Integrity Monitoring of Flexible Structures

25 January 2012 North of England Branch evening meeting

Chairman Dr Jerry Baker, Chief Engineer, Head of Life Cycle Management, Atkins Solutions

 

Flyer

 

Overview

Oil and gas fields located in challenging environments have pushed the development of risers technologies and a number of technical challenges need to be evaluated at all stages. Assessing the integrity of subsea risers in operation is now becoming a necessity in order to improve safety, reliability and performance.

 

Presentations

Integrity Management of Flexible Pipe

Patrick Le Stanc, Department Manager, Technip Riser Integrity Management

Events detection and the follow up of service life parameters are presenting a huge interest for operators by allowing them to anticipate any adverse effect on the offshore and subsea facilities in order to maximise the safe service life. If necessary, appropriate action plan can then be scheduled in advance for maintaining the safe operation of the riser system. In order to implement such Integrity Management plans, qualification of monitoring or inspection systems must be anticipated together with the associated interpretation services. Various technologies can be used to support this approach (distributed measurements based on optical fibres, acoustic emission…). The presentation outlined some of the various technologies qualified and under development to support this approach.

 

Integrity Monitoring Systems

Dr Geoff Lyons, Director Systems Structures & Risers, BPP-TECH

This presentation provided an overview of BPP-TECH’s comprehensive experience in the field of integrity management of flexible structures and provide an insight into various new developments in integrity monitoring. In particular the presentation focused upon:

• Moorings (POSMON, CHAMON, OSCAR)
• Tensioned Risers (RMS)
• Flexible Risers (DRIFT)
• Umbilicals (FUMS)
• Pipelines (Fibre Optics)

 

Global Market Outlook

18 January 2012 Aberdeen Branch Breakfast Seminar

Chairman Alistair Birnie, Managing Director, Denmore Technologies Ltd

 

Flyer

 

Overview

Companies in Aberdeen have a long and distinguished record as participants in the global energy market. Our speakers looked ahead to the future of this market, particularly the subsea arena and the implications for both Operators and Contractors.

 

Presentations

Kader Dicko, Senior Analyst, Infield Systems Ltd

Long term market fundamentals of the offshore oil and gas industry are conducive for growth but the deteriorating health of the global economy (Eurozone crisis) will likely play a major role towards this process. If sustained over a longer period, the recent global economic weakening might possibly burst the current bubble surrounding the oil and gas industry, mostly if oil prices considerably weaken below the current US$100/barrel mark and the low business confidence of financial markets spread to the offshore market. The next few months will be crucial to gauge the impact of the global economy status on the offshore industry. The aim of this presentation was to illustrate the current state and medium term outlook of the global subsea and offshore construction market, whilst providing a macro view of different dynamics related to the offshore oil and gas industry.

 

Mike Beveridge, Managing Director, Simmons & Co

Mike presented an update on the capital and financing markets, talking through some major themes which are driving offshore and subsea activity both in the North Sea and Internationally.

 

Working Fairly using Fundamental Principles of Physics – The Synergies between Salvage, Wreck Removal & Decommissioning

 

6 December 2011 One-day conference, London, UK
Organised by the Society for Underwater Technology’s International Salvage & Decommissioning Committee in association with Decom North Sea

 

Flyer 

 

Overview

One of the key objectives of the SUT is the cross-fertilisation and dissemination of ideas, experience and information in underwater technology, ocean science and offshore engineering. To achieve this and as part of the Society’s interdisciplinary programme, the International Salvage & Decommissioning Committee (IS&DC) has joined forces with Decom North Sea to hold a second one-day conference that brings the salvage industry and oil and gas sector together.

Whereas much of the oil and gas sector’s extensive experience to date rests in the design, development, installation and operation of offshore equipment, the decommissioning of end of life cycle assets is an emerging challenge. For the global salvage industry, on the other hand, removing large, frequently damaged and always variable steel structures is part of the everyday portfolio. Having established synergies between wreck removal and decommissioning regarding the physical and operational challenges of removing large man-made objects from the marine environment, the discussion being fostered has become more focused.

This conference homed in on the following:

• Given that each operates under and has understanding of the same principles of physics – why do the salvage industry and oil and gas sector undertake what may be considered to be very similar tasks in such different ways?

• With regard to removal, what is the safest, most environmentally responsible and cost effective way forward – rewinding the construction process or taking a ‘goal-based approach’ in response to an ‘as found’ situation?

• How do we establish a baseline for liability, in order to give a metric for valuing the benefit being conferred by the management, mitigation or removal of man-made objects in the marine environment?

• If new technologies and methods are to be introduced into the activity of decommissioning, how are these to be funded, nurtured and accepted by what is a change adverse oil and gas sector?

Presentations

PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ATTENDEES OF THE EVENT

(password protected page)

 

Marine Renewables

22 March 2012 North of England Branch Evening Meeting

Chairman Ian Probyn, R&D Business Development Manager, Technip Umbilical Systems

Sponsored by PDL Group

 

Report

 

Flyer

 

Overview

The UK government set a target of generating 15% of energy generation from renewable sources by 2020 and so far the offshore wind turbine industry has taken the lead in developing large scale projects. Tidal and wave energy devices are also seen as key contributors to achieving this target and the industry is currently at a critical stage of transition, from small scale experimental projects to large scale deployment.

 

Presentations

Project Nautilus: Development of a Marine Renewable Test Rig Using Advanced Analysis Tools to Simulate In-field Loading Conditions
Michael Williams, Managing Director, PDL Solutions (Europe) Ltd and Dr Jamie Grimwade, Technology Specialist,  Marine, NAREC

Harnessing marine renewable energy is extremely challenging, and deploying marine renewable devices is costly, time consuming and highly weather dependent. Marine renewable energy developers must be able to prove that their devices work before they are placed in the water and NAREC’s Project Nautilus is a test facility that recreates the loads that the devices will see in service.

A key aspect of the project was to undertake an in-field measurement campaign. PDL Solutions were chosen by NAREC to use this data to develop advanced CFD computer modelling and simulation of the offshore environment, enabling the test facility to simulate the loadings seen in the field. The presentation gave an overview of the development programme.

 

Tidal Demonstration Project
Graeme Mackie, Managing Director, Oceanflow Energy Ltd

Tidal stream turbines are generally seen as the form of marine renewable energy that is closest to market. A number of different turbine technologies are currently undergoing sea trials and this paper gave an overview of the particular issues, technical, environmental and commercial, faced by Oceanflow in demonstrating its grid connected floating, tethered turbine technology.

 

Submarine Rescue – The NATO Submarine Rescue System

15 March 2012 London Evening Meeting

Chairman Bob Allwood, Chief Executive, SUT

 

Flyer

 

Overview

Submarining in peace and war is widely acknowledged as one of the most hazardous arms of the services. The first modern submarines came into service in the last decade of the 19th century and many were lost due to poorly understood engineering and operational limitations. Despite the dramatic technological advances in World War 2 and its immediate aftermath, there have been a surprising number of submarine losses since then. Submarines usually sink with the loss of all on board and the nature of submarine operations means that these events have not been in the public eye. However, since the publicity surrounding the sinking of the Russian Submarine Kursk and the aftermath of the event, conducted in the stark glare of the western publicity machine, public interest has been stimulated. The UK is part owner of the NATO Submarine Rescue System and enjoys a peerless reputation as the world leader for its skills both as operator and manufacturer of submarine rescue vehicles. How has this come about? What are the true figures for submarine accidents and losses? How have things improved? What key systems and technologies make up a Submarine Rescue System? This presentation gave a short history of the subject and then approached these questions from the point of view of the acceptance into service of the NSRS and its subsequent exercises. It discussed the problems encountered and their solutions. It also described the likely sequence of events in a rescue attempt and the difficulties of co-ordinating the efforts of many countries that in their normal affairs are hardly on speaking terms and differ widely in their approach to the subject.

The presentation was given by the retired naval Commander Jonathan (Jonty) Powis who has been involved in the subject since 1995. Jonty was in the navy from 1974-2006 during which time he specialised in submarines and navigation. He saw action in the Falklands Conflict as the Navigating Officer of HMS Conqueror and subsequently commanded HM Submarines Unseen, Resolution and Victorious. He was serving in the MoD during the Kursk tragedy and was closely involved in the rescue attempt by the UK. Thereafter he was the Royal Navy’s operational commander of the rescue system and on leaving the service joined the Rolls-Royce team as the Rescue Manager in charge of bringing NSRS into service. He is now working to sell the same system to envious nations that crave the same assurance of reliable rescue for their submarine crews.