Manager) and Keith employees who demonstrate outstanding safety injuries. plate. The course, which is delivered MacMillan (Diving Safety Specialist) performance and continual best safety practice. “We recognise that to continue to be seen as both as a ‘self-teach’ programme by the of the NHC over the last few months While the fi rst year of REACH focused on safety, in a leading contractor and employer of choice we need to training school itself, has all teaching to provide subsea training courses in 2011 the initiative will be expanded to include RBG’s full maintain our focus on enhancing activity across all our materials supplied by Speciality Portuguese. HSEQ remit. A bespoke framework will be applied to each HSEQ operations. I am sure that our employees will show Welds Ltd, but follows strict audit Earlier this year the fi rst two part of the remit to bring real benefi ts to the health and the same commitment to making the extended REACH and control procedures laid down by courses were delivered, OGP Client wellbeing of RBG’s employees, reduce the company’s remit a success in 2011 and going forward.” Speciality Welds Ltd, and is subject to Representative and Air Diving full audit by EAL and Zurich Insurance Supervisor, which were well attended each year. Welding qualifi cations are with representatives for Sistec, issued in accordance with BSEN ISO Fugro, Deep Blue, Continental and Aberdeen Firm Provides the Perfect Model for Offshore Safety 15618-1: 2002. Subsea 7.

a ‘working model’ of a system or operators avoid confusion or equipment assembly. misunderstanding – a condition Bruce Adam, owner, Marketec, that the National Commission into said: “I was watching television last the Deepwater Horizon explosion RBG Supports Global Growth Plans year and saw Admiral Thad Allen, who says was a key factor in the oil spill was in charge of the Gulf clean-up incident which made headlines last operation, use a complicated diagram year. With University Link-Up on a whiteboard to announce how Adam said: “In the oil and gas they were attempting to contain industry, like all industries, there RBG, the leading provider of Inspect, Assess and the opportunity to run their own virtual multi-million the well. I knew we could produce are fewer opportunities for on-the- Repair (IAR) services to the global energy industry, has pound business. Teams will compete over a two-day a visualisation system that would job learning. People are getting less partnered with Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK workshop and course facilitators will control the virtual make the process and equipment and less exposure to the systems to launch a bespoke learning programme for its senior business environment so that each group has to respond much easier to understand because they will be working on. This should management team as the company prepares for major to realistic political, legal and economic challenges. seeing – and understanding – the be countered with tools to enable growth in 2011 and beyond. RBG CEO, Dave Workman, said: “We are very pleased consequences of changing conditions the training experience to be more The Business Leadership Challenge development course to be launching the Business Leadership Challenge course are key to successful training and effi cient. It’s not unusual for offshore comprises a mixture of knowledge and competency and with Robert Gordon University. RBG is going through Bruce Adam - Owner of Marketec operation of complex or hazardous operations to involve multiple aims to enhance strategic and operational decision a period of continued growth and the course will equip systems. That saw the birth of the companies, participating on different making. The learning content focuses on four key our senior managers with the commercial skills required An Aberdeen company has produced a systems we now provide for subsea stages of the process. Having a performance areas: commercial and fi nancial capability; to realise our international development plans. I am training tool that could help personnel pressure control equipment.” training or awareness tool that infl uencing and negotiation; leadership and performance confi dent the course will bring real and tangible benefi ts in offshore companies gain a better Alongside the WISE-Board range helps them visualise the extent and management. to our global business and customers. understanding of pressure control of products, which were launched confi guration of the system can help The course content was devised by RBG CEO, “The course has been designed to support our systems like those used on the last year, Marketec design and them fi gure out how their actions may Dave Workman, RBG HR director, John McLeish and business strategy, vision and mission and presents Deepwater Horizon rig. manufacture scaled system models affect the whole system. senior academic staff at the University’s Aberdeen an ideal opportunity to share knowledge, skills and Marketec, which is being helped by for oil and gas companies including “Our products offer a cost Business School to enhance specifi c areas of the senior experience across the wider management team.” Business Gateway, Aberdeen City & BP, Petrowell and Hunting Energy effective visualisation aid that provide management team skill-set. Around 100 RBG managers Rita Marcella, Dean of Robert Gordon University’s Shire, has developed the WISE-Board Services which are used in North operators with the opportunity to and directors will complete the staggered courses over a Aberdeen Business School, said: “We are pleased to system, a powerful tool for illustrating America, the Middle-East, Norway, test hypothetical situations and 12 month period. be working with RBG on this innovative development complex technical processes on oil France and Russia. gain experience at a desk top level. Delegates will undertake an in-depth 12 week online programme. The Business Leadership Challenge and gas installations. The company’s range of robust Engineers can test out a range of knowledge based course, during which they will also reinforces the commercial and management skills Machined from rigid plastic plastic models, which cost between operational scenarios and see the full compete in the fi rst one-day workshop where teams of required to successfully run a multi-million pound laminate and used in conjunction with £500 and £15,000, provide an system reaction in the safety of a employees will test their knowledge and capabilities in business. This programme provides the framework, a magnetic whiteboard, WISE-Board invaluable training and operations training room before attempting the different business scenarios. The Business Leadership tools and perspectives that will support RBG’s senior components can be used to create planning aid that can help offshore work on a rig.” Challenge is held two weeks later and gives participants managers in fulfi lling their ultimate potential.” 14 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 15 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 ACHIEVEMENT / TRAINING & SAFETY ACHIEVEMENT

Diverse Company Looking to the Forefront Well Ops UK The National Hyperbaric Centre (NHC) Recovers Ditched Jet of Aberdeen has recently added several new training courses to its The fl exibility of the Helix Well Ops UK (Well Ops) vessel portfolio as well as price reductions the Well Enhancer was illustrated recently when she on some of its current IMCA approved undertook one of her most unusual jobs. The state-of- courses. the-art mono-hull vessel was contracted by the Ministry The NHC understands that in the of Defence (MoD) to recover the wreckage of a ditched current economical climate ‘every Tornado jet. penny counts’, so they have taken The aircraft – based at RAF Lossiemouth – suffered an it upon themselves to help out by engine problem while on a training mission in February and Well Ops’ state-of-the-art Well Enhancer vessel signifi cantly reducing the costs of crashed into the sea off the west coast of Scotland. The worked closely with MoD personnel to identify debris and Diver Medic Technician, Diver Medic pilot and navigator managed to eject to safety. establish the best way for pieces to be recovered without Refresher, IMCA Air Diving Supervisor Well Ops, a subsidiary of Helix Energy Solutions Group, causing further damage. It was important to recover as and IMCA Bell Diving Supervisor was called in after the MoD had located the aircraft’s much debris as possible to allow the MoD to carry out courses. fuselage in 110 metres of water, 20 miles north-west of a full and accurate investigation into the cause of the The NHC have also introduced four Loch Ewe, Wester Ross. The objective of the work was to incident. We were honoured to have been approached by new courses, Dive System Auditor, recover as much of the Tornado’s wreckage as possible the MoD to carry out this project.” Leadership Training, Introduction to to help facilitate an investigation by the MoD accident This was the second time Well Ops had recovered a Subsea Systems and Subsea Control investigation unit. ditched aircraft for the MoD. In 2003, the company’s Operations, to its portfolio. The Students of the National Hyperbaric Centre’s fi rst Dive System Auditor course The company deployed its specialist subsea well other light well intervention vessel, the Seawell, completed courses have been introduced to aid intervention and diving vessel the Well Enhancer to carry a similar project in the Bristol Channel. newcomers to the subsea industry them that helping hand to start in an always looking to be at the forefront out ROV and diver surveys to determine the condition of Launched in 2009, the Well Enhancer is a 132-metre and help current professionals keep exciting career in the subsea industry. of the Subsea Industry and always the wreckage and establish the scatter area of the debris. long state-of-the-art vessel that offers wireline and coiled up-to-date with their knowledge and The introduction of the new courses welcome feedback from companies The 132-metre long vessel then recovered the wreckage tubing well intervention services. The Well Enhancer and learning. has been a project we have been and individuals on how we can best aid and debris from the seabed either as individual lifts or in its sister vessel the Seawell are both fully-equipped to Keith McMillan Diving Supervisor working on for several months which them in the future.” baskets, in the process minimising any potential damage provide saturation diving operations, ably assisted by of the NHC said; “The price reduction has been brought about by request Full details of cost reductions and to the wreckage. workclass and observation ROVs which are permanent on is a move we felt was needed to aid for from the industry worldwide. The new course can be found on the NHC Steve Nairn, Well Ops’ regional vice president of board fi xtures. newcomers to the industry to give NHC sees itself as a diverse company website. Europe and Africa, said: “The Well Enhancer normally The Well Enhancer features a 150 tonne active/passive operates in oil and gas fi elds in the North Sea carrying out heave multipurpose tower capable of deploying wireline, intervention and well management tasks, so this was a slickline and coiled tubing tool strings – Well Ops believes it very different job for her to complete, but it illustrated her is the fi rst service company in the world to have deployed fl exibility. a coiled tubing tool string into a wellbore from a mono- “This project involved a large amount of ROV and dive The Hydrasun Cycle Challenge Team hull vessel. The vessel also features a centralised control work to identify the extent of the scatter area of the room, high volume kill pumps, tracked handling systems, debris and then recover this to the surface. Our personnel Raise Over £11k for Local Charity and fl are boom for future well testing operations. Several months after starting the north of Scotland to Aberdeen, Cove, South Aberdeen. search for an elite band of athletes the cyclists set their sites on Successfully raising over £11k with a thirst for a challenge, raising money for local charity Blue Bob Drummond, Hydrasun CEO fl exlife Reaches Major Milestone Hydrasun assembled a team of Horizon. Blue Horizon is a voluntary commented: “As one of the team cyclists eager to participate in the youth charity working to build it has given me a real sense of Subsea integrity and project heating/produced water reinjection Arriving in the fi eld, the bundle was Hydrasun Cycle Challenge. young peoples’ confi dence, expand personal achievement not only management specialist fl exlife has lines, a gas lift line, scale inhibitor and laid down in a pre-surveyed parking Cycling around 260 miles over horizons and realise life potential in to have completed the course recently achieved a major milestone by control system lines. The latter include area where fi nal checks and weight 4 days from Durness in the far the neighbourhoods of Kincorth and but also to have been involved in overseeing the successful installation electrical power and instrument cables, control adjustments were made before raising money for Blue Horizon; an of a 6.7km pipeline bundle at Apache’s high and low pressure hydraulic lines, a the tow fl eet was reconfi gured by extremely worthwhile and valued Bacchus fi eld development. chemical injection line and a methanol placing one of the two large tugs at charity organisation which operates In 2009, Apache awarded fl exlife line. Subsea 7 fabricated the bundle each end for the fi nal “off bottom” in neighbourhoods close to our new a subsea engineering and pipeline at its Wester site facility in the north tow to the installation area. In off- head quarters. We would like to operational support contract east of Scotland. After the towheads bottom tow the bundle fl oats 4 to 5 thank everyone who made a donation to oversee the management of were integrated to the pipeline bundle, metres above the seabed and is moved and supported our challenge.” Forties subsea projects and routine there was a 4-week programme of at between 1 and 2 1/2 knots to its A number of Blue Horizon staff maintenance of subsea pipelines and onshore tie-ins and testing followed by fi nal destination, being a pre-surveyed and volunteers, accompanied by subsea infrastructure. a site integration test programme to area with a target box at each end. the Street Outreach double decker Via Apache’s main Bacchus prove control system functionality. The acoustic monitoring system was bus, welcomed the cyclists back contractor Subsea 7, fl exlife managed A specialist fl eet of vessels again deployed to ensure accurate to Hydrasun HQ. The charity’s the engineering, procurement, mobilised to Sinclair’s Bay near Wick positioning of both bundle ends. Director, Eddie McKenna thanked fabrication and installation of the to undertake the bundle launch. Under Later this year, over a number of the Hydrasun team, “On behalf of pipeline bundle and a riser caisson. control of site based Launchmasters, diver interventions, the bundle will Blue Horizon I would like to thank Integrated with towhead fabrications the launch commenced with two be tied in to the platform and the the Hydrasun Cycle Challenge Team at each end (weighing 190-tonne and leading tugs being connected to the three new wells and then tested. Tie for their outstanding achievement in 106-tonne), the 6.7km, 40.5-inch large 190-tonne Bacchus towhead in to the platform is achieved via the completing the challenge and for the diameter pipeline is one of the longest via pre-installed wire rope pennants. 149-tonne, 48” diameter riser caisson money raised. We would also like to elements of North Sea infrastructure When weather and tide conditions that the project safely installed in thank Hydrasun for their partnership installed in recent years. were suitable, the 6.7km long bundle September 2010. The riser caisson - a national company, working locally The Subsea 7 contracted bundle assembly was pulled into the sea via a houses riser pipelines, chemical to support the needs of local young comprises two insulated 6-inch piggable launchway specifi cally installed on the injection and control tubing as well as The Hyrdasun Cycle Challenge team people.” production lines, two insulated 4-inch beach. control cables. 16 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2011 ACHIEVEMENT

IHC EB J-Lay Tower en Route to First Job

IHC Engineering Business (IHC EB), a part of IHC operations to ensure low cycle time, weight optimisation Merwede group, has successfully delivered its largest and safety in all aspects of operation. IHC EB has project to date, a 2,000 tonne capacity J-Lay tower for successfully delivered an industry leading system that client Saipem. After intensive design, manufacture and meets Saipem’s challenging requirements as well as installation, assisted by Saipem teams, the system is en achieving DNV design approval. route to West Africa. IHC EB Sales and Marketing Director, Toby Bailey, The rigid pipe lay system, one of the world’s most commented on the completion of the large-scale project: versatile, was installed, commissioned, tested and trialled “The delivery of the Saipem J-Lay tower is another on the new build vessel, Saipem FDS2, in South Korea. The signifi cant step forward for IHC EB as it is our fi rst system can handle pipes from 4” to 36” in diameter and turnkey deepwater pipe lay system. IHC EB has undergone with the tower angle adjustable from 45 to 96 degrees major development and streamlining to cope with the can lay in deep and shallow water. An integral bulky item demands of such a large-scale project, and is now handling system and an adjustable stinger also contribute positioned as one of a small number of companies around to the high functionality and versatility of the system. the world capable of delivering vessel systems of this size The key design drivers throughout the development and complexity.” of the system were the effi ciency of the pipe handling

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