SUT+ New Beginnings

5 April 2012 Aberdeen Branch SUT+ Launch Event, Aberdeen, UK

 

Flyer

 

Overview

SUT+ has been created for developing professionals working in the subsea industry in Scotland. It will provide a platform to develop valuable industry knowledge outwith the traditional office environment. SUT+ will provide a programme of technical and social events, arranged by developing professionals for developing professionals, to encourage and extend awareness of the subsea industry.

This launch event, SUT+ New Beginnings, was a social opportunity to learn about SUT+, to meet the people involved, and to meet and network with other developing professionals. The evening included an opportunity to explore the Aberdeen Maritime Museum and to learn about the history of the subsea industry of Aberdeen. The event was open to all but welcomed new entrants to the subsea industry and developing professionals typically in the first 10 years of their career.

The event was primarily a social event, with food and drink provided, but included a number of short presentations:

 

Presentations

Overview of the SUT

David Kaye, SUT Aberdeen Branch Chairman

This short presentation provided an overview of the SUT and the SUT’s presence in Aberdeen. David provided an insight into the aims, objectives and activities of the SUT.

 

Overview of SUT+

Scott Sonthalia, Subsea Engineer, J P Kenny and Stavros Polymenis, Subsea Engineer, Fugro

This short presentation provided an overview of the SUT+ programme, including an insight into the career benefits to be provided through attendance to future SUT+ events.

 

Maritime History of Aberdeen

Meredith Greiling, Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Provided by the Aberdeen Maritime Museum, this presentation provided an insight into Aberdeen’s vast maritime history, including details of historical events which have contributed to establishing Aberdeen as one of the key engineering cities within the UK. The presentation highlighted some of the key collections of historical memorabilia to be found within the museum, with the opportunity for attendees to explore the museum and its contents.

 

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.

 

Deep Sea Mining

23 May 2012 North of England Branch Evening Meeting

Chairman Andrew Pople, Principal Consultant (Subsea), Atkins

Sponsored by Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) 

 

Report

 

Flyer

 

Presentations

Deep Sea Manganese Nodule Mining – The Next Wave of Research

Jon Machin, Director, Geomarine Ltd

During the 1970s a sum of around USD1 Billion (at today’s value) was spent  on manganese nodule research & development, including three integrated mining tests, two deep sea collector tests, several airlift and other pumping tests, numerous laboratory scale tests of slurries and collectors, and much design, engineering and analysis testing. The basic technology was proven but not commercialised due to changes in the global economic outlook for commodities. The economic winds have changed once again and many believe that Deep Sea Manganese Nodule mining could be the industry’s next wave. Several consortia are currently planning new research and development programs which will use the original findings, but now in conjunction with 40 years of deep sea equipment and riser development expertise transferred from the oilfield.

This talk reviewed the history of Deep Sea Manganese Nodules and attempts to take a look at their future.

 

Deep Sea Mining: The Emerging Market and Progress on Design & Build of Subsea Production Tools

Stef Kapusniak, Business Manager (Mining), SMD; Keith Franklin, Delivery Manager, Nautilus Minerals Inc; and Nick Ridley, Principal Engineer, SMD

Opportunities in the emerging sub-sea mining market will be discussed with reference to a variety of mineral opportunities. Additionally, progress with the design and manufacture of three subsea production tools for Nautilus’ Solwara copper-gold deposit will be described. This seafloor massive sulphide deposit is a mile below the surface of the Bismarck Sea, off Papua New Guinea. SMD’s previous success with trenching machines at similar depths and Nautilus’ subsea exploration expertise have enabled this unique project to move closer to reality. Successful mining in 2013 will open up a market with amazing potential – similar to previous moves in oil and gas from land-based to offshore operations. As base metal prices continue to rise, remote subsea vehicle technologies are being adopted and enhanced to allow economic access to deeper reserves.

 

Deep Sea Mining

23 May 2012 North of England Branch Evening Meeting

Chairman Andrew Pople, Principal Consultant (Subsea), Atkins

Sponsored by Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) 

 

Report

 

Flyer

 

Presentations

Deep Sea Manganese Nodule Mining – The Next Wave of Research

Jon Machin, Director, Geomarine Ltd

During the 1970s a sum of around USD1 Billion (at today’s value) was spent  on manganese nodule research & development, including three integrated mining tests, two deep sea collector tests, several airlift and other pumping tests, numerous laboratory scale tests of slurries and collectors, and much design, engineering and analysis testing. The basic technology was proven but not commercialised due to changes in the global economic outlook for commodities. The economic winds have changed once again and many believe that Deep Sea Manganese Nodule mining could be the industry’s next wave. Several consortia are currently planning new research and development programs which will use the original findings, but now in conjunction with 40 years of deep sea equipment and riser development expertise transferred from the oilfield.

This talk reviewed the history of Deep Sea Manganese Nodules and attempts to take a look at their future.

 

Deep Sea Mining: The Emerging Market and Progress on Design & Build of Subsea Production Tools

Stef Kapusniak, Business Manager (Mining), SMD; Keith Franklin, Delivery Manager, Nautilus Minerals Inc; and Nick Ridley, Principal Engineer, SMD

Opportunities in the emerging sub-sea mining market will be discussed with reference to a variety of mineral opportunities. Additionally, progress with the design and manufacture of three subsea production tools for Nautilus’ Solwara copper-gold deposit will be described. This seafloor massive sulphide deposit is a mile below the surface of the Bismarck Sea, off Papua New Guinea. SMD’s previous success with trenching machines at similar depths and Nautilus’ subsea exploration expertise have enabled this unique project to move closer to reality. Successful mining in 2013 will open up a market with amazing potential – similar to previous moves in oil and gas from land-based to offshore operations. As base metal prices continue to rise, remote subsea vehicle technologies are being adopted and enhanced to allow economic access to deeper reserves.

 

Subsea HP/HT Production Technologies –
Current Status and Future Trends

17 May 2012 London Evening Meeting

Chairman Alex Hunt, Engineering Technology Manager, BG Group

 

Report

 

Flyer

 

Overview

Worldwide gas demand is increasing, driven in part by increased demand for LNG in Asia. Despite relatively low prices recently, the oil & gas industry is beginning to look again at the exploitation of High Pressure / High Temperature (HP/HT) accumulations. As well as the overpressured reservoirs in areas such as the central North Sea, advances in seismic acquisition and processing have enabled opportunities to be identified in deeply buried reservoirs, in some cases at reservoir depths exceeding 10,000 metres. However, many of these are also in deep water and subsea technology will be required if these are to be brought into production.

HP/HT fields are classified under one of the following tiers:

• Tier I – High; 689 bar (10,000 psi) ▪ P ▪ 1034 bar (15,000 psi) or 149°C (300°F) ▪ T ▪ 177°C (350°F)
• Tier II – Extreme; 1,034 bar (15,000 psi) ▪ P ▪ 1379 bar (20,000 psi) or 177°C (350°F) ▪ T ▪ 204°C (400°F)
• Tier III – Ultra; 1379 bar (20,000 psi) ▪ P ▪ 2068 bar (30,000 psi) or 204°C (400°F) ▪ T ▪ 260°C (500°F)

The current status and future trends of subsea HP/HT technologies have been the focus of a project by a group of Cranfield University students. The following areas have been reviewed:

• SCSSVs and wellheads
• Trees, chokes and sand management
• Multiphase meters, controls and high integrity protection systems
• Manifolds, flowlines, risers and jumpers
• Umbilicals and flying leads

The work has just been completed as a Group Project that forms part of the M.Sc. in Offshore and Ocean Technology – option in Subsea Engineering. At this evening meeting, members of the team presented their findings.

 

Presentations

Review Team, Cranfield University

Al-Ameen (Toby) Abdullai, Japheth Joel Charima, Gurinderjit Singh Dosanjh, Chimene Elechi-Amadi, Filimon Gonidakis, Noor Hafiz Kamaruddin, Olusola Oguntuberu, Michael Okeligho and Julian Richter

This project has reviewed current HP/HT fields, either in production or under development. The current status of subsea HP/HT technology has been assessed. Possible technology gaps have been identified and a number of recommendations were presented.

 

Dr Fuat Kara, Course Director and Head of Offshore Technology, Cranfield University

Group and individual projects and reviews offer benefits to both industry and academia. The elements required for successful collaborations were discussed, along with current focus areas.