SOS November'15

Welding, Fabrication & Alloys p28 ADIPEC 2015 Show Preview p16 Subsea Equipment p22 Flow Measurement p32 Pumps & Valves p36 Hazardous Area p40

SOS SUBSEA & OFFSHORE SERVICE MAGAZINE

November 2015 Issue

Consulting

Training & Consultancy

Environmental

Quality

Health & Safety

Auditing

EXCLUSIVE

QMI Scotland: ISO 9001:2015 is out – What’s the next step? p15 Training

Subsea 7 Pg 22

AxFlow’s Moivac Pg 36

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Quickits Limited Pg 39

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Welcome to the November issue of Subsea & Offshore Service Magazine, the journal for the Oil and Gas, Subsea, Offshore and Renewables markets.

With ADIPEC 2015 taking place in Abu Dhabi from 9-12 November, we preview the event from page 16 which includes an interesting viewpoint from world renowned speaker Jon Duschinsky who believes that oil and gas companies must embrace sustainability in today’s transforming energy landscape or risk losing to competitors who are redefining their approach to business.

We open this edition with a summary from the latest Hays Oil & Gas Salary Guide (Pg 4) which advises that oil and gas companies can compete for the best talent and niche skills by showcasing their training and professional development programmes to help promote their brand and set themselves apart in the industry.

On (Pg 23), The Underwater Centre unveil new collaborative training model for increasing workforce competency in the ROV industry.

On (Pg 34) within our Pumps & Valves feature a recent research report suggests that the global pumps and valves market will be driven by rising oil and gas exploration.

We round this edition off with our monthly focus on all of the latest news and product innovations associated with the Hazardous Area market (Pg 40).

David Sullivan - Editor

Pg 15

QMI Scotland

Pg 22 Subsea 7

Pg 36

AxFlow’s Moivac

Pg 39

Quickits Limited

Within this issue

4 6 8 16 22 28 32 36 40 46 51

Industry Viewpoint News in Brief Industry News ADIPEC 2015 Show Preview Subsea Equipment Welding, Fabrication & Alloys Flow Measurement Pumps & Valves Hazardous Area Product Spotlight A-Z Directory

Staff

Editor: David Sullivan Publication Manager: Jon McIntosh Publication Manager: Alex Wetton editor@sosmagazine.biz jon@sosmagazine.biz alex@sosmagazine.biz Tel No: +44 (0)1634 568925 Tel No: +44 (0)1634 568929 Tel No: +44 (0)1634 568926 Designer: Karl Speller Publisher: Robert Robinson design@sosmagazine.biz Crystal Design & Media Ltd Tel No: +44 (0)1634 568925 Tel No: +44 (0)1634 568925

Contributors The Big Partnership Lesley Davidson Marketing Ltd Wordsun Ltd Fifth Ring Think PR I.M.C.A

Crystal Design & Media Ltd and the publication Subsea & Offshore Service Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material or the accuracy of information received.

All material will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication under copyright and within the editors rights to edit and offer comment.

All editorial contributions are to be sent to: editor@sosmagazine.biz

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On (Pg 39) Quickits Ltd announce their appointment as UK stockist and distributor for the new stainless steel spring return handle.

Featured

Contents & Welcome

Contents

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Industry Viewpoint

Oil & gas industry is at risk of future skills shortages amid market changes 95% of oil and gas professionals said salary is the most important factor when considering a new role.

In addition, 92% of job seekers judge company reputation as a crucial element in their decision making process when evaluating new job opportunities, according to the sixth annual Hays Oil & Gas Salary Guide.

To attract top talent, 72% of employers felt they had to make improvements to their employee offering in the last year, including training and development, compensation and rewards.

As company reputation is such a significant factor for job seekers in evaluating a job opportunity, employers increasingly have to develop a compelling employee value proposition to be perceived as an employer of choice.

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In order to compete for the best talent and niche skills, employers must showcase their training and professional development programmes to help promote their brand and set themselves apart in the industry.

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How are changes in the industry impacting employer hiring plans?

The Guide was completed in November 2014 and included responses from more than 45,000 oil and gas professionals across 25 disciplines in 188 countries worldwide. Significantly, 10,000 respondents globally were employers or hiring managers within the industry. However, due to the timing of the survey the fall in global oil prices has not been fully reflected in the Guide. The effect of the price drop is being seen in businesses across all oil and gas regions. Projects have been delayed, paused or cancelled, causing companies to re-evaluate hiring plans and this is expected to continue for the rest of the calendar year.

Skills shortages were again the biggest concern for employers (30%) although economic instability was a close second

(24%), reflecting the nervousness that had already crept into the industry when this survey was undertaken.

Twenty-nine per cent cited inadequate succession planning for knowledge transfer and skills retention as the key cause of skills shortages within the industry. While potential layoffs could lessen the skills shortage locally, there will continue to be shortages for experienced talent within in-demand skill areas, such as subsea, petroleum engineering and increasingly LNG. Learning from past mistakes to help sustain the future of the workforce With hiring plans impacted, employers are faced with difficult decisions: how to reduce costs while still having the right skills to deliver projects.

Furthermore, a decrease in hiring is likely to exacerbate the skills gap and could result in further skills shortages in the future.

This year’s survey revealed 22.5% of respondents worldwide are aged 50 and above, which means that a significant portion of the tenured, skilled workforce will be retiring over the next 5+ years. With the anticipated reduced hiring of Gen Y workers due to market conditions, the future generation of industry leaders, the industry may be creating a future skills gap issue, much like it did in the mid-to-late 1980’s.

Above: John-Faraguna, President of Hays, North America.

“Since we collated the data the industry has been through unprecedented times. Projects with attractive economics are likely to continue, but new projects will come under increased scrutiny and, if no longer economically viable under the new oil price regime, could be postponed or cancelled.

However, teams managing day-to-day operations still require the resources necessary to complete projects on time and within budget. At the other end of the spectrum, smaller businesses are responding to recent changes by focussing on interim hiring, shifting from multi-year contracts to short-term specialist assignments.”

John Faraguna, Managing Director, Hays Oil & Gas.

EMEC to support development of Chinese marine energy test site Industry News

Sino-Scots connections strengthened following new EMEC partnership.

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) based in Orkney, Scotland, has strengthened its ties with China having signed a Memorandum of Understanding with organisations based in Qingdao to support the development of a marine energy test site in the area.

Scottish-based EMEC and the University of Edinburgh, signed the MoU alongside the Ocean University of China (OUC), Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (QNLM), and Qingdao Songling Power Environmental Equipment Company (QSPEEC) at the UK-China Energy Dialogue - an annual forum for UK and Chinese government, business and academic leaders to meet and discuss the strategic challenges facing their respective energy sectors.

The MoU states intent to share knowledge and carry out fundamental research to establish a wave energy test site in Qingdao.

“Scotland and China have a common interest to support the global development of marine energy technologies. As the first test centre of its kind, EMEC has endured some steep learning curves during its own development, and we see no point in other countries having to reinvent the wheel.

Having overseen more than 1000 marine energy activities at our test sites in Orkney covering device deployments, grid connections, cable laying operations, data collection and various monitoring activities, we have many experiences to share with our Chinese counterparts that can make their journey a great deal smoother.

And by working together, we can help open up markets across the world for wave and tidal energy technologies currently in development.”

Oliver Wragg, EMEC’s Commercial Director.

“Marine renewable energy in China has the potential for a brilliant future, but we have a long way to go. The short-cut for development is to cooperate with the countries who have advanced technology and abundant experience. Scotland is no doubt such a country, and EMEC is the leader of the domain.

Enterprise, together with university, can make both theoretical and applicable achievements. We hope that collaboration between both countries will make marine renewable energy a big market which benefits Scotland and China.” Said Professor Hongda Shi from Ocean University of China (OUC).

“Developing wave and tidal energy technologies, human capacity and know-how to help address the energy trilemma of security, affordability and sustainability is a global challenge.

Working together in international collaborations, such as this, will help to meet that exciting challenge and accelerate the establishment of the sector.”

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News In Brief

News In Brief....

Controls Director appointed at EnerQuip EnerQuip, a torque solutions business in the international oil and gas industry, has added a new director to its experienced team.

Andrew Robins joins the company as Controls Director from Forum Energy Technologies, where he was lead controls engineer. His role is to oversee software and controls requirements for EnerQuip products and services as well as leading the company’s technical support team.

The Aberdeen business was launched in June 2015 to provide torque machines and associated services to the drilling and downhole tools sectors.

EnerQuip has already secured repair and maintenance contracts in the UK, mainland Europe, West Africa, Middle East, Far East and Gulf of Mexico. It plans to launch a new torque machine to the market in the first quarter of 2016.

The business was formed by three former senior personnel of torque business AMC Engineering. The Chairman and Engineering Director of EnerQuip, Andrew Polson, sold AMC Engineering to Forum Energy Technologies (FET) nearly four years ago.

One of his key areas of focus will be the design and development of the new torque machine Managing Director Dave Clark, a former AMC Senior Manager, and Technical Director John Duncan, previously an AMC Director, joined Andrew to launch EnerQuip.

“We’re delighted Andrew has joined the business. His knowledge and experience of software and control systems coupled with the existing skillsets of the EnerQuip team will undoubtedly allow us to deliver a service level currently not available in the marketplace. He values the same principles as the rest of the EnerQuip team, recognising that flexibility and a proactive approach to customer service can set us apart in our sector.” Dave Clark, Managing Director.

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Below: EnerQuip, a torque solutions business in the international oil and gas industry.

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Security fears crippling Yemen’s upstream oil and gas industry, says GlobalData analyst The continuing deterioration of security conditions in Yemen has led to several international oil companies withdrawing from their operations in the country, with a oncesignificant source of global supply being reduced to marginal volumes, says an analyst with research and consulting firm GlobalData.

Oil production in Yemen peaked at 441,000 barrels per day (bd) in 2001, but this decreased to 125,000 bd in 2014 and is forecast to fall to as low as 30,000 bd in 2015.

According to Ali Al-Killidar, GlobalData’s Analyst covering Oil & Gas, production was completely offline for long periods in previous years as a result of frequent attacks on the country’s oil and gas facilities and strike action by oil field personnel.

DSL MENA expands Middle East operations with brand new facility DSL MENA expands operation capability with a new facility in Hamriyah UAE, with quayside access providing direct access to the Arabian Gulf.

This facility will support DSL’s growth in the Middle East and will enable expansion of products and services for our upstream customers in the region. The facility is equipped with modern office space, 3,700 m2 of fabrication workshop, 4,000 m2 of fabrication/rig up yard space and direct quayside access to the Persian Gulf.

DSL will support customers in the MENA region by offering an extensive range of products and services, these include but are not limited to the following; mast & substructure manufacture, derrick manufacture, recertification of drilling structures, API 4G CAT III/IV inspections, drops surveys, offshore trades and rope access. DSL also has a significant engineering resource in this operation to support design requirements for our customers.

Below: Hamryah facility in the Middle East

Nominations open for 10th annual Subsea UK Awards Nominations have opened for the 2016 Subsea UK Awards. Now in its 10th year, the awards seek to recognise companies and individuals who are leading the way in Britain’s successful £9billion subsea sector.

Entries are being sought for the best subsea company of the year (large and small), the most promising young person in the sector, the most exciting new enterprise and an individual who has made the most outstanding contribution to the subsea industry. The awards will also recognise achievements and innovations in technology, sponsored by Simmons & Co International, safety and exports.

Entries can be made on-line at www.subseaexpo.com by 12th November.

An independent judging panel of industry leaders will score each entry according to the agreed criteria and the shortlist of finalists will be announced in January 2016.

Accolades will be presented at a gala dinner, organised by Subsea UK on 3rd February 2016 during Subsea Expo, Europe’s largest subsea conference and exhibition.

Several hundred business leaders are expected to attend the dinner which celebrates the hard work and outstanding achievements generated across the industry over the last twelve months.

Neil Gordon, Chief Executive of Subsea UK, said: “The awards is our way of recognising and rewarding the ongoing efforts that are being made to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of the subsea industry.”

Subsea Expo, which will be held at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre from 3rd - 5th February 2016, will examine and debate key industry topics including global markets, ROV developments, subsea innovation and offshore renewables.

Below: Neil Gordon, Chief Executive of Subsea UK

News In Brief....

Oilfield services firm RMEC has completed a significant expansion to its premises in response to the growing demand from oil and gas companies looking to rent equipment rather than purchase costly kit.

The equipment specialist has increased its facility by 2,000 m2, split evenly between developing its external yard and vehicle access areas, making the total dimension 3,300 m2.

The 150% increase in space at the Forfarbased site, 50 miles south of Aberdeen, will provide a larger area for the upkeep and storage of well services equipment which includes pumps, pressure control equipment, valves, wireline units and containers.

The upgrade to the outside concrete space has also improved access routes for transportation around the facility.

RMEC Managing Director Bryan Fagan said: “According to industry analysts, the oilfield rental industry is projected to grow by at least 7% this year due to the downturn in the price of a barrel of oil, and is predicted to break the $50billion barrier in the next five years.

As the oil and gas industry takes stock and looks for ways to make cost efficiencies, we’re experiencing an increase in demand for our rental fleet. Companies are seeing it as a more feasible way to work by reducing their equipment buying outlay costs as well as negating the need for long term storage space at their own premises.

The expansion has allowed us to pass on further cost savings to our clients through our own efficiency and increased productivity. We are fully committed to our clients and our employees, and are very optimistic about RMEC’s current direction ensuring we have the capabilities to deliver the best quality products both in the North Sea region and internationally.”

Below: RMEC - Bryan Fagan, Alan Ramsey, Stuart Mathers

UK oil and gas firms are missing opportunities on collaboration

Deloitte’s survey of oil and gas operators and oilfield services companies has found that a lack of effective supply chain collaboration means companies are missing out on maximising the potential value from the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).

74% of respondents said collaboration was an integral part of their day-to-day business but only 27% reported that the majority of their efforts resulted in a successful outcome.

Cost reduction was found to be the main driver for collaboration today, with nearly a third (31%) of company respondents in agreement. 90% said that supply chain collaboration would also play a greater role in their company’s success.

Zenith Energy successfully completes abandonment project An Aberdeen based well management firm has successfully completed the planning and supervision of a four well abandonment campaign in the UK Central North Sea on behalf of Antrim Energy.

Zenith Energy, established in 2012, completed the planning, permitting, well examination and supervision of operations for the Canadian based operator, which formed part of a multiclient plug and abandonment (P&A) campaign.

The rigless P&A campaign included three suspended wells on the Fyne Licence (P077, Block 21/28a) and one suspended well on the Erne Licence (P1875, Block 21/29d).

Managing Director at Zenith Energy, Martin Booth, said “We have utilised our experienced team to successfully complete the North Sea abandonment project, marking yet another significant milestone for us in our first three years of business. Our focus on quality planning and experienced supervision has led to the safe and efficient abandonment of these wells for Antrim.”

Below: Martin Booth, Zenith’s Managing Director

Certas Energy Livingston open day

Certas Energy, one of the largest distributors of fuel and lubricants in Britain, is pleased to open its doors to existing and prospective customers and local businesses to tour and learn more about the facilities at the Certas Energy Livingston warehouse in West Lothian.

News In Brief

RMEC increases yard by 150% to meet industry needs

Certas is responsible for several marketleading brands including Shell, Castrol, Gulf, Valvoline and Total, which meet the requirements of every major sector, including agricultural, automotive, commercial, manufacturing, industrial, haulage, marine and aviation.

The 33,000 sq ft hub has been opened just under a year and as well as a huge warehouse facility, the new site features a specifically designed tank farm, with a 150,000 litre storage capacity, as well as holding in excess of 2000 pallets.

Andrew Salton General Manager, Certas Energy North commented: “We will be demonstrating and guiding our visitors through the bulk facilities that we offer at our new depot, from the layout, the set up of the tanks, the thought process and the involvement of some of the biggest names in the lubricant market.

“Thanks to dealing with two of the largest lubricant brands in the world, Certas have a quality control process like no other.

Because the quality standards of manufacturers and producers are naturally extremely high, distribution deals of this sort do not go ahead unless you have a proven track record. Perhaps the most important part of our operations is our lubricant farm; we went to one of the best fuel tank manufacturers in the UK - the Blakes Group - who were invaluable in helping us achieve our goals.

The unique design and set-up of the tanks ensures we eliminate contamination, as well as having total control of oil in/out of the tanks with millilitre accuracy.”

Below: Certas Energy Livingston warehouse in West Lothian www.sosmagazine.biz

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Industry News

AVEVA launches software development apprenticeship New scheme offers further employment opportunities at world leading software company.

AVEVA have announced the launch of its new apprenticeship scheme in which young people will have the opportunity to begin work as software developers at one of Cambridge’s most successful international software companies. Working with training partner, Firebrand, AVEVA will offer a comprehensive higher education ‘Level 4’ programme, which involves two years job training and carries accreditation from the BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.

“We have long been supporters of young people entering industry through our graduate opportunities and internships.”

By designing apprenticeships, employers like AVEVA are ensuring that young talented people develop the skills needed to progress up the career ladder and help drive businesses forward.”

AVEVA has offered students and graduates work-placements for a number of years. The current AVEVA graduate programme offers up to two years of rotational placements across the business and is endorsed by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM).

Below: Software development apprentices at AVEVA will be able to work on exciting technologies such as AVEVA Everything3D.

Hilary Wright, EVP Human Resources, AVEVA.

“Not everyone is suited to university education. It is a concern to us that talented potential engineers would miss out on the opportunity of a long and worthwhile career, especially in an area where there is a critical skills shortage. We are delighted that the government has now recognised the need for the software development apprenticeship which gives us the opportunity to offer a highly skilled job role to a young person.”

Skills Minister Nick Boles MP added, “Businesses are better placed than anyone to train the next generation of workers and will help us deliver 3 million high-quality apprenticeships by 2020.

FoundOcean completes grouting at Gode Wind 1 and 2 FoundOcean, on behalf of Geosea, has completed the grouting of the XL monopile foundations at DONG Energys Gode Wind 1 and 2 offshore wind farm. The wind farm, which is located in the German sector of the North Sea, is the latest wind farm to fix its foundations using the MasterFlow 9500 material from BASF. GeoSea, who lead the installation market of foundations for offshore wind, chose MasterFlow 9500 for its mechanical properties which included its high early strengths, its volume stability and for its impressive longterm durability.

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FoundOcean utilised its full-pack high output mixing systems to deliver this unique grout, which remains the only material to receive type approval from DNV, for the latest DNV-OS-C502 specification.

“The offshore grouting operation, although significant, is just one aspect of delivering a successful project for our client.

By drawing on our experience FoundOcean aims to provide innovative, valued and reliable solutions to our clients’ specific project requirements both onshore and offshore.”

Jim Bell, FoundOcean’s Managing Director.

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The Gode Wind project is another success for BASF and FoundOcean.

The pairs close collaboration has resulted in new mixing systems and materials like the innovative MasterFlow 9800, with the latter forcing a rethink within the installation-contractor community.

The ability to transport and continuously mix this new high strength material has meant that FoundOcean’s clients are now able to reconsider their approach to the installation of foundations in terms of improved productivity and safety.

A global oil and gas skills and training body today called on the industry not to cut corners on safety training and competence in the face of a much lower oil price.

Quality products and excellent service,

Strong performance.

Industry News

OPITO urges industry not to compromise on safety at sub $50 oil as final programme for OSCC revealed

We provide a full range of rugged & reliable measurement sensors, instrumentation, pumps, drive couplings and hydraulic components to suit the needs of even the most demanding of industrial applications.

• Flow metering and Instrumentation • Gear & Piston Pumps • Magnetic Couplings • Hydraulic System Components • Process Measurement Sensors

The call was issued as OPITO announced the final speaker lineup and content for its sixth annual conference and exhibition on safety and competence that was held in Abu Dhabi on the 3rd of November which was sponsored by Shell.

The only global event solely focused on safety and competence in oil and gas, OSCC (OPITO Safety and Competence Conference) brings together governments, industry, regulators and training providers to share new thinking and best practice on improving safety and developing competence among the onshore and offshore oil and gas workforce.

This year’s theme “The Economics of Safety at $50 Oil” looked at how the industry maintains competence and continues to keep its people safe in a low oil price environment.

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“With operators looking for ways to cut costs in the current climate it is imperative that there are no compromises when it comes to ensuring the safety of the workforce. It is a challenging 10/04/2015 time but the economic conditions cannot be aNo 2 Industry Butler.indd 1 reason to relax standards - not when the cost discussing managing people in a downturn, increasing efficiency of making mistakes are too high in terms of whilst retaining talent and driving a common approach to hazard loss of life or damage to the environment. management.

Hazards and risk remain the same regardless of the oil price and a lower BOE must not mean World renowned business speakers, Kevin Gaskell and that they are managed differently.

Andrew Garner brought their perspectives from the oil and gas It is the smart organisations who realise sector to the conference. that in times of turbulence, a highly skilled, safe and motivated workforce is critical to In his session on the psychology of managing a downturn, remain competitive. Production operations will Mr Gaskell used his experiences at the helm of Porsche, continue as will the need for maintenance.

BMW and Lamborgini to demonstrate the value of leadership, If we take a cynical view that maintenance teamwork and innovation in strategies that deliver efficiency and activities will be reduced then the need to opportunity without impacting on safety or quality. ensure the workforce is trained and competent becomes even greater.”

Recognised for steering a generation of business leaders through David Doig, Group Chief Executive for OPITO.

Arjan Ross, Operations HSE Department Head at ADNOC and Simon Roddy, General Manager - Safety, Environment & Social Performance, Shell Upstream International joined Shell Group’s Vice-President of Safety, Tony Paul and Kevin Myers, Deputy Chief Executive of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) in

Paul Mahoney’s session entitled ‘Safety off the Balance Sheet’ demonstrated the real cost of safety in terms of the long lasting human cost when systems fail. His raw and moving presentation showed why safety should be considered as an investment rather than a cost.

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The OSCC explored how the industry could avoid the long-term damage caused by short-term cost-cutting measures through strategies that increase efficiency without putting people or the environment at risk.

the turbulence that erupts when their established industry maps and models no longer work, Mr Garner has helped fashion the make-up of boardrooms of many of the most successful global businesses. He was present to advise on the best ways in which to retain and recruit the best talent when cost savings are being made.

14:49

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Industry News

Global business success secures fourth award for Equalizer International Scottish headquartered Equalizer International, part of the Equalizer Group, a world leading designer and developer of flange maintenance tools for the energy sector, has been presented with an award honouring its Achievement in International Business.

The award, from Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, is the fourth award to be won by the Group in 2015. It follows on from three awards won earlier in the year in the UK and Europe which acknowledge the company’s innovative approach to both the design and development of flange maintenance tools and the development of a new flange integrity system.

The latest award recognises the company’s success in increasing its global presence after opening its first overseas base in Houston two years ago. It now sells its products to more than 50 countries through a network of distributors in six continents.

In January 2015, Equalizer International launched two new divisions – Equalizer Americas and Equalizer Asia – under the banner of the Equalizer Group.

“We really value this award because it recognises the work which has gone in around the world to support our growth.

We truly are a global company and more than 85% of our sales now come from exporting.

However we also want to ensure that we continue to have strong visibility in the local oil and gas market so that we can benchmark our company and our products against others operating in this very niche market.”

Challenge Awards as having an impact on safety and quality while challenging tasks durations and costs. The company was also awarded a Diploma of Distinction for Innovation at the 8th Gas Engineering Fair EXPO-GAS held in Kielce, Poland.

The organisers of the event particularly singled out the SG tools for pipe flange spreading which they highlighted as one the most innovative products on show during the two day exhibition.

Below: Ian McCormick, Chairman of Equalizer International, with the award.

Ian McCormick, Chairman of the Equalizer Group.

The company, formed in 1994, also launched Equalizer Flange Integrity Systems in 2015 to take forward the development of the Xtegrity system. Xtegrity, which provides a unique solution for dealing with heavily corroded or degraded bolts in flange joints, was the 2015 winner of the Grampian Award for Innovation.

Earlier in the year, Equalizer International’s Secure-Grip (SG) tools were recognized in the EDF Energy Nuclear Generation

BlueTEC operation brings successful results

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The BlueTEC Texel Tidal partnership is proud to announce that the first months of operating the BlueTEC tidal energy platform have been a success.

With every tidal flow, the platform supplies electricity into the Dutch national grid.

The project partners are now planning the installation of a second, larger turbine.

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“Getting the platform from the drawing board to a grid-connected operating reality in just 6 months is amazing,” says Allard van Hoeken, Head of New Energy at Bluewater Energy Services and recent recipient of the first Prince Friso Engineers Award. “The electricity production is conform expectations, the mooring loads are lower than expected and the stability is better than expected. It is a great success.

Shortly after its launch this summer the platform’s new moorings passed their first serious tests with flying colours as two large storms passed over the area.

With the platform up and running smoothly, the project partners are now looking forward to the next step in its development.

We will install the next turbine – a Tocardo T2 – before the winter. This will double the platform’s capacity. A few months after that we will install a second T2 turbine. With two turbines working simultaneously this will double the capacity once again to reach the 400-500kW mark. This means a proven solution is available on the market. In the meantime we will proceed to even larger units of 2.5MW each.

These units can supply clean energy to islands and remote locations below the cost of diesel generators. In addition, what the industry may only be starting to realise, is that they also pave the way towards large,

utility-scale tidal farms. Starting with 500 kW units means using existing technology and a small grid setup, hence keeping the required investment and associated risks to a minimum. In the following step, our 2.5MW units will be used for full development,” says Mr Van Hoeken.

The BlueTEC platform serves as a demonstrator model. The platform’s ease of maintenance illustrates the advantages of a floating system perfectly: “It has been very easy to solve any issues we came across.

We can reach the platform with a small boat, open the watertight door and enter the electronics room, fix and replace something and be back on land an hour later,” informs Mr Van Hoeken.

Decommissioning - a booming sector putting safety at the forefront

In high hazard industries, and specifically the energy sector, we talk about safety culture and understand the importance of it but do not always understand how we can assess it and, therefore, how we can improve it.

Above: Mark Walker, Client Partner at Optimus Seventh Generation Key findings from this year’s Oil and Gas UK activity survey state that the annual average expected spend on decommissioning on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) over the second half of the decade has increased to £1.8billion from £1.5billion. With the low oil price, rising costs and ageing infrastructure, the huge task of removing redundant installations from the North Sea is gathering momentum.

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With over 600 offshore oil and gas installations in the North Sea, of various sizes, and more than 10,000km of pipelines, wells and accumulations of drill cuttings, the biggest concern is how the infrastructure can be removed in a safe and cost effective manner.

16:50

The diagnostic seeks to establish the aspects of resilience that are present, i.e: • The ability of the business to stop something bad from happening.

• The ability to stop something bad becoming worse.

• The ability to recover something bad once it has happened.

Industry News

With the pace of decommissioning activity accelerating, Mark Walker, Client Partner at Optimus Seventh Generation, a behavioural change consultancy, discusses the vital need for leadership to help ensure projects are as safe as possible.

Resilience is assured not just by the behaviours of people but also by the consistent application of processes and procedures as well as the functionality of safety critical equipment.

At Optimus Seventh Generation, we have developed an approach to safety culture The diagnostic is also looking for what assessment, drawing upon High Reliability barriers there are and how many are in Organisation (HRO) principles, seeking a place, with the use of personal protective diagnostic as a means of providing the equipment (PPE) at one end of the scale as assurance that things are as they should the weakest defence and the elimination of be. We ask the diagnostic to identify the hazards at the other end of the scale as the most significant safety issues confronting strongest. Between these we would hope to the organisation or site, gathering evidence see others that give the business the ability of safety culture by a combination of to detect hazards by fixed detection systems, observation and audit of work products and hazard spotting and management processes, perception-based surveys and interviews. adequate planning and active monitoring.

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Industry News

Jee Ltd secures contract extension with BP Jee Ltd, a leading independent multi-discipline subsea engineering and training firm, has secured a contract extension with BP for the provision of integrity management services and in-line inspection engineering support in the North Sea. The contract involves project coordination, risk and corrosion management, span assessment, intelligent and operational pigging support and ad hoc engineering studies.

“We pride ourselves on our collaborative approach when working with clients and aim to become a seamless extension of their team. We are delighted with the renewal of the contract with BP, as it demonstrates our robust relationship.

We are committed to providing quality engineering services in a technically advanced, secure and sustainable way. Our clients’ needs are always at the forefront of what we do, and it has become

evident in the current climate that there is a strong focus on efficiency and cost reduction throughout the industry.”

Jamie Burrows, Business Development Manager at Jee Ltd.

Jee recently implemented a new business structure to strengthen its capabilities and champion the delivery of projects.

The restructure underpins Jee’s core services including design, integrity management, pigging and late life, working to support current and future opportunities, and help ensure Jee is responding to its clients’ needs effectively and efficiently.

Mr Burrows continued: “We define the inspection interval that is required for our clients’ pipelines using a risk-based approach for cost optimisation.

Our effective planning methods, combined with our in-depth experience of integrity management and in-line inspection, ensure each scope of work is examined and any potential challenges are identified and addressed early on, eliminating the need for costly changes. In addition, this ensures delays to the schedule of inspections are avoided, providing further cost savings.”

Jee has worked with BP for more than two

decades on ad hoc global operations and project support in locations including Aberdeen, Grangemouth and London in the UK, and Angola, Azerbaijan, Norway and Trinidad internationally.

Jee is an independent subsea engineering and training company with offices in Aberdeen, London and Tonbridge. Jee’s multi-disciplined capabilities and integrated services include pipeline integrity management, pigging, third party verification, plugging analysis and verification, and cover the spectrum of subsea engineering for the whole of life-of-field.

Below: Jamie Burrows, Business Development Manager at Jee Ltd.

Asset Guardian Solutions successfully completes multiple projects for North Sea oil & gas operator

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Asset Guardian Solutions Ltd (AGSL), which specialises in protecting companies’ process critical software assets, announced that it has successfully completed a series of three projects for a major North Sea oil and gas operator that manages and operates numerous developments in the North Sea, Norway, Algeria and Russia.

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The initial contract awarded to AGSL provided the operator with a secure electronic, centralised repository to store all process control systems software back-up files. As a result, the company’s ability to recover quickly in the event of an unplanned production shutdown due to process control software failure has been significantly improved. In addition, the Asset Guardian toolset included software version control and the ability to manage all software configuration changes.

To ensure that all of its personnel, whether working onshore or offshore, have access to the same information, AGSL also supplied its AGSync software module. By using a master/ slave server topology, AGSync synchronises data and files between multiple locations, while simultaneously safeguarding the integrity of files and data. This is particularly important should communication links between locations be disrupted.

New subsea data management system Recognising the ease with which Asset Guardian can be customised, the operator

requested that AGSL develop a further solution to manage the data relating to the company’s subsea production infrastructure.

By using the same Asset Guardian core software and some of the functionality of the two previous projects, AGSL developed a subsea asset management solution that makes it possible for the customer to use and share common data across different business units and disciplines. This integrated approach has benefited the company by providing improved reporting, workflow data management, and enhanced efficiencies, resulting in a capex cost reduction.

Master Service Agreement As a result of the positive collaboration between the two companies during the past two years, the operator and AGSL have signed a Master Services Agreement, which recognises AGSL as a preferred supplier of applicationbased software solutions. The two companies are currently exploring ways to expand the capabilities of the Asset Guardian toolset.

Oceanology International launches OI North America 2017

“We’ve been regularly asked whether we could re-create the OI London magic in the world’s largest marine technology market, North America ... and now we have!” says Event Director, Jonathan Heastie of Reed Exhibitions. “Like OI London over its 46 year history, OINA will bring together all elements and communities within the North American ocean science and marine technology market. This includes ensuring we bring together multiple buyers from differing industries, all united by the use of technology, but in a myriad of different ways. We are looking forward to working

with all the industry stakeholders to deliver a world-leading event for the benefit of its participants.”

The two events will alternate. OI London is being held March 15-17, 2016 and will repeat in 2018, 2020 and so on, and OINA launches in 2017 with subsequent events in 2019, 2021 and further ‘odd years’.

OI China, launched in 2013, will continue to be a Fall event in Shanghai (OI China 2015 is being staged November 3-5, 2015).

OI London 2014 attracted 8,400 attendees from 52 countries - an increase of 10% over 2012. Exhibitor figures were higher than ever before with 528 exhibiting companies from 35 countries.

Vessel movements in the display area outside the London show also proved a record breaker with 148 movements during the three days with 1198 people aboard and a record number of 13 visiting vessels.

The organisers and supporting partners of OINA 2017 will work with the Unified Port of San Diego to organise similar opportunity for exhibitors and visitors.

“We could not launch OINA alone,” Mr. Heastie

Industry News

Providing what the industry wants and needs has long been the maxim behind Oceanology International (OI), the world’s largest exhibition and conference for the ocean science and marine technology community.

This commitment has resulted in the launch of the biennial Oceanology International North America (OINA) being held for the first time in San Diego, California on February 14-16, 2017 at the San Diego Convention Center.

Above: San Diego Convention Centre adds. “We are delighted to be able to announce that the new American show is supported by The Maritime Alliance (TMA), the cluster organiser for the San Diego maritime technology community, whose mission is to promote sustainable, science-based ocean & water industries and which has an active outreach program with BlueTech clusters around the U.S. and the world; and The Society for Underwater Technology (SUT). SUT is the multidisciplinary learned society that brings together organizations and individuals with a common interest in underwater technology, ocean science and offshore engineering, and with whom OI has been involved since it began in 1969. We look forward to involving other traditional OI supporters as well.”

Tradition in Dynamic Innovation

TECDOS Omega Drive for Maritime Horizontal & Vertical Drive Applications • TECDOS components offer solutions for maritime applications for moving, pulling, lifting,

telescoping, pivoting & swivelling • TECDOS Omega drive offers horizontal & vertical drive applications to: pull, push, pivot,

swivel structures, beams or cranes • The Omega drive is used across offshore projects for: moving ship cranes, traversing a

• The TECDOS system is easy to install, robust & offers three-dimensional mobility • TECDOS chain solutions have been used across offshore wind tower installations

and maintenance

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machine or tracking solar panels to the sun to name a few

13

Industry News

QMI Scotland Limited ISO 9001:2015 is out – What’s the next step?

If you are wondering what the new standard means for you as an auditor or as a quality professional then let us give you a few pointers; first and foremost….don’t panic!! Our team of professional consultants and experienced trainers can take you through it step by step.

ISO 9001:2015 has changed in shape and form; the shape is now in line with Annex SL which sets out the framework to which all ISO standards will be developed in the future. In form there are now 10 clauses as opposed to the previous 8 clauses however all the old favourites are still there so there’s no need to consign your current system to the scrap heap just yet.

There are some key changes to be aware of, for example,the identification and control of risk now plays a bigger part, commensurate with sister standards ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007; the management representative requirement has been replaced with a stronger requirement for the senior management team to become more involved through clauses 4.0 and 5.0 which place the onus for the management system to be driven by the organisation’s leaders.

If you are already certified to ISO 9001 then the transition to the 2015 version is in two parts; firstly speak to your certification body and get some guidance from them as to when your certificate renewal

visit is due to take place. Once you have that date then you know the timeframe you are working with and two things need to happen before that visit – one you need to check your current system against the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 and make any adjustments to ensure you are aligned with the new elements – QMI can help with this process. Second you need to audit your management system for compliance with new standard and again we can help with this.

Which covers the second part of your management system transition; your auditors need to be trained to audit against the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 and again we can help with this through our suite of fun and interactive IRCA certified courses running across Scotland presented by our professional and experienced trainers; alternatively we can come to you and train your auditors on site.

If you are looking to gain certification to ISO 9001:2015 then please get in touch and we will help you through the process from start to finish with as much, or as little, input as you need; we will be guided by you. If you simply have a question then call us; if we don’t have the answer we will find it out for you. If you need us to be more involved then we can walk through the entire process with you and your team.

Whatever you need, you can be assured that we have the answer – that’s our job and if you have any questions we’ve got it covered – call us on 01224 626290 or check out our website at:

www.qmi-scotland.co.uk

Penspen awarded $4.3 million Bangladesh contract from Gas Transmission Company Limited Penspen, a leading global provider of engineering and management services to the energy industry, has been awarded a contract worth $4.3 million from Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL), (A Company of Petrobangla) under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh.

The contract is for the Dhanua-Elenga and West Bank of Bangabandhu Bridge – Nalka gas transmission pipeline located in Bangladesh. Work on the 67km 30” high-pressure gas pipeline will commence in 2016-17 and is estimated to take approximately two years to complete.

previous experience working in the country and we are pleased to have been selected by GTCL as we continue to grow and expand in the region. Penspen has a strong history in providing engineering, project management, asset management and integrity services to the oil and gas industry for more than 60 years, and we are confident our expertise working on similar projects will deliver value to GTCL’s business.”

Peter O’Sullivan, CEO of Penspen.

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Penspen will be involved in all aspects of engineering and project management, which will include design of pipeline, stations and related facilities, preparing bidding documents and evaluating bids, and project management of construction.

The project will be executed by Penspen’s team in London, and will be supported by a well established Dhaka based engineering company – BETS, which will be undertaking environmental studies and providing all on-site construction activities.

“We are excited to be part of a major project designed to help enhance natural gas infrastructure in Bangladesh. Penspen has 14

Above: Peter O’Sullivan, CEO of Penspen.

Lively, informative and locally based Quality Auditor training from

QMI Scotland Limited Remaining availability for 2015

(5 Days) ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor Course (IRCA Certified)

Aberdeen:

Dec 7th - 11th

(2 Days) ISO 9001:2008 Internal Auditor Course (IRCA Certified)

Aberdeen:

Dec 2nd - 3rd

(1 Day) ISO 9001:2015 Foundation Course (IRCA Certified)

Aberdeen:

Nov 4th â—? Dec 1st

(2 Days) BS OHSAS 18001:2007 Internal Auditor Course (IRCA Certified)

Aberdeen:

Nov 25th - 26th

(1 Day) BS OHSAS 18001:2007 Foundation Course (IRCA Certified)

Aberdeen:

Nov 24th

(2 Days) ISO 14001:2004 Internal Auditor Course (IRCA Certified)

Aberdeen:

Dec 16th - 17th

(1 Day) ISO 14001:2004 Foundation Course (IRCA Certified)

Aberdeen:

Dec 15th

If you would like to talk to us about your training needs or would like further details about our courses, please call us on: 01224 626290 or visit our website at: www.qmi-scotland.co.uk

Training & Consultancy Environmental

Quality

Health & Safety

ADIPEC 2015 Show Preview

Offshore reserves to account for 50% of oil production in Abu Dhabi by 2018, reveals ADIPEC Distinguished oil & gas event to host region’s largest waterfront offshore and marinezone for the first time in support of sector growth.

Offshore reserves will account for approximately 50% of total oil production in Abu Dhabi by 2018 as a result of continued investments in production capacity, experts revealed yesterday.

With USD 25 billion worth of investments in offshore oil projects planned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) over the next five years, advancing the sector through developments in research and technology is becoming ever more critical to preserving it as a valuable energy resource, say industry leaders. The ADNOC investment is part of the UAE’s strategy to boost its total oil output capacity to 3.5 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2017-18 from the current 2.8 million bpd.

Currently, an estimated 40% of oil produced in Abu Dhabi comes from offshore reserves, however sources say that figure will rise to 50% in the next three years. Globally, about 30% of oil produced worldwide comes from offshore oil wells, and offshore resources are playing a greater role in supplying the rising demand for energy, with a growing interest in the potential of deep water reserves.

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According to figures from a 2014 report

by Total, the deep offshore is believed to contain more than 5% - an estimated 300 billion barrels - of the world’s liquid hydrocarbon resources, or 12% of total conventional oil resources. In 2013, deep water liquid reserves accounted for 6% of global production. That share is forecast to rise to close to 11% of conventional oil output, or 9 million barrels per day, by 2035, according to the same document.

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In line with regional and global efforts to continue exploring and developing offshore production, the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) will be launching a dedicated Offshore, Marine and Heavy Equipment Zone situated on the waterfront at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), only 150 metres away from the main exhibition floor. The new area will cover 8,000 gross

square metres of space, with a jetty that extends 500 metres long.

“ADIPEC is pleased to be the first oil and gas exhibition in the MENA region to dedicate an entire waterfront section to offshore, subsea and marine products and services.

The Offshore, Marine and Heavy Equipment Zone will allow exhibitors to showcase their subsea and marine products and services in their native environment, a unique advantage that will offer both participants and visitors a valuable experience.”

Ali Khalifa Al Shamsi, Director of Strategy & Coordination at ADNOC, and ADIPEC 2015 Chairman.

The purpose-built zone that provides water access, mooring, and quayside exhibition space will allow more than 200 exhibitors to showcase a host of offshore products and services, including ships, rigs, and vessels, subsea drilling equipment, oceanography and mapping equipment, pipelines and piping components, and tools for reservoir production and monitoring.

ADIPEC 2015 is also proud to announce the launch of the fully expanded full day Women in Industry Conference. The Women in Industry Conference held on Sunday 8th November at the Eastern Mangroves Resort and Spa by Anantara, Abu Dhabi, UAE, builds on the initiative to reach out to an increased number of women across the oil and gas sector to discuss the evolving role of women in the energy sector.

ADIPEC will also feature the VIP Programme, taking place 9 - 12 November, at the Middle East Petroleum Club in ADNEC, which provides exclusive keynote speakers and panel discussions for all members.

Registrations are now open for the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC), taking place 9 – 12 November 2015 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. ADIPEC 2016 is proud to announce the confirmed 7 – 10 November 2016 date; a date for your 2016 diaries.

Hosted by ADNOC in the energy capital Abu Dhabi, ADIPEC is projected to attract 2,000 exhibiting companies, 23 national pavilions, 15 NOCs, 15 IOCs and 85,000 attendees across the 4 days of the show, creating an ideal platform for petroleum professionals worldwide to drive and

support innovation within the industry.

Dr Daniel Yergin Confirmed as ADIPEC

The Prize as the number one book on oil.

These conferences and popular features, when combined with the exhibition, establish ADIPEC as the largest oil and gas event in the Middle East, African and Asian Sub-continent.

Please visit: www.adipec.com for more information

ADIPEC 2015 Show Preview

Under the theme of ‘ Innovation & Sustainability in a New Energy World’, dmg events and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) as conference organisers have developed a record breaking and comprehensive programme that is host to 2 Ministerial sessions, 2 CEO plenary sessions, 6 panel sessions, 3 industry breakfast sessions, 3 topical luncheons, 79 technical sessions, and numerous knowledge sharing ePoster sessions.

2015 Keynote Speaker. Dr Daniel Yergin, Pulitzer Prize winning author, is respected around the world as a leading authority and adviser on energy, international politics and economics. Time Magazine said, “If there is one man whose opinion matters more than any other on global energy markets – its Daniel Yergin”. He is also the Vice Chairman of IHS, the global research and information company that works with the oil and gas industry worldwide and founder of IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates.

Dr Yergin received the Pulitzer Prize for his book The Prize, which was a number one best seller. In 2015, Bloomberg ranked

Below: The Esnaad 251.

AEL celebrates Investors In Young People accreditation A leading international provider of electrical products and services is celebrating after it gained accreditation to a major national scheme.

Launched in July 2014, Investors in Young People originated through a key recommendation from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, led

by Sir Ian Wood. The accreditation is offered to all businesses across Scotland and exists to recognise and support organisations across

“This is a fantastic achievement for AEL and I and the whole IIYP team would like to wholeheartedly congratulate them. The Investors in Young People framework not only recognises and supports organisations in the employment of young people, but marks them out as an employer of choice. I envisage that many more organisations will wish to follow in the footsteps of AEL and demonstrate their commitment to young people by working with the Investors in Young People framework.”

brand providing electrical products and services to the onshore, offshore, renewable, petrochemical, marine and industrial sectors. From the company’s headquarters in Aberdeen, AEL has experienced steady organic growth in many overseas markets and now operates from a network of carefully selected locations in the USA, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan as well as Aberdeen and Ghana.

AEL will exhibit at ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi from November 9th to 12th and will welcome visitors to stand 1210. www.sosmagazine.biz

Aberdeen-based AEL will celebrate its landmark 35th anniversary next year and the company’s ongoing commitment to training and development has been recognised with the award of Investors in Young People Accreditation – the only people management standard that focuses on an employer’s recruitment and retention of young people.

Scotland in the employment of young people.

Peter Russian, Chief Executive of Investors in People Scotland.

Founded in 1981, AEL is an international

Above: Sharon Coulter and Michael Brown, AEL. 17

ADIPEC 2015 Show Preview

Smith Flow Control to exhibit its valve safety products at ADIPEC Recognising the importance of reducing downtime and associated costs while safeguarding workers, Smith Flow Control’s valve safety products streamline valve processes in the Oil & Gas industry while ensuring operator safety.

Smith Flow Control (SFC) will showcase its range of mechanical interlocks and costeffective valve management systems at ADIPEC 2015 in Abu Dhabi from 9-12 November, 2015. This offers the chance for visitors to meet and discuss their valve operating problems with SFC experts at stand 8530A, covering all aspects of

continuous plant operation. Its range of key operated interlocks can also be customised to implement a safe sequence of events in any process activity.

process safety, valve interlocking and valve management.

SFC’s products greatly enhance safety and efficiency and are specified by the world’s biggest oil, gas and petrochemical companies. Its comprehensive range of process safety products reduce the scope for operator error and ensure safe

Smith Flow Control will demonstrate its principal drive system that reduces work crew tasks to one man operations, the equivalent manpower of five men.

EasiDrive is a cost effective, portable valve actuator; its continuous drive system allows an operator to easily open and close valves that require a high number of turns or are otherwise difficult to operate.

EasiDrive prevents injury and saves time and manpower, keeping plant processes running smoothly and delivering significant cost savings.

LUX Assure expands its presence in the Middle East LUX Assure specialises in the development of novel chemical monitoring technologies for the oil and gas industry.

Our innovative technologies provide oil and gas operators with unique solutions for monitoring difficult-to-detect chemicals.

LUX are a UK based company with offices in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Having seen the potential for LUX Assure’s services in the Middle East, in 2014 LUX launched a base in Dubai that has since seen the business grow from strength to strength in the region.

The Middle East is a core market for LUX Assure, with a growing presence,

which is testament to the high quality service and excellent track record they are providing to their customers.

LUX Assure currently deliver two key technologies, CoMic™ and OMMICA™.

Both technologies represent a revolution in monitoring and managing difficultto-detect chemicals in hydrocarbons, condensates and water, specifically the thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors and corrosion inhibitors used to protect oilfield assets, on and offshore.

“We believe that ADIPEC offers a great deal of value, in terms of generating new leads and growing our business, which is

why we are exhibiting at the show for the second time. Collaboration and knowledge sharing is key to the sustainability of the oil and gas industry and with the number of high quality technical presentations on offer, and an unprecedented networking opportunity at the show, it’s one we won’t be missing.”

Melanie Reid, Product Line Manager

Ingersoll Rand to reveal new dedicated Man Rider® winch with more integrated safety systems at ADIPEC

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Global leader in industrial equipment invites media for first look at durable, new technology for onshore and offshore rig operations.

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Ingersoll Rand, a global leader in compressed air and gas, power tools, material handling and fluid management, will showcase a new addition to its line of dedicated Man Rider winches at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC), the world’s leading oil and gas exhibition and conference.

The new MR150 Man Rider winch includes the most built-in safety features of any of Ingersoll Rand’s dedicated Man Rider winches and features rugged construction and advanced engineering to withstand the brutal environments of oil and gas operations.

The company will also showcase the latest high-torque tools from its QX Series™ of cordless tools.

The QX Series delivers the right tool for the right job in industries that require high accuracy for fastening

and connecting parts, whether in the heavy equipment, light manufacturing, automotive or aerospace sectors.

Ingersoll Rand executives and technical specialists in personnel handling will demonstrate the new Man Rider equipment, and will be available for scheduled interviews.

In addition, power tools and fluid management experts will be available to discuss the latest technologies in hoists, air-operated diaphragm pumps and pistons for oil and gas industries.

Pioneer Oil Tools Limited is a privately owned precision engineering company established in 1971 and based in Arbroath, UK.

Rapid turnaround: Pioneer makes it our business to offer extremely competative delivery times to our customers.

PIONEER OIL TOOLS LIMITED

Quality: The efficiency of our quality management system has been recognized by

the British Standards Institute who have conferred certification to the ISO 9001:2008 standard on the company.

Design: Pioneer Oil Tools Limited specializes in the design and manufacture of oil tools, particularly fishing tools.

In addition to maintaining a design library of tooling, the company develops bespoke designs to customer needs.

Subcontract: Pioneer is willing and capable of undertaking a wide range of machining work backed by CMM inspection capability.

Products and services • Fishing Tools A wide variety of internal and external catch tools for subs, packers, casing, tubing and wellheads. From small to very large sizes.

• Junk Retrieval Tools A range of junk retrievel tools employing various circulation and magentic technologies.

• Casing Repair Tools Tools to ream, roll, clean and patch casing.

• Cutters & Mills Tools for sectioning and cutting casing, drill pipe & tubing both external and internally. Tools to mill out a variety of downhole obstructions.

• Impact Tools A variety of jars and accelerators.

• Cementation Equipment A large range of cementing plugs and associated cementation equipment.

• Rubber Products Thread protectors, packer cups, endcaps.

• Accessories and Drillstring Members Crossovers, elevators/lifting subs, safety joints, Lift bails, Impression blocks and more.

Tel: +44 (0)1241 877776 • www.pioneeroiltools.com • sales@pioneeroiltools.com

LSD Casing Retrieval Spear

“The oil and gas industry is at a crossroads,” says global thought leader

Embracing sustainability is key to surving the oil & gas industry transformation, says Duschinsky.

Oil and gas companies must embrace sustainability in today’s transforming energy landscape or risk losing to competitors who are redefining their approach to business, says world renowned thought-leader Jon Duschinsky.

The globally acclaimed thinker and speaker on engagement, leadership, and the future of business will be coming to the capital to give an exclusive speech at this year’s Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC), with insights on how oil and gas companies can leverage current market challenges as opportunities to drive longterm profitability.

The industry is “at a crossroads”, according to Duschinsky. Either it can stay attached to the status quo and lay low until oil prices rise, or it can embrace that sustainability and profitability are now part of the same whole.

“You can’t have one without the other,” he said. “In the long term, those that choose the first path don’t have a future.

Whether it is the next market fluctuation, or the one after it, or the next technology step-change, at some point they will see their market share and profitability eroded to the point where they are taken over or put out of business by companies who have made the investment in changing now.”

“This economic environment marks the industry’s opportunity to change not just its capital and operating bottom lines, but

By working closely with stakeholders to give back to the community, not only through a streamlined corporate social responsibility programme, but also through transparency and ethical practice, companies can help paint a positive picture of the industry, says Duschinsky.

“The only way to be able to change this is to set out a vision for an energy industry that is a force for good,” he said.

“Engage people in working out what that means for them. Work out how your companies, how oil can set a path for a better tomorrow. Be part of the solution, not the problem. And be honest about what you do and how you can do it better.”

Middle East Petroleum Club, the definitive club for senior oil and gas executives.

Hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and organised by dmg events, ADIPEC is the global meeting place for oil and gas professionals, business innovators, and industry decision makers.

ADIPEC 2015 will take place from 9-12 November at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and is expected to host more than 2,000 exhibitors, 7,000 delegates, and 85,000 attendees from more than 120 countries.

Below: Jon Duschinsky, speaker at this years’ ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi this month.

As demand for energy continues to increase and operational efficiency becomes a growing concern for the industry, research and development on its own will not be sufficient to stay competitive, Duschinsky warns.

Rather, it must be complimented with the disposition to challenge the paradigm that “oil moves all things”.

“In Canada, there is an oil company that is applying Silicon Valley thinking to its work. It offers a young, dynamic workforce a chance to collaborate, innovate, be creative and fail. It has a flat organisation – with few hierarchical levels, a meditation room, lego blocks, creative spaces in its offices... The company has no problem hiring and retaining talent,” said Duschinsky.

“And it’s producing new thinking that is both more sustainable and more profitable: installing solar panels to provide the energy for two of their wells, for example, to reduce operating costs, but also provide an additional sustainable income stream once the well runs dry.

This is the kind of thinking that can emerge from a different paradigm.

This is where you need to be focusing.”

The world’s admired thinker on business will be giving his presentation as part of ADIPEC’s VIP Programme, a dedicated and exclusive conference for members of the

“Challenge makes you creative, it make you innovative and strive harder to come up with new and better ways of doing things. Ways that are not just cheaper but that are better for all of us,”

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A devoted philanthropist and humanitarian, Duschinsky also leads The Conversation Farm, a specialist agency that works with brands and causes around the world to help harness the power of people to drive profitability and solve big problems.

its mindset. Because however we spin it, we are collectively consuming our planet in ways that are simply not sustainable nor healthy. And this needs to change.”

ADIPEC 2015 Show Preview

World renowned speaker Jon Duschinsky to provide ground-breaking insights at ADIPEC on staying ahead in today’s energy landscape.

Jon Duschinsky, philanthropist, humanitarian and world renowned speaker.

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Subsea Equipment

Subsea 7 saves time with Sonardyne 6G and SPRINT in the Gulf of Mexico Subsea engineering, construction and installation company, Subsea 7, has successfully used acoustic and inertial navigation technologies from Sonardyne International Ltd. during a project to install flowlines, risers and subsea structures at a major new deep water field development in the Gulf of Mexico, due to commence production in 2016.

To meet the complex positioning requirements of the project, Fred Goodloe III, Project Surveyor for Subsea 7 worked closely with Sonardyne’s in-house Survey Support Group (SSG) to determine the optimum configuration of subsea, ROV and vessel-based equipment. For a lowrisk, multi-functional and cost-effective solution, a combined acoustic and aidedinertial navigation approach was adopted comprised of Fusion 6G LBL (Long BaseLine) and SPRINT inertial navigation technologies.

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For the installation of the flowlines and structures, a high precision seabed array of Sonardyne Compatt 6 transponders was deployed. The SSG assisted Subsea 7 in designing the array, optimising array geometry and modelling acoustic ray bending paths to ensure the design

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produced a robust array that met the stringent positioning tolerances required and offered sufficient redundancy in acoustic observations.

The work identified that the quantity of transponders needed for the project could be reduced through the use of Sonardyne’s inertial navigation sensor, SPRINT, installed on the survey team’s ROV which was being used for touchdown monitoring. SPRINT makes optimal use of acoustic aiding data from acoustic USBL and LBL positioning systems and other sensors such as Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) and pressure sensors to improve position accuracy, precision reliability and integrity for subsea vehicles.

The use of SPRINT by Subsea 7 during the project allowed a tightly coupled range aided solution to be derived whilst the decrease in the quantity of Compatts, meant that there was a reduction in vessel time required for the installation, calibration and recovery of the array.

“The positive results we’ve seen during this project and also previously during our work on the NaKika field, have demonstrated SPRINT is able to extend the operating limits of our vessels’ USBL

tracking systems and improve the operational efficiency of LBL without compromising positioning integrity.

The planning work we carried out with Sonardyne’s SSG team ahead of mobilising for the job meant that when we arrived on location, we were able to get straight to work.”

John Brader, Survey Manager for Subsea 7.

Commenting on the success of the operation to date, Mark Chiddy, Sales Manager for Sonardyne Inc. stated, “We’re delighted that SPRINT has met Subsea 7’s expectations for performance and operational cost savings.

Acoustically-aided INS, whether it is being used alongside USBL or LBL, is now trusted by our clients as a viable method of supporting a wide variety of subsea construction and survey operations.”

Below: Subsea 7 saves time using Sonardyne’s acoustic and inertial navigation technologies for the installation of subsea structures at a new deep water oil field in the Gulf of Mexico.

Leading subsea training centre unveils new collaborative training model Subsea Equipment

A new model for increasing workforce competency in the ROV industry, using a realistic offshore instruction environment, has been unveiled by The Underwater Centre.

Industry and training providers have collaborated to develop work class ROV operations training that gives personnel thorough preparation and experience in essential aspects of work class ROV practice, offering the building blocks to improve safety and efficiency of staff and agency personnel.

The new model has seen The Underwater Centre set up and deliver the training, with significant input from industry.

It represents a complete change in the approach to training and consequently the opportunities open to personnel development within the industry in the future.

The Underwater Centre has received increasing support from the subsea industry and a number of companies including: Technip, Subsea 7, Fugro, Forum Subsea Technologies, FMC Schilling Robotics, Lawson Engineers Ltd, Digital Edge Subsea, Kongsberg and, more recently, Valeport – have been instrumental in developing the training syllabus, as well as donating much needed equipment.

ROV OPERATIONS TRAINING

Steve Ham, Commercial Director of The Underwater Centre, believes that the aim of the industry-led solution is to address the looming skills and personnel shortage by offering both basic and advanced training to a greater number of workers, consequently shortening the time to reach senior roles.

“The new contextual training we are offering in conjunction with industry signifies a paradigm shift in the way we deliver our courses, and includes theoretical and practical instruction Right: Steve Ham, 90x133UCI.indd 1 on board our work class ROV support vessel – Loch Sunart - Commercial Director of in a realistic marine environment.”

The Underwater Centre.

“The Chief Executive of the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), Andy Samuel, recently highlighted the need for companies to continue to invest in training and developing people, and this is just what we are doing in collaboration with the industry. The oil and gas industry is cyclical and we have seen this happen a number of times before – without the necessary investment now in training, there will be a large skills gap in the future.”

Below: The Underwater Centre, Fort William, Scotland.

The competency and training of ROV operators will be an important factor in ensuring the continued development of the industry bringing increasingly significant operational and cost efficiencies.”

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“The new programme has been developed with a modular approach, covering topics such as ROV maintenance and operations, tooling, electrical and electronic systems, high voltage, working at heights, fibre optics and OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer), and hydraulics.

The training is also staged to address the training needs of new entrants, as well as established and experienced personnel. This approach allows training to fit with companies’ existing competence development programmes.

05/03/2015 12:58

Steve Ham, Commercial Director of The Underwater Centre.

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Subsea Equipment

QTrencher 1000 delivered to KT Submarine Following successful completion of factory acceptance testing, The QTrencher 1000 ROV has now been delivered to the long standing customer KT Submarine. The relationship between SMD and KT Submarine began in 1998, with the supply of a standard cable plough, followed by the supply of a latest generation MD3XT 500kW, jetting assisted telecoms cable plough in 2012.

The combination of the MD3XT and QTrencher 1000 illustrates a significant investment for KT Submarine as they continue to expand and become a key player in the submarine telecommunications and power cable markets.

At the customer’s request, delivery of the trenching system was brought forward by one month to coincide with the early completion of the refurbishment of KT Submarine’s cable ship, Responder.

The whole system including associated control, LARS and spares package was then loaded directly onto the newly refurbished vessel at A&P Tyne, which is located directly across the river from our trenching production facility. SMD staff will then work with KT Submarine at their Korean base to mobilise the trenching system on board M/V Miraero, the multi-purpose vessel that will be mainly engaged in post lay inspection and burial (PLIB) works on telecom cables, power cables and smaller O&G pipes.

The QTrencher 1000 already has a proven presence in the trenching market with two of these vehicles already delivered and in service.

Positive client feedback indicates the vehicle is the first choice for post lay burial and protection of power cables.

The 2000m rated ROV embraces the latest technologies in jet

trenching and ROV design with 1000hp of total installed power and up to 940hp of variable jetting power. The vehicle has been supplied with new launch and recovery equipment including telescopic docking head which will be integrated with an existing A Frame, and a fast response winch and umbilical cable protection system.

The QTrencher 1000 is capable of trenching rigid products, power cables and telecommunication cables up to three metres in the seabed. This will enhance and improve KT Submarines’ cable maintenance capability in this competitive market and allow it to enter the post lay power cable and rigid product installation markets with its ability to handle up to 500mm product (and upgrade options for 800mm product).

“KT Submarine is an excellent client to work with and we are delighted to support their operations and market growth. Their success with the latest generation cable plough has shown how innovation can be used to improve performance.

We look forward to a similar transformation when the 1000hp jet trenching machine operates in Asian markets.”

Paul Davison, MD of our Trenching, Mining and Renewables.

Market leading multi-phase Echo Sounder enhances STR’s rental inventory

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Subsea Technology and Rentals Ltd (STR), has increased its portfolio of specialist rental equipment with the acquisition of EdgeTech’s 6205, an enhanced and fully swath bathymetry and dual frequency side scan sonar system which utilises next generation bathymetric technology.

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The 6205, a Multi-Phase Echo Sounder (MPES) produces realtime, high resolution, three dimensional (3D) maps of the seafloor while providing co-registered simultaneous dual frequency side scan imagery. The 6205 uses ten receive element transducers and one discrete transmit element. The high number of channels enables superior rejection of multipath effects, reverberation and acoustic noise commonly encountered in the shallow water survey environment.

Utilising EdgeTech’s Full Spectrum® technology, the 6205 exceeds IHO SP-44, NOAA and USACE specifications for feature detection and bathymetric point data uncertainty. Near shore and shallow water hydrographic surveys are completed faster and safer utilising the 6205 due to the wide swath (over 200º view angle), which is typically more than three times that of existing sonars that rely solely on beam forming techniques.

The 6205 utilises EdgeTech’s latest electronics and arrays resulting in an extremely lightweight, modular design required for shallow water applications and vessels of opportunity.

The standard configuration for the 6205 includes an integrated sound velocity sensor and interfaces with standard GPS, MRU, SVP, CTD, Altimeters and Gyros. The 6205 interfaces to most 3rd party acquisition and processing software as well.

Tom Hiller, Director, International Business for EdgeTech, commented “The 6205 has proven performance in surveys worldwide, and we are very pleased that the latest generation of EdgeTech bathymetric technology is now available to STR’s customers for rental.

This enables more projects to take advantage of the sonar capabilities and the enhanced support that STR can provide.”

So ask yourself ­ Why choose anything else?

Subsea Equipment

The Smart Choice ­ Trusted by some of the biggest names in the subsea industry The VideoRay Pro 4 helps you get the job done quickly and safely Specialists in the supply of World Class ROVs, Sonars and Accessories to the Subsea Market. www.atlantasmarine.com T: +44 (0)1935 426 000 F: +44 (0)1935 426 522 E: info@atlantasmarine.com

Classroom in a Box Certified Jupiter Training from Zetechtics At Zetechtics we understand the need for engineers and technicians to have the knowledge and expertise to operate, develop and maintain our products. As part of our commitment to providing the highest quality training, we have recently invested in a suite of training aids including our ‘classroom in a box’ ensuring the highest standards are delivered throughout the world.

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Tel: +44 (0) 1653 602020 www.zetechtics.com

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Subsea Equipment

Total deploy Sonardyne LBL acoustic network at Kaombo in record-breaking time Following on from the installation of a Long BaseLine (LBL) acoustic positioning network at the giant Egina oil field off the coast of Nigeria, French oil major Total and its project partners have repeated their success using the same Sonardyne Fusion 6G technology offshore Angola at the even larger, even deeper, Kaombo oil field.

The campaign to deploy, calibrate and make ready for work the field wide array of transponder frames, was completed in just 31 days using the seabed component of a Fusion 6G system.

This was half the time budgeted for, a figure that is thought to have set a new unofficial record for this scale of operation.

Covering an area of around 1,300 square kilometres, Kaombo lies in water depths up to 1,750 metres. Development of the field will involve the drilling of 59 subsea wells, connected by over 290 kilometres of subsea lines leading to two floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels. The majority of subsea construction work is scheduled for 2016-2017, which will be supported by the permanent transponder frame network. First oil for the initial FPSO is expected in 2017, with production from the other two FPSOs likely to reach an average of 230,000 barrels per day in normal operating conditions out

Above: Transponder frames being readied for deployment and calibration, a process that took a record breaking 31 days. of an estimated reserve of 660 million barrels.

Fusion is Sonardyne’s sixth generation (6G) LBL technology platform, specified globally for its ability to meet the most stringent of subsea survey and construction positioning tolerances. Thanks to its unique Wideband 2 digital signal architecture, common tasks such as template installation, touch-down monitoring and spool piece metrologies can be completed quickly, efficiently and precisely regardless of the water depth.

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Lloyd’s Register evaluate and accept TSC’s ACFM® technique for the in-service examination of structural welds, using the Amigo™ and U31™ systems

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Following evaluation through independent trials and procedural assessments, TSC are proud to announce the acceptance of the TSC ACFM® Inspection Technique by Lloyds Register; both for manual and subsea/splashzone deployment, using automated or robotic systems.

The TSC ACFM® (Alternating Current Field Measurement) technique is a non-contact electromagnetic in-service inspection method used to detect and size surface breaking cracks in metal structures and components.

Using TSC equipment, ACFM® is deployable both in topside and subsea environments using personnel or ROV methods of delivery.

Under certificate no: RSS/MNDE/0009 TSC Inspection Systems and ACFM®, using the Amigo™ and U31™ instrumentation, has been accepted for the in-service examination of structural welds, heat affected zone and adjacent parent material, in uncoated or coated steel structures, with the intention of detecting surface breaking discontinuities.

About TSC Inspection Systems TSC Inspection Systems provides advanced Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) solutions, founded on their unique and patented Alternating Current Field Measurement (ACFM®) technology. The ACFM® technique detects surface-breaking cracks in metallic structures and components, without the need to remove protective coatings, therefore minimizing downtime for critical operations. Independent tests show that ACFM® technology is one of the world’s most reliable NDT methods, producing an audit-trail which makes the inspection process significantly more robust than traditional methods.

To fulfil the criteria of acceptance of Lloyd’s Register, calibrated and certified equipment must be used and operated in accordance with a procedure approved by an ISO:9712 or certified Level 3. Operators shall be certified to or supervised to ACFM® Level 2, and all inspection data , including defect location, length and depth, is retained for record and audit purposes. For inspections carried out on ships or floating offshore installations classed by Lloyd’s Register, the use of ACFM® will be subject to review of local procedures and acceptance by the attending surveyor.

ACFM® is referred to in the Lloyd’s Register Surveyor Procedures Manual and Lloyd’s Register NDE training programmes for surveyors.

Together with ACFM® technique and equipment, other areas of assessment by Lloyd’s Register included TSC operating procedures, personnel qualifications, documented experience and TSC’s culture of continual professional development.

TSC Inspection Systems was established in 1984, as a spin-off from University College London, by a team of Professors and Lecturers who were recognised leaders in the fields of NDT, robotics and fracture mechanics. ACFM® was developed with support from BP, BG, Conoco and Shell, who were keen to significantly improve the reliability of underwater inspection, reduce the reliance on the diver operator and provide auditable inspection records.

TSC Inspection Systems is the developer and sole supplier of ACFM® technologies, with bases in Milton Keynes, Aberdeen and Singapore. TSC design and manufacture rugged, field proven ACFM® systems for subsea and topside applications, together with a wide range of probes.

For further information please visit: www.tscis.com

Expert ACFM® Solutions for Crack Detection & Measurement.

ACFM® Technology

ACFM® is one of the most reliable NDT methods for detecting surface breaking cracks in metallic components and welded structures.

Defect length & depth measurement, with full data capture & audit trail.

Inspection Services

ACFM® equipment can be used above and underwater, up to depths of 2000m. No need to remove protective coatings or marine growth.

Experienced Operators with ACFM® Level 2.5 & CSWIP 3.4 qualifications deployable worldwide.

Inspection Services offer project management and ACFM® procedural development expertise.

Systems Rentals

TSC provide a 24/7 rentals operation, global despatch, supported by an in-house team of ACFM® experts.

All equipment tested & certified, customers are able to utilise Level 3 ACFM® support services.

Remote access inspection methods include advanced engineered solutions such as crawlers and scanners.

www.tscis.com Aberdeen +44 1224 72513 Milton Keynes +44 1908 31744 Singapore +65 6543 9728 Visit TSC on Stand 30

Welding, Fabrication & Alloys

A journey of excellence for Brown McFarlane - Over 125 years in the Global Steel industry It was only last year that Brown McFarlane celebrated 125 years of business and it has come a long way since it was established by Albert Richard Brown and his son Edward back in 1889.

The growth of the business has seen it expand from Glasgow to facilities and offices situated throughout the UK, Belgium and Brazil.

The notable brand processes and distributes high quality carbon, alloy, stainless, duplex and super duplex steel plates in various dimensions and thicknesses, boasting one of the most widespread stock ranges available internationally. With a focus on highly specified products, this has enabled the company to become one of the world’s leading specialist steel plate distributors and traders.

Sandvik chooses Anil Metals as its first official distributor for stainless steel round bar products in India Sandvik Materials Technology has signed an agreement with Anil Metals to become the official distributor of its stainless steel round bar products in India.

The agreement, made in July, will be integral to expanding Sandvik’s business and sales in the country. The new arrangement means that its primary products such as Sanmac® series stainless steel round bars are now available from stock to customers in India.

With around two decades of industrial sales experience and a customer base of more than 300, Anil Metals is a reliable distributor and supplier of round bar products with a strong presence in the valves, pumps and manufacturing industries. The company stood out as an ideal collaborator for Sandvik’s primary products division.

“Sandvik is a leading producer of round bar products in austenitic and duplex stainless steel grades. We are the preferred supplier for major valve and pump industries in India, and our main focus is to supply quality

products with even better delivery precision,” said Kishore Narumanchi, Primary Products Manager, Sandvik, India.

“Keeping this commitment level, we have collaborated with Anil Metals in the city of Chennai, the biggest industrial and commercial centre in South India.

They will be the authorized distributor for Sandvik primary products in India including Sanmac 316/ 316L and duplex round bars.”

Aside from the central Anil Metals stocking point in Madhavaram, Chennai, the company also has presence in the West India market with a stocking point in Mumbai.

“We are confident that this collaboration will bring Sandvik products closer to our customers, and will help us to significantly enhance our delivery commitments to customers in India.”

Kishore Narumanchi, Primary Products Manager

Flowserve introduces Valtek® DiamondBack cavitation elimination technology

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DiamondBack is the control valve industry’s most advanced design for cavitating applications.

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Flowserve Corporation, a leading provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, announced today the introduction of the Valtek DiamondBack, the control valve industry’s most technologically advanced anti-cavitation trim design to date for severe service applications. DiamondBack enables control valve users to eliminate high-pressure drop cavitation damage and the associated noise.

In addition, the DiamondBack design can be produced in a range of materials, including tungsten carbide, effectively mitigating the effects of erosion.

Providing improved reliability and uptime

with reduced operating and maintenance costs, DiamondBack also delivers up to 30 percent higher flow than comparable multi-stage valve trim with the same pressure drop. In some applications, this results in a smaller and lighter package than other designs.

DiamondBack further offers excellent corrosion resistance.

As a result, DiamondBack is uniquely capable of delivering comprehensive protection from both cavitation and erosion damage.”

DiamondBack cavitation elimination technology is available for installation in all new or existing Valtek Mark Series control valve body sizes.

Bradford Haines, Severe Service Products Marketing Manager, Flowserve.

“Combining the proven and preferred Flowserve Valtek Mark Series control valve with DiamondBack severe service trim provides users with maximum cavitation protection.

And with the purposeful selection of available materials of construction,

DiamondBack is customizable for the most rigorous application requirements in the oil and gas, chemical processing, power generation, and general industries, and is able to pass slurries and entrained solids to 15 mm (0.5 in) without plugging.

It is available in all commonly specified materials, including 300 and 400 Series stainless steels and high-nickel alloys, as well as exotic alloys and tungsten carbide.

Underwater Inspection Courses from TWI internationally recognised training and certification

Some of the most popular are within the Underwater Inspection Programme, which give commercial divers the skills and qualifications they need to become underwater inspectors. Instructors for the underwater inspection courses have a detailed knowledge and first-hand experience of subsea inspection, so they fully understand the implications of underwater inspection work and Diver/ ROV requirements. A combination of multi-media materials in the classroom and hands-on practical training make learning interesting and more enjoyable.

TWI’s purpose-built Underwater Inspection Training Facilities in Middlesbrough in the UK and Chonburi in Thailand are complete with modern classrooms, deep-water dive tanks and all the latest equipment. The Underwater Inspection Training Programme includes the following courses: • Introduction to Subsea Inspection • CSWIP 3.1U – NDT Inspection Diver • CSWIP 3.2U – NDT Inspection Diver • CSWIP 3.3U – ROV Inspector • CSWIP 3.4U – Underwater Inspection Controller

Underwater inspection and many other courses from TWI lead to internationally recognised certifications issued by the CSWIP Certification Scheme. This scheme has become synonymous with competence and professionalism, and is one of the most highly regarded providers of certification in Welding, NDT, Inspection and allied disciplines.

Welding, Fabrication & Alloys

TWI Training and Certification have established a global reputation as the go-to provider for personnel who want to acquire accredited skills, gain qualifications and increase their employment opportunities in NDT, welding, welding inspection, plant inspection, coatings inspection and underwater inspection.

To find out more about courses available from TWI, visit: www.twitraining.com or email: trainexam@twitraining.com

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 One-stop training and certification 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

TWI Training and Examination Services Tel: +44 (0)1642 216320 E-mail: trainexam@twitraining.com www.twitraining.com

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Welding, Fabrication & Alloys

North-East businessmen invest six-figure sum in new engineering firm A new North-East engineering firm has been launched by two Insch businessmen following a six-figure investment.

Engineering Solutions and Rental Limited (ESR), has been established by Fabritech UK’s Managing Director, Stuart Mackie, and Engineering Manager, Innes Smith, to meet demand from clients in the energy, subsea and renewable sectors.

ESR Directors Mr Mackie and Mr Smith, have invested over half a million pounds in CNC machinery, tooling and software in order to set up the specialist firm which will be based within Fabritech’s headquarters at the Insch Business Park in Aberdeenshire.

The duo have established the company in order to specialise in providing engineering solutions, allowing manufacturing and fabrication firm, Fabritech UK, to continue to focus on fabrication contracts for major operators in the oil and gas industry.

ESR will offer a range of in-house design, engineering services and project management to the subsea, drilling and

renewables sectors, tailoring cost effective work packages to suit individual clients’ bespoke needs and requirements.

Engineering Director, Innes Smith is fully conversant with current industry standards and legislative requirements as well as having many years practical engineering experience. Utilising the latest Solidworks 3D modeling software, equipment can be designed with full load simulation prior to manufacture reducing cost and lead time. All products can be designed to meet Lloyds or DNV offshore and subsea standards.

The firm also employs CNC machinists and two apprentices, with plans in place to add to the specialist team by the end of the year.

built premises in Insch Business Park in 2016, which will result in an increase in our workforce and further investment in new equipment.

Quality workmanship is a top priority for us, and we are fully committed to excellence and safety with complete customer satisfaction within budget. We will continue to provide a firstclass service through ESR.”

Stuart Mackie, ESR Director.

Below: Stuart Mackie with Innes Smith

“We made the decision to diversify the services of Fabritech by opening an engineering firm to allow each company to focus solely on their specialisms in fabrication and engineering.

ESR will initially work from Fabritech’s headquarters, but we plan to move to purpose

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Production riser testing programme Additional subsea contract awarded awarded to 2H Offshore to Technip

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Chevron has awarded a contract to manage a production riser weld qualification testing programme to 2H Offshore.

A contract has been awarded to Technip for the development of subsea infrastructure for the Stones project, by Shell Offshore Inc.

The aim of the development of 20,000 psi technology is to qualify the equipment required to develop future offshore fields with design pressures above 15,000 psi and temperatures above 250˚ F. These design pressure and temperature requirements result in line pipe wall thickness requirements as much as 1.9-in. for 8 to 10-in. diameter risers. This goes beyond what the industry has previously qualified and installed to date for fatigue sensitive deepwater risers.

The Stones field is located in the Walker Ridge area in the US Gulf of Mexico, with a water depth of 2930m along with pipelay route.

The scope of the programme will incorporate test pipe specifications, procurement and qualification of new welding and AUT procedures and comprehensive fatigue testing that will include the effects of sour service conditions. In addition, the project scope includes the development of feasible marine riser system configurations for a number of different host vessels.

The contract will cover: • Engineering of the required second pipeline end terminations

(PLETs).

• Fabrication of the PLETs and piles.

• Installation of the subsea production system,inclusive of associated project management, engineering and stalk fabrication.

Technip provides engineering capabilities in executing ultradeepwater installation projects with ongoing cost-efficent solutions for its clients.

DESTEC EnginEEring LTD

Making and 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 40 years.

Services we deliver: ● Compatible Seals

● Destec Compact Flanges

● G-Range 4 Bolt Connectors

● Destec Boiler Inspection Caps

● GSB Subsea Single Bolt Clamps

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

Services we offer: ● On-Site Machining ● Bolt Tensioning

● On-Line Leak Sealing ● Overlay Welding ● NDT Services

● Regenerator & Vessel head Removal

www.destec.co.uk +44 (0)1522 791721 sales@destec.co.uk service@destec.co.uk

Flow Measurement

Endress+Hauser & Rockwell Automation open process automation training facility in West Virginia Endress+Hauser and Rockwell Automation have partnered to open a new $1 million, 1,800 square-foot Process Training Unit (PTU) at BridgeValley Community and Technical College in West Virginia.

The BridgeValley PTU is designed to be a go-to place for companies that are seeking workforce training for their employees and customers, and for students to utilize as they pursue their degree programs. The PTU combines theory and a hands-on approach to provide participants with real-world experience in a safe, working process environment, Endress+Hauser says.

“By working alongside BridgeValley and other universities, Endress+Hauser can help secure the talent pipeline and better prepare our next-generation workforce for successful careers in the field of process control and automation. The innovative approach we have taken at BridgeValley is truly unique to the industry.”

Brandyn Ferguson, Vice President of Human Resources, Endress+Hauser.

The PTU is outfitted to help students and customers gain experience with the types of operation, diagnostics

and troubleshooting found in real-life process plants. It features the latest Endress+Hauser flow, level, temperature, pressure and analytical instrumentation, two 350-gallon tanks, in addition to the PlantPAx process control system donated

by Rockwell Automation.

The PlantPAx process automation system will be used in a functioning environment with field devices to train customers for operation and maintenance of process systems. In addition, it provides a venue for demonstrations of Endress+Hauser and Rockwell Automation technology and a regional resource for customers to obtain hands-on training in a controlled environment.

“A key aspect of our role in the community is to partner with industry leaders to provide technical education necessary to keep our companies competitive and jobs in West Virginia,” said BridgeValley President Dr. Jo Harris.

“Our collaboration with Endress+Hauser and Rockwell Automation allows students and local companies to receive realworld experience in a controlled learning environment.”

The partnership is between BridgeValley, manufacturers Endress+Hauser and Rockwell Automation, and the sales and service company Forberg Scientific Inc.

Right: BridgeValley Community and Technical College in West Virginia.

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Flow Measurement

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Pumps & Valves

Global pumps and valves market to be driven by rising oil and gas exploration shared in new research report The global oil and gas industry is the backbone of some of the most important industries in the world, take for instance fuel and power generation. The mounting global demand for oil and gas has led to several new exploration and production projects.

Pumps and Valves in the oil and gas industry All the operations in oil and gas industry are segmented into three broad sectors: upstream, downstream, and exploration.

Exploration activities however, are usually considered a part of upstream processes.

The upstream sector includes activities such as searching for potential oil and gas fields, drilling of oil and gas wells, and operating the wells for recovering and bringing crude oil and/or unprocessed natural gas to the surface.

The downstream sector includes activities such as refining, processing, storing, and distributing treated and/or untreated products. The downstream sector serves consumers with thousands of products

such as diesel, gasoline, lubricants, plastic, rubber, asphalt, jet fuel.

Crude oil, natural gas and a variety of natural gas liquids follow a long and complex process before they are converted into the final products. Their storage, maintenance, and transportation involve systems that are designed to work in complex operating conditions innate to the oil and gas industry.

High pressure and temperatures, hostile exploration environments, and a variety of chemicals commonly observed in oil and natural gas products are some of the most common complexities faced by systems operating in the oil and gas industry.

Popular Varieties of Pumps and Valves Employed in Oil and Gas Industry A wide variety of pumps and valves form a critical part of these systems, making the processes of storing, marketing, and transporting raw, intermediate, and final oil and gas products safe and economical.

Pumps are the machines used for moving

fluids with the help of mechanical force.

Valves are the devices that control and direct the flow of fluids running through pipes.

The oil and gas industry uses two major types of pumps: centrifugal pumps and positive displacement pumps. Types of valves mainly used in the oil and gas industry include varieties such as ball valve, needle valve, gate valve, and check valve.

The rising awareness about the functional and economic benefits of positive displacement pumps is steadily shifting customers away from centrifugal pumps.

It has being projected that positive displacement pumps will prove indispensible in enhanced oil and gas recovery mechanisms such as hydraulic fracturing in the coming years.

The market for valves is expected to benefit from the rising adoption of artificial lifts for economical production of oil from oil wells as well as the numerous research activities aiding the development of more efficient and reliable valves.

Dundee firm Pacson Valves secures new flexible friend Dundee-based oil and gas service firm Pacson Valves has secured a £3 million refinance package to help its future growth.

Pacson switched to Clydesdale Bank from its previous banking partner to gain more flexible working capital facilities.

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The oil and gas sector continues to trade amid uncertain conditions worldwide following a decline in the price of oil.

Based at a 50,000 square feet plant at Claverhouse Industrial Estate, Pacson supplies high integrity valves to the global oil and gas sector.

The firm, which employs more than 90 staff, designs, manufactures and tests surface valves, subsea valves and pressure-containing equipment.

Priding itself on being at the cutting edge of product design, the company continues 34

to commit significant funding to research and development.

It also maintains sales operations in key oil and gas producing countries including the US, Norway, Australia and Brazil.

Turnover last year was up 13.64% at £13.6 and pre-tax profit increased 11.16% at £893,307.

“Conditions have been challenging but we’re confident we now have the banking products we require to support our long-term growth strategy, thanks to Clydesdale Bank.

Like many companies in our sector we want to ensure we are fit for the future and ready to grow when the market improves. Now we have a more convenient and flexible product that will help to future-proof Pacson Valves and facilitate our growth aspirations.”

John McLaren, Pacson Commercial Director.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with Pacson Valves, an internationally respected supplier of specialist valve equipment to the oil and gas sector, as it seeks to grow following difficult trading conditions.

As a bank, we have extensive experience of working with oil and gas service firms and a deep understanding of the industry.

Our specialist knowledge of and focus on different sectors helps to bring a challenge to the market giving small and medium-sized businesses the speed and flexibility they require to achieve their growth ambitions.”

Andy Tait, Director of Clydesdale Bank’s Specialist and Acquisition Finance Team.

Big Pumps

Little Pumps

Long Pumps

Short Pumps

AOD Pumps

Centrif Pumps

Metering Pumps

PD Pumps

Vertical Pumps

Hire Pumps

.... to mention just a few.

Aberdeen 01224 729 367 - London 0208 579 2111 Huddersfield 01484 543 649 - Durham 01325 327 322 - Windsor 01344 886 633

Pumps & Valves

AxFlow’s Moivac cleans up on offshore platforms The removal of drilling mud and slurry containing cuttings on offshore oil and gas rigs, along with wastewater has always been a problem for rig operators. At one time it was common practice within the global offshore oil and gas industry to dispose of the dirty water, mud and slurries that collected on platform decks by flushing them directly into the sea. With greater awareness of the environmental impact that this can have on seawater quality and contamination of the seabed, it is no longer permissible to dispose of waste in this manner.

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A direct consequence of changes in environmental considerations and legislation has been the development of technologies that safely and economically clean decks and handle the removal of drilling slurries containing cuttings.

The build up of such fluids on decks can pose a hazard for operatives, whilst their make-up poses an environmental problem when it comes to disposal. The original answer to the challenge of rig cleaning was to remove the waste materials from the rig and clean them onshore for eventual disposal. However, the costs involved with this have always been high as the process has involved transferring large volumes of water-borne waste in tankers to onshore facilities.

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Developing systems that suck up mud, slurries and associated waste from decks has been the focus of many engineering companies servicing the offshore industry and over the past 25 years several solutions have evolved. The development of rig cleaning systems was pioneered back in the early 1990’s by OE Solutions, which was acquired by AxFlow AS Norway in 2013, with the introduction of its Moivac unit. The first generation provided the capability to vacuum up to 3,000 litres using a water-cooled compressor into a holding tank for eventual onshore disposal.

Whilst proving to be a success, the pressing requirement to minimise floor space lead to a second generation, compact skid-mounted modular unit and since then further models have been

introduced using larger motors and large capacity vacuum pumps. Significantly, the tank capacity of the latest AxFlow Moivac WPT480 and WPT720 units has been reduced to 1,100 litres and pump capacities increased to 9.700 and 14.200 litres per minute respectively.

This reflects the move towards recycling mud and cuttings offshore, which reduces significantly the volume of wastewater for disposal and the associated costs.

Reducing costs Mud, being a basic requirement for drilling has to be transported to rigs and once it has been used it becomes waste, containing cuttings and other debris. Given the economic pressures on the offshore sector in recent times, the costs of transporting mud to and from rigs have come under the microscope. Looking at ways of reducing the volume of mud that needed to be transported from shore to rigs and how the volume of waste that had to be removed could also be reduced was recognised as being the way to cutting costs.

The solution was to develop a technology that would mix quantities of mud offshore and recycle it once it had been used in drilling, thereby reducing the volume of mud required and the volume of waste created. One key element of this solution was the AxFlow Moivac rig cleaner which sucks up mud and other liquid waste off the decks for recycling. This process reduces the volume of mud required for drilling and also reduces the volume of wastewater to be returned to shore.

The Moivac system Compared to other systems, the AxFlow Moivac is a compact modular framed unit comprising, electric motor, collecting tank, compressor, vacuum pump, suction hose and control panel. A “low level switch” in the oil tank automatically stops the unit when the oil-level falls below the minimum level. It is also equipped with a temperature sensor in the cooling tank that stops unit from overheating.

Gravity provides a maximum suction height and pumping distance/ height of 9m suction and a vertical delivery suction of 15m. For greater discharge heads a purpose-made pumping unit can be mounted to in create the vertical pressure to 65m.

Above: Vertical configuration MOIVAC with a 500lt capacity tank Customers are advised by AxFlow that by “injection/ leaking” the right amount of air in the suction hose, it is possible to create sufficient suction for much longer distances. All seals, bearings and rubber gaskets are mud-resistant and are suitable for handing chemicals, enabling the Moivac to accommodate a wide range of waste liquids and materials.

When starting-up the Moivac, the inlet valve has to be open for suction (vacuum) from deck or pit-tanks on the rig into the collecting tank. Suction id delivered by the compressor which is driven by a 30/35kW electric motor. When the tank is full a ball valve floats to the surface and stops the suction from compressor. The inlet valve is then closed and the compressor is switched to discharge pressure and the discharge valve is opened to empty the tank. In order to prevent solids and cuttings from settling in the tank, it is advised that the tank is emptied at the end of each shift.

The modular structure of the Moivac unit makes it suitable for easy lifting and positioning on the rig so that it can be moved around as circumstances require.

All units can be customised to meet end-user requirements and are fully tested within the company’s manufacturing plant in Stavanger in accordance with all relevant international standards.

With even greater emphasis now being placed on reducing operating costs and satisfying environmental regulations, AxFlow reports that there is a growing demand for the Moivac rig cleaning system not just from within the North Sea, but in offshore fields around the world.

Amarinth secures an order for $1.5M of API 610 OH2 pumps to be deployed on the Upper Zakum 750 mega-project

The ZADCO Upper Zakum 750 project is one of the largest offshore field development projects in the Middle East. Upper Zakum is the second largest offshore oilfield and fourth largest oilfield in the world and is located 80km off the coast of Abu Dhabi.

It is constructed on artificial islands and is particularly unique being a huge onshore project requiring an unusual blend of offshore skills and disciplines. The $4 billion of capital expenditure will increase

production of the field by 50%.

This project has a very selective vendor list and Amarinth secured the order following a number of previous successful projects with ZADCO and Petrofac. This also meant that Amarinth was already familiar with the design specifications. The order was facilitated through Arabian Industries, a leading EPC, based in Oman, and the super duplex pumps, including bespoke baseplates, will be supplied on a tight 25 week delivery.

The pumps will be delivered in two batches, the first six pumps to the South Island and the second six to the North Island, and used in the treatment plant that processes all of the produced water from the artificial islands.

Space restrictions in the plant meant that the standard overhang of the Plan 53B seal support systems would create problems and so within the 25 week delivery deadline Amarinth are also designing a bespoke baseplate for the pumps that will enable the Plan 53B seal support systems to be positioned over the pumps in order to minimise the footprint.

“We have a strong relationship with Petrofac having supplied pumps previously into numerous major projects in the region and so we are pleased that Petrofac has once again recognised our proven ability to develop bespoke designs that overcome challenges and which can be supplied to the tight deadlines required for such oil and gas projects. In addition, working with Arabian Industries for this order who are based on Oman has underlined our strength in the Middle East and our on-going investment expanding operations in the region.”

Pumps & Valves

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 secured a $1.5M order from Petrofac for 12 API 610 OH2 super duplex pumps with Plan 53B seal support systems for the produced water treatment plant that will serve the increased capacity of the ZADCO Upper Zakum oilfield following a $4B development project.

Oliver Brigginshaw, Managing Director of Amarinth.

Below: One of the Upper Zakum islands under construction.

Ultra-compact, energy efficient Solenoid Valves save space and reduce weight

This new Zero Leak Solenoid Valve features a polymer seal to ensure zero leakage and an innovative MultiSeal design which radically simplifies port layout and means significant space savings, reduced machining costs and higher reliability compared to traditional sealing methods.

With an overall height of 47mm, a diameter of 25mm and weighing just 113 grams this single coil design valve is available in both normally closed and normally open configuration with lead wires extending either end of the valve.

The solenoid coil has been optimised to ensure energy efficiency consuming just 7.8 Watts at 28 Vdc.

Other features include an integral safety screen with 0.10 mm hole size and a captive retainer nut which means that no special tools are required for fitting.

The valves are compatible with most petroleum and phosphate-ester based fluids, have an operating temperature range of -65ºF to +275ºF and are endurance tested to 500,000 cycles.

Further details are available from: Mike Stott, Lee Products Ltd

sales@leeproducts.co.uk

www.leeproducts.co.uk

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Lee Products has recently extended its range of ultracompact, field-proven piloting solenoid valves which are ideal for challenging, high pressure duty such as those occurring in aerospace hydraulics, fuel systems and oil tool applications. Saving space, reducing weight and minimising power consumption along with reliable performance, are the important benefits of Lee’s piloting solenoid valves and this new option continues that objective.

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Pumps & Valves

Control valves for high pressure injection applications Badger Meter HP-60 ultra-high pressure control valves are ideal for offshore, oil and gas control applications with up-stream pressures of up to 60,000 psi. Available in the UK through liquids handling specialists Pump Engineering, the Type HP-60 control valve utilises a 17-4 PH body along with a solid Stellite® inner valve assembly.

The HP-60 valve is also ideal for use in industrial research and process pilot plants on liquids and gases, with typical applications being chemical injection, for example in the production of high pressure, low density polyethylene (HPLDPE).

Standard features include, pressure rating to 60,000 psi (4135 Bar) @ 100º F, a wide

range of interchangeable trims, choice of linear or quick opening trims, ANSI Class lll shutoff (size P-1 through P-9) and ANSI Class lV shutoff (size K through O).

The inner valve (plug and seat) is constructed from solid Stellite® while Titanium Nitride coated Stellite is available as an option. Standard packing is Torlon®/PFA CV rings.

For lower pressures up to 350 bar, the standard RC200 valve in 316 stainless steel is available with a larger range of trims.

All the valves can be supplied with standard (air-to-open, air-fail-close, air-to-close, air-fail open) actuators.

However, actuators in Stainless Steel with integral top mounted positioner or side mounted positioner, are also available.

A wide range of accessories, such as filter regulators, gauges, I/P converter, limit switches and solenoids, are also offered.

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Deep Down Inc. has success despite oil industry downturn

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Above: Badger Meter HP-60 valve.

UK engineering firm Peter Brotherhood, a Siemens-owned business set to be acquired by Hayward Tyler

The oil industry affects many people throughout the country and world. In recent times, the decreasing cost of oil has brought financial trouble to many oil companies and resulted in job losses across many oil-related industries.

humbled by the trust placed in us and are well prepared for the work ahead.”

One company that has been successful despite the uneven economic climate is Deep Down, Inc. Deep Down is an oil field services company based in Houston that specializes in offshore drilling supplies.

The SSIV is a system installed on underwater valves which prevents the release of hydrocarbons. The system can be monitored and activated from above the surface.

It creates a safer work environment.

UK engineering company Peter Brotherhood is being bought out by Hayward Tyler Group plc for US$15 million.

In a press release on Oct. 7, the company announced it received its biggest order yet, totaling $13 million from a super-major operator. The order will be delivered to the Gulf of Mexico in 2016. Of the five major orders the company announced this year, this is the fourth that will be carried out in 2016 and all are located in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to one media outlet, umbilicals are cables that transfer power, chemicals and messages from the surface to underwater pumps and other structures. Umbilical Termination Structures are units under the sea that connect the operations above the surface to the subsea developments.

Peter Brotherhood, from Dresser-Rand Co Ltd, specialises in steam turbines, reciprocating gas compressors and combined heat and power units for the power generation, oil and gas and marine markets. The company has an installed base of nearly 1500 units across 100 countries globally.

“Receiving an order of this magnitude, during the current industry downturn, is a major vote of confidence in our ability to continue providing innovative solutions for our customers,” Ron Smith, CEO of Deep Down, Inc. said in the press release. “We are

The orders this year included several of Deep Down’s products and services, such as Subsea Isolation Valve System, Umbilical Termination Assembly, flying leads and the company’s patented Non-Helical Umbilical.

Other orders announced in 2015 so far have totaled $3 million in January, $2 million in April, $2 million in August and $2.5 million in September. Though Deep Down has been successful in bringing in large orders from super-major operators, the company is feeling the effects of the oil industry’s downturn.

The acquisition of Peter Brotherhood gives Hayward Tyler access to a range of new customers including Keppel Shipyard and deepens relationships with existing customers including Rolls Royce.

Quickits spring into action and fill a gap in the market

The long awaited stainless steel spring return lever or deadmans handle, as it is sometimes known, has undergone rigorous testing and development over the past 12 months and is now available from stock for same day dispatch.

The unit itself comprises of a full 304 stainless steel housing along with 304 stainless steel lever, A2 Grade fasteners and super-duplex one piece drive coupling.

“As a result of a proto-type unit being exhibited at Valveworld Expo, Dusseldorf last December and due to the volume of enquiries that we have received for such a product we decided to carry out our own research and searched for a supplier that could provide an affordable solution. We believe that this product will fill a gap in the market where similar products fall short�

Rob Smith, Managing Director.

Sealed for life and requiring zero maintenance the unit also comes as standard with built-in locking facility allowing the handle to be locked in the at-rest position to eliminate un-authorised operation.

Pumps & Valves

Quickits Limited (UK) is pleased to announce their appointment as UK stockist and distributer for the new stainless steel spring return handle (024SRHSS).

For further information and pricing please contact our sales team or visit our website:

www.quickits-online.co.uk Below: The new stainless steel spring return handle from Quickits Limited.

The heavy duty spring mechanism is fully enclosed preventing the ingress of dust.

Tested and guaranteed for 20,000 operations the standard unit is set at 24Nm operating torque with the option to increase or reduce this by 20% either way.

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Hazardous Area

Lucion recieves UKAS accreditation for SEM asbestos sample analysis Asbestos risk management specialist Lucion Environmental has extended its laboratory based analytical services after securing UKAS accreditation for state of the art scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

The company recently completed the £250,000 upgrade to its specialist laboratory facilities for the expert analysis of all types of asbestos containing materials and soil samples.

This investment includes the addition of new scanning electron microscopy, with this latest addition enabling Lucion to undertake powerful laboratory based imaging tasks on samples, including routine optical fibre counting at 2000 x magnification.

In support of SEM, powerful X-ray diffraction also enables detailed identification of fibre type by unique ‘fingerprinting’ analysis of chemical composition.

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Lucion’s extended analytical capability

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means clients can benefit from higher limits of asbestos detection, providing greater levels of reassurance and choice of remediation management where it is required.

any fibres found are asbestos or another material – enabling the definite identification of any respirable fibres found in samples.”

Formal SME accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) for the identification and quantification of asbestos fibres confirms that samples are analysed by fully trained and qualified laboratory professionals who are skilled in the use of SEM microscopy. The approval also extends to laboratory documentation procedures and sample analysis reporting procedures.

Lee Kerridge, Lucion Laboratory Manager.

“SEM allows us to count smaller fibres and carry out low concentration tests which are not possible using standard methods.

The Energy dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX) system is fully integrated with the SEM, allowing us to determine whether or not

Lucion’s new SEM was supplied by Tescan, one of the leading manufacturers of electron microscopy and ion beam systems. The fully integrated SEM and EDX system was enhanced by the inclusion of tailor-made procedures to ensure speed, reproducibility and accuracy.

Below: Scanning electron microscopy

Falck enhances offering with hazardous area training

Falck, which has 36 training centres across the world, can now offer EPIT’s hazardous area explosion protection training to the oil and gas and related industries.

EPIT is an approved certified CompEx centre that offers the nationally recognised courses to electrical and instrumentation technicians. In addition, EPIT’s Competency Plus Programme includes a range of Ex, ATEX, Mechanical, High Voltage/Low Voltage and Electrical Safety courses, all of which are accredited by City and Guilds.

Falck’s delegates will undertake the specialised training at EPIT’s custom-built facility in Blackburn, Aberdeen, equipping them with the technical expertise to handle hazardous area equipment on and offshore.

“We are always looking for ways to enhance our course portfolio as we strive to be at the forefront of safety training in oil and gas and other related industries. The strategic alliance that has been formed with EPIT will enable us to provide our customers with the highest standards of quality, service and reliability in electrical explosion protection training.”

Colin Leyden, Managing Director of Falck Safety Services UK.

Hazardous Area

Falck Safety Services, a NorthEast safety firm has formed a strategic alliance with EPIT, a hazardous and industrial areas training specialist, following demand for highly specialised training in the North-East.

“All of our EPIT instructors are ex-industry with many years of experience. It is important that candidates feel at ease with them and work with the instructors to expand their knowledge and competency when handling the electrical equipment. EPIT and Falck share similar values in terms of providing a high quality, reliable training service and the alliance will also implement a slicker booking process for candidates looking to undertake the training.”

Jim Craig, Managing Director at EPIT Group.

Smart, safe & connected: Extronics advance with AeroScout Extronics Ltd, the global designer and manufacturer of hazardous area and industrial equipment, has created new division Extronics Advance in the wake of its AeroScout agreement with Stanley Black & Decker.

Extronics has over 20 years’ experience working in hazardous areas, and is at the forefront of wireless connectivity for these applications with the flagship Zone 1 iWAP107. Leveraging this knowledge to create streamlined solutions for tracing assets, maintenance planning, supply chain management, personnel protection and more is a natural evolution.

Extronics’ in-house team of qualified, experienced engineers. They often include uninterruptible power supplies such as the iUPS101, a modular, scalable system designed to support critical processes with maximum flexibility and cost effectiveness.

To find out more, call: +44 (0) 845 277 5000 or email:

info@extronics.com

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The Extronics Advance division will expand its range of Internet of Things and Real Time Location solutions based around the best-in-class AeroScout product line, including providing product support and maintenance contracts for AeroScout customers. As a result, Extronics itself can focus on developing its core: bespoke engineering solutions and uninterruptible power supplies.

Extronics provide a number of bespoke engineering solutions to companies across the globe, all compliant with the necessary regulations and supported by a full suite of paperwork. These solutions are created according to customer requirements by

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Hazardous Area

Using caustic soda and role of improved techniques in reducing risks to rig personnel Hazardous substances cause 74,000 work related deaths in EU countries each year, which indicates more people die from dangerous substances than workplace incidents.

Caustic soda is one of the hazardous substances.

Due to caustic soda skin burns, a large number of employees are always away from work.

Such burns take weeks or months to heal. Caustic soda is used in water-base mud (drilling fluids) as a source of hydroxyl ions to control pH. Caustic soda, caustic, alkali and lye are all common names for sodium hydroxide (NaOH). It is a strong base which is extremely soluble in water and dissolves into sodium (Na) and hydroxyl (OH) ions in solution. Due to its corrosive nature and high reactivity, caustic soda is known as a dangerous chemical for people who are working on oil drilling rigs.

Numerous incidents within drilling industry involving mixing of caustic soda have resulted in personal injury ranging from minor burns, total blindness and in some cases death. All too often the factors of the incident can be traced back to poor training and supervision practices, inadequate work and safety procedures, or inadequate equipment design.

According to the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) 2013 statistics, about 4% of the fatal cases in the worldwide drilling industry were caused by employees’ contact with chemicals.

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Accidental exposure to caustic soda may occur under following conditions: • During transportation and handling of caustic soda buckets or sacks.

• During mixing and diluting operation.

• During maintenance and cleaning of caustic barrel or unit.

• During dispose of caustic buckets or sacks after usage.

• During decontamination following spills and equipment failures.

Reactivity and corrosive nature High reactivity is one the characteristics of 42

caustic soda. For instance, If dry caustic is added to water with agitation, the caustic will dissolve rapidly and the resulting heat will be dissipated throughout the solution volume. However, ‘if a large quantity of caustic is added rapidly to water without sufficient agitation, or if a large solid mass is added, the caustic mass will form a large hydrate, dissolve slowly and result in local overheating, boiling and spreading of the solution. A similar condition will occur if water is added to dry caustic’.

Heat generation will take place on concentration of 40% or greater.

Corrosive nature of caustic soda is well known. For instance, strong alkali substances, such as caustic soda, cause injury to tissue by liquefaction necrosis, which is saponification of fats and solublization of proteins, allowing deep penetration into tissue. However the corrosive destruction of the tissue caused by exposure to alkalines takes a longer time, but penetrates more deeply into the tissues than is the case with exposure to strong acids.

Traditional techniques in mixing caustic soda This includes using 55-Gallon barrel with connected paddle to facilitate mixing operation. Some drilling companies upgraded their unit with adding electrical motor instead of manual handle for agitation purposes. In addition to mentioned techniques, dumping dry caustic into a suction pit or mixing hopper also have been observed on drilling rigs of hazardous practices. From Operational aspects, direct addition of dry caustic to the active drilling fluid system, has proved less effective for pH control and dumping dry caustic into mixing hopper can blow dry caustic into worker face and flocculate drilling fluid.

Drawbacks of traditional techniques in mixing caustic soda Considering hazardous nature of caustic soda traditional techniques involve various risks to the rig crew and are not considered as a safe practices. For instance, due to splashing or “boil over” effects, exposure is still possible when the caustic barrel lid is opened for addition of caustic and water.

In addition to that, improper rinsing after each use, flat bottom of caustic barrel and incorrect location of discharge valve on

caustic barrel are the factors which could cause solid mass of caustic to be gathered at the base of caustic barrel and frequent maintenance requirements. Past incidents involving caustic barrel indicates that build up of solid caustic due to incorrect location of discharge valve and flat bottom caused injury to the maintenance crew.

The ergonomic features are not considered for using of traditional caustic mixing barrel because the operator should hold one fifty-pound sack while he is adding caustic to the barrel. The operator may add caustic so rapidly when he is tired of hanging one fifty-pound caustic sack or want to make a shortcut and add it so rapidly which both result deviation of safe system of work and incident.

Advanced techniques in mixing caustic soda Recent improvements in the design of caustic soda mixing units have begun to address hazards resulting from “boil over”, and the potential for personnel to come into contact with caustic soda solution during the mixing process. The other issues addressed by manufactures include the elimination of dust and mist exposure and adding ergonomic features.

Conclusion Traditional methods of mixing caustic in oil drilling industry increase the risks of injury and ill health effects caused by high level of employee exposure to caustic. With utilizing improved engineering controls such as using new designed caustic soda mixing unit, companies can reduce employees’ exposure and decrease the number of incidents which are due to use of inappropriate equipment. Providing safe system of work, training, supervision, required PPE, plus administrative controls are among other measures which should be considered to minimize level of employees’ exposure to caustic soda.

Hazardous Area

The explosion proof STAINLESS STEEL product range available from Moflash, carries ATEX and IECEx approvals for applications within zones 1, 2, 21 & 22 (also available in GRP) Product range includes: beacons, sounders, push buttons, call points, beacon and sounder combination units, junction boxes and status lights.

Typical applications will be situated in Oil and Gas, On-shore and Offshore, Chemical, Petrochemical, Refineries & Marine locations.

For more information on any of these products or to view the entire Moflash product portfolio visit our web site at: www.moflash.com or you can speak to Moflash Middle East on: +971 0506522860 or contact our UK based sales team on: +44 (0) 121 446 5322.

Moflash products will be shown on stand n no: 8510C in hall 8 at Adipec 2015 tai

S

el Ste s les

www.moflash.com Subsea November Advert v1.indd 1

05/10/2015 18:16:01

E2S Warning Signals launches two new product families at MARINTEC 2015, Shanghai E2S Warning Signals will be attending MARINTEC China, held in Shanghai from the 1st to the 4th of December 2015.

The show is the main gateway to the Asian maritime market with 58,000 visitors from 88 countries and more than 1,700 exhibiting companies from 32 countries; this year’s show is even larger.

The centrepiece of the stand is a preview

combination signals approved to UL, cULs, ATEX & IECEx Class I & II Div 2 and Zone 2 & 22 alongside the industry standard ‘BEx’ explosion proof and the IS intrinsically safe product ranges.

UK based Sales and Marketing Director Neal Porter will be present to answer questions and talk about the new product releases and to introduce Colin Tan, the company’s new Sales Manager for the ME and APAC regions.

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Acknowledged as the world’s leading independent signalling manufacturer E2S will be present on Stand N3H41h within the UK pavilion and will be launching two new ranges of hazardous area signals with ATEX and IECEx approval. The stand focuses on explosion proof and intrinsically safe warning signals developed to meet the challenging needs of the oil, gas and marine industries.

of the new premium ‘STEx’ stainless steel explosion proof warning signal range featuring a corrosion proof 316L steel enclosure suitable for the most aggressive environments. On display for its official launch there will be the new ‘GNEx’ signal range of GRP enclosure devices ATEX & IECEx approved for Zone 1, 21; the GNExB1 and B2 beacons and the J2 junction box.

Also on show is the new ‘D1x’ range, intended for NEC/CEC Class I and Class II Division 1 and Zone 1 & 20 applications.

All new hazardous area signals from E2S feature seven lens colours with a UV stable polycarbonate, field replaceable filter; the alarm horns with either traditional flared horns or an omni-directional compact radial horn. Threaded flame paths enable quick installation and simplify maintenance inspection whilst the innovative internal arrangement maximises wiring space.

Accompanying the new product ranges are the ‘D2x’ and ‘E2x’ alarm horns and

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Hazardous Area

DNV GL to lead project developing end of life guidance for offshore installations DNV GL, in collaboration with Decom North Sea (DNS), is seeking industry partners to participate in a joint industry project (JIP). The project will develop industry guidance to assist in effective and cost-efficient major accident hazard management for installations during late-life and end of life operations. It will also facilitate Safety Case compliance through cessation of production, well plug and abandonment, decommissioning, dismantlement and removal.

Whilst there is considerable experience, guidance and clarity on managing major accident hazards during the operational life of an installation, there is relatively little knowledge on effective risk management for the late life phases, leading into cessation of production, through to final installation removal. This period can extend for many years, it can include step changes in major accident hazards risk and has considerable uncertainty.

Offshore operators need to plan for the end of life phase and be prepared to modify their existing risk management system so that it remains effective as the installation moves towards cessation of production, decommissioning and subsequent removal.

The operator must demonstrate continued legal compliance with the Offshore Safety Case Regulations (OSCR), through all end of life activities, up until the installation has been removed. This includes demonstration that major safety and environmental accident hazards are adequately understood, that appropriate measures are in place to manage those hazards, and that these measures are being suitably maintained.

The challenge of continuing risk management through the late-

life operation of an installation and into the post-cessation of production stages must be accomplished on ageing facilities in a very cost-conscious environment. The risks from major accident hazards change considerably during this period as the hydrocarbon production risks reduce and the risks associated with decommissioning, well plugging and abandonment, and structural dismantlement are introduced, and environmental impact risk increases.

The JIP is in response to an industry request and reflects the importance of maintaining effective management of major accident hazards and legal compliance during the end of life phases of an installation. It also addresses the cost and effort required to deliver this; the recent significant revision of OSCR; and the lack of documented experience and practices.

The JIP will bring together key stakeholders including installation operators, supply chain organisations and regulators to develop a common understanding of the issues and current approaches. It will develop good practice guidance for effective and cost efficient major accident hazard management and OSCR compliance during the end of life phases of all installation types.

Hamish Holt, JIP Project Manager says: “The JIP will capture, challenge and develop the current experience and knowledge within the offshore oil and gas, heavy lift and deconstruction industries as well as input from relevant regulators and DNV GL. We will create guidance that will promote an effective, robust and cost-conscious approach to management of major accident hazards during the end of life phases of an installation. This should reduce the potential for over or under-managed major accident hazards and also reduce the risk from programme delays due to compliance issues.�

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.

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

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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 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.

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.

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All in all a proud moment for British Engineering and manufacturing.

www.sts-trolleys.co.uk

SmartLoad 2Ex® load pins help to improve safety at Port Taranaki Scotload incorporates its innovative SmartLoad 2Ex® technology installed on the load pin of boss mooring links, to help improve safety at Port Taranaki.

The issue Continuing the ports efforts to improve safety and responses during adverse events, Port Taranaki approached Scotload to help

Port Taranaki, together with MetOcean Solutions Limited, developed a predictive model in calculating the loadings in events of LPW. As the effect is different for every berth, data is required to enable accurate calculations for loading events. This is where Scotload were able to help with their innovative SmartLoad® technology.

The solution Installing new wireless load shackles

proved to be an inadequate option for this application as the weight of the shackles created issues with manual handling.

After reviewing the information supplied by Port Taranaki, Scotload suggested that the existing boss mooring links be converted into load monitoring mooring links by incorporating it’s award winning SmartLoad 2Ex® technology.

Hazardous Area

Port Taranaki is the only deep water seaport on New Zealand’s western seaboard.

The port is home to nine fully serviced berths and is capable of handling a diverse range of cargoes, specialising in heavy lift operations.

In 2007 it became the first port in New Zealand to receive official recognition for its harbour safety management systems.

with an improved solution in monitoring mooring line stresses. The port has a long history of mooring difficulties and experiences long period waves (LPW) which excites the motion of the moored vessels, increasing the loadings and the possibility of breaking the mooring lines.

Applying the teams extensive knowledge of load pins, Scotload were able to replicate the pin in the boss mooring link and convert it into a SmartLoad® load cell, suitable for use in Zone 2, hazardous areas. The links store load data on internal memory during the mooring period and results are automatically exported and displayed in an easy to understand report that is ready for input into the predictive model.

TECHNOR® Luminaires G2X Explosion proof lighting suitable for Zones 2 & 22.

This innovative lighting is available in 2 versions: fluorescent & LED. Its structure is solid (certified IK08), compact and resistant to corrosive industrial environment.

The luminaire is manufactured with high quality materials that guarantee long life product. ATEX Certification. Luminaires G2X LED or Fluo are suited for hazardous areas of industrial plants and space included in zones 2 and 22.

Marking • II 3G Ex nA IIC T6 Gc • II 3D Ex tc IIIC T85°C Dc IP66 Advantages • The advantages of this luminaires series: • GRP + 2 gear tray holders in white lacquered steel plate – IP66.

• Emergency kit 1h or 3h (for Fluo version) and 3h (for LED version).

• Simple, easy and quick installation • High resistance to corrosive industrial environment • High luminous efficiency • Quality ignition systems • UV resistant.

• Easy maintenance

Ranges Luminaires G2X LED • A high-quality LED source with high colour rendering.

Luminaires G2X Fluo • Possibility to suspend the lens hinge when replacing fluorescent lamps • Transparent diffuser in PC with UV protection.

TECHNOR is a worldwide technology company of MARECHAL ELECTRIC GROUP and is leader in the design and manufacture of luminaires, enclosures and electrical panels for potentially explosive atmospheres.

SAFEGUARD www.sosmagazine.biz

YOUR SYSTEM METAL AND PLASTIC ATEX FANS • Centrifugal & axial constructions

• Corrosion resistant plastic centrifugal

• Steel, stainless steel or aluminium centrifugal and axials available

Visit: www.axair-fans.co.uk Call: 01782 349 430 Email: sales@axair-fans.co.uk

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Product Spotlight

C-Innovation ROVs on track with Sonardyne SPRINT INS C-Innovation, an integrated marine services company whose core services and products evolve around ROVs within the oil and gas sector, has placed a major order for SPRINT Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) from Sonardyne International Ltd.

accelerometers with a 20+ year proven track record. The particular RLGs used are the standard inertial sensors supplied to almost all commercial aircraft and have also been widely used for military aircraft, vehicles and satellite navigation with a proven reliability track record.

SPRINT is an acoustically aided inertial navigation system for subsea vehicles and makes optimal use of acoustic aiding data from acoustic USBL and LBL positioning and other sensors such as Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) and pressure sensors. This improves position accuracy, precision, reliability and integrity while reducing operational time and vessel costs.

Malik Chibah, INS Group Manager at Sonardyne said, “As a unique manufacturer of USBL, LBL and now DVL systems whose data outputs are required for aiding of the inertial navigation solution running inside SPRINT, we were pleased to work with C-Innovation and Schilling Robotics to provide an INS system to match the specific operational requirements of their UHD ROVs.” He went on to say, “This SPRINT integrated system will provide the best possible guidance and automatic station keeping capability for the UHD ROV seamlessly at any point in the water column from near surface, down to the seabed.

Working closely with C-Innovation to understand their requirements when using Schilling’s UHD ROVs in their operations, SPRINT has been fully integrated into these ROVs, including the use of specialised Seanet connectors. This resulted in a tested, standardised configuration that supports a dedicated AHRS or INS output direct to the ROV with an automatic mode switch. A configuration that allows the system to be used as both a high performance AHRS for typical ROV guidance or as an INS that provides automatic station keeping capability for the ROV – both at the seafloor (using DVL aiding), and mid water (using USBL aiding). Dual output is a unique feature of SPRINT and further underlines Sonardyne’s understanding of C-Innovation’s and other customer’s specific requirements.

SPRINT uses Honeywell ring laser gyroscopes (RLG) and

TECDOS Omega Drive for maritime horizontal & vertical drive applications TECDOS conveyor & drive solutions for maritime applications have been designed to meet the increasing demand for drive solutions based on round steel link chains across the offshore industry. RUD’s TECDOS components and modules offer solutions for a wide variety of maritime applications for moving, pulling, lifting, telescoping, pivoting and swiveling.

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One of the latest developments is the TECDOS Omega drive, a tough drive used across a variety of offshore environments for horizontal and vertical drive applications. The drive is used to pull, push, pivot, swivel structures, beams or cranes.

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TECDOS Omega drives are easy to install, tolerates misalignment and heat elongation and does not produce reaction forces.

It is less prone to damage when used on ice, sand, heat or other challenging environments. The Omega drive has been used across the offshore industry for projects such as moving ship cranes, traversing a machine or tracking solar panels to the sun to name a few.

TECDOS drives are increasing popular across the offshore industry due to RUD’s highly wear resistant round steel chains that are used in the drives. They are extremely robust, offer three-dimensional mobility and provide a high resistance to corrosion due to the vigorous surface coating that is applied to the chain.

For the wind power and the offshore wind industry in particular, TECDOS chain solutions are used in applications such as wind blade production and wind blade installation. TECDOS has also been used for projects such as wind tower installations and maintenance.

RUD offer standard and bespoke solutions to meet even the most demanding project requirements.

For more information please call:

01227 276 611 Email: katie.crane@rud.co.uk or visit: www.rud.co.uk

Low emission natural gas I/P transducers meet new environmental regulations

Rotork Fairchild TXI7850 explosion proof I/P transducers have long been approved for and utilised in natural gas operated instrumentation systems. The explosion proof evaluation of these units by underwriting agencies such as FM, ATEX and CSA™, using standards covering a constant fuel gas presence, ensures safe and reliable operation in the field with compressed natural gas as the supply medium.

In the USA new government regulations require all pneumatic controllers at the

wellhead to have a maximum consumption of 6 SCFH (Standard Cubic Feet per Hour).

In Canada and other countries, carbon credits can provide economic incentives to utilise low emission products, so the challenge is to provide controllers which reduce or eliminate these fugitive emissions.

The new Rotork Fairchild TXI7850 series maximum consumption levels are 3.6 SCFH for the 3-15 psi output range unit and 5.5 SCFH for the 6-30 psi range unit. These rates are for natural gas as a media and applicable all the way to the highest pressure in each range (i.e. 15 psi and 30 psi respectively).

of regulators, boosters, I/P transducers and other products. Rotork Instruments can also provide fully approved switchboxes, positioners, solenoid valves and other actuation and severe service components to complete the automated flow control package.

Below: The new Rotork Fairchild TXI7850

Product Spotlight

Technology to develop new models which exceed recently released government requirements for allowable natural gas emissions.

As part of Rotork Instruments, Fairchild provides a complete range

Global Marine upgrades DXr1 digital x-ray camera software Global Marine Systems Limited has been working in collaboration with radiography specialists, JME Ltd, to update the software for its classleading DXr1 digital x-ray camera.

The DXr1 was first unveiled in 2013 to replace traditional film as a new standard for subsea cable repair capability.

The new software is the camera’s first upgrade, and means users will be able to x-ray not only the universal joint, but other jointing solutions too.

The DXr1 facilitates the digital capture of a cable joint during repairs, with real-time review as the x-ray images are taken.

As a process, it reduces the time and costs associated with image capture and assessment using traditional cable repair methods – it requires no film, chemicals or processing time.

To provide an indication of the savings on offer, the time needed to take one x-ray image is reduced from 15 seconds with film to 0.5 seconds using the DXr1, not including film processing time.

For a complete joint, the time from commencement of radiography to the start of the assessment is 2–2½ hours with conventional film and approximately 20 minutes using the DXr1. However, with the DXr1, assessment can start as soon as the first image is available, thus further reducing the overall time. What’s more, the DXr1 also enhances the quality, efficiency and record-keeping capability of the cable jointing assessment process.

The unbreakable lightness of bearing COMPAC propeller shaft bearings just do not break.

That is the conclusion from Carl, a Thordon Bearings’ service engineer who has devoted considerable time and energy attempting to smash one to pieces.

The two minute video footage, posted on YouTube®, shows the elastomeric polymer COMPAC bearing hitting the ground at considerable speed but the impact fails to cause any damage whatsoever.

“There you have it: strength, flexibility and durability.

We have been making bearings for 45 years so we know our stuff, he concluded.

Other types of propeller shaft bearings would be totally damaged and unusable if they endured impact forces far less than the ones we put our bearings through during tests.

This is one of the reasons why we can offer a 15-year bearing wear life on COMPAC seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearing systems.”

Craig Carter, Thordon Bearings Head of Marketing and Customer Services.

www.sosmagazine.biz

Carl’s latest exploit, caught on camera by a Cinema 16 crew filming at the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters, Hamilton, Ontario, sees the Thordon Bearings employee deliberately drop a COMPAC bearing 12m (40ft) above solid ground simply to “let it bounce on the concrete.

It’s the first time I have done this on purpose. Be prepared to have your mind blown,” he said.

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Product Spotlight

Davidsons Blast Services completes major contract with back deck specialist firm A dynamic Peterhead-based surface preparation and protective coatings company has completed a major contract with a leading back-deck solutions firm totalling a six figure sum.

Davidsons Blast Services (DBS), a family run business, undertook the project by applying the specialist service of blast cleaning and application of a three coat topside paint system on Maritime Development’s (MDL) 75-tonne Portable Vertical Lay system (PVLS) and multiple reel drive system (RDS).

All sections of the structures were meticulously prepared and coated in accordance with the customer’s bespoke

paint specification, which included coatings integrity testing verified by DBS’s in-house NACE qualified inspection team.

DBS consulted closely with the customer from initial brief to completed project to ensurethat both the PVLS and RDS were completed on time and within budget.

The firms experienced protective coatings team completed the project with zero safety incidents.

DBS’s uniquely designed blasting and painting facility based in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, afforded the ease of manoeuvrability of the PVLS and RDS structures as the blast hall and paint booths can accommodate any

structuretransportable by road.

The success of the protective coatings project was largely due to the climate controlled paint booths allowing quick turnaround times, methodical planning of the blasting and painting schedule affording no downtime lost and highly proficient coatings team ensuring DBS’s right-firsttime approach.

This 75-tonne PVLS system will support installation of risers and flowlines in a major North Sea Development throughout 2015/16, working as part of an integrated MDL spread consisting of a 4-track tensioner and 350-tonne multiple RDS, as well as horizontal and vertical deck deflectors.

Heating Group International retractable heaters Especially for the Oil & Gas Industry and for other chemical/highly corrosive environments, Heating Group International, developed a flange immersion heater with retractable elements in order to facilitate the replacement of the heating elements.

electrical insulation and a good mechanical resistance. The coils are manufactured using high temperature resistant wires and

are designed to transfer in the best way the heat to the metallic sheath and, finally, to the fluid. The heat is transferred to the sheath without requiring any conductive material.

The construction of this heater allows, in case of maintenance or inspection, to replace the internal heating elements without having to drain the system.

The heater consists of one or more heating elements. Each element consists of wire-wound resistances mounted in a ceramic body provided with the necessary grooves. The ceramic body insures a high

This type of heater shall be installed horizontally, at the bottom of the tank or of the basin. The maximum operating temperature is 90 °C.

www.sosmagazine.biz

HepcoMotion launches new low-cost range of Ball Bushings

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HepcoMotion’s new range of linear ball bushings combine competitive price with uncompromised quality.

Combined with Hepco’s precision linear shaft, our ball bushings provide a cost effective linear solution for a wide range of applications.

Hepco has always been well known as a ball bushing supplier, and this new range will appeal to existing customers and help develop new contacts within the engineering industry.

Although these products are common in the marketplace, customers regularly choose Hepco as a preferred supplier because they trust the product quality and customer service.

Very competitive pricing makes this new range exciting for the existing marketplace. Some of the key benefits include 5mm to 60mm sizes in European and Japanese metric sizes (International standard sizes allow interchangeability). Super ball bushings are high quality providing long service life, the increased

capacity reduces the size of bearing required.

Super ball bushings have a self-aligning feature. Standard Ball bushings are available as standard or extended length ball bushings for increased rigidity.

Ashtead Technology supplies equipment for scientific subsea expedition to explore US airship wreckage “Earlier explorations of the site in 1991 and 2006 photographed and identified the engines, fuel tanks, ovens, tires, and the four biplanes, all of which were still relatively intact, however with new advances in technology, we can help researchers delve deeper and gather more meaningful data from the site.”

Designed for long-range scouting, the airship crashed off the coast of California in 1935 when it was returning to the Moffett Federal Airfield following a successful exercise over the Channel Islands, Southern California. A storm caused extensive damage to the airship, control was lost and the USS Macon sank to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

“They were able to gain a better understanding of how long the wreckage will remain intact and document exactly what they encountered at the bottom of the ocean.”

The tragic incident led to the death of two crew members and ended the Navy’s quest to use airships as long-range scouts for the fleet.

The recent expedition was led by archaeologists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Underwater Archaeology Branch, and Ocean Exploration Trust to piece together a clearer map of the wreck site and to study how the remains of the airship were being consumed by the sea.

Ashtead provided subsea inspection equipment to study the wreckage and carry out an in-depth corrosion analysis on the aircraft to monitor deterioration.

The exploration team used Ashtead’s Polatrak Deep C Meter alongside the Ocean Exploration Trust’s Nautilus ROV to take a 360-degree video of the site, assess corrosion and measure how much sediment had built up since 1935.

“The aim of the mission was to monitor and preserve the wreck site to the best of our ability. The remains of the USS Macon will continue to deteriorate, but we want to continue to document its condition now and into the future. We’re really extending the life of the airship and documenting the past 80 years she spent under water, where the majority of her life has been spent,” said NOAA archaeologist Megan LickliterMundon.

Product Spotlight

Ashtead Technology, the global number one independent provider of subsea equipment rental, sales and services has been supporting attempts to explore the wreckage of the USS Macon, the United States Navy’s last flying aircraft.

“We already had a good understanding of how materials from older shipwrecks – wood, iron, copper alloys – react to their underwater environment. However, with 20th Century materials like aluminium alloys, we still haven’t quite figured out as a discipline how to best conserve the material, or how those materials react with their environment and with other materials.

This was an opportunity to learn through the samples that we collected about the rate of corrosion and how to best help preserve them going forward.

“There are great environmental challenges associated at 1,400 feet below the sea surface and without the help from Ashtead, we wouldn’t have been able to preserve and document artefacts for future generations.”

Formed in 1985, Ashtead Technology employs 84 people in Aberdeen, London, Houston and Singapore with agents in Abu Dhabi, Perth (Australia) and Stavanger.

Top right: Sparrowhawk center section and trapeze hook.

Below: USS Macon mooring receptacle assembly.

The specialist technology supplied by Ashtead included a Polatrak Deep C Meter 3000, which allowed researchers to measure the gradual corrosion of the aluminium materials and sample the conditions for metallurgical study.

The 12 hour expedition, which was broadcast live online, revealed that the wreckage is corroding faster than expected. www.sosmagazine.biz

Chris Echols, Vice President of Ashtead Technology in Houston said: “It’s been an honour to help answer some of the questions that have surrounded the tragedy and have been able to build up an accurate picture of the USS Macon and its current state.

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Complete design Microturbine Technology & build Explosion that’s perfect for both manned Protection Systems and unmanned for Hazardous platforms Areas

• Full compliance to ATEX Directive 94/9EC • Full compliance to CEN Standard EN1834-1:2000

Providing Make Safe technological solutions for the ever increasing demand for assured certified equipment operating in potentially Hazardous Areas. www.turner-eps.co.uk

A-Z Directory Page 17

AEL Electrical

Tel +44 (0)1224 899133

Website. www.ael-electrical.co.uk

Page 49

Ashtead Technology

Tel +44 (0)1224 771888

Website. www.ashtead-technology.com

Page 37

Page 25 Page 8

Asset Guardian Solutions Ltd Atlantas Marine

AVEVA

Page 45

Axair Fans UK Ltd

Page 11

Belleville Springs Ltd

Page 36 Page 48 Page 43 Page 10 Page 41 Page 28

Page 9 Page 8

Axflow Davidsons Blast Services E2S Warning Signals

Equalizer International Ltd Falck Safety

Flowserve Flowtechnik FoundOcean

Page 47

Global Marine

Page 5

LEAA

Page 48

HepcoMotion

Page 37

Lee Products

Page 18

Lux Assure

Page 40 Page 33 Page 43 Page 9

Lucion Environmental

Magnetrol Ltd Moflash Signalling

OPITO

Page 11

Optimus 7th Generation

Page 14

Penspen

Page 34 Page 19 Page 15 Page 39 Page 13 Page 18 Page 26 Page 43 Page 22 Page 30 Page 23 Page 47 Page 26

Page 29 Page 11 Page 25

Pacson Valves Pioneer Oil Tools Ltd QMI Scotland Quickits Ltd RUD Chains Smith Flow Control Ltd Sonardyne International

STS Safety Trolley Sys

Subsea 7 Technip The Underwater Centre

Thorndon Bearings TSC Inspection Systems

TWI Services

Valley Springs

Zetechtics Ltd

Tel +44 (0)1394 462120 Tel +44(0)1506 597913

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Regional Focus (Gt. Yarmouth) Subsea Equipment Safety Equipment & Fire Protection Hydraulic & Pneumatic Equipment Training & Certification

Website. www.assetguardian.com

Website. www.atlantasmarine.com Website. www.aveva.com

Website. www.axair-fans.co.uk Website. www.axflow.com

Website. www.bellevillesprings.com

Website. www.davidsonsblastservices.co.uk Website. www.e2s.com

Website. www.equalizerinternational.com Website. www.falcksafety.com/uk Website. www.flowserve.com

Website. www.ukflowtechnik.com Website. www.foundocean.com

Website. www.globalmarinesystems.com Website. www.hepcomotion.com Website. www.leea.com

Website. www.leeproducts.co.uk Website. www.lucion.co.uk

Website. www.luxassure.com

Website. www.magnetrol.co.uk Website. www.moflash.co.uk Website. www.opito.com

Website. www.optimus-she.com Website. www.pacson.co.uk

Website. www.penspen.com

Website. www.pioneeroiltools.com

Website. www.qmi-scotland.co.uk

Website. www.quickits-online.co.uk Website. www.rud.co.uk

Website. www.smithflowcontrol.com Website. www.sonardyne.com

Website. www.sts-trolleys.co.uk Website. www.subsea7.com Website. www.technip.com

Website. www.theunderwatercentre.com Website. www.thorndonbearings.com

Website. www.tscinspectionsystems.com Website. www.twitraining.com

Website. www.valleyspring.com Website. www.zetechtics.com

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Coming in DECEMBER’S issue of SOS Magazine...

Website. www.amarinth.com

A-Z Directory

Page 12

Amarinth

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 51