Offshore Europe 2013 – Deep Water Zone

3-5 September 2013 Aberdeen, UK

Chairman: Dr Bob Allwood – Chief Executive, Society for Underwater Technology

 

Conference Sessions

 

Overview

Session 1: Emerging Technologies in the Subsea Sector

With the demand for oil and gas set to steadily increase, the ability to produce safely, efficiently and economically in increasingly deeper water depths and hostile geographical locations will depend on the development and utilisation of new technologies. However, it is well known that this industry (rightly) adopts a very conservative approach to new ideas.
This session identified the potential subsea prospects in the coming years, examining some of the new technologies close to being adopted and looked at the processes that need to be followed if these aims of safe, efficient and economic production are to be met.

Presentations

Introduction to The Society for Underwater Technology – Support of students through its Educational Support Fund (ESF)
David Liddle, SUT Business Development Executive.

Global Subsea Prospects
Rod Westwood, Douglas-Westwood.

Qualification of Technology for Deepwater Application
Dr Caroline Roberts-Haritonov, Astrimar.

Pipe in Pipe and Key Subsea Technology
Mark Dixon, Director, Global Subsea Engineering, McDermott.

Enhanced Recovery and Optimisation offer Field Flexibility through Boosting and Processing
Tony Laing, One Subsea Processing Regional Manager.

Electrical Power Distribution and Control for Subsea Applications
Terence Hazel, Schneider Electric.

 

Overview

Session 2: West African Developments

West Africa has rapidly become one of the world’s most important regions for the production of oil and gas. It is estimated that it holds around 8% of the world’s reserves. With political turmoil in some of the recognised major producing areas of the world in recent years, it is not surprising that major importing countries have focused their attention on West Africa. With the participation of multinational companies being encouraged, the general high quality (high API) of oil in place and relatively low commercial costs, it is not surprising that this region is very attractive to foreign investment that has resulted in the rapid increases in productivity seen in recent years. This session provided an update of activity in this region.

Presentations

Introduction to The Society for Underwater Technology
Support of students through its Educational Support Fund (ESF) – David Liddle, SUT Business Development Executive.

Total deep water adventure in West Africa: achievements and prospects
Fabrice Arnaud, TOTAL E&P.

Deepwater FPSO /Subsea Projects in Angola
David Brookes, Senior Consultant, BP UEC.

Jetting Conductor Pipe in Deepwater Ghana
Fraser Lawson, Tullow Ghana Ltd.

Boosting and Processing Systems applied in West Africa
Creating Value through Enhanced Recovery – Arne Olsen, OneSubsea Processing Sales Director.

 

 

SUT South of England Drinks Reception

31 July 2013 South of England Drinks Reception, HMS President

Chairman Bil Loth

Report

 

 

 

 

 

Application of a Geographic Information System (GIS) for the Management and Analysis of Subsea Assets

17 October 2013 London Evening Meeting

Flyer

Report

Presentation

The need for intelligent data management for subsea pipeline projects has identified the importance of proper data management practices and the conservation of data integrity throughout the project life cycle. A Geographical Information System (GIS) has been used to store, manage and analyze the digital design, moving away from a paper centric to a more data centric environment.

The early implementation of a GIS system secures a rigid foundation for pipeline data throughout the project data life cycle and integrates data management systems using a widely adopted common platform. The leveraging of data access through third party management systems, such as the industry standard Pipeline Open Data Standard (PODS) model and Subsea Survey Data Model (SSDM), enables a fully functional platform to aid in greater decision support.

The use of GIS functionality and built in analysis tools, enables greater support for Asset Integrity Management (AIM), providing a greater degree of decision support to clients, through means of dynamic visual representation and bolt-on integrity tools. There is an increasing need in the Oil and Gas industry to ensure data is current, accurate and meaningful to ensure the integrity of assets through the full life of field.

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Inspection and Repair

9 October 2013 Aberdeen Evening Meeting

Chairman David Kaye, Aquamarine Power

Report

Flyer

 

Fast Reaction Bespoke Solutions for Subsea Repair
Paul Booth, Engineering Manager, Intervention and Autonomous Systems, Subsea 7

Despite all the pre-planning, engineering and stockpiled hardware, there are occasions where a high quality bespoke solution has to be engineered in the minimal possible time. This presentation looks at a number of bespoke, deep water pipeline repairs carried out over the past 18 months. The deep water application brings added complexity due to the need for ROV installation. The repairs were designed, tested and proceduralised by Subsea7 in conjunction with client/operator requirements, and with input from third parties where additional specialised fabrication or equipment was required.

Subsea Digital Radiography of a Blocked Pipeline
James McNab, Global Technology Manager, Oceaneering International Inspection

Subsea transmission pipelines periodically require internal operations with mechanical “pigs” and “plugs”. These pigs and plugs can become stuck inside the pipeline for various unexpected reasons. It is unusual for operators to track the pig or plug along the full length of the subsea pipeline due to cost and access and the only positioning information usually available is by estimates of the volume of fluid pumped. The difficulty in finding the pig or plug can be compounded if the pipeline is heavy-walled, buried or coated. This paper describes a successful operation for locating a stuck plug and confirming its exact position within a buried 30pipe-in-pipe system. The plug was located using a combination of pressurisation/depressurisation sequences to calculate the approximate distance to the blockage, cleaning pigs with acoustic transponders to refine the location, and finally computed radiography.

Reinstatement of Foinaven Riser-Pullhead Bolted Connection
Neil Stagg, BP Subsea and Pipelines Team, Subsea Projects

Often solutions to unique problems are driven by outside constraints such as availability of specialist vessels, replacement time for main system elements and maximising summer weather opportunities. presentation discusses execution of a concept that evolved through lateral thinking to solve a West of Shetland pipeline-riser bolted connection requirement – and without specialist construction spreads or long lead times. This opens up capabilities for a new approach to subsea bolted connections.

SUT+ Pre-Talk, Pipeline Inspection and Repair
David Kaye, Chief Engineer, Aquamarine Power

Offshore pipelines represent a significant investment and a critical part of an operator’s export infrastructure. A significant amount of effort and expenditure is spent each year in inspecting offshore pipelines, and occasionally, much more effort is spent on repairing damaged pipelines and bringing them back into service. This presentation gives a beginner’s guide to the different pipeline inspection techniques and approaches to pipeline repair.