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UT 3 1Q 2009 1 UT 3 The ONLINE magazine of the Society for Underwater Technology February 2010 Oceans Remote Vehicles Offshore
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The online version of UT2
Transcript of UT3
UT3 1Q 2009 1
UT3The ONLINE magazine of the Society for Underwater Technology
February 2010
OceansRemote Vehicles
Offshore
UT3 1Q 20092
UT3 1Q 2009 3
Con
tents
Contents
Published by UT2 Publishing Ltd for and on behalf of the Society for Underwater Technology. Reproduction of UT2 in whole or in part, without permission, is prohib-ited. The publisher and the SUT assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material, nor responsibility for content of any advertisement, particularly infringement of copyrights, trademarks, intellectual property rights and patents, nor liability for misrepresentations, false or misleading statements and illustrations. These are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Opinions of the writers are not necessarily those of the SUT or the publishers.
February 2010Vol 5 No 1
Editor: John Howes [email protected]
Sub Editor: Mariam [email protected]
US Representation: Stephen LoughlinAd-Expo Marketing InternationalPhone + (281) [email protected] Production: Sue Denham
Society for Underwater Technology80 Coleman St, London EC25 5BJ
ISSN: 1752-0592
UT3
+44 (1) 480 370007
K2 ExSubsea Projects
UT3 1Q 2009 1
UT3The ONLINE magazine of the Society for Underwater Technology
February 2010
OceansRemote Vehicles
Offshore
SUT
Interview
Subsea Tieback
UnderwaterVehicles
SONAR
Seabed Equipment
Vessels
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Subsea engineering and construction company Subsea 7, has been awarded a contract for installation of replacement subsea control modules (SCMs) and flexibles jumpers at CNR International Limited’s Tiffany and Banff oil and gas fields, in the UK sector of the North Sea. The Subsea 7 workscope involves investigation and rectification works at the Tiffany field and the installation of replacement SCMs and flexible jumpers at both the Banff and Toni fields. Offshore work has commenced and is being performed by Subsea 7’s dive support vessel (DSV), the Rockwater 1
Subsea 7’s Vice President for the UK Region, Steph McNeill commented:
“I am pleased that Subsea 7 has been awarded another North Sea contract and we look forward to delivering this project in a safe and timely manner for CNR over the next few weeks.”
The Tiffany field is located in Block 16/17 and the Banff field is located in Blocks 22/27a & 29/2a in the UK sector of the North Sea.
Tiffany and Banff
Rockwater 1 in Aberdeen harbour
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Technip has been awarded a lump sum contract by ENI US Operating for the Appaloosa development project in the Gulf of Mexico. This project consists of the tieback of the Appaloosa well located in Mississippi Canyon, 268 km (145 nautical miles) offshore Mobile, Alabama at a water depth of approximately 860 m (2825ft), to the Corral platform.
The contract covers:• Project Management and surveys,• Engineering, fabrication and installation of a 34km (21-mile) longproduction flowline, a riser and subsea equipment,• Installation of free issued umbilicaland flying leads,• Pre-commissioning and dewatering of the flowline.
AppaloosaTechnip’s operating centre in Houston, Texas will execute this contract. The flowline and riser will be welded at the Group’s spoolbase located in Mobile.
Offshore installation is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2009 using the Deep Blue, Technip’s deepwater pipelay vessel.
Extensive saturation diving work will be executed using the Skandi Achiever, one of the Group’s diving support vessels, and umbilical installation using the Deep Pioneer, one of Technip’s deepwater construction vessel.
Technip’s scope of work is expected to be completed by April 2010.
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BP Norge has awarded Aker Solutions a NOK 450 million engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contract for a tie-back from Oselvar to the Ula platform. Aker Solutions estimates the contract value to be approximately.
Scope of work includes engineering, procurement, fabrication of module and other minor components, installation offshore and commissioning assistance. The execution phase is based on a front end engineering design (FEED) study performed by Aker Solutions.
The object of the tie-back operation is to transport oil and gas 24km from
Ulathe DONG operated Oselvar field to BP’s Ula platform for processing. The oil will be processed at the platform. The gas will either be reinjected or exported via pipeline to Gyda and Ekofisk facilities. The Ula platform is located in the southwest area of the North Sea, at approximately 70m water depth. The Ula field has recently been upgraded with water- and gas injection equipment, which allows it to take on production from several other fields in the area.
The EPCI contract is a call-off from the Modifications & Maintenance Support Contract with BP Norge AS. Work under the contract starts immediately and the project will be completed in November 2011.
Saipem has been awarded a new offshore contract worth over US$ 200 million for the subsea development of the Bonga North-West field, located in the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 118, approximately 120km off the Nigerian coast.
The contract has been awarded by Shell Nigeria, and encompasses engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation and pre-commissioning services for 13km of 10in/12in production pipe-in-pipe flowlines, 4km of 12in water injection flowlines as well as related
Bongaproduction facilities.
The contract also includes the installation of 15km of umbilicals.
Bonga North-West is located in approximately 900 to 1200m of water, and will be developed with 12 subsea wells tied back into the Bonga main infrastructure.
Marine activities will be carried out mainly by Saipem FDS and Saipem 3000 vessels, in different time-frames between the second half of 2012 and the last quarter of 2013
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Technip has been awarded by Statoil ASA an engineering, procurement, construction and installation lump sum contract, worth in excess of €23 million, for the Åsgard gas transfer project.
The Åsgard field is located on the
Asgard Gas TransferNorwegian continental shelf at a water depth of 300m.
The contract covers fabrication and in-stallation of an approximately 4km-long rigid flowline in 2010 and the replace-ment of two flexible risers in 2011. The contract will be executed by the
Group’s operating centre in Oslo, Norway. The flowline fabrication will be executed by the Technip spool-base in Orkanger while installation will be performed by the newly converted Apache II. The marine operations in 2011 will be from the Skandi Arctic.
The Skandi Arctic
TECHNIP AWARDED A SUBSEA CONTRACT IN EGYPTTechnip has been awarded a €65 million lump sum engineering, procurement, installation and construc-tion (EPIC) contract by Burullus Gas Company SAE(1) for the West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) Phase VII development project. The project is designed to maintain overall plateau production for the WDDM Concession, located 95 kilometers offshore Egypt in the Mediterranean.Technip’s operating center in Oslo, Norway, will ex-ecute this contract with assistance from the Group’s team in Cairo, Egypt. It covers turnkey delivery of the tie-in structure between a new gas export pipeline and two existing pipelines, including “hot tap tie-ins” that allows the work to be carried out without stopping the ongoing production.Offshore installation is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2010 using the Wellservicer, a vessel from Tech-nip’s fleet.1
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Acergy has been awarded a three-year contract, plus four one-year options for the provision of dive support vessel services to the DSVi collective of companies, comprisingChevron Hess, Nexen, Talismanand Dana Petroleum.
The scope of the contract covers the
DSVinon-exclusive provision of routine and non-routine diver andROV inspection, maintenance, repair and construction projects for work offshore in the North Sea.
Onshore engineering commences immediately, with offshore operations commencing in 2010.
Cameron has received an order worth in excess of $230 million forthe supply of subsea production systems for Stage I of Chevron’s Jack & St. Malo subsea development in the Gulf of Mexico.
The project will include 12 15,000-psi subsea trees, production control systems, four manifolds andassociated connection systems, engineering and project management services. Deliveries are scheduled to
Jack St Malobegin in the third quarter of 2011 and continue through the second quarter of 2013.
Cameron President and Chief Executive Officer Jack B. Moore said, “We welcome the opportunity to provide Cameron’s high-pressure, high-temperature deepwater technology to support the Jack and St. Malo development as part of our ongoing advanced supplier relationship with Chevron.”
Technip has been awarded two contracts by BP for the Schiehallion field development. The field is located in the North Sea, 175 kilometers (110 miles) west of the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom.
The first contract, which was recently completed, was on a lump sum/reimbursable basis and covered the design and manufacture of a 720 meter (2,400 feet) gas-lift flexible riser* and a 770 meter (2,500 feet) water-injection flexible riser.
The second contract, on a
Schiehallionreimbursable basis, covers the installation of these risers, as well as pre-commissioning, tie-ins and testing.
Technip’s operating centre in Aberdeen, United Kingdom, is undertaking the contracts. Both risers were manufactured in the Group’s flexible pipe plant in Le Trait, France. Offshore Installation is scheduled for the second quarter of 2010.
These awards fall under a current agreement with BP to provide diving construction services for extensions to existing hydrocarbon field development projects in the North Sea
A letter of intent has been received from Petrobras for a lease and oper-ate contract of the Company’sexisting FPSO Espadarte for a period of 18 years on the Baleia Azul field offshore Brazil.The FPSO Espadarte will be discon-nected from its current location at the Espadarte field offshore Braziland after transfer to a shipyard, the FPSO will be modified and upgraded for the new project and will thentransfer back to Brazil for offshore hook up, installation and operation on the Baleia Azul field.The planned disconnection of the FPSO from the Espadarte field is in April 2011 and first oil at the BaleiaAzul field is planned in July 2012. The FPSO will require a significant ad-ditional capex investment for theBaleia Azul field.The non-discounted total of the fixed lease rates payable for this contract amounts to approximately US$1.7 billion.
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Subsea 7’s new state-of-the-art remotely operated vehicle support vessel (ROVSV), the Normand Subsea, has commenced her first project for Shell in the Ormen Lange field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
The life of field vessel will be utilised exclusively to service the long-term underwater services contract Subsea 7 holds with Shell Entities, operating in Europe, for inspection, repair and maintenance programmes and for some of Shell’s capital projects and decommissioning works, across its offshore fields and facilities. The Normand Subsea’s first workscope at Ormen Lange includes template and pipeline inspections and ship wreck surveys.
Investment in the Normand Subsea is part of an ongoing capital investment programme of over US $1bn in new assets and equipment which will see eight new vessels joining the existing Subsea 7 fleet between 2006 and 2010.
Steph McNeill, Vice President for Subsea 7’s UK region, stated:
“The Normand Subsea is a fantastic enhancement to one of the most modern, technologically advanced and capable fleets of subsea construction, pipelay and support vessels in the world. Our significant investment programme demonstrates our commitment to delivering best in class services for our clients, investing for the long-term and becoming the Subsea Partner of Choice in our sector. We look forward to working with Shell in the safe and timely delivery of the various work scopes this vessel will be undertaking for them over the next few years.”
The vessel, which is on long-term charter from Solstad Offshore, has a unique combination of capabilities that include: a fully enclosed hangar; built in 35t module handling system (upgradeable to 65t); 150t heave compensated crane; an extensive spread of two work class ROVs and four observation class ROVs all equipped for 1200metre depths; a hull with five moonpools; a well treatment system and an extensive online and offline survey suite. It also has on-board facilities for a ship’s complement of 90 people.
The Shell Underwater Services Contract is the continuation of an ongoing long-term relationship between Subsea 7 and Shell which commenced in 1984 with one of Subsea 7’s predecessor companies.
First Project for Normand Subsea
ExxonMobil subsidiary Esso Highlands Limited has awarded Saipem the con-tract for the Papua New Guinea LNG offshore pipeline project EPC2.
The scope of work will consist of the engineering, transportation and installa-tion of a 407km-long 34in gas sealine, connecting the Omati River landfall point, on the southern coast of Papua New Guinea, to the onshore point located near the capital town of Port Moresby, on the southeastern coast of the Country, where a new LNG plant will be located.
The works also encompasses the shore approach excavation and backfilling at Port Moresby and the trenching and backfilling of a 75km section of the sealine at the Omati River landfall, 25 of which inside the Omati River, where Saipem will use its unique experi-ence and expertise in post trenching methodology from Kashagan project in Caspian Sea.
Maximum water depth along the route is approximately 100m. Marine opera-tions will be carried out by Semac 1 offshore vessel. The activities will be completed in the third quarter of 2012.
The project is part of ExxonMobil PNG LNG Project to develop gas and liquid hydrocarbon resources located in the southern highlands of Papua New Guinea with LNG exporting facility in Caution Bay, near Port Moresby.
In Vietnam, Saipem has been awarded the contract for the Chim Sao Platform and Pipelines Project by PTSC Me-chanical and Construction.
The contract, assigned in the frame-work of the development of Block 12W by Premier Oil Vietnam Offshore, encompasses the transportation and installation of one wellhead platform and of subsea pipelines, umbilical and PLEMs (pipelines end manifolds), in addition to the detailed engineering for infield pipelines.
The Chim Sao field is located about 300 kilometres off the southern coasts of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in approximately 95 m of water depth.
Marine activities will be carried out mainly by Castoro 8 offshore vessel and will be completed in the second quarter of 2011.
PNG LNG for SaipemSBM Offshore has been signed a contract with Noble Energy for the provision, lease and operation of an FPSO for the development of the Aseng field, offshore Equatorial Guinea.
The Compania Nacional de Petroleo de Guinea Ecuatorial(GEPetrol), the state oil company of Equatorial Guinea, will own a 40% share, with, SBM Offshore holding the remaining 60%.
Aseng
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SBM Offshore also received from Petrobras for a lease and operate contract of the company’s existing FPSO Espadarte for a period of 18 years on the Baleia Azul field offshore Brazil. The FPSO Espadarte will be disconnected from its current location at the Espadarte field offshore Brazil and after transfer to a shipyard, the FPSO will be modified and upgraded for the new project and will then transfer back to
Brazil for offshore hook up, installation and operation on the Baleia Azul field.
The planned disconnection of the FPSO from the Espadarte field is in April 2011 and first oil at the Baleia Azul field is planned in July 2012. The non-discounted total of the fixed lease rates payable for this contract amounts to US$1.7 billion.
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Helix Energy Solutions Group subsidiary, Energy Resource Technology GOM has made a Gulf of Mexico deepwater oil and gas discovery at its Jake prospect, located in Green Canyon Block 490.
The discovery well was drilled to 13 504ft in 3740ft of water and encountered 134ft of net oil and gas pay in a single sand interval. The well was conventionally wireline logged with multiple fluid samples recovered for confirmation of the hydrocarbon bearing zone.
The well has been cased and temporarily abandoned for a future subsea completion.
DiscoveriesOf f s ho re
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JakeFollowing the discovery, Helix’s estimate for this prospect is 50–75 Bcfe gross.
Development options are currently underway, including a potential joint development with a recent discovery made in the area. First production from the Jake discovery is estimated to take place in mid 2011. ERT owns a 25% working interest in both the discovery well and Green Canyon Block 490.
ERT has made an additional new Gulf of Mexico shelf discovery at its 75% owned and operated South Timbalier 145 Field. The new discovery was drilled to 14 193 true vertical depth and logged approximately 20ft of oil and gas pay.
Anadarko has discovered oil on its Lucius exploration well in Keathley Canyon block 875. The well encountered more than 200 feet of net pay in subsalt Pliocene and Miocene sands.
Lucius is a three-way structure against salt, and the results of the well indicate thick reservoir sands with very good porosity and permeability. Adadarko plans to immediately drill an up-dip
Lucius and Itaipusidetrack appraisal well to delineate the reservoir’s areal extent. Additionally, the proximity and availability the Red Hawk cell spar enhances its potential development options and offers the opportunity to accelerate the production of these resources.
The Lucius discovery was drilled to a total depth of about 20 000 ft in approximately 7100 ft of water, using the new ultra-deepwater Ensco 8500 semi-submersible drilling rig. The up-dip sidetrack appraisal well will be drilled on the same block, approximately 3200ft due south of the discovery.
Anadarko also recently announced its second pre-salt discovery in Brazil at the Itaipu prospect in block BM-C-32 in the Campos Basin. The well encountered more than 90ft of oil in a high-quality pre-salt carbonate reservoir of similar characteristics and quality to the neighboring giant Jubarte complex.The Itaipu well was drilled to a total depth of approximately 16 300 ft in 4400ft of water.
The Itaipu well is located approximately 16 miles north of Anadarko’s original Wahoo discovery and six miles southeast of Petrobras’ pre-salt Jubarte
ITAIPU DISCOVERY
Petroleum Corporation
0 10Kilometers
Kilometers
BM-C-3030% WI
BM-C-3233% WI
WAHOO #2
ITAIPUDISCOVERYAPC WI 33.3%
WAHOO
Jubarte Complex1st Well Producing ~18,000 BOE/d
Pre-Salt Resources ~2 BBOE
SantosBasin
EspíritoSantoBasin
CamposBasin
BRAZIL
0 50
ANADARKO WI BLOCKSINDUSTRY PRE-SALT DISCOVERIES
RECENT SUCCESS
PROSPECTSNEW DISCOVERY
DRILLING
HADRIAN
PHOBOSPROSPECT
1007 1008
39 40
Keathley Canyon875874
963 964
919 920
TEXAS LOUISIANA
Petroleum Corporation
ANADARKO WI BLOCKSANADARKO FIELDSINDUSTRY DISCOVERYAPC DISCOVERY
LUCIUSDISCOVERY APC WI 50.00%
LUCIUS DISCOVERY
0 3Miles
RED HAWKCell Spar
complex, which is currently flowinglight oil on a long-term test through the Jubarte FPSO. Partners in Itaipu are currently planning a sidetrack to this well and anticipate further appraisal drilling in 2010. Anadarko is also preparing to sidetrack Wahoo #2 to gather additional data from thewell. Once sidetrack drilling is complete, it is planned to move the rig to the Wahoo discovery well to conduct a drillstem test and then return to Wahoo #2 for another drillstem test.
Chevron has made an additional natural gas discovery in the Carnarvon Basin offshore Western Australia. This follows closely on the Achilles-1 discovery,
The exploration well, Satyr-1, located 160km (100 miles) offshore in the Greater Gorgon Area in 1070m (3510 ft) of water, was drilled to a total depth of 4560m (14 960 ft). The well discovered 130m (425ft) of net gas pay.
Thedrilling campaign in northwestern is expected to provide additional natural gas supplies to underpin the Chevron-operated Gorgon natural gas project,
Satyr
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ACS 100
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The hundredth acoustic control system (ACS) designed for acoustic control of blow out preventer (BOP) and other subsea production units requiring a control system has been recently delivered by Kongsberg,
“Two major subsystems build up the system” said a spokesman. “The surface part and the subsea part depth rated to 4000m. Each of these two subsystems has transceivers connected to acoustic transducers. The total system is designed based on the principle of full dual redundancy – “two of everything”.
The subsea unit controls several different functions with readback, monitors analogue inputs and has additional
functionality such as sequence control, auto shutdown etc. An
advanced acoustic telemetry link provides a reliable
communication in noisy and reverberant offshore environments. The system is available for both Emergency BOP Control and
Surface BOP Control. The ACS system is delivered as low frequency (LF) or
medium frequency (MF) systems.
Schlumberger’s subsea electronic control module has passed the historical milestone of more than a quarter million operational hours in the field with 100% reliability.
More than 30 modules have been deployed successfully for the control and monitoring of flow boosting pumps and subsea well production.
As a power and networking module, its expanded applications include in-telligent well control and operation. Schlumberger subsea control and monitoring technology is an enabler for surveillance in the subsurface and subsea domain delivering an unprecedented level of reliability that is critical to the subsea industry with its high intervention costs.
“Subsea control systems must
have reliability as a primary function due to costs involved in remediation following a failure. The reliability of the Schlumberger solution is embedded in subsea applications commercially available today, as well as those under development,” said Andy Hendricks, vice president, Schlumberger Subsea. “Our subsea light vessel intervention control system also uses this technol-ogy as part of its safety system to control subsea trees and the interven-tion package.”
This high-bandwidth communication subsea control module has been de-veloped using design and engineering processes created specifically for the subsea environment. Long-term ac-celerated life-testing has demonstrated system survivability for more than 50 years and under conditions far beyond normal operating environments.
Control Milestone
AGR Drilling Services have logged 100 wells drilled using the riser less mud return (RMR) system. It has also been recently used for the fist time in the Gulf of Mexico.
Simplistically the RMR system saves rig days through improved drilling operations and risk mitigation. In addition, it is being increasingly used to minimise environmental impact. There is no doubt with higher rig rates , smaller fields and deeper water activity there is significantly more focus on cost reduction. At the same time there is a clear trend towards reduced environmental impact.
AGR deployed ithe system on Statoil’s Krakatoa well, drilled in water depths of 620m (2060ft). The RMR system was installed on Transocean’s brand new ultra-deepwater drillship Discoverer Americas and used to return drilling mud and cuttings to the surface while the top-hole section of the Krakatoa well was drilled.
Statoil used the RMR system with a 4-stage pump on their GOM Krakatoa well top-hole section and as a result managed to maintain top-hole stability, circulate through unconsolidated water flow and gas flow formations and managed to push the 22-inch casing setting depth significantly deeper than had been achieved previously on offset wells. The RMR system was deployed over the side, thus not interfer-ing with direct line rotary table/moonpool activities.
RMR 100
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Bowtech Products are pleased to announce the latest major cost saving development in subsea camera technology. The ARMS system monitors each individual mooring chain and anchor on semi submersible drilling rigs, eliminat-ing upto 16 hours operational time per rig move.
Designed around our state of the art colour CCD 36:1 zoom camera and utilising the latest technology in LED lighting, the ARMS system removes the need to ballast and de-ballast the rig to ensure the
First it was 10...then 100...then 1000Mbps...now it’s 10Gbps!
Bowtech Products Ltd are delighted to introduce their latest MOOG-PRIZM product - 10 Gigabit Ethernet to single or multi mode Fibre Optic Media Converter. This 8-Port 10Gbps system provides the perfect solution for converting 10/100/1000Mbps twisted pair media to fiber optic media at up to 10Gbps.
The fundamental feature of the converter is that this system has the ability to auto configure to allow inter-face with either 10Base-T, 100Base-T or 1000Base-T on the RJ45 jack and is fully compliant with IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, 802.3ae (10G over fibre) and 802.3aq (10 G over multimode fibre) standards.
The 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch is available either as an OEM board solution or a stand alone product, suit-ably packaged.
Designed to be operated in harsh environments, this compact and lightweight system supports automatic address learning and aging. The converter features full system diagnostics with GUI output and jumbo
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Flexible pipe specialist Flexlife has secured additional subsea engineering support work with Apache North Sea to double the value of the original contract awarded earlier this year.
The extra work brings the total value of the contract to nearly £5million over three years with the option to extend to five years.
Flexlife’s original deal covered all subsea engineering and operational pipeline support on Apache North Sea’s assets and the company will now be involved in the operator’s new subsea developments.
NEWSCont r a c t
DOF in AngolaAberdeen-based specialist subsea service company DOF Subsea has been awarded a contract worth around $8 million by Total Angola to provide geotechnical survey services in the CLOV development, offshore Angola.
To undertake the work, DOF subsea will be us-ing their vessel the Geograph and a third party geotechnical spread. Garry Millard, Managing Director, DOF Sub-sea UK says “We’re delighted to be delivering our services from one of our own vessels, the Geograph. The award of this contract is in line with our strategy to develop our capabilities and services in the Africa region.”
Flexlifeflexlife director of projects John Marsden said: “Our work with Apache North Sea was a first for us and took us in a new direction with the development of the subsea engineering side of the business.
“We had hoped to prove ourselves quickly and increase the scope of our remit to supporting their ongoing operational work and we are delighted we have achieved that aim.”
Flexlife also was awarded long-term integrity management contracts with Maersk and CNR earlier this year, again for three years with options to extend to five.
Neptune Marine Services has signed a new contract with global energy major Shell UK for the provision of subsea engineering consultancy services.Under the terms of the agreement, Neptune Subsea Engineering will provide Shell with a range of engineering services for an initial three year period with the option of two one-year extensions.
Elsewhere, Neptune’s Aberdeen based fabrication division, Neptune Deeptech, has been awarded a contract from GE Oil and Gas for the provision of five subsea tree frames that will be installed on the deepwater Kizomba Satellites Project, offshore Angola.
Neptune
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The Kizomba Satellites Project is operated by Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation.
Under the terms of the agreement Neptune Deeptech will provide the tree frames over a period of nine months. All fabrication work for the project will be carried out at the company’s Aberdeen facilities.
“Recent industry research suggests global expenditure across the world’s major deepwater precincts will be more than $27 billion a year over the next four years,” said Christian Lange. “We believer that leading this charge will be Africa, which we believe is tipped
to account for 40% of the total global spend.
Neptune Mari has also been awarded a major subsea inspection contract from Qatargas, one of Qatar’s leading producers of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The three year multi-million dollar contract involves the inspection of Qatargas platforms, offshore pipelines and subsea connection facilities located within the Arabian Gulf.Under the terms of the contract, Neptune will provide a dynamically positioned (DP II) vessel bundled with a range of services including ROVs, hydrographic survey, diving and pipeline stabilisation.
Deep Down has signed two contracts in excess of $4 million for work in West Africa. These contracts, for buoyancy products made by its subsidiary Flotation Technologies,and umbilical services at Deep Down’s Channelview, Texas facility, will be completed over the first half of 2010.
Deep DownThe company will also be using the Geograph to carry out a subsea maintenance and inspection contract on two wells by PC Mauritania, a subsidiary of Petronas.
The company will use its Triton XL14 ROV.
A Neptune diver
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VesselsO F F S H O R E
Hornbeck Offshore Services has introduced the 370ft multi-purpose support vessel (MPSV) HOS Centerline to its fleet.
With an 8000+ dwt capacity, this HOS 370 design, represents the largest and most diverse DP-2 classed offshore supply vessel currently available. The HOS Centerline is the only vessel in the world to have received certifications by the United States coast guard allowing operations as a supply vessel, industrial/construction vessel and as a petroleum and chemical tanker.
The HOS Centerline’s sister-vessel, HOS Strongline will join the fleet in early 2010 and is expected to receive the same regulatory pedigree. Both vessels will be based at the company’s shore base facility, HOS Port, located in Port Fourchon, Louisiana. The company acquired the HOS Port facility and its heavy lift capabilities in order to accommodate its growing fleet of large dimension vessels. Among their work within the offshore energy industry, these vessels have the capacity to transport more than 30 000bbl of liquid drilling mud and fuel to and from exploration, development
and production projects. Positive displacement pumping systems allow the vessels to provide a consistent transfer of product even at installations with large air gaps.
The HOS Centerline boasts a self-contained mixing and cleaning system that significantly reduces the risk of drilling fluid collapse as well as reduces the time necessary to clean storage tanks, which is a cost normally borne by its customers.
Mud mixers use low inertia paddles to reduce the fall-out of the mud
Centreline
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Borealis Acergy has acquired the Borealis pipelay vessel which is currently being built at the Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore.
The DP3 dynamic positioning vessel equipped with a 5,000t crane and Acergy plans to install a 1000t J-Lay tower and state-of-the-art 600T S-Lay equipment. It will also be fitted with a range of support systems and construction equipment for worldwide deepwater and harsh environment operations.
Provision will be made for accepting one of the company’s heavy duty flexible pipelay systems.
Final completion and operational delivery of the ship is scheduled for
and provide for a consistent mix. The vessel’s significant size, 8400kw of available propulsion, power and DP-2 capability allows it to continue cargo transfer operations during sea and weather conditions that prevent smaller vessels from working. With its subchapter ”D” and “O” certifications, the HOS Centerline can carry crude oil as well as other flammable and combustible cargoes in significant quantities from offshore drilling and production sites.
The vessels offer 18 tanks with three separate segregations that allow the transport of three separate products at the same time. This feature makes the vessel a platform for various well test, flow-back and dewatering projects in deepwater and ultra-deepwater. The vessel can also be used for emergency export of crude oil and other fluids during times of or following disruptions, such as hurricanes. The HOS 370-class cargo deck dimension is 240ft by 58ft and complemented by an additional 30ft by 58-ft of covered deck space, unparalleled in the industry.
The vessels have multi-functional ISO sockets integrated into the bow to accept standard sized containers to increase loading productivity and eliminate the use of traditional chains and binders.
The HOS Centerline has accommodations for up to 78 personnel, in excess of the vessel’s crew. The large deck and ample quarters provide an excellent platform for subsea construction operations.
H1 2012. Total costs, upon delivery, are expected to be less than $500m, including approximately $260m relating to the acquisition of the ship and delivery as per the original design.
Saipem has been awarded a contract for the supply and operation of a ves-sel floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) worth approximately 1 billion euro.
The contract, awarded by Eni, en-compasses the conversion of a wholly owned oil tanker into a FPSO vessel, for which Saipem will provide the installation and the operation manage-ment. The FPSO vessel will have a
Aquila FPSOstorage capacity of 700 000bbl and a production capacity of 12 000 bblof oil per day. Production activities will start in the fourth quarter of 2011.
The contract, lasting 20 years, is divided in two phases. For the first 8 years, the FPSO will be employed for the exploitation of the Aquila field, off the Italian coast in the Adriatic Sea, ap-proximately 50km northeast of Brindisi, in a water depth of 815m.
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The Noordhoek Pathfinder was recently launched at the De Hoop shipyard in Foxhol – The Netherlands.
The ship is a state of the art 62m remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and survey support vessel. The ship is currently undergoing the final stages of installation and commissioning of the crane and survey spread prior to commencing sea trials. Shewill be fully commissioned and ready for deployment in early 2010.
The Noordhoek Pathfinder is mobilised with a Grade 2 dynamic positioning system (DPII), diesel electric drive, a large moon pool, a 25t offshore crane. She is also equipped with workclass and onspection ROV systems, side scan sonar tow-fish, McArtney Focus 2 ROTV systems and a technologically advanced survey suite.
With accommodation for 40 people split between single and double cabins, the Noordhoek Pathfinder exceeds the latest environmental and acoustic standards ensuring quiet operations whilst at survey speeds.
The vessel’s main functions will be inspection, repair and maintenance, hydrography, geotechnical investigation, and analogue / digital geophysical survey.
Noordhoek’s have also commissioned a 76m DPII saturation dive support vessel called the Noordhoek Constructor. She is also undergoing the final stages of construction and is due to commence operations in early Q1 2010.
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Noordhoek Pathfinder
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Oceaneering International has commissioned the construction of a dive support vessel (DSV) with an estimated capital cost of $17 million. Oceaneering expects delivery of the 200ft by 46ft vessel from a U. Gulf Coast shipyard late in the fourth quarter of 2010. The new vessel will replace the Ocean Project, which was built in 1972.
This state-of-the-art DSV will be U.S. flagged and outfitted to perform subsea inspection, repair, and main-tenance (IRM) services and support construction operations in the Gulf of
Mexico. The vessel will have built-in diving equipment, including a dive control system and decompression chambers, to maximize the availability of deck space for job specific equip-ment and to ensure safe working con-ditions. It will have accommodations for 50 personnel and be equipped with a 40-ton crane, a working moon pool, and a four-point mooring system enabling operations in 700 feet of seawater.
T. Jay Collins, President and CEO, stated, “This purpose-built DSV will allow us to continue to support demand for our shallow water IRM and construction support services. There are over 3,500 platforms and approximately 20,000 miles of pipe-lines in use in the Gulf of Mexico that we believe will need servicing for the indefinite future.”
DSV
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Helix energy solutions has taken delivery of a new deepwater pipelay vessel. The Caesar departed the shipyard in China in November 2009 for the Gulf of Mexico to join the company’s subsea construction fleet.
Caesar is a dynamically positioned (DP2) pipelay vessel capable of laying large diameter concrete coated pipelines in shallow water, and up to 24in diameter pipelines in deep waters.
Caesar’s onboard pipeline manufacturing capability facilitates pipelay operations without dedicated onshore infrastructure, making her a cost-effective option in remote areas versus reeled pipelay vessels. In addition, her 300t crane and 450t A-frame are well suited for deepwater installation of inline manifolds and terminals.
“The S-lay Caesar will increase the options available to operators who are planning major deepwater subsea construction projects,” said Helix ESG’s Chief Operating Officer Bart Heijermans. “We are very pleased with the performance of the vessel and believe she will be an attractive choice for our customers because of her unique capabilities and competitive cost structure.”
Caesar is due to complete transit in January 2010, joining the Intrepid and Express reeled pipelay vessels.
Length 146mTransit Speed 13ktsTension 405tA and R winch 405tPipe Diameter 4–36inStorage Capacity 10 000tFiring line stations 8Stinger Length 90mMain Crane 300tA-Frame 450tAccommodation 210
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Hail Caesar
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GustoMSC is to build a wind turbine installation jack-up vessel for an un-disclosed client. It will be the largest of its kind serving the wind turbine Installation market. The NG-9000C-HPE is intended for use in water depths of up to 45m in a North Sea environment.
The vessel will be able to undertake high speed fully loaded voyages to the installation site. She is equipped with a DP-2 dynamic positioning system for positioning at site.
An accommodation deckhouse suitable for 90 persons is located on the forward end of the vessel. A heli-copter landing deck suitable for a Sikorsky S92/ S61N or Super Puma AS 332L2 is provided on top of the accommodation deckhouse.
Central to its operation is a 800t heavy duty offshore crane devel-oped by GustoMSC. The GLC-800-ED crane combines a high capac-ity & high outreach with a short minimum radius, is located on top of the portside aft jack-house and revolves 360deg unrestricted around the leg.
The four legs with the continuous speed GustoMSC jacking system
Wind Turbine Installation Vessel
and the diagonal pre-loading allow for easy and fast installation.
Propulsion for transit is provided by three propulsion azimuth thrusters of 3500kW, together with another three tunnel thrusters of 1750 kW. These provide thrust for station keeping with a DP-2 dynamic positioning system.Transit speed approximately 12 kts.
The main deck is locally reinforced for the transportation of wind turbine parts or other heavy components. In addition the vessel has the ability to work in the offshore oil and gas sector.
The vessel features a 6,500 ton variable load capacity. The vessel is equipped with the GustoMSC 9000C continuous hydraulic positive engage-ment jacking system. It has a maxi-mum jacking capacity of 5300t ft per leg and a maximum holding capacity of 9000t ft per leg. The delivery is sched-uled for early 2012.
This project is a continuation of a coop-eration between DDW-SEA and Gus-toMSC. Since 2005, it has designed and built four SEA-2000 construction jack-ups, four CJ46-X100D drilling jack-ups, two service jack construction / decommissioning jack-ups and one SEA-2750 multi-purpose jack-up.
Hull length 130.8mHull width 39mHull depth 9mHull draft 5.6mLeg length max 81.50m
Main hoist 800t @ 24 mMinimum outreach 18 mWhip hoist (manriding) 50t @ 90 mMinimum outreach 21 m
Power generation4 diesel generator sets of 4320kW1 emergency diesel generator set of 600 kW
Operating conditionSignificant wave height 1.8 mWave peak period 4.0 – 10.0Wind velocity 14m/sCurrent velocity 2kt
Elevated survival conditionSignificant wave height 10.8mWave peak period 13.5sWind velocity 41m/sCurrent velocity 2.5 kn
ClassificationDNV 1A1 Self-elevating Wind Turbine Installation Unit CLEAN DESIGN, CRANE, DYNPOS-AUTR, E0, HELDK, NAUT-OSV(A), OPP-F
Principal dimensions
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www.macartney.com
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ubsea
Worldwide Underwater TechnologyR&D Engineering System Integration Sales Service
NEXUS multiplexersFibre optic telemetry systems
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Easytrak Nexus is the second generation USBL tracking system from Applied Acoustics.
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to surface, all the while continuing to provide secure and
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Nexus is tracking, made easy.
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DEME Group ordered the dynamically positioned fall-pipe rock dumper Flintstone from Sembawang shipyard in Singapore, in 2008. Key to the operation is the advanced dual HiPAP 500, hydroacoustic aided inertial navigation(HAIN) subsea and dynamic positioning (DP) system developed by Kongsberg, and the comparatively high DP capability of the all electric propulsion based on six thrusters. This allows the Flintstone to track (a pipeline) with great accuracy and fast update rate at all times, which supports the quality of the subsea structures being built.
Use of two HiPAP 500 transducers increases the electrical and acoustic redundancy, and also increases the accuracy, as it opens for redundant measurement with position estimation based on two independent measurements and a quality control. The dual system uses both transducers to measure the position of one single target (transponder) by separately controlling the beam forming and phase measurement for each system in parallel.
HAIN Subsea combines the acoustic measurements from the Dual HiPAP 500 and the readings from the sensors onboard the ROV in an optimum way. The navigation equations update the ROV position, velocity, heading and attitude almost continuously based on the readings from the inertial measurement unit. The advanced Kalman filter corrects these values when new acoustic positions and readings from the other ROV sensors are available. This results in improved position accuracy and update rate compared to the acoustic measurements.
FlintstoneThe rock dumper will be commissioned in early 2011 and operated by Breda-based offshore specialist company Tideway, The vessel has a load weight of 19 000t and is specially designed for creating high precision structures on the sea bed, using rock and gravel in bulk, etc. Typically, the structures are rock capping and bedding on top of or
Dumping Rubbleunderneath an oil/gas pipeline; rock tables for crossing pipe lines and gravel layers for wind turbine foundations etc.
The vessel features two large rock bunkers on the main deck. In the centre of each rock bunker is a large Liebherr excavator, which discharges into a hopper fitted starboard of the rock dumper. The bulk of each rock bunker is transported to the central hopper by a longitudinal conveyor belt. Subsequently a 2000t/h belt conveys the rock across the beam to the fall pipe. The ID 700 fall pipe hangs in the middle of a moonpool and the rock material falls through this pipe to the seabed. Accurate positioning of the fall pipe mouth is handled by an ROV.
Huisman designed and built the new stone dumping unit. This is a tower-like construction mounted over the moonpool, which allows the swift build-up and retrieval of the fall pipe, even in rough seas. Rock bulk production through the fall pipe is controlled by means of the rock handling system.
Dual HiPAP 500 transducers in the Flintstone increases the electrical and acoustic redundancy
Aberdeen-based TSMarine Subsea has been awarded a £500,000 contract to abandon two North Sea wells for Petro-Canada UK. The new contract will see TS-Marine Subsea prepare a programme to abandon two Category One suspended subsea wells in block 25 of the Moray Firth region for the Canadian operator.
Offering a range of rigless well intervention, decom-missioning and construction support solutions to the global subsea oil and gas industry, TSMarine Subsea will lead the project to sever and recover the wellheads using abrasive water jet cutting technology. The Rem Poseidon, a multi-purpose support vessel on long term charter to TSMarine Subsea will be used to complete the project.
Abandonment
TSMarine Subsea personnel mobilise for well abandonment operations on the Rem Poseidon
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Gusto ContractsDutch design and engineering com-pany GustoMSC completed a number of projects in 2009. These included:
l The GustoMSC SEA2000 series construction jack-ups JB-114 & JB-115were delivered by Drydocks World – South East Asia.
l The a GustoMSC NG2500-X unit Seajacks Leviathan – sister vessel of the Seajacks Kraken was delivered by Lamprell Energy to Seajacks and is currently under contract for Fluor at the Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm.
l The Maersk Reacher is the fourth of the GustoMSC CJ50-X100 vessels delivered by Keppel FELS to Maersk Drilling. With its modern drilling equip-ment centred around the GustoMSC X-Y cantilever, this rig can operate in a water depth of 350ft. The first rig, Mae-rsk Resilient, commenced operations in February 2008 for Dubai Petroleum Establishment.
l The GustoMSC SEA2000 unit Goliath was on its first job to install
offshore wind turbines one week after delivery delivered by Lemants to GEOSEA
l The DSS21 class Maersk Dis-coverer DP deepwater drilling semi-submersible is the first of the series of three. It is presently operating in the Gulf of Mexico for a four years contract with Statoil Naga 2 and Perro Negro 6
l The Naga 2 and Perro Negro 6 are GustoMSC CJ46-X100-D jack-up drilling units for 350 ft water depth. Both units were delivered by Dry-docks World – South East Asia to their respective owners UMW Singapore Drilling and Saipem, . These units are part of a series of four at this yard.
l The Gold Star is a DSS38 unit, developed by GustoMSC and Keppel DTG, delivered by Keppel FELS to the Brazilian operator Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás. The Gold Star and its sister unit Alpha Star will support Petrobras’ exploration and production activities offshore Brazil.
The GustoMSC CJ46-X100-D jack-up drilling units Naga 2 and Perro Negro 6 for work in 350 ft water depth
Veripos, a leading company in the provision of precise Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning solutions to the world offshore oil and gas industries, has extended its multi-source Differential GPS service for South Atlantic and Southern Ocean regions with the establishment of new reference station facilities in the Falkland Islands.
The new station will help facilitate further seamless, fully redundant high-accuracy positioning support for a wide range of offshore positioning and survey tasks by delivering augmentation on the 98W and AORW high power Inmarsat communications beams.
User guidance on how to manually add Falklands to Veripos’ Verify station listings are located at the Knowledge Base section of its Online Support System (VOSS).
Positioning Network
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The Amor Group, global provider of business technology, has appointed Andy Corkhill as Energy Sales Director.
Martin Bowman has also taken up the post of Transport Sales Director and Paul White has become Managed Serv-ices Sales Director. A fourth director is currently being recruited to head up sales in the public sector.
Andy will be working with Amor Group’s key clients, which include Centrica, BP, Shell, Scottish Power and SONI.
With turnover of £30million, Amor Group has 350 staff across its Aberdeen, Edin-burgh, Glasgow and Houston offices.
Amor
Will Rowley has joined Acteon where he will take on the role of Group Analyst.
Rowley was formerly Director, Analyti-cal Services, for the leading industry consulting company Infield Systems. He brings to Acteon a wealth of expe-rience of oil industry modelling, mar-ket analysis and business forecasting.
Based in Acteon’s head office in Nor-wich, UK, Rowley will work closely with the group’s operating companies in the gathering of market intelligence. His objective is to enhance theexchange of information and help cement relationships with customers in areas of the industry where Acteon companies have the most value to offer.
ActeonSeeByte, developers of software for unmanned underwater vehicles, has been joined by Dr. Chris Tier-ney, Birgir Thorgeirsson and Tom Anderson,
Dr. Chris Tierney becomes part of SeeByte as a Senior Development Engineer.
Birgir Thorgeirsson joins SeeByte as Development Engineer.
Tom Anderson also joins as a De-velopment Engineer.
SeeByte
Chris Tierney
Tom Anderson Birgir Thorgeirsson
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Acquisitions
SMIT has completed the acquisition Minette Bay Ship Docking in Prince Rupert, Canada.
Minette Bay is active in the port of Prince Rupert with three ASD tugs. Minette Bay performed the shipdocking services for Ridley Island Coal Terminal for 25 years. This acquisition enhances SMIT Marine Canada’s current harbour towage operations on the West Coast of Canada.
Icelandic AUV manufacturer Hafmynd has welcomed Birna Maria Bjornsdottir and Stefan Reynisson to the company. . Stefan is responsible forProcurement and Quality Control and Birna will work on the sales and marketing side.
Hafmynd
Nova Analytics Corporation, a worldwide supplier of laboratory, field and online instrumentation, acquired the ownership of the shares in Aanderaa Data Instruments AS (AADI).
Nova is already strong in the field of electrochemistry with a portfolio of highly recognised brands including WTW, Schott Instruments, Secomam, Pinnacle, STM, Ebro, Global Water and Bellingham nd Stanley.
With the acquisition of AADI, Nova takes a major step into the ocean and envi-ronmental monitoring markets as well as the crane safety, road traffic and the on-board weighing scale market for heavy construction equipment.
FMC Technologies has completed the acquisition of Multi Phase Meters. Based in Stavanger, Norway, MPM a global leader in the development and manufacture of high-performance multiphase flow meters for the oil and gas industry.
Smit/Minette Bay Ship Docking
Nova/Aanderaa
FMC/Multi Phase Meters
FMC Technologies has completed the acquisition of Direct Drive Systems, Inc. (DDS). Based in Fullerton, California, DDS is a world leader in the development and manufacture of high-performance permanent magnet motors and bearings for the oil and gas industry.
FMC/Direct Drive Systems
Cameron has closed on its acquisition of NATCO Group, following the approval of the previously announced merger agreement by NATCO’s shareholders at a special meeting. NATCO shareholders received 1.185 shares of Cameron common stock in return for each share of NATCO common stock held, and will receive cash reflecting the value of any fractional shares. Cameron has issued approximately 23.7 million shares related to this transaction. Simmons and Company International served as financial advisor to Cameron on this transaction.
Cameron/Natco
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CTC Marine Projects has celebrated a successful year in the offshore con-struction industry, by being recognised as the Northern Offshore Federation (NOF) Energy’s ‘Company of the Year’. It also scooped the ‘Innovation and Technology’ award.
The awards mark a year of success for the company, which includes the first diverless subsea construction and development project in the Mediter-ranean with a contract value of circa US$30 million, expansion into several new regions including Brazil, China, Egypt and the Middle East and diver-sification into the Offshore Renewable market.
CTC has made a successful entry into the offshore renewables market hav-ing completed two workscopes for cli-ent E.ON, on Alpha Ventus and Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farms. CTC is ac-tively pursuing further workscopes in this market, while being very optimistic in the outlook for 2010 and beyond.
CTC is also currently working on its first project in the Middle East where the scope of work includes the lay-ing of power cable which is three
times heavier than any power cable previously installed by CTC as well as being the largest power cable ever laid in the Persian Gulf.
The Innovation and Technology award reflects CTC’s commitment to innova-tion, in particular the development of the world’s largest underwater tracked vehicle, the RT-1 Rock Trencher, which has had success in its first offshore scope of work for Shell off the West Coast of Ireland.
CTC has also recently announced the contract award of USD 39 million is for the cable lay and ploughing activity on the Jeju Island Project which will increase the order backlog for 2010 and 2011.
The workscope, for client KT Subma-rine, will involve the installation of two 105km cable bundles between Jeju Island and Jindo Mainland Korea in water depths of up to 160 metres. The first bundle will be installed in 2010 and the second bundle will be installed in 2011. CTC Marine will use a DPII multi-role construction R class vessel for this project, as well as CTC’s ISU umbilical plough.
CTC NOF’s CotY
Kongsberg Maritime China Jiangsu (KMCJ), an advanced new 2880m2 sensor production facility located in the Norwegian Industrial Park in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, China, was officially opened during a traditional Chinese ceremony attended by over 150 guests.
Work started on the modern new sensor production facility, which is based on the same methodology and processes used at Kongsberg Maritime’s Trondheim, Norway, sensor production facility, in February 2009.
“The establishment of KMCJ was an international effort, involving a number of people from different departments, from our sensor production facility in Trondheim and other Kongsberg Maritime sites,” comments Håvard Johnsen, General Manager, KMCJ.
“We currently have 15 employees, all of whom were hand-picked for their positions. As a high-tech, international technology company we are dedicated to bringing only the best people onboard and although most key personnel are now in place, the headcount at KMCJ will continue to grow,” says Johnsen
The considerable investment in the new facility will support Kongsberg Maritime’s position as a leading developer of sophisticated sensors for marine and offshore applications such as engine monitoring, bearing wear and tank monitoring, in addition to ensuring local capability to service the significant marine sensors market in the region.
“Far East Asia engine manufacturers constitute a large portion of the potential market for the standard sensors produced
New China Sensor Factory
Kongsberg’s sensor team in China
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MacArtney Offshore, the Houston operation of the MacArtney Underwater Technology Group, has moved into larger premises. The capacity is more than doubled, from 4500ft2 to 11 000ft2.
The move significantly increases workshop and storage capacity. This allows them to accommodate larger service jobs, including medium sized winch umbilical spooling and terminations which now can be performed inside their secure premises.
Cable mouldings, fibre optic terminations and the MacArtney Offshore slip ring repair facilities with Focal trained technicians have also been significantly expanded.
Customer and project meetings will become easier and more comfortable thanks to conference rooms and teleconferencing. Up to 30 guests in house and 64 guests worldwide will now be able to cooperate in meetings.
The new location makes MacArtney Offshore even more accessible to their customers. Most of the world’s oil and gas companies have offices within a 20km radius of the new site
MacArtney RelocationOffshore lubricants specialists, Castrol Offshore, has completed the centralisa-tion of its operations at its Global Tech-nology Centre at Pangbourne in the UK. All of Castrol’s aviation, marine and energy lubricants divisions will now be based on the 35-acre site with state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, an analytical and performance testing complex and over 250 expert chemists, engineers and researchers.
Commenting on the move, Paul Lowther, global marketing communica-tions manager for Castrol Offshore, said: “The reason for centralising our operations at Pangbourne is to ensure that we can offer our customers the best possible standards of service in line with the performance of our prod-ucts. By having the entire business unit centred on the site, the whole team can benefit from a vast array of knowledge and experience, and ensure technology, marketing and sales are all aligned, benefits our customers will see with new product and service offers.
Facilities such as our specialist subsea test rigs at Pengbourne replicate the ex-treme working conditions are products are used in every day. This, allows us to create lubricating oils, greases and hydraulic fluids that can be used in the world’s most environmentally sensitive oceans.”
Castrol Centralisationby Kongsberg Maritime, whilst we have also identified a direct requirement from shipyards for the delivery of our sensor products,” says Andreas Jagtøyen, Vice President of Kongsberg Maritime’s Merchant Marine sensor division in Trondheim (MM-T).
“The sensor production lines set up at KMCJ are intended for larger volumes and mass production for these customers, while in Trondheim, we will take care of customer specific sensors, spare parts and European orders,” continues Jagtøyen.
The KMCJ production facility also features a state-of-the-art mechanical workshop, with a range of advanced CNC-machining centres, and other workshop machinery for production of sensor parts and other mechanical components. This will ensure the continued quality and reliability of Kongsberg Maritime sensor products in addition to enabling a competitive market offering.
“To ensure the right product quality and to meet the market price, it was necessary to in-source and take control over the mechanical production of our sensors,” explains Oddbjørn Malmo, Production Manager at MM-T.
The new KMCJ building is part of a larger project to establish a significant KONGSBERG presence in Zhenjiang, following the purchase of 55 000m2 of land in the area. Over 30 000m2 of modern production facilities are scheduled to be in place by 2012, representing Kongsberg Maritime’s largest production operation outside of Norway.
MacArtney’s new11 000ft2 facility in Houston
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A forward-looking sonar from Guernsey-based Marine Electronics, has been installed aboard a British-operated tanker as a major initiative to refine operational safety.
The See Echo system was developed by Marine Electronics in cooperation with the ship owner to provide a three-dimensional image of the sea up to one kilometre ahead of the vessel.
It is now undergoing a trials programme which, if successful, will result in its installation aboard other ships in the company’s substantial fleet. It is intended to provide an extra margin of safety against grounding and is the first application of ground avoidance sonar by a tanker operator which is aiming to set new standards of safety for the industry.
Unlike conventional sonars that look down from the ship and show the seabed directly beneath the keel, the See Echo looks ahead to provide an advance warning of any obstacles. It consists of two arrays that scan the sea ahead through a vertical arc of 20 deg and horizontally through a sector of 90 deg. They are linked by fibre-optic cable to a dedicated high definition touch-screen computer display on the ship’s bridge.
The images from the two arrays are combined to create a 3-dimensional
Obstacle Avoidance Sonarrepresentation of the sea ahead that can also be viewed with an electronic chart overlay. The display shows underwater objects and where they are in relation to the ship’s approach and their depth below the surface. The system also provides a movable “camera” viewpoint and is available with the option of target tracking and with a range of up to 1 km
Installation of the See Echo on an operational tanker has been prompted by the enormous costs that can be incurred by operators if a ship goes aground or is damaged in such a way as to cause pollution. Despite the comprehensive nature of modern hydrography, uncharted areas are known to persist.
These can be responsible for costly groundings such as that experienced by the QE2 in 1992 when it hit a rocky sea bed that had remained uncharted in busy waters off Martha’s Vineyard, USA.
The See Echo will also provide an alert for partially submerged objects such as cargo containers of which an estimated 10 000 are lost overboard every year. The sonar will also register the presence of whales and other sea mammals that are in the path of the ship. The acoustic frequency of the transmissions from the sonar has also been approved by the NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospherics Administration) in the USA as having no little or no impact upon marine life.
Because the See Echo provides a three dimensional image, it has also been found very helpful for ships operating in sea ice. The display reveals the thickness of the ice sheet ahead and enables the ship’s master to decide whether it is possible to sail through it safely. This is expected to prove particularly important for cruise ships that are undertaking voyages into Polar waters. The sinking of the cruise ship Explorer in 2007 has confirmed the environmental and passenger safety risks that need to be guarded against. The system was fitted inside the
bulbous bow of the tanker during a recent dry-docking in Dubai. Installation required the design and construction of a sea chest, or water filled cavity, inside the bow to accommodate the two sonar arrays. An exceptionally strong acoustic window a little over 1m2 has been made from a kevlar and carbon fibre composite and fitted into the bow so that the transmissions from the sonar can leave and return to the ship unhindered. Despite presenting a flat surface at the ship’s bow, the size of the vessel is such that it has had no effect upon its hydrodynamics or fuel consumption.
The Sea Echo forward looking sonar
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Hyperbaric Fire Extinguishers
Sonardyne International has won a contract worth in excess of €1.5 million with an EU research consortium for the supply of multiple Sentinel Intruder Detection Sonars (IDS).
The Sentinels will be integrated into a new maritime command and control network that will combine satellite, sonar, CCTV and other sensor data to protect shipping, ports and harbours and critical infrastructure. This will help guard against a wide range of waterborne threats including those from unidentified ships where the port of call is in question.
Sentinel IDS systems are operational worldwide protecting both commercial and military assets, critical energy and civilian infrastructure, VIPs and maritime borders.
The system uses advanced sonar technology to provide a 360 degree, below water protection zone that can discriminate between genuine targets such as divers and swimmers and non-threats such as large fish or pleasure craft. Sentinel has been designed specifically for ease of use by security
Intruder Detectionpersonnel and to meet the practical requirements of every day use.
The Sentinels for the new European contracts will be deployed to protect strategic shipping assets and in several European ports over the next six months to automatically detect, track and classify underwater threats at long ranges. The equipment being supplied will include Sonardyne’s latest sustained immersion sonar head which has been introduced for permanent, maintenance free installation as well as portable configuration Sentinels for rapid deployment from vessels visiting foreign ports.
Commenting on the contract, Rob Balloch, strategic development director for Sonardyne said, “We have worked very closely with our EU partners to meet their requirements for a diver detection sonar that will offer high performance in some very challenging operational scenarios.” He added, “The award of this contract demonstrates the strong confidence in both the capabilities of Sentinel and Sonardyne’s ability to provide innovative technology coupled with class-leading project and technical support.”
Sentinel Intruder Detection System
BlueView Technologies has an-nounced that its P900 Series sonar now offers 3 field-of-view options.
In addition to the standard 45deg horizontal field-of-view, the P900Series boasts 90deg and 130deg fields-of-view coupled with improved imagery that increase efficiency, and save you time and money. At 900 kHz, the P900 Series is the ideal sonar for underwater mid-range detection and close-range identification operations. They are specifically designed to in-crease search rates and effectiveness in zero visibility conditions whether from moving or stationary platforms.
While the imaging capabilities and expanded field of view options alone make the P900 Series an industry leader, it is the small size that puts it in a class of its own. The high performance of BlueView’s revolution-ary technology in such a compact, low power system and has resulted in many new applications where multi-beam sonar of the past has been too large or power hungry to be consid-ered. Over 300 BlueView commercial systems have been successfully deployed on micro and work-class ROVs, UUVs, tripods, diver hand-held units, boat mount systems and fixed surveillance platforms to fast become the new standard in multibeam imag-ing sonar.
In addition, BlueView has implement-ed the “Go Wide” upgrade program providing current P900-45 and P450-45 owners the opportunity to quickly and easily upgrade to the new wider field-of –view options.
Go Wider
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Aberdeen-based Dynamic Positioning Services has awarded Reson a contract for a SeaBat 7125-ROV dual frequency 200/400kHz, 6km depth rated. This sonar has been acquired for the rental market.
Dynamic Positioning Services is involved in the sales, rental, calibration and repair of marine electronic equipment for survey, construction, ROV, geophysical and environmental sensors. They carry an impressive in-ventory and are able to offer a complete service, tailored to its customers’ specific project requirements.
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The SeaBat 7125-ROV is a valuable sonar system to the offshore industry and is a market leader in its field. The sonar system operates with a dual frequency of 200kHz or 400kHz with an effective swath angle of 128deg and a very high depth resolution of 6mm due to its beam forming capabilities and individual beam angle of 0.5deg x1.0deg.
The SeaBat 7125 features equi-angle and equi-distance amongst other efficiency enhancing features and the system can be mounted on a ROV or installed on any vessel. The Dual frequency provides seamless coverage from 0.5 to 500m depth and is thus ideal for a variety of offshore and hydrographic applications in the North Sea.
Ross Macleod, the Technical Director in Dynamic Positioning Services Ltd. stated: “The SeaBat 7125-ROV adds another multibeam system to our family of SeaBats already available from our rental pool. With this latest addition we believe we can now service the offshore market more efficiently for the ever increasing demand for high resolution multibeam systems.”
l Reson has also delivered a Sea-Bat 7112 system to Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS) of Italy, part of the Finmeccanica group of compa-nies.
The system will be used in conjunction with other WASS and SELEX systems as part of a harbour security System.SeaBat 7112 multibeam sonar system for diver detection consists of a circular array and projector ensonifying acylindrical volume of water up to 1000 meters range.
Designed to detect small targets such as divers with closedcircuit re-breather equipment, the systems will track and alert operators of their presence on a geo-referenced map of the area.
SeaBat 7125-ROV dual frequency 200/400kHz
SeaBat 7112
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Sonardyne International Ltd has announced the completion of a programme of trials that has resulted in several new specifica-tion changes to its market-leading Sentinel Intruder Detection Sonar (IDS) system.
Sonar processing and algorithm enhance-ments have extended the system’s ability to detect, track and classify potential under-water threats up to a class-leading 900 metre range in both shallow water and in complex environmental conditions. Achiev-ing the balance between longer ranges and the higher risk of false alarms has been a key objective for the development team and one which trials data verifies has been achieved.
During the same period, Sonardyne’s new underwater loudhailer ‘Scylla’ has com-pleted final testing and will be delivered to its first customer, an undisclosed European navy, in October 2009. Scylla is claimed to be the world’s first fully integrated non-le-thal acoustic countermeasure to be offered with an IDS and operated autonomously within the system user interface. When a diver reaches a pre-set distance from a protected asset, for example a yacht or port entrance, Scylla automatically transmits a pre-recorded audio message through the water to deter the would-be intruder. Should the warning be ignored, further staged-messages can be played. Live messages can also be broadcast allowing security personnel to respond to any situation un-folding before them.
Due to its small size, light weight and ease of set up, Sentinel has proved itself in service as the ideal portable tool for expeditionary use. Sentinel’s operational flexibility has now been further extended with the availability of a new aluminium-bronze housing designed for permanent deployment and also a complete range of modular deployment systems for jetty and shore installations.
The corrosion resistance properties of aluminium-bronze are well known to Sonardyne as the company’s range of vessel-based acoustic positioning trans-ceivers are made of the same material and withstand years of continuous deployment in all waters. Offered as a no-cost option to prospective customers, the first Sentinel sonar with the new housing was shipped to an end-user in September 2009.
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LS Cable has completed the first-in-Korea submarine cable factory in Donghae City, Gangwon Province. It will fabricated a new 250kV sub-marine cable line connecting Jeju Island and Jindo Island, a distance of about 105km.
LS Cable received the KRW 330 billion order for the direct current connection project from KEPCO in February 2009. Installation will begin in May 2010 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011. With this project, LS Cable is plan-ning to establish internal engineer-ing and construction methodolo-gies with which it intends to enter overseas markets including Europe and South-East Asia.
Due to strong technological bar-riers, the high-voltage submarine cable market has been dominated by a few European companies, so Korea previously had to import the high-tech cables. LS Cable is now planning to develop new products by 2013 including a 500kV subma-rine cable as well as an umbilical cable that can transfer even gas and water.
Cable ContractJDR Cable Systems, a global provider of subsea power cables, offshore um-bilical systems and specialised marine cables has been awarded the contract for the supply of subsea power array cables for the first phase of London Ar-ray Offshore Wind Farm by the project consortium of DONG Energy, E.ON and Masdar.
The first phase of the development, consisting of 175 wind turbines and 2 offshore substations will be installed in water depths of up to 23m some 20km (12 miles) from the Kent and Essex coasts in the outer Thames Estuary. The wind farm will be connected by subsea export cables to an onshore substation at Cleve Hill, on the North Kent coast. From the substation, the electricity will be fed into the existing 400kV transmission network.
The scope awarded to JDR includes the engineering, design and manu-facture of over 200km of 33kV array cables complete with proprietary hang-off and termination systems providing the essential link between individual wind turbine generators, wind turbine generator arrays and the offshore sub-stations. The cables will be produced in 2010 and 2011.
“The London Array project team were very clear in their determination to procure array cables that would provide the highest long-term reliability avail-able in the market. JDR’s dedication to the highest levels of quality manage-ment and continuous improvement, developed over many years of provid-ing subsea power cables and umbili-cal systems for deepwater oil & gas projects, is fully aligned with the needs of offshore wind farm operators. We shall also be providing JDR’s propri-etary array cable termination systems,
which have been specifically designed to minimise offshore installation costs. We are very pleased that JDR was selected as the array cable supplier and we look forward to embarking on this world class project,” stated Patrick Phelan, managing director of JDR Cable Systems Ltd.
When complete the first phase of London Array will be among the world’s largest offshore wind farms, delivering up to 630MW. This is enough power for approximately 470,000 homes and will make a substantial contribution to the UK Government’s target of provid-ing 15% of all electricity supply from renewable sources by 2015.
“JDR has made significant investments over the last three years to address the growing and vital renewable energy initiatives taking hold in the UK and other parts of the world. Our plant in Hartlepool was carefully chosen to be located in the heart of the UK offshore community to best serve their ambi-tious projects yet optimally service all of Northern Europe and other geogra-phies around the world”, commented Pat Herbert, group CEO, JDR Cable Systems (Holdings) Ltd.Richard Rigg, the London Array Project Director stated that “London Array Limited and its Shareholders are very pleased that JDR Cable Systems have been successful in acquiring this scope of work and that the project is support-ing the new UK facilities developed by JDR at Hartlepool to serve the offshore wind industry.”
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The College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences (COAS) of Oregon State University has placed an order for an ODIM MVP30-350 moving vessel profiling system.
COAS is a leader in the study of the Earth as an integrated system, providing scientific understanding to address complex environmental challenges through field experiments, theoretical investigations and numerical modeling and simulations.
The MVP30-350 will be used to assist COAS to gather oceanographic information to support their research.The ODIM MVPTM30-350 is a self-contained, electrical “smart” winch which collects oceanographic data using various third party sensors while the vessel is underway at speeds up to 12 knots. The MVP30-350 for COAS will be outfitted with AML microCTD and Seapoint Fluorometer sensors.
The MVP30-350 will initially be installed on OSU’s small vessel, R/V Elakha, but is eventually destined for the UNOLS ship R/V Wecoma for further oceanographic research.
Vessel ProfilingIn May 2008 AADI (Aanderaa Data Instruments) entered an agreement with the Norwegian Clean Sea Association for Operating Companies (NOFO), to develop a small drifting buoy that has similar drift characteristics as an oil slick on the sea surface. Information from the drifting buoys are displayed on the electronic chart system onboard any vessel that has up-to-date ECDIS software according to IMO standards.
During 2009 the 30cm diameter buoy, with was tested in a number of different oil spill exercises as well as in man overboard exercises and other types of exercise.
According to the design specifications the vessels should be able to pick up the signals from the buoy at a distance of at least 3 nautical miles, the tests have shown that good signals were picked up at a distance of 7 nautical miles with wave heights of 10m and 12 nautical miles on a calm sea.
Drop tests confirmed that the buoy will withstand a drop from the specified altitude of 50m above sea level, which makes it possible to drop from a fixed installation or from a helicopter.
During an oil spill exercise at the Frigg Field in the North Sea in early June 2009 the drifting buoys were used to track remnant oil slicks that were escaping from the main spill.
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OceanologyChelsea Technologies Group (CTG) has successfully concluded its series of FASTtracka II assessments which were conducted at sites operated by Veolia Water, United Utilities and Scottish Water during 2009.
The FASTtracka II Fast Repetition Rate Fluorimeter was fitted to the water intake of a number of water treatment works, and used to assess the ‘health’ of the algae present prior to processing, and detect possible contamination events.
The FASTtracka II monitors the efficiency of photosynthesis of water borne algae by chlorophyll-a fluorescence, specifically interrogating the Photosystem II process. As these measurements are taken in extremely short timescales (μs), this technique lends itself well to analysing water in flow systems. Previous laboratory tests have shown the FASTtracka
Vessel ProfilingII capable of detecting a significant number of toxins of key concern.
Results were presented by CTG’s Dr Kevin Oxborough at Veolia Water (Hatfield) to a special interest group from water supply companies.
The presentation covered the development of a new flow through head that successfully minimises silt build-up in the flow head of the sensor. Features highlighted during the presentation included the systems performance being independent of algae concentration and its ability to
operate at relatively high turbidity levels. A review was also provided of the red, amber, green (RAG) system developed as part of the graphical user interface (GUI) which robustly reports contamination events, minimising the possibility of false positives.
The FASTtracka II’s ability to also provide key information on general algae state, and provide information on potential algae bloom events was also a topic of great interest discussed during this presentation.
Data was presented from systems fitted at sites operated by Veolia Water, United Utilities, Scottish Water as well as a system that has been in operation in the U.S.A. From this data, a recent contamination event at one of the assessment sites was highlighted, the FASTtracka II providing an alarm immediately at the start of a relatively short event over a 12 minute period. It was later established that Triclosan of 22.6 μg/l had triggered this alarm.
FASTtracka II Fast Repetition Rate Fluorimeter
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After using time/date Fiobuoys for almost ten years, the Royal Australian Navy’s Australian HydrographicService (AHS) has successfully trailed Fiomarine’s Acoustic Command model Fiobuoys. After supplying the AHS with six acoustic models, the company now hopes the service will upgrade its entire Fiobuoy fleet.
The Fiobuoys are an all-in-one underwater recovery system that incorporate a release, marker, floatation, retrieval line and line storage. Fiomarine began supplying the system to the AHS in 2000. The original Fiobuoy TD100 models worked by being released at a preprogrammed time and date.
They are predominately used by the AHS for the recovery of bathymetric and oceanographic instruments such as tide gauges and current metres. They are used all around the Australian coastline, with the majority being utilised in Northern waters. Deployment generally lasts
Acoustic Fiobuoyapproximately thirty to forty days.
Due to government protocol, however, the AHS is required to use at least two methods of recovery for its underwater monitoring instruments. The Fiobuoys are , therefore, commonly used in conjunction with another acoustic release system.
Recently, however, the AHS expressed an interest in trailing the newer Fiobuoy AC100 acoustic command model. Two units were taken to Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia. They were tested on seven occasions and worked perfectly each time.
This prompted the AHS to order six new AC100 Fiobuoys for its operations based out of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. The Hydrographic Support Cell based in Cairns are currently in the process of testing the units.
Fiomarine hopes the Acoustic Command Fiobuoys will soon become
the AHS’ primary means of recovery for their underwater instruments.
Valeport has launched the TideMaster, a compact water level recorder.
It is designed for use in a wide range of fixed or portable survey and tide monitoring operations. Suitable for use in fresh or salt water, the TideMaster is highly accurate and can be deployed for up to a year at a time.
Sales Manager, Kevin Edwards, commented, “TideMaster is an extremely versatile and cost effective new product. It replaces the popular Model 740 and whilst it retains the easy to use features of the Model 740, a lot more enhancements have been made with further provision for additions in the future”.
Low power consumption, with both pre-programmed and a user selectable sampling regime, allow for up to a year of autonomous
operation, whilst optional telemetry packages provide capabilities for real time operation.
As well as recording water level, TideMaster can be provided with an optional ultrasonic wind speed and direction sensor to record meteorological data.
TideMaster can be set up and data retrieved via an optional control/display panel that uses OLED technology, Bluetooth and an SD memory card.
Alternatively, it can be plugged into a PC and controlled using Valeport’s Windows based software, TideMaster Express. This allows the user to download and display recorded or real time data from single or multiple gauges. TideMaster is also compatible with a wide range of Hydrographic software and tools on the market.
Valeport’s bespoke injection moulded housing is rated to IP67 and allows a
Tide Gaugetool free change of batteries without exposure to the main electronics. A practical and lockable mounting bracket is provided for wall mounting use.
The Valeport Tidemaster
The Fiobuoy AC100 acoustic command model. Two units were trialed in Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia.
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LinkQuest has been busy producing its industry-leading underwater acoustic modems in the summer of 2009 and has set a company record to ship 290 SoundLink acoustic modems within 30 days.
LinkQuest has shipped a large number of long-range deepwater acoustic modems for seabed seismic monitoring applications. These modems will be used to interface with seismic sensors to monitor offshore oil and gas field reservoirs in large-scale deployments.
The company has also delivered a dozen of UWM4000 modems for communication between surface ship/platform and downhole oilfield
Acoustic Modemstools in offshore oil field projects.
Another dozen of acoustic modems have been shipped with LinkQuest’s FlowQuest Acoustic Current Profilers. These modems will be used to periodically upload current ensemble data from the FlowQuest systems without the need to retrieve the FlowQuest systems or monitor the current, tide and wave measurements in real time.
A large number of UWM2000, UWM2000H and UWM4000 modems have also been shipped for AUV high speed data communication, submersible command and control, acoustic uploading and other diverse applications in this period.
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The latest addition to the Helix Energy Solutions Group global well intervention fleet, Well Enhancer, successfully completed her inaugural well intervention project on Nexen Petroleum UK,’s Buzzard S2 well in the North Sea in October 2009.
The well intervention was carried out following comprehensive system trials,
including personnel familiarisation and training on a test well provided by Nexen.
The Subsea Intervention Lubricator, (SIL), a 73/8 in bore single-trip system – designed and built in house by Helix Well Operations – was successfully deployed via the vessel’s integrated skidding and handling system in
adverse weather conditions. The vessel’s performance exceeded expectations; with a significant wave height of 5m and winds of 45kts, heave at the moonpool rarely exceeded 2m.
“The Well Enhancer’s moonpool design and skidding system, coupled with our ability to disconnect and reconnect the control umbilicals
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subsea, enabled us to work safely in weather conditions that would have sidelined other intervention vessels,” said Steve Nairn, Regional Vice President of Helix Well Ops UK.
“Thanks to these features unique to Well Enhancer, the operation was completed on schedule in spite of difficult weather.”
Over the course of the ten day operation, the Well Enhancer performed production logging, fluid sampling and wireline services including sand detection and flow profiling on the well. The S2 water injection well was entered with a combined log/fluid sampling service and all onboard systems were used successfully.
Construction on the vessel began at the IHC Krimpen shipyard in July 2007, with the Christening ceremony taking place in May 2008.
The Well Enhancer then underwent fitting of its multipurpose tower and specialised well intervention equipment prior to sea trials.
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Posidonia oceanica is species of seagrass endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. It forms large underwater meadows that provide important environmental services to the region and beyond.
Sometimes called the ‘Olive Oil of the Sea’, recent research has established a new scientific method for its detection, classification and volume estimation. Simrad Spain has proposed the use of hydroacoustic technology for this purpose.
So why is Posidonia vital to the marine ecosystem?
“The grass meadow is a ‘climax community’ representing the highest level of development and complexity that a marine ecosystem can reach, said a spokesman for Simrad.
“Posidonia in coastal ecosystems plays a major role for several reasons. Thanks to its leaf development, the environment frees up to 20 liters of oxygen per day and per m2 of meadow. It produces and exports biomass both to surrounding ecosystems and to greater depths and provides shelter and breeding grounds for many fish, cephalopods, bivalves, gastropods, echinoderms and tunicates.
“It consolidates the seafloor to help offset costs and excessive sediment transport due to coastal currents. It also acts as a barrier, attenuating the force of currents and waves and thus preventing coastal erosion. Finally, it dampens the waves through the layer of dead leaves deposited on the beaches, which protects against erosion, especially during winter storms.” The disappearance of grasslands has negative effects, not only on the micro-ecosystem itself but also on linked ecosystems.
Posidonia Oceania“Just think that the loss of a single metre of grassland can lead to the disappearance of several meters of beach due to erosion,” said a spokesman. “Furthermore, regression of grasslands involves a loss of biodiversity and deterioration of water quality.”
The research on Oceanic Posidonia has seen a major boom in recent years.
“The importance of the flora in the marine ecosystem balance has become obvious and is beyond question,” said a spokesman. “Among the underwater flora of our environment the Posidonia oceanica is of special importance. It is a species that has a powerful attraction to be endemic to the Mediterranean and the key to ensuring biodiversity of the seabed.
“It is subject to many threats, given the increase in human activities such as chemical spills, discharge of brine from desalination plants, construction of port infrastructure and indiscriminate trawling. In addition, other non-human factors such as the encroachment of invasive species to the Posidonia also pose a threat to their survival.
“We must consider the slow processes of growth and recovery of a damaged area. It is estimated that the Posidonia extends through the meadows at the rate of one centimetre per year, so if you try to retrieve a square foot, it would take a century to achieve your goal.”
“Until recently, scientists have used methodologies based on diving and capturing video images in their study areas. Current technology has improved the qualitative and quantitative research capabilities, and the application of different hydro acoustic detection systems has provided a variety of information.
Documents published by the European
Acoustics Association, highlighted the excellent results obtained in detecting and classifying seabed vegetation by combined application of acoustic methods.
They combined a single beam echosounder, which enables classification of the seafloor and its vegetation, a multi-beam sonar, which generates micro-relief, and a side scan sonar, imaging the seafloor reflectivity and thus enabling the spatial classification of seafloor types and vegetation. The data from these systems are merged and processed, resulting in 3D images of the same quality and precision as found in the field of biomedicine.
Quantitatively speaking, this technology can work simultaneously with oceanographic parameters. All this information is linked to the presence and quantity of Posidonia. As for the quantitative method, prospecting new technologies allow a wide area of study while minimising data collection time. Thanks to the
Research
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digital storage of all data acquired during the survey, one can make historical databases that allow monitoring of the expansion or reduction in the length of the field of underwater flora.
It is possible to study how quality varies over time by comparing contemporary data with the previous sampling. Many scientists emphasise the new possibilities opened by the combined application of different acoustic systems. Each of the systems available, depending on their features, offers various types of information about the flora.
In an experiment conducted in France by the company in collaboration with TS SEMANTIC GESMA, for defence purposes, the aim was to detect mines hidden in the vegetation. Several systems were combined to cross-correlate the signals from different types of bottoms (sand with and without plants, rocks) with samples obtained at different depths
and with different settings of the systems (transmit power and pulse length between them). Acoustic systems combined in this test were:
l A side scan sonar l The GeoAcoustics shallow water wide swath bathymetry system GeoSwath Plus, which simultaneously acquires bathymetry with a swath width of 12 times the water depth and geo-referenced side scan data l The scientific high-precision echosounder Simrad EK60
The side scan sonar shows the reflectivity of the seafloor and discriminates areas where there are plants or sand. The GeoSwath Plus system, however, provides bathymetry and geo-referenced side scan data. Both datasets can be merged to generate a three dimensional image representing the bathymetry and backscatter of the seafloor.
This unique feature allows the
correlation of the three-dimensional data with the location and extent of Posidonia meadow areas. The scientific probe records the acoustic pulses to generate a profile of the seafloor. These data are recorded simultaneously with the D-GPS position. Since the sandy areas and vegetation meadows provide different signatures, by applying the algorithm analysis, it discriminates between different types of seafloor.
In this first phase, it detects the presence of Posidonia. In that case the system estimates its height and abundance. The presence of Posidonia is limited to the depth to which sunlight reaches, the photic zone, so most of these studies are conducted in shallow water.
This, combined with the high resolution of the acoustic systems, generates maps that resemble virtual reality. This methodological concept corroborates that the innovations technology offers give high performance and ensure scientists new and improved ways to study. Moreover, these technologies enable the direct study of large areas with very high resolution, whereas the traditional approach of visual sampling was limited to very small zone and therefore the use of statistical extrapolation.
This methodology provides several advantages: the mappings are very precise and there is no need to repeat the survey again and again to compare results. Another advantage is that it significantly reduces the costs of underwater inspections: divers, cameras, videos, etc.
A direct scientific application is the fact that the concentration of plants has civil and military uses: the plants can hide mines placed on the seafloor and also alter the performance of the sensors used for detection (especially the laminaria species).
The main scientific studies involve hydroacoustic systems. There are three basic technolgies – wide swath bathymetry, side scan sonar and single beam echosounder working simultaneously. The researchers used a GeoAcoustics GeoSwath Plus which made the use of a separate side scan sonar obsolete as it acquires geo-referenced side scan data.
New Methodologies
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English Channel BathymetrySeaZone took a major step forward in December 2009 towards its aim to create a high resolution and accurate bathymetry model of the UK Conti-nental Shelf by completing the first phase of its Bathymetry Improvement Programme for the northern English Channel between South Foreland and Land’s End. The new bathymetry model will become a core reference dataset in SeaZone’s digital marine mapping product, HydroSpatial.
With increasing pressure on the marine environment and the re-quirement to maximise value from existing public sector information
holdings, the new model in particu-lar and HydroSpatial generally are already proving to be important tools to support offshore renewable energy development, marine planning and policy making.
The bathymetry model, believed to be the first of its kind, is created from ‘best available’ digital survey bathym-etry data from a variety of different sources. It is being used by British Geology Survey to improve our under-standing of sea bed geology and by Cefas (and others) as input to habitat mapping.
SeaZone has spent the past three years gathering and digitising data,
going as far as identifying and gain-ing permission to use and capture survey sheets (also known as fair sheets) stored in archive at the UK Hydrographic Office.
In total, SeaZone has invested in the capture of over 400 surveys to create this unique database of the UK’s underwater terrain. The data repre-sents the most detailed water depth data available, either from modern multibeam surveys or single beam surveys dating back to 1970. All of the data used in the work has been collected to the IHO’s International Survey Standard, S-44, and quality controlled at the UK Hydrographic
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English Channel BathymetryOffice or another competent authority. By using survey data as input, the new model is more accurate than depth data displayed on traditional navigational charts, which is widely known to be coarser in resolution and conservative in depth.
To date, SeaZone has collated over 2.2 billion sound-ings from 5,000 surveys. Accurate area extents and metadata are created for each survey and the meta-data published to the MEDIN portal, as well as being used internally by SeaZone and its customers. The data and metadata is used as input to SeaZone’s Digital Survey Bathymetry (DSB) data product and as input to the bathymetry model.
From this unique Oracle database, significant resource is invested to create a single seamless surface of sea bed elevation representing the most up to date and dense data available. The work, typically known
as ‘survey de-confliction’, is undertaken using specially designed GIS software developed at SeaZone to read survey points directly from Oracle.
The de-confliction work separates the many overlapping surveys against each other based on a number of rules or attributes, most importantly survey age, survey type and sounding density. The result is a set of modified survey extents which are clipped against one another to keep the best available data in full, creating a seamless surface of depth soundings. T
he clipped survey extents are used to label each sounding in the Oracle database, with an active or inactive identi-fier, so that only the active soundings from each survey are used as input into the bathymetric model. The survey extents also form a meta layer, similar to the ‘source data diagram’ on an Admiralty Chart, which is used to identify the age and provenance of the data used in the model.
Using SeaZone’s French partner, Geomod, BathySIS soft-ware, the de-conflicted sounding data are used to create a triangulated irregular network (TIN) model (using Delau-nay triangulation methods), which in turn is used to create a gridded model of varying resolutions. . At a resolution of 1 arc second (or approximately 30m), physical features such as trenches, ridges, sand banks and sand waves are more easily distinguishable, even in areas where only single beam echo sounder data is used as input.
By maximising the value of existing data in this way, investment in new surveys, such as those of the MCA’s Civil Hydrography Programme, can be better targeted on priority or unsurveyed areas. As new data becomes avail-able, this can be easily ingested into SeaZone’s database to update the model.
Left: Deconflicted survey extents overlaid on the bathymetric model of the Solent and waters surrounding the Isle of Wight, (30m grid resolution)
Comparison of the bathymetric model (1arc second grid resolu-tion) created from survey data from nautical charts (above left) and from digital survey data (above right)
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Polar Research VesselSTX Finland Oy and the South African Department of Environmental Affairs have signed a contract for construction of a polar supply and research vessel. The ship with a value of approximately €116 million will bring some 600 man-years of work. The ship will be built in the Rauma shipyard and it will be delivered in spring 2012.
The ship will function as a multi-purpose vessel, serving, among other things, as a supply vessel, research vessel, icebreaker, expedition vessel, as well as a passenger ship. The ice-strengthened vessel will be approximately 134m long and it will have accommodation for a crew of 45 and some 100 researchers or passengers.
The Polar Supply and Research Vessel will be used to carry scientists and research equipment for the South African National Antarctic Programme in the sea area between South Africa, the Antarctic islands and the Antarctica. The ship can spend several months out at sea and it also acts as a mobile laboratory.
Scientists can also conduct various marine research onboard the ship. The ship is classified for carrying passengers. Furthermore, the vessel keeps continuous record of weather data for meteorological institutions around the world. The vessel has a shelter and landing area for two Puma class helicopters and it will feature laboratories, a gym, a library, and a small hospital.
Mr. Timo Suistio, Director of the Rauma shipyard, says that the trade agreement is of great importance both for STX Finland’s Rauma shipyard and the trade relations between Finland and South Africa in general.
“This is one of the biggest individual civil trade agreements the Finnish industry has made with South Africa. Furthermore, the agreement will naturally have a positive effect on the employment at the Rauma shipyard. The design work on the new research vessel will commence immediately and the ship will enter production in September 2010. The ship will be delivered to the Owner, the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, in spring 2012.”
Mr. Henry Valentine, Director: Antarctica and Islands, said that allocating this level of funding for the new vessel despite the current pressure on the national fiscus reflects the SA Government’s commitment to the South African National Antarctic Programme.
“The new ship, apart from its supply function, will be a catalyst to rebuild the deep-sea oceanography capacity in South Africa. This would also attract participation of international scientists and researchers, thus significantly contributing to research projects addressing new challenges and changing interests, for instance, climate change research.”
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Wärtsilä is to design and supervise the construction of a modern oceanographic research vessel for the marine wing of the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
In addition to design and supervising the construction process, Wärtsilä will be involved in selecting the onboard scientific instruments, and in arranging training for GSI scientists to ensure that the vessel’s capabilities are fully utilized. Wärtsilä know-how and the company’s global presence guarantee that the new vessel’s scientific team will have the best possible support.
“The new vessel is the third of its kind that Wärtsilä is designing for India,” says Mr Arne Stenersen, Managing Director, Wärtsilä Ship Design in Norway. “The first one, Sagar Nidhi, is already in service and being operated by the National Institute of Ocean Technology. She is expected to support research work in the Indian Ocean and the Antarctic. Sindhu Sadhana, the second vessel, is under construction.”
Science involves different needs
Wärtsilä has 120 days to create a totally new design. “Our designers will take full account of the scientists’ needs,” says Mr Egil Sandvik, Sales Manager, Wärtsilä Ship Design. “Good facilities for handling equipment, laboratories and
Polar Supply and Research VesselMain DimensionsLength overall, (about) 134.00 mLength between perpendiculars 121.25 mBreadth, moulded 21.70 mDepth to Upper Deck, moulded 13.55 mDepth to Main Deck, moulded 10.55 mDesign draft 7.65 mDeadweight at design draught, (about) 5020 t
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SeismicPolarcus Nadia LaunchedPolarcus Limited took delivery of the Polarcus Nadia, a modern 12 streamer 3D seismic vessel built to the Ulstein SX124 design. The vessel was built at Drydocks World – Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Polarcus Nadia is a purpose-built seismic vessel incorporating the innovative Ulstein X-BOW and designed to meet the exacting specifications for offshore seismic operations worldwide. The 88.8m double-hulled vessel incorporates some of the most recent developments in maritime systems and is fitted out with the most advanced seismic technology commercially available, including the latest generation Sentinel solid streamers.
Polarcus Nadia is one of the safest and most environmentally sound seismic vessels in the market with diesel-electric propulsion, high specification catalytic convertors, DP2 dynamic positioning, and advanced bilge water cleaning, enabling the vessel to conform to existing and envisaged IMO and Class rules and to comply with the Det Norske Veritas (DNV) stringent CLEAN-DESIGN and COMF-V(3) class notations. Polarcus Nadia will transit to West Africa to commence a charter for TGS-NOPEC.
The sister vessel Polarcus Asima, was also recently launched to sea at the Drydocks World shipyard in the United Arab Emirates. This is the first of the SX134 designs with the high class notation, ICE-1A, enabling her to operate safely and effectively in the Arctic.
The 92m vessel is purpose built for the high-end 3D marine seismic market and capable of towing up to 12 by 8000m streamers. Like the Polarcus Nadia and Polarcus Naila, the Polarcus Asima incorporates many new and innovative design features designed to maximise operational performance, improve safety and comfort, and minimize emissions to air and water. Polarcus Asima is also fitted with the latest chemical-free ballast water treatment system to eliminate the risk of transporting and introducing invasive marine species into new environments. Outfitting of the vessel will continue at Drydocks World - Dubai with final delivery scheduled for mid- 2010.
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The Polarcus Nadia. Photo: Polarcus Limited
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WesternGeco has begun acquisition of the E-Octopus VII survey. Located in the Walker Ridge and Keathley Canyon areas of the US central Gulf of Mexico, the multiclient survey covers approximately 300 outer continental shelf (OCS) blocks.
E-Octopus VII targets the high profile Lower Tertiary trend in a challenging subsalt imaging area of the Walker Ridge. The survey integrates previously acquired E-Octopus IV and E-Octopus VI phases to further expand the wide-azimuth coverage of the WesternGeco data library.
Sei
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SeismicWide-Azimuth GoM Q-Marine Survey
The latest seismic data processing techniques will be applied to the survey, including 3D generalized surface multiple prediction (GSMP) and anisotropic Reverse Time Migration (RTM). Both techniques are enhanced by the Q-Marine* point-receiver marine seismic acquisition system.
The E-Octopus multiclient wide-azimuth program in the Gulf of Mexico commenced in July of 2006. With the addition of E-Octopus VII, WesternGeco will have acquired over 3100 OCS blocks of high-quality Q-Marine wide-azimuth data in the Gulf of Mexico.
Seismic acquisition has now been initiated on the Justice Wide Azimuth (WAZ) 3D project in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Justice project is a northeast expansion of the existing and contiguous Freedom and Liberty WAZ projects. The survey adds more than 7800 km2 of WAZ coverage to the TGS portfolio and covers portions of the hydrocarbon rich areas of Mississippi Canyon, Viosca Knoll, and De Soto Canyon.
Acquisition will continue throughout the first half of 2010 and upon completion of Justice, TGS will have more than 27 000 km2 of WAZ 3D in its data library.
These wide azimuth projects provide the industry with modern seismic imaging covering the most productive oil producing area of the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
TGS Begins the Justice Wide Azimuth Project
Map of the Justice WAZ project
CGGVeritas has been awarded a contract by Pemex to acquire and process 75 000 km2 of 3D seismic data offshore Gulf of Mexico.
The program is expected to extend through 2013. Total contract value is approximately $465 million.
The day rate contract includes 3D and wide-azimuth offshore acquisition, onboard and onshore imaging as well as gravity and magnetic acquisition and processing. Marine acquisition work will be performed by the Alizé, a high-end CGGVeritas vessel equipped with 12 Sercel Sentinel streamers.
Pemex Survey
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ARGAS, the Saudi Arabian joint venture owned 49% by CGGVeritas and 51% by TAQA, has been awarded two major Ocean Bottom Cable (OBC) 3D data acquisition contracts by Saudi Aramco. The two contracts have a combined value of around $375 million.
The first project is scheduled to start in June 2010 and operate for a period of 18 months while the second is scheduled to run from October 2010 for a period of 24 months; each contract respectively has an 18– and 24–month optional extension period.
The projects will cover an initial 6 0002 km over the next three years and require operational expertise working in complex environments, such as producing oil fields and busy shipping lanes within the Saudi waters of the Gulf with depths ranging from 20 to 60m.
ARGAS will mobilise two fully independent OBC crews equipped with the latest Sercel SeaRay 4C equipment and recording systems. These fully offshore operations will be managed through a fleet of vessels equipped with CGGVeritas deployment and positioning systems geared to operate in such environments.
Pemex SurveyAccording to Robert Brunck, Chairman and CEO, of GGVeritas,
“We are very pleased to have been chosen for this important contract, based on our unique portfolio of technologies and our deep in-country operational experience across all activities.
This multi-year project clearly underlines the confidence Pemex has in both our technology and our expertise.
The award further extends our leadership position in the high-end segment of the market.”
Ocean Bottom Cable
Since the first Ramform seismic ves-sel sailed out of the yard in May 1995 its delta shaped design has become a trademark for PGS.
Thanks to the 40m broad beam and ultra-stable hull construction PGS was able to produce first more and more efficient seismic with ultra wide streamer tows, then better and better resolution data with the introduction high density (HD3D) seismic and ever higher streamer counts.
Last year, the Ramform Sterling became the latest ship to join the fleet. Like the Sovereign she is 16 meters longer than the previous class of Ramforms with significantly higher
Ramform Sovereign
acquisition and transit speed, 25% longer endurance, and 60% higher production capacity compared to the rest of the Ramform fleet.
The S-class are easily the most pow-erful seismic ships in the world, with a power plant supplying 30,000 horse-power. The vessels feature many new innovations, including the world’s first roll compensated helideck, steerable sources, dual workboat capacity and unique gear handling systems.
The range of technologies employed promises to make this the new bench-mark for 3D, 4D and wide azimuth acquisition – in terms of productivity, efficiency, safety and data quality
PGS has completed processing of a MultiClient 2D GeoStreamer survey that covers the UK Mid North Sea High and extends into north-west offshore Netherlands.
The data offers a clearer image of the deep Paleozoic geology that unlocks the regional understanding, structural history and the frontier hy-drocarbon potential of this province. The survey ties 30 key wells in the region, including the recent Exxon/Shell “Corbenic” prospect, and gives insight into the Breagh Gas Field play fairway, for those evaluating UK 26th Round open acreage.
Geoscientists are now undertaking an interpretation that will focus on the Carboniferous source and maturity, as well as proven and possible hydrocar-bon plays in the region.
PGS carried out a wide azimuth survey using the Viking and Valiant, and two additional source vessels. This acquired more than 10 0002 km of wide azimuth data. Their focus is on the East Breaks area of the Western Gulf of Mexico, an area of growing significance to GoM Ex-ploration teams. The survey has been designed to overcome the challenges associated with sub-salt imaging.
Mid North Sea Palaeozoic Survey
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VehiclesU N D E R W A T E R
The Aberdeen-based ROV manufacturer Sub-Atlantic Ltd has completed the assembly and integration of a power and control system to an underwater trenching vehicle for CT Offshore of Denmark.
The £500,000 project, which took just six weeks to complete, was a departure from the normal type of system built in the Aberdeen factory.
The tracked vehicle is believed to be one of the most compact systems ever built. Its first deployment will be aboard the DP vessel MV Nico working on a wind farm in the UK sector of the North Sea.
The bespoke system was designed by CT Offshore and GEO Marine with specialist input on propulsion and advanced control systems from Sub-Atlantic Ltd, specifically for operating
in the hostile near-shore environment of fast moving, turbid waters.
The vehicle uses a Sub-Atlantic surface transformer running Comanche ROV power train comprising four horizontal and three vertical SPE 250 brushless thrusters. The Sub-Atlantic supplied surface control unit operates subCAN control software for advanced operations and diagnostics down to PCB component level and employs a specialist survey pod for control and diagnosis of the survey sensor suite. Sub-Atlantic built hydraulic power units, motor and compensators were also integrated into the vehicle.
CT Offshore CEO Paw Cortes said: “We chose Sub-Atlantic Ltd as our preferred partner in this project because of their vast experience in finding creative solutions to sustained operations in unusual and extreme environments. The willingness and
ability of Sub-Atlantic engineers to think ‘outside of the box’ made it an easy decision for this joint venture.”
Sub-Atlantic Ltd general manager John Ferguson said: “This has been yet another unusual and challenging engineering project for which we have a growing reputation. The speed and the success of project completion was due to the dedication, skills and innovative thinking of both Sub-Atlantic engineers and the CT Offshore Project team and we look forward to future partnership opportunities.”
CT Offshore are based in Odense, Denmark, and provide consultancy, installation, seabed survey and a variety of ROV/trenching/shipping services to the offshore wind farm Industry.
Trenching Control System
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Brazilian CougarSpecialist contractor, DOF Subsea, has taken delivery of an advanced design of deep-swimming ROV from Saab Seaeye, destined for Brazil.
The new 3000m-rated Cougar XTi ROV features technological developments that open up a greater range of deep water applications.
It will be permanently commissioned aboard a specially built DOF Subsea vessel, along with two hydraulic work-class vehicles.
The vessel has been constructed in Norway and will operate offshore in Brazil for Light Well Intervention.
The onboard launch and recovery system (LARS) has been built by ODIM, and includes active heave compensation. Shrinking the size of LARS has been made possible by reducing the diameter of the umbilical from a typical 32mm down to 20mm through new ROV power technology.
A thinner umbilical also offers less drag; and the 800Hz high frequency power system cuts the size of the ROV’s on board transformer by 80% thereby improving the vehicle’s power to weight ratio.
Other key developments include a fault tolerant system that isolates any failed component and allows the ROV to keep working at its designated task. A greater range of deep water applications is more possible with the new Cougar XTi. Pilots get fault diagnostics through a simplified man/machine interface that interprets the fault data for them before clearly displaying the problem and the remedial action to be taken.
Clever system integration makes the ROV more software driven than hardware dependent and therefore easier to reconfigure for different operational roles. It means different task-specific tooling skids can be readily added and changed as needed, along with custom designed options for specific operational needs.
Such tooling can include manipulator packages, anvil and disc cutters, water-jetting equipment, torque tools, survey packages with camera booms, drill support and IRM tooling.
The ROV also has a new autopilot system that gives the pilot more precise positioning of the vehicle by automatically holding depth and heading in much tighter parameters than ever before.
The Cougar XTi is an upgrade of the long proven Cougar concept, with breakthrough technology introduced from Saab Seaeye’s flagship Jaguar electric work-ROV.
Saab Seaeye’s managing director, Dave Grant says, “The Cougar XTi opens up a whole new market for the concept of a combined inspection and light work-ROV. Providing operation to 3000m depth the Cougar XTi can either perform tasks independently or provide support for the work of construction class hydraulic ROV’s. It also brings important cost savings in deck space and can be provided with a compact single skid solution for the LARS.”
The Cougar XTi is a development that will maintain Saab Seaeye’s lead position as the largest manufacturer of electrically operated ROVs. Its parent company is Saab Underwater Systems, a world leader in sensor systems, precision engagement systems, and remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles.
For DOF Subsea, the Cougar will add to the company’s extensive capability in providing construction and engineering, IRM, ROV and survey support services to the world’s major subsea markets.
a combined compass and iner-tial measurement unit which will provide 6 degree of freedom motion measurement for enhanced azimuth stability, auto-pilots and dynamic po-sitioning (DP). This core equipment can be augmented by additional high performance sensors which will feed directly into the control algorithms running in the surface control unit.
Two individually controlled lighting channels are provided as standard, each channel comprising two LED lamp units. Each channel has its own brilliance control on the pilot’s Hand Control Unit. Each LED lamp produces the equivalent light output of a 150W tungsten halogen bulb.
Manipulators. A variety of packages are available, includinganvil or disc cutters, water jetting equipment, torque tools, survey packages including camera, drill support and IRM tooling
Right The Cougar XTi
Console Layout
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Four horizontal SM7 and two vertical SM7 500V brushless DC thrusters provide full three dimensional control, including roll. The brushless DC thrusters have high power density and integrated drive electronics with velocity feedback for precise and rapid thrust control. Each thruster has an on board control system to give precise and predictable thrust with the maximum acceleration and braking and minimal reversal time possible without placing a damaging load on the mechanics.
Buoyancy is derived from syntactic foam blocks finished with a tough polyurethane skin. The buoyancy mod-ules contain apertures for the vertical thrusters
Sonar
Strobe housing
The watertight electronics pods are manufactured from a combination of machined 6082 marine grade aluminium and carbon fibre.
The high torque, oil filled, pan and tilt platform is manufactured from anodised aluminium with the pan and tilt positional information being displayed graphi-cally on the video overlay and/or pilot’s dashboard.
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Over recent years, SMD has been gradually planning its next-generation remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system. This would incorporate all the latest technological advances and operational experiences that the company had gained with its Q-series of ROVs.
The result is the new Atom.
This entry level hydraulic work class ROV is designed to carry out applications that require more power than electric vehicles, yet can operate from a limited deck space, such as drill support work from older rigs or smaller barges. The model supersedes SMD’s Quark and Quasar Compact models while sitting below the medium sized Quasar and flagship Quantum in SMD’s workclass vehicle range.
The Atom measures 2m in length and 1.5m in both width and height. It is rated up to 3000m although there are no major issues in the basic design that would prevent it from going deeper. SMD is currently constructing a unit for a client using much of the same componentry, but designed for use in 6000m water depths.
“We have listened closely to clients” said Mark Collins, SMD Sales Manager, “and learned a considerable amount about their specific and predicted future demands since we brought out the Q-series vehicles three years ago. We quickly recognised that most common requirements from an operator was an ROV with a small footprint yet retaining the power, toughness and rigidity necessary for full size manipulator work.
“We have been able to achieve this favourable size:power ratio in the design by a combination of advanced structural design and component miniaturisation.”
The Atom incorporates a small, light Curvetech hydraulic power unit in either 60 or 100hp variants. This feeds hydraulic energy to both propulsion and tooling circuits.
“This fully hydraulic system we have engineered, negates the complexity of two independent propulsion and tooling technologies that are commonly found on equivalently-sized electric ROVs,” said Mark Collins
“We have also modified the control system,” said Collins, “incorporating high density electronics to ensure components are as small as possible. This approach has all but eliminated the need for the historical large air-filled control pod that is characteristic of many ROVs. The new pod is a quarter of the size of the old design.”
The design employs twin, high-density multiplexers, located in the junction boxes each side of the vehicle. The multiplexers act as network hubs for the processing carried out at the surface, with each subsea component acting as a separately addressable network node. This allows components to assess their operational status and flag any faults that may occur.
The twin units function independently to offer redundancy as well as an
Atomic Power
exceptional number of spare instrument channels.
“This arrangement allows us to switch over in the even of a problem occurring when in the water,” Mark Collins. “If one should fail, we can still carry out a lot of work or at lease recover the vehicle safely.
“Because the multiplexers are located in the junction boxes, they are immersed in oil, not in air. The packaging is much smaller and all the input and output connections to the instruments can go straight into ports in the face plates, rather than from the main pod through harnesses to the junction box. The lack of complexity results in increased reliability.
In a strategic departure from the Quasar Compact, the designers have opted for a welded aluminium frame.
Aluminium frame covered in a quick-release skin of polypropylene
Seven-function manipulator
Lighting. Six 120VAC250W lights with six optional LED lamps
Electric pan/tilt camera
5-function heavy duty Grabber
Two multiplexers (one on each side)
Control
Frame
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Atomic Power
This makes the frame is deceptively light, however, the I-beam gives it rigidity and enough integral strength to hang third party instruments and tools packages on the frame’
“There are four tooling points at the bottom as well as on the back,” said Mark Collins “It is therefore possible to hang half a ton at half a metre off the back of the ROV. The lack of cross-bracing and the use of miniature components keep the areas at the front and sides of the ROV clear for maintenance access”
Surrounding the metal frame are resilient quick-release polypropylene crash frames which protect the extremities from impact with subsea structures or the side of the deployment vessel.
The Atom has two vertical and four horizontal Curvetech thrusters. The horizontal thrusters are mounted directly on the frame which means that it is possible to remove the buoyancy with the thrusters remaining on the system The ATOM can provide nearly 500kgf of horizontal thrust – at least 50% more than an equivalent sized electric ROV. This is particularly useful in high current operations and there is also the option of diverting all the hydraulic power to tooling.
Horizontal vectored Curvetech thrusters. The Atom has four in total giv-ing a bollard pull of up to 480kgfweight in water
Vertical Curvetech thrusters mounted on the frame and lo-cated either side of the ROV
Syntactic foam to reduce weight in water
Hydraulic system. A total of 60hp (45kW) or 100hp (75kW) is avail-able. Up to 36hp (27kW) of tooling power is available as standard
Extensive free space for mounting tooling
Tether Management SystemIn association with the new ROV design, SMD has also developed a compatible ultra compact top hat tether management system (UC TMS). This will afford the Atom an excursion of around 250m from its base. Importantly, the new TMS will employ the same proven technology as that used on Quantum and Quasar. In line with all SMD systems, common components will be used, where possible, to ease spare part holding and retain operator familiarity.
“We have used the design experience gained from building over 45 such systems. Like the predecessors, we have continued with the fleeting drum concept,” said Mark Collins.
When a cable is reeled off a drum, the point of departure moves from one side of the reel, across to the other side, and back again as the next layer is paid out. This lateral movement across the reel and back is called fleeting.
There are, however, considerable benefits in tether management, from the tether leaving the reel at a constant point rather than a laterally moving departure point. In some designs, therefore, this fleeting cable is stabilised by being fed through a device such as a sheave wheel. This can put wear and stress from reverse bending on the umbilical.
The alternative approach, which SMD embraces, is a mechanism in which the entire drum fleets, not the cable. This is carried out by locating the drum on a carriage, itself on rollers.
In the UCTMS design, the top half accommodates the drum fleeting back and forth. This gives the lower half of the TMS, the necessary space for all the other components necessary to control the management of the tether.
Being much lighter than the Quasar Compact has allowed the Atom to use work with either an ultra compact crane launcher or the ultra compact A-frame, both with associated lift winch.
The crane launcher and winch package is suitable for sea state three operation and fits within a 20ft ISO container footprint. The A-Frame launcher is suitable for up to sea state six operation and still offers a compact solution, fitting within 30ft ISO container footprint.
The top-hat TMS
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A HUGIN 1000 portable AUV system was recently demonstrated to the Korean navy. The portable AUV system is fully containerized into one 20ft ISO container for storage, battery management, vehicle maintenance and launch and recovery (LAR), and one 10ft ISO container for mission planning, vehicle checkout, mission execution, and post-mission analysis (PMA). This advanced AUV system covers a wide range of operations like MCM, REA, route survey and high-quality bathymetric mapping surveys in areas of interest.
The main advantage of the HUGIN AUV is its small overall system footprint. This is primarily due to the multi-function 20ft container, providing AUV storage, shipping, maintenance, battery charging, launch and recovery facilities, and furthermore due to compactness of the 10-foot operations container, with only two operators needed for the entire operation.
The system allows fast and easy mobilisation onto vessels
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Hugin Portableof opportunity due to ISO containerisation, well-defined and simple interface points, and the self-sufficient nature of the system. The entire system fits on a standard truck, and can use all standard shipping methods, including overnight airlift to anywhere in the world.
AUV operations are run directly from the 10ft ISO container, with no need to tie into a ship’s systems or internal spaces. In the portable system, a Kongsberg High-Precision Acoustic Positioning (HiPAP) 350 system and a tow-fish transducer for acoustic communication are included, as well as a Kongsberg SeaPath system for accurate ship reference position and attitude.
The 20ft container includes a two-stage LAR “stinger” (hydraulically controlled hinged ramp) which allows AUV operations from vessels with a stern freeboard of up to 5m. Both ISO containers are insulated and equipped with heating systems to enable operations in Arctic environments, as well as air condition system for operations in tropical climate.
The HUGIN 1000 Portable AUV System was recently demonstrated in Korean waters. The operations were carried out by Kongsberg’s AUV Department in close cooperation with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in the Republic of Korea (ROK).
The sea trials took place southwest of the city of Busan and covered both search for mines in shallow water and REA in deeper waters. The HUGIN AUV executed all test dives autonomously without problems in up to sea state 4.
It took one week, from start of transportation in Horten to the HUGIN 1000 first touched the Korean waters, which is quite fantastic, Svein Otto Schjerven, Manager S & M HUGIN AUV`s explains. He continue; “ The first operation of this kind with the HUGIN 1000 system was a great success, and demonstrated fully the capacity of such an AUV system.”
Recent Demonstrations
The AUV in its 20ft containerInset: Installed on a Krean Navy vesse
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