Offshore Holland

Page 1

02

www.heerema.com

Turning concepts into reality!

Offshore industry is re-discovering IJmuiden

2011

At Heerema Fabrication Group we are turning concepts into commercial reality: from conceptual design to final fabrication and delivery.

Heerema Fabrication Group Noordweg 8 3336 LH Zwijndrecht The Netherlands Tel: +31 [0]78 - 625 04 25 E-mail: info@hfg-heerema.com

nr. 02

At our fabrication location in Vlissingen the largest mobile gas platform of its kind was fabricated. Heerema Fabrication Group was awarded the EPCI contract of the 8,800 tons state-of-the-art F3-FA production platform of Centrica Energy destined for the Dutch Continental shelf. The platform has a total height of 133 metres of which the legs are 75 metres long and weigh 1,200 tons each. The topsides have a weight of 4,000 tons and are 50 metres wide, 30 metres long and 30 metres in height. The picture shows the topsides leaving the fabrication hall in Vlissingen.

offshore holland

Successful engineering and fabrication of large and complex structures for the offshore oil and gas industry demands not only fabrication and facility operating expertise, but also a fabrication-driven engineering focus to ensure on-time delivery within budget.

Odourless, top-quality oil recovered from OBM Gearbox exchange successfully completed

SWEEP reduces costs for exploration and production

Barge Master, another Dutch invention

Check our track record at www.heerema.com

A HEEREMA COMPANY

Dutch knowledge is called in when the going gets tough 6th–8th September 2011| Aberdeen | UK


Offshore and EPC Contractors

Solutions for tomorrow’s world

OFFSHORE ACCOMMODATION & SUPPORT

Van Oord Offshore is an Offshore and EPC Contractor that offers high precision subsea rock installation, trenching & backfilling, landfall installation, pipe pulling and SPM & GBS installation works. With an extensive global track record in the offshore construction industry, Van Oord Offshore has proven its expertise to provide clients with a safe and solid solution for their offshore structures.

, x o f k r o W me in any www.vanoord.com SPM installation

Subsea rock installation

Trenching and backfilling

Landfall construction

at ho ! y g r e n e of d kin

GBS installation

Planetenweg 5, 2132 NH Hoofddorp, The Netherlands info@workfox.com www.workfox.com


September | 2011

6 | Drilling rig Swift 10 Offshore Holland is a high-quality magazine with the objective to promote the interests and export opportunities of the Dutch supply and service companies in the upstream oil and gas

The commissioning of the jack-up drilling rig Swift 10 has helped move the Smart Well Engineering Exploration and Production (SWEEP) project initiated by Shell UK and NAM an important step forwards.

industry. Moreover technological developments will be highlighted in order to contribute to a positive representation and positioning of the Netherlands as innovative and ingenious partner country.

Initiators

16 | Re-discovering IJmuiden The offshore industry is re-discovering IJmuiden as a base of operations for its activities in the North Sea. Over the past few months, the port town on the coast of Noord-Holland has enjoyed considerable interest from both oil companies and their suppliers.

22 | Odourless, top-quality oil Supported by

The international drilling industry has waited for this breakthrough for decades. Oil recovered from Oil Based Mud (OBM), of the highest quality and without any unpleasant odours.

30 | Gearbox exchange successfully completed For almost two months, the Seafox 4 operated by Workfox proved a real eye-catcher in the IJmondhaven dock, above all during the period when the accommodation platform was jacked up to maximum height.

Advertising Navingo BV, Westerlaan 1 3016 CK Rotterdam, The Netherlands Contact: Jeroen Tresfon T: +31 10 209 2600. E: jt@navingo.com

Retra PubliciteitsService Contact: Vera Dijks T +31 23 571 8480 E: vera@retra.nl

Editorial Han Heilig, Paul Schaap and Dick Hill T: +31 255 530577 E: han@practica.nl

Production Practica Productions: Peter Ruiter and Corine van Luijken

ŠAll copyrights reserved by Offshore Holland

10 | Reliability is our strength 18 | Pushing boundaries 26 | MPI Offshore ready 34 | Transport innovations in Breda 38 | Fairstar proudly waves Dutch flag 41 | Den Helder to strengthen position 48 | Seatools builds underwater robot 50 | Mastering Barge Movement 54 | Europe’s expert in land rig moves 59 | Offshore Energy 2011 66 | Dutch participants at Offshore Europe 2011 2011

1


Make a Wave Compensation Platform Your Competitive Advantage

BARGE MASTER www.barge-master.com

Available July 2012 Unblock the bottlenecks in the offshore wind supply chain. Industry experts have recognised Barge Master as a solution for the age-old problem of sea-induced motions during offshore installation work. If you want to know more about Barge Master, please visit barge-master.com


Meet our innovative suppliers in Aberdeen I am proud to present to you the second edition of Offshore Holland! The first edition of the magazine was launched during the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas. This second one is presented to you on the occasion of another major oil and gas event, Offshore Europe in Aberdeen.

You will find many IRO members here, presenting their products and expertise. Every year IRO – the Association of Dutch Suppliers in the Oil and Gas Industry – organizes Dutch group participations at successful international oil and gas events throughout the world. The association also organizes outgoing trade missions, programmes for incoming trade missions and matchmaking programmes. These activities prove to be of great importance to promote international trade and export and are very well attended. For an overview of the export promotional events planned for 2011/2012, have a look at the Exhibitions & Missions programme on www.iro.nl. International cooperation

To promote the qualities of Dutch suppliers in the oil and gas industry, IRO cooperates with national and international organizations with similar interests. IRO also works closely together with sister associations gathered in EURONET: the Carbon Energy Club (Belgium), Danish Marine & Offshore Group (Denmark), Decom North Sea (UK), EIC (UK), GEP (France), ITF (UK) and Norsk Industry (Norway). The cooperation with Decom North Sea, an industry forum in Aberdeen established in 2010, has been set up to increase the business opportunities for North Sea decommissioning. IRO is the central contact point for decommissioning related issues in the Netherlands. The main objective of this forum is to exchange information, to provide practical support, initiate joint activities and to improve knowledge transfer to boost the North Sea supply

chain. This will be achieved through effective member meetings and other activities and information services. For more information about becoming a member of Decom North Sea go to www.decomnorthsea.com. IRO’s 40th Anniversary

IRO will have celebrated its 40th Anniversary by the end of 2011. IRO was founded in 1971 during the early days of the offshore oil & gas developments in Europe. The original name stood for ‘Industrial Council for Oceanology’ (Industriële Raad voor Oceanologie). The members of this council were drawn from the industry and represented various sectors in oceanology such as mining, coastal engineering, fishery, oceanological instrumentation and recreation. Due to the oil crisis of 1973, additional (marginal) fields in the North Sea had to be brought into production. In the seventies prospects for Dutch offshore companies were favourable to develop an increasing share in the installation works for platforms and infrastructures. In particular, the increasing anxiety for energy supply made IRO focus on the extraction of natural gas and oil.

Netherlands Oil & Gas Catalogue

A clear overview of the activities, products and services of the Dutch suppliers can be found in the Netherlands Oil & Gas Catalogue. This catalogue provides information about oil, gas and environment related companies in the Netherlands, with their company profiles and contact details. The new edition of this catalogue is published in March every year and is sent to companies and organizations in the oil and gas industry, including operators, contractors, engineering firms, ministries, embassies and other relevant official bodies. The catalogue is also distributed at (international) exhibitions, trade missions and seminars. Please send an e-mail to info@iro.nl for your hard copy or go to www.iro-noc.nl. I wish you all a pleasant reading of Offshore Holland! Sincerely, Hans P. de Boer Managing Director IRO

Not only the industry changed over the years, so did IRO. In November 1991 IRO was transformed into an association, namely the Association of Dutch Suppliers in the Oil and Gas Industry. The more than 400 present IRO members cover all activities involved in the supply industry, such as engineering, field development, pipeline installation, maintenance, manufacturing and material & equipment supply, onshore as well as offshore. 2011

3


Export promotional activities 2011/2012 Date

Activity

City/Country

6 - 8 September 2011

Offshore Europe

Aberdeen, Scotland

11 - 12 October 2011

Offshore Energy

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

21 - 23 November 2011

Trade mission France

Paris, France

4 - 8 December 2011

World Petroleum Congress

Doha, Qatar

22 - 24 February 2012

Australasian Oil & Gas

Perth, Australia

30 April – 3 May 2012

Offshore Technology Conference

Houston, USA

28 - 31 August 2012

Offshore Northern Seas

Stavanger, Norway

17 - 20 September 2012

Rio Oil & Gas

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

5 - 8 November 2012

ADIPEC

Abu Dhabi, UAE

adress Engelandlaan

postal

330 2711 DZ Zoetermeer The Netherlands

Postbus 7261 2701 AG Zoetermeer The Netherlands

phone fax

+31 (0)79 341 19 81 +31 (0)79 341 97 64

mail site

info@iro.nl www.iro.nl

Breakbulk & Offshore Wind Terminal

Allard-Europe is a reliable steel and iron foundry making large castings to customer specifications. All produced castings can be machined in-house. The machine shop is equipped with CNC milling and turning machines with a capacity up to 10 m diameter. CAD/CAM software (Unigraphics) adds up to the flexibility of the company. In recent years Allard-Europe has experienced a dynamic growth based on the implementation of the highest quality standards, flexibility and reliable delivery times.

BOW Terminal BV

A PARTNERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE www.allard-europe.com

Finlandweg 10 Port Nr. 4444 4455 TE Nieuwdorp +31 118 486332 office +31 651 507164 mobile [24/7 reachable]

LOCATED AT

info@bowterminal.nl

www.bowterminal.nl


THE wind of cHangE a storm of applause “

The Marineco Shamal is awesome... She performs very well... Second day of sea trials off Rotterdam in a westerly 6 she handled it brilliantly. Best Damen design in years. Cheers! mike conafray Managing director Marineco (UK)

�


SWEEP project takes form

Drilling rig Swift 10 operational The commissioning of the jackup drilling rig Swift 10 has helped move the Smart Well Engineering Exploration and Production (SWEEP) project initiated by Shell UK and NAM an important step forwards. The purpose of SWEEP is to use cheap and standardised techniques to trace and viably put into production as many small or marginal fields in the southern North Sea as possible. As well as Swift Drilling, owners of the Swift 10, Mercon Steel Structures based in Gorinchem and GE Oil & Gas Drilling and Production from Aberdeen in Scotland are involved in the project.

The greatest challenge for the SWEEP project is reducing the costs for exploration and production by fifty percent or more, a goal that according to technical manager of Swift Drilling, Siebe Visser, should certainly be achievable using the Swift 10. “The jackup rig, fabricated according to a design from GustoMSC, was already under construction at the Drydocks World yard on the island of Batam near Singapore, when we were approached by Shell/NAM. As a result, we were able to respond rapidly to their wishes to convert her into a drilling rig. Specifically with this project in mind, Swift Drilling was established, a joint venture between the Van Es Group and Fabricom Oil & Gas, each of which holds a fifty percent share in the concern. Using the Swift 10, based on the so-called slim well design, we can drill wells with a far smaller diameter than that of conventional wells. In terms of use of pipes, mud and material, this reduced diameter delivers considerable savings. We have also fully automated the entire pipe handling process. The drill pipes are brought on board in baskets, filled with 48 pipes each, and placed in an area to which no people are admitted. Using a special grab, the pipes are picked up one by one and assembled into drill strings of six pipe lengths, all without a single human intervention. Just one person is required for the entire drilling process, who controls all the activities from the drilling control centre or doghouse. Because we have automated to such an extent, we can work far more safely and with far fewer people. Whereas in the past drilling a single well required 1,000 crane lifts, with our system it only takes 300. The number of actions requiring manhandling has even been reduced from 31,000 to less than 3,000.�

6

2011


The handling of drilling pipes is fully automated (photograph: PAS Publicaties).

2011

7


“By encouraging innovation like in this project, a great deal of gas can still be extracted from smaller fields, and that ties in perfectly with the small fields policy of the Dutch government.”

Specifications

The cost price of the Swift 10 itself in fact represented a considerable saving. Although the parties involved were unwilling to go into detail, the price for the Swift 10 is approximately one-third of the fabrication costs for a conventional jackup rig, and those costs amount to between 500 and 600 million dollars. The Swift 10 is capable of drilling wells down to a depth of 6,500 metres. The maximum water depth in which the rig can operate is 45 metres. The hull is 67 metres long, 40 metres wide and 5.5 metres high. Each of the four legs is 90 metres long. Only one crane is mounted on board, with a lifting capacity of 80 tonnes. The rig can carry a deck cargo of 1,400 tonnes. The cantilever fabricated by Cofely in IJmuiden is 38 metres long, 14 metre wide, 12 metres high and weighs in at 270 tonnes. It can be extended sixteen metres outwards, and can be swung 3.5 metres to either left or right. A 52 metre-high derrick of the type Terra Invader 250 CL is mounted on the cantilever. The 250 CL is a highly compact and lightweight derrick developed specifically for offshore applications by

8

2011

Herrenknecht Vertical based in Kehl in Germany. The cantilever and the derrick were installed on board the Swift 10 at the Keppel Verolme yard. Mudpumps and the various tanks are installed below decks. Director Hans Holkenborg said of the 50-man crew of the Swift 10: “We can call upon four drilling shifts, two of whom are permanently on board while two are at home. They work according to a two weeks on and two weeks off schedule. All of them have plenty of experience with drilling work in the Southern North Sea. There is accommodation for a maximum of 60 people on board. We have signed a five-year contract with Shell/NAM for the Swift 10, plus five options each for a single year extension. Our first job will be a well abandonment project in the L13 block in the Dutch sector of the North Sea.” For this project, the Swift 10 was towed to the L13 block, 50 kilometres west of Den Helder, on 19 May. Monotowers

Another important element of the SWEEP project is the deployment of so-called Riser Access Towers, or standardised monotower or monopile

platforms. Shell/NAM has signed a framework agreement with Mercon Steel Structures for the fabrication and installation of these platforms. Director of Mercon, Willem Griffioen, said on this subject: “This framework agreement comprises a maximum of nine Riser Access Towers (RATs), the first of which will be handed over in August of this year. Four large suction anchors will be installed on the seabed as the foundation system for each RAT.” Together with Breda-based ALE Heavy Lift, Mercon has come up with an innovative method for installing these platforms offshore. “The method will employ a barge with a skid track and tilting mechanism. The RAT will be lowered using strandjacks, and anchored in position with suction pumps. The first RAT will be installed in the K15 block in the Dutch sector of the North Sea.” The SWEEP project is not restricted to Dutch waters. Work on the project is also underway in Scotland, where the VectroGray SVXT S-series subsea tree has been developed by GE Oil & Gas Drilling and Production. The VectroGray is a lightweight compact system that can be placed over a gas


The Swift 10 was prepared for deployment in the southern North Sea at the Keppel Verolme yard (photograph: PAS Publicaties).

production well on the seabed. Via a pipeline, one or more of these systems are connected to a RAT, that in turn is installed alongside an existing production platform, where any gas produced is further processed. In other words, as explained by asset manager Ante Frens of ONEgas, who has final responsibility for all Shell/Nam operations in the southern North Sea, the SWEEP project is now fully underway, and represents the only viable method of tracing and putting into production marginal gas fields at far lower costs. “By encouraging innovation like in this project, a great deal of gas can still be extracted from smaller fields, and that ties in perfectly with the small fields policy of the Dutch government, aimed at first extracting as much gas as possible from these fields, thereby saving our far larger Groningen gas field, for later exploitation.�

The handling of drilling pipes is fully automated (photograph: PAS Publicaties).

2011

9


Jumbo offers single-voyage transport and installation solutions

‘Reliability is our strength’ In the past five years Jumbo has strengthened its reputation as a solid ‘T&I’ (transport and installation) contractor. The company currently owns and operates a fleet of 12 dedicated Heavy Lift Vessels. Using its DP2 Offshore Heavy Lift Vessels Jumbo Javelin and Fairplayer with lifting capacities of up to 1,800 tonnes, Jumbo offers offshore services ranging from shallow water wind farm installation to deepwater construction work.

Jumbo has been active in heavy lift transport for over 40 years. After a few ‘wet handshakes’ on anchorage, the company knew that it could do more, and more complicated, jobs offshore with its stable, shallow draught ad high-tech vessels. In 2001 Jumbo was the first heavy lift operator to start an offshore department, aiming for new markets and giving its innovation programme a boost. Safety and reliability are at the core of all of Jumbo’s activities. By continuously implementing its ‘Stay Well’ program, Jumbo brings the highest standards of safety and quality into every single Heavy Lift project. In-house innovations

All of Jumbo’s 12 HLV’s have been designed in-house and most of the essential innovations needed for offshore installation work came to life in a likewise manner. Fairplayer, for example, is equipped with a patented Deepwater Deployment System. Like it’s 2 x 900 tonne mast cranes, this DDS was delivered by Huisman Equipment, who’ve built every crane for Jumbo’s fleet for over three decades. The long standing relationship between these two companies is exemplary for Jumbo’s attitude towards both its suppliers and clients: acting from a long term vision of sustainable growth, the company’s employees, from engineers and tender managers to administrators and crew, show a partnering mentality towards their counterparts. QHSE

Working safely is always at the forefront of Jumbo’s methods and mentality. The company approaches QHSE with the same dedication and commitment as her other activities, even going beyond government regulations. The permanent Stay Well Program aims at safety awareness and incident prevention. Both ship crews and office staff follow courses at regular intervals at our head office in Rotterdam (The Netherlands). Crewmembers also get safety updates onboard and attend training sessions on our in-house designed Dual Crane Simulator. Stay Well intends to bring the highest standards of safety and quality into every single project. It ensures that safety awareness, incident prevention and striving for improvement are in Jumbo’s DNA.

10

2011


The Jumbo Javelin at work.

2011

11


Core business

Using two of the largest heavy lift vessels in the world, offers Jumbo Offshore offers a unique concept: the implementation of a complete offshore installation project in one, tightly coordinated action, so-called lift, ship and install. All in one go. Jumbo Offshore’s core business is the transportation and installation of subsea structures and mooring systems in water depths up to 3,000 m, such as: • Templates & manifolds; • Mooring systems for FPSO’s and offloading buoys (incl. driven & suction piles); • Smaller jackets and topsides (installation & removal). In addition Jumbo provides in-house engineered solutions for offshore wind farm installation: • Pre-piling for jackets and tripods; • Installing jackets, tripods, monopiles and transition pieces; • Feedering of foundations and components, e.g. monopiles, towers, nacelles, blades. Project Engineer Auke te Winkel told OH in this respect: “Recently we’ve been awarded a port construction project. Our client told us they chose Jumbo specifically because of our complementary services as to transport and installation and our experience in project management.”

12

2011


“Our deepwater capability, in combination with lifting capacity and a strong safety-record, is what makes Jumbo unique.”

Deepwater: DDS

Jumbo expands fleet with new vessel An agreement has been signed with the Brodosplit shipyard in Split, Croatia, for the construction of a top segment heavy lift vessel. The construction of this new generation vessel confirms Jumbo’s position as market leader in heavy lift shipping. The new vessel will have a length of 152.60m and a beam of 27.40m and is equipped with 2x 1.100mt cranes (at 27.5m outreach). In tandem the cranes can lift up to 2.200mt. This makes it the strongest heavy lift vessel in the world. To be able to work in Arctic regions, the vessel is to be built under ice class. For offshore operations the vessel will be prepared for future DP2 installation. Estimated delivery date of the new vessel is March 2013. The vessel will be operational in June 2013. Jumbo also has an option for a second vessel at the shipyard in Split.

With its patented Deepwater Deployment System (DDS) Jumbo Offshore can lift large and heavy structures from deck and place them on the seabed without the need for subsea transfer. Typical weights and depth ranges are: 1,000 t @ 1,000 m 600 t @ 1,700 m 200 t @ 3,000 m Using the DDS 200 t can be installed at 3,000 m. However, depth capability can be increased through the use of pennants in combination with a subsea transfer. With this in-house developed lowering method Jumbo can install structures weighing up to 1,000 t in waters even deeper than 3,000 m. Patrick van Eerten, Director Offshore and Operations: “Our deepwater capability, in combination with lifting capacity and a strong safety-record, is what makes Jumbo unique.”

By this fleet expansion, Jumbo will serve her customers with a versatile fleet of 13 (optional 14) heavy lift vessels with lifting capacity in the range of 500t to 2.200t.

2011

13


Worldwide specialists in heavy lifting and transport

SPECIALIST IN HEAVY LIFTING AND TRANSPORT Mammoet Europe B.V. Karel Doormanweg 47, Harbour 580 3115 JD Schiedam The Netherlands P.O. Box 570 3100 AN Schiedam The Netherlands

In the offshore industry, oil and gas companies are facing the challenge of developing exploration and production facilities at a high pace to keep up with the global needs for fossil fuels. One of the strategies to speed up the construction and to work more cost effective is to assemble oil and natural gas production platforms almost to the point of completion before their final positioning at sea. Sophisticated logistics, including the ability to move very large and heavy objects over land and sea and to lift these at the facility is a key element of this strategy. This is where Mammoet excels by providing a wide range of services to enhance the offshore industry’s capabilities.

Telephone: +31 (0)10 204 2424 Fax: +31 (0)10 204 2442 E-mail: saleseurope@mammoet.com

www.mammoet.com


Seafox 1 set to work in East Irish Sea EOG Resources United Kingdom, a subsidiary of EOG Resources, Inc., has signed a contract with Seafox Contractors for the use of accommodation and multisupport jack-up Seafox 1 at the Conwy field in the East Irish Sea. Seafox Contractors will provide EOG with one of her jack-ups to assist with piling works and the hook-up and commissioning of an offshore structure at the Conwy field. Besides the installation works, Seafox 1 will be re-positioned to the Douglas platform to perform accommodation and crane services. “We are very pleased to work on EOG’s first oil project in the East Irish Sea and we are confident to deliver a successful project to EOG Resources,” says Keesjan Cordia, Managing Director of Seafox Contractors BV. Seafox Contractors BV is part of the Seafox Group which is an owner of offshore accommodation and multi-support service jack-ups across the world. The Group services a global range of customers but its primary focus is on the Southern North Sea in Europe. All operational activities are outsourced to Workfox BV, also situated in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands.

2011

15


Offshore rediscovering IJmuiden

Revitalisation of port in full swing The offshore industry is rediscovering IJmuiden as a base of operations for its activities in the North Sea. Over the past few months, the port town on the coast of Noord-Holland has enjoyed considerable interest from both oil companies and their suppliers. The offshore industry is clearly once again on the up. The IJmondhaven, located in front of the lock gates, is proving particularly popular. Not only are numerous offshore units seeking moorings in the port for various reasons; in and around the port area, new office premises and warehouses are also being built, on behalf of businesses active in serving the offshore industry and the wind energy market. Happily for IJmuiden, a highly-motivated group of entrepreneurs has been established who, in collaboration with Zeehaven IJmuiden, are willing to invest in a healthy future for this ideally-situated port town.

The IJmuiden port area is a scene of much building activity. Quaysides are being modernised and new office premises built. The port of IJmuiden itself is clearly preparing for a carefully-conceived and certain future, focusing not only on fishery (traditionally the most important user of the port) but also the offshore and wind energy markets. Revitalisation of the IJmondhaven. The seaports of IJmuiden, together with the ports in Beverwijk and Den Helder, have over the past few years been the centre point of a fascinating process of change in the Kop van Noord-Holland area. IJmuiden has always been one of the most dynamic areas. Fishery, short sea, offshore and wind energy come together here, in a relatively restricted area. Nonetheless, the development of IJmuiden began to stagnate for a whole number of reasons, while Den Helder proved all the more successful. Fortunately a turnaround is taking place, and the development of the new IJmondhaven dock and the transformation of the existing port area are now becoming

16

2011

clearly visible. Last year, six entrepreneurs from the IJmond area established a cooperative venture under the name ‘Het Kleine Strand bv’. They brainstormed about the revitalisation and redevelopment of the quayside site around the IJmondhaven. Their main intention was to redirect the further development and management of the quayside area. The theme description for the mission envisaged by those six entrepreneurs reads: Intelligent Centre for North Sea Quay facilities; innovation for energy efficiency and renewables. Based on this mission statement, Het Kleine Strand is working to achieve a sort of park management. Through sound park management, the image of a commercial estate can be massively improved. As a result, the estate itself maintains its competitive edge, and decline is tackled before it really arises. As already suggested, Het Kleine Strand intends to present itself as a group of businesses willing to expand the quay area around the IJmondhaven to serve not only shortsea activities but to also offer

facilities for all facets of the oil, gas and renewables industry. The advantages of IJmuiden for the wind energy sector are already widely accepted, but for the offshore sector, too, IJmuiden can serve as the perfect base of operations for the southern section of the North Sea. IJmuiden will above all have to specialise in transport and innovative maintenance and repair activities. A start has already been made on phase A of the total plan. On the site alongside the IJmondhaven, construction of a three storey office building with a 1,500 m2 factory hall has been started. Phase B includes the construction of storage and processing facilities. The six entrepreneurs are currently appealing to their international, national and local networks with a view to encouraging innovative businesses and already-established companies to set up new combined forms of service provision, and to take up residence in the office premises currently under construction, as well as making use of immediate quayside storage facilities.


“This branch of Airborne underlines the ambition of the IJmondhaven to attract innovative businesses for the offshore wind and oil and gas market.” ASCO

In that framework, close cooperation has been established with ASCO Holland, a company already based in IJmuiden, whose main focus of activities is the provision of services to established, Dutch offshore businesses by offering a central point for the shipment of a whole range of offshore general and bulk cargoes. ASCO and the new Intelligent Centre for North Sea Quay facilities complement one another perfectly. ASCO supplies the software – i.e. the oil companies – while the Centre supplies the hardware – i.e. innovative suppliers and service providers. The development of these new activities also means that use will be made of existing local services (additional employment) and the excellent infrastructure in the region. It is widely known that ASCO has already signed a three-year contract with Tullow Netherlands and other oil companies have now (once again) been seen to be seriously considering IJmuiden, and investigating the opportunities the port offers as compared to Den Helder. One of the businesses that has also rented an entire floor of the new office building built by Het Kleine Strand is Iskes Towage and Salvage. One other planned occupant is a company specialising in the maintenance of offshore wind farms. Het Kleine Strand has not yet revealed the other companies who are due to occupy

the office building, but one thing is certain: all the occupants will support one another wherever they can. Employment opportunities

At the start of June, The Hague-based organisation Airborne announced its intention to open a new branch in IJmuiden. The company specialises in the design and manufacture of composite products in particular for the aeronautical and aerospace sector, and for the oil and gas industry. The total investment is worth approx. 20 million and will initially generate 75 jobs for candidates from higher education. In the long term, the company expects to expand to 150 employees. At the new offices in IJmuiden, the company will be focusing on the production of highquality thermoplastic composite pipes for the oil and gas industry. Thanks to their low weight and considerable flexibility, these pipe systems are perfectly suited for the exploration and production of oil in the very deepest waters. With its technological and innovative capacity, Airborne will represent an important boost to the economy in the IJmond area, and will help to strengthen the offshore cluster in IJmuiden. Director Peter van de Meerakker of Zeehaven IJmuiden N.V. is particularly delighted that the company has opted for IJmuiden. “This branch of Airborne underlines the ambition of the IJmondhaven to attract innovative businesses for the offshore wind and oil and gas market.”

Other newcomers in IJmuiden are the world-renowned Allseas and Alphatron Marine. For a period of three years, Allseas is in the process of renting a vacant office building and fabrication hall. Exactly what Allseas intends to manufacture in its fabrication hall is as yet unknown, but initial indications suggest at least two major objects. The arrival of Allseas naturally represents a massive boost for the offshore industry in IJmuiden. Thanks to the brokerage of Het Kleine Strand, Rotterdam-based Alphatron Marine has signed a lease contract to establish offices in a new building on the Trawlerkade. In a sector in which communication, observation and navigation are of crucial importance, Alphatron Marine offers technological solutions and topflight electronics. The company’s expertise takes in the full scope of maritime electronics, a broad but specialist field that few businesses truly master, from A to Z. Alphatron operates in the shipping, inland shipping, dredging, offshore, mega yachting and fishery market.

Artist impression of Het Kleine Strand building along the IJmondhaven.

2011

17


GustoMSC again pushes boundaries

New generation of jackup drilling rigs on the horizon Following the introduction of the successful CJ70 type jackup drilling rig, capable of drilling in water depths of up to 150 metres, Schiedam-based GustoMSC is set to go one major step further. With its new, innovative CJ80-X175-A type, drilling work can be undertaken in even deeper waters, even in the most extreme North Sea weather conditions.

The CJ80-X175-A type will be the largest cantilever jackup drilling rig in the world. The hull of this rig type is 100 metres long and 100 metres wide. The three lattice support legs each achieve the staggering length of 235 metres, and are positioned 80 metres apart. Drilling can be undertaken in water depths of up to 175 metres. The X-Y cantilever, patented by GustoMSC, can be shifted left, right and forwards, enabling a full drilling pattern to be undertaken, from a single location. The cantilever has a load capacity of 1,500 tonnes. The system can work with a blow-out preventer either on the seabed or on the platform itself. The modern drilling system is also equipped with a fourth mud pump. Using this particular rig, not only exploration wells but also production wells can be drilled. To meet its power requirements, the rig is equipped with four 2,500 kW and two 1,750 kW diesel generators, divided across two engine rooms. The accommodation unit with 150 single cabins and the helicopter deck are situated around the front leg of the rig. The CJ80-X175-A type drilling rig is ideal for deployment in the deeper section of the Norwegian and British sector of the North Sea, until now exclusively the domain of semi-submersible drilling rigs.

18

2011


Archive image of the Maersk Inspirer, one of the first two CJ70-type jackup drilling rigs designed for drilling work in deep water (photograph: Maersk).

The Danish drilling contractor Mearsk Drilling recently announced its intention to once again commission rigs of the CJ70 type.

2011

19


Artist’s impression of the GustoMSC CJ80-X175-A type for deep water drilling (illustration: GustoMSC).

Construction projects

The Schiedam-based engineering firm had already pushed the boundaries into deeper water, with the introduction of the GustoMSC CJ70 type. At the time, Maersk Drilling was the first drilling contractor willing to gamble with a rig of this type, leading in 2002 and 2003 to the fabrication of the Maersk Innovator and Maersk Inspirer. Having ordered the fabrication of four jackup rigs of the smaller GustoMSC CJ50 type in 2008 and 2009, the Danish drilling contractor Mearsk Drilling recently announced its intention to once again commission rigs of the CJ70 type. Of this type, two are now currently being fabricated at the Keppel FELS yard in Singapore. The first will be handed over in 2013 and the second in 2014. The plan is to deploy the pair in Norwegian waters, in water depths of up to 150 metres. The Danish drilling

20

2011

contractor has also taken out options for the fabrication of two more of these jackup rigs. Maersk Drilling is not the only operator to have opted for this type. Seadrill also recently put a CJ70 type into use, namely the West Elara, handed over by the Jurong Shipyard in Singapore, in 2010. In March of this year, Seadrill announced its intention to have another jackup of the same type built at the same yard. This drilling rig, due to be named the West Linus, should be completed at the end of 2013. The rig will then be deployed for a 5-year period by ConocoPhillips in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Other types

The CJ-series of jackup drilling rigs designed by GustoMSC now consists of the types CJ46, CJ50, CJ62, CJ70 and CJ80. The first of the series is suitable for drilling work in a maximum water

depth of 100 metres. The CJ50 and CJ62 can drill in water depths in excess of 100 metres and 125 metres respectively, while the CJ70 and CJ80 are intended specifically for deep water drilling work. Worldwide, twenty rigs from the GustoMSC drawing board are already in use, approximately half of which in the North Sea region A further four are currently under construction. Of the CJ46 type, nine have been built and 1 is currently underway. Of the CJ50 type six, and of the CJ62 type two have been built, while three CJ70 type rigs have been completed and three more are currently being built. Since the introduction of the CJ80 type earlier this year, much interest has been expressed and it is merely a question of time before the first drilling contractor takes the plunge and opts for this ground-breaking rig type.


2011

21


Oil companies stand in line for unique filtration system

Odourless, top-quality oil from OBM The international drilling industry has waited for this breakthrough for decades. Oil recovered from Oil Based Mud (OBM), of the highest quality and without any unpleasant odours. Best of all, it is perfectly suitable for offshore use. Once again, it is Central Mudplant and Fluid Services (CMF) that is responsible for developing this unique product. CMF has specialised in environmentally friendly processing of oil contaminated drilling waste since 1990. And as usual, the company’s owner/director, Willem van der Horst, has both feet planted firmly on the ground, as you would expect of a businesslike Dutchman. This selfless entrepreneur will never allow himself to be intoxicated by success. After 15 years of research into this problem, CMF has succeeded in expanding the industry’s ability to recover usable oil from oil contaminated drilling waste. The news of this innovative technology, which will be commercialised under the name of Deodarcol, has spread like a proverbial oil slick and already resulted in a substantial increase in CMF’s market share in the North Sea area. The product was offered commercially for the first time in January 2011 and CMF has now already sold more oil in the first three months of this year than during the whole of 2010.

The Velsen-Noord based company had previously launched another world-first in 2009; an innovative vacuum evaporator for recovering calcium bromide from OBM during processing. At the time, we sat at exactly the same table in exactly the same office in Velsen-Noord. “We” are Willem van der Horst and Han Heilig from the editorial team. Our conversation focuses on strategic innovation. Looking for and finding technically advanced solutions. A task at which Willem van der Horst and his company excel. He sees it as an intervention that helps him formulate his business strategy. Many companies innovate because they are already successful and actively want to ensure that they continue to be successful. CMF is certainly a committed supporter of this policy. The company innovates for a number of reasons. Innovation helps CMF to continually enhance its ability to respond to current market needs with regard to resolving oil drilling waste problems and increases efficiency in

22

2011

terms of reacting to specific customer challenges, remodelling and improving processes and reducing costs. Sickly smell

Why exactly did CMF start work on developing a product without this oily smell 15 years ago? Van der Horst: “For the simple reason that we at CMF have an unstoppable drive to develop products that expand the oil industry’s ability to re-use Oil Based Mud. In this specific case, recovering oil from OBM. That’s something we have been doing at CMF since 1990. The OBM drilling waste comes from land-based wells in the Netherlands and a number of the drilling rigs in the North Sea.” “We use a distillation process to recover the oil. That oil is re-used to make up drilling fluid. Until recently, that could only be done in a mud plant. Why? Because the oil has a nasty, sickly smell. So its range of application was limited and it could not be re-used as a base product offshore due to the unpleasant smell. Even so, the oil companies secretly

continued to hope that the recovered oil could also be used offshore as a base oil at some stage. Understandably. Ideally, they want to be able to make bulk deliveries of the recovered oil to drilling islands via a supply boat. But the problem of the sickly smell would have to be solved once and for all first because it makes mud mixers feel really nauseous when working offshore. In fact stench is probably a better word, particularly when concentrated. It’s not harmful at all, just very unpleasant. Academics, competitive suppliers of drilling fluid and distillation unit vendors have spent years looking for a way of eliminating that sickly smell. But nobody had any success. We didn’t either at first. I have to be honest about this: processes like this are full of ups and downs. You tend to get complacent in periods of very high demand for your existing products, but the next cyclical drop in the level of re-use in the North Sea encourages you to refocus on development work for the new product. The need just wasn’t consistent enough. Which partly


“We have an unstoppable drive to develop products that expand the oil industry’s ability to re-use Oil Based Mud.” explains why it has taken 15 years to develop. Ultimately the same conviction that led to the development of the vacuum evaporator has helped us develop this product: if you search long and hard enough, keep trying things out and talking about the problem with others, you are certain to find a solution at some point.” Filter

And perseverance pays off, as CMF demonstrates once again. So how does the story continue? During his quest to find a solution to the odour problem, Willem van der Horst met Michiel Arnoldy of Brilliant Water Solutions (BWS) in The Hague in 2010. Arnoldy offered him the opportunity of trying out his product, which is an advanced combination of a contactor/forward flush filter followed by a media filter. Even though this combination also failed to deliver the desired results initially, the two entrepreneurs refused to give up. They performed test after test after test. For months on end. And at last, they discovered their own ‘Egg of Columbus’ by combining the active carbon filter with another well known filtration technique. CMF has done it again! Willem van der Horst: “Using the media filter on its own just didn’t work. So we decided to place a second media filtration element behind it and that principle, in combination with that particular sequence, turned out to work perfectly. In fact, it’s so effective that the quality of the recovered oil is equal to and sometimes even better than the quality of the original product as delivered

by the refinery. And best of all, that nasty sickly smell has gone completely. Our product can be used offshore now. As an added bonus, possible remnants of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are also removed at the same time. So we solve every single problem in one go.” His trade secret lies in the correct sequence of the two filtration systems. Van der Horst admits that it’s almost too simple for words, but somebody still had to make that inventive leap. Oil company politics

So the Eureka moment is there and a long cherished desire of the oil companies has become reality. On to the next step; how do you go about convincing the market of your product’s excellent quality and demonstrate that the odour problem has been finally put to bed? Van der Horst: “The first thing we did was to commission external laboratories to analyse the oil and certify its quality. We also sent samples of the product to a number of mud suppliers so that they could have the oil analysed in their own laboratories. After that, we set up meetings with several oil companies that operate on the Dutch Continental Shelf. You have to understand that developing a product is not just a question of technology, it also has to win acceptance, and that’s dependent on oil company politics. We had proven ourselves technically capable of expanding secondary use of oil waste, but for Deodarcol, in terms of its odour, aromatic components and colour, to become a commercial success as well, everybody would have to reach consensus on its applicability.

Outline of the modular system.

The total concept we have developed actually involves three parties: the oil company, the drilling fluid supplier and the waste processor. When you look at their individual activities, you can see that they each have conflicting interests. If the oil company merely acts as a customer and receives an offer from two different suppliers, it will make a choice based on price and the associated sales pitch. Which is perfectly understandable. What we have tried to achieve though, is to use open communication to force a breakthrough in the purchasing strategy of operators based in the Netherlands. Quite a challenge, as this calls for a cultural change. Oil companies have to start thinking outside their traditional boxes.” Rewards

Willem van der Horst would not be Willem van der Horst if he had not prepared his pitch to the oil companies down to the last tiny detail. He knew that he held the winning trump card, so all he had do now was convince the oil companies of the suitability of his concept. “Those were ground-breaking meetings, with all the parties laying their cards on the table to win each other’s trust.

2011

23


“All of the participating oil companies benefit from a more attractive price.” On the positive side, various oil companies decided to start using our new concept from January this year. During the negotiations, we presented calculations to the meeting participants that proved how this approach could achieve a substantial reduction in their total cost of ownership. One of the conditions we insisted upon was that, if we were to make increased re-use of oil drilling waste possible, the party that makes the drilling fluid would obviously also need to maintain the same commercial margin. There was to be no reduction in margin as that would threaten continuity. Application of our filtration technique means that mud can now be made significantly more cost-effectively, so the oil companies are assured of a much lower cost price in any case. So there are three winners in fact. In this particular case, you could say we have a winwin-win situation. Operators pay much less, CMF is rewarded for its services and the drilling fluid manufacturer maintains margins and is also rewarded for increasing the industry’s ability to re-use oil from drilling waste. In the final analysis, we share in the savings made by the operators. As CMF we receive what is known as an ‘extraordinary return’. We agreed a calculation system for this during the negotiations. This encourages us to carry on innovating. This ‘extraordinary return’ is also essential as we have invested heavily.” During the negotiations, agreement was also reached with the oil companies regarding a stipulation in future tenders that drilling fluid suppliers would have to be able to demonstrate increased use of oil recovered from the process.

24

2011

CMF is not allowed to identify the participating oil companies by name. Clearly Offshore Visie respects this agreement, but to give readers of our magazine a better idea of the benefits of the new process, a hypothetical oil company that drills regularly in the North Sea can reduce its annual drilling budget by several hundred thousand Euros. And that’s a lot of money!!!

what we have just described. If so, all of the participating oil companies benefit from a more attractive price. Prices will drop further because the development costs can be shared by a larger number of purchasers. The more, the merrier. Obviously I am talking mainly about the operators that continually drill in the North Sea, who are consequently in a position to reach satisfactory agreements with their drilling fluid supplier.”

Monopoly

When asked if he wants to monopolise the market, Willem van der Horst reacts as if stung by a wasp. “Of course not,” he answers emphatically. “There is no reason for me to do so.” When I point out that he is after all the only person who knows all the details of the new filtration technique, he hardly has to think about his line of defence. “Look, it’s simple, at CMF we have developed all kinds of innovations in the past few years and we have always been ‘first to market’. Those inventions have been copied by others all over the world. Nobody has even been able to accuse me of being a monopolist. We sell the recovered oil for half the market value. That’s something we have done since the first day of trading. The filtration step has to be paid for. Because it involves expense. And of course, I am not a philanthropist.” “The parties have jointly decided how CMF is to be repaid for that investment. A fantastic result, so I’m very happy. Just suppose that another oil company approaches us in the near future and indicates a desire to include the new concept in their purchasing strategy in line with

Finite life

A further argument that he puts forward to prove that he has no desire to create a monopoly position, is the fact that his service is of finite and perhaps short-lived usefulness. Van der Horst is convinced that at some time, somebody, somewhere, will stand up and announce a new invention to the industry that will totally eliminate the need for CMF’s current land-based services. Regardless of whether this will involve different drilling fluids, or highly effective on-site equipment that is not yet available, or even a change in legislation and regulations. Time will tell, but that a new development of this nature will come is certain. “My business philosophy is simple and sincere in that respect. It’s better for me to develop strategic innovations now, in perfect harmony with the oil and gas industry and contribute along the way to finding a solution for the world’s environmental problems, than to just fight my own corner and deny all responsibility. That would create a kind of Google or Microsoft situation. And that’s not what I want. I enjoy the challenge of corporate social responsibility. The oil and gas indus-


The Deodarcol filtration system.

try has agreed to let me adapt the concepts we come up with here in order to make them suitable for other industries. If, at some time in the future, our product is no longer required for drilling for oil or gas, I will at least have created an opportunity for CMF to offer its services to a different industry.” In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is King. Interest from abroad

Willem van der Horst looks extremely contented as we both review the period when he sat down at the negotiating table with representatives of the oil companies and their drilling fluid suppliers. He praises their proactive attitude. Of course, his basic interest is also commercial, but one very important factor for him is that he can also put his own oil to good use as a recovered, reusable product. While this is not such an issue in the Netherlands (as the offshore industry here already takes environmental conservation extremely seriously), it is in countries where as yet no re-use of recovered oil for its original purpose

is common practice. In England, for example. When it comes to effectively tackling the global environment problem, the Netherlands is much more advanced than the British and the Americans. Even West Africa is more advanced, as it uses recovered oil as part of the mix for new drilling fluid. West Africa is a market where CMF sells the recovered oil that is not sold in the Netherlands. Consequently, Van der Horst expects the introduction of much more severe international legislation in the next few years. This will not happen overnight though. For example, our national neighbours have only just put the re-use of oil recovered from OBM on the agenda as a serious issue. Until recently, they considered all the residual flows to be waste, including the oil. Even though the oil has been seen as product in it own right for several years in the Netherlands. So are there attractive opportunities abroad? “My turnover in foreign markets is quite modest. That too is a conscious strategy, as I have already

explained in a previous interview. I am not personally going to make any effort to sell this product in foreign markets. Brilliant Water Solutions has taken this task on. Based on the bulk process that has been set up at CMF, BWS has developed a smaller filtration system, which can be installed on the drilling rigs alongside the in-situ processing units. This modular system is also ideally suited to waste processors that produce smaller quantities of oil. Foreign oil companies and drilling fluid suppliers have shown keen interest in the filtration technique we use. They want to know exactly how we do it. What the correct sequence is and which filter system we are currently using. As CMF, we operate in a small niche market. Everybody knows everybody else. And, thanks to all the innovations we have developed here in recent years, our company has won worldwide recognition as an authority in this field.” People are still coming to VelsenNoord from all four corners of the world to learn more about our process. Van der Horst acknowledges that he is vain enough to enjoy the deep respect with which he is treated, but when things come down to the nitty-gritty, he always advises any interested foreign parties to buy a ‘license to operate the technology’ from him first. This is basically an instruction manual that describes the exact procedure to be followed in order to increase the efficiency of their existing processes. “And if there is interest in the use of Deodarcol, a high-quality, odourless oil that can be recovered from OBM, we always refer foreign visitors to our partner, Brilliant Water Solutions.”

2011

25


Vroon subsidiary spreads its wings

MPI Offshore ready for greater things

De MPI Adventure is the largest and most up-to-date wind turbine installation vessel of its kind in the world. (Photograph: Vroon)

With the arrival of the brand-new lifting vessel MPI Adventure, Vroon subsidiary MPI Offshore now has access to the first of a new generation of wind turbine installation vessels. Later this year, the Adventure’s sister ship MPI Discovery will also join the MPI fleet. Both vessels are the largest of their kind in the world, and are part of an intensive investment programme according to which the Vroon Group intends to massively extend its market share in the offshore wind energy sector, starting in the Netherlands.

26

2011


The Vroon Group has already been actively involved in the offshore wind energy sector since 2006 when, together with the management of the wind turbine installation vessel MPI Resolution, the company MPI Offshore was established. This lifting vessel was effectively the very first ship in the world specifically designed for installing offshore wind turbines. The design originated at GustoMSC in Schiedam. The 130 metre-long vessel, equipped with a 300-tonne crane, was built in 2003 for Mayflower Energy. Three years later, the Mayflower was absorbed into MPI Offshore, based in Stokesley, in the UK. Responding to developments in the offshore wind energy sector and based on experiences acquired with the MPI Resolution, the Vroon Group decided to have two new and larger lifting vessels of the type NG-7500/6 built, also according to a design from GustoMSC. The two new MPI ships were to be the largest and most advanced of their kind, measuring 136.4 metres in length, 40 metres across the beam and with a draught of almost 6 metres, as well as being equipped with six 71.5 metre-long legs, making it possible to work in water depths up to a maximum of 40 metres, even in very poor weather conditions with wave heights of up to ten metres. New-build specifications

The aftership is fitted with a GustoMSC crane with a lifting capacity of 1,000 tonnes, capable of installing even the heaviest wind turbine components, offshore. 6,000 tonnes of parts can also be carried in the form of deck cargo. For power supply, six Rolls

Royce Bergen C25:33L8 diesel generators have been installed on board. Propulsion consists of three azimuth thruster units. Each ship is also equipped with three bow thrusters and a class 2 dynamic positioning system. In open water, the vessels can achieve a maximum speed of 12.5 knots, and there is on-board accommodation for up to 112 crew members. The MPI Adventure and MPI Discovery were both fabricated at the Chinese Cosco Qidong yard. The Adventure was handed over on 21 March 2011, and sailed under her own steam to Western Europe, arriving in Harwich, England, at the start of May. Starting in June this year, the MPI Adventure has been at work off the southern coast of Britain, helping to install the ambitious London Array Offshore Wind Farm, the world’s largest array of wind turbines. The fabrication of the two ships, both of which will sail under the Dutch flag, represents a total investment of 550 million US dollars.

The MPI Dorothea is one of the fast catamaran service vessels deployed for the construction and maintenance of offshore wind turbine farms. (Photograph: Vroon)

Modernisation of MPI Resolution

In the meantime, the MPI Resolution has also undergone modernisation. This vessel had already been working on a charter contract with Centrica Renewable Energy for some time, when the decision was taken, in consultation with MPI offshore, to considerably increase the crane capacity of the lifting vessel. The equipment selected was a new Huisman crane with a lifting capacity of 600 tonnes, twice as much as the old crane. The removal of the old crane and the installation of its new replacement took place at the Huisman facility in Schiedam.

2011

27


The MPI Resolution was equipped at Huisman with a new 600-tonne crane. (Photograph: PAS Publicaties)

The crane was subsequently extensively tested at the Keppel Verolme yard. Centrica then deployed the MPI Resolution for the installation of wind turbines for the Lincs Wind Farm Project that is being carried out off the coast of the English county of Lincolnshire. Other workboats

Alongside investments in the lifting ships just described, the Vroon Group has also invested heavily in small workboats deployed for the construction and maintenance of offshore wind turbine farms. The vessels in question are a series of six small

28

2011

aluminium catamaran service vessels, capable of transporting both people and material. The vessels are operated by MPI Workboats Ltd. Because their propulsion consists of water jets, speeds of up to 26 knots can be achieved. In 2008, the first of the series of six, the MPI Sancho Panza was launched, followed in 2009 by the MPI Don Quixoto, MPI Rosinante and MPI Rucio. This year, the MPI Dorothea and MPI Dulcinea were added to the fleet. These boats, varying in length between 15 and 20 metres, were all designed and fabricated at the South Boats Special Projects Ltd yard on the Isle of Wight.


Extreme precision

Great performances need great solutions. Machines and components with exceptional proportions and also extreme accuracy. This is the work of specialists. Welcome to Breman Machinery! We are situated in Genemuiden (the Netherlands), beside open water, which means we have a direct connection to the international ports, including Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Antwerpen.

For over 150 years, we have built machines and components for our relations all around the world. We build components which weigh tens or even hundreds of tonnes yet are within a tolerance of a few hundredth of a millimeter. The extreme precision you are looking for. Shall we meet personally? Call +31 (0)38 385 53 73 or go to www.breman-machinery.nl.

Breman Machinery, The Netherlands, T +31 (0)38 - 385 53 73, info@breman-machinery.nl, www.breman-machinery.nl


After eighteen months of preparation

Gearbox exchange success

A hole was cut in the top of the housing, through which the gearbox was subsequently lifted (photograph: PAS Publicaties).

For almost two months, the Seafox 4 operated by Workfox proved a real eye-catcher in the IJmondhaven dock, above all during the period when the accommodation platform was jacked up to maximum height. The platform docked in IJmuiden for its five-year service, combined with the exchange of three gearboxes in the jackup systems, as part of the programme of preventive maintenance. This operation, never previously been carried out during the 35 years the platform has been in operation, was still successfully completed, thanks to the efforts of a specialist company.

30

2011


fully completed

The special hoisting mechanism for removing old and installing new gearboxes (photograph: PAS Publicaties).

2011

31


A new gearbox and all accessories ready and waiting for installation, on the helicopter deck (photograph: PAS Publicaties).

When our editor stepped on board the Seafox 4 together with rig manager Guus Lemmers in mid-May, the whole rig was a hive of activity. “On average there are about 80 people working on board every day. Not just our own people, but also from our subcontractors. We put into dock for our five-yearly survey at the end of April, and the first job we took on was the internal inspection of the six legs. This task was completed using the rope access method, and throughout the period the legs of the Seafox 4 were raised to their full height. As well as an internal inspection, we also inspected the outside of the legs and the hull itself. The advantage of a six-legged platform is that each leg can be raised individually, eradicating the need for docking.” As Guus Lemmers explained, the period on land has also been used to adapt the accommodation, to inspect the two Liebherr cranes and to test the safety equipment. The rubber shockpads were also replaced. One very specific project that had to be carried out was the exchange of three gearboxes on the rack and pinion jackup systems. “These gearboxes are being preventively replaced because we need to know their precise status after 35 years’ loyal service. They have always been carefully inspected and have worked faultlessly throughout their service life. In total there are 52 of these gearboxes on board; eight on each of the four corner

32

2011

legs, and ten each on the two middle legs. Every gearbox is powered by a small electrical motor. The reduction is 1 to 7,000. In other words, every gearbox contains a huge number of gearwheels. On the gearwheel that intermeshes with the rack on the leg, a force of roughly 400 tonnes is applied. We decided to first replace the gearbox located in the most difficult-to-reach position in the housing. That process has now been successfully completed thanks to careful preparation by our team, in close consultation with the company Willtéco from Broek op Langedijk.” Gearwheels and gearboxes

Just at that moment, Willem Wille, founder and owner of Willtéco, joined the party. His company previously hit the headlines by providing a sound solution for safely transporting drilling rigs across the ocean on board

heavy-transport vessels. The solution involved fixing the legs in position with epoxy. On the gearbox project he commented: “Initial discussions about exchanging the gearboxes started about eighteen months ago. It is the sort of work in which we have built up considerable experience over the years. Generally speaking, replacements are carried out on older rigs and the manufacturers of the gearwheels often no longer exist. The same applies to the Seafox 4. All in all that makes it quite a challenging job for us. It also immediately came to my attention that Workfox is a company used to providing service, with a clear wish to carry out all the necessary work as well as possible. Just like ourselves, Workfox can also call upon a highly motivated project team, backed up by the clear drive of the crew on board the Seafox 4. All together things went very smoothly. Based on old drawings


“Generally speaking, replacements are carried out on older rigs and the manufacturers of the gearwheels often no longer exist. The same applies to the Seafox 4. All in all that makes it quite a challenging job.”

and the specifications still recorded on them, we first made new calculations and designed new gearboxes. Once these were approved, we outsourced the fabrication of the necessary gears to Machinefabriek Krimpen. For them, too, the type of work was completely new; in particular the herringbone tooth pattern, whereby the teeth are angled out on both sides, demanded considerable attention.” Hoist

Even then, however, all the problems were not solved, because we also had to come up with a method for removing the gearboxes from their housing, on board. Willem Wille continued: “We spent many hours inside the housing itself. We even consulted people in Germany who were involved in the original fabrication 35 years ago. At that time, however, the whole unit was wide open, and easily accessible. Now it is all thoroughly built in. In the end we decided to cut a section out of the roof of the housing, and lift the gearbox up and out. For this work, in collaboration with FG International, we designed and built a special hoist. We were unable to gain access using the on-board crane, and we did not want to have to rely on the availability of onshore cranes. The advantage of our own hoisting system is that it is now also possible to exchange a gearbox offshore.” The interview was held just at the moment that the first

and most difficult-to-reach gearbox was being replaced by a new model, prior to extensive testing, and the second gearbox was about to be hoisted out of position. The entire process went very smoothly, in thirty percent less time than expected. “It is always a good feeling when things work out just as planned. I expect to have completed the entire project in just a few weeks’ time, after which we will come up with a new scenario for Workfox, listing all the knowledge and experience acquired in this project. It will then be time to thoroughly inspect the old gearboxes.” Workfox has had a number of additional boxes fabricated, and stored as spare parts. Each individual gearbox weighs 5 tonnes. As well as exchanging the boxes, Willtéco was also responsible for replacing the shockpads referred to elsewhere in this article. Activities

The Seafox 4 is in fact the former jackup drilling rig built in 1976 and named Transocean 4, converted in 1991 into an accommodation platform with a capacity of 139 POB. Since 2008, the platform has been under contract to Shell/NAM. The contract runs until 2014, with options for a further extension. “Before we sailed to IJmuiden,” explained Guus Lemmers, “we had spent more than seven months in the British sector of the

North Sea close to the Leman Alpha platform, while the Alpha underwent expansion work. We not only provided additional accommodation, but our two 50-tonne cranes were also used extensively for installation work.” The rig manager expected to be able to put back out to sea with the Seafox 4 by the end of June. “We will probably first spend some time alongside a monotower in the L9 block of the Dutch sector, before returning to the British sector of the North Sea, to the Leman BT/BH platform to be precise. In a short while we expect the Seafox 4 to be deployed for well maintenance in the form of cold tubing, a task that will place considerable demands on our two Liebherr cranes – which by the way I consider probably the best units in the North Sea. That is one of the reasons they have undergone a thorough inspection here onshore.” The Seafox 4 is an ABS-class accommodation and multifunctional, multitask platform, measuring at its longest point more than 97 metres, and almost 53 metres wide. The platform has six legs, each more than 84 metres long. The platform is capable of carrying a deck load of 2,200 tonnes. As well as two 50-tonne cranes, the Seafox 4 is equipped with a helicopter deck and four rescue boats. The platform, with an accommodation capacity of 139, can carry out work in water depths of up to 46 metres.

2011

33


Breeding ground for transport innovations in Breda

ALE pushes the envelope ALE in Breda recently presented its Mega Jack Tower System to invited guests from the international offshore sector. The Mega Jack Tower is an innovative lifting system, capable of jacking even the very heaviest topsides of offshore platforms to previously undreamed-of heights. Breda, however, it turns out is also the breeding ground for other remarkable systems for a whole range of ground-breaking projects being undertaken around the world for the offshore industry.

During the presentation, the Mega Jack Tower System was an absolute eyecatcher. Operations manager Kees Claasen, responsible for worldwide transport operations, explained, “The system was developed by our own R&D department, in response to growing demand from the offshore sector for jacking ever heavier topsides to ever greater heights. We have been kicking the idea to develop the so-called Mega Jack Tower System around for quite some time, but work was only truly started on development a year ago, when the time was ripe for its introduction. The decision was justified when, soon after development work was started, the first candidate for deployment of the system expressed its interest. “The first customer is the DSME yard from South Korea, where a topsides is currently being fabricated for Chevron’s Arkutun Dagi project, weighing 42,000 tonnes. Our intention is to jack this supermodule up to a height of 24 metres, twice as high as normal and higher than anyone previously believed possible. A loadout frame will then be placed beneath the topsides which once fixed in position will be shifted across the entire yard site to a heavy load barge from Heerema. We will also be responsible for the loadout and ballast operation.” However, even this ground-breaking project is not the end of the line. New interested parties have already registered in Breda, keen to make use of the jack system. Combination of towers

The jack-up operating involving the Arkutun Dagi topside is well within the capacity of the Mega Jack Tower System. Kees Claasen continued, “By using multiple towers simultaneously, we can now jack up weights of up to 52,000 tonnes to a height of 25 metres. Each tower is equipped with four cylinders that together push the support beams upwards. Each cylinder has a lifting capacity of 1,300 tonnes. Mounted on top of the cylinders are hydraulic turntables that can rotate through 90 degrees, and form a gateway through which new beams can be inserted. By repeatedly inserting new beams from two directions, we can eventually reach the required height. Each beam weighs 4 tonnes. The dimensions of the tower footprints are flexible, ranging from 2.5 by 2.5 to 2.5 by 5 or even 5 by 5 metres. For the Chevron project we will be combining a number of these towers.”

34

2011


ALE played an important role in the salvaging of the heavily damaged drilling rig West Atlas (photograph: ALE).

2011

35


Prototype of the ALE Mega Jack Tower System presented in Breda, in May (photograph: PAS Publicaties).

By deploying even more towers, the operations manager believes it should be possible in the future to jack supermodules weighing more than 52,000 tonnes to the required height. “I above all see a market for our system in the Middle and Far East and Brazil, because that is where the majority of large topsides are fabricated.” Record loadout

After being lifted by the Mega Jack Tower System, the topsides module for the Arkutun Dagi project will be slid or effectively pushed onto the waiting barge, on a sort of skid system. “This is known as a pulling loadout, in which so-called skid shoes will be deployed.” In this area, too, ALE has been breaking new ground, for some time. “Last year we set a new record for pulling loadouts. At the Samsung yard in South Korea, we lifted and pulled two 19,400 tonne topside modules for Gazflot onto the Blue Marlin operated by Dockwise, in quick succession. For each loadout was used 24push-pull units and 48 skid shoes, 24 of which for 500 tonnes and 24 for 650 tonnes each, and all guided over four tracks each with two rails. Both modules were pushed onto the deck of the Blue Marlin, over the vessel’s side.” The pulling loadout method is commonly used at yards in the Middle East and Far East. ALE has successfully completed a whole series of such loadouts, but we are also proficient in loadout operations using so-called self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs). This method was recently Loadout operation in South Korea of one of Gazflot’s topsides onto the Blue Marlin operated by Dockwise (photograph: ALE).

36

2011


employed in the United Arab Emirates for the loadout of the 5,250 tonne hull of the Super M2 Rig onto a submersible heavy load barge. The Breda-based specialists were also responsible for the subsequent launching of the hull via the float-off method. Other technical wonders have included the use of a special ballast system during the loadout operation in South Korea and the offshore installation via the float-over method of the 21,800 tonne LUN-A topside near the island of Sachalin, and the loadouts of six large jackets weighing between 14,000 and 18,000 tonnes in Azerbaijan, all intended for installation in the Caspian Sea. Salvage operation

ALE played a very special role last year in the salvaging of the burnedout and severely-damaged jackup rig West Atlas in the Montara field in the Sea of Timor. Main contractors for the operation were Svitzer Salvage and the Sea Trucks Group. “Before we started the operation, we had to complete much calculation and modelling work. The hoisting eyes and clamps needed for the operation were manufactured for us in Singapore, due to pressure of time. Using these components and eighteen strand jacks (six on each leg) we lowered the hull of the platform until it was able to float freely. The three legs then had to be jacked back up, using a new system developed for the operation, involving eighteen hydraulic cylinders and the rig’s own jackup system.

When this part of the operation was successfully concluded, the West Atlas was safely towed to Singapore.” Tilting frame

Far closer to home and on behalf of platform builders Mercon Steel Structures based in Gorinchem, a special tilting mechanism was designed to facilitate the offshore installation of mono tower platforms. Kees Claasen continued, “Because vertical transport of these so-called Riser Access Towers (RATs) was not an option for Mercon, the decision was taken to instead employ horizontal transport by barge. We fitted a 240-tonne tilting mechanism to the barge, on a sort of slipway. Once on location offshore, the RAT is slid fifteen metres forwards, forcing the tilting mechanism onto the hinge points at the end of the barge. Using strand jacks, the RAT is then gradually tilted upwards, in a controlled operation, until it reaches a vertical position. The hinge system compensates for any movement of the barge. A further set of strand jacks are then used for the actual installation. Finally, the RAT is anchored to the seabed using four large suction anchors.” ALE has now signed a framework agreement for the installation of a total of nine RATs in the Dutch and English sectors of the North Sea, over the next few years, using this unique hinged frame method. As well as for companies in the offshore sector, the Breda-based firm also develops ground-breaking technology for businesses in other sectors.

Artist’s impression of the tilting mechanism for the installation of Riser Access Towers (illustration: ALE).

2011

37


Marine Heavy Transport

Fairstar proudly waves the Fairstar Heavy Transport NV, established in 2006 and operating from its headquarters in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has come a long way in the last five years. Currently operating two openstern semi submersible heavy transport vessels, FJORD and FJELL with two more 50,000 DWT open-stern semi submersible ships, FORTE and FINESSE under construction in China, Fairstar has taken a different approach to an industry with deep roots in Dutch maritime history.

Willem Out, the company’s Chief Operating Officer and a twenty year veteran of ALLSEAS shares his view of why Fairstar is so different today. “Even though the marine heavy transport industry was developed here in Holland, in recent years the industry has overlooked the critical role experienced personnel play in managing the risks that are a daily part of our business. Fairstar is determined to preserve the inherent Dutch character of our company. Our ships all fly the Dutch Flag. Our officers and engineers on board our vessels are experienced Dutch mariners. They are supported by a Dutch Team in Rotterdam that fulfils all of the necessary ship management, crewing, marketing and client interface functions. While our competitors have cut operating costs by using foreign crews and third party fleet managers, Fairstar recognized the value of our services necessitates a significant investment in highly skilled professions. As demand for our services from the Energy Industry increases, the value of our people will become even more important. Safety and environmental awareness are at the forefront of project management today. Fairstar was awarded a USD 100million multi-voyage contract for the Gorgon LNG Project on Barrow Island, Australia. We are already deeply engaged with Chevron and the other JV participants to ensure everyone on board our ships is familiar with the safety and environmental standards set for this project. Our common Dutch culture makes it easy for us to communicate these values effectively with one another. This common Dutch identity is something we are very proud of at Fairstar.” New page

Hylke van den Berg, Fairstar’s most experienced project engineer just returned from Singapore where he worked closely with the crews of FJELL and FJORD loading a total of 42 individual tug boats on the ships in order to transport them from Singapore to Venezuela. Hylke commented: “No one has ever taken on the complexity of loading so many individual floating objects onto a semi-submersible ship before. The forces that we need to manage in any submerging operation are powerful. Maintaining a stable loading environment while the ship is below water and then loading 26 tugs one by one onto the FJORD and 16 tugs onto the FJELL required constant communication during the load outs. Critical adjustments were regularly needed to maintain control and stability. We have been able to develop a lot of trust within our Team at Fairstar and it really helps that we all speak the same language. We were all relieved when the last tug was secure, the decks of the FJELL and FJORD were dry and Fairstar had written a new page in the history of Dutch leadership in the Marine Heavy Transport Industry.”

38

2011


Dutch flag

The FJORD was loaded with 26 tugs.

Project manager Hylke van den Berg: “No one has ever taken on the complexity of loading so many individual floating objects onto a semi-submersible ship before.�

2011

39


YOUR RELIABLE PARTNER IN SHIP, RIG & CREW MANAGEMENT

Founded in 1993, Lowland International NV is an international shipping company. We provide services for parties in the shipping and offshore industry involved in third-party technical ship management and ship operation. Lowland International NV operates on behalf of the ship and offshore owners and maintains a large pool of dedicated professionals from 20 different countries. We serve a specific market for exacting clients. From our offices across 20 countries, we work to fulfill owners’ high expectations globally. Our newest office, Lowland Marine & Offshore in St. Maarten, opened its doors recently. With over 2000 employees worldwide and many international clients, Lowland is a well-known shipping company with numerous vessels under ownership and management. We have at our disposal an extensive work force with which we crew ships and operate offshore rigs. We specialise in the maritime sector, comprising ocean shipping, towage, dredging and associated activities such as ports and fishing. However, we also have access to an extensive pool of professionals with maritime, technical or medical training for other sectors such as inland shipping, offshore, nautical and technical shore-based work. Our St. Maarten office also offers Agent, Administrative and Technical support services (on any name brand engines). Whether it be passenger handling, provisioning, vessel clearing, package/ shipment handling, etc., we are here to serve your needs. For further information please visit our website or contact our office. Lowland International NV Lireweg 14 2153 PH Nieuw-Vennep The Netherlands P.O. Box 3036 2130 KA Hoofddorp The Netherlands T +31 (0)88 557 01 01 F +31 (0)88 557 01 50 E info@lowland.com

Office Antwerp St.-Katelijnevest 61 bus 4 B-2000 Antwerp Belgium T +32 (0)3 22 73 185 F +32 (0)3 22 73 182 E info@lowland.be Office Larnaca 5A, 28th Octovriou 7560 Pervolia Larnaca T +35 724 427 342 F +35 724 427 343 E cyprus@lowland.com

www.lowland.com

Office St. Maarten Welfare Drive 16, unit #10 Cole Bay St. Maarten M +599 587-992 E info@lowland.com


Den Helder to strengthen position

Economic driving force for Noord-Holland With support from the Province of Noord-Holland and neighbouring municipalities, Den Helder intends to further develop its port area. The focus will be on expanding the already rock-solid position of the port city in the logistic chain for the offshore industry, and grasping new opportunities in both the offshore and wind energy sectors. The most important objective is to create additional employment opportunities for the entire region.

The offshore industry is undoubtedly the economic driving force for the Kop van Noord-Holland region, where more than 100 businesses are established that provide services to this sector. Den Helder is ideally situated in respect of the many oil and gas fields in the southern section of the North Sea, and not only has an open sea port but also operates a modern airport for shuttling personnel to and from offshore drilling and production platforms. Approximately 90 percent of the seagoing vessels that visit the port of Den Helder are offshore-related. Over the past few years, the number of port calls has fluctuated between 2,450 and 2,600. A large proportion of these vessels form part of the fleet of 14 platform supply vessels that operate from Den Helder under the flag of the Southern North Sea (SNS) Pool. These vessels are responsible for supplying some 140 oil and gas platforms and a number of drilling and working rigs. The SNS Pool, in which eight oil companies participate, is responsible each year for some 1,700 port calls. Thanks to the renovation and expan-

sion of various dockside facilities, ever larger vessels can successfully dock in Den Helder. According to the municipal port service, due to be privatised in the near future, more and more large diving support and construction vessels, seismics and survey vessels, as well as anchor handling tug supply vessels, safety/ standby vessels and guard vessels are visiting Den Helder. The number of air movements by helicopter from Den Helder Airport to offshore platforms has also risen to 25,000. Every year, 130,000 people pass through the airport’s check-in counters. New trends and opportunities

Because the Den Helder region is facing shrinking employment opportunities due to cutbacks at Defence and a decline in the fishery sector, plans have been developed to break through this negative spiral. Or as alderman with responsibility for port activities Kees Visser put it: “We intend to shift the economic motor into a higher gear. As well as providing optimum support to the offshore sector, we also intend to focus on new trends and opportunities. These

include such activities as the tracing and putting into production of difficult to exploit gas reservoirs (shallow gas), lifetime extension of offshore platforms and the clean decommissioning of platforms and rigs. We also intend to focus on maintaining offshore wind turbines and the generation of energy from biomass.” All of these trends and opportunities are based on the results of two studies. For the first study, local businesses were asked about their plans and expectations for the future. In the second survey, international businesses were asked about their vision on future opportunities in Den Helder. “If we are able to respond adequately, Den Helder could become a real energy hub,” concluded the port alderman. Port plans

To keep meeting the needs of the private sector and to ensure an effective response to the opportunities on offer, the Port Area Development section of the Municipality of Den Helder has drawn up plans for the short, medium and long term. The plans for the short term include renovating and widening

2011

41


Thanks to the renovation and widening of the quayside facilities, ever larger offshore vessels can now dock in Den Helder. This photograph shows one example,

“As well as providing

the Skandi Aker. (Photograph: PAS Publicaties)

optimum support to the offshore sector, we also intend to focus on new trends and opportunities.�

the Visserijkade, to provide additional docking facilities for offshore vessels during the week. In addition, quaysides 43 to 46 will be renovated and widened. Alongside the Noordhollands Canal, a dock is to be created with a business estate for companies serving the oil and gas and wind energy sectors. This area, to be named Kooyhaven, will back onto a business estate covering 50 hectares. For the medium term, in the area adjacent to the Paleiskade, an additional 360 metre-long quay is to be built. Beside this new quay, used by the SNS Pool, additional commercial land will be created offering 3 more hectares of space. However, the plans for the long term are the most ambitious. They include construction of a new seaport in the Marsdiep. In this area, known as the Noordoosthaven, a business estate of some 50 hectares will be established. Preparations for implementing this plan have already been started. In parallel to all of these developments, under the flag of the Maritime Campus Netherlands, work is underway on a range of projects to further strengthen the maritime knowledge cluster active in the fields of research, development and education.

The supply vessels of the SNS Pool are responsible for an impressive proportion of the total port calls. (Photograph: PAS Publicaties)

42

2011


FAIRSTAR HEAVY TRANSPORT

A MODERN FLEET PROUDLY FLYING THE DUTCH FLAG

Fairstar is investing in the future of Offshore Marine Heavy Transport. The safe and reliable delivery of high value cargoes requires modern vessels operated by an experienced and dedicated professional team. The Fairstar Team owns and operates two of the most modern ships in the global Heavy Transport Fleet. FJORD and FJELL will soon be joined by two new 50.000 DWT semi-submersible vessels: FORTE and FINESSE. Fairstar is determined to provide our clients with a compelling alternative for their Marine Heavy Transport needs. Leadership in our business is no longer a matter of size.

Fairstar represents the future of Dutch expertise in the challenging world of Marine Heavy Transport.

To learn more about what makes Fairstar different visit us at: www.fairstar.com

FJORD

FJELL

FORTE

FINESSE

Fairstar Heavy Transport NV P.O. Box 2225 3000 CE Rotterdam The Netherlands t: +31 (0)10-403 5333 f: +31 (0)10-403 5344 e: sales@fairstar.com i: www.fairstar.com


IHC Merwede negotiating on initial projects in new market:

‘Plans for deepsea mining complete’ “We at IHC Merwede are now capable of supplying the first equipment for the deepsea mining industry (water depth of between 2 and 4 kilometres). If a customer now knocks on our door looking for an installation we are in a position to provide it. We are ready to say we are able to take on these projects.” These words were spoken by Jan Willem van Bloois, General Manager of the IHC Deepsea Dredging & Mining unit of the company IHC Merwede based in Kinderdijk. Negotiations are currently already underway on the first (deepsea) projects. Besides diamond mining at a water depth of 300 metres, so far no underwater mining is being carried out in deep waters. The methods and equipment suitable for projects of this kind are currently still very much under development.

Worldwide, IHC Merwede employs a total of some 3200 people. The head office is based in Sliedrecht. The activities of the company are above all focused on the dredging industry, but equipment and vessels are also supplied to other sectors, including (shallow) sea mining and the offshore industry. Van Bloois continued: “We mainly build ships for dredging. On the other hand, we can also supply equipment for mining companies. And since the nineteen eighties, we have also been supplying the oil and gas industry.” He went on to explain the types of vessels and equipment produced for that particular sector. “We build ships for well intervention, diving support, heavy lift vessels and also special vessels for the wind energy market. Ship building is our core business, but we are also fully capable of developing and manufacturing high-end equipment for our vessels, including dredging installations as well as pipe and cable-laying systems.” “We are also in a position to supply a range of special items including so-called hydro hammers, equipped

44

2011

for driving foundation piles in depths of up to two kilometres. IHC Merwede further supplies special equipment for the oil and gas industry, for example for preparing the seabed for pipe and cable laying (trenching, the excavation of trenches in the seabed, a task that can also be undertaken at a depth of approx. two kilometres) and rock dumping installations for example for covering up deepsea pipelines.”

as for example a cutter ladder or a back hoe. For deepwater mining, the situation is different, because a fixed connection is no longer possible. “The obvious solution is remote control equipment. The excavation equipment is linked to a flexible hose or riser system (a process already commonly employed in the oil and gas industry, on a large scale) via which the ore can be raised from the seabed, to the surface.”

Mining

He then went on to discuss in more detail the mining-related activities. “For quite some time, IHC Merwede has been active in the field of maritime mining. Projects in this sector date back to the nineteen fifties. We are involved in the development of equipment for mining in shallow water; in terms of operation, after all, shallow mining equipment is more or less identical to the equipment supplied to the dredging industry. Shallow sea mining involves excavating the sea bed and bringing excavated ore to the surface. In shallow water, platforms are used for this work that have a fixed link to the seabed, such

Plans

“We first started on this line of business three years ago,” explained Van Bloois. The plans themselves are based on the increased shortage of raw materials throughout the world. The growth in world population has also led to greater demand for food. Phosphates are required as raw material for the artificial fertiliser industry.” He considered in more detail the question of material shortage. “Mining on land is slowly but surely becoming somewhat problematical. The wells seem to be drying out. There is also clear demand for very rare earthing metals, used in electronics


Deapsea mining installation.

Vertical slurry system - riser including pump.

Vertical slurry transport system - flexible riser.

Burdock Oil & Gas, the standard in global consultancy services & more... Contract Management Consultancy Payrolling

Outplacement

Search & Selection Interim professionals

Burdock Oil & Gas operates at the heart of the international Oil & Gas ‘world’. We provide skilled manpower and global consultancy services and cover most trades from feasibility studies up to and including close-out reporting. As part of the Burdock Group, Burdock Oil & Gas is managed by a team with extensive hands-on and diverse experience in both upstream and downstream business. We understand your business and the challenges placed upon you. You can rely on us to provide you with access to appropriate Oil & Gas manpower solutions from operational to management level. Burdock Oil & Gas activities and facilities: We are fully familiar with Oil & Gas activities [design – engineering – construction – maintenance – transport – management] and facilities [plants – storage – landfalls – infrastructures – offshore structures]. Burdock Oil & Gas provides: • Offices located worldwide, offering a broad scope of services and networks; • Global database of professionals and specialists in various disciplines; • Strong back-office support in administration such as payroll, insurance, visa and travel advice; • Technical and operational support by Burdock management or by means of associations with other companies.

Training Office address Laan van Zuid Hoorn 15 2289 DC Rijswijk The Netherlands

Postal address P.O. Box 1008 2280 CA Rijswijk The Netherlands

MZ-15487 adv offshore.indd 1

T F I E

+31 (0)70 3191990 +31 (0)70 3193600 www.burdock.com bos@burdock.com

burdock, the standard

19-07-11 11:41


“Ship building is our core business, but we are also fully capable of developing and manufacturing high-end equipment for our vessels.” and for example wind turbines. Many of these metals are to be found in China, a country that has closed its (export) boundaries to a large extent. The response from other countries is to make strategic choices on the basis of their material requirements, and to examine possible alternatives for obtaining those substances. One such option is deepsea mining.” Market leader

“Over the next few years, we wish to become market leader in developing and supplying (deepsea) mining equipment. In our mind it is the logical consequence of the knowledge and skills we have established in shallow dredging processes and mining,” continued Van Bloois. He emphasised that an active Research and Development programme has been launched within IHC to develop the required hardware. “We are also undertaking a very active market approach to increase awareness of our plans and capabilities. We are even offering the market smart business models to encourage investment in deepsea mining, so as to make the step up to a large-scale industry.” Beside diamond mining at a water depth of 250 metres, at present there is no form of mining in deep water, due to the lack of good equipment. Van Bloois pointed out that shallow waters offer different conditions than deep water. “Cutting rock in deep water demands far more power. Within our Research and Development programme, we are currently hard at

46

2011

work investigating the challenges. There are also issues relating to power supply on the seabed. As concerns excavation techniques, they are very similar to those in shallow water. The remote control aspect is also known technology. IHC Merwede already has the knowledge in-house to operate an excavation machine remotely on the seabed. In diamond mining in the coastal waters of Namibia, similar techniques are already in use at a depth of 250 metres. We intend to employ the same technology in deepsea conditions, but then using materials and systems resistant to higher pressures. At a depth of 2 kilometres, the pressure is 200 bar, and that has clear consequences. The techniques must be made capable of withstanding higher pressures, greater power levels and greater forces. Then there is the problem of pumping materials back to the surface. As far as possible we are attempting to make use of existing techniques, but new solutions are also being investigated for raising the excavated ore to the surface. It remains a technological challenge.” Another very important aspect is the environment. “We of course operate our own environmental working groups within IHC Merwede, and are permanently in contact on environmental issues with TNO – the scientific research organisation – and the universities. These are aspects that have been relevant in the dredging sector, for years. As far as possible we attempt to tie in with international organisations including the international Seabed Authority, with a view to contributing to the

system of rules currently being drawn up for deepsea mining.” Ore

What types of ore will be mined? “The most important stock relates to manganese nodules of which there is a ready supply on the seabed, but a supply that is difficult to harvest at a depth of 4 kilometres. Another form of ore is known as SMS or seafloor massive sulphides; these contain very high concentrations of copper but also large amounts of gold, zinc and silver. These sulphides are found at depths of between 1500 metres and 2 kilometres. These are the products on which the deepsea mining market is currently focusing, because above all for copper there is a huge market, offering high yields. Phosphates are another interesting deepsea mining product. These are above all to be found off the coast of Namibia and New Zeeland at a depth of approximately 400 metres.” Maritime diamond mining is another very attractive market. Diamonds are above all found at water depths of between 200 and 300 metres, off the coast of Namibia. Another interesting field of focus is the extraction of gas hydrates. The oil and gas industry are already conversant with this form of energy, above all as a by-product from oil exploration. Gas hydrates, however, are also available on a large scale in the sediment on the seabed, and therefore suitable for horizontal excavation using a deepsea mining installation. Gas hydrates in this form occur at depths starting at 800 metres.”


Seafloor mining tool. Drumcutter with narrow tracks.

Market

The market for deepsea mining is fully in development. Specifically for that reason, we have established a collaborative venture with the Belgian dredging company DEME/ Tideway, in order to be able to offer a total package of services. Collaboration was established right from the first feasibility study for a potential deepsea mine, and now encompasses developing the method right through to implementing the entire operation. “We believe that based on our business model, we will be able to encourage the future mining companies and their investors to move into this groundbreaking industry. It is our belief that sufficient knowledge and technology are already available to make the step into deepsea mining.” Future

So what is the future of deepsea mining? “We have high expectations of this industry. We hope that it will generate a significant component of turnover at IHC Merwede. We see it as an extension to a market we have been successfully serving for a number of years. We expect to receive tremendous interest from all around the world. Even now, potential mineral stocks are being discovered in deepsea locations close to Japan, Australia and South Africa. We believe that there is huge potential for equipment and this industry. Within five years or so, we expect to be generating significant turnover from this sector.”

Seafloor mining tool. Lancelot cutter with wide tracks.

2011

47


Seatools builds a unique underwater robot

Integrated rock-dump ROV for Boskalis November 2010 Seatools of Numansdorp landed the largest order since its establishment in August 1999: Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. – the international provider of dredging services, maritime infrastructure and maritime services – commissioned the specialist submersible company to build a unique underwater robot that will combine the functions of a survey ROV (remotely operated vehicle) with those of a rock-dump ROV. The ROV will soon be stationed on board the new, 159-metre long fallpipe vessel that is currently being built for Boskalis at the Keppel Singmarine Pte Ltd. shipyard in Singapore. Seatools handled the construction and the entire engineering of this spectacular new project, and develop the advanced software that will enable the ROV to be easily controlled from on board the mother vessel.

Rock-dumping is a typically Dutch civil engineering field that has a rich and varied history. Boskalis has always been at the forefront in the development of mechanized rock-dumping. In 2006 it asked Seatools to conduct a study for a fallpipe ROV with an integrated survey ROV. The standard procedure is to use a single fallpipe ROV, using echolocation equipment to deposit the rock in the correct dumping location. However, the silt thrown up by the process as well as air bubbles make it impossible to use multi-beam sonar to survey the end result in the same pass. Therefore, a separate survey run is traditionally made, or a separate free-flying survey ROV is carried to perform a survey at a suitable distance behind the rock-dump ROV. Although these are perfectly workable solutions, the extra time and equipment involved make it an expensive practice. Jan Frumau, managing director of Seatools: “Boskalis asked if we could find out whether a survey ROV could be integrated into a fallpipe ROV in order to enable the rock-dumping and survey procedures to be combined

48

2011

in a single pass. An additional wish was that both ROVs preferably would be easily operated. This meant that current operators working the fallpipe ROV – which is also known as the rock-dump ROV – had to be able to operate the survey ROV. We therefore had to come up with a concept in which the rock-dump ROV operated as a tether management system. In other words, the rock-dump ROV serves as a launching platform for the survey ROV.” Integration

In the summer of 2007 – after more than a year’s research – Seatools presented the final concept to Boskalis. The proposal comprised a main ROV fitted with two lateral thrusters, with a stainless steel frame in which the survey ROV is carried underwater. Once it arrives at its operating depth, the survey ROV flies away from the rock-dump ROV to perform its own task practically automatically. The link between the two ROVs comprises a pair of tethers, which are always under tension. This allows the survey ROV in fact only two instead of four freedoms

of movement, which simplifies the operator’s job. Another novel feature is the deflector attached to the underside of the rock-dump ROV: it can be configured to dump the rock to either side of the submersible or the stones can be spread at a larger breadth. Like the ROV, the deflector is controlled from the bridge of the new Boskalis fallpipe vessel. Boskalis received the innovative concept with great enthusiasm. Seatools was then asked to further develop the design and to participate in in-depth discussions with Boskalis specialists on such matters as the integration of the complete ROV combination in the fallpipe tower. Complex

Jan Frumau: “All in all we’re dealing with a rather complex and fairly large structure. The fallpipe ROV can develop a lot of power and carries a substantial amount of survey equipment, but now the survey ROV has to be added to that. It had to remain manageable and compact enough to be lowered through the moon pool, so it certainly posed a double challenge to our engineers.


Components had to be carefully shoehorned into the available space to make sure the assembly didn’t grow to three times its size. And all the while the configuration needed to be kept simple in order to make it easy to operate. Of course, we also had to consider such aspects as reliability. Given the total project scope of building a new fallpipe vessel, the construction cost of the ROV is relatively a small part of this. On the other hand, the ROV is the ship’s single most important piece of equipment; it’s essential for getting the job done. A single failure in a working component of the total system must never result in an uncontrolled termination of a rock-dumping job. Both ROV’s are based on extremely robust mechanical designs of the components (differently than at standard ROV concepts) to minimise repairs and maintenance. This is why redundant design has been used for all the main components in the integrated ROV, including the power packs.”

All the software required to control the two ROVs was developed in-house by Seatools. A mathematical model was first made of the complete ROV as well as of the fallpipe vessel and the umbilicals. This model was also used to test the design of the control system. In other words, before the assembly of the integrated fallpipe ROV commenced in early 2011, the entire design had been tested in a virtual environment at the Seatools offices in Numansdorp. Strength

The main distinguishing feature of Seatools is the quality and expertise of its staff. They speak the language of their clients and are focused on finding customer-specific solutions. This requires a high level of client participation in the development process. Arjen Klop, Marketing & Sales manager: “Our strength is that we look upon each project as a challenge, which is partly why Seatools is less formal than other companies.

Everything we produce is custom made. All we want is for our customers to be more than 100% satisfied with the end product. Regular in-depth communication with the client plays a crucial part in this process.” Seatools has a proven track record where the construction of fallpipe ROVs is concerned. Its engineers have helped create no fewer than eight fallpipe ROVs, with this one for Boskalis bringing the number to nine. As far as Seatools know, there are only eleven operational rock-dump ROVs in the entire world. Seatools delivered the integrated ROV to Boskalis around mid August this year. After that the impressive ROV was transported by boat to the shipyard of Keppel Singmarine for installation and commissioning. If all goes according to plan, sea trials of the complete ROV combination will take place by the end of 2011.

‘All in all we’re dealing with a rather complex and fairly large structure.’

2011

49


Barge Master

Mastering Barge Movement Compared to a jack-up platform, a standard crawler crane placed on a standard barge is a lot cheaper. The barge and crane configuration, however, typically has a very limited operational weather window. The issue of limited operational weather windows is also prevalent when using Platform Supply Vessels (PSV). For flat top barges, a significant wave height of only 30 cms already causes large swings at the top of the crane boom making working dangerous. Now, thanks to a Dutch invention called the Barge Master, both onboard safety and the operational weather window of standard barges are significantly increased. The same applies to the weather window of Feeder Vessels when the vessel is equipped with a Barge Master.

Two years ago Barge Master, in cooperation with Bosch Rexroth, developed the system. The system is now in production and will be ready for operation in July 2012. The man who made Mammoet world famous by lifting the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk, Frans van Seumeren, has taken a significant share in the new company. The other shareholders are the founders and directors of the company, Martijn Koppert (38) and Jan Paul van den Bos (39). Frans van Seumeren is also the chairman of the Barge Master Supervisory Board.

50

2011


Barge Master and the MARIN Maritime Research Institute have successfully concluded the Scale Model tests for the first C400 Barge Master.

The C400 can carry a 400t crane or, alternatively, compensate loads up to 700mt when used as a supply platform.

2011

51


Lifting operations up to 600 tonnes could continue now in sea state conditions with a wave height of up to almost 3 metres compensating 95% of the motion.

Martijn Koppert´s idea was to stabilise the crane without the use of jack-up legs. An object on a floating pontoon is subjected to the six degrees of freedom (DoF), namely: 1. Moving left and right (swaying); 2. Moving forward and backward (surging); 3. Turning left and right (yawing); 4. Moving up and down (heaving); 5. Tilting side to side (rolling); 6. Tilting forward and backward (pitching). The first three DoF’s, sway, surge and yaw, are restrained by the use of anchors or D.P. systems keeping the barge on a fixed location. The remaining three, heave, roll and pitch are controlled by Martijn´s Barge Master. It is these

52

2011

movements that the Barge Master measures and counteracts. Early calculations and simulated movements provided a numerical model which showed that a 1.5m significant wave height could be compensated to provide a platform for the crane, driven by three hydraulic actuators. Lifting operations up to 600 tonnes could now continue in sea states with a waves of up to almost 3 metres high. The Barge Master can compensate upto 95% of the motion of the barge. Martijn looked to Bosch Rexroth to help design the control system for his idea, they agreed immediately and were extremely enthusiastic and eager to help with the design. He then looked to Marin to test the prototype scale model for the stability of the design.


Compensation of roll, pitch and heave.

The tests were carried out in the Marin Shallow Water Basin in Wageningen. This basin has a length of 220 metre and a width of 15 metre The wave conditions which were applied to the model simulated a significant wave heights of 1.2 and 1.5 metres. For the testing they built a model of the barge and crane to a 1:18, scale which means all dimensions are 18 times smaller than in reality. With this scale, 1 kg in the scale model mass represents 6 Tons in reality. The 3 hydraulic cylinders of the full scale design are modelled using linear spindles driven by electric motors. The scale model spindles extend above the platform, because they are longer than the scaled hydraulic cylinders due to their construction. The scale model moves 4 times faster than in reality, due to the scaling of time. The results from the study were very promising: the performances of the Barge Master system were quantified

Fixation of surge, sway and yaw.

by comparing the heave, roll and pitch of the barge and platform. In the optimised test setup, the motion compensation performance of the roll, pitch and heave are all 94% or better. This proved to Martijn and his team that the numerical model calculated in theory was accurate and therefore feasible in reality. Based on the scale model test results, the cylinder stroke was increased from 2 to 2,5 metre to improve the motion compensation performance and to reduce the occurrence of stroke limit events. Roll decay tests to determine the natural roll period and roll damping of the vessel were performed with an active and passive compensation platform. Results showed that the active Barge Master leads to a shorter natural roll period but to a similar roll damping as the passive barge master. The vessel stability is therefore not negatively influenced by the Barge Master system.

A good agreement was found between the results of the scale model and the numerical model. Therefore, the numerical model can be used to develop future Barge Master applications for varying vessels/ barges, environmental conditions, mooring systems and platform loading conditions. Barge Master will have a fully operational platform ready for installation by July 2012. The sets will be available either for sale or rental. As they are containerised units they will quickly be available all over the world. Martijn Koppert looks forward to the time when the first Barge Master leaves the harbour in front of his office and becomes operational, making offshore lifting operations safer and increasing workability of standard crane barges.

2011

53


Wagenborg Nedlift:

Europe’s expert in land rig moves Wagenborg Nedlift’s Business Unit Transport has focused on relocating land rigs throughout Europe for 30 years now. Specialised work that the company performs for a whole series of drilling contractors. Even so, a move performed in April this year will be recorded for posterity as one of the more challenging jobs performed by the company. The job involved moving four very large land rigs over distances varying between 1700 to 2500 kilometres for KCA Deutag.

“After an intensive preparation period of four to six weeks, we started moving the rigs in April,” says Erik Maassen van den Brink, who manages the Business Unit Transport for Wagenborg Nedlift in Schoonebeek. “The first phase involved moving one of KCA Deutag’s T-61 land rigs from their storage facility in Niederlangen, Germany, to Aljubarrota in Portugal. Transportation of this large land rig required 92 full truckloads, seventeen of which were ‘convoi exceptionnel’ shipments. A ‘convoi exceptionnel’ is a load that exceeds three metres in width. It took us just eight days to load up the components for this land rig in Niederlangen, transport them to Aljubarrota, assemble them there and finally commission the completed rig. That really is an outstanding performance as the distance covered was almost 2500 kilometres. The return journey took us to Logrono in Spain first, where we dismantled a T-208 land rig, loaded it onto the vehicles and transported it back to Niederlangen. This involved 98 full truckloads, fourteen of which were ‘convoi exceptionnel’ shipments. Immediately after unloading the T-208 in Niederlangen, we picked up a T-65 there before travelling a distance of 1700 kilometres to Bordeaux in France. As this type of land rig is somewhat smaller, a ‘mere’ 56 full truckloads were required. After leaving Bordeaux, we reported to Madrid where we picked up a T-46, which needed to be returned to Niederlangen. This was a rig that we had transported from Schoonebeek to Spain two years earlier. So all in all, we performed a total of four complex rig moves, to the client’s complete satisfaction, in a period of exactly five weeks.” Necessary evil

Many of the shipments made by Wagenborg Nedlift involve moving land rigs from one European location to another. Erik Maassen van den Brink continues: “A rig move like this is a necessary evil for drilling contractors. So it has to be executed as quickly as possible. In collaboration with KCA Deutag and a sister company, Foxdrill, which is also part of the Wagenborg Groep, we have developed and implemented a system that allows us to dismantle land rigs with

54

2011


the minimum loss of time, transport them to their new location and then reassemble and re-commission them. We have a purpose-designed scenario for this, which can be adapted to include the lessons we learn from new jobs. This is an ongoing process. The collaboration with Foxdrill means that we can offer the complete process as a one-stop shop package to drilling contractors. The benefit for the contractor is that all communication takes place with a single party. As a result, we have invested in all the essential equipment such as cranes, materials handling equipment and trucks that are required in order to perform a rig move like this both quickly and efficiently, and at a competitive price. Furthermore, in addition to our many years of experience, we can also call on the support of an extensive network throughout Europe.” As we have already mentioned, moving a land rig requires extensive preparation. Project manager Guus Reinders explains: “We visit the new drilling site and, based on its topography, draw up a plan showing the best locations for our cranes during the reassembly phase. We also agree a dismantling and reassembly schedule with Foxdrill. Next, we reconnoitre the route, apply for transportation permits (or exemptions), arrange transport coordination and agree a detailed transportation sequence plan with Foxdrill. Everything is designed to ensure that the work can be carried out without interruptions and loss of precious time.” One of the many land rigs that have been moved by Wagenborg Nedlift (photo: Wagenborg Nedlift).

2011

55


Wagenborg Nedlift’s Business Unit Transport has focused on relocating

Many of the shipments made by Wagenborg Nedlift involve moving land

land rigs throughout Europe for 30 years now (photo: Wagenborg

rigs from one European location to another (foto: Wagenborg Nedlift).

Nedlift).

Guus Reinders is a great believer in hands-on supervision of the logistics process and is always physically present during the rig move itself. This has earned him the nickname of ‘truck pusher’. “We normally use our own cranes for dismantling and reassembly in the Netherlands and Germany. In more distant parts, we mainly use equipment provided by local crane operators. Transport coordination is also outsourced in the countries concerned.” One problem with ‘convoi exceptionnel’ road shipments is that no uniform regulations and legislation exist in Europe, so obtaining permits is often very time-consuming. This is a major problem in France in particular. “This also explains why we chose to execute part of three of the four moves for KCA Deutag by water,” Guus Reinders continues. “We used roll-on/roll-off ships operated by Transfennica for the rig moves from and to Portugal and Spain. The trucks with the ‘convoi exceptionnel’ loads were driven on

56

2011

board in the Belgian port of Zeebrugge in Belgium and unshipped again in Bilbao in Northern Spain. This avoided problems and long delays in France.” Design optimisation

The heaviest components in a rig move are the mud pumps and drawworks, which each weigh nearly 60 tonnes. Some of the other components are also heavy; for example, the generators, which weigh 38 tonnes or more. “The weight is not so much a problem as the width of the loads. Allowing for a maximum width of three metres at the design stage minimises the number of transport permits (or exemptions) that have to be applied for. In the past, land rig design and manufacture focused solely on the drilling process itself and transportation was hardly considered. However, we and KCA Deutag have now optimised the design of the T-208 so effectively that this type of land rig is not just easily dismantled and reassembled, it can also be efficiently transported. The rig

is almost completely containerised. In four years of development, we have succeeded in reducing the time required for a T-208 rig move from eight to just five days.” KCA Deutag now even calls the T-208 a ‘modular and fast-moving rig’. In addition to transporting land rigs, Wagenborg Nedlift also performs all kinds of other transportation tasks for the oil and gas sector, including transportation of modules to production sites, transportation of the NAM L09-FF platform over land and sea from Delfzijl to Schiedam and load-out operations using SPMTs. The company was also closely involved in NAM’s Groningen Long Term Project, providing all the logistical services for this project. On a final note, the order for 26,000 shipments of pipe sections for the 400 kilometre long OPAL gas transport pipe that was recently laid in Germany between Greifswald and Dresden was particularly memorable.


WHEN Reliability COUNTS...

Data link A

Data link B

Fugro ad Uplink data message

Uplink data message

Houston NCC

Perth NCC

Trunkline for exchange of data

...COUNT ON FUGRO Leading offshore vessel operators rely on Fugro for high performance satellite positioning. Fugro Satellite Positioning services are used for dynamic position reference on a wide range of vessel types including diving support Fugro NV Tel: +31 (0)70 311 1422

vessels, platform supply vessels and multipurpose support vessels.

www.fugro.com Fugro Seastar AS Tel: +47 2150 1400 www.fugroseastar.no 2011

57


C O N F E R E N C E A N D V I S I T O R R E G I S T R AT I O N N O W O P E N !

VISIT WWW.OFFSHORE-ENERGY.BIZ TO REGISTER ADMISSION TO THE EXHIBITION IS FREE

EXHIBITION & CONFERENCE

11 & 12 OCTOBER 2011 AMSTERDAM RAI | THE NETHERLANDS

OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS E&P | TRANSPORT AND STORAGE | MARITIME SERVICES OFFSHORE WIND | OFFSHORE SUPPLY | OFFSHORE CONTRACTING | OFFSHORE VESSELS

OPENING HOURS EXHIBITION TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER 10.00-19.00 | WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER 10.00-15.30

CONFERENCES PREVIEW GLOBAL ENERGY OUTLOOK CONFERENCE TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER 09.00 - 12.30 DEEPWATER GAS CONFERENCE TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER 13.30 - 17.30 UPSTREAM INNOVATION CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER 09.00 - 12.30

OFFSHORE ENERGY 2011 TOPICAL SESSIONS TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER 09.30 - 14.00 WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER 09.30 - 14.00 SIDE EVENT WITH NOGEPA: DRILLING & WELLS TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER 13.30 - 17.00 SIDE EVENT WITH IRO: DECOMMISSIONING WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER 14.30 - 16.30

Conference sponsored by Media Partners

Created and produced by

In association with

Supported by


Amsterdam to open doors to international offshore community

Offshore Energy 2011 reflects confidence in oil and gas industry As energy demand is again increasing, the year 2011 marks a turn in the oil & gas industry with increased investments along the entire value chain. These investments come with important technical, operational, organizational and environmental challenges. At Offshore Energy in Amsterdam, where over 300 exhibitors will be showcasing their solutions and over 50 conference speakers will share their expertise, the international offshore community meets to discuss these challenges.

The post Macondo paradigm shift regarding risk management, future operations in remote or even hostile environments and the acute need for a skilled workforce are but some of the challenges the industry faces today and that will be debated as part of the Offshore Energy conference program. Offshore Energy Conference Manager Femke Hoogeveen: “We continue with our formula of concise sessions on one specific topic. In addition, we offer three more elaborate conferences and two side events which we organize with partners. A key consideration in programming the conference is to make each part separately bookable to leave sufficient time to visit the exhibition.” Created and produced by Navingo, the Rotterdam based maritime and offshore media group, Offshore Energy has enjoyed continuous growth since its inception in 2008. Event manager Annemieke den Otter is optimistic about the 2011 edition. “In four years time, the number of exhibitors has quadrupled. In October, we expect to welcome over 300 companies and 5,000 visitors at our exhibition.”

Has Offshore Energy been immune to the economic and financial crises? Den Otter, firmly: “No. Our 2010 edition sold out, but many customers remained reluctant to the last month.

This year is definitely different. Some exhibitors reserved their space even before the official registration started and we see that the average booth space per exhibitor has increased.”

2011

59


Offshore Energy as a barometer for the industry? Den Otter: “In a way. At least it’s safe to say that Offshore Energy 2011 reflects the confidence that governs the industry today.” Job Route

Among the companies exhibiting at the Amsterdam RAI is a host of internationally operating leader firms. Offshore Energy 2011 boasts top names among which Heerema Group, Dockwise, Van Oord Offshore, Fugro and Damen Shipyards Group. Primarily a B2B exhibition, Offshore Energy also offers its exhibitors tools to spot new talent. Tessa van Hees, Marketing / Sales Manager Events, explains: “Dutch companies like Heerema, Huisman Equipment and Jumbo but also foreign companies

like Franklin Offshore and Saudi Aramco will make use of our career package. They clearly want to reap the benefit of being amid so many potential employees with an offshore and maritime focus in one place.” Companies booking a career package will have a job route sign on their booth, job descriptions in the Offshore Energy event catalogue and can advertise postings in several of Navingo’s media. The importance of skilled professionals is also addressed at the Global Energy Outlook Conference, one of the main conferences. Mick McAward of Burdock, the engineering and technical recruitment consultancy, will argue that in the oil and gas industry a skilled workforce is

B O O K N O W T O P A R T I C I P A T E I N T H E F I R S T D AY O F O F F S H O R E E N E R G Y 2 0 1 1

Fly with Navingo and Brandmarion to Offshore Energy in Amsterdam YOUR PLATFORM FOR THE FUTURE

THE COMPLETE PACKAGE ON 11 OCTOBER INCLUDES: Return flight Aberdeen – Amsterdam or Stavanger – Amsterdam including all taxes Host Transfer Airport Amsterdam – Event venue Amsterdam RAI and vice versa Entrance Ticket Special welcome at the exhibition Departure at Stavanger 06.35 am Departure at Aberdeen 07.15 am Flight times can change.

Offer Aberdeen only £ 698 Offer Stavanger only € 888,-

EXHIBITION & CONFERENCE

11 & 12 OCTOBER 2011 FOR MORE INFORMATION, TERMS & CONDITIONS AND APPLICATION FORM, PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITES:

WWW.OFFSHORE-ENERGY.BIZ AND WWW.BRANDMARION.COM

60

2011


Conference Program at a Glance increasingly seen as a strategic enabler. As over 25% of experienced technical professionals working for E&P companies are older than 50 years and the vast majority of them will retire within the next five years, the industry has to find, recruit and train a new generation of professionals to produce more complex hydrocarbons. Retention of technical experience within a company can then make a difference for a company’s bottom line. The same conference will also discuss other topical issues such as the future of offshore drilling, the impact of changing IOC-NOC relations and new developments in the North Sea. Coby van der Linde, Director of the Clingendael International Energy Programme, a think-tank, will offer comments on the geopolitical context of the industry, including the conflicts over disputed oil and gas provinces.

During the meeting of the Drilling & Wells cluster, an Offshore Energy side event organized with the Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association NOGEPA and the Association of Dutch Suppliers in the Oil and Gas Industry IRO, oil and gas managers and drilling contractors will discuss new solutions and industry best practices to deliver safe and effective wells. As new projects come on stream and new equipment is being built, other structures will have to be dismantled. Over the next decade, decommissioning costs for oil and gas platforms in the North Sea are estimated at around 30 billion Euros per year. The Decommissioning Seminar, a side event organized in cooperation with IRO and Decom North Sea, an industry body, will offer insights on various abandonment solutions like dismantling, recycle and re-use.

11 October Global Energy Outlook Conference Deepwater Gas Conference Topical sessions on Offshore Wind, Marine Spatial Planning and Heavy Lift Drilling & Wells Cluster Meeting (in cooperation with NOGEPA and IRO)

12 October Upstream Innovation Conference Topical sessions on Wave & Tidal Energy, Deep Sea Mining and Unconventional Gas Decommissioning Seminar (in cooperation with IRO and Decom North Sea)

Deepwater gas

The time of easy oil and gas is clearly ending and political disputes pale in contrast with the technical and operational challenges. But operators and contractors never cease to innovate in E&P technology. As energy demand is again on the rise, strong business cases for oil and gas allow operators to invest in increasingly difficult projects. At the Deepwater Gas Conference and Upstream Innovation Conference, industry experts will discuss the economics of unlocking difficult offshore resources and new inventions that make their production possible. Safe wells

In the aftermath of the Macondo blow-out, new drilling operations are governed by more stringent regulation.

Platform for the future

In addition to the three main conferences and two side events Offshore Energy also features short sessions giving a quick update on specific topics. Sessions offered are: wave & tidal energy, offshore wind, marine spatial planning, deep sea mining, heavylift and unconventional gas. Event manager Den Otter concludes: ”People come to Offshore Energy to build and strengthen their network and to soak up new product information. The extensive conference program presents the offshore community the opportunity to share ideas and to create common agendas for the future of the energy industry. Offshore Energy truly is Your Platform for the Future!”

Visit www.offshore-energy.biz to read about Offshore Energy’s Committee of Recommendation, conference program details and updates on the exhibitors list and speaker faculty.

2011

61


TAILOR-MADE SUBSEA SOLUTIONS Reliable. Durable. Available. Seatools leads the way in custom engineered innovative tools and instrumentation for the worldwide subsea and dredging market. Our advanced simulation capabilities minimises risk and reduces sea trial requirements.

TO DISCOVER MORE VISIT WWW.SEATOOLS.COM

SEAWELLS_HALF_PAGE_ver2.indd 1

18/03/2011 15:04:57

your reliable partner Van Beest B.V. Manufacturer and supplier of wire rope- and chain accessories with offices in The Netherlands, Germany, France and the USA. Registered trade name Green Pin速, a genuine made in Holland product.

Visit us at Offshore Europe 2011 in Aberdeen, booth 3B110!

Green Pin速 Standard Shackles and Green Pin速 Polar Shackles are DNV 2.7-1 type approved

BEES_11374_ADV_beurs_aanpassing_DEF.indd 1

Member of Van Beest International Tel. : +31 184 41 33 00 Fax : +31 184 41 49 59 E-mail: sales@vanbeest.com

www.vanbeest.com

08-08-11 14:04


Into the future with creative enthusiasm Future success will depend on the ability to come up with new ideas and the willingness to challenge conventional ways of doing things. With creative enthusiasm, we will work on combining skills, knowledge and creativity to come up with new concepts, solutions and products that can carry the offshore and maritime sector into the future. This statement was given by CEO Gunvor Ulstein and deputy CEO Tore Ulstein of the Ulstein Group in their house magazine Ulstein Today earlier this year.

Marine and offshore operations are becoming more complex and global. To meet higher standards and demands for efficiency, safety and green responsibility is a must. For nearly a century, ULSTEIN has been able to spot and exploit new opportunities and retain forward momentum through changing times in the maritime business. This work is based on a continuous exchange of knowledge and experience in the maritime cluster between oil company, contractor, shipowner, designer, supplier and shipbuilder. The company’s vision is to create tomorrow’s solutions for sustainable offshore and marine operations. As per March 2008 the Ulstein Group is also a majority stakeholder in Netherlands based Sea of Solutions. Ulstein Sea of Solutions is market leader in the design of complex offshore construction vessels, and gained a solid reputation for refreshing and innovative offshore ship designs and turning these projects into reality for her clients. The company develops projects for operators, contractors and ship owners in the offshore drilling, construction and production market, as well as the maritime transport market. Future market trends and end user needs are the key drivers for

developing and providing our new floating concepts to the offshore oil and gas industries and the offshore wind industry. In 2010 Dutch offshore contractor Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC) selected Ulstein Sea of Solutions to develop a new Deepwater Construction Vessel. Based on ULSTEI N’s SOC 5000 design, a customised version was developed: Aegir, the Norse god of the seas. Compared to the original SOC 5000 design, the Aegir has an increased length of 210 metres and a 28 m long moonpool for J-lay and reel-lay operations. A crane with a revolving lift capacity of 4,000 metric

tons is installed at the starboard aft quarter together with deepwater lowering equipment to reach a water depth of 3,500 meters. The vessel will be built at Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering in Korea, which contracted ULSTEI N to support the further engineering of the vessel. In May 2011 Ulstein Sea of Solutions and NLI from Norway introduced a new, integrated derrick solution based on existing drilling equipment, readily available in the market. With the development of the ‘Northern Light’ drilling derrick an alternative solution is provided based on proven and well known industry technologies

Integrated derrick offers a clean drill floor and advanced safety and maintenance.

2011

63


Dit augait augait By combining the offshore ship

design expertise of Ulstein Sea of Solutions with the experiences of

IDEA Heavy Equipment in developing mechanical constructions, the opportunity is created for innovation of the overall design. Here exemplified by ‘The Windlifter’, bgdfbndfgz a result of earlier cooperation between the two companies.

to contractors and shipyards worldwide. The fully integrated derrick includes the drillfloor and substructure and can be transported, delivered and installed as one turnkey unit either from a shipyard or from NLI’s construction yard. The derrick consists of a box beam structure with a collapsible/retractable top part to pass bridges. Pipes, cables and elevator all run inside the derrick legs, allowing for a sheltered environment, reduced maintenance costs and increased safety. As such, the derrick is very suitable to be upgraded for arctic operations. This new derrick design uses conventional drilling equipment readily available in the market, but because of its lay-out offers a clean drillfloor and much more operational flexibility as three operations can be simultaneously

64

2011

performed. This is achieved by having the BOP and riser string handling outside of the derrick as is the case for X’mas tree deployment. Stand / casing building is performed within the derrick. At the end of April this year a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed, which outlines the main principles of how the Ulstein Group and Netherlands based IDEA Heavy Equipment are joining forces. A new company was established under the name Ulstein IDEA Equipment Solutions b.v. which combines ULSTEIN’s offshore vessel design, marine equipment packages and construction capabilities with mission equipment design and construction of IDEA Heavy Equipment and the interfaces between them. This is the second Ulstein venture in the

Netherlands after the purchase of the majority share in Ulstein Sea of Solutions, which demonstrates ULSTEIN’s continuous internationalisation process and to find opportunities to create value through enhanced knowledge and innovation. “The successful cooperation with Ulstein Sea of Solutions has made us very confident that the cooperation with IDEA should also further enhance ULSTEIN’s foothold in the heavy offshore segment of the market,” says Tore Ulstein, COO of Design & Solutions in ULSTEIN, and continues: “Therefore we have appointed Bob Rietveldt of Ulstein Sea of Solutions as managing director of the new company to work in close cooperation with both Arjan Boezeman and Gilbert Rezette, the owners of IDEA Heavy Equipment.”


Offshore Europe 2011

Dutch participants at IRO pavilion Hall 3 BAKKER 3D106

TIDEWAY

AYOP

3D100

3D110

SEATOOLS 3C107

6th–8th September 2011| Aberdeen | UK

BIGLIFT

GEVEKE

3C100

3C106

KEPPEL 3C110

VAN AALST

AIRBORNE

IMT 3B103

3B101

3B107

HEINEN & HOPMAN

WAGENBORG

3B100

3B106

lounge

VAN BEEST 3B110

NOBLE DRILLING

HSM 3A101

3A111

Offshore Europe (OE) is the largest oil & gas conference and exhibition outside North America. A truly global audience of engineers, technical specialists, executives and industry leaders gather to source and discuss new exploration & production technology, to debate new ideas and to discover the solutions that will deliver sustainable oil & gas in the future. The Dutch pavilion is situated in Hall 3, stand number 3A100, 3B100, 3C100 and 3D100. The IRO stand (3A107) is shared with: Offshore Energy GustoMSC Fischcon Techno Fysica BV, Centre for Measurement Techniques United Offshore Services VOF

3A107

DAMEN SHIPYARDS

KRONIOS

3A100

3A110

2011

65


Allard-Europe is a reliable partner for companies around the world. Every day, our steel and iron foundry produces new cast parts on highly advanced machinery using the latest technologies. Our in-house machine shop with CNC machines enables us to finish everything to the highest quality standards under our own control.

Allard-Europe NV Veedijk 51, 2300 Turnhout Belgium phone fax mail site

+32 (0) 1442 1111 +32 (0) 1442 5200 info@allard-europe.com www.allard-europe.com

Atlas Copco Rental BV Merwedeweg 7, 3336 LG Zwijndrecht The Netherlands

Range of materials: carbon steel, low alloy steel, austenitic stainless steel, martensitic stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, wear resistant steel, white cast iron, etc.

New measuring systems have been implemented and a new heat treatment furnace has been installed for more accurate analysis of C, S, N, O and H. In our machine shop, we are investing in: • a new vertical turning and boring mill • new 5-axis controlled milling and boring machine with a machining length of up to 13 m. We sincerely hope that Allard-Europe will become your future partner!

Together with our passionate team, we aim to continue to merit our position as market leader. As a result, we are investing €20 million in new machinery, buildings, people and capacity. The purchase of a new induction furnace has increased our foundry’s melting capacity to over 37 t.

P04

Atlas Copco Rental responds to the need of the

services dedicated to offshore applications.

offshore industry, by providing temporary air

Our engineers provide total solutions to specific

and power solutions to help minimize downtime

issues and due to our worldwide presence, our

and maximize production. With our offshore

support network is 24/7 available, even in case

proof screw compressors and generators, it is

of emergency. That’s how we envision building

our highest priority to be our customer’s trusted

a relationship that looks beyond continuity and

partner for air solutions.

is committed to sustainable productivity.

All our rental material complies with safety

Our Rental Division has been granted triple

regulations, as it is designed in a DNV 2.7.1-

certification, which demonstrates our

approved protective crash frame and has all

commitment to the quality of our services.

necessary offshore requirements built-in. phone fax mail site

+31 (0)10 23 10 110 +31 (0)10 23 10 111 verhuur@nl.atlascopco.com www.atlascopcorental.nl

With roots in early drilling technology and decades of experience we can guarantee you

With Atlas Copco Rental, you are sure and

reliable, safe and cost-effective equipment and

secure, on and offshore.

Offshore Europe 2011 Stand 3D106

Bakker Sliedrecht Electro Industrie B.V. P.O. Box 25, 3360 AA Sliedrecht The Netherlands phone fax mail site

66

+31 (0)184 436 666 +31 (0)184 436 677 info@bakker-sl.nl www.bakkersliedrecht.com 2011

Electrical system integrator. Bakker Sliedrecht has become an international and leading field player in the world of electrical engineering for marine applications. We are continuously looking for optimum and innovative solutions, with the aid of state-of-the-art and conventional electrical and mechanical techniques by advising, designing and building of: - drive and control systems - automation systems - switchboards and MCC’s - control desks - e-motors and generators - cabling / installation - project management We are specialized in: - diesel-electric propulsion/thruster systems, including DP systems

- submersible motors and techniques - harmonics and FMEA analyses Bakker Sliedrecht is carrying out world-wide projects turn-key and/or package based, in offshore, dredging, research vessels, fishing, merchant shipping, navy, inland shipping. Bakker Repair is taking care of maintenance, repair and winding of motors, generators, transformers, in high as well as low voltage. Quality, safety and environment conditions constantly have our attention. Our quality systems of management and services fully comply with ISO 901 en VCA standards. No ocean too deep, no country too far!


Offshore Europe 2011 Stand 3C100

BigLift Shipping B.V. Radarweg 36, 1042 AA Amsterdam The Netherlands phone fax mail site

+31 (0)20 448 8000 +31 (0)20 448 8333 info@bigliftshipping.com www.bigliftshipping.com

Barge Master bv Karel Doormanweg 9d 3115 JD Schiedam, The Netherlands phone mail site

+31 10 409 0060 info@barge-master.com www.barge-master.com

BigLift is the world market leader in the field of heavy transport shipping. We have long standing clients in the oil & gas, mining and power generating industries, moving their equipment for multi-billion projects worldwide. A team of dedicated, highly skilled professionals, with years of experience and the mindset to think creatively, enables us to offer clients innovative and safe solutions for their technically and logistically complex requirements. We strive for innovation and excellence, adhering to high standards of Health, Safety, Environment and Quality. BigLift project managers and engineers work from conceptual design and planning until the execution and completion of a project,

for instance for development of an offshore oilfield, in close cooperation with clients from all over the world. All temporary or permanent modifications to the fleet as well as plans for newbuildings or conversions are developed by BigLift staff in-house. BigLift’s fleet currently comprises 14 specially designed heavy lift vessels. Two further specialised heavy lift vessels, with lifting capacities up to 1800 mt in tandem are under construction.

Make a wave compensation platform your competitive advantage

Barge Master is a product with a broad range of applications. Essentially all marine lifting operations up to 500 Ton can be performed safer and quicker when using a Barge Master.

Barge Master develops and produces wave compensated platforms for the marine and offshore / near shore constructionindustry. Motion compensation platforms for cranes or supply barges are typical examples of Barge Master applications. Barge Master is developed together with Bosch Rexroth and Marin maritime research institute. Barge Master provides : • Increased safety during offshore lifting operations • Increased workability during offshore lifting operations

phone fax mail site

+31 (0)78 696 9011 +31 (0)78 696 9571 offshore@boskalis.nl www.boskalis.com

Barge Masters can be utilized as: • Motion compensation platform for cranes on vessels • Motion compensation platform for cargo during vessels to platform transfers Custom built Barge Masters can be developed and built according to client specific requirements. Basically any crane on a vessel can be mounted onto a Barge Master, foundation and ship interfaces will be modified where necessary.

P02

Boskalis Offshore, part of international dredging and marine contractor Royal Boskalis Westminster, provides offshore contracting and engineering activities to upstream oil & gas clients.

Boskalis Offshore bv P.O. Box 43, 3350 AA Papendrecht The Netherlands

BigLift: Key in Heavy Lift

Boskalis Offshore focuses on the following activities: - Pipeline intervention (free span correction, seabed levelling, pipeline/cable crossing, stabilisation, protection, thermal insulation) - Platform & wellhead intervention (foundation, protection, ballasting) - Landfalls & shore approaches (pipe installation, shallow water earthworks, civil works, land-water transition) - Decommissioning (platform de-ballasting, pipeline (de-)burial, drill cuttings management) - Cables (laying, pipeline/cable crossing, protection, shore approach, landfall)

The principal services of Boskalis Offshore comprise: Pre-sweeping, (deepwater) dredging, pre-trenching, post-trenching, subsea rock installation and sand placement. Boskalis Offshore sets new records with regard to for instance optimisation in the design of rock protection, dynamic scour protection and deepwater dredging. Boskalis Offshore is backed by the dense global network of the Royal Boskalis Westminster group. Including its share in partnerships, Boskalis has around 14,000 employees and operates in 65 countries across six continents. Boskalis has a versatile fleet of over 1,100 units, including fallpipe vessels, trailing suction hopper dredgers, cutter suction dredgers, backhoe dredgers and grab dredgers. Boskalis Offshore is ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certified and a member of IMCA. 2011

67


Breakbulk and Offshore Wind (BOW)

At this moment (2011), BOW Terminal facilitates

terminal in Vlissingen.

the construction of three major UK-based offshore wind farms: One of these projects is

BOW Terminal B.V. Finlandweg 10 P.O. Box 66, 4380 AB Vlissingen The Netherlands phone mail site

+31 (0)118 486 332 info@bowterminal.nl www.bowterminal.nl

In the port of Vlissingen, a new terminal,

performed under the authority of Statoil,

named BOW Terminal is operational since

operator for the development phase of Scira

2010. This terminal area of 20 Ha, with a quay

(Sheringham Shoal Offshore Windfarm). In

length of 340 metres (BOW quay), is excellently

relation to this project the MS Oleg Strashnov

located on the North Sea coast at the mouth

of the company Seaway Heavylift will regularly

of the Western Scheldt, with direct access to

visit the port of Vlissingen. The Oleg Strashnov

open sea, without any locks or bridges. The

is responsible for the transport of the

availability of permanent heavy lift capacity

foundations for the wind mills. With a lifting

makes this terminal a perfect location for

capacity of 5.000 mt and a length of 183m this

breakbulk and offshore (wind) projects.

is one of the biggest crane ships in her class

Additional to the mentioned BOW quay, an

Besides the offshore (wind) industry, BOW

extra quay length of 1400 metres is available.

Terminal also focuses on other breakbulk, project, non-ferrous and heavy lift cargoes.

P04

Breman Machinery makes components for

They have the people, machines and facilities

builders of machinery, engineering bureaus

under their own roof.

and industrial end users, such as; offshore

Breman Machinery Sasdijk 20, 8281 BM Genemuiden The Netherlands phone fax mail site

+31 (0)38 385 5373 +31 (0)38 385 6528 info@breman-machinery.nl www.breman-machinery.nl

companies, the military, aerospace companies

• all machining and non-machining

and other industrial firms.

From simple structures to complex mechanical

• welding and structures

components.

• assembly and fitting

Work-pieces of high precision, often with

• corrosion protection

processing of (heavy) materials

extreme dimensions and weights. Work-pieces that weigh tens or even hundreds

Breman Machinery uses their unique machine

of tonnes and are made to a precision of a

capacity for their own projects and to supply

hundredth of a millimeter. Samples of work-

specific components to third parties. What they

manship.

aim for is custom-designed solutions.

What’s unique about Breman Machinery is that

ISO9001, ISO3834 and VCA-certified.

they are able to produce these components and

Extreme precision!

structures entirely in house.

P29

Burdock brings highly educated specialists and

experience in their own sector. From execution

professionals into contact with clients who

to services on management level, they will

operate in the industrial, technical and financial

support organisations with their knowledge and

world. Burdock possesses the hands-on

expertise. In our provision of services, safety,

experience needed in day to day operation.

quality and continual improvement are central.

We speak your language, we understand your

Burdock - Head office Treubstraat 15e, 2288 EG Rijswijk The Netherlands phone fax mail site

68

+31 (0)70 319 1990 +31 (0)70 319 3600 info@burdock.com www.burdock.com 2011

challenges. Burdock was founded in Delft in

Burdock’s objective is supplying added value

1991. Since then, our head office has moved to

by identifying talent and specialists for your

Rijswijk (South-Holland) and we have become

organisation and making them available to you.

one of Europe’s largest independent organisa-

We strive for long-term relationships, both with

tions offering consultancy and management

you, as clients, and our specialists. Your contact

services. Our network is international with

at Burdock will have knowledge and experience

offices worldwide.

in the industrial, technical or financial world. As a result, your needs will be assessed quickly

Professionals from Burdock are motivated

and quick connections can be made in order to

and well educated specialists with extensive

find a solution for your capacity issue.

P45


Offshore Europe 2011 Stand 3A100 The Damen Shipyards Group has developed from a single shipyard in 1927 and has grown to over 30 shipyards and related companies. The Damen Shipyards Group serves a global market and is considered to be the market leader in the maritime sectors in which it operates.

Damen Shipyards Group P.O. Box 1, 4200 AA Gorinchem The Netherlands phone fax mail site

+31 (0)18 363 9911 +31 (0)18 363 2189 info@damen.nl www.damen.nl

Damen Shipyards Gorinchem is an independent member of the Damen Shipyards Group. Continuous product development has resulted in a series-building program based on different types of tugs, workboats, high-speed craft, fast ferries and short sea cargo vessels. We also have cost effective facilities for one-off vessels. Damen vessels are used in many sectors of operation by a variety of customers such as, dredging companies, shipping companies, towing and salvage companies, port authorities, government organizations, coast guards, etc.

Fairstar Heavy Transport N.V. is the leading provider of marine heavy transport solutions specializing in high-value cargoes for the offshore and onshore energy and construction industries.

Probably, best known is our Technical Cooperation Service which not only involves the supply of vessels as pre-fabricated shipbuilding kits to overseas customers, but also the equipment and training to assemble them. The Damen Services division prides itself in providing a comprehensive range of maritime services to our clients. Designed and packaged for maximum benefit our services extend from warranty work on our vessels, product support and parts supply to vessel delivery and marine related project management. - Regional services teams. - World-wide infrastructure - After-sales warranty - Service Projects - Parts Supply - Vessel delivery

P05

Fairstar is based in Rotterdam and quoted on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: FAIR).

Fairstar owns and operates two of the most modern semi-submersible heavy transport ships in the global fleet, FJORD and FJELL.

Fairstar Heavy Transport N.V. Weena 316-318, Tower A 3012 NJ Rotterdam, The Netherlands phone fax mail site

+31 (0)10 403 5333 +31 (0)10 403 5344 sales@fairstar.com www.fairstar.com

The 50,000DWT, open-stern semi-submersible vessels FORTE and FINESSE are currently under construction with Guangzhou Shipbuilding International in China and will be owned and operated by Fairstar when they are delivered in 2012.

P43

Fugro Offshore Survey represents individual Fugro companies worldwide, working together to provide the breath and depth of service that our international customer base demands.

Fugro Survey B.V. P.O. Box 128, 2260 AC Leidschendam The Netherlands phone fax mail site

+31 (0) 70 311 1800 +31 (0) 70 311 1838 FSBVinfo@fugro.com www.fugro.com

Fugro collects and interprets data related to the earth’s surface and the soils and rocks beneath and provides advice, for purposes related to the offshore wind, oil and gas and the construction industry. Fugro operates around the world at sea, on land and from the air, using professional, highly-specialised staff and advanced technologies and systems.

the basis for drilling hazard analysis; pipeline & cable route surveys, and also supplies survey & ROV for construction support services, from platform & pipelay support to installation of subsea field developments. -

Desktop and Feasibility Studies Positioning Services Construction Support Services Geophysical Surveys Pipeline Route Surveys Environmental Surveys ROV Intervention, Survey and Inspection Oceanography and Meteorology

Fugro Offshore Survey specializes in the provision of a range of positioning and navigation services, both on the surface and subsea, for survey and engineering operations at sea; investigation of shallow marine geology that is

P65 2011

69


00%

10%

95%

00%

100%

10%

00%

5%

Heerema Fabrication Group P.O. Box 58, 3330 AB Zwijndrecht The Netherlands phone fax mail site

+31 (0)78 625 0425 +31 (0)78 619 4069 info@hfg-heerema.com www.hfg-heerema.com

Heerema Fabrication Group (HFG) is a leading

The fabrication locations in Holland (Vlissingen

contracting group which specializes in the

and Zwijndrecht) and the United Kingdom

engineering and fabrication of large and

(Hartlepool) are all equipped with large

complex offshore structures to the global oil

prefabrication and assembly halls and rank

and gas and energy industry. HFG distinguishes

amongst the largest indoor construction

itself by offering an integrated engineering

facilities in Europe. All locations are large

and fabrication approach, allowing execution

enough to handle several large projects

of EPC(I) projects to be delivered on time and

simultaneously. Units fabricated by HFG range

within budget.

from jackets, topsides and modules for leading oil & gas and energy companies.

HFG owns three large fabrication facilities, situated around the North Sea, a workshop

The engineering company HFG Engineering

facility in Poland and a multi-disciplined facility

is specialized in fabrication-driven

engineering company in the Netherlands.

engineering and practical designs to offer clients an integrated engineering and fabrication approach.

HRW Logistic & Industrial Services B.V. is the Fourth Party Logistics service partner for the European oil and gas industry. As a chain manager, HRW is always exploring the best solutions for its customers’ supply chain activities, applying the One Stop Shopping principle.

HRW Logistic & Industrial Services B.V. Nijverheidsweg 19, 9418 TX Wijster The Netherlands phone fax mail site

+31 (0)593 564120 +31 (0)593 565149 info@hrw4pl.com www.hrw4pl.com

Scope of activities HRW’s scope of activities includes, among others: - General cargo haulage - Lifting & hoisting - Liquids logistics - Industrial cleaning - Tank(container) rental - Warehousing - Equipment maintenance - Financial services

Huisman is a globally operating company with extensive experience in the design and manufacturing of heavy construction equipment for leading offshore companies. Our equipment, varying from stand-alone to highly engineered and integrated systems is designed and manufactured under own management, from concept to delivery.

Huisman P.O. Box 150, 3100 AD Schiedam The Netherlands phone fax mail site

70

+31 (0)10 245 2222 +31 (0)10 245 2220 info@huisman-nl.com www.huismanequipment.com 2011

Cranes: Delivery of customised cranes, range > 100mt : • Mast Cranes • Pedestal Cranes • Knuckleboom Cranes • Land Cranes • Floating Cranes • Gantry Cranes • Wind Turbine Installation Cranes Pipelay: Turnkey delivery of pipelay systems: • Seven Seas: Flex, Reel & J-lay • CSO Deep Blue: Flex, Reel & J-lay • Seven Oceans: Reel-lay • Pertinacia: Flex-lay • Balder: Deepwater J-lay • Saipem 7000: Deepwater J-lay • Sapura 3000:

C04

Specialists on all levels All services are executed by specialist companies, carefully selected on their high safety standard, reliability, operational excellence and cost efficiency. Every HRW employee has ample knowledge of and experience in the oil and gas industry. Our custom made IT tools enable them to provide you with uniform management reports, synergy and optimization based on economies of scale. HRW: your log(ist)ic partner for supply chain management in the oil and gas industry

Deepwater S-lay • Borealis: Deepwater S-lay • Aegir: Deepwater J-lay and Reel-lay Drilling: Land and Offshore Containerised Drilling Unit • Drillships • Well Intervention Systems • Semi-submersible Drilling Rigs Winches: Anchor Handling & Towing Winches • Deepwater Installation & Mooring Systems Heave Compensation Systems: Active Heave Compensated Winches • Active Heave Compensation by Cylinders • Passive Heave Compensation. We are internationally known for our technical and creative solutions, timely delivery of high quality equipment with full capacity from day one and a high reliability guarantee during operations. Our globally operating service network provides service support after delivery and installation on location and by remote access.


ITC Management BV Herenweg 133, 2100 AA Heemstede The Netherlands phone fax mail site

+31 (0)23 548 5200 +31 (0)23 548 5252 sales@itctowage.com www.itctowage.com

Boosting on a forty years long experience, ITC

assistance, tanker lifting and rig moves.

combines the advantages of a relatively small

The shallow draft shoal busters are suitable

organization with short communication and

for towing, supplying and anchor handling.

decision lines with a multi-discipline, inventive

These units are also excellently suitable to

organization and specialized equipment.

support offshore wind farm installation and

ITC owns and operates a fleet of modern

maintenance.

anchor handling tug supply vessels up to

ITC will continue their commitment to the non

12000BHP/145t BP, anchor handling tugs and

conventional marine industry and the offshore

towage & salvage tugs, and shoal busters.

industry offering tailor made solutions with our versatile fleet and integrated ISM and ISO-

ITC is operating globally and offering ocean

9001:2008 management and quality systems.

towage services for the heaviest and largest

The professional services performed by well

floating objects. Since 2005 ITC is building up

maintained vessels, manned by experienced

a fleet of dedicated offshore support vessels,

and well trained crews are supported by an

which have been involved in FPSO installation

experienced office staff, including former

projects, 24/7 anchor handling, rig supply and

masters and chief engineers.

Your Reliable Partner In Ship, Rig & Crew

With over 2000 employees worldwide and many

Management. Founded in 1993, Lowland

international clients, Lowland is a well-known

International NV is an international shipping

shipping company with numerous vessels under

company. We provide services for parties in

ownership and management. We have at our

the shipping and offshore industry involved

disposal an extensive work force with which we

in third-party technical ship management and

crew ships and operate offshore rigs.

ship operation. We operate on behalf of the ship

Lowland International NV Lireweg 14, 2153 PH Nieuw-Vennep The Netherlands phone fax mail site

+31 (0)88 557 0101 +31 (0)88 557 0150 info@lowland.com www.lowland.com

and offshore owners and maintain a large pool

We specialise in the maritime sector, comprising

of dedicated professionals. We serve a specific

ocean shipping, towage, dredging and

market for exacting clients. From our offices

associated activities such as ports and fishing.

across 20 countries, we work to fulfill owners’

However, we also have access to an extensive

high expectations globally.

pool of professionals with maritime, technical or medical training for other sectors.

Our newest office, Lowland Marine & Offshore in St. Maarten, opened its doors recently and an

For further information please visit our website

office in Brazil will be opened in May 2011.

or contact our office.

Mammoet is the world‘s leading tailor-made

• load-in, load-out and transport of huge

heavy lifting and multimodal transport solutions

jackets and other modules;

specialist. Our core business is the transport,

• lifting, handling and assembly of topside

shipping, installation (including horizontal and vertical positioning) and removal of heavy or large objects, to and from any location, onshore and offshore. Mammoet’s activities are focused on the petrochemical industry, civil engineering

Mammoet Karel Doormanweg 47, 3115 JD Schiedam The Netherlands phone fax site

+31 (0)10 204 24 24 +31 (0)10 204 24 42 www.mammoet.com

P40

components such as living quarters; • transport, load-out and assembly of ship sections for FPSO construction; • sea fastening, ballasting and barge mooring operations;

projects, the power generation sector, offshore

• decommissioning operations;

and marine projects.

• weighing and jacking; • provision of heavy lift ships and rental cranes.

Mammoet offers the offshore industry all the expertise, people and equipment for onshore

More info about Mammoet:

and offshore operations such as:

www.mammoet.com

• the design, engineering scheduling and management of all transport logistics;

P14 2011

71


The MME-Group is famous for its know how and experience in the field of materials and corrosion. We are active in the active in the marine and offshore industry with the following divisions:

Materiaal Metingen Europe B.V. MME Group Rietdekkerstraat 16, 2980 GE Ridderkerk The Netherlands phone fax mail site

+31 (0)180 48 28 28 +31 (0)180 46 22 41 r.broeck@mme-group.com www.mme-group.com

Marine Services Department • Corrosion Surveys • Thickness Measurements • Steel Surveys and Close-up Inspections • Rope Access, allowing access to remote areas. Zinc and Aluminium anodes MME is one of the leading producers of high quality sacrificial anodes at a competitive price. MME has the experience and know how for the design and engineering of cathodic protection systems. Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) This more advanced technique of cathodic

protection has been further developed into a fully digital MME-ICCP system, allowing automatic storage and analysis of all relevant data. Marine Growth Prevention Department The MME Marine Growth Prevention System has been designed to prevent marine growth in both open- and closed cooling water systems. MME has introduced new Power Supply Units, capable of communicating with the Vessel Management System, and reacting on it’s information, which leads to lower operational cost combined with optimal protection. Harbinger Access Equipment Department Under MME’s tradename Harbinger, the company has expanded into a major supplier of marine and offshore aluminium gangways and accommodation ladders, both for new buildings as for replacements.

Offshore Europe 2011 Stand 3C107 Seatools B.V. was founded in August 1999 by a team of specialists with many years of experience in underwater technology.

Seatools B.V. Jan van der Heydenstraat 11 3281 NE Numansdorp, The Netherlands phone fax mail site

+31 (0)186 68 00 00 +31 (0)186 68 00 01 info@seatools.com www.seatools.com

Seatools provides complete solutions for almost any underwater challenge. Seatools’ success is proven by its extensive track record, supplying high-quality tailor-made underwater equipment to clients worldwide in the offshore industry, dredging and civil construction. Seatools’ aim is to create customer value by supplying solutions that increase the efficiency and performance of client’s operations.

hydraulic, electrical/electronic and software design and implementation. With all the required skills in-house to design and build complete systems, Seatools’ compact organization guarantees a rapid response and a solution that matches the clients requirements.

The success of Seatools is due to the “all in one company” concept. Seatools’ staffing is such that it can provide a complete solution to complex problems in-house, including the mechanical,

Seatools is accustomed to working for demanding clients and to applications where delivery on-time and first-time right are of crucial importance. Once the design is completed, manufacture of components is outsourced. Assembly, testing and commissioning are always carried out by Seatools’ own staff. After delivery, dedicated training programmes and rapid-response service are provided to ensure optimal performance of our products.

Over the years Siri Marine has gained

The applications are numerous; assistance

P62

extensive experience in offshore transporta-

of heavy transports; heavy lift; heave

tion and vessel motions in particular. This

monitoring; tow monitoring and also as a

experience is used to prepare transport

decision support system for marine transpor-

manuals and advice offshore personnel and

tation & offshore operations.

onshore organizations on the specific conditions that may occur during transport. Siri

Siri Marine BV Stationsweg 1, 9901 CP Appingedam The Netherlands phone fax mail site

72

+31 (0)59 662 0997 +31 (0)59 665 0810 info@sirimarine.nl www.sirimarine.nl 2011

With this system safety margins can be

Marine aims to be the preferred supplier of

significantly relaxed because the vessel

motion monitoring services in the offshore,

motions and forces are known and always

shipping and shipbuilding industry, using

in control. Another important effect is a

the Siri Marine Motion Monitoring System.

significant reduction in both costs and risk.

Our main objective is to provide a system

Our standard products are suitable for

which is easy to install, has an excellent user

various applications; however client specific

interface and provides high quality data for

applications can be developed, obviously

real-time monitoring of motions and post

always with the philosophy of being

processing, if applicable.

“Fit for Purpose”.


Thrustmaster manufactures heavy duty

industry at reasonable cost. What sets us apart

marine propulsion equipment such as:

in the marine propulsion industry is our

Deck-mounted propulsion units, Thru-hull

dedication to quality and the commitment to

azimuthing thrusters, Retractable thrusters,

treating our customers as our business partners.

Tunnel thrusters, Z-drives and Portable dynamic positioning systems (PDPS).

At Thrustmaster, we constantly strive for the continuous improvement in the quality and

Thrustmaster Europe B.V. Broeikweg 31a, 2871 RM Schoonhoven The Netherlands phone fax mail site

All products are developed in-house by a

value of our products. While many of the

complete engineering department for mechanical,

traditional thruster designs available on the

hydraulic, electrical and electronic design.

market are more than 30 years old, we have

Besides the Dutch office, Thrustmaster maintains

taken every advantage of new technology for

its own sales & service office in Houston,

product improvement.

Dubai and Singapore.

+31 (0)182 381044 +31 (0)182 388332 info@thrustmastereurope.com www.thrustmastereurope.com

The assurance of quality is reflected in our Since the founding of the company 28 years

dedication to the ISO-9001:2000 standards

ago, Thrustmaster has consistently provided

and classification society type approvals

quality products and service to the marine

of our thrusters.

P21

Offshore Europe 2011 Stand 3D100

Tideway bv P.O.Photo: Box 7074, 4800 GB Breda GeoSea/DEME The Netherlands

ut for you.

s for various offshore wind on the side of it, resulting

e was successfully used in

mail site

from Brazil to Australia; and from India to the

specialist for the oil and gas industry, employing

Middle East and Russia. Technology is used

over 300 staff to support six offshore construction

much more frequently due to the increasing

vessels. Tideway’s DP II fall pipe vessels Rolling-

international demand for energy. This requires

stone, Seahorse and Flintstone have a sophisti-

special knowledge and Tideway profits from

cated fall pipe system, which places rocks up to

its parent company’s expertise, the renowned

2,000 m at precisely the right location. Tideway

Belgian Dredging, Environmental and Marine

also uses trailing suction hopper and backhoe

Engineering company ‘DEME’.

dredgers to construct pipeline trenches where

Engineered to perfection. phone +31 (0)76 520 4140 fax

Tideway Offshore Contractors is a Dutch offshore

+31 (0)76 520 4150 info@tideway-deme.nl www.tideway.nl

pipelines reach the coast, and constructs landfalls

Tideway does not only provide services around

of oil and gas pipelines. To help clients explore

the many oil and gas pipelines built offshore

and exploit energy sources, Tideway is always

worldwide, but is also involved in high-voltage

searching for innovative solutions according to

cables at sea. Tideway projects are executed

the motto: ‘Energizing the Future’.

more and more at extreme places; further

Tideway works on groundbreaking projects all

offshore, closer to the North or South Pole

over the world: from the North Sea to Mexico;

or in very deep water.

Innovative piling concepts, engineered to

construction of Permanent Works. For example

perfection. When you have a great idea, you

“piling templates” which are needed for the

want a reliable partner to work it out for you.

construction of a LNG jetty or “upending

GeoSea chose TWD as its partner to engineer

frames” required to drive foundation piles

innovative piling frames for various offshore

for an offshore wind farm.

on GeoSea’s piling frames

eering.

5-8-2011 15:54:49

wind projects. The frames are placed below Photo: GeoSea/DEME

Innovative TWD piling concepts.

Engineered to perfection.

Karel Doormanweg 7 3115 JD Schiedam, The Netherlands

GeoSea chose TWD as its partner to engineer innovative piling frames for various offshore wind

resulting in an optimised working radius for the

Netherlands, where we work with approximately

onboard cranes. The first frame was successfully

35 experienced mechanical engineers and

used in the Ormonde offshore wind farm project.

draftsmen.

frames for Thornton Bank and Borkum-West.

projects. The frames are placed below the jack-up barge, rather than on the side of it, resulting in an optimised working radius for the onboard cranes. The first frame was successfully used in

+31 (0)10 294 0374 +31 (0)10 294 0376 info@twd.nl www. twd.nl

TWD has its main office in Schiedam, the

Subsequently TWD worked on GeoSea’s piling

When you have a great idea, you want a reliable partner to work it out for you.

phone

the jack-up barge, rather than on the side of it,

for Thornton Bank and Borkum-West.

If you want to know more about TWD, please visit twd.nl.

fax

Together with our partners we realize projects of various sizes, from a complete stinger

the Ormonde offshore wind farm project. Subsequently TWD worked on GeoSea’s piling frames

Temporary Works Design. Your partner in offshore design and engineering.

Temporary Works is the term which is often

design for a pipe lay vessel to a single sea

mail www.twd.nl

used for structures that facilitate the

fastening for a mono pile.

site

2011-07 Add Offshore Holland magazine_FINAL.indd 1

P76

5-8-2011 15:54:49

2011

73


Offshore Europe 2011 Stand 3B110 Van Beest is a leading manufacturer and

accessories, like for example: grade 80 and

supplier for a complete program of high

100 hooks, lifting points, swivels etc. Both product lines are used in many different

quality fittings for lifting chain and steel wire rope. Registered trade marks: Green Pin

lifting applications in various sectors like oil

for shackles and EXCEL® for chain accessories.

& gas, industry, mining, shipping and fishing.

For over 80 years the production of high

In oil and gas production, safety is all-important.

tensile shackles has been our core business.

For this reason Green Pin® Standard and Polar

Van Beest manufactures these high quality

shackles have DNV 2.7-1 Type Approval. Our

Green Pin® shackles in its own production

products comply with a wide range of inter-

facility in the Netherlands.

nationally recognized standards and can be

®

Van Beest B.V. P.O. Box 57, 3360 AB Sliedrecht The Netherlands

supplied with various certificates upon request. A genuine ‘Made in Holland’ product

phone fax mail site

+31 (0)18 441 3300 +31 (0)18 441 4959 sales@vanbeest.com www.vanbeest.com

Since 2007 the EXCEL® chain accessories

Van Beest currently has branches in

factory in France is part of the Van Beest

The Netherlands, Germany, France and USA,

International group. In this factory we

and stock holding distributors in more than

produce an extensive program of chain

75 countries worldwide.

P62

Offshore Europe 2011 Stand 3B110 Van Oord Offshore is an Offshore and EPC

For oil & gas pipeline shore approaches we

Contractor that offers a wide range of services

own a large variety of dredging and

to the offshore oil and gas industry.

installation equipment. This allows us to offer a wide range of marine services that

Our high precision subsea rock installation

entail trenching & backfilling, landfall

activities are vital for the stabilisation and

installation, pipe pulling and shallow water

protection of offshore pipelines, cables and

pipeline and SPM installation works.

other installations such as GBS’s and wind

Van Oord Offshore 2 Jan Blankenweg, 4207 HN Gorinchem The Netherlands phone mail site

+31 (0)183 64 22 00 area.off@vanoord.com www.vanoord.com

farm foundations.

Our track record for EPC contracts is rapidly growing and confirms our ability to manage

With our large and modern fleet of DP flexible

and execute complex projects that include

fallpipe vessels and side stone dumping vessels

detailed design & verification, procurement

we can provide pre-lay and post-lay rock instal-

of materials & services and installation and

lation, scour protection, seabed improvement

commissioning services in one complete

and ballasting services for offshore structures in

package.

water depths up to 1200 m.

C02

Offshore Europe 2011 Stand 3B106

Wagenborg Nedlift B.V. Gideonweg 5, 9723 BM Groningen The Netherlands phone fax mail site

74

+31 (0)50 368 2800 +31 (0)50 368 2849 nedlift@wagenborg.com www.wagenborg.com 2011

Wagenborg Nedlift is a specialist in the area of horizontal, vertical, and special transports. Together with expert engineering and project management, Wagenborg Nedlift offers a complete service for hoisting, heavy transport, and assembly. With more than 400 employees it operates throughout Europe and beyond for clients from the oil and gas industry, the petrochemical industry, the energy sector, and construction and infrastructure. Services Wagenborg Nedlift offers following services: Lifting services & crane rental • Heavy haulage • Turnkey heavy transport and lifting projects • Factory to foundation projects Equipment Wagenborg Nedlift operates following equipment:

- Mobile hydraulic cranes up to 500 tons capacity - Mobile tower cranes - Crawler cranes up to 750 tons capacity - Flatbed trailers, semi low loaders, euro low loaders, 3-bed-4 combinations - Truck-mounted cranes up to 70 t capacity - Modular trailers with 100 tons beam trailer and SPMTs (Self Propelled Modular Transporters) - Gantry systems up to 700 tons capacity and skidding and jacking equipment Our employees have long made safe working part of their normal routine. Safety and quality are top priorities in our operational policy and defined aspects of our management system. We are certified in line with the ISO 9001, VCA** and VVT accreditation systems.


Workfox B.V. Planetenweg 5 2132 HN Hoofddorp, The Netherlands phone fax mail site

+31 (0)23 556 3131 +31 (0)23 556 3135 info@workfox.com www.workfox.com

Workfox BV is a leading service provider in the

operational experience. The innovative design

accommodation, construction and maintenance

of this self-propelled Seafox 5 meets all the

support segment of the oil & gas industry

requirements for installation and support services

world-wide and has been the exclusive manager

in the deeper water depths of the Southern and

for the operation of the Seafox-fleet of jack-up

Central North Sea for clients in the offshore

units since 1991.

wind and oil & gas industry.

In addition to providing accommodation, cater-

Furthermore, on behalf of Owners, Workfox

ing and housekeeping services for hook-up and

offers temporary accommodation units for

maintenance activities, the Seafox units are able

offshore locations and onboard ships. These

to offer support in a wide variety of offshore

TLQ’s comply with all relevant governmental

installation, inspection and repair operations.

and class specifications and combine comfort

The advent of the windfarm installation market

with practical efficiency. They have been

has led Seafox Group to design and build a

designed for offshore oil and gas production

jack-up specifically for this market, incorporating

sites and are capable of withstanding severe

the relevant lessons of 20 years of jack-up

offshore environmental conditions.

ZF Marine Krimpen, formally known as HRP

The ZF Business Unit “Marine Propulsion

Thruster Systems, is in the thruster market since

Systems” is also a leader in the marine market.

1973. ZF Marine Krimpen designs and produces

Coordinated through its headquarters at ZF

a wide range of steerable thrusters for all types

Padova, Italy, ZF Marine has 11 plants located

of applications throughout the marine industry.

in Italy, Germany, Holland, USA, Brazil, China

All products are designed and manufactured in

and Taiwan.

C03

the production facility at Krimpen aan de Lek,

ZF Marine Krimpen b.v. Zaag 27, 2931 LD Krimpen aan de Lek The Netherlands phone fax mail site

+31 (0)180 331 000 +31 (0)180 331 099 info.hrp@zf.com www.zf.com/marine

the Netherlands. The organisation is ISO 9001

ZF Marine supplies complete propulsion systems

certified and designs meet all major marine

and components for all types of vessels -

classification societies.

motor yachts, defence craft, high-speed ferries, workboats offshore- and commercial vessels,

The ZF Marine products are well known

in a power range from 10 to 14,000 kW - to

throughout the marine industry for innovation,

customers including major shipyards and engine

reliability and excellent performance.

manufacturers worldwide.

New building offices and warehouses.

Directly situated on the North Sea! HET

KLEINE

STRAND

IJMUIDEN

For lease information: info@hetkleinestrand.nl

IJmuiden, the Netherlands 2011

75


Photo: GeoSea/DEME

Innovative piling concepts.

Engineered to perfection.

When you have a great idea, you want a reliable partner to work it out for you. GeoSea chose TWD as its partner to engineer innovative piling frames for various offshore wind projects. The frames are placed below the jack-up barge, rather than on the side of it, resulting in an optimised working radius for the onboard cranes. The first frame was successfully used in the Ormonde offshore wind farm project. Subsequently TWD worked on GeoSea’s piling frames for Thornton Bank and Borkum-West. If you want to know more about TWD, please visit twd.nl. Temporary Works Design. Your partner in offshore design and engineering.

www.twd.nl


Offshore and EPC Contractors

Solutions for tomorrow’s world

OFFSHORE ACCOMMODATION & SUPPORT

Van Oord Offshore is an Offshore and EPC Contractor that offers high precision subsea rock installation, trenching & backfilling, landfall installation, pipe pulling and SPM & GBS installation works. With an extensive global track record in the offshore construction industry, Van Oord Offshore has proven its expertise to provide clients with a safe and solid solution for their offshore structures.

, x o f k r o W me in any www.vanoord.com SPM installation

Subsea rock installation

Trenching and backfilling

Landfall construction

at ho ! y g r e n e of d kin

GBS installation

Planetenweg 5, 2132 NH Hoofddorp, The Netherlands info@workfox.com www.workfox.com


02

www.heerema.com

Turning concepts into reality!

Offshore industry is re-discovering IJmuiden

2011

At Heerema Fabrication Group we are turning concepts into commercial reality: from conceptual design to final fabrication and delivery.

Heerema Fabrication Group Noordweg 8 3336 LH Zwijndrecht The Netherlands Tel: +31 [0]78 - 625 04 25 E-mail: info@hfg-heerema.com

nr. 02

At our fabrication location in Vlissingen the largest mobile gas platform of its kind was fabricated. Heerema Fabrication Group was awarded the EPCI contract of the 8,800 tons state-of-the-art F3-FA production platform of Centrica Energy destined for the Dutch Continental shelf. The platform has a total height of 133 metres of which the legs are 75 metres long and weigh 1,200 tons each. The topsides have a weight of 4,000 tons and are 50 metres wide, 30 metres long and 30 metres in height. The picture shows the topsides leaving the fabrication hall in Vlissingen.

offshore holland

Successful engineering and fabrication of large and complex structures for the offshore oil and gas industry demands not only fabrication and facility operating expertise, but also a fabrication-driven engineering focus to ensure on-time delivery within budget.

Odourless, top-quality oil recovered from OBM Gearbox exchange successfully completed

SWEEP reduces costs for exploration and production

Barge Master, another Dutch invention

Check our track record at www.heerema.com

A HEEREMA COMPANY

Dutch knowledge is called in when the going gets tough 6th–8th September 2011| Aberdeen | UK


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.