Subsea & Offshore Magazine April 2016

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April 2016 Issue

European Offshore Energy 2016 | Subsea Equipment & Underwater Inspection Pumps & Valves | Flow Measurement | Hose & Couplings Hazardous Area, Equipment & Services

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29 Nov – 2 Dec 2016

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april 2016

Contents

edi to r s l et t er Welcome to the April issue of Subsea & Offshore Service Magazine, the journal for the Oil and Gas, Subseas, Offshore and Renewables markets.

W ithin this i s s u e INDUSTRY VIEW POINT

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ne w s i n b r i e f

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industry news

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european offshore energy 2016

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subsea equipment & underwater inspection

28

pumps & valves

32

f low m e asu r e m e nt

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ho se & c ou p li ngs

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HA ZARDOUS AREA

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PRODUCT S POTLIGHT

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A - Z D i re c tory

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European Offshore Energy 2016 is just around the corner and is co-located with Drives & Controls, Airtech, Fluid Power & Systems and Plant & Asset Management (12-14 April, NEC, Birmingham) we preview the event and some of the exhibiting companies from (p23). We begin this issue with Dr Ollie Folayan, Aberdeen based chairman of AFBE-UK Scotland who gives his view on why young people must not become disillusioned with the oil and gas industry should continue to pursue a career in engineering (p4). On (p28) Steve Kirk, Area Manager of Harmonic Drive UK explains how high precision gearing is being increasingly used to drill deeper. Headlining this month’s Hazardous Area feature (p38), Abtech introduce their ATEX approved LED streetlight for use in Zone 2 hazardous areas. Next month’s features include Subsea Equipment (ROVs/AUVs, Training & Development, Decommissioning, Cables, Glands & Connectors and Drilling, Exploration & Production. So if you would like to feature in the next issue, please send through your material and images at your earliest convenience to editor@sosmagazine.biz. For advertising and e-newsletter opportunities, please email Jon McIntosh for further information jon@sosmagazine.biz

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April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p3


Don’t give up on engineering, says AFBE-UK’s Ollie Folayan Dr Ollie Folayan is the Aberdeen based chairman of AFBE-UK Scotland. AFBE-UK (Association for BME Engineers) is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes engineering as a career choice among young people from under represented groups, particularly those of black and minority ethnic (BME) origin. Having second thoughts about encouraging a career in engineering? It’s a conversation no doubt shared among many parents at school gates across the North East of Scotland at the moment. Indeed, it’s easy to see why one would think that way. The North Sea oil and gas industry, the most common destination for prospective engineers in this part of the world, is facing incredibly tough times. So, of course, are the families who have been directly affected by the thousands of job losses: 65,000, according to Oil and Gas UK. Additionally the steel, automotive and coal industries were also subject to major changes in 2015. But there is a future for engineering in the UK, and parents and young people should not become disillusioned with the industry as a whole. Firstly, despite the current lull in the oil and gas industry, it’s generally accepted that our dependence on fossil fuels, whether through shale, oil, natural gas or (to a lesser extent) coal will continue for at least the next 50 years. Even if that were not so, the need to devise and implement more environmentally friendly and affordable sources of energy will still require the creativity and skills of new generations of engineers. The fact remains that the UK requires a skilled workforce right across the entire profession, today and tomorrow. The 2015 Engineering UK report states that engineering employers have the potential to generate an additional £27 billion annually from 2022. If the UK is to benefit economically from this, we will need to fill an expected 257,000 new vacancies in engineering enterprises in the same timescale. p4 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

Closer to home, in Aberdeen, there are of course still reserves to be explored and extracted in the North Sea. And the planned low carbon economy could bring an estimated £30 billion of investment in Scotland, as well as up to 20,000 jobs. According to Engineering UK’s 2015 report, the single biggest threat to the ongoing success (of the UK engineering industry) lies with education: to meet demand, we need enough young people to study STEM subjects at schools and colleges. Currently, there are not enough specialist STEM teachers trained to a sufficient level to support this aim. Engineering professionals struggling to find work could take up teaching roles in STEM subjects. Using highly skilled and educated individuals to pass on their experiences to future engineers would be invaluable. It also ensures that young engineering graduates stay within the technical sphere. There are excellent programmes at both the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University and at various other institutions across the UK which provide high standards of training. Add to that the encouragement of politicians (taking the form, for example, of a £12million investment in a skills retention initiative) and the assistance of groups such as AFBE-UK, and it’s clear there is ample opportunity for tomorrow’s engineers.

At AFBE-UK our group of experienced members have been devoted to passing on knowledge to the young people and students through a number of programmes. NextGen is an initiative which is aimed at 12-18 year-olds and involves a series of games and challenges designed to enhance would-be engineers’ problem solving, teamwork and communication skills. Our other major programme, Transition, is open to all university students and apprentices in Aberdeen and looks to prepare engineering students for life in the industry. As part of this particular scheme, events are held which feature: networking, mock interviews and assessment centres, CV reviews and talks about life in the sector. The ultimate goal of AFBE-UK is to inspire, educate and encourage young people of all backgrounds into the profession, ensuring that there is a strong retention of skilled workers for the future. My message to those out there thinking about their next career step is to take a moment and consider engineering not just as an option, but as a big opportunity. For more information about AFBE-UK Scotland please visit:

www.afbescotland.org.uk



GLOBAL MARINE AWARDED EXTENSION TO THE CABLE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR NORTH AMERICA ZONE

CGG Celebrates 50th Anniversary of ARGAS Joint Venture in Middle East CGG congratulates ARGAS, its geophysical services joint venture with TAQA in the Middle East, on its 50th anniversary. Since its creation in January 1966, ARGAS has consistently delivered geophysical innovation and superior technical performance, expanding its business scope from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the whole Arabian Peninsula and Egypt. The first thirty years of operations focused on airborne general geophysics and 2D seismic surveys. A new phase began in 1997 when ARGAS started operating 3D crews, in addition to 2D crews, as part of a large seismic exploration program for Saudi Aramco. In 2001 its 3D crews on Gawar, the largest oil field in the world, started operating non stop, 24/7. The drive ARGAS demonstrated to push back the limits of seismic crew productivity in Saudi Arabia while showing a total commitment to safety at all times became its trademark. In 2003, TAQA took over Petromin’s 51 % stake in ARGAS, with CGG retaining the remaining 49 %. In 2008, ARGAS acquired its first 3D marine survey in the Gulf and in 2010 ARGAS was awarded a three year program to acquire two Ocean Bottom Cable 3D data acquisition surveys in Saudi waters of the Gulf in water depths ranging from 20-60 m. In June 2014, CGG and TAQA strengthened their long term partnership in the Middle East by extending the operating scope of ARGAS to all Gulf countries to better address the growing industry demand for high end seismic solutions throughout the region. Pascal Rouiller, COO, CGG, said: “The creation of ARGAS marked an important milestone in the history of CGG and saw the start of a successful, long-term business relationship in the Middle East. As has been the case over the last fifty years, CGG, through ARGAS, is committed in the future to bringing new advances in geoscience technology in the Middle East to continue to improve understanding of reservoirs in the region.”

p6 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

Global Marine Systems Limited, the world leader in subsea system design, installation and maintenance has been awarded an extension of the North America Maintenance Zone (NAZ) submarine cable maintenance contract up to 31st December 2024. This long-term extension demonstrates the consortium owners’ confidence in Global Marine’s capabilities to deliver highly responsive and well executed maintenance provision to all members. NAZ covers a cable maintenance footprint, which stretches from the Eastern North Pacific to the Equator. Global Marine has been providing cable maintenance services from its base port in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada since January 2012 providing dedicated year round cover to the region. Global Marine’s track record in the North Pacific extends back further, when in 1991 it installed and maintained the first repeatered system linking the US mainland with Japan. This new contract will see Global Marine expand the cable storage capacity at the Victoria depot in British Columbia. Additionally, the purpose built cable ship Cable Innovator will replace CS Wave Venture from the 1st February 2017, bringing improved DPS-2 functionality. The repair vessel stores strategic spares in its cable tanks to support rapid mobilisation in the event of a fault and is equipped with COTDR and deep water ROV capability to support the detection of faults on ultra-long haul systems. “Maintaining submarine telecom systems is something we are good at and very passionate about.” said John Walters, Maintenance Director at Global Marine, “We are delighted to extend our services in this part of the world. The North Pacific Ocean presents a harsh operating environment in the winter months and the appointment of Cable Innovator to Victoria will enhance our responsiveness to maintain those critical internet services in the worst of weather conditions.”

Roxtec UK secures cable seal deal with BASF chemical plant Roxtec UK has delivered a fire proof cable seal solution for one of the UK’s largest chemical manufacturing plants. Roxtec secured the contract with BASF bioacrylamide chemical plant, in Bradford, which produces raw materials for the water, oilfield and mining industries. Roxtec UK Managing Director Graham O’Hare said the firm helped design a structural frame and sealing solution for cables entering the new electrical rooms in order to protect the equipment. BASF’s West Yorkshire site is one of the largest and most productive single site chemical plants in the UK, with an annual output of more than 250,000 tonnes, of which 84 per cent is exported. “This project highlights our bespoke design capability,” said Mr O’Hare. “This involved a structural frame bolted into concrete, and standard Roxtec products modified to seal power and earth cables entering the cable pit and motor control centres (MCC) on site. “It was critical that we provided BASF with a robust and reliable sealing solution to protect the new control equipment. In heavy manufacturing environments like this control equipment is sensitive to dust, humidity and EMI (electromagnetic interference). Our certified solutions provide protection against multiple hazards. The BASF system was specifically designed to deliver passive fire and ingress protection. It has a 60 minute fire integrity rating. The system is future proof with 50pc spare capacity. “Another key feature of our cable seal module is the removable layer design. This enables engineers to manipulate the size of the seal and cater for a large volume of cables, of varying sizes.” Mr O’Hare said during the planning phase design engineers were also able to deploy the innovative Roxtec Transit Designer computer software. “This is our free design software and is the most innovative of its kind on the market,” he said. “It is a highly effective tool for engineers wanting to save time. It enabled the BASF team to produce detailed drawings of cable and pipe penetrations which make the installation process faster.”


Datum360 delivers SaaS to BP’s Azerbaijan Category B Projects A leading global engineering information management specialist has been awarded (and has already successfully delivered), a contract to deploy its robust Software as a Service (SaaS) solution that will standardise engineering information for the largest oilfield project in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian basin.

North-east technology solutions firm secures major FPSO contract A market leading mobile technology asset management provider has secured a significant six figure contract with a global vessel construction firm. Under the three year contract, Arnlea, which is currently working with a number of blue chip customers, will rollout the Ex technology across SBM Offshore’s FPSO vessels leased out to oil companies around the globe, including Brazil, South East Asia and the Gulf of Mexico. The Ex inspection system, which is part of Arnlea’s mobile technology product suite, Intrinsix, will enable SBM Offshore to enhance its inspection and work management operations around hazardous area equipment. Complying with ATEX industry regulations, the system alerts relevant parties to potentially serious issues in a time critical manner, reducing unplanned shutdowns and loss of revenues. Currently the largest selling Ex system in the North Sea, the technology provides the operator with increased control of the safety of its personnel, as well as effective operation and maintenance of its equipment. Its ability to rule out human error also results in both cost and time savings, whilst enhancing efficiency and operational safety across the operator’s fleet. The Intrinsix technology, which was first introduced in 2014, has already been installed on topsides across the globe and is the only product of its kind in the North Sea. It is available as a complete solution or in separate modules, utilising mobile and AIDC (automatic identification and data capture) technology to support inventory, logistics and operations management, and is aimed at transforming the process of capturing data and managing assets. Above: Arnlea Systems Managing Director, Allan Merritt.

Headquartered in the UK with offices around the globe, including Kuala Lumpur and Houston, Datum360 has been appointed the contract by BP to deliver a data warehouse to Azeri-ChiragDeepwater Guneshli (ACG) project located 100km east of Baku. BP’s Category B projects cover three major oilfields in the Azeri sector. These oilfields span over seven platforms including Chirag, Central Azeri and Deepwater Gunashli and have transformed Azerbaijan into a major global energy supplier whilst also redefining Europe’s energy map. Commissioned in 1997, the oilfield has been developed over several phases, with the latest in the series being the Chirag Oil Project. BP recently reported total ACG production in the first half of 2015 averaged at 641,000 barrels per day. As part of its contract Datum360 has implemented its standard engineering data warehouse, PIM360, which has created a central point for collecting standardised engineering information, and as such increased the company’s operational efficiency through eliminating the use of multiple software tools. The company’s SaaS will bring together engineering data from several contractors at project completion in a concise and succinct format. Through implementation of PIM360, BP’s project teams will benefit from extremely fast import and export of data as well as having the ability to view logged activities through an activity feed with the option to share files, documents and emails.

Petroplan expands its African offering Petroplan is delighted to announce its expansion into Mozambique, having received its official business license earlier this month. The Maputo-based team, which is working with one of sub-Saharan Africa’s leading oil and gas companies, will be supported by existing Petroplan offices in London, Houston, Calgary, Dubai and South Africa. Petroplan will be building on this global capability, as well use its 40 years of experience in oil, gas and energy recruitment, to expand its client base in the upstream, downstream and EPC sectors in sub-Saharan Africa. Petroplan provides highly skilled professionals to work within the oil, gas and energy industry and operates across six continents. Petroplan’s ability to offer a tailored service is enhanced by the expertise on the ground in each of their offices worldwide. Petroplan understands how vital it is to provide staff in their offices with local knowledge and who understand the industry challenges in each of their territories. Andrew Speers, CEO of Petroplan said, “We are very excited about the new office opening in Mozambique, which will help us to better service our existing and new clients in sub-Saharan Africa. We are very confident about our future in the region and we look forward to expanding our business there.”


ACTION STATIONS!! - NORTH SEA OIL INNOVATE OR DIE Iain Hutchison, Managing Director of world leading Drilling Engineering experts Merlin ERD, last month urged the Government to encourage oil companies to look “outside the box” and apply innovative solutions. Last week the UK Government acted and, in his Budget Announcement, Chancellor George Osborne gave UK government support by halving North Sea tax obligations. Now it’s time for private industry oil companies to do their bit. In the recent press article MD, Iain Hutchison stated that the industry has the key to unlock cost reductions, protect jobs and make North Sea oil more competitive. Drilling innovations successful overseas are dismissed as not appropriate for the UK, yet they are proven as close to home as Norwegian, Dutch and even German production areas of the North Sea. The time for excuses is passed. There has been enough talking, it’s time for action. Failure is not an option. Our generation will be measured on results, do we really want to be the ones that risk losing most of the estimated 20 billion barrels of oil left in the North Sea? Scottish Engineers have long punched above their weight on the world stage and assisted in delivering British Engineering as an international force of innovation, resourcefulness and resilience. Hutchison and his team are the latest to carry this mantle. Queen’s Award for Enterprise winners and holders of numerous drilling records, they specialise in making marginal oil fields economic through developing innovative solutions. “We’re being suffocated in the UK by people that want to tell us why things won’t work, even when analogous projects have already been delivered overseas. Where have the can do people gone?” asks Hutchison. A confidential report on Advanced Drilling Techniques to the Scottish Government in October 2014, highlighted that these technologies could add 10 billion barrels of oil to UK reserves. In turbulent times, the latest innovations and technologies can and should be deployed to produce oil from existing reservoirs that may have been deemed uneconomic under previous conditions. The opportunity exists to capitalise on untapped reserves adjacent to the current infrastructure and world leading innovators in Germany and Scandinavian countries have delivered world class extended reach and multi-lateral wells under the same North Sea conditions.

p8 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

Extended reach drilling (ERD) and multi-lateral technologies are just two advanced drilling technologies (ADTs) that are part of the wider Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) agenda. Other technologies include managed pressure drilling, under balanced drilling, through tubing rotary drilling and coiled tubing drilling. Despite being a technology leader in many areas, the UKCS has fallen significantly behind other regions in utilising key ADTs. Merlin ERD designs and drills the longest wells in the world using innovative ERD technologies which have enabled operators to extract oil and gas from reservoirs up to 12km away in locations all over the world from Sakhalin to Wytch Farm. ERD and other ADTs offer a vital lifeline for the North Sea by reducing drilling costs, extending field life and increasing ultimate recovery of hydrocarbon reserves often without prohibitively expensive subsea equipment.” Iain added: “If we lose the fantastic infrastructure that has been built it will be lost for a generation. The report made to Scottish Government estimated the value to the UK of exploiting difficult to reach oil could be $1.2 Trillion. If platforms become redundant and offline, a fortune in untapped fuel will be lost with billions of barrels of oil left in the ground.” Recent job losses have been mounting and this creates further concern for the future skill base. Hutchison puts his money where his mouth is, the company have provided free places on their specialist training courses for unemployed drilling engineers and have recently recruited another world leading engineer to their team. Hutchison cites the need to “take timely action to ensure years of intense investment in the North Sea is not lost forever. British drilling engineering leads the world. More wells, cheaper & quicker is the priority to reduce costs. Deploying innovative British technology at home will make marginal hydrocarbon pools economic. Don’t tell me why it won’t work, ask me what it will take, then we’ll go and do it.


Industry news

INEOS INTREPID LEAVES USA CARRYING FIRST SHALE GAS SHIPMENT TO EUROPE The INEOS Intrepid, the world’s largest LNG multi gas carrier left the Markus Hook terminal near Philadelphia bound for Rafnes in Norway carrying 27,500m3 of US shale gas ethane. This is the first time that US shale gas has ever been shipped to Europe and represents the culmination of a long-term investment by INEOS. The shale gas is cooled to -90ºC (-130ºF) for the journey of 3,800 miles, which was expected to take nine to ten days. US shale gas will complement the reducing gas feed from the North Sea. Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman and Founder of INEOS, says, “This is an important day for INEOS and Europe. We know that shale gas economics revitalised US manufacturing and for the first time Europe can access this important energy and raw material source too” INEOS today confirmed that its ship, the INEOS Intrepid, has left the Markus Hook terminal near Philadelphia bound for Rafnes in Norway, carrying 27.500m3 of US shale gas ethane.

This is the first time that US shale gas has ever been imported into Europe and finally gives the continent the chance to benefit from US shale gas economics which did so much to revitalise manufacturing in the USA. The INEOS Intrepid is one of four specially designed Dragon class ships that will form part of a fleet of eight of the world’s largest ethane capable carriers. The INEOS Intrepid has “SHALE GAS FOR PROGRESS” emblazoned along its 180 metre length. Jim Ratcliffe, the Chairman and Founder of INEOS says, “Shale gas economics has revitalised US manufacturing. When US shale gas arrives in Europe, it has the potential to do the same for European manufacturing.” The project has included the long term chartering of eight Dragon class ships and will create a virtual pipeline across the Atlantic; connection to the new 300 mile Mariner East pipeline from the Marcellus shale in Western Pennsylvania to the Markus Hook deep water terminal near Philadelphia, with new export facilities and storage tanks.

To receive the gas, INEOS has built the largest two ethane gas storage tanks in Europe at Rafnes in Norway and Grangemouth in Scotland. INEOS will use the ethane from US shale gas in its two gas crackers at Rafnes and Grangemouth, both as a fuel and as a feedstock. It is expected that shipments to Grangemouth will start later this year. Jim Ratcliffe adds, “We are nearing the end of a hugely ambitious project that has taken us five years. I am proud of everyone involved in it and I believe that INEOS is one of very few companies in the world who could have successfully pulled this off. I can’t wait for the INEOS Intrepid to finally get to Norway and complete the job.”

IChe

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Process safety training

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IChemE courses to help you, your staff and your organisation improve safety and reduce risk. Alternative dates and locations available, visit the relevant website for more information or email courses@icheme.org to request our latest catalogue. HAZOP Awareness 5 April, Rugby, UK www.icheme.org/hazopawareness

HAZOP Study, Leadership and Management 1–3 June, London, UK www.icheme.org/hazopstudy

Fundamentals of Process Safety

Managing the Hazards of Flare Systems

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7–8 June, Rugby, UK www.icheme.org/flare

Asset Integrity Management in the Process Industries

HAZOP Study for the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry

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04/03/2016 11:41 April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p9

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Industry news

TOTAL UK E&P UK SELECTS ASSET GUARDIAN SOLUTIONS SOFTWARE Asset Guardian Solutions Ltd (AGSL), which specialises in protecting companies’ process control software assets, announced that Total E&P UK has selected its software management platform Asset Guardian. The software will help to secure the integrity and improve management of the process control software used to operate Total E&P UK’s offshore developments in the North Sea.

onshore and offshore, have access to the same information, while the workflow built into Asset Guardian prevents simultaneous changes being made to software configuration code. Asset Guardian’s use of MD5 Checksums software provides integrity assurance of files during upload, storage and download.

Asset Guardian software offers a multifaceted, single point solution to manage all requirements associated with the process control software systems that are used to operate key oil and gas assets. Amongst its wide range of capabilities, Asset Guardian provides a centralised, secure repository for storing software files, disaster recovery and software version control.

As part of the project, AGSL is also providing AGSync software, which allows data and files to be seamlessly synchronised between multiple onshore and offshore locations. The ability to synchronise servers will allow Total E&P UK engineers based onshore to transfer new versions of software directly and speedily to engineers located offshore, removing the need to fly software files to remote locations. It also reduces the requirement for transporting software on portable media, which enhances cyber security

Using Asset Guardian to centralise the management of process control software ensures that authorised personnel,

The first Total E&P UK offshore asset to have access to Asset Guardian will be the Elgin Franklin and following a test period the

software could then be deployed on other Total E&P UK offshore assets. “We are extremely pleased to be providing Asset Guardian to Total E&P UK. Installation of Asset Guardian and AG Sync is well underway,” said Sam Mackay, Managing Director of AGSL. “The Asset Guardian solution will complement existing process control software management procedures.” To support the project, AGSL engineers will assist Total E&P UK with the installation of Asset Guardian software and provide User and Administrator training. Since 2004, AGSL has been supplying the oil and gas industry with the Asset Guardian toolset. Dana Petroleum, Woodside Energy, GDF Suez, Inpex, Dolphin Drilling, Stena Drilling, BP, Nexen Petroleum and nuclear energy provider EDF Energy are among those using Asset Guardian to protect and enhance management of their critical process control software assets.

OrbisEnergy launches new £6m grant fund to drive offshore innovation A £6m funding pot has been launched to help businesses develop new ideas, technologies and innovative solutions for East Anglia’s buoyant offshore renewable energy industry.

specialists Nwes; leading energy industry advisory firm, Nautilus Associates; and the world leading innovation and research team at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult centre.

The scheme, backed by European cash, will support innovation in small and medium sized ventures across Norfolk, Suffolk, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

This region has an enviable pedigree, not only being at the heart of the world’s biggest offshore wind market, but our regional businesses are working on, have worked on, or are supporting almost every offshore wind development across the globe. There is world leading expertise and technology here in the East. It is shaping the future of the industry, and our aim is that our SCORE grants will help local companies be part of that bringing fresh ideas and new technologies which can further reduce the cost of developing offshore wind and ensure the longer term role that this vital industry will play in securing our future energy needs. SMEs are incredibly innovative

The SCORE fund, which is more than double the size of the previous £2.5m scheme, has the potential to help 200 companies and create 100 new jobs. The previous SCORE fund invested in 40 innovative projects, supporting more than 50 companies and created new 70 jobs. It was launched at SNS2016, the Southern North Sea offshore energy conference at the Royal Norfolk Showground. The project has been developed by OrbisEnergy, the region’s flagship innovation and incubation centre for offshore renewables. The SCORE team is a partnership made up of enterprise p10 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

but often have limited resources, so we want to encourage them to go further, develop and integrate new products and services, position them in the market place and open doors through new contacts which will lead to profitable contracts. Johnathan Reynolds, Business Development Lead at Lowestoft based OrbisEnergy (which is managing the grant fund). The funding, made available from the European Regional Development Fund, will help eligible SMEs get their new ideas to market more quickly than they could manage on their own added Mr Reynolds. SCORE grants have helped companies with schemes ranging from recycled tyre mats to reduce seabed scour and inflatable sleeves to weatherproof turbine blade maintenance to developing special rigger gloves and seabed mapping systems. The new £6m pot will make grants available ranging from £2,500 to £50,000 covering up to 40pc of eligible costs.


Industry news

HTL celebrate 20 years at the top HTL, a family run manufacturer and supplier of controlled bolting, flange working and portable machine solutions are celebrating 20 years of success. From small beginnings in a facility no bigger than a 128sq.ft single garage in Blyth with two employee’s, HTL has enjoyed a incredible journey of growth over the past two decades to become a recognised industry leader in many industries. Founder Ray Jones, employed his Nephew as his first employee in 1996, and today HTL continues to remain a family run business with several family members including Ray holding key positions within the company. Now with eight global facilities and an extensive product and service portfolio, HTL distributes its product lines to over 40 countries and is considered the largest European independent privately owned supplier to the Controlled Bolting Sector. It all started by supplying a small range of Hydraulic Torque Wrenches to the Oil and Gas Industry, and has grown to offer a complete range of customer first solutions to a variety of sectors including Power Generation, Renewable Energy, Subsea & Decommissioning, Chemical, Heavy Engineering and the Construction Industry. With tens of thousands of stock items readily available at HTL’s impressive 65,300sq. ft Cramlington Corporate HQ, coupled with unrivalled bolting expertise, the once small supplier has one of the largest rental fleets in Europe; a true example of their commitment to deliver second to none customer service. HTL Founder Ray Jones comments: “It has been an incredible journey and the initial enthusiasm and commitment that empowered HTL 20 years ago is just as present as it ever has been with all HTL staff across our global entities.” To celebrate the occasion, HTL have opened a VIP invitation to visit their Corporate HQ in Cramlington, Northumberland which includes an exclusive tour of HTL’s impressive facilities along with lunch and refreshments. To register your interest please visit:

www.hiretorque.co.uk/vip-invite

Top image: HTL’s Corporate HQ at Cramlington, Northumberland. Bottom image: Ray Jones, Founder of HTL.

April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p11


Industry news

Adopting A Smarter Strategy To Recover From Redundancy The drop in oil price this year has seen a huge consequential surge in redundancies across Aberdeen, seeing thousands of skilled, prominent workers becoming unexpectedly out of work. Unfortunately, the rate of redundancy is not set to recover anytime soon, with the region expected to suffer a net loss of *23,000 jobs over the next five years. That’s 4,000 each year to 2020. A recent report has also highlighted that an expected 12,000 new entrants are expected to join the offshore energy industry in the next five years, making the competition for available roles extremely tough. While it might seem there is no light at the end of the proverbial job seeking tunnel, Gillian Henderson, Company Director for Trace Learning Solutions, tells us about how recovery from redundancy can be significantly quicker for those choosing to adopt a different, smarter strategy to give them the advantage. “I understand that if you find yourself unexpectedly out of work, the first things you would panic about would be where you are going to find the money to pay for the mortgage, make the car payments and feed the family. With the immediate thought to reduce any unnecessary expenditure, the last thought might be to lay out more money for skills development, however, increasingly this is what is converting a job seeker into a member of staff. “Augmenting existing skills will make you much more attractive to potential employers when you add these to your CV, with a proportionally higher number of skilled workers taking the advantage over other lesser qualified peers. “We have had some people dismissing this, siting the fact that they need to concentrate all their time on job-seeking rather than up-skilling and re-skilling, however this is something which hasn’t been ignored by the training industry.” Gillian explains, “The Scottish Government and Trace are taking notice with the formation of PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment). For employees and contractors it means free, impartial advice on dealing with the practical and emotional sides of redundancy. PACE advisers help p12 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

Above: Trace Course and Booking Management online system. people recognise their skills, explore their options and prepare for their next move. Trace is proud to support the recent PACE events by providing free advice and support. Training providers are also adapting to the challenges faced by skilled workers by developing and delivering learning packages that are better suited to today’s environment.” “The key to finding the best and most cost-efficient course for you is to be able to understand what is available and who is going to be flexible enough to understand you might have other commitments and fit their courses around your schedule, and importantly, your budget. “This is why myself and Lynn Elder, fellow director, developed Trace Learning Solutions, to offer clear, transparent information about the training options available to those looking to up-skill in this current environment. “There are so many people out there looking for support when they find themselves suddenly out of work, and we are working to do just that. There aren’t, in truth, many other outlets reaching out to offer

people the correct advice and information free of charge at such a vulnerable time. “As it becomes clear that re-training and certification management will be key for employees and employers in 2016, and to support during a stressful period, TRACE has implemented a free online certificate management service to individuals for the whole of 2016. Individuals can register for self-service and upload all of their certificates, expiry details etc, using the instructions on the site. They will also be able to find a list of training providers and an extensive catalogue of training courses, that they can access should re-training be required. “Our advice is identify your key skills and the opportunities available to enhance your career prospects. Up-skilling or re-skilling is what is going to set you ahead of the rest, and we hope to work together with service providers to help make that period out of work as short as possible.” To view the range of courses available visit:

www.tracelearningsolutions.com


Industry news

Human factor in offshore decommissioning is “grieving process” Dismantling offshore gas platforms where workers have spent half their lives would be a ‘grieving process’ for tens of thousands of energy workers, an industry leader said.

a contract model in due time. Decommissioning is about doing simple things really really well. It isn’t a complicated procedure.” Steve Andrew, Asset Closure Solution Group Manager, ABB Consulting, shared his 35 years’ experience decommissioning oil refineries, petrochemical complexes and chemical and pharmaceutical plants demonstrating the synergies with offshore.

The human factor in the multi-billion pound decommissioning programme should not be underestimated and workers should be involved in the planning process to end a platform’s life, a conference was told. Craig Wiggins, Managing Director of Aker Offshore Partner, said as well as an engineering, logistical and financial challenge, decommissioning was a cultural change. “It is about a lot of people who have lived and worked on a platform for half their lives, or 30 years, where they have a lot of friends,” he told the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) Special Interest Group (SIG). “Decommissioning is a great management of change and you have to set out clearly a vision, a goal and how it will be driven, and involve the people in your plans. You have to understand the human factor of decommissioning to be

Above: Craig Wiggins, Managing Director of Aker Offshore Partner.

successful. It is a grieving process and they have a part to play in the plan. Decommissioning would become a growth industry and skills and solutions developed on early projects would be passed on to future projects. The key was to prepare for decommissioning assets three to five years before the end. Create a robust plan and plan for the unexpected, ensure platforms are well maintained and choose

“One of the main things about decommissioning is a lot of unknowns. Plan three to five years ahead. The issues are around information. If it’s not updated, you don’t know what you’re dealing with.” Audrey Banner, Head of Policy and Projects, DECC Offshore Decommissioning Unit, told the SIG that there were 55 daft decommissioning programmes for the next five-10 years. “We are seeing a substantial tranche of work. Cost was never the single driver for a project,” she said. “Safety, technical feasibility and other sea users must also be taken into consideration.”

April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p13


Below: Evolution of preload graph.

Industry news

Bolting with plastic and composites The use of polymers and sandwich composite materials continue to increase in industrial applications. Impressive strength-to-weight ratio and great corrosion resistance makes them suitable for many different applications. Components made of polymers and composites can be found almost everywhere from cars to wind turbines to airplanes. Adhesives are often used when assembling polymers and composites. Adhesives, however, makes it difficult, if not impossible, to open the joined parts when needed. This is why the industry normally prefers to use bolted joints to allow for facilitated maintenance. Bolted connections are, however, also affected by the new materials introduced in the joint and slackening (due to settlement and relaxation) becomes an increasingly common problem. Using fiber reinforced plastics in bolted joints Material used for high strength applications are often fiber reinforced plastics (FRP). The properties of the FRP varies depending what kind of matrix (base material) is used, what kind of fibers are used, how much fibers (%) are used and the orientation of the fibers. Common fibers are glass, carbon or aramid. They are often oriented in a way to strengthen the material where it is most needed. Except 3D composite, fibers directions are perpendicular to hole-axis. This particularity sets the composite properties along the holeaxis equal to matrix properties. The downside of using an FRP in a bolted connection is the fact that the matrix, or the resin, is made of a polymer. Almost all polymers are viscoelastic which means that their mechanical properties will change over time, resulting in creeping and relaxation.

If we compare: - You have a bolted connection with two metals as clamped parts. The metals will deform elastically under the pressure of the bolted joint as long as the yield point of the base material is not exceeded. When you untighten you will not notice any deformation, it was purely elastic. - Let’s take a new bolted connection, this time with two parts of polymer material. When exposed to pressure the material will start to creep, even though a relatively low clamp load is applied. The creep phenomenon causes settlements and slackening in a bolted connection which leads to a decrease of the clamp load and finally the parts are no longer clamped together. As polymer materials are softer than metal materials, there is an increased risk for slackening which can have catastrophic consequences for the safety and reliability of the bolted connections. Expand your design possibilities with Nord-Lock X-series How can one solve a design challenge for a bolted joint which incorporates polymers and composites? One solution that has been on the market for some time is to use a metallic insert in the holes. The insert is placed to strengthen the holes and makes the bolted connections purely metallic while the clamped material remains plastic. The joint gains in strength on one hand, but on the other hand the manufacturing

www.x-series.com

costs are high. This solution also modifies the vibration response (resonant frequency) and it is not able to safely secure preload against creeping, relaxation, self-unscrewing. Another solution which is fairly new to the market is the Nord-Lock X-series washer. The conical shape of X-series washers creates an elastic reserve in the bolted joint to compensate for loss of preload due to slackening. The spring effect is combined with wedge-locking technology, securing the bolt with tension against spontaneous bolt loosening. It provides maximum safety for the joint even at a low clamp load. The multifunctional wedge-locking technology has a number of advantages over conventional bolt securing solutions. It ensures total bolt security and is ideal for applications that incorporate challenging materials, designs, and/or conditions. Application example – cranes with elastomeric pads Elastomer is one type of polymer and is a common material in telescopic equipment. It has a huge advantage in added flexibility to the sliding parts of the boom and a low friction coefficient. The material is also resilient against corrosion. Recently a crane manufacturer, experiencing serious bolt loosening, contacted a Nord-Lock sales engineer and presented a very typical challenge when bolting composites. 30% of the joints holding the elastomeric pads inside a telescopic boom on one of their models of mobile cranes were coming loose after a few months of service at the customer’s. The combination of the polymer, a short clamp length and thick paint layers was making settlement and relaxation in the joint inevitable. The large percentage of bolts coming loose caused inoperability of the telescopic booms for the users (customers) and required express maintenance covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Introducing Nord-Lock X-series washers on the application solved the loosening issues and eliminated the added cost for repair and warranty. Even though the application also incorporated additional design challenges, including short clamp length and multiple layers (casing, shims, washers and pad), the bolted joints are now safely secured with the X-series washers. Since the implementation, no bolt loosening has been recorded on the booms.

p44 | www.sosmagazine.biz | March 2016


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April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p15


Industry news

OilMac Invests £1million in Acquiring Nine Acre Storage Site Aberdeenshire based Oilfield Machinery Ltd (OilMac) has invested almost £1million into new premises in Forfar to facilitate client demand for cost effective serviced storage solutions. OilMac, which is headquartered in Inverurie, currently occupies one part of the building at its site in Forfar but is extending into 95,000 sqft of covered storage on the nine acre site. The move was supported with significant funding from Clydesdale Bank in a deal facilitated by Commercial Relationship Manager Ian Grant. Established in 2010, OilMac aims to provide the industry with an efficient, economical and environmentally effective option for buying and selling redundant and surplus on and offshore equipment and tools. The expansion has created two new job posts within the company with further logistics and asset management jobs expected to be created as the business continues to grow.

Investing in expanding our site in Forfar allows us to offer additional serviced storage to our clients at highly competitive rates and, in turn, to address storage cost issues being encountered by many of our customers. Alex Fyfe, Managing Director, OilMac. +44 (0)1467 894 147

Above (left to right): David Walker, Financial Director at OilMac, and Alex Fyfe, Managing Director at OilMac. Just last month OilMac won a major exclusive stock reduction deal with a leading international drilling contractor, to hold and supply predominantly unused equipment with a sales value in excess of £14million. The win increased OilMac’s stock five-fold, helping position the company as the go-to low cost supplier of predominantly unused and new equipment directly to drillers and operators worldwide.

the exact equipment our clients require. All leading to significant cost savings for the client.

In line with the company’s success throughout 2015 and into this year, OilMac has recently employed David Walker as Financial Director to enable the business to achieve its growth potential. He has held previous Financial Director roles within both the oil and gas service sector and also business banking.

Stephen Hepburn, Head of Clydesdale Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in Aberdeen, said: “Clydesdale Bank is proud to support OilMac achieve its expansion goals.

Mr Fyfe continued: “The increased storage space also provides us with the ability to source further surplus oil and gas equipment. By offering unused equipment, off the shelf, it ensures a quicker lead time for clients - as we increase our available stock, it increases the likelihood that we will have sales@oilmac.com

“We are delighted to welcome David to the team at a very exciting time for OilMac. His experience is ideally suited to the role and his input and strategic forward planning will assist us greatly as we continue to develop the company in line with client demand.”

“The oil and gas industry has gone through some very tough times recently, and it’s encouraging to see businesses such as OilMac continuing to expand in the sector. “We have a well established partnership with them supporting many of their growth projects over the years and we look forward to continuing our relationship.”

www.oilmac.com

N-Sea Expands into the French Offshore Wind Industry with New Partnerships Subsea IMR provider, N-Sea, has signed a letter of intent with CERES Recherches & Expertise Sous-Marine and TechSub Industrie Environement, to provide subsea survey, installation and remediation services to the French offshore wind industry. Gerard Keser, CEO of N-Sea, said: “N-Sea has developed a strong track record in UXO management, construction support and IMR services in the offshore renewables market. Together with CERES and TechSub, we will be best placed to help developers and contractors p16 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

understand and deal with the risks of the installation of a power grid and windfarm foundations on the seabed. “This partnership is a significant step forward for N-Sea in our international growth plans and simultaneously ensures that our shared expert knowledge of French regulations and subsea operations can be utilised to provide the best possible service to our customers.” The partnership will also include the provision of unexploded ordnance (UXO) detection, identification and removal services and allow

all three companies to utilise their international experience, vessels and specialised equipment. The agreement was signed at the Dutch Trade Mission on 11 March in Paris, witnessed by Ministry officials and the King and Queen of the Netherlands. N-Sea is known for its innovative work as an independent offshore subsea contractor, specialising in IMR services for the oil and gas, renewable and telecom/utility industries,as well as for civil contracting communities.


Industry news

Industry recognition for AFBE-UK Scotland The Aberdeen based chapter of a social enterprise has won industry recognition for its outstanding contribution to engineering.

community is beginning to recognise the benefits that inclusion and diversity bring to the profession.

AFBE-UK Scotland, the Scottish division of AFBE-UK, was handed the Chairman’s Award at the Aberdeen Members Group of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) annual awards dinner recently held at the Norwood Hall Hotel.

Receiving the Chairman’s award is indeed a huge endorsement of our organisation by IChemE. We are very delighted and hope this kind recognition from such a respected industry body raises awareness of our work to people and organisations that would otherwise not have heard about AFBE-UK Scotland.

The Chairman’s Award is made to any individual or organisation that has made a notable contribution to the chemical engineering industry or profession. Since AFBE-UK Scotland was set up in Aberdeen in 2011, the group has engaged with more than 500 students and young people across the city, offering them an insight to engineering and ensuring they have the correct tools to build a successful career in the sector. Dr John Ritchie, Chair of IChemE Aberdeen Members’ Group, said: “The engineering

is run by like minded engineering professionals who share their working experiences with young people and students. The Scottish division is led by Dr. Ollie Folayan, a Senior Process Engineer - consulting at a leading oil and gas major. The group runs 20 events annually across its three main programmes - NextGen Transition and Real Projects – all of which are funded and organised by the professionals who give up their own time to run the group.

Dr Ollie Folayan, chair of AFBE-UK Scotland. “The events and initiatives run by AFBE-UK make a real difference to the career prospects of many aspiring engineers from a range of backgrounds. We are proud to support AFBE-UK’s events, and delighted to present them with this year’s Chairman’s Award.” AFBE-UK Scotland is the Aberdeen chapter of AFBE-UK. The not-for-profit organisation

Schoolhill Hydraulic Engineering Strengthens Management Team For Growth Hydraulic solutions provider Schoolhill Hydraulic Engineering has strengthened its management team with a series of key appointments to support the company’s growth in the UK and overseas. A number of new management positions

have been created over the past few months, the most recent of which is the appointment of Stuart Bell to the position of Operations and Sales Director. Stuart’s appointment follows the recruitment of Gordon Bowie and David Brown to the positions of Materials Manager and Drawing Office Manager respectively. Mark Fraser has also been appointed in a consultancy role to support the company’s improvement initiatives. He will oversee all financial functions across the business. The new appointments are part of Schoolhill Hydraulic Engineering’s drive to consolidate and build on the company’s reputation for designing and producing specialist engineering components for the offshore and subsea industries. From its headquarters in Aberdeen, the organisation aims to provide an integrated and highly responsive service offering, ranging from research, development and design through to manufacture, assembly and testing. Stuart brings with him substantial design, project management, manufacturing and business development experience, with a strong

background in the energy related and subsea sectors. In his new role, he will focus on raising awareness of the company’s increased capabilities and its commitment to customer service, while also developing its business into new markets. Gordon and David each bring a number of years of relevant experience to their positions. Both are tasked with improving operational efficiency in their respective departments. Founded in 1948, Schoolhill Hydraulic Engineering has over 30 years’ experience in the design and production of subsea engineering products, including gripper cylinders for running tools and quick exhaust valves (QEVs) for high integrity pressure protection systems (HIPPS). In recent years the company has formed collaborative relationships with complimentary businesses to increase its capabilities and service offering to the subsea sector. These include the provision of sales and technical support for Spanish-owned Glual Hydralica’s range of subsea piston accumulators and an agreement with Stockton based fabrication provider Francis Brown Engineering (FBE). April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p17


Industry news

The versatility of PSVs Damen’s answer to reduced oil prices lies in conversion support. Damen Shipyards Group has developed a committed response to the increasing number of laid up Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs) resulting from the current predicament facing the offshore oil and gas industry. The Dutch company’s solution involves converting idle PSVs into vessels capable of taking on roles in alternative sectors such as aquaculture, shipping and defence. The situation that the offshore oil and gas industry is experiencing is having serious consequences throughout the sector. Compounding factors include historically low oil prices, halted exploration projects and reduced production. This vicious circle is completed by a substantial drop in support vessel day rates.

Damen has a solution to get these vessels active and profitable once again. “Our design teams have come up with workable ideas across several industries. For example, we can convert a laid up PSV into a profitable Container Feeder or, for naval operations, a Logistic Support Vessel,” informs Damen Sales Manager Remko Hottentot. “The possibilities are numerous. It will also be possible to transform a PSV into an accommodation and O&M vessel” The ship conversion know-how stems from Damen’s worldwide network of fifteen repair and conversion yards. “With a strong reputation for engineering, craftsmanship and project management skills, Damen’s conversion teams are highly experienced in giving vessels a new lease of life, while staying on schedule and on budget,” states Mr Hottentott. One example of an already developed proposal is the Damen Live Fish Carrier 8916 for the aquaculture industry.

“Here, the concept of using the existing PSV platform is ideal, yielding many advantages for live fish carrying situations.” In addition to permanent conversion concepts, Damen can also create temporary designs. These can be applied to vessels originally built by Damen or other shipbuilding companies. Based in Damen’s Stavanger office, Sales Manager Norway Remko Hottentot has witnessed the sight of ports and harbours dotted with laid up PSVs. “We can offer significant design and conversion expertise to owners and operators looking for effective solutions,” he says. “In combination with reliable financing support, this makes up a unique combination of activities that can be translated into realistic conversion packages.”

Discover Damen today: info@damen.com

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In these pictures: Damen Live Fish Carrier artist impression. p18 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016


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Industry news

Beyond box-ticking: safe and efficient jack-up operations DNV GL’s Noble Denton Marine Services Jack-ups are typically designed for a combination of water depth, leg penetration, air gap and wind and wave conditions, and it is these that indicate the ability of the unit to operate at a location. When selecting which jack-up design to employ, the capability of the unit is checked against site-specific conditions, often including challenging soil profiles, all of which can vary from those in the jack-up’s initial design assumptions.

The work undertaken by the ISO Work Group for site-specific assessment of mobile units will prove crucial in this respect. Set up in 1996, in response to a joint industry project (JIP) established by DNV GL, that developed the first widely accepted industry standard (SNAME T&RB 5-5a) for site assessments, the working group initially established the ISO 199051 and 2 standards, based on the SNAME guidance. The working group is currently addressing the issues associated with jack-up emplacement and removal, as it works on the development of ISO 19905-4.

Determining whether a jack-up is suitable for operating safely at a proposed location is crucial. However, such assessments form only part of the risk profile. The transition stages of emplacement at, and removal from, a location are just as important as the safe operation of the unit once installed. The dynamic nature of jack-up platforms means that, although there is a growing body of literature for offshore structures, there are some areas of jack-up platform behaviour which remain less well understood.

Robust solutions In addition, jack-ups are being employed at, or adapted to, locations for which they may previously not have been considered suitable, or in places from which operators have previously steered away due to ‘difficult’ conditions, as the industry moves into more challenging territories. Therefore, site-specific assessments are even more important to ensure this activity is carried out safely and in compliance with industry standards.

Updating standards Industry standards such as the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) T&RB 5-5A and ISO-19905-01 are used to assess the suitability of a jack-up for operations at the proposed site under extreme storm loading. If the unit satisfies assessment requirements this, together with the required site-survey information, provides the basis for the jack-up owner to obtain a Certificate of Approval to comply with insurance requirements. However, there can be greater challenges, when moving a jack-up on, and especially off, location. These operations are not well covered by current industry standards, despite their offering the highest risk element of the installation lifecycle. The limits for these operations are often poorly defined or conservative, with the result that jack-ups can spend more time waiting to go on and off location than they need to.

p20 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

In today’s cost and time-pressured climate, early engagement is crucial, as the turnaround of many projects is becoming tighter. This allows more time to access guidance on jack-up optimization as well as suitability. For example, an oil company may choose to

wait to establish what equipment becomes available, or they will plan to use a certain jack-up rig, but then find the intended unit needs to be deployed somewhere else. DNV GL works with customers to facilitate that decision making processes and to ensure the solution is robust and financially viable. The company is able to draw on its extensive database of analytical models to accelerate the assessment process. Ascertaining seabed and sub-seabed soil conditions, as well as the surrounding infrastructure and debris, can often make or break a project’s success. Consultation with geotechnical, engineering and marine experts can help to optimize use of jack-ups at challenging locations and confirm that any data provided is fit for purpose. In many cases the site assessment can allow technical solutions to be implemented that enable operators to minimize preload or to optimize the time they spend pre-loading. This expertise is supported by DNV GL’s JUSTAS software, which enables rapid, robust, consistent and cost-effective site specific assessments of jack-up units in line with ISO or other relevant codes. It combines jack-up dynamics and modules for non-linear soil-structure interaction

Above: DNV GL’s JUSTAS software - providing robust, consistent and cost-effective site specific assessments of jack-up units. Background image: Jack-up mobile offshore unit.


with comprehensive analysis options and assessment criteria, including the SNAME 5-5A ‘Recommended practice for site assessment of mobile jack-up units’, DNV GL and ABS standards, and ISO 19905-1. The analysis provides loads and reactions at the seabed and leg-to-hull interface from the global assessment. In addition, it provides assessment checks for key parameters including: overturning stability; windward leg sliding; preload requirements; leg and holding system strength; leg length and air gap.

Collaboration in action Lack of properly assessed and defined wear limits for jacking systems can lead to considerable downtimes with financial implications for jack-up operations. Defining maximum limits of wear across all parts of a jacking system is technically complex and incorrect or unclear assessments can increase cost and affect the reliability and availability of jacking systems. A DNV GL-led JIP is now underway to provide guidelines on determining relevant wear criteria for self-elevating units and builds on a Recommended Practice (RP)

issued last year to address maintenance and inspection challenges of a jack-up system. The JIP will document relevant design arguments, considerations and calculations to provide the industry with a reference background to define acceptance criteria and give guidance on the correct assessment of jacking systems in a RP.

In addition to site assessments, DNV GL’s activities increasingly include advising on life extensions for older units as well as problem-solving when a jack-up rig faces difficulties during deployment.

About the author Mike Hoyle is Head of the Jack-up and Geotechnical and Metocean teams in the Noble Denton Marine Services Department of DNV GL UK. He has analytical experience of the structural and stability analysis of mobile offshore units and the load-out, transportation and installation of Fixed Structures. He has extensive experience of most classes of Jack-Up units.

www.dnvgl.com


European Offshore Energy 2016 The exhibition and conference bringing the offshore energy market together under one roof 12-14 APRIL 2016 NEC BIRMINGHAM Co-located with: Air-Tech, Drives & Controls, Fluid Power & Systems, Plant & Asset Management, MACH and National Electronics Week

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Media Partners OFFSHORE DESIGN & ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT

Associations

Hydraulics&Pneumatics Drives&Controls

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European Offshore Energy Exhibition set to make waves in 2016 The biennial European Offshore Energy Exhibition, co-located alongside; Air-Tech, Fluid Power & Systems, Plant and Asset Management, and Drives & Controls Exhibitions, is once again set to return to Birmingham’s NEC (Halls 3/3A) from 12-14th April 2016, alongside MACH 2016 and National Electronics Week 2016. Collectively the exhibitions will be the largest manufacturing and engineering events of 2016, and will create an unmissable event. With only weeks to go until European Offshore Energy Exhibition and the co-location of events running alongside it opens its doors between the 12-14th April 2016, show organiser DFA Media is excited about the prospects for the upcoming events. European Offshore Energy European Offshore Energy Exhibition 2016 will once again bring together under one roof, suppliers, manufacturers and service providers for the entire upstream offshore energy marketplace, exploration, production, design, maintenance, upgrade, procurement and energy generation. European Offshore Energy is filling an important space in the European exhibition calendar, serving the whole upstream offshore energy market at a single event. European Offshore Energy has already attracted support from a number of leading organisations and has established itself as a must attend biennial event – further bolstered by its already established and highly successful co-located exhibitions. European Offshore Energy Exhibition in 2016 will again bring the offshore energy market together under one roof; providing visitors with the ideal

opportunity to learn about the industry’s latest product innovations, solutions and services. Seminars At a time when engineers are under increasing pressure, and time out of the office for attending exhibitions needs to be balanced against heavy workloads, one growing justification is attending a well balanced and focused seminar programme where gaining further industry knowledge is at the core. The combination of leading engineering events, with a highly focused free seminar programme, will give visitors a genuine opportunity to keep abreast of the latest industry developments. The 2016 seminar programme running alongside the co-location of exhibitions, will have a strong emphasis on technology, entrepreneurship, skills, regulations, the environment, and safety. New for 2016 - exhibition organiser, DFA Media has teamed up with The Industry Entrepreneurship Network (IEN) to put on a series of three panel discussions during the three day exhibition, which will run alongside DFA Media’s other seminar programme. The three sessions will cover the topics of ‘Bridging the skills gap’ (chaired by Susan Scurlock, CEO, Primary & Secondary Engineer), ‘Financing innovation and entrepreneurship’ (chaired by Lee Hopley, Chief Economist, EEF), and ‘Developing UK innovation and entrepreneurship’, with panels formed from the network’s membership of established entrepreneurs, industrial companies and leading UK trade, science, education and engineering organisations. Co-location In addition the synergy between the colocation of event adds an extra dimension. The co-location running alongside European Offshore Energy Exhibition

2016, includes: Plant & Asset Management 2016, the UK’s premier event for plant & asset management, and maintenance, showcasing the very latest in condition monitoring, CMMS, outsourcing/contract maintenance, energy efficiency, plus much more. While Fluid Power & Systems 2016, the UK’s only exhibition totally focused on hydraulics, pneumatics, systems and related equipment, has the full support of the British Fluid Power Association (BFPA), and as such continues to be the popular choice for fluid power system manufacturers and distributors. In addition Air-Tech 2016 is set to highlight current key themes related to the very latest in air compressor and related technology from companies from around the globe. The event is supported by the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS), and is the UK’s only dedicated event for the compressed air and generators market. Drives & Controls Exhibition will also be opening its doors again, bringing together key suppliers of state of the art equipment representing the multi tasking culture of today’s design engineer, covering critical areas such as energy efficiency, machine safety, drives, motion control, robotics and automation plus much more, all under one roof.

To register to attend and for further information please visit: www.europeanoffshoreenergy-expo.com April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p23


EUROPEAN OFFSHORE ENERGY 2016

TFC Ltd

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TFC Europe Ltd is one of the leading suppliers of technical fastener components to industry, with an unrivalled reputation for delivering innovative products, supply solutions, and exemplary service, to help our customers achieve breakthroughs in product development and new standards of manufacturing efficiency.

Tel: +44 (0) 1435 866011 www.tfc.eu.com

Nord-lock (UK) ltd

Visit us on Stand

E662

The Nord-Lock Group is a world leader in bolt securing systems. We offer a unique combination of bolting expertise and a wide product range, including wedge-locking technology and Superbolt tensioners. Continuous innovation at Nord-Lock helps us expand our product portfolio, with a recent addition of the new X-series washer, the world’s first multifunctional wedge-locking solution! The Nord-Lock Group looks forward to being your partner in bolt optimization. Tel: +44 (0) 198 084 7129 Email: enquiries@nord-lock.co.uk

www.nord-lock.com

deepwater eu ltd

Deepwater designs and manufactures cathodic protection systems and monitoring equipment for offshore and marine assets. Specialising in the development of innovative retrofit technology for aging assets in need of life extension and existing infrastructure requiring monitoring and maintenance. Deepwater will also be showcasing I-Rod. An innovative solution to crevice corrosion at pipe supports both topside and onshore. Tel: +44 (0)148 360 0482

Visit us on Stand

AF552

www.stoprust.com

the validation centre (tvc) ltd

Visit us on Stand

Founded in 1995, TVC soon became established as the UK leader in the manufacture and supply of welding data logging systems and specialist inspection equipment. Our equipment is used all over the world on some of the largest welding projects ever accomplished. Pipelines are our speciality (both land lines and subsea) and we supply equipment used in the manufacture, installation and inspection of offshore structures, subsea control equipment as well as the defence and automotive industries. Our equipment is found wherever safety critical welding is required. Tel: +44 (0)149 344 3800 Email: sales@tvcalx.co.uk

www.tvcalx.co.uk

E658


plant & asset management 2016

beamex ltd

Visit us on Stand

World-class calibration solutions – Since the establishment of Beamex in 1975, the company has focused strongly and consistently on calibration. Beamex is a technology and service company that develops, manufactures and markets high quality calibration equipment, software, systems and services for the calibration and maintenance of process instruments. The company is a leading worldwide provider of integrated calibration solutions that meet even the most demanding requirements. Beamex offers a comprehensive range of products and services – from portable calibrators to workstations, calibration accessories, calibration software, industry-specific solutions and professional services. Through Beamex’spartner network,their products and services are available in over 90 countries. Tel: +44 (0)145 582 1920 Email: beamex.ltd@beamex.com www.beamex.com

cygnus instruments ltd

Visit us on Stand

Cygnus Instruments is the leading manufacturer of multiple-echo ultrasonic thickness gauges used for measuring remaining metal thickness without the need to remove protective coatings. Following extensive customer engagement and working within industry standards, Cygnus Instruments have developed a new range of ultrasonic thickness gauges which still use the well established multiple-echo technique but incorporated within the latest PLUS models is single-echo and echo-echo measuring modes using twin crystal probes. Single-echo and echo-echo can assist in obtaining measurements in areas of extreme corrosion or back wall pitting. Tel: +44 (0)130 526 5533

P438

P414

www.cygnus-instruments.com

Drum Handling Equipment Lifting & Moving Solutions

Any Drum, Any Space, Anywhere... Move Drums From Any Position On Any Pallet

Tel : 01736 851050

Regulation Compliant UK Designers and Manufacturers

Web : www.sts-trolleys.co.uk

Email : sales@sts-trolleys.co.uk April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p25


fluid power & systems 2016

springmasters ltd

Springmasters Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer and stockist of coil springs and Belleville disc springs. Our extensive product range also includes wire forms, flat metal pressings, circlips, push-on-fixes and many more.

Tel: +44 (0)152 752 1000

Visit us on Stand

AF252

www.springmasters.com

schwer fittings

Visit us on Stand

Schwer Fittings lead the way in stainless steel connection technology. Manufacturers and suppliers of high precision stainless steel tube components and hose fittings, with a technically trained sales team and a BFPA authorised training centre. With most products available from stock in Warrington, Schwer can supply a next day service throughout the UK. Threads available include BSPP, BSPT, NPT, Metric and JIC; hose tails include standard and interlock; DNV certified compression fittings in single and twin ferrule; LP and HP valves. Tel: +44 (0)192 563 9006 Email: info@schwer.co.uk

AF240

www.schwer.com

moog

Visit us on Stand

Visit the Moog stand to talk to our team and learn about Moog’s range of industrial motion control products for machine builders and system integrators. With expertise in all of these technologies, we work with you to determine the best technology based on your unique machine requirement. For end users we introduce Moog Global Support. It reflects our commitment to keep your motion control c omponents and systems running at peak performance by providing responsive repair and O&M support. All visitors are invited to climb aboard grandprixexperience.co.uk F1 simulator, and put in a quick lap time to win daily prizes. Tel: +44 (0)168 427 8249 www.moog.co.uk

abdex hose & couplings ltd

Visit us on Stand

Abdex is pleased to announce the launch of their new catalogue which includes all the products we offer from specialist hose assemblies up to 4000 bar with a large range of adaptors and fittings to our Uniflex hose crimping equipment, Fitok instrumentation (up to 60,000psi) our brand new range of test rigs and control panels. Our catalogue is full of technical information it also reflects the company’s commitment to providing all your requirements in one place. We invite you to visit our stand to collect your copy. Tel: +44 (0)152 537 7770 Email: sales@abdex.co.uk

AF200

www.abdex.co.uk

AF512


EUROPEAN OFFSHORE ENERGY 2016

TRELLEBORG UNVEILS DEDICATED Visit us SWIVEL STACK SEAL INSPECTION FACILITY on Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has opened a dedicated climate controlled swivel stack seal inspection facility for the validation of bespoke seals. The global facility is based in Barendrecht, in the Netherlands, and has been unveiled in a move to help ensure Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) operators achieve the highest possible standards in seal quality.

The facility provides a temperature-controlled environment to avoid fluctuations in the dimensions of the seals caused by temperature changes, with specialist storage racks allowing the seals to be acclimatized prior to inspection. A bespoke inspection table has been installed, on which seals up to 3000mm can be measured with special lighting to aid visual inspection. Trelleborg’s FPSO Focus Group, who are based on site, is made up of a team of experts trained to inspect the specialist seals. Henk-Willem Sanders, Technical Manager Oil & Gas and FPSO Focus Group leader at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, said: “Oilfield operators need to be confident about their equipment – if a seal fails during an operation this can lead to lost production revenues amounting to millions of dollars. “The quality of seals for our customers is of the upmost importance and we are continually striving for excellence, which is why we have launched this dedicated seal inspection and validation facility.

“Typical FPSO seals are from 100mm up to 3000mm in large cross sections. The controlled environment in combination with the fact that large diameter seals can be inspected, gives our customers unrivalled reassurance when selecting a seal partner.”

Stand

AF310

The opening of the inspection facility comes on the back of Trelleborg’s pioneering SealWelding™ technology, which eliminates the need for FPSO platforms to disconnect and return to shore when undergoing swivel stack seal replacement. The groundbreaking technology was shortlisted for a prestigious industry award in 2014. By optimizing billet welding, Trelleborg’s Engineers are able to weld their well established seal material in-situ. In a controlled manufacturing area, Trelleborg starts the process by producing a seal which has been cut in one place using a specially designed tool. Onboard the FPSO, the seal is unpacked and installed onto the swivel by highly trained personnel from Trelleborg’s service team; the engineer installs it in the weld head enclosure (part of the welding machine) which, certified to ATEX zone 1, is then pressurized so that the welding can take place. Fully enclosed, production on other swivel stacks can continue without risk.

A control cabinet, which is purged and also certified to ATEX zone 1, ensures the smooth running of the process, as well as monitoring and logging all data. After the process is finished, the seal is safely removed from the weld head enclosure before it’s polished and checked. If the values from the recorded data are satisfactory, the seal will be released for installation. Trelleborg Sealing Solutions will be exhibiting at Fluid Power Systems 2016, co-located with European Offshore & Energy, on stand AF310.

www.oilandgas-seals.com Top right: Trelleborg’s dedicated seal validation facility in Barendrecht. Below: Trelleborg’s in-situ SealWelding™ technology can significantly lower downtime.

April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p27


A deep dilemma Delving into oil and gas extraction using precision gears Global oil consumption for 2016 will average 96 million barrels per day according to a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). This continued demand for oil and gas is pushing exploration and extraction deeper and further into remote regions of the world. Steve Kirk, Area Manager at Harmonic Drive UK, looks at the technological challenges and how high precision gearing is being increasingly used to drill deeper. Lying in the western Pacific Ocean, South of Japan and north of New Guinea, is an archipelago known as the Mariana Islands. An unassuming collection of underwater volcanic peaks spanning a width of only 43 miles, it harbours the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the world’s oceans. Reaching a maximum known depth of 10,911m (6.83mi) it culminates in a small slot shaped valley known as Challenger Deep; named after the exploration vessel that discovered it some fifty years previously. At this depth, the pressure of the water

column above is equivalent to 15,750psi, a thousand times greater than at sea level. The temperature ranges from one to four degrees Celsius and only microbial life forms thrive. Although not many life forms survive down here, it’s humbling to think that the oil extracted from thousands of wellheads in similarly deep abysses the world over, sustains the majority of human life on the surface above. However, having exhausted reserves in many subsea oil fields, the pressure is now building on extraction companies to drill deeper and for longer, to obtain every last drop of the black gold. Existing equipment is not always rated for operation in the extreme temperatures, pressures and associated logistics of deep sea extraction. This is creating technological challenges all the way from the top to the bottom of the supply chain. From topside platforms to subsea structures and all the way further downhole to the directional drill bit, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) face the challenge of developing equipment that can withstand the harsh environment. Having encountered these challenges over the last forty years in developing our precision gearing systems and actuators at Harmonic Drive, we’re currently experiencing

www.harmonicdrive.de

a growing demand from the oil and gas sectors, as well as our more traditional aerospace and machine tools industries, as they move away from traditional hydraulic actuation systems towards electro-mechanical actuation systems. Gearing based electrical actuation is more economical, ecological, controllable and more reliable than traditional hydraulic actuation systems, which can develop oil leaks over time. The need to frequently service hydraulic systems at depths of 6000m is neither economically feasible nor necessary with the advent of electromechanical systems. The high single stage ratio of Harmonic Drive gears results in a compact unit with a very high torque-to-volume and torque-toweight relationship. When used downhole, the annular design of the gear allows optimal use of the available space with the addition of a hollow shaft. Precision actuation applications Starting topside, a single platform could be just one piece in a large extraction application spanning hundreds of miles. As these networks increasingly begin to operate further afield, adverse weather conditions, a lack of resources and signal issues can severely hamper communication between vessels. The positional antenna systems that enable radio communication between the platform, vessels and onshore teams often suffer from inaccuracy due to gearing with backlash characteristics. This problem can be solved using a Harmonic Drive servo actuator. Its unique construction offers a combination of fixed Circular Spline, Flexible Spline and elliptical Wave Generator Bearing, high reduction ratios can be achieved in a single stage. This simultaneously eliminates

Left: Steve Kirk, Area Manager, Harmonic Drive UK. Insert Image: Oil field by night. Above: High precision gears in oil and gas. p28 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016


subsea equipment & underwater inspection backlash and increases accuracy, all in a servo motor driven compact unit complete with feedback sensor. As we leave the choppy surface of the sea and dive deeper, subsea applications vary from remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) all the way up to permanent subsea structures spread over many miles. Resembling Disney’s Wall-E character, ROV’s are made to perform all types of underwater operation and maintenance. A typical task would be to open and close valves on an underwater valve manifold using a torque tool. These ROV’s rely on the pan and tilt action to operate the camera system. As cameras begin to be increasingly used in conjunction with robotic arms and manipulators we are seeing a growing trend of replacing hydraulic actuators with electric actuators to take advantage of the increased accuracy and controllability. Another area of innovation that will be of great significance over the next few years is that of remotely operated permanent subsea structures. Also known as Christmas trees, these structures are currently attached in-line

with the oil wellhead and are responsible, amongst other things, for controlling the flow, temperature and pressure of the well. If remote electromechanical actuation becomes used widely, these Christmas trees could be operator controlled over Ethernet. Whereas ROVs and antennas require accuracy, the challenge with valve actuation has always been reliability. Traditionally, hydraulic valve actuation has suffered from seal corrosion due to the prolonged exposure to high pressure and harsh saltwater. Subsequent leakage of the units has resulted in component failure, requiring them to be replaced at high cost. The low part count of a Harmonic Drive component set ultimately raises the mean time between failures (MTBF), resulting in a higher return on investment (ROI) over the product’s lifetime. Finally, drilling through the seabed takes us downhole into the complex world of subsea oil fields. As the oil levels in shallow fields begin to diminish there is a drive to drill into deeper reserves. The problem is that the deeper oil is spread sporadically over vast distances, often in horizontal pockets. Using a continuous vertical wellbore is not

feasible and so the concept of directional drilling was developed. Rotary steerable systems (RSS) “point-the-bit” technology uses Harmonic Drive component sets to vary the angle of inclination of the drill bit. This flexibility allows operators to achieve complex 3D well designs, connecting multiple marginal targets for high volume, efficient recovery. The high reduction ratio and annular design of the component makes it ideal for this application, with the inherent accuracy of the gear allowing tight control of wellbore placement and geo-steering. Combined with azimuth, gamma ray and inclination measurements at only 1m from the drill bit, this ensures effective directional drilling and gives operators a better log of formation tendencies. It’s often said that space is the final frontier, but having only explored around five percent of the ocean floor and about half a percent of the ocean itself, the ocean might be more truly deserving of that title. As fossil fuels continue to diminish and our reliance on them increases, it will become essential that new exploration technologies are able to cope with the scorching temperatures, the crushing pressures and the harsh environment of deep sea extraction.

Training and Examinations For a successful career in Underwater Inspection Internationally recognised qualifications (CSWIP) specified by employers Technical industry knowledge with hands-on practical training Clearly defined career progression Four categories available depending on the career path selected:

3.1U - NDT Inspection Diver 3.2U - NDT Inspection Diver 3.3U - ROV Inspector 3.4U - Underwater Inspection Controller

Both training and examinations are offered at the same location TWI Training and Examination Services Tel: +44 (0)1642 216320 E-mail: trainexam@twitraining.com Website: www.twitraining.com

April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p29


subsea equipment & underwater inspection

Fresh thinking delivers smart solutions that dramatically reduce cost and risk Subsea production systems face growing difficulties in both their installation and their integrity over their life in the field, particularly in challenging geotechnical and environmental loading conditions in both shallow and ultra deep water.

that significantly reduces risk and cost.

Underwater construction and integrity management depend more and more upon high levels of sophisticated instrumentation, data management and processing systems.

The flexible core system provides multichannel communications and data management capabilities to allow precise monitoring of subsea construction, integrity and data integration operations. This not only saves costs and eliminates risk but also reduces the need for expensive custom-engineering on projects. By creating these effective and easily integrated building blocks, the system can be used from initial installation through life-of-field support and

Acquiring valuable data and analysing it are where the challenges lie, particularly when specific applications are taken in isolation. The default position has led to many different bespoke packages being designed over and over again, all trying to deal with similar issues and common problems, albeit with some variations. These bespoke solutions have caused project difficulties contributing to associated loss of data, delays, and cost over-runs, with lost production and the potential for hydrocarbon emissions The specialist nature of systems integration and the difficulty in hiring and retaining professionals in these fields, have resulted in the integration of subsea monitoring systems being delivered by sub-contractors. This means that today’s technology for subsea construction and integrity monitoring is stretched to its limit and lacks scalability and fully integrated solutions that can deliver on ‘big data’ demands. The lower for longer oil price environment has forced the industry to re-think many aspects of actual and risk costs which, in turn, drives the re-thinking of how subsea operations and critical monitoring information is gathered. A step change in monitoring and data integration is required to drive efficiencies, improve both operational and safety performance, whilst reducing cost and associated technical risk that could cause downtime and further cost escalation. Ashtead is providing that step change through fresh thinking and smarter solutions. In recognising the need to simplify the integration of sensor packages and to provide integrated monitoring and sensing systems, Ashtead has launched a building block approach p30 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

Using common core building blocks, Ashtead has successfully deployed a range of applications with varying degrees of complexity to provide vital data during subsea construction and life of asset operations.

eventual decommissioning.

The applications of this core system are the Attitude Monitoring System (AMS), the Deflection Monitoring System (DMS) and the Vibration Monitoring System (VMS). They use common hardware, software and systems integration methodologies to integrate gyro packages, depth gauges, inclinometers and other sensors to provide autonomous packages that can be deployed, used and retrieved by both divers and ROVs. A widely used tool for subsea installation, the AMS has been used on subsea manifold, template, suction pile, wind turbine pile and flow-line application to provide orientation and attitude information. It can be configured to operate either autonomously by divers or via acoustic control and monitoring systems. The system provides highly flexible integration to existing construction and IRM support acoustic networks. Simple to use in-built functions provide a significant improvement in operability and very powerful capabilities that can dramatically improve safety as well as reducing survey time. Ashtead’s DMS extends the use of common building blocks and interfaces further by providing real-time monitoring capabilities for suction pile installed structures. The suction pile relative depths are monitored at each of the four corners of the structure and are integrated into a common data stream via the same communications and management hub used on the AMS.

In addition to measurement depth at each of the piles, the differential pressure is also monitored in real-time to give feedback on the pressure to avoid collapse of the suction piles in the event of excessive force being encountered during pile insertion. In the same way that the Ashtead family of subsea monitoring systems uses common building blocks, so does the surface control and monitoring software. Using a series of common software library block and

function to provide communications, display management, data logging and visualisation, allows rapid application configuration to match specific client needs in terms of data connectivity, local logging support and presentation of data. Ashtead’s VMS extends to integrity monitoring applications where vortex induced vibration measurement, storage and data retrieval may be required. The monitoring requirement may be for a short period, e.g. in verification of riser vibration modes, or longer term, e.g. in monitoring the stability of a pipeline free-span region in the case of seasonal currents that can induce fatigue issues. This building block philosophy is part of Ashtead’s vision to bring fresh thinking and smarter solutions to the industry. Operational risk and associated vessel down-time are reduced through improved system reliability, simplification of subsea control and monitoring tasks also reduce engineering requirements, while safety can be significantly improved through extensive use of remote calibration and deployment control which eliminates working at height risks. Moreover, the systems deliver extended data acquisition and handling capability through the provision of tools to rapidly configure applications with minimum project-bespoke elements.

www.ashtead-technology.com


subsea equipment & underwater inspection

Wire Gap Monitoring of Flexible Pipes with MEC-FITTM Technique The 6” and 10” flexible pipe sections stacked in the masts of the turret drag chain on a FPSO in the North Sea are subjected to external tensile armour wire disorganisation. As a result, Innospection was approached by the Operator to investigate a better way of inspecting the flexible hoses to identify, monitor and measure the increasing wire gaps of the flexible pipes. Gamma radiation was previously used to scan the flexible hoses. However, the issues arising from the use of this technique include shutting off the entire turret area to the personnel and preventing routine operations from taking place in the vicinity during the radiography scanning. The radiography could also not be performed in the direction of the asset’s nucleonic detectors as this would trip the vessel’s High Integrity Pressure Protection System (HIPPS) and causing an unplanned

production outage. Although radiography was previously performed over nine months of the year, it achieved only around 50% of the required work. Innospection proposed to perform the inspection with the MEC-FITTM flexible riser inspection technique. A bespoke tool small enough to work successfully with the flexible hoses having 150mm gaps was developed. The flat MEC-P7 Scanner was customised with a high resolution encoded drive to enable the precise definition of the wire edges and the distance to the neighbouring wire. Incorporated with the MEC-FITTM technique, the scanner was capable of detecting the signals from the surface and repeatedly determining the individual wire gaps of the flexible pipes.

better coverage whilst maintaining image quality, the MEC technique has eradicated the radiation risk posed to personnel.

All the 6” flexible hoses which make up 40% of the turret system were successfully scanned in just two weeks. In addition to

Above: The bespoke flat MEC-P7 Scanner with customised encoded drive during equipment setup prior to mobilisation.

Just two fortnightly trips are now required rather than multiple trips made over nine months. It is estimated that this will result in cost savings in excess of 80% over the next five years for the Operator.

Transform a love of diving into a rewarding career with training from TWI International travel, exciting work and ample progression opportunities: a career in underwater inspection is not short of benefits. If you have a commercial diving licence, or an interest in diving and a desire to get one, moving into underwater inspection gives you the opportunity to turn an enjoyable activity into a ticket to see the world and a rewarding career. Over the last few decades TWI has delivered training to hundreds of divers from all over the world at its specialist facilities. Courses are currently offered in Middlesbrough in the UK, Baku in Azerbaijan and Chonburi in Thailand – each venue featuring modern diving equipment and hosting training provided by experienced industry professionals. For UK-based trainees, TWI is the only place in the country where divers can carry out their training and gain CSWIP certification in the same location. Once qualified you

will be eligible to work all over the world: CSWIP certification is the internationally recognised industry standard, and a specified requirement of many employers. There are four courses available in TWI’s underwater inspection suite: 3.1U NDT Inspection Diver, 3.2U NDT Inspection Diver, 3.3U ROV Inspector and 3.4U Underwater Inspection Controller. They combine classroom-based theory with practical tuition, either in a dive tank or topside, depending on the programme. Each qualification requires recertification every five years, to refresh divers’ knowledge and ensure their skills are up to date. This can be carried out at any of TWI’s underwater training facilities.

TWI Training and Examination Services is the world’s largest provider of training in NDT, welding and welding inspection. Thanks to its excellent global reputation, it has established offices around the world, and last year delivered training to more than 25,000 students from more than 70 countries. For more information, including an underwater inspection career progression map and a complete list of courses, including dates and venues, visit:

www.twitraining.com

or e-mail: trainexam@twitraining.com

If you would like to find out more about what a career in underwater inspection entails, an overview of TWI’s diver inspection courses provided by Leighton Evans, TWI’s underwater inspection business manager, can be found on TWI’s YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/TWIltd April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p31


Analysis of the Global Industrial Valves Market in the Subsea Oil and Gas Industry This study provides an analysis of the industrial valves in the global subsea oil and gas market. Market drivers and restraints have been provided for the forecast period, which lasts till 2020, with 2015 as the base year. The revenue and market share have been discussed with regard to the type of valve (includes isolation valves, control valves, and other valves) as well as actuators. The subsea oil and gas industry has been analysed in detail. A detailed regional breakdown covering the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Asia-Pacific (APAC) has been provided with revenue forecasts for both product type and regions. Trends by technology and pricing have also been discussed. Key Questions Is the subsea valves market growing, how long will it continue to grow, and at what rate? What are the qualitative and quantitative trends in the oil and gas industry affecting the subsea valves market during the forecast period ? What are the current market dynamics and their resulting influence during the forecast period? Who are the key market participates and what is their competitive share analysis? Are the products offered today meeting customer needs or is additional development needed?

p32 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

Are the vendors in the space ready to go it alone, or do they need partnerships to take their businesses to the next level? Key Findings The total market size of the global industrial valves in the subsea oil and gas application is estimated to be $ Million in 2015, with CAGR between 2015 to 2020 forecasted to be %. The recent fall in the global oil and gas prices has a strong adverse affect on the market with a majority of the planned greenfield subsea extraction programs being deferred indeterminately in 2015. The recent fall in investments in the global subsea industry has led to a drive towards extensive research for technological innovations to reduce both the capital and operational expenditure involved.

The competitive market space is highly concentrated with the top market share holders controlling more than % of the market. System integrators and Engineering Procurement Commissioning Installation (EPCI) firms are the major entity in the supply chain, controlling a majority of the sales of new products. This is due to the nature of the commodity, which is sold as a part of a solution and not individually. The shores of Latin America, West Africa, and Australia are the major regions. Most of the growth in this region is expected during the forecast period.


pumps & valves

Innovate how you protect your offshore equipment and extend operating life: Subsea Valve Applications North Sea oil and the oil and gas sector as a whole is operating in a tough market environment at present and operators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the wider supply chain is having to adapt. As manufacturers and operators scale back to reduce their cost base, it is important that engineers do not overlook the opportunity that surface engineering presents to reduce capital cost and improve operational efficiency. Over a series of Blog posts we will be examining how the Oil and Gas industry can innovate equipment repair and maintenance processes to become leaner and more efficient. Extend equipment lifespan The decision on whether equipment can be refurbished or salvaged is driven by many factors, including the functional

properties required and the operating environment, further highlighting the need to work with a technical partner appropriately equipped to thoroughly investigate the situation and diagnose the appropriate solution. When assessing repair and refurbishment jobs, it is also crucial that customer approvals and accreditations are considered, which is why any potential supplier must perform refurbishment work in-line with current regulatory frameworks and customer requirements. Methods of repairing, maintaining and preserving subsea valves Pressure and flow control equipment such as valves are important oilfield assets that can often be repaired or refurbished to extend their service life. Typically valve bodies and seats can suffer from corrosion and abrasive wear in use when particles are introduced between two moving surfaces.

In addition to coating newly manufactured valve gates to increase wear resistance, thermal spray can refurbish them to their original condition using HVOF coatings, and seat faces can be resprayed to ensure an effective sealing surface. HVOF coatings on the external surfaces of ball valves protect them from wear and corrosion, and used ball valves can be returned to their original condition eliminating the need to purchase new parts. HVOF coatings can also be applied onto sealing surfaces and valve bodies to extend their service life.

Amarinth proves that holidays are no barrier when BASF required a new pump in an emergency Amarinth, a leading company specialising in the design, application and manufacture of centrifugal pumps and associated equipment to the Oil & Gas, petrochemical, chemical, industrial and renewable energy markets, has proven that holidays are no barrier to ensuring process plants are kept running by quoting, manufacturing and supplying a stainless steel pump to BASF despite the Christmas and New Year shutdown across the United Kingdom. When a former Girdlestone pump at a BASF chemical plant in Bradford, which is one of the largest and most productive single site chemical plants in the United Kingdom, failed two days before Christmas with no replacement available, BASF contacted Amarinth for emergency support. The BASF site manufactures products used to enhance industrial processing in various industries such as papermaking, mining, oil

extraction, textiles and wastewater treatment and these require the pumping of acrylamide. Working with BASF, Amarinth was able to draw on its experience to produce a quotation the same day to provide a suitable replacement for the failed Girdlestone unit comprising of a bare shaft pump manufactured in 316 stainless steel to ISO15099 specifications. With the Christmas period well underway and much of the UK shut down for two weeks, Amarinth used its influence across a well established supply chain to source the necessary components and accelerate their delivery. Drawing on its own operational agility, Amarinth was then able to assemble and test the pump at its premises in Rendlesham, Suffolk and deliver it directly to the BASF site.

Amarinth, commented: “We are very conscious that many of our clients operate 24/7 and so we have in place procedures for responding to emergencies such as this, whenever and wherever they occur. The Christmas and New Year period can be particularly challenging in the United Kingdom and so we are delighted that we were able to manufacture and deliver the required pump successfully to BASF in such a timely manner.�

In just a few weeks from the initial contact, BASF had commissioned the new Amarinth pump at the Bradford plant, thereby ensuring downtime was kept to a minimum during the Christmas period. Oliver Brigginshaw, Managing Director of

www.amarinth.com April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p33


Coriolis meters market for oil and gas - new designs and advancements in technology, opportunities and forecasts 2023 Coriolis meters have attained popularity worldwide in various liquid applications in the past two decades. New designs have remarkably improved lower pressure drop and low flow sensitivity and are immune to noise factors which enable their successful use in the fluid applications. With more than 20,000 units running on gas around the world, various groups such as API, AGA, Dutch NMi and German PTB are all involved in writing standards for this gas flow technology. Coriolis is one of the rapid growing technologies and growth in gas phase applications is approximately four times faster as compared to liquid applications. Older designs are known to have some well justified limitations for use on gas. Generally, a high pressure drop is required to obtain a high accuracy flow reading and large meters did not work properly due to sensitivity towards noise and effects of process pressure. Since the market is rapidly growing, manufacturers are mostly focused on liquid applications. New designs and advancements in technology since early 1990’s have transformed this, allowing an accurate gas flow measurement for even low pressure gases. Sensitivity has been dramatically improved and pressure drop has been lowered. Overall, it can be argued that coriolis technology solves large number of problems and offers more value for gases than for liquid measurements. This is because gases are compressible. With advancements in technologies parameters such as temperature, gas composition and process pressure are accurately measured and provides adequate flow conditioning for profile sensitive technologies.

p34 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

Since Coriolis meters measures the flowing mass of gas and accuracy is independent of composition and profile, the meter is highly accurate under a wider range of operating conditions and is less costly to install and maintain. Coriolis meters are cost competitive with other metering technologies on an installed cost basis, in which installed cost includes: instrument purchase price, flow conditioning and straight runs, and temperature and pressure compensation. Coriolis meter is composed majorly of two main components such as a sensor and a transmitter. Coriolis meters infer the gas mass flow rate by sensing the Coriolis force on a vibrating tube. Sensing coils are installed at the entrance and exit sections of the tube that move in proportion with the sinusoidal vibration. At the time of flow process, the vibrating tubes and gas flow join together owing to the Coriolis force, thereby generating a phase shift between the vibrating sensing coils. The phase shift is directly proportional to the mass flow rate. Coriolis meters are majorly used for process control and a large number of worldwide approvals exist for fiscal transfer of liquids, which includes authoritative bodies such as USA NIST C.O.C., Dutch NMi, German PTB and USA API.

Rapid industrialization and increasing demand of energy are some of the major drivers of the coriolis meters market. However, high cost required for the maintenance of the meters can hamper the growth of the market. Ample opportunities are there for the coriolis meters market as it is easier to retrofit into existing applications than load cell systems. Some of the key companies in the business of coriolis meters are FMC technologies, AW-Lake Company, Emerson Electric Co., Liquid Controls, Honeywell, Hoffer Flow Controls, Inc. and Burkert Fluid Control Systems among others. About TMR Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company driven by high pedigree consultants and researchers. TMR leverages its Syndicated Research, Custom Research, and Market Consulting expertise to help businesses make accurate decisions. TMR’s exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis draws on proprietary data sources and techniques, while their data repository is continuously updated to reflect the latest trends.


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Total Radar Solutions Count on best-in-class Guided Wave Radar and Non-Contact Radar performance – to knock out all of your level control application challenges.

radar.magnetrol.com

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© 2016 Magnetrol International, Incorporated


The Moskito Biting Back Against Oil Pollution Nobody has ever been able to calculate the amount of oil trapped in wrecks beneath the sea but we know it is there. This is because every so often a slick of raw crude or more refined bunker fuel appears on the ocean’s surface and drifts ashore where it smothers beaches and wildlife. Now, for the first time, a piece of practical technology has been developed at the design hot shop of Miko Marine in Norway that provides a fast and economically deployed tool with the ability to prevent pollution by enabling trapped oil to be recovered before it has a chance to escape and cause damage. Whenever a ship sinks it takes its pollutants with it. Unless they have been liberated by the damage caused by the collision or the grounding, its fuel or its cargo will remain secure within the ship’s tanks. The cargo might be crude oil or any of the hundreds of different liquids transported by sea. Petrochemicals, palm oil even orange juice can find a resting place on the seabed where it is hoped that they will remain. Unfortunately rusted tanks or movement of the wreck can release the trapped liquid at any time. Many of the thousands of ships sunk during the Second World War have 70 years of corrosion eating at their plates and the days when the pollutants that they are carrying are released draw inexorably closer. The only answers are to either seal the wreck or recover the liquid in a controlled manner. In 2012, Miko Marine launched its Moskito research and development project. This quickly attracted much interest from the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA), which had been grappling with the same problem of pollution caused by such leaks. The NCA decided to support Miko Marine’s quest to find a solution and the two organisations joined forces with the backing of Innovation Norway, a governmentsponsored research and development organisation. Miko already enjoyed a close working relationship with the NCA, which had become a customer for some of the company’s most p36 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

innovative products. Although Miko’s corporate origins lie in the world of ocean salvage, it has earned a reputation for original thinking in other disciplines. A team of highly qualified young designers have repeatedly found solutions to thorny problems by lateral thinking and innovation that is not tied to any particular technology. This is how they have successfully developed a range of magnetic patches that can be used to quickly seal a hole torn in a ship’s hull. With their later invention of the ShipArrestor they have solved the problem of drifting ships by developing a parachute-shaped sea anchor that can be delivered by a helicopter. Instead of rolling helplessly until it breaks up or runs aground, a ship without engine power or crew to operate it can now be intercepted by the ShipArrestor and its drift slowed until a tug is able to reach it and tow it to safety. This then automatically connects and locks a hose to the tank without allowing any of its contents to escape. With the hose securely connected a subsea pump can be activated, which extracts the oil at the rate of 12m³ an hour and sends it to the surface for safe and non-polluting recovery. If it becomes necessary to relocate the Moskito it can be easily repositioned by a diver or by ROV without it being returned to the surface. Being such a compact device it is also easy to use multiple units close together if a higher rate of extraction is required. It was this combination of engineering skill and original thought that led to the development of the Moskito oil removal system. Its name was the inevitable consequence of its working similarity to the unpopular insect. Just like the insect it has to be light, versatile and adaptable because when a ship settles on the seabed there is no knowing how its tanks will come to rest. However, with a visual inspection and by studying the plans of the vessel a means of attack can be found. The Moskito is then delivered to the outside of the tank where it penetrates its skin and inserts its proboscis so that the liquid inside can sucked out. The insect allusion falls short of the engineering reality but the principle is the same and measuring just 65cm (25in) by 45cm (17in) and weighing only 80 kg, the tool has an insect’s

light touch by subsea engineering standards. The Moskito achieves its task through being a triumph of precision engineering and clever design. It can be deployed by divers or by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to any ocean depth where they plant its three powerful magnetic feet against the steel hull. A 75mm (3in) diameter electrically powered tank cutter drill is then activated by an operator on the surface who will be controlling the procedure through a dual video link. The Moskito’s drill then pierces steel tank walls, which may be up to 40mm (1.5in) thick. Once the cutter has pierced the tank, the cut disc falls away inside and is followed into the tank by a patented spring latch coupling. This then automatically connects and locks a hose to the tank without allowing any of its contents to escape. With the hose securely connected a subsea pump can be activated , which extracts the oil at the rate of 12m³ an hour and sends it to the surface for safe and non-polluting recovery. If it becomes necessary to relocate the Moskito it can be easily repositioned by a diver or by ROV without it being returned to the surface. Being such a compact device it is also easy to use multiple units close together if a higher rate of extraction is required.

This was not an easy product to develop as it required us to call upon our highest standards of engineering and innovation. We are, however, very pleased with the end result, which has a practical versatility that will make a valuable contribution to marine environmental conservation. It provides a solution to a problem that has remained unanswered since the first ship sank and we are now hoping that our coastlines and our wildlife will see the benefit. Nicolai Michelsen, General Manager, Miko Marine. For more information, please visit:

www.mikomarine.com


hose & couplings

VERSATILE BLAST MACHINES CUT COSTS AND TIME ON SHIP REPAIRS Two Aquagrit WDOS wet or dry abrasive blast machines from Hodge Clemco have dramatically reduced costs and increased the speed of surface preparation work at one of the UK’s leading historic ship restorers. Founded in 1710, Turks is one of the best known boat businesses on the Thames, operating a spectacular fleet of passenger vessels. In 2010 the company launched Turks Shipyard Ltd in the historic Chatham dockyard, where it renovates a wide variety of craft including barges, house boats, tugs and work-boats in an under cover dry dock.

The Aquagrit WDOS machines can be used dry or wet without adaptation, depending on the work situation. Used wet allows blasting to take place safely within the covered boat-yard without enclosing the area. The equipment at Turks has 73 litre hoppers with steep cones to optimise abrasive flow. The hoppers are coated internally to prevent corrosion, and a 9.5mm tungstencarbide nozzle provides positive control of abrasive. Twin dead-man lines with automatic Thomson valve operation are fitted, along with a quick release coupling for fast media drainage.

When in use for wet blasting, the machines can be filled with a hose or pump, and a water separator and water level valve are included as standard equipment. Heavy duty wheels and contractor style handles allow the machines to be moved on site, with the handles giving protection for valves and other important components. Personal protective equipment provided included the latest British Standard approved Hodge Clemco blast suits and Apollo 600 helmets.

Virtually every contract requires some surface preparation and finishing work, which was previously sub-contracted. As well as being expensive, this often caused delays, according to Managing Director Richard Turk:

Our business at Chatham is growing, and we are doing more and more surface preparation work. With the Aquagrit machines, we are not dependant on subcontractors, they are very reliable and easy to use, and they paid for themselves in just a few months.

Trelleborg launches new seawater intake hoses for FLNG Trelleborg’s oil and marine hoses operation is once again pushing the boundaries of technology for the sector, this time with the launch of a dedicated seawater intake hose engineered specifically to meet the unique requirements of floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) extraction facilities. Remote gas extraction presents a variety of challenges due to the crucial role of the cooling process in reducing the volume of the gas by compressing it into liquid form (LNG) to maximise efficiencies in transportation. For this reason, the new Swiline range of hoses from Trelleborg can be used in lengths of up to 600 m /1968 ft, or even more, enabling the use of seawater from greater depths, which can be up to 20ºC/68ºF cooler than water at the surface, for the liquefaction process and so making it more effective.

Swiline hoses are fully certified to the API 17K standard, which certifies up to 30 years’ maintenance free service life with a safety factor of 10. The seawater intake hoses are designed to deliver optimum performance in even the most demanding process conditions. Employing a unique design incorporating an integrated bending stiffener with a continuous inner liner and rubber outer cover, the hoses minimise the risk of corrosion while offering optimal thermal insulation. The combination of steel cables in a rubber matrix minimises creep and offers typical tensile strength as high as 1600 t for 40 in. ID hose, a key attribute when the higher weights required to maintain the position of the hose in high currents are considered. Swiline hoses can be easily installed vertically from the FLNG deck. Assembly can take place beside the hull with connection on the intake flange by divers, or in the riser caisson.

Hydraulic simultaneous tightening of the flange ensures reliable, homogeneous preloading of the bolts for optimum performance. Diameters from 24 - 40 in. ID are available to enable the hoses to cope with the greater quantities of water (up to 50 000 m3/hr) while minimising the pressure drop to avoid the risk of cavitation. Swiline products are suitable for use with both bundled and stand alone riser configurations. The Swiline range has already been fully qualified and specified for the US$12.6 billion Shell Prelude project, the world’s first FLNG, located in the Timor Sea, where production will commence in 2017. Verification has also included uniaxial and multi-axial load tests, extreme and survival loads, as well as fatigue testing with combined tensile and bending loads to validate predictions from finite element analysis (FEA). April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p37


HAZARDOUS AREA Zone 2 Streetlight Abtech have launched an ATEX approved LED streetlight for use in Zone 2 hazardous areas. The STR1 provides industrial sites that incorporate hazardous locations the opportunity to benefit from the advantages of LED technology for roadway and perimeter lighting. The transition to LED street lighting in residential and commercial markets has been underway for a number of years. In such sectors, the main drivers have been lower energy consumption and reduced CO2 emissions. But there are other features of LED technology when applied to street lighting that are particularly important for hazardous area illumination. In terms of light distribution, well-designed optics in a solid state luminaire provide excellent uniformity of light. This means having fewer hotspots and subsequent pools of darkness. Particularly important when looking as horizontal illumination and the spacing possible between lighting columns. LED streetlights produce a very focused light distribution. This gives greater control of the total light produced, reducing upward losses and unwanted spill into adjacent areas.

www.abtech.eu

p38 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

These features were considered in the design of the STR1. As a result, four highly efficient LED optics were developed. Dependent upon the requirement to either maximise horizontal spacing or provide a forward throw of light onto the roadway or the Ex-rated process area, designers can choose the most appropriate lens combination. This flexibility can allow lighting schemes to be optimised for maximum night time visibility. For hazardous locations, not only can this reduce vehicular accident but overcome potential health and safety issues, increasing site safety.

To find out more regarding the technical details and specification of the STR1, please visit the product page: www.abtech.eu/products/hazardousarea-lighting-zone-2/str1-streetlight


hazardous area

QX Series Haz Tool The QX Series Haz Tool is a Class 1, Division 2-Certified screwdriver designed for use in hazardous environments, such as on- and off-shore oil rigs. The QX Haz Tool is designed with a patented closed-loop transducer control at the heart of the tool to deliver precision torque. The tool delivers a maximum torque of up to 106 inches per pound. With a rechargeable 20-volt lithium ion battery that delivers 2.5 amp hours of operation, the QX Haz Tool is cordless making it very portable and maneuverable. Operators can program up to eight fastening configurations on the tool’s multi-function display screen, allowing them to move quickly to different jobs on the rig without switching tools. It has adjustable speeds of up to 1,500 rpm so that operators can accurately control the motor for precision fastening to put

together equipment quickly and with high accuracy, without damaging material. There are multiple drive size options on the QX Haz Tool including a quarter inch quick change drive, a quarter inch square drive and a three-eighth inch square drive. It has a patent-pending, non contacting trigger and reverse switch for maximum durability and control. A bright LED headlight is located right above the trigger and can be programmed with specific on and off times for use during all hours of the day and night.

design for optimal comfort during operation. Its efficiency and durability help operators get real work done quickly, time and time again. It is 8.48-inches long and weighs 2.6 pounds. For more information about the QX Haz Tool, visit:

www.ingersollrandproducts.com

A durable DC motor is housed in the QX Haz Tool and is tested to last more than one million cycles. A wireless communication option transfers data to a module for optimal process control and the ability to adjust tool configurations in real time. Like all QX Series tools, the communications to and from the tool are exchanged over Ingersoll Rand’s dedicated Process Control Module (PCM). The tool has a lightweight, ergonomic

ATEX and IECEx approved to Ex ia II C T4 Ga for use in zone 0 hazardous environments (gas). This new version of the bestselling Radiolink plus is capable of both weighing and dynamic load monitoring in hazardous environments such as on and offshore oil, gas and chemical industries in zones classified 2, 1 and 0.

April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p39


hazardous area

How effective Workflow & Asset Management helps to cope with the Global Oil Glut For the last two years, global oil prices have been in free fall. Unsurprisingly the oil and gas industry is looking to find ways of production with a higher efficiency while reducing operational costs. A key area of opportunity is optimising the workflow & asset management. In many cases, assets have not been well managed and major savings can be had. Nowadays the digitalisation is bringing forth innovation and driving progress to many areas of the industry. But in order to take advantage of all technological advances, hardware options, applications and software solutions must be safe to use in hazardous areas (Zone 1/21 and 2/22 as well as Division 1 and 2), where explosive gas or dust may be present. With the world´s first and only Zone 1/21 and Division 1 certified tablet, the ecom Tab-Ex® 01, based on the Samsung GALAXY Tab Active, and the world´s first explosion proof 4G/LTE Android smartphone SmartEx® 01, a variety of applications can now be safely employed in hazardous work environments.

overcome as business conditions in the Oil & Gas sector have worsened. Especially in hazardous areas, it is essential to share information and communicate with others and to capture, storage, manage, and retrieve relevant data and location details about material, equipment, tools and people in real time.

A comprehensive Mobile Worker Concept is Key To manage and maintain disparate physical assets, drilling rigs, mud pumps, frack trucks, drill pipe, motors, compressors, and the like, many producers and oilfield service companies still rely on clipboards and paper. This not only adds to extensive and irritating “red tape”, but also is highly inefficient.

The ecom Mobile Worker ecosystem and the connected portfolio of mobile computers, peripherals and high quality apps designed for use in harsh, Zone 1/DIV 1 and Zone 2/DIV 2 areas, provide solutions to improve efficiency, to gain Maximum output from operations and help to avoid the loss of production time due to delays in maintenance and inspections, while also reducing the frequency of shutdowns.

Additionally, a report on the state of the material and equipment needs to be drawn up in the office and then entered into multiple databases, each of which must be updated individually when a change occurs. Time spend on a task and the error rate is correspondingly high. Consequently, this course of action can often lead to inadequate Asset Management results, which in turn cause expensive unplanned downtime. These challenges faced by the industry have only become more important to p40 | www.sosmagazine.biz |April 2016

Achieving Operational Efficiency through Apps and multiple Mobile Worker Roles Achieving operational efficiency improvement for pipelines, oil and gas production facilities requires that information is available to all those employees responsible for the operation and maintenance of assets when they need it. The Tab‐Ex® 01 for example,

leveraging Samsung´s expertise, can support multiple mobile worker roles performing a range of applications,

including Asset Surveys, Material Tracking, Operator Rounds, Inspection and Maintenance. The 8“ screen of the Tab‐Ex® 01, which is large enough to read (even in direct sunlight), yet small and light enough to be carried in the field, enables the wide and still growing range of applications to become mobile in hazardous areas. This allows workers to view and interact with SCADA/DCS systems, enterprise systems (SAP, Maximo, s.o.), project management and computer aided design systems, when they are moving around the site. Updates and electronic sign‐offs also become easier to do and manage, allowing more focus on value added tasks and reducing administration time. Furthermore it is equally important to ensure the flow of information in the opposite direction and to make data in real time available throughout the corporate network. By making all of the necessary information available on demand to workers in a variety of job roles, from operators and service crews to business process analysts, real time visibility of the asset landscapes can be achieved, while significantly improving collaboration with colleagues or experts outside the hazardous area.


hazardous area

Flow Batch Controllers

Data can now be interpreted in real time to make immediate decisions on whether an asset or a process needs to be adjusted. Thus, decision making processes are shortened and problems, as well as defects, can be resolved quickly and efficiently. Expanded Mobile Capabilities Another key to improve workflow and asset management involves capturing and managing asset data. Built in rear and front cameras (optional) for the Tab-Ex® 01 and Smart-Ex® 01 with a full complement of wireless capability, allow equipment defects to be captured at inspection or while maintenance work is executed. Video calling applications make the defect instantly visible to those who need to diagnose the issue and determine the follow on actions. Central to ecom´s Mobile Worker concept, the cost effective 4G/ LTE networks and latest Bluetooth standards are also supported by the Tab‐Ex® 01 and Smart-Ex® 01, ensuring access is fast and seamless and allowing real time connectivity to both Bluetooth SmartReady Low Energy 4.0 (BLE) devices as well as older legacy Bluetooth devices.

■ All models accept pulse or 4/20mA inputs ■ Panel and field mounting ■ Easy to configure and use ■ High contrast graphic display with backlight ■ 9 Selectable setpoints ■ 3 Configurable outputs ■ Models for:

Intrinsically safe Ex i applications General purpose applications

■ Three year guarantee

Furthermore, the mobile worker benefits from expanded capabilities such as data collection and measuring/monitoring devices, headsets, AutoID, and Bluetooth Beacons for localisation. The ecom mobile devices can also be turned into a walkie-talkie, replacing limited traditional site radios. Using the tablet and PDA), the necessary prerequisite Tab‐Ex® 01 for data transfer and communication and Smart-Ex® 01 to run advanced anywhere and at any time, thus providing PTT Apps, groups and individuals can real use benefits to oil and gas companies communicate and collaborate with PTT and workers in hazardous areas around Over IP. the world: Providing real-use Benefits The low oil price environment continues to drive an intense, and necessary, focus on optimising operational efficiency and cost reduction. ecom’s Mobile Worker concept offers some of the world’s first intrinsically safe hardware (smartphone,

• Increased operational efficiency and speed of inspections • Enables collaboration with others from any location at any time • Increased productivity due to paperless workflows and automated processes • Improved safety with Lone Worker

www.beka.co.uk

Hitchin, Herts. SG5 2DA, UK sales@beka.co.uk Tel +44 (0)1462 438301

Protection • Improved data accuracy and quality • Reduced time and cost Visit ecom´s Mobile Worker landing page and App Library to learn more about using and benefiting from ecom’s mobile solutions (Tablet, Smartphone and PDA). Further information about ecom instruments can be found at:

www.ecom‐ex.com

April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p41


hazardous area

Wolf Turns Up The Temperature On Temporary Lighting and Power Solutions Wolf Safety, the world’s leading manufacturer of hazardous area portable and temporary lighting, turns up the temperature on its temporary LED task lighting and power distribution solutions for use in extremely hot ambient atmospheres, plus obtains IECEx International Equipment Certification for Explosive Atmospheres for all its GRP Transformers.

The low voltage high performance, lightweight, portable LinkEx™ LED Floodlite (18-54V) also has a raised maximum operating ambient temperature from 50°C to 55°C, plus maximum external surface temperature for dust protection is lowered from 103°C to 87°C and the cable temperature rise is reduced from 61°C to 34°C. Overall, the unit is now ‘cooler’ running and much more efficient resulting in greater flexibility and safety for hazardous area users.

Wolf’s lighting and power distribution solutions are now the first choice for high ambient temperature applications found in hot environments in the Middle East, Far East and Africa, particularly in metal tanks and enclosed structures absorbing the sun’s heat. Now Wolf has certification for a temperature class rating of T4 with an upper operating ambient temperature of 55°C for its new 250VA Transformers and Low Voltage LinkEx™ LED Floodlite (18-54V).

By reducing the available power from 400VA to 250VA, Wolf’s new 250VA Transformers with GRP enclosures can achieve a T4 temperature class rating with a +55°C ambient, allowing the equipment to be safely used in a wider range of gas and dust hazards and hot explosive atmospheres. Plus Wolf’s full range of ATEX 250VA and 400VA Transformers all have ATEX and now IECEx certification confirming compliance with international IEC standards.

Alex Jackson, Wolf Safety Managing Director comments “In combining the IECEx certification and new ATEX 250VA Transformer with LinkEx™ LED Floodlites, we can now offer Low Voltage LinkEx™ Tank Lighting internationally to deliver high quality task lighting within a high ambient temperature hazardous area, all with an operating ambient temperature of up to 55°C and a T4 temperature class. We strive to make our solutions accessible to all end users, whatever the hazardous area environment, and will announce further temperature improvements later this year for the LinkEx™ temporary lighting range.” All equipment is CE marked to the 94/9/ EC ATEX Equipment Directive and IECEx certified for safe use in Zones 1 and 21 hazardous areas where potentially explosive gases, vapours, mists and dusts may be present in a confined space.

Compact field mounting 4/20mA indicator can be installed in limited space BEKA have added compact field mounting instruments to their range of 4/20mA loop powered indicators. The new ‘G’ models have a large easy to read display housed in a compact, IP66 impact resistant GRP enclosure which can be installed where space is limited. ‘G’ indicators offer a choice of four 34mm high digits, or five 29mm high digits with a 31 segment bargraph. All have an operating temperature

p42 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

of –40ºC to +70ºC and include a root extractor, lineariser, calibrator and slide-in scale card. Backlighting, dual alarms, and a pipe mounting kit are available as accessories. Indicators are available with ATEX and IECEx intrinsic safety gas and dust certification and, for applications in Zone 2 or 22, Ex nA and Ex tc approval permits installation without Zener barriers or galvanic isolators significantly reducing loop cost. General purpose models are also available.

For further information including datasheets, certificates and application guides please visit:

www.beka.co.uk/compact

or phone the BEKA sales office on:

01462 438301


hazardous area

STS Drum Mixer units Further adding to its unique range of drum handling products, STS is enjoying success with its range of Drum Mixing units. The standard models tumble 200 litre drums end over end through 360 degrees offering a fast and efficient way of mixing chemicals.

Equipment who were selected as the machinery supplier for this installation, working with Trelleborg Offshore UK, who is working with Bos Shelf and BP as their operators out in Baku for an estimated 5 years.

Most recently units have been supplied for a brand new factory being built in Baku (Azerbaijan) for the Shah Deniz stage 2 project.

The Shah Deniz project is the biggest Offshore energy project in the world at the moment, as part of Stage 2 they are running over 4,000 km of gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Europe.

The STS DME01 Electric Drum Mixer and the STS DTP04 and DTP05 De-palletisers are in the heart of the project, as the specialised engineering chemical system needs mixing before being introduced to the machines which then add thermal insulation to the subsea pipe line, joints, bends and manifolds. The mixers were supplied to CTM

All in all a proud moment for British Engineering and manufacturing. 01736 851050 STS Bespoke Handling Equipment Ltd

www.sts-trolleys.co.uk

Dialight’s New Green LED Safety Shower Stainless Steel Luminaire Includes Integrated Battery Backup, Offers 5 Years of Maintenance-free Performance World’s First ATEX-Certified, IP 66/67 Rated Green LED Product Improves Safety, Withstands Extreme Conditions, Enables Easy, Stand-Alone Installation on Existing Infrastructure. Dialight (LSE: DIA.L), the innovative global leader in LED lighting technology for industrial applications, today announced the launch of its new SafeSite® Stainless Steel Green LED Linear Safety Shower luminaire that provides 5 full years of maintenance free performance to ensure site safety. The new product is the first ATEX-certified safety shower luminaire of its kind with a built in battery backup system for easy installation on existing wiring infrastructure. The 2 foot stainless steel fitting is highly resistant to corrosive materials, and extremely durable for hot, cold, wet and high vibration applications, such as offshore drilling platforms, chemical facilities and other harsh environments. An operating temperature range of -20°C to +60°C ensures reliable performance in any extreme climate including a full 3 hour duration of emergency green light even at -20°C. The system is designed to replace conventional fluorescent fittings that require frequent lamp

changes and rely on green coloured lens films that are prone to peeling and fading. Unlike these high maintenance products, Dialight’s new stainless LED system uses green, long life LEDs backed by a 5 year, full-performance warranty for exceptional reliability, improved safety and a dramatic reduction in maintenance costs and demands. The essential green colour required for safety shower applications is derived from the green LED’s sealed inside, which ensures colour consistency is maintained with no need for externally mounted green films.

“The rugged, low profile design of our Stainless Steel SafeSite Linears has already proven to be superior to anything else on the market in a variety of applications,” said Stuart Head, Product Manager at Dialight. “The addition of green LEDs and the built-in emergency battery pack make this an ideal product for safety showers, resolving all of the biggest challenges of conventional solutions in critical Zone 1 and 21 applications. Personnel safety is paramount to operators, and this product eases some of those burdens by offering a solid product, requiring minimal maintenance.”

The fitting is L70 rated for over 100,000 hours of performance and dependable lumen maintenance, and the product is factory sealed with both IP 66 and 67 ratings for water and dust ingress protection.

The product offers a wide range of mounting options including pole clamp, eyelet and surface mount, plus wall mounting at 30, 45, 60 or 90 degrees. For more information on Dialight’s full line of LED industrial lighting solutions for hazardous environments, including IES files, LM79 reports and technical datasheets, visit:

The built-in battery eliminates the need for an auxiliary battery or UPS system that requires added wiring, infrastructure and maintenance. The Dialight product can be installed quickly and easily on existing wiring for fast retrofit and upgrade to a more reliable and cost effective system.

www.dialight.com

or call us on: +44 (0)1638 665161 April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p43


product spotlight In addition the DN26 G3 offers a

VIBRATION PROTECTION FOR dedicated speed monitor channel which can also be utilised as a phase SMALLER CRITICAL PLANT reference for harmonic analysis of Improving efficiencies, reducing energy consumption and eliminating downtime has never been more important than in today’s highly competitive industrial environment. Whether generating power, pumping essential fluids or driving process equipment, it is vital to monitor machinery dynamic behaviour and protect processes from the disruption and expense of unscheduled downtime. As a consequence continuous protection and monitoring is an essential requirement for critical rotating plant across every industry sector. However, the cost of sophisticated protection systems can be difficult to justify for smaller machinery operating on less critical applications, although the requirement for monitoring still needs to be addressed. The solution is cost effective and compact machinery protection monitoring devices such as those developed by condition monitoring specialist SENSONICS. A good example is their DN26 G3 protection monitor which provides practical and affordable protection for smaller plant and equipment such as, pumps, fans, motors, centrifuges, turbines, or any item of small to medium industrial machinery. A recent project success for the DN26G3 is the Boasteel Zhanjing Steel plant in China where over 90 modules are utilised with Sensonics sensors to monitor critical plant. These include the main exhaust fans in the blast furnace, the vaporising fans in the continuous casting line and de-dusting fans in the steel making and sintering unit; providing vibration protection to over 30 fans in total. The Zhanjing plant has a first phase capacity of 9MT per annum and is one of the most advanced steel plants in China with low emissions and high energy efficiency. The high-performance Din Rail mountable DN26 G3 unit is capable of monitoring two channels of bearing vibration, shaft vibration, or shaft position and offers fully programmable signal conditioning with a range of measurement algorithms and sensor options.

the vibration signals. The unit is designed for optimum flexibility; as a universal module (single hardware platform) it is field upgradable and can be programmed for any of the measurement options detailed above. It is available with mains voltage or +24Vdc power supply options. The sensor interface is programmable to accept IEPE type accelerometers / velometers, proximity probes (API 670 standard), and active / passive speed probes. All sensor signals are available via a buffered interface which provides the option of further detailed analysis if required. Three alarm relays are available as standard (expandable to up to seven relays via a digital interface), one dedicated to indicate module and sensor integrity, the other two relays are fully programmable across the alarm criteria selected. All three input channels measured values are available via a 4-20mA interface.

The unit is available with Ethernet communications as standard, permitting configuration either locally or remotely through the inbuilt web server and offering Modbus over TCPIP for connecting measured data to other plant wide systems. The DN26 G3 features a built-in intuitive colour LCD display and menu drive facility providing various display modes including an alarm historian with real time logging capability.

www.sensonics.co.uk p44 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016


product spotlight

RUD ABA/L-ABA Weldable Lifting & Lashing Point Shows damage & wear with the innovative RUD patented wear marking indicator. RUD offer an extensive range of lifting and lashing applications which includes both welded and threaded types, covering a working load capacity range from 0.6 to 200 tonne. Safety when lifting or lashing heavy loads is imperative. RUD, a market leader for providing safe lifting and lashing points have introduced the ABA Lifting point for welding and the L-ABA Lashing point.

on both the inside and outside of the body of the load ring. The wear marking indicator offers a distinct safety benefit over other load rings. The patented wear marks allows the user to know if there is more than 10% wear on the item, more than 10% wear on a lifting point means the item must be removed from service. Therefore, offering an ultimate safety factor. The wear marks serve as a dual function because they also show the angle of the sling

or attachment point relative to the ABA. As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of lifting and lashing applications combined with their extensive range of products and knowledge in the market, RUD are continually innovating and developing their extensive product range to stay at the forefront of their customers’ demands. For more information call: 01227 276 611 Email: katie.crane@rud.co.uk or visit: www.rud.co.uk

The ABA Lifting point & L-ABA Lashing point are forged out of the high strength material CrNiMo, quenched and tempered and surfaced in phosphate for improved material strength and wear resistance. They are loadable in any direction and operational to temperatures as low as -40 degrees. The ABA lifting point offers a safety factor of 4:1 and the L-ABA offers a safety factor of 2:1. The ABA & L-ABA offer the ability to check the load ring for damage and wear, via the innovative patented wear marking indicator,

Impact Subsea Launch The ISD4000 Depth & Temperature Sensor Impact Subsea is delighted to announce the launch of the ground breaking ISD4000, a survey grade Depth & Temperature sensor with optional integrated HMRU. With a 0.01% Full Scale Depth measurement accuracy combined with a Temperature measurement accuracy of 0.01°C the ISD4000 is at the forefront of Depth and Temperature measurement technology. The ISD4000 can also be supplied with an integrated HMRU. Providing the user with Heading, Pitch and Roll values. Designed to be an ideal sensor for ROV & AUV underwater applications, the ISD4000 offers a significant degree of capability, in a small form factor, at a very cost effective price. At only 8cm (3.1”) long, 4.5cm (1.8”) wide and weighing just 0.42kg (0.93lb) in

air makes the ISD4000 a highly compact unit. This form factor is ideal for applications where space and weight are critical considerations. Using under 40mA of power at 24VDC offers an exceptionally low power consumption from a sensor with such capability, ideal for AUV or battery powered applications. Housed in a robust titanium housing, complete with industry standard connector, ensures that the ISD4000 is not only at the forefront of technology, but built to withstand the harshest of underwater environments. The ISD4000 compliments Impact Subsea’s ISA500. Combined, the pair provide the user with Altitude, Depth, Temperature, Heading, Pitch & Roll. All values can be displayed in a single easy to use software interface or output to a third party system.

With the ISD4000 we have created a very capable Depth & Temperature sensor, which compliments the Impact Subsea ISA500. Providing Depth, Temperature and an integrated HMRU, the ISD4000 is one of the most powerful and most compact underwater sensors available today. Ben Grant, Managing Director, Impact Subsea. April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p45


product spotlight

J D NEUHAUS AT YOUR SERVICE The specialised high-performance handling products manufactured by the J D Neuhaus company are engineered for extremes, and are suitable for operation within chemical, oil and gas and general industries involving hazardous working areas including those subject to potential explosion risks. Their hoist and overhead crane mechanisms are strong, fast and silent, providing high levels of safety with ease of operation. They combine lube-free, low maintenance operation with 100% duty ratings and unlimited duty cycles. The products are insensitive to dust, humidity and temperatures ranging from 20°C to +70°C. It is essential that the correct installation, operating and regular inspection servicing procedures are undertaken and maintained for these products to ensure long term, trouble free operation of all mechanical and power operated components. To ensure that users obtain the best value for money from their investment in handling products, the JDN company can provide offsite/onsite services including supervision, installation, training, inspection, maintenance and repair, together with the supply of spares, service kits and full refurbishment facilities. All work is undertaken under full JDN personnel supervision and is carried out in co-operation with external certification authorities where required. Appropriate products and services available from the JDN service department include: • Prior inspection for the planning of the building site

p46 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

• Organisation of the building site and coordination with all participants • Provision of assemblyman • Commissioning • Approval of the hoists/cranes on client terms • Approval in cooperation with external certification authority (3rd party) This is then followed-up where required with regular maintenance and annual inspections by JDN trained engineers/technicians covering: • Annual maintenance under compliance with the legal requirements and the JDN maintenance plan • Introduction into the JDN maintenance database to ensure clients are reminded of upcoming planned maintenance • Maintenance contracts that provide precise cost control details This is also then supported with full maintenance/repair/modification facilities including: • Repair and modification in JDN’s own workshops • Repair and modification at client facilities • Conversion in co-operation with JDN R&D requirements • Overload tests A full spare parts provision incorporates support for the choice of spare parts, compilation of spare parts and service kits for retention in client warehouse and the shipping of the spare parts worldwide. In addition, specific customer personnel training, all tailored to meet client needs is available either on-site, at customer facilities or one of the widely located JDN sales companies.

J D Neuhaus are represented in more than 90 countries (including Germany, France, Great Britain, Singapore and USA), together with 70 other branches throughout the world. After expiration of the theoretical operating life (at the latest after 10 years) all hoists are currently required to undergo a general overhaul. For J D Neuhaus hoists, this work can be undertaken within their service centre or by one of the JDN authorised service partners. If there is a short term demand for hoists of any capacity then a full rental service, including delivery, is available and hoists can be customised to meet specific client requirements. The J D Neuhaus air operated handling equipment, including hoists and cranes for operations within light, medium and heavy duty engineering, cover individual lift capacities from 250kg up to 100 metric tonnes. Even heavier lift requirements can also be achieved using multiple hoists and integrated synchronised lift and traverse controls for units operating in tandem or parallel configurations. Land based or offshore oil/gas platform mounting can be accommodated, including installations on sea-going vessels where ocean swell movements can be minimised by the use of rack & pinion drives incorporated into horizontal overhead beams and the mechanised trolley drives. Specialised hoists for underwater handling operations, or extreme low cryogenic conditions down to 45°C are also available, together with optional hydraulic drive mechanisms where compressed air power supplies are not readily available.


product spotlight

ATLANTAS MARINE LAUNCHES NEW VIDEO TOOL FOR ROV SURVEYS Atlantas Marine Ltd has made its first move into ROV instrumentation with the design and manufacture of a video overlay device intended to make cathodic protection surveys easier and faster. Being shown in public for the first time at Oceanology International (Stand E 201), the new tool has been designed to display the readings obtained by a cathodic protection probe as an overlay on the ROV’s video display. This creates a permanent record and eliminates the need for the ROV operator to make handwritten notes of individual probe readings while surveying the condition of a vessel’s anodes. The new CP video overlay tool is the result of many years of practical ROV operation by Atlantas Marine Ltd. In addition to being the world’s top agent for sales of VideoRay ROVs, the company also specialises in conducting underwater surveys for clients with its VideoRay and other observation class ROVs. Experience of the practical challenges of ROV operation and the company’s high level of in-house technical expertise has resulted in the development of this instrument which can enhance the capabilities of ROVs of any size.

Right: VideoRay ROV with Atlantas CP probe beside overlay instrument box

For more information visit:

The CP video overlay unit consists of a small black box that can be quickly and easily interfaced with the ROV’s cathodic measurement probe and the pilot’s video display. It is the answer to a practical problem that Atlantas Marine ROV operators had been grappling with for many years and it now enables them to give their undivided attention to the task of operating the ROV and its probe. When the ROV is driven forward against the hull or anode of a vessel the current reading obtained by its probe is traditionally displayed on a separate unit. From there it must be transcribed by the ROV pilot or an assistant in a way that enables the reading to be related to a specific anode. This can be a challenge if sea conditions are difficult or visibility is limited but with the CP data overlay it is no longer necessary. The reading obtained by the probe is shown as part of the ROV’s video display which is creating a permanent record of the dive. By reviewing the recording later it becomes possible to relate the data to the exact location in a way that efficiently avoids any mistakes or ambiguity. Atlantas Marine is based in Yeovil, South-West England and has been selling small ROVs and providing survey services for over 15 years. In that time it has gained a wealth of experience that enables it to

respond quickly and effectively to requests from customers anywhere in the world. This combination of practical experience and the technical competence needed to repair and maintain ROVs has almost made the development and manufacture of the CP Overlay an inevitable outcome.

We have been successfully supplying VideoRay ROVs for many years and the steady increase in the amount of survey and inspection work that we undertake has given us a detailed insight into the practicalities of ROV operation. Our engineering team is second to none so when we encounter a technical problem we are able to solve it ourselves. With this combination of skills I suppose it is a natural progression that we should start making our own tools. Normally the tools and instruments supplied for ROVs are manufactured by companies that specialise in making things at the direction of their customers. Being a manufacturer as well as an end-user puts our first product in a unique position and it is now probably just a question of time before we devise and present more ROV tools and accessories to the market. Charlie Foll, Managing Director, Atlantas Marine.

Above: Atlantas Marine Managing Director Charlie Foll.

www.atlantasmarine.com

April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p47


product spotlight

SEISMIC SAFETY SWITCH PROVIDES HIGH-INTEGRITY PROTECTION High integrity seismic protection of critical assets such as oil, gas, nuclear and hydro-electric installations, pharmaceutical and medical facilities, where accurate detection of structural vibration in conjunction with safe shut down procedures is an essential requirement. SENSONICS, the leading supplier of seismic monitoring protection systems to the UK’s nuclear industry, offer a range of solutions which are ideally suited to most applications. The SA safety seismic switch is a good example of Sensonics expertise in developing innovative seismic monitoring and protection systems which are trusted by the UK nuclear industry. The SA-3 seismic safety switch provides triaxial vibration detection and is ideal for protecting vulnerable structures from ground borne vibration events and incorporates a range of safe shutdown options, depending on the application.

The SA-3 model features three high integrity low noise piezoelectric seismometers positioned at 90º to each other along with the associated alarm circuitry housed within a robust weatherproof painted steel enclosure. It is seismically qualified to IEEE-344 (Standard for Seismic Qualification of Equipment for Nuclear Power Generating Stations) and utilises technology operationally proven in harsh environments. The switch operates on seismic events and when the signal from any axis exceeds the pre-set alarm level, the alarm relay is activated. The sensors consist of a unique system of matched piezoelectric elements arranged in a ‘reciprocal’ configuration providing a functional test capability. Application of a 1Hz signal to the calibration crystal element mechanically excites the measuring elements resulting in a defined signal output which can be used to perform a full loop check of the seismic switch. Such a facility is essential for applications where the switch is located in a hazardous area and requires full proof testing on a regular basis.

As well as the usual seismic and EMC approvals the SA-3 switch is available for functional safety applications up to SIL-2 and can also be provided in an explosive-proof housing for intrinsically safe applications. Tel: +44 (0) 1442 876833 sales@sensonics.co.uk

www.sensonics.co.uk

Advancing Deep Sea Operations for Unmanned Vehicles In October 2015 a consortium of UK companies and academic partners, led by Steatite began an R&D project to develop a battery pack that will be pressure tolerant up to depths of 6000 metres. Due for completion in October 2017, the project is looking to exploit the inherent benefits of Lithium-Sulfur battery technology. This presents some major advances for Marine Autonomous Systems looking to improve on neutral buoyancy, higher levels of safety and higher energy densities, delivering greater speeds, endurance and payloads. Phase One Results The first phase of the project, recently completed at NOC in Southampton, involved repeatedly testing Lithium-Sulfur cells at pressures and temperatures equivalent to undersea depths of 6,000m. The test results have confirmed that the cell performance is unaffected by being exposed to these extreme conditions, with consistent delivery of energy. p48 | www.sosmagazine.biz | April 2016

Summary of project milestone so far include: • Repeated cycling of Lithium-Sulfur cells under conditions replicating a depth of 6000m show consistent energy delivery performance • No internal damage or adverse effects on the chemistry of the cells is detected • Production of hardware and software for the associated battery management system is now underway. Using the test facilities at the NOC, Li-S cells underwent multiple pressure, temperature and discharge cycles. Subsequent analysis showed that there were no adverse effect to the internal structure to the cell. The project’s aim is to build and demonstrate a Lithium-Sulfur system in the flooded compartment of an autonomous vehicle. The next phase of the project will complete the design work for a trial battery pack including a pressure tolerant Battery Management System.

www.steatite.co.uk


southern ropes Southern Ropes was founded over 30 years ago in 1984 and is one of the largest manufacturers of high quality synthetic ropes. Providing services and custom products to an array of markets, including Industrial Rope Access, Commercial Marine, Leisure Marine, Mining and the Armed Forces. Southern Ropes are at the forefront of rope innovation combining the latest rope making technologies with strong and durable materials like HMPE, Dyneema Fibre, Vectran™ and Technora. The quality of the rope and cordage produced is respected all over the world. The original focus was to produce high tenacity, durable UV resistant, long lasting and reliable ropes at a competitive price. Southern Ropes has since grown and diversified to become a specialist synthetic rope and cord manufacture with an extensive product range that can meet all their customer requirements.

Please contact us if you have any questions or enquiries, we would be happy to help. Tel: +44 (0)1489 589 333 sales@southernropes.co.uk

www.southernropes.com

Tug, Towing, Winch & Mooring Line Southern Ropes specialise in HMPE/ Dyneema Fibre TUG, TOWING, WINCH and MOORING line. High performance towing at sea, lifting or winching lines with extremely high strength to weight ratio this has become a popular option. These are manufactured to both custom and standard specifications. HMPE/ Dyneema Fibre rope is a wire replacement rope, with less friction and drag in the water. HMPE / Dyneema Fibre tow lines or mooring lines are easier to handle and can be made in long lengths with no

joins. The rope is polyurethane coated which reduces snagging and prolongs the longevity of the rope. The outer surface of these ropes is soft and the ropes will not damage the tug boat or the vessel it is being used on. These ropes are easy to deploy as they are light and easy to handle. This then speeds up the operation saving time and money as you need less crew on board the tugs.

Tug, Tow & Mooring line Features: • HMPE • Dyneema fibre • Light weight • Wire replacement • Less friction & drag • Extremely high strength to weight ratio • Very low creep • Long length - NO joins • Easier to handle • Easy to transport • Coating reduces snagging • Thermofixation • Het set ropes

TUG & TOW LINES

April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p49


+44 (0) 1522 791 721

MAKING & MAINTAINING THE RIGHT CONNECTION Destec Engineering has specialised in the manufacture of high pressure Flanges, Seals & Connections for the Oil, Gas & Renewable Energy industries for over 45 years. Services we deliver: Destec compact flanges Destec boiler inspection caps G-Range 4 bolt connectors Compatible seals GSB subsea single bolt clamps

We also specialise in On-site machining to many industries.

DESTEC

WWW.

.CO.UK

sosenquiries@destec.co.uk

Services we offer: On-site machining Bolt tensioning On-line leak sealing Overlay welding NDT services Regenerator & vessel head removal


A-Z ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY Page 5

ADIPEC 2016

Tel +971 (0)2 6970 518

Website. www.adipec.com

Page 41

BEKA Associates Ltd

Tel +44 (0)1462 438301

Website. www.beka.co.uk

Page 51

Destec Engineering Ltd

Tel +44 (0)1522 791721

Website. www.destec.co.uk

Page 22

European Offshore Energy 2016

Tel +44 (0)1732 370340

Website. www.europeanoffshoreenergy-expo.com

Page 9

Institution of Chemical Engineers

Tel +44 (0)1788 534431

Website. www.icheme.org

Page 35

Magnetrol速

Tel +44 (0)1444 871313

Website. www.magnetrol.co.uk

Page 15

Nord-Lock Ltd

Tel +44 (0)1264 355557

Website. www.nord-lock.com

OBC

Offshore Energy 2016

Tel +31 (0)10 209 2600

Website. www.offshore-energy.biz

IFC

OSEA 2016

Tel +65 6233 6638

Website. www.osea-asia.com

Page 13

RUD Chains Ltd

Tel +44 (0)1227 276611

Website. www.rud.co.uk

Page 15

Springmasters Ltd

Tel +44 (0)1527 500500

Website. www.bellevillesprings.com

Page 39

Straightpoint UK Ltd

Tel +44 (0)152 473 3388

Website. www.balltec.com

Page 25

STS Bespoke Handling Equipment

Tel +44 (0)1736 851050

Website. www.sts-trolleys.co.uk

Page 19

TSC Inspection Systems

Tel +44 (0)1908 317444

Website. www.tscinspectionsystems.com

Page 29

TWI Training & Examination Services

Tel +44 (0)1223 899000

Website. www.twi-global.com

NEXT MONTH... subsea equipment / rovs / auvs | training & development | decommissioning cables, glands & connectors | drilling, exploration & production If you have any news, insights or product launches that you would like to share with our readers, please email them to:

editor@sosmagazine.biz for consideration in our future issues. April 2016 | www.sosmagazine.biz | p51


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