Perth – June Evening Technical Meeting

The Society for Underwater Technology invite you to the June 2022 Evening Technical Meeting:

MARINE GROWTH ISSUE

Date: Wednesday, 15 June 2022

Time: 5.30 – 8.30pm AWST

Venue: Parmelia Hilton Perth

The evening will focus on the following three topics:

1. Marine Fouling Challenges in Australian Waters: An Operator Perspective
Harvey Smith – Woodside (for Subsea Equipment Australia Reliability – SEAR – Joint Industry Project)

High levels of marine growth in warm Australian waters presents a significant challenge to Oil & Gas operators. Interventions need to be well planned due to the high cost of offshore time and unknown functional condition of the equipment. Over the years, specialized cleaning and removal methodologies have been implemented, including ROV tooling and chemical treatment processes, to address the fouling issues unique to the region. This presentation aims to share operational experience with the marine growth challenges in the region, existing strategies for removal, lessons learnt and future areas for improvement.

2. Marine Growth Prevention, Remediation Techniques & Developments
Brett Phillips – Oceaneering & Mark De Castro – TMT

Biofouling on subsea assets presents several challenges to marine and subsea Oil & Gas operators worldwide. In Australia the effects of biofouling and calcareous deposition are regionally unique and can significantly influence the continued operation of subsea production systems, especially during intervention campaigns. Traditionally marine growth mitigation and remediation techniques have focused on marine growth covers for prevention, cleaning methods for intervention and override techniques as a final effort.

This presentation will cover some of the unique challenges faced by Australian operators, traditional prevention & remediation strategies, as well as some locally developed innovative new equipment, tooling and bespoke engineered solutions that have enabled operators to overcome marine growth & biofouling challenges in the region.

3. In-water hull cleaning with complete capture, containment and filtration
Peter Maidment – CleanSubsea Australia

The build up of biofouling on ship’s hulls increases drag and correspondingly increases fuel consumption and GHG emissions. Traditionally vessel hulls have been cleaned in dry dock or by divers in-water with little regard for environmental contamination, but Australian legislation does not permit this in Australia (soon to be mirrored worldwide by pending international legislation).

CleanSubSea’s Envirocart system is a remotely-operated hull cleaning robot that completely captures and contains all removed marine growth without damaging the hull coating, linked to a filtration system that filters the effluent to allow clean water to be returned to the sea. In addition to addressing the marine growth removal, this process ensures the protection of marine biodiversity through removal of invasive marine species.

REGISTER NOW

Click here for event flyer

Click here to view the post-event report

Contact: SUT (08) 9481 0999 or [email protected]

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event – please contact [email protected]

Perth – April Evening Technical Meeting

The Society for Underwater Technology invite you to the April 2022 Evening Technical Meeting:

DECOMMISSIONING

The evening will focus on the following three topics:

Innovative Rig Solution for Well Abandonment
Chris Wilson – Labrador (Via teams)

The world is currently going through a surge in offshore oil and gas facility decommissioning. A lot of this work involves abandoning wells, and we know that NOPSEMA is closing in on operators to clean up the seabed. Unless the industry gets innovative, this has the potential to cost the industry and the taxpayer a lot of money. As the saying goes “If we always do what we always did – we will always get what we always got!” For the first time ever – Australia will have access to a semi-submersible intervention rig that will facilitate cost effective well (and subsea infrastructure) abandonments. For this to work – we need to change our thinking on how we abandon.

Research examining the value of Australia’s oil and gas infrastructure for marine life
Dianne McLean – Australian Institute of Marine Science (via teams)

An assessment to remove, partially remove, leave in situ or repurpose oil and gas infrastructure at end of field life can be more robust if it uses rigorous, relevant and accurate data. We use industry remotely operated vehicle (ROV) video, specialised high-definition stereo-video systems, and partner with industry to enhance offshore research campaigns for the collection of scientific data from infrastructure. Here I provide an overview of the latest research findings and identify critical focus areas where research is required to assist decommissioning decisions and advance our understanding of the influence of oil and gas infrastructure on Australia’s marine ecosystems.

Terminator Wellhead Severance
Michael Lewis – Baker Hughes

Baker Hughes has launched a new mechanical subsea wellhead cutting system that can be launched from a vessel of opportunity with minimum preparation time. The ability to cut in any water depth from a vessel is a major step forward in wellhead removal. The system which utilises proven mechanical cutting technology to cut and remove subsea wellheads has been extensively tested onshore prior to its first offshore deployment last year. Since the system requires minimal equipment, is quick and easy to mobilise and can be deployed at any water depth it can reduce subsea wellhead removal costs significantly. Thirteen wellheads with 4 customers in seven campaigns have been removed by the Terminator in the first 16 months of operation.

Thank you to our sponsor:

Contact: SUT (08) 9481 0999 or [email protected]

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event – please contact [email protected]

Perth – February Evening Technical Meeting

We invite you to attend our first Evening Technical Meeting for 2022, held at the Parmelia Hilton in Perth on Wednesday 16th February 2022.

Theme – Offshore Hub UWA- Recent Advances in Floating Vessel response predictions

Overview: Recently completed industry focused research initiative tackled a spectrum of challenges currently faced by offshore engineers. This ETM will focus on outcomes of the wave-structure interaction research at the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Offshore Floating Facilities (https://www.offshorehub.edu.au/)

The evening will focus on the following three topics:

Integrated offshore floating system response – Not approved for distribution
Presented by Ian Milne (UWA) & Matt Zed (Woodside)

Tackling gap resonance during side-by-side offloading – Not approved for distribution
Presented by Wenhua Zhao & Ian Milne (UWA)

Data informed decisions – Not approved for distribution
Presented by Hugh Wolgamot (UWA) & Yuriy Drobyshevski (Shell)

VIEW EVENT FLYER & ABSTRACTS

REGISTER HERE FOR FEBRUARY 2022 ETM

Oceanology International 2022

Discover an ocean of opportunity

Visit the SUT on stand R550

Oceanology International brings together 500+ exhibitors in the only event that links the three key players in the industry: businesses, academics, and government. Visit us in 2022 for innovative live on-water demonstrations and interactive seminars looking into the future of our industry.

With over 8,000 attendees targeted for 2022, it is a must-attend event for those involved in exploring, monitoring, developing or protecting the world’s oceans, from seabed to surface and beyond.

Join us at ExCel London to discover game-changing innovations and solutions transforming the future of ocean technology.

15-17 March 2022

Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Docks, London E16 1XL

More information can be seen at www.oceanologyinternational.com/london

Taking advantage of the likelihood that many members and friends of the SUT will be in London for Oceanology International, the London and SE Branch are meeting for drinks in the Fox Bar www.foxbars.com/foxexcel on the evening of Tuesday 15^th March from 6pm onwards.

This event is intended to be informal, so no tickets or pre-booking is required.

We hope this is a chance to catch up and see old friends after so many virtual events.

9th International SUT OSIG Conference “Innovative Geotechnologies for Energy Transition”

The SUT’s Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics (OSIG) committee is pleased to announce that its 9th international conference, ‘Innovative Geotechnologies for Energy Transition’, will take place from 12-14 September 2023 in London.

Registration is now closed

The 2023 OSIG Conference website has now closed.

For any queries, and for details of sponsorship opportunities, please contact SUT Events [email protected]

Further information on www.osig2023.com

Thank you to our sponsors

Perth – YES! and SPEYP Joint Lawnbowls Sundowner

Event Flyer

To view the event report please click here.

An Introduction to Offshore Geophysics and Geotechnical Engineering

16th, 18th, 23rd, 25th November

0930 – 1230hrs GMT

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to site investigation and ground engineering in the offshore environment and is the online equivalent of the face-to-face one successfully run by OSIG for a number of years. Online course activities are spread in four half-days over two weeks. (Tuesday and Thursday mornings).

Industry and academic experts will cover a wide range of topics from planning an offshore site investigation, through technical and operational aspects of data acquisition and reporting, to the practical use of the data in geohazard assessment and foundation design.

Each half-day session will include a set of oral presentations, followed by small-group practical activities with the scope to reinforce the knowledge and get further insight on the topics presented. Small-group activities will also provide an opportunity to discuss with experts in the field while creating an engaging and interactive environment.

The course is intended for non-specialists and will give a broad overview of the offshore market today and how the data acquired is applied to maximise the value of offshore projects. Alongside valuable knowledge sharing, the course is an excellent opportunity to network within the offshore industry.

Click here for the current programme

Cost

SUT Member Rate: £300 (+VAT)
SUT Non-Member Rate: £395 (+VAT)

Please contact [email protected] with any queries.

Registration has now closed for this course.

SUT US – The First Source to Sink Measurements of Turbidity Currents: New Insights for Seafloor Infrastructure

Powerful avalanches of sediment, known as turbidity currents, sculpt deep submarine canyons and create the largest sediment accumulations on our planet. Such flows can travel at fast speeds (up to 20 m/s), over thousands of kilometres, transporting vast quantities of sediment, organic carbon and pollutants to the deep sea. Their powerful nature means that these flows can damage important seafloor infrastructure, such as cables and pipelines, as well as sensors placed in their path to measure them. We have therefore largely had to rely upon the deposits these flows left behind, or scaled-down laboratory experiments, to infer their behaviour. However, the past few years have seen an explosion in direct measurement of turbidity currents, including the first source (river) to sink (deep sea fan) field campaigns, which is transforming our understanding of these dynamic deep sea events.

This presentation will highlight some of the novel and emerging technologies used to successfully monitor turbidity currents in a range of systems worldwide by a large international collaboration, shed new light on their field-scale behaviour, and share lessons learned from recent instances of infrastructure-damaging flows, such as the recent 1200 km runout flow in the deep-water Congo Canyon that damaged multiple seafloor cables during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.

About the presenter:

Dr Mike Clare, Principal Researcher in Marine Geohazards, National Oceanography Centre, UK

Dr. Clare leads the Marine Geosystems research group at the National Oceanography Centre. He has published >60 peer-reviewed papers focused on sediment and pollutant transport, offshore hazards, and application of novel monitoring techniques to assess threats to coastal communities and seafloor infrastructure. His research tackles questions such as the implications of future climate change for natural hazards, how new technology can be used to make direct measurements of powerful seafloor hazards, and monitoring deep-sea pollution. He formerly worked at Fugro as an engineering geology and geohazards consultant, and is currently the Marine Environmental Advisor to the International Cable Protection Committee. He regularly provides expert advice to a range of offshore infrastructure industries and policy-makers about threats posed by offshore natural hazards and environmental interactions with seafloor infrastructure.

For more information and to book your place please click here.

Image Source: https://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/500/1/605.abstract

SUT US – Integrated Jack-up Rig Foundation Issues

The Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics Committee (OSIG) of the Society for Underwater Technology in the US (SUT-US) is pleased to invite you to an online workshop titled “Integrated Jack-up Rig Foundation Issues.”

Registration:
SUT Members: $100 SUT Non-Members $125
SUT Student Members: Free
SUT Student Non-Members: $15

Student registrations are only valid using ‘.edu’ or corresponding institutional email domains. Connections are unique and should only be used by one person. Duplicate connection will be forced out of the webinar session by the organizers.

Professional Development Hour Certificates:
2.5 PDH certificates will be issued after the presentation. If you have more than one person viewing these webinars at your location, you can request additional PDH certificates for $10 at the email above.

Webinar Session Program:

8:00AM CDT	Introduction
8:10AM CDT	Accident Record Speaker: Mr. Bob Jack (DNV, Noble Denton Marine Services)This presentation sets the scene for the webinar. It shows how foundation accidents fit into the overall jack-up accident regime and how they have changed with time to become one of the major causes of losses and deaths on jack-ups and lift boats. The causes and possible ways to reduce their effects are suggested. The relationship with jacking system failures, which tend to have very similar results is explored.
8:30AM CDT	Geophysical Site Evaluation Speaker: Mr. Andy Hill (BP)
8:50AM CDT	Geotechnical Assessments Speaker: Mr. David Menzies (Matthews Daniel)- Jack-Up Rigs – Data for Assessment – Methods of Analyses – Problem Soil Conditions – Foundation Risk Management – Foundation Case Histories
9:10AM CDT	Mechanical Aspects Speaker: Mr. Mike Dowdy- Punch-thru load case – Leg & jacking system design evolution has increased consequences of punch-thru – Some Jacking system control technology has improved ability to monitor and recover RPD – Immediate response actions – Dumping preload rapidly – better dumping systems – Jacking during the event can make things worse – Designers should include nominal punch-thru load cases in leg design and specify RPD and/or punch-thru elastic limits – Deep penetration leg pulling is another critical load case
9:30AM CDT	Panel Q&A Session
10:00AM CDT

For more information and to book your place please click here.

SUT US – Networking Event

Join us at our monthly Networking Event on 7th October at the Red Lion Pub. Invite your friends and colleagues for an evening of great conversation with professionals from the offshore energy industry.

Sponsorship opportunities are available, click here to contact the SUT US Branch.