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AECC, Aberdeen8th-11th September 2009

The unique design* ensures an end to cutting failure as the fail safe mechanism disables the cut until the anvil

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Just over four years ago, a journey began for Shell and Subsea 7, which this winter will culminate in the commencement of offshore activity with two new vessels providing year round underwater support to the offshore fi elds and facilities operated by Shell in Europe.

SUBSEA UK NEWS THE NEWSLETTER FROM SUBSEA UK WWW.SUBSEAUK.COM SEPTEMBER 2009

New Subsea Vessels Imminent for Shell in Europe

Activities are expected to kick off with the Normand Subsea remote operated vehicle support vessel (ROVSV) in November, whilst the Seven Atlantic dive support vessel (DSV) is scheduled to start work in December. Both long-term contracts were awarded to Subsea 7 in early 2006, after two separate competitive tender exercises in 2005. The long-term contract commitments extending to 2014 have supported investment in new tonnage for the industry and were underwritten by inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM)

programmes to Shell’s offshore facilities, and supporting capital projects and decommissioning.

These new-builds herald a new era in the subsea industry. The vessel specifi cations, whilst considered unrealistic by some at time of bid, are setting new norms for underwater operations in the North Sea. Design and build challenges have been encountered and overcome prior to the arrival of these new vessels into operations and the results of early sea-trials indicate the vessels will actually exceed specifi cation parameters. Big changes will also be seen on 21st century dive system controls, which is where current delivery focus remains as Shell, Subsea 7 and the build partners move into fi nal training, trials and acceptances for the vessels.

However, the journey for Shell started much earlier – in the late 1970’s, when commitments were made which saw the MSV Stadive multi role support semi-sub commence activity for Shell-Expro, in the boom times of the early eighties. The commitment continued in 1999 when the Toisa Polaris commenced activity in the North Sea, after the MSV Stadive was sold-off in 1996, leading

Seven Atlantic DSV - July 09

supported by

Continued on page 3

Tel: +44 (0)1224 355355E-mail: admin@subseauk.comwww.subseauk.com

Member List3sun Limited, Abalt Solutions LimitedACE Winches,

Acergy, AFL Telecommunications, AFT Ltd, AGR Subsea

Ltd, AKE Ltd, Aker Solutions, Allomax Associates Limited,

Andrew Palmer & Associates, ANSYS UK Limited,

Aquanos, Atkins Boreas Consultants Ltd, Aubin Limited,

Balmoral Offshore Engineering, Baule UK Limited, Bel

Valves, BG Group, Bibby Offshore Limited, BJ Process and

Pipeline Services, Bowtech Products Limited, BP, BPP-

TECH, Brinker Technology, Buchan Technical Services

Limited, C3 Global Limited, Caley Ocean Systems Limited,

Castrol Offshore Ltd, CD-Adapco, Cetco Oilfi eld Services

Company, Champion Environmental Technologies,

Chevron Upstream Europe, C-MAR, CodaOctopus

Limited, Cognetas LLP, Consub, Cormon Limited,

Cranfi eld University, CSL, CTC Marine Projects, Cutting

Underwater Technologies Ltd, d2m3, DES Operations

Limited, Design Inc, DNV, DOF Subsea UK, Dominion

Gases, Douglas Westwood, Duco Umbilicals, Dynamic

Positioning Services (DPS), E.ON Ruhrgas North Sea

UK Ltd, East of England Energy Group, Ecosse Subsea

Systems Limited, eProduction Solutions, Escape Business

Technologies, ESS, EV Offshore Ltd, Expro Group, EXSTO

UK Ltd, Ferguson Modular Ltd, First Reserve, First

Subsea Ltd, Fisher Offshore, Flexlife Limited, Flint Hyde,

Framo Engineering UK Ltd, FTV Proclad International

Limited, Fugro impROV, Fugro Rovtech Limited, Furmanite

International Limited, GE Sensing, General Robotics

Limited, Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants, Global Marine

Systems Limited, Granherne Limited, Hallin Marine

UK Ltd, Hockway Ltd, HTL, Hydrasun, Hydratight, IHC

Engineering Business, Imes Systems, Infi eld Systems

Limited, Inspectahire Inst. Co. Limited, INTECSEA

(UK) LTD, Inventum Media Limited, Isleburn Limited,

iXSea Limited, J + S Ltd, J P Kenny Engineering, J. Ray

McDermott, K.D. Marine Limited, Kongsberg Maritime

Limited, L&N (Scotland) Limited, Liquavision, Marine

Subsea, Master Flo Valve Co (UK) Limited, MCS, Millbrae

Wood Technical, MODUS, NaREC New and Renewable

Energy Centre, National Hyperbaric Centre, National

Oceanography Centre, National Physical Laboratory,

Nautronix PLC, NCA - Norse Cutting & Abandonment

Ltd, NCS Survey Limited, Neptune Deeptech, NETmc

Marine, Nexen Petroleum UK Ltd, Noordhoek Offshore

B.V, Noratel UK Ltd, NSIG (Northern Scotland Industries

Group), NSRI, Nylacast Ltd, Oceaneering, Oceanlab,

University of Aberdeen, Offspring International Limited,

OIL Engineering Limited, Oldham Engineering, Online

electronics, Optical Metrology Services Ltd, Optimus

Safety Management Limited, Pan-Ocean Engineering

Limited, PDL Solutions (Europe) Limited, Pegasus

International (UK) Ltd, Perry Slingsby Systems Limited,

Petro-Canada UK Ltd, Petrofac Facilities Management,

PMT (GB) Ltd, Polar Media, Poseidon International,

Presens AS, Project Development International Ltd,

Proserv Offshore Limited, Prospect, RBG Limited, Reson

Offshore Limited, Robert Gordon University, Rotech

Subsea Limited, Roxar Limited, RRC Controls Services

Limited, Saab Seaeye Limited, Saipem UK Limited, Sonsub

Division, Schilling Robotics Ltd, Schlumberger Subsea

Surveillance, Score (Europe) Ltd, Scottish Enterprise,

Seal-Tite UK LLC, SECC, Seebyte Ltd, Shell UK Ltd,

Simmons & Co International Limited, SMD Hydrovision,

Society for Underwater Technology, Solstad Offshore (UK)

Limited, Sonardyne International Limited (Aberdeen),

Sonavision Limited, Sonomatic, Soundmotion Limited,

Speciality Welds Ltd, Splash Offshore Engineering

Limited, SPT Group Ltd, Sub-Atlantic Limited, Subocean

Group Limited, Subroutine Ltd, Subsea 7, Subsea

Integrity Group (SIG), Sulzer Pumps (UK) Ltd, Technip UK,

Teijin Aramid BV, Thales Underwater Systems Limited

(associate), The Underwater Centre, TNEI, Total E&P

UK plc, Tracerco, Transvac Systems Limited, Trelleborg

Offshore, Tritech International Limited, Triton Group,

UKPS/SUBCO, Underwater Engineering Services Ltd,

Univation, University of Aberdeen, UTEC Survey, Valeport

Ltd, Vector International, Venture Production, VerdErg

Connectors Limited, Vetco Gray UK Limited, Visualsoft

Limited, Webtool Subsea, Wellmack Resources Ltd,

Wellstream International Limited, WiltonMarine Services

Limited, Wireless Fibre Systems, Worldwide Business

Portfolios Ltd, Xodus Group Limited

Designed and printed by www.designinc.co.uk

2 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

SUBSEA UK NEWS 3 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

RENEWABLES

Forthcoming Events

SUBSEA UK OE 2009 DINNER

The Marcliffe at Pitfodels, Aberdeen

9th September 2009

DOT MONACO

Monaco

3rd – 5th November 2009

SUBSEA EUROPE 09

Business Design Centre, Islington

24th November 2009

SUBSEA 2010

AECC, Aberdeen

10th – 11th February 2009

SUBSEA TIE-BACK FORUM

Moody Gardens, Galveston

2nd – 4th March 2010

SUBSEA AUSTRALASIA

Australia, Perth

23rd – 25th March 2010

The North of England Forges a New Collaboration for Offshore Wind EnergyThe North of England has launched a new collaborative programme, to bring together industrial and technological capacity for Offshore Wind energy from across the North.

The offshore wind market is set to be one of the biggest economic development opportunities for the UK and NaREC with Envirolink Northwest will deliver the Northern Wind Innovation Programme over the next two years, funded through the Northern Way partnership.

The North of England has played a pivotal role in the development of offshore wind in the UK, with the fi rst experimental offshore turbines situated in Blyth Harbour, off the coast of Northumberland. It continues to hold a strong position in the sector with world-class research facilities, industry expertise in heavy manufacturing and strong engineering capability in offshore and power engineering. Building on this cross-Northern potential, the new programme will:• drive innovation in the offshore wind sector through

the provision of a £2.6million research fund; • increase knowledge transfer between academia and

industry; • enable northern companies with capabilities or

potential in the offshore wind sector to identify and realise these opportunities, and enhance the reputation of the North of England as an international centre for wind technology research and development.

Andy Williamson, Business Development Director at NaREC said: “The UK Government’s commitment to delivering 33GW of offshore wind by 2020 presents the economies of the North with a signifi cant opportunity for sustainable growth. The Northern Wind Innovation Programme currently being delivered by NaREC and Envirolink Northwest will enable the engineering supply chains of the North increased opportunities to be a part of this new exciting industry for the UK.”

The UK Government’s commitment to delivering 33GW of offshore wind by 2020 presents the economies of the North with a signifi cant opportunity for sustainable growth. The Northern Wind Innovation Programme will enable the engineering supply chains of the North increased opportunities to be a part of this new exciting industry for the UK.

Six launch information events were held across the North in early June for researchers and companies with an interest in entering the wind sector and in learning more about the available funding.

Find out more information at www.nwip.org

Subsea UK and ITF Collaboration Brings Forward Subsea Technology ProposalsWorking in collaboration with Subsea UK, ITF has received 20 technology proposals for its long tieback theme launched in spring of 2009. This marks a second ITF-Subsea UK collaboration in subsea technology and underpins the important place technology has within Subsea production systems.

The proposals cover a diverse range of technologies, ranging from fl ow assurance, integrity, power systems, IRM and other related technologies, with an overall price tag of around £8.7million.

Subsea UK’s Chief Executive, Alistair Birnie commented: “This call for proposals on long tiebacks has brought out some great technologies in the making, and it serves to demonstrate the excellence that we have within the UK. We can see clear benefi ts in working collaboratively like this, and we are very impressed by the calibre of proposals coming forward. We now look forward to hearing the progress from ITF’s members in supporting these proposals, and we hope that they will continue to fund these vital projects.”

The next stage of the process is already underway, with ITF undertaking their diligence process, and once they are past this stage, the members will review and decide which ones they are interested in.

Subsea UK wishes all those submitting proposals every success.

North Sea Experience Meets Russian Arctic Offshore ChallengeMoscow & Murmansk, 12-17 October 2009

The Northern Waters of Russia promise to be the new global energy frontier. With this will come a demand for skills and services that may not have been seen since the North Sea was developed in the 1970’s.

At the heart of the opportunities lies the giant Russian Shtokman gas fi eld, located at a depth of over 300m and nearly 600km from the mainland.

A two-day workshop and exhibition will focus on challenges and opportunities which present the development of the Russian Arctic shelf and the experiences of North Sea technology companies in ensuring safe, effi cient and cost-effective development of the UK Coast Shelf.

Scottish Development International, UKTI & Subsea UK are working with Vniigaz, the R&D division of Gazprom (please visit www.vniigaz.ru/en/index.php for more info) to introduce Scottish and UK subsea technology companies with experience in the North Sea and international offshore provinces to demonstrate their technological and engineering capabilities to the Russian offshore operators and contractors.

If interested, or if you have any questions, please contact: Phil Sterling Yuri Andreev0141 228 2672 07748 931 373phil.stirling@scotent.co.uk yuri.andreev@scotent.co.uk

Book for all these events by visiting www.subseauk.com

to a period when Shell reverted to call-off arrangements to support diving activities on the installed facilities.

Whilst the focus recently has remained on the new-builds, and maintaining offshore facilities integrity and production operations with bridging vessels, the game has changed signifi cantly. Shell sold-off some late life assets, the oil price collapsed, the credit crunch bit and general industry confi dence waned, all vaguely familiar to days gone by.

However, the future remains bright, and although next year DSV utilisation remains a challenge for many in the industry, Shell and their partners are still looking to the horizons and further innovations beyond this.

Technical specifi cations of the two new vessels can be found at www.subsea7.com/v_specs.php

Continued from front page

4 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

GROWTH 5 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

GROWTH

One industry that is fl ourishing in these uncertain economic times is the power systems sector. As the Governments of Britain and the rest of Europe maintain their drive for renewables, the demand for analytical modelling and simulation of proposed renewable projects has risen dramatically.

To cater for this growing demand, energy consultancy TNEI Services has expanded its power systems analysis Group recruiting eight new members of staff since January. The Group, already believed to be the UK’s largest specialist power systems analysis resource, has taken its number to 27 and is still on the recruitment trail.

TNEI’s Power Systems Group works on some of the most complex and detailed analytical modelling of all types of renewable generation technologies in marine, wave and wind.

The team applies its technical design services to all aspects of power generation and distribution and works with both conventional and renewable energy developers to ensure that their schemes are designed and constructed properly for connection to the grid.

The work is largely desk based mathematical modelling, analysis and simulation requiring a skill set that is in short supply within the industry.

Commenting on the recent appointments, TNEI’s Technical Director, Dr. Graeme Bathurst explained: “Historically, one of the problems facing the industry has been the lack of experienced or

suitable candidates in this sector. This year, the plan had been to appoint fi ve new recruits for TNEI’s Power Systems and Technology Group, but we have had an unusually high number of applications from exceptional candidates who have knowledge and experience to bring to the team.”

“We are still on the look out for experienced power systems candidates and expect to make further appointments as the year progresses.”

TNEI is tackling this problem head on and is actively involved with various universities working with power systems research, post-graduates and undergraduates. A post-doctoral Research Associate, two MSc Students and two under-graduate Students are currently on work placement at TNEI, and will continue to receive support from the team when they return to their studies. Graeme Bathurst has also recently been appointed an honorary position as a senior visiting lecturer with the EEPS group at Manchester University.

Among the new PST recruits at TNEI are three principal consultants, two senior consultants and three technical consultants. All will be based in Manchester.

TNEI Beats Skills Shortage by Recruiting8 New Power Systems Specialists

GDF SUEZ has Selected SPT Group for the Gjøa FieldGDF SUEZ E&P Norge has awarded SPT Group contracts for delivery of an online Flow Assurance System (FAS) and associated fl ow assurance services for the Gjøa fi eld located in the North Sea. The FAS will be confi gured in SPT Group’s online e-Field Solution (edpm) based on OLGA multiphase fl ow simulator. The fl ow assurance service contract period is for fi ve years with possibility of extending twice by three years.

Terje Overvik, Managing Director for GDF SUEZ E&P Norge said: “GDF SUEZ Integrated Operations ambitions are to increase hydrocarbon recovery factor, increase preventive maintenance and reduce operational expenditures through better and faster decisions through collaboration with external vendors and service companies like SPT Group.”

Gjøa is being developed with fi ve subsea templates tied back to a semi-submersible platform, located in a water depth of 370m. The Gjøa fi eld will produce gas and light oil. Gjøa’s recoverable reserves are some 82 million barrels of oil and condensate and roughly 40 billion standard cubic metres of gas. Gjøa will be produced via separate gas and oil wells. The gas and oil wells will be tied back to the Gjøa semi via dedicated gas and oil fl owlines. There are facilities for gas lift to the oil wells.

The gas will be exported to the Shell St Fergus Gas Terminal in Scotland, via a new gas export pipeline and

tie-in to FLAGS pipeline. Stabilised oil will be piped via a new oil export pipeline to the Troll II pipeline and further to the StatoilHydro operated Mongstad terminal north of Bergen.

StatoilHydro is the development operator for the Gjøa fi eld and semi. GDF SUEZ takes over as operator when the fi eld comes on stream. Start-up of oil and gas production is planned for October 2010. GDF SUEZ’s operations organisation will be based in Stavanger, with a logistics, supply and helicopter base at Florø, north of Mongstad.

Graeme Bathurst, Technical Director

©GDF SUEZ: Illustration of the Gjøa fi eld development in the North Sea

Proserv Offshore Secure Two Exclusivity Agreements within the Hazardous Area MarketsProserv Offshore has recently signed agreements with both WaterMota Ltd (as the import agent to Doosan Marine Engines), to be their sole dealers for their IMO Diesel Engines, and Pyroban Limited, for the supply of related fl ame protection equipment.

The fi rst of these agreements allows Proserv Offshore to exclusively supply the full range of Doosan Marine Diesel engines used in the international oil and gas, petrochemical, mining and other industries where the engines are used in hazardous areas. Currently these new pump units are being used in conjunction with Proserv Offshore’s subsea tooling solutions such as the JetCut water abrasive cutting tool and the PCRT (protective coating removal tool) in particular, making the process faster and more economically effi cient.

This increased power output ranges from 51kW – 883kW (70ps – 1200ps) in 15 base engine confi gurations. These engines meet all known IMO regulations on nitrogen monoxide emissions and offer increased fuel economy.

The second agreement with Pyroban Limited further strengthens this product line, as Pyroban is a well established and recognised supplier of Zone II engine protection kits. The exclusive edition of these kits on Proserv Offshore’s engine package build will therefore offer safety, longevity and reliability to the end client.

The combination of Doosan and Pyroban with Proserv Offshore’s industry recognised expertise in packaging diesel powered equipment, will ensure not only minimum downtime on this equipment, but also compliance with all the latest European Regulations and International standards.

Proserv Offshore has an established manufacturing facility based in Ellon, Aberdeenshire; this modern fully fi tted workshop offers clients various options of engine confi guration from the base engine supply of an ATEX compliant power pack, to fully manufactured units, all supplied with full ATEX and certifying authority certifi cation.

Subsea project management and engineering company CSL has opened offi ces in Norway and Egypt in keeping with the company’s strategy to extend operations to other oil and gas regions.

CSL has performed a consistent level of business for Norwegian clients since its inception in 2000 and has experienced considerable growth in business from Egypt during the last 12 months. Due to the current pipeline of business the company is recruiting engineering personnel in support of both locations.

Based on existing projects and opportunities already identifi ed CSL expects turnover in excess of £2million to come from these locations in 2009. Opening offi ces in Stavanger and Cairo demonstrates the company’s commitment to the local markets and grows its worldwide presence.

Mark Gillespie, CSL Managing Director said: “The offi ces in Norway and Egypt allow us to support

ongoing projects and provide increased focus to existing proposals and tenders. Additionally, in both locations the engineering and project delivery capability CSL is recognised for is in high demand.”

The two new offi ces bring the number of CSL bases to four. Other locations include CSL’s headquarters in Aberdeen and an offi ce in London, which opened its doors last year.

“Opening three offi ces in the past 14 months demonstrates the excellent progress we’re making with our growth strategy,” says Mark. “In spite of current market conditions we’ve not only succeeded in extending the reach of CSL’s services to key strategic locations, we’ve also strengthened CSL’s service offering too.”

Both offi ces will offer CSL’s full range of subsea engineering,

operations and project support services as well as the provision of skilled onshore/offshore personnel and its new range of subsea training courses.

Mark said: “With development activity continuing in Norway and Egypt and the backing of an extremely high-calibre team, we’re well placed to take full advantage of the international opportunities.”

CSL is known for supporting operators’ subsea developments worldwide and has the expertise and capability of over 170 subsea professionals.

CSL Expands Internationally with Two New Offi ces

Mark Gillespie, CSL, Managing Director

6 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

GROWTH 7 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

GROWTH

The Ferguson Group, a major supplier and manufacturer of modules and containers for the energy industry around the world, has launched a new operation to offer accommodation barges in a signifi cant development for the offshore market.

Ferguson Modular, a division of the Ferguson Group, is currently marketing the AMT Explorer for charter and negotiations are currently underway to purchase a second barge to be on offer from later this year.

The launch of the new operation is part of the Ferguson Group’s ambitious growth strategy, with £60million being invested across the group over a three year period in expanding its ranges of high-quality units and containers. Most recently, £3.5million was invested in 50 new freezer and workspace units.

The set up on the AMT Explorer will be totally adaptable and tailored to the needs of individual customers, offering accommodation and facilities for between 66 POB and 132 POB, depending on confi guration, with the option to add further modules. The second barge will be available for up to 240 POB. Both will have complexes that can be built up or stripped back to suit the exact needs of their project. They will be suitable for use in all major oil and gas provinces, as well as by the renewables sector.

Tim Sheehan, Chief Executive offi cer of Ferguson Modular, said: “The launch of our new barge division is an excellent fi t with the Ferguson Group’s ambitious growth plans, with a strong focus on international expansion.

“We carried out a wide-ranging consultation on the offshore accommodation market and it pointed to a lack of suitable accommodation support vessels with appropriate quality and standards, as well as the recognition that securing accommodation requirements were being placed higher up project

managers’ agendas.Barges were selected as the

most fl exible option, able to adapt to clients’ needs rather than forcing clients to adapt to the barge’s needs. Exact levels of accommodation, offi ce, gally, mess and recreation space can be provided for an ideal working environment; additional accommodation/facilities can be added as required. Critical elements such as mooring systems, transferring personnel from barge to platform, levels of craneage, survival craft and helideck can be provided as required.

Offshore Accommodation Specialist Announces Major New Barge Operation

The AMT Explorer available from Ferguson Modular from August 1

Online Electronics Ltd Aberdeen (OEL) have announced that their wholly owned subsidiary Online Electronics Asia Pacifi c Pte. Ltd (OEAP) based in Singapore, has secured a contract to supply Petronas, Malaysia’s National Oil Company with advanced class Non Intrusive Pipeline Pig Signallers.

The Online Group, from their headquarters in Aberdeen, design manufacture and operate pipeline pig monitoring equipment, data communications and logging systems for the global Oil and Gas Industry, including a comprehensive range of ATEX certifi ed equipment for use in hazardous areas.

Brian Gribble, OEL Managing Director says: “The Petronas award follows a recent Petrochina contract with a combined value in excess of US$300,000 for our advanced class pipeline pig signallers. These two orders represent a signifi cant breakthrough into the increasingly important Asia Pacifi c market, and refl ects the increasing competitiveness of OEL products achieved as a result of our signifi cant investment in research and development over the past three years.”

The Petronas award was secured through Punj Lloyd the main contractor. The equipment will be installed on the Sabah Sarawak pipeline. The Petrochina signallers are for their West to East pipeline project that runs from Northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to Guangzhou.

Online Electronics Secure Contract to Supply Petronas with Pipeline Pig Signallers

Expro has offi cially taken over its new multi-million-pound base in Ulverston which is home to the company’s world-renowned Tronic products division.

The move to the company’s new Subsea Excellence Centre coincides with the 30th anniversary of Tronic products, which are market-leading high integrity subsea power, fi bre optics and data connection systems used throughout the global subsea oil and gas industry.

The custom-built 45,000 square metre site in the Low Mill Business Park consolidates Expro’s Connectors & Measurements operations in Ulverston which have been spread over fi ve sites.

Mark Jones, general manager of Expro Connectors & Measurements, said: “Over the past 30 years, we have built up a world-class business as a leading manufacturer and supplier of reliable subsea connection systems. Now we will have a base to truly match our capabilities and reputation.

“The signifi cant investment in our new premises will not only benefi t customers, with improved effi ciency and working practices, but also our employees with a modern working environment tailored to their needs. I am confi dent the site will be a great asset to our business, our people and to the local area.”

He added: “The Expro Connectors & Measurements business is

ideally placed to absorb growth in the subsea sector. Our new global Subsea Excellence Centre is a signifi cant investment in the future of our product line and will help cement Expro’s Tronic products as industry leaders, as well as putting Ulverston fi rmly on the global subsea technology map.”

The Low Mill site is steeped in history having originally been founded as a cotton mill prior to becoming

a tannery. In an effort to maintain and explore this heritage, Expro has established links with the Sir John Barrow School in Ulverston to allow pupils to tour the facility to compare the links between industry, old and new. Pupils have also been involved in submitting themed drawings to line the walls of the new premises, as well as proposing names for meeting rooms in the new premises.

Expro Expands into NewMulti Million Pound HQ

The front view of Expro’s new facility in Ulverston

Dunlaw became a subsidiary of Exsto in March 2006. Exsto is a French global industrial company specialised in design and production of engineered parts from polyurethanes and thermoplastics technologies. The company is located in two plants in France, one in China, and has a leading position in polyurethane moulding.

The synergy between the companies created the most benefi cial partnership, as the acquisition of Dunlaw Engineering represented a strategic decision to develop Exsto’s position in the Offshore Oil and Gas market.

Exsto have a combined track record of 25 years manufacturing dynamic and static bend stiffeners, bend restrictors, sealing products, mechanical protection and various ancillary solutions.

The Exsto UK Ltd company contact details are as follows:Address: 67 Roundponds, Melksham, Wiltshire,

SN12 8EB, UKWebsite: www.exsto.com Email: info@exsto.uk.com

Dunlaw Engineering Ltd. Becomes Exsto UK Ltd.

8 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

GROWTH 9 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

GROWTH

Noordhoek have taken delivery of two new Seaeye Falcons and two Sub-Atlantic Mohican ROV systems. This expands the existing fl eet of Surveyor and Panther Plus Seaeye vehicles, and increases Noordhoek’s already extensive operational capability.

The industry proven Falcons, have an operating depth rating of 300m and are operated from a compact and modern control container which measures only 10ft 3in. The addition of a 10ft crane skid with new Hiab stiff boom crane and hydraulic driven winch completes the system. Resulting in an incredibly portable

and versatile launch system, that requires minimal deck space.

Regardless of their size these impressive vehicles are perfect for a wide range of inspection tasks, utilising the most up-to-date integrated systems, including: colour and low-light SIT cameras, the latest Bowtech LED lights, digital video recording system and a Tritech Super SeaKing obstacle avoidance sonar. As a standard these fl exible survey/inspection vehicles also have the capability for CP testing and thickness measurement.

For the more challenging conditions and extended work scopes

of up to 2000m depth the two new Noordhoek Mohican ROV systems, purchased from Sub-Atlantic can be utilised. These systems are supplied with TMS and heavy duty launch and recovery system (LARS), are specifi cally designed to; perform IRM work (Inspection, Repair and Maintenance) in areas with strong currents. The vehicles are described as “ultra high power vehicles”, with the additional ability to vector the ROV thrusters when necessary whilst fl ying the vehicle.

The onboard systems installed include: colour zoom camera, Bowtech near SIT camera, powerful Sub-Atlantic water jetter and Hydro-lek manipulator. The Noordhoek Mohican ROVs are the fi rst Mohicans completed with the state-of-the-art SUBCAN control system, which allows the operator to perform internal diagnostics of the ROV including the TMS, fi bre optic signals, the vehicles electronic pods and PCB(s). The vehicles and the modular control systems have the capacity to vastly increase the amount of sensors that can be mounted on the ROV allowing for considerable operational fl exibility.

The heavy duty hydraulic LARS is installed with a snubber and pitch and roll damping. The snubber enables the operator to lock the TMS into a latching device, and rotate it up to 180°, before bringing it onboard. This system dramatically increases the operational parameters for ROV operations.

Noordhoek EnhanceROV Fleet with 4 New Vehicles

Aberdeen based company, National Hyperbaric Centre, have recently expanded in Mumbai, India. Over the last few months the NHC have been delivering IMCA training courses, including Assistant Air & Bell Diving Supervisor,

Diver Medic Technician and Mechanical Dive Technician, in new Advanced Offshore Training facilities.

The Indian market has responded well to the initiative with all courses well attended. Colin Goff, NHC senior instructor for the supervisor courses commented: “The quality of the candidates is very high and they exhibit excellent knowledge and enthusiasm. This has given us high pass rates and excellent student development.”

The courses are run in conjunction with Mr R P Singh, a well known industry expert with a commercial diving background through major Indian and Far East companies including Stolt Offshore.

The NHC’s General Manager, Neil Gordon recently met with Mr R P Singh to discuss further developments of the training school. The NHC intends to open up its full portfolio of courses including the recently launched subsea rigging and lifting course. For further details visit the website, www.nationalhyperbariccentre.com.

National Hyperbaric Centre Expands into India

CTC Marine Projects (a member of Trico Marine Group) has recently been awarded their fi rst contract in the offshore wind farm industry by E.ON Climate and Renewables UK. The contract is for the lay, installation and burial of 17 subsea power cable arrays linking wind turbine foundations at the Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm in the Solway Firth.

The Robin Rigg development comprises of 60 wind turbines supplying power via two export cables. The CTC workscope will involve approximately 90 days of operation in shallow water depths of up to 9m. CTC will initially mobilise the Aquatic Reel Drive System and tensioner spread onboard the MV Union Beaver for anticipated 65 days duration. Once in the fi eld they will perform the lay and installation of 98mm and 113mm diameter array cables followed by post installation inspection and testing.

Following the installation, the lay spread will be de-mobilised and the CMROV4 mobilised on board the MV Union Beaver where it will perform the trenching of all the previously laid array cables.

Throughout the workscope CTC will operate in very challenging conditions due to the tides, strong currents, and the unpredictable weather, making operations particularly complex. As well as this, CTC has additional pressures to complete the works expediently due to other contractors needing to follow CTC’s operations in the fi eld.

Undertaking the fi rst offshore wind farm job will also pose different safety issues for CTC, which they are confi dent in handling due to their stringent safety measures taken on all subsea projects.

CTC were awarded the project on the basis that they have the extensive capabilities required to carry out the work effectively and most effi ciently, as well as a wealth of engineering experience. On top of this, E-ON were impressed with the high standard of equipment and level of quality and safety which CTC possesses, and having already established a successful track record working for E-ON, this put CTC in a strong position.

CTC Managing Director, Daryl

Lynch says of the contract success: “Without the talented team that makes up our organisation, it would be impossible to deliver strong performance, which gives us the edge over our competition. At CTC, it is the subsea experience, skills and professionalism of our people that made us the obvious contractor choice for this offshore wind farm project.

“This contract shows CTC’s ability to apply our extensive subsea experience in the oil and gas industry to the offshore wind farm market and highlights the breadth of services and technology that CTC can offer. This contract award shows the strength of our subsea services and subsea protection business.”

CTC Marine Projects Wins Contract for Offshore Wind Farm Project

NCA Acquires Additional Shares in IOS OffshoreNorse Cutting & Abandonment AS (NCA) acquires additional 21% of mooring specialist IOS Offshore, bringing its total engagement up to 91%.

IOS Offshore (IOS) offers rental, sales and service of specialised mooring and lifting equipment. The company has several bases along the Norwegian coast and delivers chains, buoys, mooring lines, anchors and lifting equipment to oil companies and rig operators. Their main offi ce is located in Dusavik outside Stavanger.

“Since IOS became part of the NCA Group two years ago, the

company has had a very positive development, both in terms of organisational development as well as delivering results. The idea of leveraging upon the combination of NCA’s international network and knowledge about marine operations and platform decommissioning with IOS’s competences within mooring and installation provides a good basis for further growth,” says CEO of the NCA Group, Carl Lieungh.

As part of the transaction, NCA has also used the opportunity to combine its current credit facilities with Sparebank 1 SR-Bank into one new overall corporate facility.

BPP-Tech Expands Operations BPP-TECH have expanded their Aberdeen operation over the last 12 months to complement their international teams based in London, New Orleans, and Houston. BPP-TECH is an innovative offshore marine, and subsea engineering company serving both hydrocarbon and renewable energy sectors. BPP-TECH is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Chris Milner as Regional Manager to drive the further expansion of their Aberdeen team.

10 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

GROWTH 11 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

TRAINING

Delegates attending this year’s Offshore Europe conference and exhibition in Aberdeen in September will experience a strong focus on the next generation when OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy takes over the running of the fi nal day with its interactive careers and lifestyle event Energise Your Future.

Renewed and revitalised, the day is focused on harnessing the talent of young people already interested in engineering, science and technology who are preparing to make their career choices. Participating exhibitors have been asked to provide an interactive element to their stand, offering pupils exciting challenges and the opportunity to explore the range of careers on offer. Past activities have included piloting micro-ROV’s, using a simulator to land a helicopter on a platform and practising rope access safety via a climbing wall.

“Energise Your Future at Offshore Europe 2009 will be unlike previous years as it will not only provide a valuable learning experience and invigorating way for young people to discover the industry, but by

targeting a specifi c age group with an established interest in the sort of subjects the industry requires of its workforce, it will also provide added value for employers and participating companies,” said Academy Chief Executive David Doig.

“This fresh approach shows the global industry how seriously the UK is taking the skills and recruitment issue and, hopefully, act as a catalyst for change in other global energy hubs.”

The Academy will also announce the winners of The Oil & Gas Academy PetroChallenge 2009 – formerly OilSim – which sees school pupils act as energy companies using an innovative web-based learning tool, looking for oil and gas in a fi ctitious province opened up for exploration. The winners will take part in the international fi nal in London where they will go head to head with pupils across from Europe.

Industry Energises its Future

MSc Subsea Engineering and ManagementNew for September 2009This exci ng, industrially relevant programme, developed in conjunc on with some of the subsea sector’s leading fi rms, comprises mul -disciplinary teaching, site visits, industrially based projects and visi ng industrial lecturers. The programme can be studied full me over 1 year or part- me, normally over 2-3 years.

This innova ve new course is aimed at:• Engineering graduates wan ng to specialise in a challenging area of engineering• Those working in the subsea industry who want to increase their skills and knowledge • Those working in another engineering sector who want to work in Subsea• Those working in the engineering sector who want to combine technical exper se with management knowledge

For those who want to study selected areas of subsea engineering/management for Con nuing Professional Development, we will also be off ering individual modules from the Masters Degree including: Fundamentals of Subsea Engineering, Materials & Corrosion Aspects of Subsea Engineering, Deepwater Pipeline Design, Subsea Project Management Applica on, Subsea Surveying, Posi oning & Installa on and Reliability & Integrity Management of Subsea Systems.

For further informa on visit: www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/course/533 Queries: subsea@ncl.ac.ukImages courtesy of IHC Engineering Business Ltd and CTC Marine Projects

Framo Pushes Boundaries on Enhanced Recovery SystemsFramo Engineering is reaping the rewards of their core experience and in-house knowledge in subsea enhanced recovery, and is leading the way in a tough technology arena. This is particularly evident with their boosting technology systems, where they have delivered 25 systems world-wide and have accumulated in excess of 900,000 operation hours of experience.

Framo believes that these key elements have been a major part of their success in delivering turn-key boosting systems, taking total responsibility from the topside associate equipment, umbilicals and the subsea scope. Today Framo Engineering provides turn key boosting system solutions capable of delivering up 300bar differential pressure and systems that boost with 100% gas.

General Manager of their UK divison, Tony Laing, explains: “Our focus is working closely with our clients for the whole fi eld life, from the concept phase to project execution and after market support; assisting in optimising their interests.”

“Seabed boosting offers an alternative to, or complementary system to other artifi cial lift techniques and a range of advantages offering production and fi eld fl exibility. The core technology adopted that best suits all process fl uid and operational challenges (typically slugging, emulsions, sand, high viscosity) is the helico-axial design. Framo has developed this well proven core technique to meet today’s demands. Framo offer a range of pump systems for single phase (centrifugal design), multiphase (helico-axial) hybrid/high boost (combining these core technologies) pumps and multiphase compression (optimising centrifugal technology in a counter rotating method – a ‘true’ wet gas compressor; no separation required).”

Boosting Systems are however not just about about having an in-depth knowledge of pumps. It is about having the system engineering capability and experience to cover the total system scope. With this, a clear understanding of the operational process regimes from start-up, continuous fl ow through to managing operational upsets, such as emergency shutdowns and the process dynamics, is essential.

This extends well beyond just the process fl uid dynamics simulation and into the controls, umbilical, power systems and understand rotating dynamic machinary. A key example is power systems where engineering of the power system and the umbilical

architecture is key to appreciate as early as possible; power transmission including transformer systems, this being especially the case for long distance tie-backs. So far, Framo have qualifi ed systems to well beyond 50km. However with a focus on extending this well beyond to meet the industry needs (100 to 200km) bringing many new challenges.

Whilst designing systems to be robust is a key consideration, careful consideration must also be given to installation. A typical Framo pump system is designed in a standardised modular approach for effi cient intervention and connection operations. Critical components are designed to minimise weight and offer total fl exibility. Typically a pump unit weighs approximately 20 tonnes and is installable from a light intervention vessel with a simple intervention tool, supplied as part of the system scope. Pump design is arranged in a way which allows the operator full fl exibility in making changes to the pumps system over the fi eld life, without modifying the subsea interfaces.

Framo Engineering’s commitment to partnering with clients continues beyond system delivery, working closely with their clients in supporting the system through the whole fi eld life after commissioning, enabling the Operator to best manage his production. This is achieved by Framo Engineering’s remote conditioning monitoring system FRIEND (FRamo Interactive ENabling Diangnostics).

The inaugural group of students taking part in Aker Solutions mechanical design apprenticeship programme have successfully completed their fi rst year.

Created in recognition of the need to foster new talent for the continuously developing subsea sector, the programme allows young people with an interest in engineering to gain academic qualifi cations, practical experience and the opportunity to develop a career as a mechanical designer in Aker Solutions’ subsea business.

In August 2008, students Ben Adams, Michael Carnegie, Michael Thompson, Ewan McIntyre and Scott Gourlay, all aged between 16 and 21, were accepted onto the programme out of a total of 50 applicants.

“Aker Solutions recognises that there is a lack of new talent coming into the mechanical design profession and that there is an ever-widening skills gap in the industry.

To help address this, Aker Solutions invested in an apprenticeship programme designed to attract, train, retain, develop and nurture accomplished mechanical designers,” said Morven Spalding, senior organisational development specialist at Aker Solutions.

The apprentices’ fi rst year saw them based at the Tullos Training School in Aberdee n where they obtained a National Certifi cate in Engineering. They will complete the second year of the programme onsite at the Aker Solutions facility in Aberdeen.

The four year structured programme covers academic training, learning the tools of the trade including machining, drilling and welding and rotational placements within the manufacturing and engineering areas of the subsea business in Aberdeen.

“Through a mix of academic training, rotational placements and mentoring Aker Solutions can ensure that our apprentices have the key competencies of design and drafting to fulfi l the role of a fully accomplished mechanical designer,” said Billy Melvin, design pool team leader at Aker Solutions.

At the end of the four year programme, apprentices will be qualifi ed with an HNC in mechanical engineering, SVQ Level 3in Design & Drafting and the programme is approved by the Modern Apprenticeship framework for Scotland.

Aker Solutions is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services to the process and energy industries. One of the largest employers in the north-east, around 2,000 people are based across the organisation’s operations in Aberdeen.

12 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

TRAINING 13 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

TRAINING

Tackling theSkills ShortageThe North East of England is home to a signifi cant and vibrant part of the UK’s subsea sector and now, thanks to the rewarding partnership between Subsea North East, Newcastle University and Newcastle College, the challenge of developing the sector workforce and addressing future skills needs, is being met through the development of two new programmes:• A Masters Degree in Subsea Engineering and

Management at Newcastle University• A Foundation Degree in Subsea Engineering

Technologies at Newcastle College

Both programmes have been developed in liaison with Academic-Industry Education Committees, through which key representatives from regional subsea fi rms have contributed to the design of the curriculum by their experience and industry expertise. This partnership has ensured that the courses, which start in September 2009, provide high-quality academic qualifi cations that not only equip students with fi rst-class technical knowledge and skills, but also supply the requisite management knowledge and skills.

From the outset, the value of this contribution from regional industries to the development of the Foundation Degree programme was recognised and utilised to the full, as David Martin, of Newcastle College’s School of Applied Science and Technology explains: “Newcastle College has progressively shaped its provision towards the priorities of adult workplace skills and has a successful track record in meeting employers’ and employees’ training requirements. This course, developed with subsea fi rms and based on industry need, will assist companies in dealing with an increasingly demanding and competitive operating environment.”

Fiona Whitehurst of Newcastle University Business School, Joint Project Manager for Subsea Future Talent believes working with industry has done much more than establish content of courses: “It has been crucial to design with the industry for the industry, and that has meant looking at delivery as well as content. The Newcastle University MSc Subsea Engineering and Management will be taught in one-week blocks, making it

easier for students who are in full-time employment or who are not local to Newcastle to access the course. Recognising the importance of continuing professional development for engineers, we are also offering individual modules as accredited stand alone short courses.”

The courses provided by Newcastle College and Newcastle University promise to deliver a supply of suitably skilled engineers to the sector, something which project partner Subsea North East (SSNE) considers invaluable, as Tony Trapp, Chairman SSNE explains: “The industry has suffered from a chronic shortage of suitably trained and skilled engineers for quite a while now. The establishment of two new degree courses in Newcastle sends a strong message to the market: that North East England really does mean business when it comes to subsea engineering.”

For further information on the courses being provided by Newcastle University and Newcastle College and on other projects developed for the subsea sector by Subsea North East, Newcastle University and Newcastle College, please email the Subsea Future Talent Project at subsea@ncl.ac.uk or contact Kate Hudson, Project Co-ordinator on 0191 222 5015.

The Subsea Future Talent Project is part-funded by One North East, the Regional Development Agency for North East England and has also been supported by funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Security Challenges to the EnergyIndustries in Australasia RegionAKE is the leading provider of training courses for persons traveling and working in hostile regions. Courses can be run from AKE’s Sydney hub, or can be set up in any location in the region; the latest AKE training course was held in Bangkok. By providing training for personnel operational on the ground, whether a general 1-Day Travel Safety Awareness course, or a more intense course designed for personnel working on site for prolonged periods, employers are not only providing their staff with knowledge and skills, but the confi dence to deal with a security situation should it arise. AKE is also able to tailor courses to specifi c clients’ needs, drawing on its extensive background of working with the energy industry as well as expertise in relevant fi elds such as kidnap resolution and travel safety.

Timely and actionable information is also crucial to operating safely, particularly in some of the more remote areas of the region. Indeed, to compliment their training services, AKE provides up-to-date intelligence and analysis on issues that affect those working in the oil and gas industry from its intelligence offi ce in London.

For a free trial to AKE online country intelligence site (Global Intake), to receive AKE’s free weekly risk updates or for information on forthcoming training dates, please contact australia@akegroup.com. Further information can be found at www.akegroup.com

Aker Solutions Apprentices on Course for Success

From left to right: Michael Carnegie, Scott Gourlay, Michael Thompson,Ben Adams, Ewan McIntyre

Image courtesy of IHC Engineering Business Ltd.

New for September 2009This exci ng new programme will be delivered as a series of modules covering a range of subsea engineering and management skills. This delivery style enables the Founda on Degree to fi t with the needs and requirements of the individual organisa on, allowing it to be studied on a full- me or part- me basis. If you’re based in the North East of England, we can also deliver some of the modules in the workplace, further reducing the impact on your business.

This course is relevant to you if you are:

• Working in the subsea industry and want to increase your skills and knowledge• Working within another engineering discipline and want to make the transi on into subsea engineering• Interested in increasing your knowledge and accredi ng your skills within the area of subsea engineering

Founda on Degree in Subsea Engineering Technologies

For further informa on visit: www.newcastlecollege.co.uk Queries: subsea@ncl.ac.ukImages courtesy of IHC Engineering Business Ltd and Wellstream Interna onal

14 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

TECHNOLOGY 15 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

TECHNOLOGY

Global Marine Systems and Cetrax Systems Announce Development Partnership around Modular ROVGlobal Marine Systems and Cetrax Systems today announced a development partnership focused on an innovative new 300m inspection class ROV. The ‘Predator’ ROV has been developed using the latest high reliability technology design for maximum operating effi ciency and continuous performance in all marine operations.

“The Predator has a number of very innovative features which are ideal for our own use,” said John Davies, Subsea Services Manager for Global Marine Systems. “We operate an extensive fl eet of ROVs and the approach Cetrax has taken to rethinking ROV technology has impressed us. We are looking forward to putting Predator to work ourselves and to working with Cetrax to bring it, and its next generation

features, to market.”

The Predator is designed for use in a wide range of market sectors such as oil and gas, telecommunications, military, subsea power, and inshore survey. Together in partnership, Global Marine Systems and Cetrax have also announced development and manufacturing plans for the ROV, with a scheduled market launch later this year.

“We see the Predator as the fi rst in a new generation of ROVs,” commented Jamie Cunliffe, Operations Director for Cetrax Systems. “It is compact and highly

modular allowing for a very fl exible set of camera and lighting confi gurations. Features such as the PC-based interface, as well as plug-and-play equipment confi guration, make for very straightforward user experience, increasing functionality while greatly simplifying training and operations.”

National Subsea Research Institute Forges AheadAs of August 2009, 10 companies have subscribed to NSRI, including Acergy, BP, Chevron, Lloyds Register, Nexen, Shell, Subsea 7, Talisman, Technip and Total, in addition to Subsea UK. Welcome support for the UK-wide research institute has also been received from both Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council.

NSRI is also in active discussions with a number of other companies across the supply chain, both within and beyond the Oil & Gas industry, with the intention of increasing the membership to 20 companies by the end of 2009. NSRI is also delighted to announce the University of Newcastle upon Tyne will join the institute as an academic partner. The collaboration further strengthens the institute’s research expertise in the marine fi eld and also expands the geographic spread of NSRI academic centres to what is another key region for the UK subsea industry.

Project Manager Mark Critchley said: “NSRI provides a national co-ordinated research strategy for the UK subsea industry in the long term. NSRI is working closely with key stakeholders including

industry, academic, professional and government, to identify priority technology challenges and research need. NSRI is looking to increase both the number of research projects and the amount of funding invested in research in the UK for the subsea industry. This ensures that the UK maintains its reputation as an international centre of excellence for innovation and technology development.”

NSRI is looking to partner and collaborate with other research centres to ensure that collective research effort remains focussed on key competencies, and towards common objectives. “The difference with NSRI is that the research agenda is very much being industry driven and industry focused,” said Mark.

NSRI is currently focusing its research capacities towards three key areas, which relate to the integrity, reliability and condition monitoring of subsea assets (incorporating materials performance, HP/HT, fl ow modelling & measurement, sensor technologies, and inspection technologies), autonomous subsea fi eld development

(incorporating subsea power, wireless communications and data transfer, intelligent subsea networks, data management, and virtual environments), and offshore civil engineering (incorporating fl uid mechanics and fl uid dynamics, seabed infrastructure design, and installation and integrity).

These areas emphasise research for the Oil & Gas industry. However, NSRI will be moving to further develop themes especially in areas that have cross-over applications into other industries, including the renewables sector.

GE Oil & Gas Nailsea (UK) Wins Important Subsea Technology Contract with StatoilHydro

Bluewater Industries Awards Weatherford Fast-Track Gulf of Mexico ProjectBluewater Industries Inc. awarded Weatherford International Ltd. a contract for the subsea production control system for the Telemark discovery in deepwater Gulf of Mexico for the ATP Oil & Gas Corporation.

The project includes Weatherford’s topside components including a hydraulic power unit, a master control station, and a topside umbilical termination unit. The subsea portion of the system is comprised of a subsea control module, subsea base, and subsea tree instrumentation. Weatherford’s unique open communication and control capabilities, along with the ability to meet the tight project deadlines, were key deciding factors for Bluewater and ATP. The project has been designated as a fast-track project with all equipment to be supplied to the client within approximately 24 weeks. The project will be managed by Weatherford’s Houston-based facilities in Kingwood Texas with collaboration with Weatherford’s subsea facility in Great Yarmouth, U.K.

The production system provides subsea communication via an open communications controller (OCC) which is protocol independent and supports all industry interface

standards. The system also complies with other open standards such as intelligent well interface standardisation (IWIS), transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP), Modbus, Modbus TCP and production markup language (ProdML). The open architecture of the system allows easy future expansion of the fi eld as well as the addition of new technology without having to replace the existing subsea infrastructure.

Telemark lies on the Atwater Valley Block 63 in 4,450 ft of water and will be tied back to ATP’s Titan MinDOC deep-draft fl oating drilling and production platform in the Mirage and Morgus fi elds on Mississippi Canyon blocks 941 and 942, respectively.

StatoilHydro, Norway, has awarded GE Oil & Gas, the contract to supply new subsea control systems for its Tordis Vigdis Controls Modifi cation (TVCM) project, worth over USD $70million.

The ambition of the Tordis Vigdis Control Modifi cation project is clear: to upgrade the existing system to achieve increased oil recovery targets through implementation of more sophisticated instrumentation and data recovery as well as improving system reliability and availability.

“We recognise the importance of TVCM as a breakthrough concept for brownfi eld enhancements and

see great leverage in applying the concept further, not only for other projects in

Norway, but for projects in the rest of the world as well.

We also see TVCM as a pivotal

opportunity to launch our Open Protocol SemStar5 – our next generation Subsea Electronics Module,” stated Manuel Terranova, SVP of Subsea Product Platform & Commercial Operations. “SemStar5 is the result of our new approach to product management which offers our customer’s ultra-reliable, leading edge structured products.”

Rune Stromquist, Global Account Director at GE Oil & Gas adds: “Norway plays a key role as a major centre of excellence for subsea technology – both for the industry at large and certainly for GE Oil & Gas. This project will benefi t from our newly upgraded test and assembly

facilities at Dusavik, Stavanger, which will take centre stage in delivering full execution management and

continuing fi eld support to the Norwegian continental shelf.”

The subsea control system equipment will be manufactured at GE Oil & Gas,

Nailsea facilities in Bristol, U.K., and shipped to Norway for installation commencing 2010. Additionally the development of intervention tooling will be executed from the Dusavik site in Norway.

16 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

TECHNOLOGY 17 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

TECHNOLOGY

Subsea Processing Ejectors

Super Duplex Sand Slurry Eductor for Statoil, Norway

Production Boosting• Desanding• Oil Flotation• C0• 2 Injection (CCS / EOR)C• ompression / Pumping

Environmentally friendly• No moving parts• No maintenance• Low cost solution• Proven reliability• Easy to install•

Simple to control & operate• Low weight• Compact size• Handles two-phase flow & liquid • slugs without damageCeramic wear resistant materials•

Super Duplex De-Sanding Eductor for Statoil, (TORDIS) Norway

TORDIS - The World’s First Full-Scale Commercial Subsea Separation, Boosting and Injection System

www.Transvac.co.uk

Webtool Eliminates the Guess Work Positioning ROV mounted tools in subsea, low visibility, conditions has always provided a challenge to the ROV pilot. Visual confi rmation that the tool is correctly located is not always possible, and incorrectly positioned tools can fail and cause serious delays.

The RCV75HD is a hydraulic anvil cutter suitable for ROV deployment for the cutting of steel wire ropes, umbilical and cables up to 76.2mm (3in) in diameter. Based on the original RCV75/RCV80 the new model (patent pending) has been improved to provide greater reliability in diffi cult conditions. The main feature of the RCV75 which differentiates it from its predecessor is a built-in interlock valve, which prevents the blade from deploying if the anvil is not correctly positioned. This makes the cutter much safer to use in conditions where the operator is unable to confi rm correct anvil positioning by visual means.

In order to operate the cutter, 190 (210 Max) bar hydraulic pressure is applied to the anvil closing cylinder. 190 (210 Max) bar hydraulic pressure can be applied to the main ram circuit (which includes a 4:1 pressure intensifi er on board the cutter), the interlock prevents the main ram being energised until the anvil is correctly positioned, preventing blade deployment and potential damage to the cutter body/anvil mechanism.

The RCV75HD is further complimented by a stronger body, tougher blade, integral intensifi er and wrap around wear plates, making this cutter signifi cantly more durable than its predecessor. The RCV75HD will cut 1960 N/mm^2 steel wire rope (EIPS).

Contact Webtool™ engineering if you have any application questions at info@allspeeds.co.uk, or visit or the website atwww.allspeeds.co.uk/webtool/

Morgrip Speeds Subsea RepairsStrong currents, diffi cult conditions and pipes over 40 years old were among the obstacles encountered by divers during repairs on a small but vital pipeline linking North Sea gas platforms to the Norfolk coast.

A 3.5in mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) line running alongside the main gas pipeline was fractured by trawler lines. Since MEG injected into the piped gas prevents the build-up of hydrates that clog valves at the onshore refi nery, restoring the platform’s return MEG supply was an urgent matter if far greater expense was to be avoided.

“A major survey of the 45 mile pipeline was undertaken to fi nd the leak — that took almost three weeks,” explained Hydratight’s fi eld technician, Bob Till.

“We were then called in to complete the repair, which involved replacing 61m of damaged pipe and took another three weeks.”

This was Hydratight’s third repair to these lines: though the pipes are fairly deep, this is a busy shipping and fi shing area and the pipeline is easy prey for trawler lines.

Though Hydratight engineers knew the job from an historical perspective, there were still big physical challenges in achieving the repair.

Most important was the unavailability of the same size pipe work. The damaged line was 3.5in diameter, but this is no longer

available. Instead 4in pipe was used, with a suitable reducer.

The pipe was also 35m down, in strong tidal currents that meant divers only had a two hour window to work every six hours.

“We had a team of 20 divers, two at a time, working round the clock in shifts for three weeks. One man worked and the other provided cover each dive. In fact, they could work for only 35 minutes at a time because of decompression considerations,” Bob explained.

The teams cleaned the pipe back to sound metalwork for the repair. All outer protection coatings were removed to prepare for the Morgrip connectors, and the seabed had to be dredged so there was room to apply the connectors to the old and new ends.

“This was a tricky job, despite the fairly small pipe diameter,” said Bob. “Morgrip jobs have been done on pipes deeper than this and up to 30in in diameter, but this one had its own specifi c problems to overcome.

“We used ROVs for observation and even to do some of the dredging as the connectors were applied, but the job was a great success — the connectors will be good for at least another 30 years.”

The project demonstrates the importance of contingency planning by oil and gas operators. Following similar repairs in 2003. The client had bought Morgrip connectors from Hydratight to cover future repairs, and these were ready at Hydratight’s Walsall HQ for this job. It was thanks to the client’s advance planning that this repair could be completed quickly and effi ciently.

Two new Submarine Rescue Vehicles (SRV) built by James Fisher Defence for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) have entered operation in 2009 with extensive camera and sonar packages supplied by Kongsberg Maritime Ltd.

The SRVs, designated DSAR (Deep Search and Rescue), have been developed from the ground-up, using experience gained by James Fisher Defence during decades of support for the UK Submarine Rescue Services LR5 SRV. Both feature a number of enhancements over existing SRV technology including the ability to operate at a depth of 500m, where visibility is poor so high quality imaging equipment is vital for a safe rescue operation.

“The importance of high quality, reliable imaging systems cannot

be overstated during a submarine rescue,” comments Ben Sharples, Underwater Projects Director, James Fisher Defence. “The rescue teams rely on the cameras and sonars to ensure safe operations under very stressful conditions, so they should provide a high standard of imagery in addition to being up to the job of operating in extreme conditions. Kongsberg Maritime was able to provide a cost-effective package that met these requirements.”

DSAR-5, which was offi cially named ROKS DSRV II in September 2008 features OE15-103 Low Light CCD and OE14-367 Colour Zoom cameras in addition to the OE10-101 Pan & Tilt unit. It also features a powerful Kongsberg Mesotech Sonar System with the MS1000 Sonar Processor c/w remote keypad, High Resolution

(330 kHz) Sonar Head, 1007 Series Altimeter.

DSAR-6 will, uniquely, be operated over a 20 year period on behalf of the RSN by James Fisher Defence and its partner ST Marine through a joint venture called First Response Marine Pte Ltd (FRM). It features similar Sonar System confi guration to DSAR-5 but utilises OE15-102 Low Light CCD and OE14-366 Colour Zoom cameras.

Kongsberg Maritime Cameras and High Resolution Sonar for Two New Submarine Rescue Vehicles

18 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

TECHNOLOGY 19 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

TECHNOLOGY

Hydrasun Invest in New 36-Carrier Horizontal Braiding LineHydrasun’s dedicated umbilical facility has been operational in Aberdeen, Scotland since 1997. Products include high integrity single-line hoses to multi-line hydraulic and electro-hydraulic umbilicals, jumpers and hydraulic fl ying leads (HFLs) for a variety of subsea and topside applications.

Hydrasun has built a reputation for speed of response to client demands and fast manufacturing turnaround of

bespoke turnkey solutions. The fast growing business has developed a signifi cant capability in recent years, adapting a range of Hydrasun products to suit both specifi c client demands as well as general market trends.

To strengthen their offering, Hydrasun recently invested in a 36-carrier horizontal braiding line to enable Hydrasun to add a braided tensile strength member to their umbilicals and jumpers. The braiding can be offered in a range of materials including Kevlar and Twaron. These umbilicals are suitable for the majority of workover and intervention applications, which are usually deployed from the surface using a winch, and can often be used to support loads, such as UTAs and other heavy tooling.

The hi-tech braiding equipment was commissioned in early June 2009, and is now fully operational in Hydrasun’s Aberdeen facility. Orders are now being processed and manufacture of initial projects are well underway. Scott Cheyne, the Manager of the Umbilical Dept commented: “The recent investment in the braiding equipment will certainly provide a great opportunity for Hydrasun to break into new markets and help to maintain the levels of growth the department has undergone in the past fi ve years.”

Looking to the future, Hydrasun anticipate signifi cant opportunities for continued growth in both North Sea and global markets and look forward to supporting both existing and potential customers by further enhancing their range of umbilical and HFL solutions.

Schlumberger Non-intrusive P&T Sensors Selected for West Africa ProjectsSurveillance of subsea infrastructure has become an increasingly important part of operations management as challenging deep-water fi elds are developed and later-life fi eld production factors change. The Schlumberger subsea surveillance group have developed a complete range of monitoring systems for integrity and production surveillance of key subsea equipment to meet these challenges.

The Schlumberger subC-pts technology, a non-intrusive, ROV deployable, pressure and temperature sensor, has an extensive track record of providing a quick and simple subsea retrofi t solution. Applications have been varied with the most recent contract awards for fl owline blockage detection and replacement of failed intrusive P&T sensors on subsea trees.

Schlumberger was contracted to supply an ROV deployed non-intrusive subC-pts system, providing a method to measure pressure during valve tests to establish if there was communication across the closed value. This cost effective solution will allow the operator to maintain safe production and avoid the signifi cant cost of recovering the trees to replace the failed sensors.

The client is also getting additional benefi t from the subC-pts system to assist in production optimisation. By setting a reference pressure on the subC-pts using a known pressure from a methanol line they are able to measure production pressure and

wellhead shut in pressure.

The project required a demanding level of measurement accuracy for an ROV deployed surface strain sensor given the rapidly changing internal pressures and surface skin temperatures. This coupled with the limited space envelope for the ROV to install the sensor in the centre of the tree frame provided signifi cant design challenges.

3D modelling of the tree and sensor confi rmed suffi cient space envelope and representative testing provided confi rmation the subC-pts was able to meet the customer accuracy and resolution requirements. An emergency release system was also incorporated into the design as a backup to ensure the subC-pts can always be removed from the tree if the operation gets into diffi culty.

This application required the subC-pts to be battery powered and incorporate an ROV readable LED display to allow real-time monitoring of pressure during the test. In addition all measurement data is logged and downloaded on recovery of the system to the surface. Subsequent subC-pts confi gurations

are planned to communicate directly to surface through the tree control systems.

The non-intrusive nature of the subC-pts system and its ability to be deployed and recovered easily by ROV provides the client with a portable sensor capable of measuring pressure changes at any location along the fl owline. During the initial phase of the project; subC-pts units will be deployed along the fl owline and on the fl exible. These will be repositioned at different locations while the pipeline is pressurised to establish the location and extent of the blockage(s).

These systems will also be deployed during the subsequent remedial phase to monitor the effects of the surface treatments during the unblocking operation.

ROV deployed subC-pts system

Music Technology a Seismic HitIt’s not very often that a groundbreaking development in music technology is applied to the Oil & Gas domain. That is exactly what Aberdeen based Soundmotion have achieved with their music analysis algorithm.

The music algorithm was specifi cally developed to identify what and precisely where on the fret board guitarists are playing from a live audio signal. Jools Lewthwaite, CTO and designer of the core technology said: “Live polyphonic guitar signal analysis was deemed an intractable problem because of the overlapping harmonic profi le of notes. which is further compounded by the fact that the same note can be played in numerous places on a guitar.”

The music algorithm operates in an entirely new way using proprietary techniques to model and analyse the signals behaviour to make predictions about what the signal is doing.

A variant of the music algorithm has been transferred to seismic analysis where it was successfully applied to the problem of thinning layers. This issue was presented to Soundmotion as unsolved by current seismic techniques and tools. Effectively, as sedimentary layers get closer together (within half a wavelength), it is impossible to resolve the layers using conventional imaging techniques.

Solving this problem could have signifi cant impact for exploration and in particular in imaging of pre-salt reservoirs.

An example of the music algorithm applied to the thinning layers problem can be seen in this image (right), which shows three surfaces (solid black line) converging and diverging. The coloured

spectrogram repesents the conventional seismic image, showing clearly that it is diffi cult to see how many layers there are and where they are.

The dots show where the algorithm has successfully tracked the path of the actual layers.

Soundmotion believe that the work done in applying the algorithm to music analysis and in the thinning layer problem have broader implications, for example drilling down inside acoustic pulses in order to improve imaging and object identifi cation.

Dr Colin MacLean, head research engineer said: “Soundmotion are now looking to apply the algorithm to new areas including Sonar, Communications Systems, Acoustic Positioning, Condition and Structural Monitoring. All of these areas have similar issues where there is a desire to improve resolution, reduce noise and to identify objects and we believe that the music algorithm shows great promise in being able to deliver these improvements.”

Above and below the waterline

www.designinc.co.uk

Creative marketing

20 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

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ACE Winches Increase Sales by 77%

ACE Winches of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has successfully completed a £2million manufacturing order for Marlin Offshore International Ltd (“Marlin”), and international drilling contractor KCA DEUTAG. The order was for the design, manufacture and commissioning of four replacement 75 tonne double drum anchor mooring winches and hydraulic power unit packages for Marlin’s self erect tender rig Searex X, currently operating in West Africa.

The contract, which was won against stiff international competition from both the USA and Norway, represents the single largest manufacturing order ACE has completed to date, and boosts the company’s

manufacturing sales to over £4million for the current fi nancial year, an increase of 50% on 2008.

John Nichols, Mobile Rigs Equipment and Maintenance Manager for KCA DEUTAG said: “Our anchor mooring winches on the Searex X were scheduled for replacement and so we investigated the marketplace. We were very impressed with both the high quality standards and delivery dates offered by ACE Winches. We have some special requirements on Searex X which ACE has designed into the new winches and we are very pleased with their proposals. The winches have been delivered on time and on budget as promised.”

2009 has seen ACE Winches continue to pursue an effective international growth strategy despite the challenging economic climate. International sales have increased 77% on 2008 fi gures, and now account for 70% of the company’s total sales. This increase in growth has seen ACE employee numbers rise from 90 to 124 during the past year and the company is forecasting total manufacturing and hire sales of £12.5million for 2009.

Alfi e Cheyne, ACE Winches’ Chief Executive Offi cer, praised the efforts of his employees as key to the successful completion of the KCA DEUTAG manufacturing job: “Our dedicated employees have played a key role in ensuring ACE completed this bespoke manufacturing job on time and within budget. Staff and management are to be congratulated on their hard work. This approach is crucial in ensuring we continue to meet our client’s needs by providing superior quality products and services, and places us in a strong position to continue the growth of ACE Winches.”

EB Delivers and Successfully Trials Two New Deepwater Pipeline PloughsThe successful delivery of two new pipeline trenching ploughs to Saipem UK Ltd (SUKL) in March this year, ensured IHC Engineering Business Ltd (EB) was keen to play a key role in the installation and commissioning of the ploughs, aboard the Far Samson. This is a new support vessel, also named OSJ Ship of the year 2009, specifi cally designed for trenching operations.

Over the course of six weeks, an EB team worked along side Saipem personnel and led the electrical installation and commissioning of equipment onboard the vessel in preparation for system sea trials.

The main trenching plough was designed to bury pipelines up to 1550mm diameter up to 2.5m below the seabed, sustain a bollard pull of over 350T and maintain speeds of up to 3000m/hr, where seabed conditions permit. The aim of the sea trials was to rigorously test all key aspects of plough performance.

A trials programme was developed including a trenching plan that would test the plough’s ability to transition in and out of work, demonstrate multi-pass capability, and allow operators to gain an understanding of the general performance of the ploughs in terms of speed, tow force, trench profi les, steering ability and overall control.

Over the course of the trials, the ploughs performed exceptionally well in each of these areas. The trenching plough was tested up to rated bollard pull and stable trenches up to 2.7m deep were created. Trenching speeds in excess of those expected or required were achieved and many of the new design features were proved to be a major advance on previous pipeline plough systems. For example, water jetting to aid with share closing and a novel system to prevent soil ingress into the skids.

The backfi ll plough was an all new concept where all four of the main skids sit outside the trench. This is a design that EB developed to enable the plough to run on undisturbed soil, thus increasing stability and reducing risk of damage to the laid pipe. During the course of

the sea trials, this concept proved itself to be highly effective. The plough was easy to steer and very stable, even at relatively high offset steering angles and provided effective backfi lling of the 2.7m trench.

Upon completion of the trials, the customer confi rmed that they were extremely satisfi ed with the performance of the ploughs and all are now looking forward to the fi rst ‘live’ trenching project.

The sea trials gave an excellent opportunity for the team to work alongside SUKL personnel in the real offshore environment. This provided an ideal opportunity for the EB team to pass on the required knowledge about operating the new system whilst gaining further practical experience and additional lessons learned for future designs.

Further information on EB is available at www.engb.com and from IHC Engineering Business at Broomhaugh House, Riding Mill, Northumberland, NE44 6EG, UK.Tel: +44 (0)1434 682800

Subsea Company Recognisedas Most Innovative in Scotlandfl exlife recently marked its second birthday, recording turnover of £3million, and then won the award for Innovation in the National Business Awards for Scotland.

The company had also reached the fi nals in a second category – Scotland’s best small to medium-sized business. fl exlife scooped the Best Newcomer honour at the Subsea UK awards earlier this year and has been reaching the fi nals of a number of other award schemes.

fl exlife’s revolutionary scanning technology is the fi rst to be able to successfully scan fl exible risers in situ. The application can scan for a fl ooded annulus and fl exible pipe armour wire corrosion, factors which signifi cantly affect the service life of fl exible risers commonly used on fl oating production vessels (FPSOs). It is mounted on an ROV and can operate down to 6,000m, helping to extend the lifespan of fl exible pipes and minimise additional cost, personnel and environmental impact for clients.

The company was established by directors Stuart Mitchell, John Marsden and Carl-Petter Halvorsen, who identifi ed a gap in the market for an innovative consultancy specialising in engineering and delivering fl exible pipe projects, as well as developing patented technology offering new solutions to some of the most common problems facing the subsea sector.

Operations director Mr Mitchell said: “It is absolutely brilliant to have won such a prestigious national award and continues what has been an outstanding year

for fl exlife. We set out right from the start to devise innovative solutions to the most common problems facing our industry and are delighted our approach has been recognised at this level.”

The company currently has a 10-strong team with plans to take on an additional eight people over the next 12 months and is predicting growth of around 70% in 2009/2010, primarily through work in the North Sea and Brazil.

KBR Subsidiary Granherne Selected for Conceptual Study as Part of StatoilHydro ASA’s Gullfaks 2030 ProjectKBR today announced that its consulting subsidiary, Granherne, has been selected to take part in a conceptual study of StatoilHydro ASA’s Gullfaks 2030 project to extend the production from the gas fi eld.

The award builds on previous conceptual studies recently undertaken by Granherne, evaluating the possible installation of a subsea Wet Gas Compression and the tie-back of the Peon satellite production to the Gullfaks C platform.

“This project builds on the long relationship between Granherne and StatoilHydro ASA that spans over two decades,” said John Rose, President, KBR Upstream. “We look forward to participating in the study which solidifi es KBR’s presence in the front end consultancy market.”

Work on the study commenced in April 2009 Granherne is a leading front-end engineering consultancy for onshore, offshore and deepwater oil and gas developments and has experience on over 3,000 projects in more than 20 countries.

Granherne has provided services for more than 100 subsea developments, including step out expansions, marginal fi elds and major subsea projects.

KBR is a global engineering, construction and services company supporting the energy, hydrocarbon, government services and civil infrastructure sectors. The company offers a wide range of services through its Downstream, Government and Infrastructure, Services, Technology, Upstream and Ventures business segments. For more information, visit www.kbr.com.

22 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

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RESON was established in 1976 and is today a global player with offi ces and representatives in 25 countries worldwide. With continuing dedication in design and development, it is now a world-renowned name with an unparalleled range of Underwater Acoustic Systems. The name RESON has become synonymous with providing very reliable products tested in the very harshest of environments over many years.

Recently, RESON delivered its 1,000th SeaBat System. Their next generation multibeam sonar system, is now taking their products to new depths in the further development of their unparalleled range. Reliability, compatibility and upgradeability are designed into the products making it possible for customers to seamlessly integrate a 15-year-old RESON system with a brand new system.

RESON is a market leader in the manufacture of high-quality

underwater acoustic sensors, state of the art SeaBat multibeam sonar systems,

NaviSound echosounders, transducers, hydrophones and PDS2000 software with a

global presence and service facilities around the world.SeaBat sonar systems are

produced at the factory in Denmark, which is certifi ed according to ISO 9001:2004.

Today, RESON has an enviable reputation and extensive capabilities in the design and manufacture of leading-edge underwater acoustic sonar products for Hydrographic Surveys, Coastal and Harbour Monitoring, Dredging, Oceanographic Research and Offshore Exploration. Proudly, the SeaBat sonar and

NaviSound echo sounder systems have become an industrial standard within offshore operations.

Through several years of experience and excellence in the development and implementation of state-of-the-art sonar solutions, RESON is capable of creating added value to existing and future customers worldwide.

RESON is a leader in the application of sonar technology to waterside security applications. Several SeaBat sonars, including the 6012, and the 8128 have been used successfully to protect harbour choke points and high value assets. The new generation of 7k sonar provides even better performance.

Executive VP Sales at RESON, Mr. Kim Christiansen says: “The fact that RESON has delivered 1,000 SeaBat sonar systems confi rms RESON’s position as the leading supplier of high-resolution sonar systems”.

RESON offers the largest multibeam sonar range in the market. The SeaBat 7000 series share the same platform. By having a design with the most electronic components in the dry end rather that the wet end, it is easy to upgrade the sonar system with new features.

RESON’s SeaBat® sonar systems have become solutions within defence and security applications and provides unprecedented performance for naval and commercial systems in terms of accuracy, resolution, depth rating, and range.

RESON Delivers its 1000thSeaBat System

Speciality Welds Ltd Receives Confi rmation of Recognition by IMarEST

Cathodic Protection Retrofi t: Forties Field Phase OneThe Apache Forties Field is one of the oldest fi elds in the UK sector of the North Sea, seeing fi rst production in 1975. The fi eld comprises fi ve platforms: Forties Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta were installed in the 1970’s, and Echo was installed in the 1980’s.

The original bracelet anodes protecting the in-fi eld pipelines, which link the four original Forties platforms, were heavily depleted. It was determined that they required a cathodic protection system retrofi t in order to maintain adequate levels of protection for the duration of the fi eld’s life extension.

Hockway Ltd. were nominated by Apache to provide a solution, and it was determined that the most cost effective retrofi t would be by using the RetroSled, RetroPod and RetroClamp products manufactured by

Hockway strategic alliance partners Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

A detailed design initiative, hinging upon Deepwater’s in-house attenuation modeling of the pipeline CP system was performed in order to establish the most effi cient use of resources. The optimum number of anodes sleds and the correct sled spacing was calculated, and suitable subsea locations were determined for equipment to minimise installation time.

Phase 1 installation was performed in October 2007 under the supervision of Hockway and Deepwater engineers using an ROV support vessel, and successfully completed on time and on budget. Phase 2 of the project, completing the cathodic protection retrofi t, will take place in Q2 of 2010.

Proclad Secures Projectsin West Africa and MexicoThe Proclad Group has been successful in securing work for the next fi ve years on projects in West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. These contracts include the manufacturing of spools and riser pipe including induction bends and associated fi ttings. Proclad’s reputation for high quality products has been a key factor in securing this work. Proclad have developed their own equipment

for the application of weld overlay for 12 metre pipes and their unique processes can meet the most demanding customer specifi cations.

As leading specialists in the design, manufacture and supply of complete pipeline solutions to the subsea oil and gas industry, there has never been a greater need to provide cost effective solutions to the problems associated with the harsh environments found in many of today’s deep water installations.

Whilst many other sectors have been affected by the global recession, Proclad has remained largely unaffected and has recently invested in a new range of unique state of the art pipe cladding technology further proving we are the world leaders in our fi eld with no sign of slow down. Over the last 18 months over £3M has been invested in new heat treatment and weld overlay capacity to ensure that demand for Proclad products can be met.

The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology has formally recognised the underwater welding programme ‘Weldcraft-Pro’, developed and managed by Speciality Welds Ltd.

Senior spokesman Mr. Ben Saunders said: “I can confi rm that the members of IMarEST Continuing Professional Development Working Group were most impressed with this training course and have recognised it as contributing to an individual member’s professional development requirements.”

Speciality Welds Ltd offers the Weldcraft-pro to commercial diver training schools and other specialist training organisations as a ‘self-teach’ programme. In this way, providers who are involved with commercial diver training now have the opportunity to deliver approved/recognised welder training, together with international

certifi cation. Training follows the International Institute of Welding (IIW) and European Welding Federation (EWF) guidelines for fi llet welding and culminates in approval to ISO 15618-1, or AWS D3.6 welder qualifi cations. The programme is 80 hours in duration and certifi cation is issued by EAL (EMTA) Awards, under the approved Test Centre status of Speciality Welds.

Mr. David Keats, MD of Speciality Welds said: “This programme is the only one available, anywhere in the world, that provides an opportunity for commercial diver training organisations serious about equipping divers with appropriate welding skills, to meet assessed competency standards that meet industry requirements.”

Any organisation interested in running this programme will fi nd more details on the company’s website atwww.specialwelds.com

www.subseauk.com

Deep OffshoreTechnology International3-5 November 2009Grimaldi Forum, Monaco

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24 SUBSEA UK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2009

ACHIEVEMENT

Subsea UK The Innovation Centre, Exploration Drive, Aberdeen Science and Energy Park, Bridge of Don,Aberdeen AB23 8GX Tel: +44 (0)1224 355355 Email: admin@subseauk.com www.subseauk.com

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information presented in this newsletter is accurate, Subsea UK assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or out of date information and shall not be liable in any manner whatsoever for direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages resulting from the availability of, use of, access of, or inability to use this information.

Group Director of Services and Technology for MCS and Director of Subsea UK, Dr. Patrick O’Brien has been appointed as an Honorary Professor of Engineering by the University of Aberdeen.

Patrick, who has sat on the Engineering Advisory Board for the university since 2000, will have a key role in providing advice and support in the establishment and early growth of the National Subsea Research Institute (NSRI), an initiative founded by the University of Aberdeen.

Patrick has played a signifi cant role in setting up the Engineering

School’s new MSc in Subsea Engineering, setting out a broad specifi cation for the course. He and a number of his senior colleagues at MCS have lectured directly to the MSc students on their advanced riser design and technology and under Patrick’s direction, MCS will continue to contribute to this course in the future.

Patrick said: “I am delighted and honoured to accept this honorary position with the university. I have derived great personal satisfaction from working with the Engineering School over the last number of years and I know from fi rst hand experience that they are dedicated to providing the highest standards of excellence in engineering training. They now look forward to the challenge of applying their research expertise to the arena of subsea technology in support of the industry and their community.

“Despite the current economic conditions, the subsea industry has a bright future. It is important that we continue to attract new graduates into the subsea industry and provide them with competent technical skills for this industry.”

Professor Albert Rodger, Vice Principal at the University of Aberdeen and Head of the University’s College of Physical Sciences, said: “The University of Aberdeen considers itself to be very much at the heart of the knowledge economy as far as the northeast energy industry is concerned, and Honorary appointments of leading fi gures from industry are an integral part of cementing the University’s interaction with industry at a number of levels. We look forward to gaining from Dr. O’Brien’s experience in terms of sharing experience and in further developing opportunities to work closely with industry groups, especially in this case with the subsea Oil & Gas industry through the recently established National Subsea Research Institute.

Patrick will now act as an ambassador for the Engineering School in his international travels.

MCS Group Director Awarded Honorary Position at University of Aberdeen

Dr. Patrick O’Brien, Honorary Professor of Engineering, University of Aberdeen

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