Contents Contents UT2 December 2008 News The magazine of the Society for Underwater Technology News Employment Exchange, Research, Calling it Off 4 On the Move 6-7 Polar Barents Sea Find, Arctic Boundaries, Arctic Hydrocarbons 8, Bathymetry 9, Lowest Arctic Ice Coverage, Arctic Role 10, Aurora Borealis, Autosub 10 Polar Research Oceanology Sentry 14, Underwater Observatory 15, Underwater Vehicles Sonar Cover: Subsea visualisation of the Vehicles seabed around the Frigg fi eld. Picture courtesy of SRD. ROVs SubCAN 16, Swiss ROV, Titan, LYYN 18, SMD COOEC 18, Police Aid 19, Bigger/Better 19, Innovator, Subsea Well Control, SAUC-E 20 Equipment Sign Rule, Orion, TOGS 22, Clay Cutter 23, Manipulator Upgrade, Estonian AUV 24, Low-light Cameras 25, 26 December 2008 Projects Babbage, Venture, Pony, Skarv, Draugen 28, Azerbaijan, Vol 3 No 4 Cosmos 29, Wintershall, Haklang, Ettrick, Noatun, MA-D6, Cameron 31 2 Halvorsen 32, Twister 34, DMBS/COSSP 35 UT Processing Society for Underwater Pipelines Kvitebjorn, Mexilhao, Normand Progress, Corrib 40, Technology Notdstream 41, Wake Interference 42, Ball Connector 43 80 Coleman St, London EC25 5BJ Research Trawl Research 44, Ringing the Changes 46 +44 (1) 480 370007 Changes Acquisitions and Restructuring 46, People 48 Editor: John Howes [email protected] SUT SUT News 50 Sub Editor: Mariam Pourshoushtari [email protected] Advertising: Joe Sinfi eld Published by UT2 Publishing Ltd for and on behalf of the Society for [email protected] Underwater Technology. Reproduction of UT2 in whole or in part, without permission, is prohibited. The publisher and the SUT assumes no responsibility Production: Sue Denham for unsolicited material, nor responsibility for content of any advertisement, particularly infringement of copyrights, trademarks, intellectual property rights Design and Layout and patents, nor liability for misrepresentations, false or misleading statements Torpedo Design and illustrations. 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 DECEMBER 2008 3 NEWS NEWS Employment Exchange Research Is Vital Former Aberdeen SUT chair and global Subsea UK is warning companies Subsea is rapidly becoming the technol- head of technology at Aker Solutions, against the temptation to put invest- ogy of choice for the exploitation of Alistair Birnie, has been appointed the new ment in research and development reserves in mature offshore hydrocar- chief executive of Subsea UK. This follows on hold as the oil and gas industry bon provinces like the UK. With new new earlier this year that the previous begins to feel the effects of the global deepwater provinces coming into play, chairman, David Pridden, was standing credit crunch. together with the existing areas such down. as Brazil and Gulf of Mexico, subsea The body which champions the UK’s production has become a truly global Alistair is well known in the UK oil and subsea industry – an industry which technology used in every major offshore gas industry and has a track record in the employs 40 000 and contributes hydrocarbon province around the world. subsea sector. A chartered engineer, Mr £4.5 billion to the UK economy Global spend on deepwater develop- Birnie has 28 years of experience in the – fears that oil and gas companies ments is estimated to grow by 74% in subsea industry. may be re-considering their R&D the period to 2012. budgets in light of the recent drop in Prior to joining Aker Solutions, he was oil prices. “Subsea technology is one of the great technology application manager for ITF successes of the oil and gas industry in where he championed new technology, “A decline, even temporarily, in recent years, but its future development particularly in the subsea sector, for two research and development activi- could be at risk” said Mr Birnie. years. This was preceded by six years with ties could have a devastating effect Nautronix in the roles of VP of projects and on the industry and ultimately on “The dramatic change in oil price, head of technology applications. security of supply. With oil and gas coupled with a cost base which has production taking place in more com- risen equally dramatically in the last few “Subsea UK has come a long way in plex, challenging and deeper water years, will be forcing companies to four years and my aim is to further build environments, the need for new reassess their business priorities and on the success, ensuring that we work technology to successfully extract their budgets. At a time of escalating towards global recognition for the collective the remaining reserves, is critical,” costs, we need more than ever to ex- expertise, skills and technology of our says Alistair Birnie, chief executive of amine how technology can play a role in member companies. Subsea UK. delivering improved value while enabling an increase in production. “There has been tremendous growth in the “If the UK is to hold on to its world- industry, and the UK’s role in that growth has leading position in subsea, we must “The industry must continue to work been acknowledged. We need to maintain have technology in all stages of together to identify the gaps between our position and ensure that we project our development. The creation and com- the technology the oil and gas operators experience onto the global stage. mercialisation of new smart subsea need and the technology currently being technologies will have an impact on developed in the sector. The establish- “I relish the challenges this will involve and our ability to secure a major share ment of the National Subsea Research am looking forward to working with the of the predicted £41 billion global Institute NSRI will play a major role in industry, our members and board to ensure market in 2011.” meeting the technology challenge.” we overcome them and continue to lead the way around the world.” Calling It Off Talks of a possible merger between subsea giants Acergy and Subsea 7 have failed. Acergy chairman Mark Woolveridge said, “The board gave this approach its fullest consideration, but decided to continue with its independent strategy. “With our position as one of the leading companies in the SURF sector, our high quality fl eet, operating excellence and good backlog, we remain well positioned for profi table growth. Furthermore, in a challenging period in fi nancial markets, our strong balance sheet underpins the board’s confi dence in the Group’s ability to deliver value for shareholders.” For its part, Subsea 7 chief executive offi cer Mel Fitzgerald, said, “Subsea 7 remains a very strong independent company with great people, assets and culture, and we are on track to achieve our vision as the subsea partner of choice.” Alistair Birnie 4 UT2 DECEMBER 2008 Sorry, it won’t trim your toenails. Operating as either a stand-alone Attitude and any position reference application. Available in Heading Reference System (AHRS) or as part surface or subsea versions rated to 5,000 metres, of an integrated acoustic navigation system, Lodestar is building a successful track record as Lodestar is the marine industry’s multi-tool; a ring a DP reference and subsea positioning instrument. laser inertial reference system for highly dynamic It’s heading in the right direction; are you? marine environments that can be configured for www.sonardyne.com/products Trusted Solutions for: Seismic Construction Defence Inertial Survey Telemetry Drilling UT2 DECEMBER 2008 5 NEWS NEWS MOV Acergy’s new building Acergy Technip Acergy has offi cially moved in to its The 17-acre site features a modern Technip, has signed a three- new, bespoke, multi-million-pound offi ce building on three levels year lease for a second site campus in the Westhill Business Park and an extensive workshop area, located near to its UK head- on the outskirts of Aberdeen. complete with an external yard. quarters in Westhill. The com- The offi ce design centres around pany requires the extra space to While 600 staff have made the two impressive glass atriuma with provide enhanced facilities for move from the company’s previous a restaurant and coffee bar located its 800-strong workforce. The base at Bucksburn, Aberdeen, the within the ‘heart’ of the building. building, entitled ‘Aspect 32’, is new facility can house up to 800 a newly built offi ce located at employees. Since the construction Acergy is the fi rst subsea company Arnhall Business Park. contract was signed in late 2006, a in Scotland to have its own leisure recruitment campaign has increased complex for the full use of its Technip’s UK headquarters was the company’s headcount by 25%. employees and families. They can signifi cantly extended in 2004. enjoy the use of two squash courts, However, due to the company’s The campus has been constructed with a multipurpose gym, weights room investment in new assets and the environment in mind, incorporating and games hall capable of hosting a the growth of the UK project energy saving features which include fi ve-a-side football tournament and business, the company recog- daylight and movement sensitive aerobic classes. As the hall has a nised that steps were needed lighting controls, gray water harvesting, signifi cant seating capacity, it will to ensure it continued to offer a passive chilled beam cooling and a also be used for all staff meetings high standard of offi ce accom- geothermal heat source system. and company events. modation. SMD Saab Seaeye SMD has moved into a new £1.75m offi ce development on Global success for Saab Seaeye has led the company to the site of its Turbinia manufacturing and assembly facility. expand its production capacity by 50% with the opening of a new 24 000ft2 factory in Fareham, Hampshire.