Subsea Uk News June 2014 Issue

SUBSEA UK NEWS THE MAGAZINE FROM SUBSEA UK WWW.SUBSEAUK.COM JUNE 2014

GLOBAL

IN THIS ISSUE In-depth: Interview with Bibby Offshore Subsea News and Events Worldwide Highlighting New Technologies and Innovation

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FOREWORD

Welcome to this edition of Subsea UK News.

International events are a key part of our sector and remain a strong driver for new business. These events provide a platform for our members to meet with key decision makers within overseas markets, while exchanging ideas and exploring new business opportunities. With the global subsea market now worth over £20 billion, the need has never been greater for UK companies to capitalise on what attendance can bring.

June marks the 4th annual Subsea Asia conference in Kuala Lumpur and we will once again lead a delegation of member companies looking to expand into this market. With an ever increasing demand within the Asian Oil and Gas industry for deepwater exploration, the event draws together companies from countries within the key markets of the UK, the USA and Australasia.

Operators in the region have announced that they expect to invest upwards of £10 billion on the subsea umbilical risers and flowlines (SURF) market by 2017; Malaysia and Indonesia are regarded as the primary focus countries for operators. Indeed with SURF Capex for each country totalling £4.1 billion and £3.8 billion for each country respectively, there is considerable scope for the British subsea sector to expand.

From our perspective, the subsea market can be split into four; Brazil, Australasia, the UK and the Gulf of Mexico. Given each market has a considerable amount of subsea infrastructure in place, British capabilities are being utilised on a daily basis.

Our sector accounts for almost half of the global market, with revenues of £8.9 billion. We must continue to build our international profile, highlighting our world-leading skills base and expertise developed from decades in the North Sea. It is at international events including Subsea Asia and Subsea Tieback Forum in San Antonio, that our members can showcase the very best of what we have to offer.

In this issue we’ll look at how companies such as Quick Hydraulics are tackling the sector’s skills shortages, recognise the talent of the latest Queen’s Awards recipients, and speak to Bibby Offshore’s Chief Executive Howard Woodcock who discusses what winning the Subsea UK Business Award has meant to the company and their future expansion plans.

Subsea UK Subsea UK News, produced by Subsea UK, reaches over 15,000 subsea-affiliated people each issue.

Subsea UK is the champion for the UK subsea industry. We act for the entire supply chain bringing together operators, contractors, suppliers and people in the industry.

With some 53,000 employees, worth almost £8.9 billion in services and products and with over 750 companies, the UK subsea industry sector leads the world in experience, innovation and technology. The UK will maintain a leading technological edge by sustaining and expanding this important business sector.

Whether you are a company looking to join and reap the benefits or an individual looking to develop your career in the subsea industry, explore our website or contact us to find out how Subsea UK can help you, your business and your industry.

Find out more at www.subseauk.com

New Members APSYS Risk Engineering Ltd AVENTA BAE Systems Integrated Systems Technologies Limited Cadherent Limited Cansco Subsea CGI Ltd Deep Blue Engineering UK Ltd East Coast Oil & Gas Engineering EC Hopkins Ltd European Circuits Ltd ITC Hydraulic Services Ltd

To view the full Subsea UK members list, visit the Subsea UK Directory at www.subseauk.com

Forthcoming Events June 2014

Subsea UK’s Parliamentary Reception - London, UK 25 June 2014

August 2014

Lunch and Learn with One Subsea - Aberdeen, UK 21 August 2014 Subsea UK’s Challenge Cup (Golf Day) - Aberdeen, UK 22 August 2014

Neil Gordon Chief Executive, Subsea UK

Magma Global Ltd Motive Offshore Services Ltd National Lift Tower Norway2UK Oceanscan SAFER Training (Scotland) Ltd Savante Subsea Lasers SeaVex ExcaVation Solutions, Red7Marine Offshore Ltd Tecpro Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Utility ROV Services Ltd Weston Compliance Services Ltd

ROV Conference - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 19 September 2014

October 2014

Subsea UK’s Networking Dinner at DOT - Aberdeen, UK 15 October 2014

February 2015

Subsea Expo 2015 - Aberdeen, UK 11-13 February 2015

September 2014

March 2015

Rio Oil and Gas Expo 2014 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 15-18 September 2014

November 2015

ROV Conference and Networking Dinner - Aberdeen, UK 3-4 September 2014

Subsea Tieback Forum and Exhibition - New Orleans, USA 3-5 March 2015 Subsea Asia 2015 - Jakarta, Indonesia 4-7 November 2015

These are some of Subsea UK’s events but please visit our website for full details of all forthcoming events www.subseauk.com

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BUSINESS

Alasdair Murrie, SeaBotix and Tim Sheehan, Ashtead Technology

Ashtead Technology Secures Distributor Agreement with SeaBotix Leading international subsea equipment specialist, Ashtead Technology, has secured a distributor agreement with SeaBotix Inc. for the sale and rental of its miniROV systems.

The agreement with SeaBotix, the worldleading manufacturer of miniROV systems includes sales representation in the UK, Gulf of Mexico and Mexico, and dedicated after sales support and the provision of product training from Ashtead’s facilities in Aberdeen and Houston.

As part of the agreement Ashtead has been appointed as the exclusive global rental agent for SeaBotix systems, and has invested in SeaBotix vLBV300 and LBV150-4 systems for both rental and demonstration purposes.

The vLBV300 is the latest in highly capable vectored ROVs. Weighing only 40lbs, the vLBV300 features powerful, variable, vector thruster configuration, optimised mechanical design, a flexible and stable platform, a strong ultra-low drag tether and an intuitive control system. The entire system is easily transportable and can be quickly configured and deployed. These features make the ROV ideal for offshore inspection work, near-shore survey and environmental monitoring.

The streamlined LBV150-4 inshore miniROV which is 150m depth rated, comes complete with a 150m tether on a hand reel and an

state-of-the-art subsea equipment on both a sale and rental basis.

integrated control console providing a well-rounded system that is simple to setup and operate.

Ashtead Technology’s commercial director, Tim Sheehan, said:

“ With the new technology and increased reliability, the demand for miniROVs for inspection and monitoring is on the increase.

We aim to supply clients with the most reliable and up to date equipment and this agreement with SeaBotix reinforces our position at the forefront of the market, offering our customers the very latest technology on a sale or rental basis.”

Alasdair Murrie, vice president of sales at SeaBotix added: “The entire SeaBotix team is really excited about this partnership and its potential. Both SeaBotix and Ashtead have experienced fantastic growth recently due to quality of product and a focus on service excellence. In partnership we will pursue our common goal of a global presence supported locally, thus providing SeaBotix customers with the best possible equipment, service and training support.”

The deal is the latest in a number of contracts with niche product suppliers to further secure Ashtead’s position as a leading provider of

Subsea UK News | June 2014

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BUSINESS

Tax Incentives for the Subsea Sector

By David Dowell, Senior Tax Manager, Johnston Carmichael

Innovation is a common theme in the subsea sector and the good news is that the UK Treasury is supporting companies undertaking research & development (R&D) with tax relief for qualifying expenditure.

This can be given as a deduction against profits, or if a business is in the start up phase and loss making, this can take the form of a useful cash refund.

So what is potentially available? For an SME, spending £100,000 of its own money on qualifying R&D, it would be able to offset 225% of the cost against its profits. This results in a tax deduction of £225,000 and tax saved of £45,000. If a business does not make profit in the year, it may be able to claim a cash refund. On £100,000 of expenditure this would amount to a refund of £11,000 assuming that it has paid sufficient PAYE & NI during the year.

Subsea UK member Paddy Collins, CEO of Aubin, commented: “We devote around 25% of our workforce to developing chemistry based engineering solutions for the global oil & gas sector. The availability of R&D tax credits is welcome and makes the UK a good place to base our research activities.”

HMRC’s statistics for 2012 showed just under 10,000 SMEs made an R&D claim, with the average claim resulting in tax savings of £43,000.

R&D for tax purposes takes place when a project seeks to achieve an advance in science or technology, resulting in an advancement in the industry’s overall knowledge or capabilities (not pertaining to only one

company). This includes adaptations from other fields of science or technology.

Eligible costs include staff salaries, national insurance contributions and pension costs, testing costs, overheads such as heat and light and also some subcontracted costs.

Ryan Strachan, CFO of SPEX, a member of Subsea UK, added: “Since forming SPEX in 2009 we have rapidly

developed as a specialised service provider and innovator of energetic products. At our innovation centre in Aberdeen, we undertake R&D activities for new proprietary SPEX solutions, also working with our clients to progress their innovations. R&D tax credits are therefore an important aspect of our business which help reduce the overall cost of projects and assist with cash flow.”

Johnston Carmichael has been helping businesses make R&D claims and over the last four years has achieved tax savings of £30m. With Subsea UK reporting that the sector is set to increase by 20% between 2013 and 2016, this means that there are a multitude of new and growing companies who should be able to take advantage of R&D tax credits.

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BUSINESS

FPS Expenditure to Total $99bn Over 2014-2018 Period 30

Africa Asia Australasia Eastern Europe & FSU Latin America Middle East North America Western Europe Global orders by year

Expenditure ($Billions)

25 20 15 10 5 0

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Figure 1: Global FPS Installation Capex by Region 2009-2018 Source: Douglas-Westwood

Douglas-Westwood forecasts that between 2014 and 2018, $99bn will be spent on floating production systems (FPS) – an increase of 138% over the preceding five-year period.

A total of 139 floating production units are forecast to be installed – a 72% increase.

This growth is driven by multiple factors, such as a larger proportion of newbuilds and conversions compared to redeployments, a greater degree of local content resulting in increased costs and general offshore industry cost inflation.

The slight dip in global orders in 2018 is due to restricted visibility of future projects.

FPSOs are to remain the most common FPS concept. FPSOs represent by far the largest segment of the market in terms of numbers (111 installations) and account for 80% of the forecast capital expenditure (Capex). FPSSs account for the second largest segment of Capex (9%) with TLPs third (8%). Although the smallest segment, Spars have a forecast Capex of $2.9bn (3% of the total forecast Capex).

The forecast period highlights the increase in TLP installations and Capex compared to the previous five-years. Thirteen TLPs with a total Capex of $7.6bn are expected to be installed whilst only one unit was installed between 2009 and 2013.

Latin America accounts for 29% of the 139 installations forecast and 38% of the projected Capex, with the majority of these installations being FPSOs. The disparity between the two figures is due to Latin America

having higher than average capital costs compared to other regions due to Brazil’s higher proportion of expensive deepwater projects.

Africa is the second largest region, with a forecast Capex of $18.9bn (19%). Like Latin America, a large proportion of the African installations will take place in deepwater.

Although Asia has more installations (28) forecast than Africa (27), it is due to account for only $14.7bn, a smaller proportion of global Capex (nearly 15%). This is due to the majority being located in relatively shallow water and benign environments, requiring more straightforward FPS designs, sourced from converted vessels which are usually cheaper than newbuilds. However, the number of deepwater projects in this region is likely to increase over the forecast period as shallow water basins reach maturity and as a result, an increasing proportion of newbuilds are planned, a consequence of the complexity of deepwater developments.

Although a predominantly shallow water region where fixed platforms are utilised, Western Europe is expected to see a respectable number (21) of FPS installations over the next five years. Some of these projects revolve around the rejuvenation of mature producing areas.

Subsea UK News | June 2014

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BUSINESS

New GE-Angola Joint Venture Delivers First Major Subsea Equipment Order GE Oil & Gas recently announced the first major equipment delivery by its Subsea Systems business, for a major operator, under a contract established by its Angolan joint venture (JV), GE-GLS Oil & Gas Angola Limited.

A primarily localised workforce assembled the first of 16 subsea production trees, destined for a development in the Atlantic Ocean, located in one of the first tranches of deepwater acreage offered by the Angolan government. The base scope of work includes a further 15 subsea production trees, 12 water injection trees, two water injection manifolds, four production manifolds, topside upgrades and associated equipment.

Neto, president and CEO of GLS Holding, S.A. and vice president of the JV. “We announced our intentions to further support the development of Angola’s growing oil and gas industry and, after only a year, are proving our commitment to the country’s ‘Made in Angola’ pledge. Setting up in-country has significantly improved our speed-to-market, allowing us to execute on critical project deliverables in a timely fashion.”

The delivery brought together a talented team from across GE Oil & Gas’ facilities in the UK, Norway, Angola and USA. The technology was designed and manufactured across various global subsea locations before being assembled locally in Angola, with the combination of proven, innovative technology - coupled with a skilled local workforce – facilitating the prompt delivery of quality products.

Due largely to its offshore energy resources, Angola has undergone rapid transformation and economic growth in recent years, experiencing increased exploration and development activity over the last decade, making it one of the largest producers of crude oil in Africa.

“This initial achievement is evidence of the successful partnership enabled by GE-GLS Oil & Gas Angola Limited,” said Dr. Eugenio

The JV was set up to better support the country’s rapidly growing oil & gas sector, bringing new manufacturing and industrial technologies to Angola, while creating hundreds of direct and indirect jobs. GE Oil & Gas has also invested significantly in

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Subsea UK News | February 2014

developing local expertise and capability, with Angolan nationals trained at GE’s UK-based Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for subsea systems, controls and systems engineering.

Originally announced in January 2013, the JV includes an initial investment of US$175 million to build a new manufacturing facility in Soyo, in the province of Zaire, which will supply subsea equipment to the oil and gas industry in Angola. This first subsea production tree to be delivered under the JV was assembled at GE Oil & Gas’ existing site inside the Sonils Base at the Port of Luanda.

GE has been active in Angola since the late 1950s, supporting the development of the national oil industry. Earlier in 2012, GE Oil & Gas also signed an agreement with Angola LNG, operator of one of the world’s most modern LNG and processing facilities, for processing liquefied natural gas (LNG). GE also is a major supplier of gas turbines and compressors for the Angolan offshore energy sector.

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BUSINESS

Wood Group Delivers Engineering Services for Vital Subsea Well Control Project Wood Group is proud to have delivered engineering support to the Subsea Well Response Project (SWRP), a joint industry project to further improve the prevention of, and response to, subsea well-control incidents.

Contracted by Shell, on behalf of the SWRP team, Wood Group Kenny (WGK) led the way, and drew on the expertise of Wood Group Mustang and Wood Group PSN.

Group Mustang performed the design of the topsides process system and the surface equipment package management and assisted the SWRP with various aspects of HSE management.

The energy services company has been supporting the project since 2012, and will continue to do so until December 2014.

Wood Group PSN, through its consultancy business Wood Group ODL, supported the SWRP by defining and mapping the subsea well containment guidelines, coordinating the technical development and review of these documents, and providing technical authoring and electronic publishing support.

The true value of the multi-million pound contract is the involvement in such an important industry project improving subsea well control incident intervention capabilities, according to WGK CEO, Steve Wayman.

Mr Wayman said:

“ Nine major oil companies have demonstrated their commitment to discover technological advances, increase safety and minimise the environmental impact in the event of a serious subsea well control incident; it’s an honour for Wood Group to be involved.”

WGK has delivered the engineering design of subsea equipment, design verification of well testing & topside equipment and development of Subsea Well Containment Guidelines for the further engineering study (FES) phase of the project. Parallel to this, Wood

The SWRP is a non-profit joint initiative between nine major oil and gas companies and was set up in 2011 on the recommendation of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP). Following recent oil spill incidents, OGP created a dedicated Global Industry Response Group (GIRG), to examine and improve the industry’s capacity to prevent and respond to subsea well-control incidents.

The SWRP, led by GIRG, is one part of the industry’s efforts to take forward these recommendations.

Throughout the FES phase of the project, WGK has supported the SWRP team to develop and prove concepts that are outside normal operating modes. The equipment & well containment guidelines developed as a result will form the backbone of the well owner’s planning and response capability.

Wood Group will continue to provide engineering support to deliver the completed solution and ‘know how’ of the system to enable operators to become familiar with containment equipment’s functional and logistical requirements.

Subsea UK News | June 2014

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BUSINESS

Aker Solutions Wins Contract to Deliver Subsea Production System for Total’s Kaombo Development in Angola Aker Solutions recently won a contract worth NOK 14 billion from Total to provide a subsea production system for the Kaombo Block 32 development in Angola.

Aker Solutions will deliver 20 subsea manifolds and 65 vertical subsea wellsets. The order also includes associated controls as well as workover and tie-in systems. The first deliveries are scheduled for the second quarter of 2015.

“This is a landmark contract and further strengthens an important relationship with a key partner,” said Øyvind Eriksen, executive chairman of Aker Solutions. “It’s a significant commercial achievement for our subsea business as well as an important strategic development in our expansion in Angola and the broader region.”

Kaombo, one of the world’s largest subsea developments, is located in block 32 about 150 kilometres off the coast of Angola.

Aker Solutions is committed to developing local content and project execution capabilities in Angola, where it employs about 130 people.

The company has set up a joint venture with Prodiaman Oil Services Lda, an Angolan company that will execute local content activities related to this and other future Aker Solutions subsea projects in Angola.

Aker Solutions has been in Angola since 1999.

“ I am delighted to be part of this significant project with Aker Solutions for Total,” said Prodiaman’s president Pedro Godinho. “I look forward to seeing that this project makes significant contributions to the education system through knowledge transfer and job creation in a high-tech industry, all for the benefit of Angola.”

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GROWTH

GE Oil & Gas Unveils Newcastle Manufacturing and Storage Facility Following £15m Expansion Project The new GE Oil & Gas facility was officially opened on April 3, showcasing the site’s enhanced capabilities.

GE Oil & Gas welcomed VIP guests, including local MP, Nick Brown, to its Newcastle-based subsea manufacturing and storage facility recently, for the formal opening of the newly expanded site; the result of a £15m investment. The expansion, which has increased the business’ capacity and capabilities, has also led to the creation of more than 150 new jobs.

As part of the expansion, the site has added two 26m diameter, 3000-tonne manufacturing and storage carousels to its existing 2,000-tonne capacity, enabling GE to better meet the growing number of deep-water developments worldwide, and rising demand for larger diameter pipelines that are specifically designed for higher pressure wells.

MP Mr Brown said:

“ The manufacturing industry plays a critical role in this country, underpinning our economic activity.

We have a long history of manufacturing in the North East and, as a region, have made a name for ourselves as being at the forefront of technological advancement. The expansion project that has recently taken place at GE Oil & Gas’ Newcastle facility is a prime example of this.”

(L-R): Mark Elborne, GE President & CEO, UK & Ireland; Bruce Heppenstall, Newcastle Site Leader, GE Oil & Gas; Nick Brown, MP.

Mark Elborne, GE President & CEO, UK & Ireland, and the Newcastle Site Leader, Bruce Heppenstall, provided a tour of the plant to local dignitaries as well as suppliers and contractors involved in the development of the facility.

Mr Elborne said: “The global demand for energy is continually on the rise, with oil and gas developments becoming increasingly complex, challenging and expensive. New ways of thinking and the provision of ever-more advanced technologies are key considerations for those companies wishing to grow and secure their future in this innovative industry. This is another example of GE investment into the UK, which has already proven to be an important contributor to the local economy, through the creation of new jobs across the region and which will also contribute to the UK’s growing exports.”

Part of a £15m investment, the facility has installed two new carousels, used for the manufacture and storage of larger diameter flexible pipes which will be deployed across subsea projects around the world.

Subsea UK News | June 2014

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GROWTH

HTL Quadruples its Corporate Headquarters HTL are proud to announce that they have acquired a substantially larger facility based in Nelson Park Industrial Estate, Cramlington, Northumberland to become the company’s new Corporate Headquarters.

The company, which was established in 1994, stock one of the largest rental fleets of Premium Quality Controlled Bolting Equipment in Europe, servicing both the UK and Global customer base.

Stephen Jones, Managing Director of HTL comments:

“ We started out in premises the size of a double garage with two employees and now have over 50 staff across three UK facilities in Manchester, Aberdeen and Cramlington.”

Traditionally HTL have been an extremely successful Distributor of Controlled Bolting Equipment and related products. The company has ambitious aspirations for continued growth and it was recognised that the primary route for growth was to become an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). By bringing together decades of knowledge and unrivalled bolting expertise gained over the years, HTL have designed,

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Subsea UK News | June 2014

developed, manufactured and assembled their own range of Hydraulic Torque Wrenches which are manufactured in the UK and exported Worldwide. The HTL 3 in 1 Hydraulic Torque Wrench is very versatile due to its compatibility with all major wrench manufacturer’s links.

In order to maintain their development and growth HTL have recently appointed Agents and Distributors across the globe to distribute their fantastic range of Tooling.

The company’s growth, success and journey to becoming a true global supplier was recently recognised through the North East Exporters Awards, where HTL have been shortlisted in the ‘New Exporter’ category.

GROWTH

New Singapore Venture for Sheffield Forgemasters Sheffield Forgemasters International Limited (SFIL) has opened a new office in Singapore to further expand and diversify its manufacturing and engineering contribution to the offshore oil and gas and subsea sectors.

Sheffield Forgemasters Singapore Pte Ltd will operate from the International Business Park located between the Central Business District and the offshore and marine fabricators situated in Jurong.

The new venture will service customers in Singapore, neighbouring Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and the wider Asia Pacific region, providing a link to manufacturing capabilities in Sheffield. It will also offer expert technical advice, design and engineering consultancy from SFIL’s offshore market subsidiary, Vulcan SFM and research arm, RD 26 Ltd. Dr Graham Honeyman, SFIL chief executive, said: “Our presence in Singapore, along with our offices in Europe and the US, will enable us to deliver integrated advice, products and services directly to clients across Asia and further afield into Australasia. This will improve our coverage of these increasingly demanding markets, giving us the opportunity to work even closer with our key clients, and new clients, here.”

Singaporean Clive Pour becomes business development director and will drive the venture in finding new ways to contribute to the burgeoning expansion of oil and gas and subsea opportunities in the region.

Former SFIL apprentice Daviyd Franckeiss will join Clive as manufacturing engineer providing an in-depth knowledge of the

Forgemasters in Singapore - MD of the Forgings Division Gareth Barker, Neil Maskrey, Vulcan SFM Paul Mockford, SFIL Dr Graham Honeyman, Vulcan SFM Ian Nicholls, Clive Pour and Daviyd Franckeiss at the Singapore PTE Ltd launch event.

Sheffield operation during the start-up period. Secondments of specialised personnel will help establish Sheffield Forgemasters Singapore Pte Ltd as an effective design and technology provider to the increasingly respected subsea technology community.

SFIL’s research and development subsidiary RD26 will also recruit a graduate from a Singaporean university to enhance the team.

The launch event at Raffles was attended by VIP guests representing important SFIL clients in Singapore including Saipem, Sumitomo, Outokumpu and Premier Hytemp.

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Subsea UK News | February 2014

13

ACHIEVEMENTS

Second Queen’s Award for the Online Electronics Group Online Electronics Limited of Aberdeen, the parent company of business units in Houston, Dubai, Singapore, Perth W.A. and specialist Online Valves Limited, has been awarded the most prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2014 for achieving outstanding results in International Trade.

Founded in 1996 and now with 50 employees, Online Electronics designs and manufactures pipeline pig monitoring, pipeline data communication and logging systems. It has won the Queen’s Award 2014 International Trade for sustained growth in overseas export earnings over the last five years, entering 30 new markets in the period.

Managing Director Brian Gribble commented: “Receiving the Queen’s Award for the second time is a great honour and an incredible achievement, made possible by the professional standard of work delivered by all of our staff in Aberdeen, and across all of our overseas business units.”

Dave Sim, Director, Online Valves Ltd, and Brian Gribble (right) Online Electronics Group, Managing Director

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Subsea UK News | June 2014

ACHIEVEMENTS

Subsea Work Aids International Trade Accolade for Valve Specialist Severn Glocon Group, parent company of small bore subsea valve specialist LB Bentley and Severn Subsea Technologies, has been awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, International Trade for the second time in four years.

The award recognises the British manufacturer’s three year trajectory of continuous growth in overseas sales. Between 2010 and 2012 international trade increased by 120 per cent and now represents 68 per cent of total Group turnover.

Growth was accelerated by strategic acquisitions of UK firms, including LB Bentley, within the three year timeframe. Diversifying into subsea enhances the scope of the Group’s British engineering and manufacturing capabilities for the global oil and gas industry. It underlines the firm’s commitment to support the upstream industry with intelligenceled engineering as topside applications are increasingly relocated to the seabed.

New developments in Australia, China, Brazil, India and Iraq were instrumental in the award win.

Established markets such as the Middle East also played a major role in an overall uplift in international sales.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Bibby Offshore: Company of the Year Last year marked the 10th anniversary of Bibby Offshore, the oil and gas subsidiary of Bibby Line Group. In the last decade, the business has grown from 10 employees to 1,300 people both onshore and offshore worldwide. With offices in Aberdeen, Newcastle, Liverpool, Singapore, Houston and Trinidad, Bibby Offshore has expanded its international fleet to include eight subsea support vessels and 15 Remote Operating Vehicles, and continues to look to further expansion as demand dictates.

Bibby Offshore certainly began their next decade of operations successfully; in February it was named Company of the Year at the Subsea UK Business Awards. The prestigious award recognises excellence in overall company performance in the sector, taking into account both previous performance and plans for future success and growth, both within the UK and internationally.

“The award is excellent recognition for the continued growth and achievements the company has experienced over the past 10 years,” says Howard Woodcock, Bibby Offshore’s Chief Executive. “To win a highly respected industry award is encouraging, particularly given that we are a relatively new division.”

As part of the company’s continuing global growth strategy, it recently opened a new division and international base in Houston.

The Singapore office also secured significant contracts with Brunei Shell Petroleum further highlighting the impressive international successes the company is experiencing.

Closer to home, Bibby Offshore was awarded a £40 million contract with Centrica Energy for inspection, repair & maintenance work, the largest contract of its type ever awarded by the firm. The fleet has also been considerably expanded, with the addition of the Olympic Ares construction support vessel, the EDT

The Hangar

Jane, Mermaid Endurer and a further two ROVs. “The long term charter agreement with Olympic Shipping for the newly built vessel is a significant investment as we look to build up a comprehensive range of assets which we can tailor to the specific requirements of our clients,” explains Woodcock. “Initially the vessel will carry out North Sea IRM scopes, supported by our skilled and dedicated team offshore to provide full IRM activities, pipeline and structural inspection and light construction support, which will be supported by our experienced onshore team.”

The EDT Jane is a dedicated remotely operated vehicle support vessel with full survey and inspection spread has a mixed fleet of work-class and observation class ROVs installed onboard by Bibby Remote Intervention Limited (BRIL).

“Again, the continued growth of both Bibby Offshore and BRIL, means that a state of the

FEATURE ARTICLE art ROV support vessel is required to deliver on our contracted subsea commitments, as well as to deal with the increased market demand for the full suite of survey and inspection, repair and maintenance that this vessel can provide,” says Woodcock.

EDT Jane

The company’s continued expansion was reflected in the building of a new multimillion pound purpose built headquarters, Atmosphere One, to accommodate the ever growing workforce.

Alongside the new headquarters in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, the firm has developed their workshop space. The Hangar boasts storage, workshops, warehouse, office space, a yard and maintenance facilities. With dedicated workshops for a number of the firm’s various specialties including fabrication, hydraulics, electronics, dive hats and diver umbilicals, The Hangar allows Bibby Offshore to have full control of these functions, which was previously outsourced to third party suppliers.

“ The award is excellent recognition for the continued growth and achievements the company has experienced over the past 10 years.”

Howard Woodcoc k, Bibby Offshore’s Chief Executive

SUBSEA UK 2014 COMPANY OF THE YEAR

1,300

It isn’t just the fleet that Bibby Offshore is looking at developing. The company is dedicated to ensuring that the workforce continues to grow and its Professional Development Scheme was recently accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

EMPLOYEES

8

“The accreditation means that the scheme has the recognition required to work towards the wider development of Incorporated Engineers (IEng), and Chartered Engineers (CEng),” says Woodcock. “As part of the accreditation assessment, the assessment panel highlighted the level of senior management support, the technical and personal support and praised the way the scheme is developing through the feedback of those participating.”

As the company enters its next decade of operations, bolstered by an industry win and an ever expanding fleet, Woodcock is understandably positive about what the future holds.

“ Bibby Offshore has achieved much in only 10 years,” he says. “Rather than resting on our laurels however, our achievements, capped off by the award win, only spur us on to achieve more.”

Bibby Polaris

SUBSEA SUPPORT VESSELS

6 15

OFFICES WORLDWIDE REMOTE OPERATING VEHICLES

ACHIEVEMENTS

Aquatic Celebrates 40 Years in North Sea Aquatic Engineering and Construction Ltd, an Acteon company, celebrated its 40-year anniversary of operating in the North Sea with a celebratory event held onboard the grand Gulden Leeuw three-masted tall ship situated at Aberdeen Harbour recently.

Guests competed in a rope pulling competition on the vessel’s deck, and a press conference and a discussion outlined Aquatic’s place in the evolution of the oil industry over the past 40 years.

flow of oil by pushing a gold-plated button in BP’s control centre in Aberdeen. Between 1973 and 1974, OPEC vastly increased world oil prices, ensuring production costs in the North Sea were viable, and the industry in this region is considered a major industrial achievement of the 20th century.

The challenges inherent in operating in the North Sea continue to drive industry innovations in offshore engineering capabilities. An example is the unique, world-class solution added to the Aquatic inventory, the 1500te modular carousel (AQCS-01) designed in Scotland and mobilised for a Kreuz Subsea project in Singapore.

Topics included the company’s activity in the development of the first UK northern North Sea oilfield, the Argyll. Aquatic was founded

by Texan-born Pat Tesson, a pioneer in the development of a powered reel system for spooling steel pipe and flexibles, who established the company in Aberdeen in 1974.

In 1975, HM Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated the

Following the presentation, senior Aquatic representatives Chris Brooks, group president; David Tibbetts, VP technology; Jenny Bamford, VP commercial; and Colin Barry, VP finance, highlighted future growth opportunities for subsea services locally and in new and emerging markets.

OMS Wins Queen’s Award for Innovation for its SmartFit™ System Oil & gas pipe measurement specialist Optical Metrology Services (OMS) is proud to announce that it has won the coveted 2014 Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category for its SmartFit™ service, a system for managing pipe preparation and fit-up in readiness for welding prior to pipe laying.

Used in the oil & gas industries, SmartFit™ ensures accurate fitment of pipes prior to welding and laying in trenches, thus preventing environmentally damaging leaks. Whilst innovating this service, OMS developed bespoke laser measuring equipment and methodologies with supporting software, for optimising pipe fit-up. The service reduces costs through faster pipe laying and improves quality by eliminating mismatched pipe ends.

Hugh Davies, Client Solutions Director at OMS comments:

“ Everyone at OMS is honoured to receive this Award because innovation has always been a priority here and a cornerstone of this company’s growth and financial success over the years.

Innovation is something that the UK excels at and so the competition for the Queen’s Award must have been intense.”

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Subsea UK News | June 2014

Gulden Leeuw

ACHIEVEMENTS

Alco Valves Wins Queen’s Award for International Trade

Alco Valves Group, the West Yorkshire based valve manufacturer, is proud to announce it has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. The Group has received the award in the International Trade category for 2014, which recognises the Group’s outstanding export performance and demonstrates the sustainable growth achieved over the past three years.

Alco’s subsea products have become synonymous with quality and reliability around the world and as such the Group has become a trusted partner for many in the oil, gas and subsea industries throughout the world.

Stuart Lomax, Alco Group’s Managing Director & Chairman said:

“ On behalf of all at Alco Valves Group, we are very proud to win such a highly prestigious award; it is a real honour and well-deserved recognition of our team’s abilities and ongoing efforts.”

SAFETY

A Sea Change in Marine Environmental Protection ROCOL®, specialists in wire rope lubricants, explain the impact of new legislation protecting marine life in the US. As a direct oil-to-sea interface, wire ropes and umbilicals are required under the new VGP requirements to be Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs).

December 2013 saw the introduction of a new regulation in the US designed to protect marine life. Its significance will be felt globally, as it will ultimately result in the shipping and offshore industries throughout the world adopting a new approach to lubricating wire ropes and umbilicals.

It stems from the introduction of a new Vessel General Permit (VGP), which is a much more demanding version of the previous VGP brought into force in December 2008. This is a US licence that works alongside the Clean Water Act, which serves to protect the US coastline and inland waters by regulating discharge from vessels entering the sea.

Failure to follow the regulations can include fines and imprisonment.

One of the most significant updates to the VGP is the requirement of all vessel operators to use EALs.

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Subsea UK News | June 2014

EALs are formulated to ensure that their impact on the environment is significantly reduced when compared to that of a traditional lubricant. The VGP states that lubricants must meet stringent testing specifications against three main criteria in order to be classified as an EAL: biodegradability, eco-toxicity and bioaccumulation.

life. Lubricant manufacturers must ensure that all EALs are tested to, and pass, internationally standardised eco-toxicity tests, ideally performed by an external accredited laboratory.

Biodegradability is a measure of how quickly a lubricant would break down into its harmless constituents if released into the sea. In the instance of accidental discharge, a biodegradable lubricant will not remain in the environment for long periods of time, which limits the damage it can cause.

Bioaccumulation is a process by which even low eco-toxicity chemicals can be dangerous when consumed by animals.

When a bioaccumulative chemical is eaten, it will begin to build up in living tissues and cannot be excreted. At the bottom of the food chain this doesn’t generally cause a problem, since the chemical has low eco-toxicity, but as the chemical moves up the food chain it increases to dangerous concentration levels and can cause significant damage.

Eco-toxicity is a measure of how poisonous a lubricant would be if released into the sea.

As described by the VGP, minimally toxic lubricants have little to no impact on marine

BIOGEN WIRESHIELD® developed by ROCOL carries the European Eco-Label (pending) and is therefore fully VGP compliant.

SAFETY

Subsea ROV Operated Hydraulic BOP Override Panels Subsea Deep Ocean is working towards a reliable method for overriding the normal BOP Shear Ram control system, in the event of it failing, by using a work class ROV. This need is addressed in ISO 13628-8 to some extent, as that includes the basic specification for ROV operated override panels to override the normal BOP control system if it fails to close the shear rams. However presently the current available panels use an external hydraulic supply from a hot stab connector (invasive technology) to achieve this, and that necessitates a special ROV tooling package to operate the override panel. That in turn drives the need for either that special tooling package to be available on the vessel / rig all the time or a time delay in deploying it while it is sourced from an onshore base.

without a hydraulic hot stab package, thus reducing the time to override the BOP system and thus greatly reducing the impact of such a failure.

This is achieved technically by having the self-contained HPU driven directly from a standard ROV operated paddle interface. After first selecting the circuit override on panel, the HPU paddle handle is rotated clockwise to close the BOP rams and anti-clockwise to open them.

When rotation is stopped the handle is locked by its internal valve arrangement (patents applied for).

A new development of ROV operated override panel from Subsea Deep Ocean seeks to address that problem, with a new panel design that incorporates a self-contained subsea hydraulic power unit (HPU). This can be operated by any work class ROV of the type normally deployed subsea during well operations, directly from its standard manipulator (or with a simple valve operator handle). This new development eliminates the need for the hot stab external supply or a special tooling package (and is non-invasive).

This new development provides the potential to greatly reduce the deployment time for an ROV to operate the override panel to close the shear rams when it is needed, as it can use a standard work class ROV

Project Simulation

Tooling

Geotech

Trenchers

LARS

TMS

VisualSoft

Pig launchers and receivers

Rentals Personnel

Moffat Hot Stabs

Observation ROVs

Work Class ROV

Buoyancy

ROVdrill

www.f-e-t.com/subsea

Subsea UK News | February 2014

21

SKILLS / TRAINING

Quick Hydraulics Backs Work Experience for Aspiring Young Engineers Quick Hydraulics’ MD Andrew Esson believes it is essential young people think about their careers early on, and in support of this, his specialist hydraulic engineering business has provided work experience to five young students so far this year, with a pipeline of further applicants in the offing.

Esson bought Quick Hydraulics in 2011, and set about expanding the North Shields business, now on track to report a turnover of £4.1m.

During his time there the team has grown from 14 to 32, including two graduates and six apprentices, working across a variety of departments.

“I think it’s critical that young people think about their careers early on,” Esson said. “Otherwise they can end up studying, going to university, applying for any job that’s going because they haven’t had any guidance and then end up getting turned down.”

“While it is ideal to bring experienced people into the business, there’s a shortage – particularly when it’s a specialist business,” he said. “So you’ve got to be prepared to train people up.”

Part of the problem, Esson believes, is that students and teachers don’t regularly come into contact with those in engineering or manufacturing, in the way they would with police officers or doctors. Esson is calling for teachers to be given the equivalent of work placements themselves, introducing them to the fundamentals of industry.

While Quick Hydraulics has been able to recruit competent candidates, however, fewer are materialising than Esson would like.

“The existing workforce is getting older and approaching retirement.

Meanwhile, we have a lost generation of school kids who are encouraged to do anything but manufacturing or engineering.”

“In the old days, bright young people might leave school at 16, do an apprenticeship and work their way up,” Esson said. “That’s going to happen less these days, with the bright young kids just being encouraged to go to sixth-form college and university. We need to change that, particularly now we have higher apprenticeships, which provide a fantastic opportunity to help young people reach a professional qualification on a debt-free basis.”

Esson, who chairs the Subsea NE Skills & Resource Group, is a governor at Monkseaton Middle School, and also chairs the North Tyneside Manufacturers Forum, which is following a similar line of thinking through a partnership with North Tyneside Learning Trust, now looking at improving work experience opportunities while helping raise awareness of the issue with teachers and governors.

Successful students will usually be given week-long placements, involving a general introduction to the company, before being placed in the design department. There they will experience everything from specialist software to taking part in real, ongoing projects, like retrieving prices when quoting for a job.

This is more than a subsea umbilical.

“It’s the delivery of more than 30 years of global deepwater leadership. It represents hundreds of hours of planning, design and manufacturing oversight by experts around the world, and the opportunity to learn from them.

And it’s my contribution in delivering just one part of the solution to our customer.”

Ron L., INTECSEA Subsea Systems Engineer

Pipe ends being loaded onto a pipelaying vessel

Deep local knowledge.

Global expertise.

Anywhere in the world. www.intecsea.com

SKILLS / TRAINING

MTCS and the Professional Diving Academy Collaborate to Alleviate the Subsea Skills Crisis New partnership, MTCS and the Professional Diving Academy, Dunoon, aim to alleviate the subsea skills crisis, by giving newly trained ROV pilots the chance to advance their skills - and increase their flying hours.

Despite current high demand for relevant offshore manpower, Maritime Training and Competence Solutions (MTCS), say thoroughly assessed aptitude is essential among successful trainees and even experienced personnel in the subsea field.

While the oil and gas industry is vital to the UK economy and British companies are at the forefront of its global growth, recruitment difficulties are at their worst since 2007, according to a report by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce.

If it is not to be held back, this expansion’s skills challenge (98 per cent of contractors are looking to recruit next year) needs to be quickly met.

MTCS is attacking this challenge with a specifically designed programme at the Professional Diving Academy. The course will be run in a realistic operational environment, where candidates will be expected to work in shifts over 12 hour periods, as required in a real offshore environment.

Global Sales Coordinator for MTCS Ltd, Gail Bartolf, is well aware of the challenges facing newly trained ROV pilots: “Many companies will not take on new trainees, as they don’t have sufficient flying hours, so this is why MTCS is now working with the Professional Diving Academy in Dunoon, one of the most modern diver training schools in the world. We will be offering unrivalled industry training, where the candidate can clock up ROV diving hours in the Sea Loch.”

Courses will be run on a 38m training vessel, M.V. Sleat, which has fantastic onboard facilities and can operate in depths of up to 70 metres. The plans are to run 5-day courses covering several skills, some of which will include the Tether Management System (TMS) and also the Launch & Recovery System (LARS).

To attend the course candidates must have completed the MTCS ROV Pilot Technician Induction course, or have completed a minimum of three months offshore and undertaken one satisfactory assessment of competence.

MTCS, which runs monthly ROV induction courses at Windermere, as well as Singapore and Houston, is a fully accredited assessment and training centre providing a spectrum of operational, technical and supervisory training to the offshore industry. The majority of their courses focus on Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) as used in the oil & gas, nuclear and renewables industry.

NEW

ROV System Auditing & Assurance course

For auditors, technical or operational managers & personnel Courses scheduled in UK, UAE, South Africa & Singapore from April 2014

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Subsea UK News | February 2014

23

SKILLS / TRAINING

A Search for Passion – Technip UK Takes a New Approach to Finding QHSE Person

(L-R Mark Bosson, HSE Manager, Andrew Millar, Associate QHSE Advisor, Katie Morrison, Associate QHSE Advisor Daniel Moir, Associate QHSE Advisor, Pete Somner, QHSE Director, Hannah Milne, Associate QHSE Advisor, Graeme Walker, Associate QHSE Advisor, John Colley, QHSES Manager, Gavin Jackson, Associate QHSE Advisor, Suzanne Ross, Associate QHSE Advisor, Nick Edwards, Development Manager

In its quest to find people with a passion for Quality, Health, Safety and the Environment (QHSE), Technip has launched an Associate QHSE Advisor programme; a two-year entry-level initiative.

Applicants from all walks of life were invited to showcase their passion and suitability for QHSE in a bid to win a place on the programme.

Technip received more than 380 applications for the positions, 50% more than the anticipated amount.

The widely documented skills shortage within the oil and gas industry encompasses many disciplines. Technip’s QHSE initiative is at the core of the company’s long term strategy to address this future shortfall, ensuring that the organisation is best placed to continually nurture and develop its teams in the years to come.

John Colley, Technip UK QHSES Manager said:

“ When launching the Associate QHSE Advisor programme our aim was to find people who are truly passionate about this area of expertise.

Our focus was on their desire to work in a QHSE role and capability rather than their previous experience. We were delighted with the number and calibre of applicants we received.”

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Subsea UK News | June 2014

Seven Associate QHSE Advisors have now been appointed, two of whom have been assigned to the vessel management department while the remainder are working within Technip’s UK Business Unit.

John continued: “The successful applicants come from a wide cross-section of professions. Our new Associate QHSE Advisors include a former nurse and an apprentice joiner as well as a site supervisor/ contracts manager and a number of internal applicants. While their professional backgrounds are diverse these people all have one thing in common - the passion to develop their existing competence in QHSE in to a rewarding career.

“The two-year training programme will encompass all aspects of Technip’s Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental functions. To help them get a fuller understanding of Technip’s business the Associate QHSE advisors will have time in all sectors of the organisation. The programme combines on and off the job training to give the Associate QHSE Advisors the skills, knowledge and experience they will need to fulfill their roles.”

“QHSE is a fundamental part of our business,” concluded John. “It’s vital we maintain our focus on it and ensure it remains at the core of our operations. To achieve this we need to have people in post that put QHSE at the heart of everything they do.”

Reef SubSea GRoup IS NoW thRee SepaRate, INdepeNdeNt compaNIeS – cReated to eNhaNce ouR offeRING to aLL cLIeNtS IN the oIL & GaS, ReNeWabLeS aNd cIvIL INduStRIeS.

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TECHNOLOGY

Deep Blue Engineering Introduces the Shuttle Sub Deep Blue Engineering UK Ltd, a specialist engineering design and development company serving the international marine, oil, gas and renewable energy industries, announced the introduction of the Shuttle Sub. The new lift and deployment system is a large payload-carrying, remotely operated vehicle (ROV).

Developed for companies involved in subsea operations, the Shuttle Sub offers an efficient, cost-effective way to deploy heavy payloads - such as cables and umbilicals - to and from the seabed. It is used to install and retrieve equipment, lay cable and conduct salvage operations. Even with a payload of 100 tonnes, the Shuttle Sub can float, dive, surface and maintain neutral buoyancy, so it is ideally suited for working in deepwater environments on or near the seabed.

the vessel at the surface. Where the Shuttle Sub is unique is that it is also the payload carrier, transferring deployment and retrieval tasks to the ROV. This provides optimum control and removes the need for lift line-based operations.

Deep Blue Engineering is now looking to form a joint venture with an umbilical manufacturer in order to fast-track development through to commercialisation of the technology for cable and umbilical deployment.

“The Shuttle Sub is an ROV in its own right, but it is also a delivery vehicle,” said David Webster, Managing Director of Deep Blue Engineering. “Most deployment operations are conducted from the surface, using ships with cranes. Shuttle Sub offers an alternative, which will be in ever increasing demand as we work at greater depths in remote locations. With nearly 80% of the earth’s surface covered in water, we need to grow a safer, more efficient marine-operating capability. Whether installing generating equipment, laying cables, mining, conducting exploration or salvage operations, these activities require a delivery vehicle. The Shuttle Sub fulfils that role.”

The first lift and deployment system of its kind, it does not require an additional ROV to conduct visual monitoring or connector installation activities subsea. Instead, technicians on a support vessel carry out these tasks remotely. As with a conventional ROV, they monitor and control subsea activities via an umbilical between the Shuttle Sub and

STL’s Award-winning XR Connector to be Scaled Up for Drilling Risers Subsea Technologies Ltd. (STL) has begun developing its flagship XR Connector technology for the drilling riser market. The XR – which is already a class-leading technology in the well intervention sector – will be scaled up to an internal diameter of 18¾”.

STL developed the XR to offer a viable alternative to existing Emergency Disconnect Packages (EDPs) which contain a fundamental design limitation. Typically, such EDPs are based on a male into female engagement, creating operational limits which cause the connector to fail to release if unlocked with a high bending moment applied. The failure of the EDP to release during disconnect can lead to a major incident with lasting consequences, including loss of life.

Mr Lawson said: “We are delighted that the XR has received such strong support from the industry and are currently looking for sponsorship from an Oil & Gas major to help us fund the next stage of its development.”

The XR Connector is the only EDP available globally which is based on a face to face engagement and has no maximum disconnect angle. It provides options beyond normal operating limits and remains operational even after a complete riser failure. It has also been proven, through testing, to sustain no damage during disconnect, even with 100% of its rated bending capacity applied.

The company grew substantially in 2013, increasing its team by a third to 37.

STL’s Managing Director Drummond Lawson said: “The 73/8” XR Connector already provides improved vessel safety and operability – as well as significantly reducing environmental risk. The 18¾” XR will offer all of these benefits on a much larger scale, potentially protecting the industry from large scale environmental disasters.”

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Subsea UK News | June 2014

STL relocated to new premises late last year to house its growing operations and to secure the additional workshop space required to develop the 18¾” XR. Mr Lawson added, “At 11,000sq ft, our workshop is large enough to facilitate the XR’s development, whilst we continue to deliver the 73/8” XR, SLIC and other proprietary products to our clients.”

Last year, STL was awarded the Subsea UK Business Award for ‘New Enterprise’ and the ‘Grampian Award for Innovation’ at the ENET Awards. The firm has been selected as a finalist in the ‘Growth Strategy of the Year’ category for the 2014 Scottish Business Awards.

TECHNOLOGY

Tritech StarFish for Z-Boat 1800 The Oceanscience Group has unveiled the first Z-Boat 1800 remotely-operated survey boat with integrated side scan sonar, from Tritech International.

The new boat provides a shore operator with real-time high definition side scan imagery from Tritech’s StarFish 990F side scan on a portable 1.8m surface vessel.

The StarFish side scan is attached to a special skeg (keel fin) under the Z-Boat, eliminating the need for a dedicated hull mounted transducer.

In addition, the compact size of the StarFish topside box means that a single or dual frequency single beam echosounder can still be accommodated on the Z-Boat.

Adrian McDonald, Oceanscience Group, Z-boat comments: “Adding side scan capability was a natural progression for our development of the Z-boat and the Tritech side scan sonar was selected owing to its small size and good shallow-water performance.”

Mike Broadbent, Sales Manager, said: “The StarFish has been highly successful in wreck location, shallow water survey and search and recovery applications. The Z-Boat represents a new fast and convenient way to carry out imaging surveys where the deployment of a manned boat may not be possible.”

Z-Boats with single beam echosounders are in operation around the world and can perform shallow water hydrographic surveys in natural and industrial water environments.

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Subsea UK News | February 2014

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TECHNOLOGY

Caley A-frame for WHOI Alvin Sub Passes Scientific Sea Trials Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have given the rebuilt Alvin submarine, and Caley Ocean Systems A-frame, two thumbs up after field-testing the deep-sea research vehicle for the first time following a major $42-million overhaul that dramatically upgraded the sub’s capabilities.

The sea trials also assessed the Atlantis research vessel’s system to launch and recover the new, heavier Alvin using the Caley A-frame, the gargantuan lift that hoists the sub off the deck and moves it off the stern, which was also significantly overhauled.

The original Caley A-frame handling system was designed and installed in 1983 to launch and recover the WHOI’s submersible Alvin from the RV Atlantis II. The first Alvin submersible weighed 35,000 lbs (15,909 kg), later upgraded to 40,000 lbs (18,182 kg) when the A-frame was overhauled and moved to RV Atlantis in 1996.

The latest mechanical, hydraulic and electrical upgrade of the Caley A-frame enables the launch and recovery of the new Alvin submersible weighing 50,000 lbs (22,727 kg). Part of the upgrade also involved the installation of a larger winch, high performance synthetic ropes and light tension control system, to provide accurate handling control of Alvin.

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Subsea UK News | June 2014

“ The Caley A-frame has been very reliable over the past 30 years as we have progressively increased the system’s handling requirements,” said Albert F. Suchy, Director of Ship Operations, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. “We are confident that this latest upgrade will give us an A-frame handling system capable of meeting the oceanographic research challenges we expect to face over the next 15 years.”

TECHNOLOGY

Fugro Upgrades its Electric ROV Simulators

Seaeye Tiger performing CP inspection

Fugro is launching an important upgrade to its Electric ROV pilot training simulators. Most observation-class ROVs and many light work-class ROVs are electrical-based systems.

With the introduction of a new electric ROV control pod and suite of electric ROV specific components, Fugro’s DeepWorks simulation software now models all electric sub-systems with greater accuracy and enables failure cases to be simulated on individual sensors and circuits. This enables not just a wider range of training scenarios to be conceived, but also enables new vehicle configurations to be assembled in a way that reflects their true circuit diagrams for more transparent testing and validation in the simulator before the vehicle enters service.

A new overlay designer has been added to the ROV simulator’s runtime tools. This allows both scenario builders and training supervisors to quickly configure and manage overlays. Easy to use, the overlay designer displays navigation and sensor information in exactly the same way as the real vehicle system. Crucial instrumentation data such as heading, pitch and roll as well as camera tilt angle reaches the overlay through the control pod.

Other simulation enhancements include a new garage system as used by the Saab Seaeye observation class vehicles in Fugro’s fleet. This new tethering system allows vehicle specific docking and undocking training.

A new Cathodic Protection (CP) measurement probe has been added.

This contactless, half-cell probe provides real time CP measurement of both subsea pipelines and structures and can be deployed by either ROVs or divers. A virtual CP field is detected by the CP probe

and continuously displayed via the overlay and recorded within the simulation data for post mission analysis.

There are now additional controlled failure modes. Improved feedback to the console includes Water Detection, Ground Detect and Line Impedance Monitor (LIM) faults on circuits and sensors.

“To be able to connect up a vehicle’s sub-systems through junction boxes and valve packs in the same way as the real vehicle puts us in a much stronger position to train not just piloting skills, but also vehicle assembly and fault-finding in a simulated environment. This allows us to arm ROV designers and pilot technicians with a broader skillset,” said Dr Jason Tisdall, Business Line Manager with Fugro’s Robotic Technologies business.

Stuart Soutar, Fugro Academy Simulation Training Supervisor, added: “Electric ROVs are used extensively throughout Fugro and play a big role in observation and inspection operations. Now the capability of simulating electric ROV systems together with the new Saab Seaeye garage system, will allow the Fugro Academy to add important electric ROV training to the expanding list of simulation training scenarios currently being developed.”

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29

PEOPLE

Engineering Design and Analysis Provider Apollo has Announced the Appointment of Jonathan White as Business Development Director Mr White has more than 20 years’ experience in the upstream oil and gas sector including business development roles at Aker Solutions and most recently at EPC Offshore.

The company provides front-end and detailed engineering design work for offshore platforms and pipelines as well as having a successful marine engineering business supporting the drilling rig and construction vessel market. Apollo has grown from zero to 50 employees in just over three years and aims to increase its workforce to 250 over the next five years.

No. of Employees

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50

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Subsea UK News | June 2014

7

8

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years

Mr White said:

“ I am delighted to join Apollo at such a pivotal time for the company. I was attracted by the company’s vibrancy and have quickly realised Apollo is a business with boundless ambition. We will work hard to develop our already vast suite of services, so we can continue to operate as a sustainable and successful business in the North Sea and beyond.”

Special Steels Stockholder & CNC Manufacturing Telephone +44 (0)1452 n2519 Fax +44 (0)1452 n4786 E-Mail salesOintoc.o.awk Bemfurlong lndl&Strial Pllrit, Sta"..erton, Chetterllwn. Gloucestersliire, GLS1 6SX, Ellgland.

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Subsea UK News | June 2014