GADGETS & WIDGETS

20 March 2013 Newcastle, UK

Chairman: Alan Dobson

 

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Presentations

Tracerco Discovery™ – Pipeline Visualisation Tool
Lee Robins, Head of Subsea Services

Tracerco is launching a ROV deployed, non–intrusive pipeline inspection tool for pipeline integrity and hydrate plug detection. It is the only technology capable of visualising both wall thinning and the contents of Unpiggable Coated Pipelines, including pipe–in–pipe systems. The presentation covered the background of the development work and give a description of the technology, showing some recent trial results and highlighting the numerous unique benefits.

Advanced Vehicle Control Suite
Ian Parnaby, Principle Control Systems Engineer

SMD gave an overview of their recently developed Advanced Vehicle Control Suite. This provides the ROV with unparalleled levels of autonomy from cruise control functions and following pre–defined waypoints to more sophisticated technology allowing the system to recognise and track moving objects within the water column. These technologies enable the operators to fly arduous and more complex missions with ease, giving them increased time and flexibility to concentrate on the more pertinent mission tasks.

Improving the Design and Fabrication Process Using 3D Laser Scanning
Ben Bennett, Chief Technical Officer

3D laser scanning is replacing conventional measurement and dimensional control techniques. Digital Surveys talked about the applications of the technology at different stages of the design & fabrication lifecycle.

Multi Quick Connecting Tool
Steven Frazer, R&D Team Lead

The MQC tool has been developed to provide quick and efficient mating of subsea equipment. The presentation by Duco provided an overview of the technology, its application and the process of qualification required to ensure its safe deployment.

An Introduction to MaXcess
Steve Binney, Senior Engineer

The MaXccess range of offshore access systems provides a safer, more weather tolerant means of accessing wind turbines and offshore structures. Extensively trialled MaXccess creates a secure and measured connection by gripping one of the boat landing buffer tubes. This prevents hazardous vertical and horizontal bow motion while allowing the vessel to roll, pitch and yaw freely. This is achieved in a simple and elegant manner without the need for active compensation or prediction of vessel motions.

Inspection of Flexible Risers Using Ultrasonic Scanning Technology
Craig Nelson, Project Engineer

Ultrasonic Scanning Inspection Technology helps to address a number of problems associated with the most common failure/replacement mode of flexible pipes. Using ultrasonic testing to scan through the outer sheath it is possible to determine if the annulus has been flooded, the specific location of flooding and the dimensions of tensile armour wires. This in turn can be used to accurately determine if the annulus is filled with permeated water or seawater, which has a significant effect on the service life of dynamic risers.

Self Contained Electrical Monitoring System for Subsea Equipment
Greg Smith, Electronics Design Engineer

As subsea umbilical arrays grow ever more complex, building from known good components becomes vital as post-assembly fault-finding results in expensive delays. C–Kore replaces the dummy–plug normally fitied to subsea equipment connectors during deployment. It performs insulation resistance, continuity and capacitance / cable length testing, either on a schedule or when externally triggered. This allows the integrity of the connected subsea equipment to be verified during transit and at the point of subsea make-up. The test results are data logged for later analysis and displayed on the built–in OLED display for ROV viewing. The system is self-contained and battery powered, but will operate for months without requiring a recharge

 

International Salvage & Decommissioning Committee Third Annual Conference

19 March 2013 London, UK

Chair: Moya Crawford, Deep Tek Ltd

 

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Overview

The SUT’s International Salvage & Decommissioning Committee aims to bring the salvage, oil and gas, wet renewables and insurance industries together with marine scientists to address the issues associated with the management of man-made objects in the marine environment.

Now, having successfully brought interested people from all these disparate disciplines together, it’s third annual conference focuses on the Environmental Impact, Liability of Subsea Objects and Working Practice as all three are intrinsically linked.

This conference homed in on the following key issues:

• How the Marine Environment is affected by man–made structures.
• The effect of time on both theses structures and their contents.
• What liability attaches to them, and how this is covered?
• What are the onsite requirements and how best to tackle them with the preservation of life foremost in mind?
• Which tasks require specialist skills and experience – be it from the oil and gas or salvage sector?

Presentations

Attendees of this event can view the presentations on the password protected page.

 

 

The Pazflor Development

14 March 2013 London, UK

Chairman: Dr Bob Allwood, Chief Executive, SUT

 

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Overview

The Pazflor project off the West Coast of Angola was the largest subsea development project at the time of contract award. Pazflor was a world first for the use of Subsea Separation Technology, and this new technology was an enabler for this Greenfield development. The presentation provided an overview of the Pazflor project, some key elements on how to successfully perform a project of such large scale and some information about the technical solutions for the Pazflor subsea production and separation system.

Presentations

Hildegunn McLernon, Manager Technical Safety & Reliability Eastern Region, FMC Technologies

Hildegunn McLernon is currently the Manager of Technical Safety & Reliability Eastern Region at FMC Technologies, based in Kongsberg, Norway. In this role she manages a department of professional engineers performing all aspects of analysis and work related to the Technical Safety and Reliability discipline and she is responsible for the processes and strategies for this department. With a Bachelor with Honor Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Glasgow, Scotland and a Master in Business Administration from Napier University, Scotland, she is a Chartered engineer. She has 14 years experience with the oil and gas industry at FMC Technologies. She has previously held the position as Engineering Manager for the Pazflor project. This included management of the project engineering team in Norway, Scotland and Angola, and being technically responsible for the Subsea production system on the Pazflor project. She has also been Engineering Manager on the Troll O2 project, and has worked several years within different engineering departments in Dunfermline, Scotland, Houston, USA and Kongsberg, Norway.

Terje Eiken, Manager Well Access Systems Eastern Region, FMC Technologies

Terje Eiken is currently Manager Well Access Systems Eastern Region at FMC Technologies, based in Kongsberg, Norway. In this role he manages a product line with life cycle responsibility (development, delivery, support and maintenance) for all well intervention systems like open water systems, in‐riser systems and riser‐less light well intervention. Terje Eiken has a Master of Science degree in Cybernetics from Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He has 17 years experience within the oil and gas industry, there of 7 at FMC Technologies. He was Project Manager for the Pazflor Subsea Separation project. Prior to this assignment he was deputy project manager for Tordis Increased Oil Recovery, Subsea Separation and Boosting Project. Post Pazflor he was responsible for project management and system engineering across all projects in Eastern Region.

 

 

Materials in the Underwater Environment

13 March 2013 Aberdeen, UK

CHAIRMAN: Martin Harley

 

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Presentations

SUT+ Pre-talk
Martin Harley, Lead Materials Engineer, BG Group (Aberdeen)

SUT+ Pre-Talks are targeted at developing professionals and newcomers to industry, with the aim of providing attendees with additional background subject knowledge to enhance the main SUT presentations which follow.

Martin provides an introduction to the basic concepts of materials engineering, covering the topics presented in the main seminar. Of particular importance is the role of the materials engineer in the design process.

Metal-Ceramic Composite Coatings for heat, wear and corrosion protection
Alan Davidson, Edinburgh Napier University, Advanced Materials Centre

Edinburgh Napier University have developed a novel technique for coating components with a metal-ceramic. Electroless co-deposition allows complex geometries to be uniformly protected from corrosion, wear and/or heat, includes ceramics in its composition, can be graduated over its cross-section and can include porosity for added thermal protection.

Failure Analysis and polymer selection for subsea applications
Dr. Zhiying Zhang, Materials Engineer, BPP-Tech

Failure analysis provides valuable information that benefits design and operation. The failure investigation process will be discussed, covering expert witness experience on mooring wire ropes, chains, power cables, umbilicals and flexible pipes, and how the findings influenced selection of polymer, elastomer and composite materials

Understanding Elastomer Behavior and the Effect of Correct Design in Subsea Applications
Paul Williams, Subsea Projects and Operations Manager, Apache North Sea

Engineers pre-supposed understanding of the materials characteristics and behavior of Elastomers when used underwater can sometimes lead to incorrect selection or design decisions. A number of generic case studies will illustrate where a lack of behavioral understanding lead to problems which in turn caused delay and cost money