european oil and gas issue 117 final edition
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oil&gasf r o m e x p l o r a t i o n t o e n d u s e r
europeanis
sue
117
Fin
aL
europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Discussing the unique supply chain needs and challenges in the industry
this issUE: Asset protection
Leading the wayThe importance of enhancing the industry’s leadership reserves
Good dataunlocking the potential of big data for oil and gas
supplyA strong
The oil and gas industry is truly global in its nature, and
increasingly we are seeing projects in some of the most difficult,
hard to reach locations imaginable. In an era where cost saving and
maximising efficiency is foremost in everyone’s mind, the challenge
for energy companies is ensuring that their operations in these areas
are served by a fast, efficient and effective logistics chain. After all,
how can you expect to explore or drill when an ineffective supply
chain hampers you?
For our first issue of 2015 we look at the unique supply chain needs
in the oil and gas industry and discover why the implementation of
a successful logistics management solution is essential to ongoing
success. “Oil and gas supply chains are among some of the most
complex in the world,” says Jonathan Shortis of DHL, the world’s
leading logistics company, in our cover feature.
If streamlining your business is at the top of your agenda as we start
a new year then as Jonathan highlights, your supply chain may be
a good place to start. “Logistics complexities can quickly drive up
costs and eat into profits if not well managed, which is why many
businesses are placing growing emphasis on finding and eliminating
waste in their supply chains.” Turn to page four to find out how you
can start doing this, and how it may benefit your operations.
editor maTT high
Logistics complexities can quickly drive up costs and eat into profits if not well managed”
pLeASe nOTe: The opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers within this publication do not necessarily coincide with those of the editor and publisher. every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information published is accurate, but no legal responsibility for loss occasioned by the use of such information can be accepted by the publisher. All rights reserved. The contents of the magazine are strictly copyright, the property of Schofield publishing, and may not be copied, stored in a retrieval system, or reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Chairman andrew Schofield Group Managing director mike Tulloch
Managing editor Libbie hammondlibbie@schofieldpublishing.co.ukeditor matt highmhigh@schofieldpublishing.co.uk Staff Writers Jo Cooperandrew DannSteve Nash
Art editor gérard Roadley-BattinProduction Manager Fleur Daniels
Sales director David garnerCorporate Advertising Sales David Kingdking@schofieldpublishing.co.ukSales Joe WoolsgroveHead of research Philip monumentBusiness development Manager mark Cawstonresearch Managers Edward hippersonNatalie griffiths editorial researchers marke BooteJeff JohnsonKate JonesWendy Russell
office Manager/Advertisement Administrator Tracy Chynoweth
© 2015 Schofield Publishing Limited all rights reserved
10 Cringleford Business Centreintwood Road Cringleford Norwich NR4 6aU
T: +44 (0) 1603 274130F: +44 (0) 1603 274131schofield-media.com
Editors
1EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Editors
Profiles
Regulars
23 Pipeline Technique
27 Coltraco Ultrasonics
30 UBH International
32 A.Hak Drillcon
35 IHC Vremac Cylinders
37 Marine Fabricators
40 BHDT
42 Top Oilfield Industries
44 Bowtech Products
47 Kongsberg Maritime
18
4 Lead Feature Discussing the unique supply chain needs and challenges in the industry
10 IT Unlocking the potential of big data for oil and gas, by Chris Shannon
12 News Some of the recent developments within the oil and gas industry
14 Lead Feature The importance of enhancing the leadership reserves in the oil and gas sector
18 Special Feature - asset protection The importance of protecting assets from sand erosion
47
14
32
23
2 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
4
Contents
78 Pittsburgh Corning Europe
81 EV
85 NOV Wellbore Technologies
50 Parkburn Precision Handling Systems
53 TTS Offshore
55 Oilon
58 Ampelmann
62 Total Refinery Leuna
65 Advanced Actuators
68 Litre Meter
71 Rubis Terminal
74 Technip Umbilicals
78
8562
32
3EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
odern oil and gas exploration, characterised
by complex operations involving numerous
companies and in harsh, remote and
extremely challenging environments makes
the implementation of an effective and
efficient logistics programme a highly demanding task for
businesses. The sector has a range of unique demands that
if not correctly overcome can have a detrimental impact on
projects worldwide.
As European Oil & Gas Magazine recently discovered,
the energy industry provides a level of complexity and
wide geographical spread that makes operating an effective,
efficient supply chain a challenging prospect. We spoke
with Jonathan Shortis of DHL, the world’s leading logistics
company that has been supporting the energy industry for
more than 40 years, providing integrated energy logistics
services and solutions that create a competitive advantage for
energy organisations.
“The energy industry is characterised by high levels of
complexity and a broad geographical spread – increasingly
with a focus on difficult and demanding locations,” he
explains. “It is made up of a number of key sub-sectors,
including upstream oil and gas, downstream oil and gas,
energy mining, and the power and utilities and renewables
markets. At DHL we recognise the unique supply chain needs
and logistics challenges of these various segments of the
M
Jonathan ShortiS of DHL on tHe unique suppLy cHain neeDs anD cHaLLenges in tHe oiL anD gas inDustry
supplya strong
4 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
BelowJonathan shortis, vice president - energy eMea
Lead one
data exchange due to long, multinational and typically
fragmented supply chains; impact on local communities,
meaning that good community relations are essential;
dynamic operations that are exacerbated by changing plans;
multiple supplier management; and difficulties sourcing
materials and equipment.”
With such a wide range of potential challenges and
complexities within the oil and gas supply chain it
makes effective management of that logistics operation
essential. Whether companies are constructing a new oil
refinery, running a drilling operation, mining, generating
or distributing power it remains essential that efficient
utilisation of labour, infrastructure and equipment takes
energy sector, and we support the largest energy companies
across the globe, from international oil companies, service
companies and drilling companies, through to petrochemical
businesses, power and utilities companies, as well as leading
players in the renewables sector.”
As Jonathan explains, the oil and gas market presents
a number of unique challenges to businesses looking
to operate an effective logistics operation. “The key
challenges presented by the industry can include HSSE and
compliance, particularly related to third-party contractor
activities; large scale, highly complex operations that
involve multiple stakeholders, drilling locations and a wide
diversity of materials and logistics requirements; difficult
5EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
thereafter. A data-driven, outsourced supply chain provides a
number of benefits to energy companies, regardless of their
segment: visibility and traceability, simplified communication,
supply chain optimisation and significant cost reduction,
service enhancement and performance management.
“With better visibility and more predictability we can
reduce risk and increase time and cost certainty, while at
the same time build more confidence in the supply chain
itself. It’s all about the implementation of a common system
platform, better integration with our inbound logistics
providers, and a standardised organisation and process
that supports a more consistently executed supply chain.
place. “DHL recognises the unique supply chain needs
and logistics challenges among the various segments of the
energy sector, which is why we have developed integrated
supply chain management solutions targets at each of the
main sub-sectors,” says Jonathan.
“The integrated supply chain concept spans the entire
project lifecycle, with DHL becoming involved at the design
stage (pre-FEED or FEED) to develop the solution in parallel
with the design of the facilities/drilling programme,” he
continues. “This efficient, optimised supply chain solution
can then be implemented for the capital project stage and
transitioned to support the production/operations phase
6 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Lead one
In difficult, demanding, developing geographies the key
to success is control, and by applying the best outsourcing
techniques and lessons learned from other industries –
automotive, technology and heavy industrial – conventional
and unconventional energy companies can reap the benefits
of increased productivity, increased asset availability and
hence, improved production.”
Of course, the industry is characterised by demanding
and developing geographies, as well as complex, innovative
techniques that increase the challenges for operators.
One area of note is the developing unconventionals
market. A contentious and divisive sector in its nature, as
Jonathan explains, it also brings its own unique supply
chain challenges. “The unconventional energy market is
relatively new and booming,” he says, “and often it is in an
undeveloped and remote area where pipeline infrastructure
does not exist. Because the sector is so new the supply chain
support system is equally new and is evolving rapidly.
“Logistics complexities can quickly drive up costs and
eat into profits if not well managed, which is why many
businesses are placing growing emphasis on finding and
eliminating waste in their supply chains,” he continues. “The
logistics burden associated with unconventionals is high due
to large flows of pipe, casing, water, proppant and chemicals
Logistics complexities can quickly drive up costs and eat into profits if not well managed, which is why many businesses are placing growing emphasis on finding and eliminating waste in their supply chains
7EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
standardisation of systems and processes across the supply
chain, with particular emphasis on HSSE and compliance
across the sub-contractor community. In addition, we ensure
visibility and traceability of materials through the use of an
integrated supply chain visibility tool. This ensures that well
engineering team productivity is maximised, asset up time
is increased, the time from Final Investment Decision (FID)
to production is minimised and hence production levels
are enhanced. In this way DHL can deliver real value to its
unconventional oil and gas clients.”
A key factor in many objections to the implementation of
unconventional projects is the potential impact such work
can have on the local environment and community. Whilst
this is naturally a responsibility of the energy company,
Jonathan highlights that an effective logistics operation
can greatly benefit this aspect of the operation. “Logistics
requirements for unconventionals are far greater than for
conventional oil and gas activities, thus there is a real need
for professional logistics services to reduce community
and environmental impact. We can achieve this by strong
planning and scheduling of logistics activities, and by regular
engagement with the local communities in partnership with
its client organisations.”
In fact, as Jonathan goes on to point out, DHL places
considerable emphasis on working with local communities
in its operations, both at project level and across its
to support the drilling and hydraulic fracturing activities.
As a result logistics cost is a high proportion of overall
production cost, and the provision of an efficient, effective
supply chain can therefore have a marked effect on overall
project economics.”
In the field of unconventionals, where companies
must ensure minimum disruption to communities whilst
maintaining optimum production, DHL provides effective
logistics management services, beginning with an early
engagement in the project lifecycle to design a robust,
efficient supply chain that can support every phase of the
project. This ensures a strong foundation for the business to
proceed, after which the company focuses on establishing
an integrated supply chain solution in order to manage the
logistics from supplier to worksite.
“We are one of the few companies capable of supporting
the stringent and substantial demands of unconventional
energy exploration and production anywhere in the world,”
Jonathan comments, “and we have significant experience
of supporting these types of oil and gas operations around
the world, with live projects in the US, Eastern Europe,
North Asia and Australia. We focus on the implementation
of an end-to-end supply chain approach for such projects,
managing the supply chain from international for domestic
suppliers through to the physical well site or drilling
location. We use a control tower approach to ensure
8 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Lead one
DHLJonathan Shortis is vice president - energy, EMEA, a position he has held since the start of 2013. Within his current role Jonathan is responsible for leading the growth agenda for DHL's Global Energy Sector across EMEA. Key aspects of this role include sales leadership, leading major transformational growth projects, and supporting the regional and country teams with the development of their energy strategies and major project opportunities. He is also responsible for managing the key global accounts and account relationships. DHL is the global market leader in the logistics and transportation industry and "The logistics company for the world".
For further information please visit:dpdhl.com
global operations. “We provide a single point of contact
to the customer to help drive service level improvements
and reduce total logistics costs – we are responsible and
accountable for design, management, cost and operational
performance of the key supply chain functions and systems,
and as such local engagement is extremely important,
including co-operation with local regulatory authorities and
communities. We work to provide efficient supply chain
solutions, with the emphasis on compliance, HSSE, service
reliability, transportation scheduling, consolidation to reduce
vehicle movements to a minimum, standardised systems and
process delivery and reporting. We are also striving hard to
maximise local content and capitalise on local capabilities
by recruiting, training and developing local talent. We strike
a balance between our central control tower operations and
strong, local representation on a case-by-case basis, which
allows us to create sustainable business models for the future
while also meeting the aspirations of our customers.”
Over the coming years there is little doubt that
unconventional projects will continue at pace, and similarly,
oil and gas production is expected to take place in ever
more demanding and challenging environments. For such
remote activities in particular there must be considerable
emphasis on improving supply chain management for
companies moving forwards. Oil and gas supply chains are
among some of the most complex in the world, making the
implementation of successful logistics management solutions
essential for ongoing success. “The energy market is more
dynamic than ever, with that demand expected to keep
rising while resources become more diverse and increasingly
expensive to develop. This, coupled with operations in harsh
environments means that the sector must invest in new
technologies and geographies while always looking for ways
to balance risks and costs,” Jonathan points out.
“Furthermore, while the increase in gas production has
improved global energy security downward price pressure
is causing concern for the major producers, and ever more
stringent regulations, HSSE and regulatory compliance
have created more supply chain challenges and made
logistics requirements even more demanding for businesses.
In the face of these challenges we are seeing that energy
companies are redefining their business models with a view
to outsourcing more of their non-core activities. In particular
they are looking to logistics suppliers that are specialised in
the sector in order to gain access to technology and talent,
while cutting costs and sharpening their focus on their core
business. We have a global team of sector specialists who
understand the needs of the energy industry and who can
offer smarter, simplified solutions. They work closely with
customers to optimise their complex supply chains and
manage logistics costs better so that the customer can focus
on their core activities.
“By offering a single point of contact to energy companies
it is possible to improve overall control through meticulous
advanced planning, standardisation of systems and processes,
end-to-end supply chain visibility and continuity, with
efficient supplier management, comprehensive KPI reporting
and enhanced data integrity. As a result customers experience
increased productivity and rig uptime, effective maintenance,
and operational support, lower total cost, increased on-time
delivery and inventory availability, with reduced levels of
stock,” he concludes.
Oil and gas supply chains are among some of the most complex in the world, making the implementation of successful logistics management solutions essential for ongoing success
9EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
any downhole processes still suffer from
limitations in terms of monitoring and
analysis. As a result, operations such as
hydraulic fracturing, borehole seismic,
gas lift, flood front monitoring and leak
detection stand to gain significantly from new technologies
capable of delivering enhanced efficiency and efficacy.
One such technology is Distributed Acoustic Sensing
(DAS); an extremely powerful tool for collecting and
interpreting data during downhole operations to provide
engineers and site monitors with critical information,
which can be analysed in real-time or retrospectively. DAS
uses a fibre optic cable to detect acoustic vibrations so
that engineers can ‘visualise’ and record what is going on
downhole at every point of the well in real-time. This allows
well engineers to focus time and effort on value-adding
activity and, ultimately, increase recovery.
However, by adding a new layer of monitoring, DAS is also
increasing the data that needs to be processed and analysed
in downhole operations. Therefore, DAS providers are
turning to new ways of optimising their solutions to provide
the clear and actionable information that engineers need and
maximising the potential usefulness of this big data.
The aims of gathering real-time informationDAS is solving two major issues for oil and gas engineers.
Firstly, operators want to see data in real time while an
operation such as hydraulic fracturing is taking place. These
operations currently have significant limitations in terms
of the ability to monitor and analyse what is happening.
Hydraulic fracturing is inherently difficult to monitor and the
existing tools are extremely limited. Completion engineers
will often have no way of knowing that a fracture has been
successful across all zones – which is frequently the case!
DAS adds a new layer of intelligence that allows engineers
to essentially ‘acoustically visualise’ the in-well activity.
DAS can gather data to a level that gives engineers a real-
time log of the fracturing operation to an accuracy of one
to two metres, providing an indication of fracture success
in the exposed formation. Throughout any operation it is
collecting and interpreting acoustic data to help build an
understanding of the fracture operation itself, including ball
seating, gun firing and perforation. The DAS system can then
help engineers gain visibility of the fracturing activity and
propagation, including the sensing of fluid and proppant
flow through the perforations. From this data, engineers
can ensure that the process is being carried out safely and
efficiently, as well as establishing whether there are any issues
that need to be dealt with.
Secondly, operators want to ensure that production at each
well site is being maximised during a series of operations
over a longer period of time. Analysing DAS data from a
larger sample of operations can help engineers to ensure
that the well is being stimulated efficiently and effectively,
determine operational inefficiencies and assess what may
need to be changed in future.
MUnlocking the potential of big data for oil and gas, by Chris shannon, ceo, fotech solUtions
datagood
10 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Belowchris shannon,ceo fotech solutions
IT
fotech solutions Chris Shannon is CEO of Fotech Solutions, which was established in 2008 and specialises in the development and delivery of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) based solutions. Operating primarily in the oil and gas and pipeline sectors, Fotech has developed the Helios system, which converts an optical fibre up to 40km long into a solution that is equivalent to tens of thousands of individual vibration sensors. Real-time detection of the vibrations caused by acoustic disturbances along the fibre is translated into information that will aid the oil and gas operator in exploration, production and delivery activities, or a pipeline operator with intrusion detection, leak detection or pig tracking activities.
for further information please visit:fotechsolutions.com
A multi-layered approach to well monitoringAs the adoption of powerful data analysis and interpretation
technologies such as DAS continues to rise – operators and
engineers will look for a solution that delivers the invaluable
data they need in the most easy-to-use and optimised
package for them. Combining DAS with sophisticated data
compression software will constitute a step-change in the
way DAS is delivered, demonstrating how the commercial
value of data to well operators and high-level decision
makers can be increased.
On a wider level, I believe the industry is due a change
in its overall approach towards technologies such as DAS.
To experience the ROI budget owners within oil and gas
operators need to see, engineering decision makers need to
see DAS as an enabling part of an overall solution. Rather
than taking the benefits of real-time monitoring at face value,
a more sophisticated and beneficial approach is to ensure
the information is being delivered in a way that suits your
individual needs most. Whether that’s providing the mission-
critical information required, as it happens, to simply
alert engineers of potential issues that must be dealt with
immediately, or if it’s generating reams of data from a series
of operations to be analysed closely in order to fine-tune
particular downhole processes to extend the life-time of a
well. The key is to ensure that DAS is being used in the most
effective manner possible.
Cutting through the noiseDAS is a powerful tool in facilitating both of these analytical
processes. One of the challenges of DAS is not in collecting
the information, but maximising the potential of the huge
volume of data being produced in each individual operation.
Whether DAS is being used to analyse information in real-
time or over a longer timespan, operators are currently
likely to be dealing with tens of Terabytes of data for
each individual monitoring period. Considering this data
is collected from well sites, often in rural areas without
access to high-speed broadband, it is rare that computing
hardware powerful enough to handle it is available on-site.
Furthermore, sending huge packets of data to a different site
via satellite connection is virtually impossible.
Currently the data collected from each operation has
to be stored on physical hard drives and transported to
locations where the sophisticated analysis can be carried
out retrospectively on more powerful computers with
the processing power to handle the reams of real time
information. However, the data collected by DAS is extremely
valuable for engineers looking to spot trends and potential
anomalies that may show inefficiencies with a certain
process. Therefore, having the ability to conduct real time
analysis engineers only need the most critical information
that gives them a clear picture of what is happening
downhole at a given time. In order to provide this, the data
needs to be compressed to a more manageable amount by
filtering out the ‘background noise’.
Furthermore, transporting the data across a network to
conduct analysis in real time also increases the value of using
technologies such as DAS. Optimising the solution being
used to a point where data can be broadcast to different
locations from the well site in near real-time means data can
be analysed by experts off site as the operation happens.
At Fotech, we encourage our customers and partners to
view DAS as part of a wider solution rather than a standalone
technology. For example, combining a DAS system with
advanced data compression software, delivers a solution
where data is collected, interpreted and compressed to
a manageable size, in near real-time. Our partnership
with Interpretive Software Products (ISP), data modelling
and interpretation software specialist, means data can be
compressed into packets that are small enough (Gigabytes,
not Terabytes) to be sent across a network from the site,
without any loss of critical information.
By compressing data to a more manageable level, the
combination of DAS and sophisticated data compression
tools enables far quicker delivery of in-well reports. The
use of the data compression approach also means that
transmitting information to operational platforms around
the world in close to real-time can be achieved at far lower
bandwidths than would be possible otherwise. The ability to
transmit data across a network as it is collected also opens
up the possibility of genuinely global access to data from the
well as it happens, allowing for distributed decision making
by the key company stakeholders.
11EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Considering the future
Remote control
While positive measures have been taken to attract investment in the UK’s exploration and
production (E&P) sector, low oil prices and the country’s high tax burden mean that more
significant changes are required to make new developments commercially viable, says an analyst
with research and consulting firm GlobalData.
During the annual Autumn Statement, UK Chancellor George Osborne announced a
supplementary charge reduction, which will decrease the overall tax rate on the country’s E&P
sector from 62 per cent to 60 per cent, effective from 1st January 2015.
According to Will Scargill, fiscal analyst for GlobalData, this move will improve the sector’s
profitability to some extent, but the simultaneous removal of the price-based trigger mechanism,
which could have reduced the total tax rate by 12 per cent, will not be considered a beneficial trade-
off by E&P investors if the oil price does not rebound from its current levels.
He says: “Overall, the UK is sending positive signs to E&P firms, but high operational costs
mean that the recent tax amendments are no game-changer for the investment climate. Without
investment in extending the lives of producing fields, existing infrastructure will be decommissioned
earlier. This will have the knock-on effect of reducing the commercial viability of smaller fields,
which depend on such infrastructure, leaving resources below ground and ultimately resulting in a
decline in sector size and associated tax receipts.”
Sub-Atlantic has secured three international contracts with a combined value of over £3.5 million for
the manufacture of three specialist remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
The firm will provide IKM Subsea in Norway, Italy’s Globe Exploration and Total Marine
Technology of Australia with state-of-the-art observation class vehicles that are widely used across
the offshore energy and defence industries.
Sub-Atlantic, which is part of the Forum Energy Technologies group, has its operations hub
in Aberdeen and a manufacturing base in Kirbymoorside, Yorkshire. This announcement follows
a significant investment in the group’s Kirbymoorside facility to create a manufacturing centre
of excellence. The company is also on a recruitment drive to boost its operational workforce in
Aberdeen and add 20 manufacturing jobs in Yorkshire where it employs 300 people.
Ryan Lumsden, global product director for Sub-Atlantic, said: “By bringing Sub-Atlantic’s
manufacturing capabilities alongside the Perry facility in Kirbymoorside and investing significantly
in additional resources, plant and machinery, we have created a real centre of excellence which
brings together our combined expertise and innovation and is unrivalled within our industry
globally. Aberdeen remains a crucial centre of operations for us and we are looking to strengthen the
team there to ensure we continue to meet our client’s needs.”
A vital service
Amarinth has been appointed by Expro
to deliver $1 million of API 610 OH1
pumps for the Subsea Well Response
Project. In light of recent serious oil
spill incidents such as Macondo, in
the Gulf of Mexico, nine international
oil and gas companies, including BP,
Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil,
Petrobras, Shell, Statoil and Total, are
working together through the Subsea
Well Response Project (SWRP) in
collaboration with Oil Spill Response
Limited (OSRL) pooling expertise and
resources to develop and make available
to the international oil and gas industry
a global containment toolkit that can
support subsea well incident response if
well shut-in is not immediately possible.
Expro North Sea, selected by the
Operating Committee to deliver the
transfer pumps and coolers for the
project, implemented a rigorous full
quality supplier audit before finally
awarding Amarinth the $1M contract
for ten API 610 OH1 B Series pumps
with Plan 53B Seal Support systems.
The audit, conducted over three days,
involved tracing a high percentage
of components right back to their
original manufacture and not allowing
work to proceed through the stages of
manufacture until all approvals had
been received by them.
Oliver Brigginshaw, managing director
of Amarinth, commented: “We are
delighted to be supplying our pumps
to the Subsea Well Response Project,
which has such huge potential to protect
the global environment in the event of a
subsea incident.”
Above: Amarinth API 610 OH1 pump for subsea well response project
12 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
News
AGR is pleased to announce it has been awarded the Well
Management Services Contract with Edison Norge AS. AGR will
support Edison across its operating licences, including its first
exploration well on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).
AGR will deliver services relating to well construction,
operational support, project management and rig intake services
on the Edison-operated PL616, Haribo exploration well.
Sjur Talstad, AGR’s executive vice president for Norway
and Russia, said: “AGR is honoured to support Edison in their
planned and future operations on the Norwegian Continental
Shelf (NCS). We have assisted several new operators on NCS and
our key individuals have extensive detailed regional knowledge from the location of the Haribo
well. We are looking forward to the collaboration between the Edison and AGR teams.”
The three-year contract has extension options, which could see it extend to five years in total.
A balanced futureEnergy: A Balanced Future, the National Conference organised by NOF Energy, the business
development organisation for the oil, gas, nuclear, offshore and renewables sectors has quickly
established itself as one of the most talked about events on the energy calendar.
Taking place at the prestigious Sage Gateshead, 10th and 11th March 2015, professionals from
the UK and international energy industry will head to North East England to discuss the future of
the energy sectors.
Caroline Lofthouse, business development manager at NOF Energy, said: “Energy: A Balanced
Future was always going to be a key event, but to have attracted so much interest this early on is
very encouraging.
“It shows the appetite for dialogue as some of the top names including BP, Technip, DONG
Energy, Petrobras, Dana Petroleum, Wood Group PSN and GE Oil & Gas in the industry come
together to discuss the latest developments and find ways they can work together to build an
energy-focused future.”
Phil Saxton, general manager of Dräger Marine & Offshore UK, said: “Our passion for safety in
the oil and gas industry can be seen in everything we do and we’re very proud to be aligned with
this event – one of the highlights of the 2015 calendar.
Supporting role
Equipped to succeedAshtead Technology has seen a sharp
increase in equipment sales since the
Aberdeen headquartered business
secured a number of exclusive global
sales agreements with world-leading
manufacturers such as Seabotix, Innova,
Sound Metrics, ECA Robotics and SubC
Imaging.
To build on the global growth in
equipment sales, Ashtead Technology
has appointed Kevin Murray-Taylor as
global product sales manager. Based
in Aberdeen, Mr Murray-Taylor is
responsible for product sales within
Ashtead, providing a central focus for
both customers and the regional sales
teams in Aberdeen, London, Houston
and Singapore.
The focus on equipment sales
is part of an overall global growth
strategy, which will see Ashtead
Technology deepen its services and
increase its market share. The company
also recently launched the Ashtead
training academy, which meets global
demand for improved competency
in the configuration, operation
and maintenance of increasingly
sophisticated subsea equipment.
Ashtead Technology’s commercial
director, Tim Sheehan, said: “With a
strong heritage stretching back some
thirty years, Ashtead has evolved
from a rental business to become a
much more integrated provider of
subsea equipment solutions, offering
custom solutions to meet the needs
of the subsea industry from survey
to engineering, procurement and
construction companies, and to the
inspection, repair and maintenance
sector. We have invested heavily in our
fleet and in securing global agreements
with the leading manufacturers, which
ensure that we are able to provide the
technology our customers want."
Above: Sjur Talstad, executive vice president for Norway and Russia at AGR
Above: Phil Saxton, general manager of Drager Marine & Offshore UK, second right on the back row, with Drager’s Aberdeen team
13EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
hort-term business challenges combined
with long-term uncertainty in the oil and
gas industry have made building the talent
pipeline a difficult challenge for companies.
In addition to this, an ongoing focus on
building technical expertise within businesses has resulted in
a serious deficit in potential leadership candidates for energy
companies, seriously threatening future business and long-
term potential.
European Oil & Gas Magazine was fortunate to recently
speak with Sherief Hammady, a director and global partner
at global management consultancy Hay Group to discuss the
leadership reserve challenges facing the sector, and the steps
that leaders and organisations need to consider to get a better
return on their investment in people and move ahead of their
competitors. Hay Group has recently published a report on
the topic titled ‘Enhancing you leadership reserves’, with the
results making compelling reading.
Hay Group collected data from 33 oil and gas
organisations, and supplemented this with interviews of 20
organisational leaders in the sector. The report recognised
that industry leaders are seriously at risk of seeing the
reserves of leadership potential run dry over the coming
years. For example, only half of respondents said that they
had enough employees ready to take on the necessary
leadership positions, which could seriously jeopardise their
future business goals. It was also noted that the industry’s
focus on building reserves of technical and engineering
professionals – seen as a key driver by many businesses in
recent years – has resulted in individuals taking leadership
positions who potentially lack the commercial experience to
act on leadership issues.
Compounding this issue at present is a complex mix of
short-term business challenges and long-term uncertainty
across the sector, which makes building the talent pipeline
in the oil and gas industry a difficult and often challenging
task. Sherief begins by pinpointing why this lack of potential
future leaders exists in the sector. “The leadership element of
building the business is something that is often overlooked
in many cases,” he explains. “At present there is a significant
focus on building and developing technical expertise within
businesses, which is generally seen as more important than
general leadership, and because it is an issue that manifests
itself in the short-term it continues to take precedent. The
short-term aspect of this makes it an important issue as
companies are trying to balance the need to plan for the
future against addressing the challenges of the present.
The other problem we face at present is that as individuals
progress within an oil and gas organisation it still pays to be
a ‘senior expert’, and therefore for many the leadership aspect
becomes something of an ‘add on’ and is not necessarily seen
as an inspiring career end in itself.”
The focus on technical expertise is to a certain extent
understandable, with the industry being driven by
technology, innovation and operational expertise but, as
Sherief explains, it is having a detrimental effect on future
leaders. In fact, the Hay Group report discovered that just
53 per cent of respondents felt that their employees were
encouraged to develop beyond their areas of expertise.
S
Sherief hammady discusses enhancing the leadership reserves in the oil and gas industry
wayleading the
14 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Belowsherief hammady, director and global partner at hay group
Lead two
the technical knowledge and skill that will make you
successful, or take you to the level of the next Shell, BP
or other majors, or is it having strong and commercially
skilled leaders in the key position as well?”
There clearly needs to be a balance between both roles, and
a key factor in improving the leadership talent pipeline is in
companies doing more to identify potential candidates early
on in their career, before they are firmly entrenched in a more
technical role. The most successful organisations at present
are those that accurately determine what skills they need to
ensure their future success and then identify the talent pools
and the individuals that could potentially provide those skills.
Indeed, many of those involved in Hay Group’s report stressed
the importance of identifying future leaders early in their
careers, spotting any weaknesses and acting to redress them
quickly and effectively. It would be prudent for example to
look at fundamental areas such as ambition and the drive to
learn and develop, and good interpersonal skills, and to invest
heavily into the commercial aspects of leaders’ developments
by planning their route into management early.
“At present we are not really building the breadth and
“I often use the analogy of having a difficult or ‘problem child’,
where they understandably get all of the focus and attention,
and although there are some very gifted and brilliant children
out there, who in this case would be potential leaders, they are
often overlooked. The other reason why leadership is a less
dominant focus is that there is a purveying attitude of ‘I do
what I enjoy most’, with many people enjoying the technical
element of their job more than the possible leadership aspect of
operating in a business, which is often regarded as a distraction
from someone’s area of work.
“Of course, we are not denying that it is a very technical
industry, so you can naturally understand why the
dominant focus would be on that area and why leadership
roles have been overlooked, and in some cases it is often
for good reason,” he continued. “But what we are saying
is that yes, there is a baseline whereby you do need to
be capable technically, but from an organisational point
of view the question that companies really have to pose
is what will make them more successful in the future?
If you’re thinking ten to 15 years into the future then
it’s really important to consider whether it is simply
15EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
that they can grow in the best possible way, and often we are
seeing that these opportunities are lacking.”
In many cases these opportunities are lacking due to
systematic cultural issues that are embedded within many
companies in the industry. There is widespread concern
about performance management cultures within the sector,
with many believing that leaders are predominantly focusing
on performance management and business outcomes to the
detriment of input into people performance. “The industry is
complex, and it swings like a pendulum,” Sherief comments.
“Our concern in this respect is that as prices fluctuate the
companies take immediate action to address the problem,
with the consequence being that the people development
and performance management aspect of the business can be
cut, reduced or overlooked.” As noted in Hay Group’s report,
the lack of performance management is being driven by a
number of key factors:
Rapid growth 6
Diversity 6
Alignment 6
Capability 6
Culture 6
Retention 6
Rewards 6
identifying the potential early on, so companies aren’t
necessarily thinking as strategically as they should be,”
Sherief explains. “We are maybe thinking about the next
two or three years, but as I explained previously, not really
forecasting ahead to the next ten years or further in terms of
HR, recruitment and investing in people. At Hay Group we
believe that the key issue is using your resources to discover
very early in someone’s career if there is the desire, as well as
the ability, to be a leader in the future.
“We have a framework that looks at potential leaders,
which is about really delving into the ‘raw’ skills and
capabilities of a possible candidate. So, it is based around
four key elements; does someone have the hunger to want
to learn? Do they have the conceptual flexibility – so can
they operate in a flexible way in the face of challenges or
problems? Are they interpersonally effective? And finally,
do they have the ability to manage themselves effectively,
and do they have the understanding of their own emotions
and abilities and how to manage those within the work
environment? Looking at it in a simplistic way, if someone
fulfils these attributes early on then you know that you have
the nucleus for an effective leader within your business. The
key question then is do you work hard to nourish it, to give
them the opportunity and discuss the future with them so
If you’re thinking ten to 15 years into the future then it’s really important to consider whether it is simply the technical knowledge and skill that will make you successful, or take you to the level of the next Shell, BP or other majors, or is it having strong and commercial skilled leaders in the key position as well?
16 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Lead two
Sherief hammadySherief Hammady is a director and global partner at Hay Group and is the UK lead for oil and gas consulting. Over the past 13 years he has worked with senior leaders in FTSE 100 and large private sector organisations from around the world, focusing on the human issues that underpin business performance.
for further information please visit:haygroup.com/uk
While there are many programmes and other initiatives
around leadership and people succession available, if
companies are to solve the leadership reserves challenge
then it is important for them to focus on using radical
new techniques in order to release untapped potential.
Importantly, the cyclical nature of the industry means that it
is vital for companies to ensure that their strategies are up to
date in order to face the future challenges. This means being
very responsive and flexible, while creating and maintaining
a motivated working environment in which talent can be
nurtured. Companies must look to inspire future leaders and
to set out a clear set of company values in which individuals
can grow; this in particular is a good way of starting much
needed cultural change.
At the same time as recognising the need for more effective
business skills, companies are looking towards executive
training, which can include courses in such things as strategy,
commercial acumen, financial analysis and leadership.
“There are some great practices out there right now and a lot
of leading businesses that are doing some great robust things
around leadership,” Sherief points out. “However, the key
is also establishing intelligence throughout your leadership
pipeline so that you know exactly what is going on and what
is planned for the future. Naturally that requires a little more
thinking and more in-depth planning on what the future
may look like, but with careful planning it is possible.
“Moving forwards there are other things that companies
can be doing. In terms of management they need more
professional managers rather than graduating their technical
individuals into leadership positions. So the future will be
about working hard to resource them, addressing how you
are working on these aspects of the business in terms of
drilling down deep into the values, communication and
clarity of the business, and this is where the current leaders
can really make the difference. So there are a lot more things
to do aside from simply looking at best practices on talent.
It will be very important to be clear on strategy and focus
of the business as this is the only way to give the direction
on equipping people with the necessary skills to make a
difference in the future.”
Ultimately, just like technical development, improving
leadership effectiveness is a journey that must continue.
There is already much being done in the industry, with
most oil and gas companies having recently implemented
leadership initiatives or are planning to in the coming years,
making it an exciting time for the sector. Summarising,
Hay Group’s report noted four key steps for companies to
consider:
Building adequate leadership pipelines, including early 6
career identification
Effective people performance management 6
Bottom-up engagement to make change happen 6
Making leadership interventions profound and long- 6
lasting through frequent practical interventions
“Everyone can be a leader, it is just that some will be
more effective than others. As part of our research we spoke
to many HR leaders and we are very pleased that there are
a lot of great things happening right now, especially given
the cycles of investment in the sector. Companies have to
continue to look strategically and longer-term to develop
leaders that will be valuable to their business and the
industry, and we hope this will continue over the coming
years, in spite of any turbulence and fluctuating business
cycles,” Sherief concludes.
17EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
ombating sand wear, erosionSand was once dismissed by the oil and
gas industry as it only represented a small
fractional percentage of flow from an oil/
gas well. However, because the industry
is now more aware of the severe damage caused by sand
particles, the presence of sand in many well flow streams is
now well documented.
Sand production is now of increasing concern as the
field ages, because many fields are becoming ‘mature’ and
sand production levels always tend to increase. Also, as
new, more difficult fields (i.e. conditions such as higher
pressures, temperatures and higher sand levels), are
developed, they often have higher starting and ongoing
levels of sand production.
It is therefore important that the presence of sand is
anticipated and that oil and gas production systems, from
downhole right through to the processing facilities, are
designed to handle the sand safely and reliably, because the
production stream can be highly erosive due to the sand
particles contained within the fluid. The size of the sand
particles varies widely from as little as 15-30 microns (fines),
up to 180-250 microns (moderate) to 450-600 microns
(large), with each well and field having its own characteristic.
Worldwide, sand erosion costs the oil and gas industry
billions of dollars annually due to increased wear and
maintenance downtime, which manifest themselves as cut-
backs in production, un-planned shut-downs or failures
of equipment, with possible loss of containment and
consequent environmental damage. Both the drilling and
production sectors of the industry must therefore consider
the risk of potential sand erosion damage and wear more
seriously and ensure they are using validated equipment that
is fit for purpose.
Although the sand present in the flow may still represent
only a fraction of one per cent, if this is flowing in the piping
system or inside components such as choke valves at high
velocity it can cause significant erosive damage or even
penetrate the wall or body leading to loss of containment - a
very serious risk. Also, if sand particles become trapped in
equipment with sliding or rotating parts with very small
clearances, such as a valve, they can cause the operating force
to increase significantly making it difficult to operate or to
reliably close and seal, in some cases even causing the valve to
seize. These scenarios are often potentially high-risk situations.
To control and limit the production of sand, operators
often install sand screens downhole to retain sand particles
but still allow a reasonable flow of fluid. However the
smaller grains, typically <60 microns, will still pass through,
and these can still cause erosive damage, albeit at a slower
C
John Peters of NEL discussEs saNd ErosioN iN pipELiNEs aNd how compaNiEs caN protEct thEir assEts
pipelinesprotecting
18 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Special feature - asset protection
claims, manufacturers are finding that independent evidence,
as part of the verification process, delivers a competitive edge
as it assures purchasers that the product indeed performs
reliably, particularly under arduous conditions.
However, operators are faced with a complex problem: not
only are equipment designs and technologies often evolving
in advance of an appropriate standard, every individual field
they develop will have different attributes.
For new equipment for which there is no relevant
standard, the first step is to ask what standard is similar or
closest to being applicable (if any), and assess whether it may
be used as a basis to form a tailor-made test programme. This
needs to be done in collaboration with the operator, who
best understands the conditions under which the equipment
will operate; the manufacturer, who is familiar with their
product’s design and material specifications; and the test
authority. Consequently such equipment is often not tested
to a specific existing standard, but tested using a recognised
’industry best-practice’ approach.
rate. A downside of installing sand-screens is that they can
sometimes block and fail.
The only realistic option is to make the whole production
system ‘sand-tolerant’, which inevitably makes it more
expensive. However, for fields likely to be producing sand
(even low levels), in the long-term an investment in sand-
tolerant equipment will pay dividends with its benefits of
extended life, increased reliability and lower risk.
Equipment validationFor equipment and pipework that is susceptible to sand
erosion, how can operators be assured of the equipment’s
performance and integrity? Verification or validation, also
known as type testing and qualification testing, is increasingly
becoming the answer for both manufacturers and operators.
A number of ISO standards and API specifications include
such tests and procedures. as well as some manufacturers and
operators having their own procedures.
Rather than relying solely on their own product capability
19EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
meters to have significant errors.
By knowing how particulate flows and erosion affect the
performance of different types of flow meter, a meter’s design
and performance may be improved, and meter selection
can be optimised, resulting in improved accuracy, reliability
and improved service (wear) life. Planned meter inspection,
calibration and maintenance procedures can also be suitably
optimised, resulting in a sizeable reduction in operating costs
and downtime.
To evaluate some of the effects of sand erosion on flow
meter uncertainty, NEL, supported by the UK’s National
Measurement System (NMS), recently designed and
constructed a sand/water Erosive Flow Test Facility. An
experimental investigative test programme supported by
NMS was then undertaken on a number of different meter
types - coriolis, turbine-meter and venturi.
With sandy water flow streams of around five per cent
sand by volume, an average particle size of ~280 microns and
flows of up to 1500 l/min, this will enable meter performance
to be measured under controlled erosive flow conditions.
Subsequent examination of the meters and data analysis
will provide knowledge of the performance characteristics,
uncertainty and responses of the meters under erosive flow
conditions. A report on the Coriolis meter tests has recently
been issued and a copy is available from NEL.
The flow meter project plays an important role in terms of
The importance of verification testing equipment that may
be subject to erosive conditions is becoming increasingly
evident as the industry experiences more ‘loss of integrity’ or
leak incidents. For example, high profile incidents such as
the Deepwater Horizon disaster means that the performance
of production equipment is now under even greater scrutiny,
particularly if it is located in an erosive environment. As a
consequence, rigorous testing, to demonstrate the equipment’s
performance, is now increasingly part of the delivery process.
Inaccurate flow measurementFor regulatory, fiscal and allocation flow-metering
requirements, operators are responsible for ensuring that their
flow meter readings are accurate. However, depending upon a
meter’s location, eg upstream or downstream of the separator,
particle erosion may have a significant adverse impact on a
flow meter’s accuracy, reliability and body integrity.
Upstream of the separator, sand particles are likely to
be in the flow stream all the time, the sand concentration
(level) varying throughout the life of the well. Flow meters
located downstream of the separator are likely to receive flow
streams relatively free of sand particles, depending upon the
effectiveness of the separator in trapping and removing the
particles. However, whenever there is a production upset in
the separator, sand particles (potentially high levels) could
pass through the flow meters and this could easily cause the
Erosion tests have shown that there are different areas of wear within pipework and equipment depending on a number of factors, including local geometry and shape of the flow path, the fluid/ particle velocity, sand concentration, particle size, shape and hardness
20 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Special feature - asset protection
NELJohn Peters is principal consultant at NEL, a world-class provider of technical consultancy, research, measurement, testing and flow measurement services to the energy and oil and gas industries, as well as government. Part of the TÜV SÜD Group, the company is a global centre of excellence for flow measurement and fluid flow systems and is the custodian of the UK’s National Flow Measurement Standards.
For further information please visit:tuvnel.com
life extension of existing assets and fields within the oil and
gas industry. Any unforeseen downtime caused by erosion
to equipment has a direct and major impact on operator
performance and productivity. The erosive flow facility
enables industry to fully investigate the effects of erosion and
implement control measures on equipment. This is vital for
ensuring the long-term viability of the industry.
Erosion testingNEL has undertaken a wide range of erosive flow tests on
components and equipment in both sand/water and gas/
sand flow regimes. Erosion tests have shown that there are
different areas of wear within pipework and equipment
depending on a number of factors, including local
geometry and shape of the flow path, the fluid/particle
velocity, sand concentration, particle size, shape and
hardness. Also different flow regimes- gas/sand, liquid/sand
and gas/liquid/ sand, all have different erosive flow patterns
and wear characteristics.
The flow path also influences significantly where erosion
occurs in equipment, for example sudden expansion or
contraction, bends, or a series of bends where rapid changes
in velocity or direction often have significant adverse erosion
implications. Particle velocity dominates erosion and erosion
rates - typically, doubling the particle (fluid) velocity gives a
six-fold increase in erosion rate.
CFD erosion modellingTo further understand and predict how components
and equipment are likely to perform under erosive flow
conditions, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) erosion
modelling can be used, for example, during the design phase
of wellheads, piping systems and equipment. Critical erosion
levels and potential erosion hot spots can be identified and
the wear life predicted. CFD erosion modelling therefore
provides an invaluable tool in the product development
phase to assist designers in identifying critical erosion areas
and to then optimise the design to minimise erosion.
However, CFD erosion modelling prediction techniques
are still evolving, so results cannot be relied on without
validating the CFD model with erosion test data. Such
physical testing is undertaken using erosive flow loops,
where under controlled flow conditions, known quantities of
sand flow through the equipment or component under test,
allowing engineers to accelerate erosion effects.
By subsequent examination and measurement of erosion
levels, the test data can be compared with the CFD erosion
model test predictions and the model adjusted if required.
In NEL’s experience, erosion tests often identify critical
erosion areas or hot spots that the CFD modelling does
not reasonably predict in terms of location or the level of
erosion. The “adjusted” CFD model can then be used with
greater confidence to estimate erosion levels at field operating
conditions and predict component wear-life.
While erosion is difficult to stop, operators and
manufacturers are able to take steps to minimise or control
the level of erosion and reduce the risk of serious failure.
For example, at the design stage of the pipeline, wellhead or
equipment, using CFD erosion modelling, erosion hot spots
can be eliminated or reduced to acceptable levels.
By a combination of physical erosion testing and CFD
erosion modelling, the test data can be used to validate
the erosion model. This preventative approach enables
equipment manufacturers and operators to estimate the
lifetime costs of equipment, and to plan and manage an
inspection/maintenance programme.
21EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
An expert gives you the answers you need.
Success on a big scale relies on theintegrity of every critical element
oil & gas
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The materials in the oil and gas industry are up against the world’s harshest environments. Our experts have the insight to help identify problems before they occur, ensuring that every chosen material maintains its integrity.
systems, ultra-heavy wall thickness tubulars,
reeled flowlines, risers, J-Lay welding, pipe
spool and structural fabrications.
Initial success in contracts with Heerema
Marine Contractors (HMC) led to an eventual
takeover bid in 2008, which saw HMC buying
51 per cent of the business, whilst founder
Duncan McGreggor maintained a 49 per cent
stake as CEO, reflecting the important role PTL
would play in the years to come. Because oil
and gas companies regularly call on HMC to
enable full offshore field development in the
toughest of environments in all of the world’s
seas, PTL’s order books, as a subsidiary, are
healthy. However, as a specialist in its own
right, PTL works frequently with other pipeline
installation contractors as well as some of the
large owning companies.
“Whilst we have been very active across a
number of fields, over the last eight months our
focus has been on the delivery of a major project
off the Australian coast,” begins Peter Coward,
group commercial and business development
manager. In 2012 HMC was awarded a contract
Following a review of working
practices, procedures and welding methods in
pipeline construction, and an evaluation of the
industry’s future needs, the potential for the
introduction of automatic welding techniques
was highlighted. It was at this point in 1998 that
Pipeline Technique Ltd (PTL) headquartered
in Huntly, Scotland was established, focused
on specialising in the niche area of automatic
pipeline welding in the oil and gas sector.
Growth of the business has proven to be
rapid with employee numbers rising from
an initial 15 in 1998 to a peak level of 350
throughout the world. Although a UK business,
the majority of the company’s turnover is
overseas and is largely for work on pipelines
being installed in ultra-deep waters. A US
subsidiary was established in 2002 to service
the American market, and the company has an
additional permanent presence in Australia and
Asia, reflecting international demand of the skill
set that includes double, quad and hex joints,
collars, tendons and connectors, pipe-in-pipe
systems, ultra-deepwater pipeline and riser
Welding the
PROFILE PIPELInE TEchnIquE
23EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
arc
Bridging the gap between ‘what if’ and ‘when’...
In a market where asset assurance is a fundamental principle, Exova has a proud track record of supporting organisations at the forefront of globaloil and gas exploration, productionand distribution.
Exova can help you get to where you're going, get in touch for a chat. t. + 44 (0) 330 222 0321e. europe@exova.comw. www.exova.com
Testing, calibrating, advising.
Eurpoean_Oil&Gas_Magazine_2014.indd 1 31/03/2014 13:41:51
to transport and install infield production flow
lines, riser line, subsea structures and moorings
for the Ichthys Project, contracting all pipeline
production welding, both onshore and offshore
to PTL. “Reel lay activities will be implemented
using the new deepwater construction vessel
(DCV) Aegir, with a 2 x 2000 tonne reel
capacity. Utilising a purpose built spoolbase site
in Batam, Indonesia we are welding 12 metre
lengths of pipe together to produce 500 metre
sections, which are then reeled onto the spools.
The scope additionally requires operations at
a multi-joint site close to the spoolbase where
quad joints are produced for the J-lay capabilities
of the vessel.”
Speaking from the R&D centre that
concentrates purely on the fundamental basis of
the business; automatic welding, Peter explains:
“We have actually developed our own automatic
welding system here in Scotland, which we
began designing in 2007. We utilise our ‘HALO’
system wherever possible, and have a team
constantly working on its development. Initially
the system was a single torch/single head design,
which we developed into a dual torch design.
Subsequently we have been able to tie that
design into various different welding machines,
so it may be used with most welding power
sources on the market.” Rossweld Engineering
has supplied the company with welding
packages consumables and contract peripherals
for UK and international contracts since 2007.
“Primarily we work in the offshore business,”
says Peter. “However, our expertise on occasions
results in responding to the demand of
constructing land based pipelines. As such, we
are currently involved in the installation of a
42” diameter line in Australia that we expect to
complete by February 2015.
“Working in locations around the globe that
are extremely strict on local content legislation,
it was necessary to establish a solution to
develop the right skills to operate the specialist
equipment both onshore and offshore. For
training purposes a complete mock up of the
vessel welding stations were developed at
our centre in Huntly. Having selected a crew
from Australia, we brought them back to the
simulator for intensive and specific training,
qualifying in line with the project requirements.
The success we have achieved and the level of
dedication from all involved is something of
which we are very proud.”
The importance of the R&D has been
highlighted in the success of securing projects
worldwide. Equipment must be constantly
developed to ensure the business stays at the
front-end of this sophisticated niche market,
and in its development centres, research is
permanently ongoing. “We are also very active
in field joint coating developments, undertaking
concentrated testing before procedure
qualification testing. Our FJC mock up facility
allows us to do that, and through imitating
actual site setup for land based lines and offshore
environments, we are able to further automate
and improve the equipment with new processes
and consumables,” Peter highlights.
PROFILE PIPELInE TEchnIquE
25EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Exova
Exova is proud to work closely with Pipeline Technique as one of its major suppliers. In a market where asset assurance is a fundamental principle, we have a proud track record of supporting organisations such as Pipeline Technique through the provision of technically demanding testing. We are a partner for life, independently assuring the performance of assets from R&D, through to operation, life extension and disposal.We are experts in corrosion, coatings, asset life management, failure analysis, metal testing, environmental testing and Immersion Ultrasonic Testing (IUT).Our teams of oil and gas testing experts are committed to delivering independent assurance on safety and performance. We also have recognised capabilities in critical but routine weld testing, including weld procedures, weld certification and metallurgy for pipelines and other oil and gas assets. When you are under the world’s spotlight, it is the silence of our results that are the measure of success
Pipeline Techniquepipelinewelders.com
ServicesPipeline and riser welding contractor
recognised as a tough location for numerous
reasons, and projects here hold an interesting
challenge. However, over the next few years it
is important that we increase our client base,
as well as nurture existing relationships from
strength to strength. Ultimately it is our intention
to be the welding contractor of choice.”
The drop in oil price has been considerable in
recent months, but despite that, PTL continues
to see clients’ commitment to projects with
future activities lined up on works relating to a
large offshore project in West Africa. Providing
a brief insight into the market, Peter adds: “It
was actually the period between 2012 and 2013
when we were at our quietest. Things have
really picked up over the last 12 months and
2015/16 is looking positive. We are progressively
developing into new segments offshore, securing
a shallow water contract earlier this year, which
commences in January 2015.”
Working within a specialist environment is
indicative of the very narrow margin for error,
and one aspect, which PTL heavily promotes, is
that of dedication to quality. “We work to some
very high standards and high specifications, and
in the history of the business we have achieved
many ‘worlds firsts’, particularly with large
diameter pipework and deepwater climates. The
specifications that we are working to are highly
stringent and extremely critical,” says Peter,
highlighting that PTL’s next project offshore
West Africa commences soon: “This region is
PROFILE PIPELInE TEchnIquE
26 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Applus RTD
Applus RTD is pleased to be able to supply our specialist non-destructive testing and inspection services to Pipeline Technique, wherever we have a joint presence across the globe.Our UK business association with Pipeline Technique is also a source of pride to us and we look forward to building and further developing our relationship in the years ahead.
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Furthermore Coltraco is present within several
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data centres, automobile manufacturing,
pharmaceutical sectors, high rise buildings,
server rooms and switching gear rooms, where
most of these applications are now protected
by expensive FM-200 or NOVEC 1230 fire
systems. Many of these systems are ideally
suited for Coltaco Ultrasonics’ Portalevel liquid
level indicator, demonstrating the company’s
lead in the niche field of non-invasive, portable
and ultrasonic liquid level measurement
and contents monitoring for clean agent fire
suppression systems.
Today Coltraco Ultrasonics is the OEM of the
Portalevel and Portascanner technologies, which
it has manufactured for over 20 years. To date
the company has supplied more than 15,000
units to clients in 104 countries, which has
proven to be the driving force in propelling the
business to becoming the leading manufacturer
that it is today, with a specialised portfolio of 14
systems and products.
Within the oil and gas sector Coltraco
Ultrasonics has supplied many of the industry’s
leading operators. Its Portalevel series of
products and systems have been successfully
deployed in both onshore and offshore
applications including most of the North Sea’s
160 platforms in both the UK and Norwegian
sectors. At sea Coltraco Ultrasonics units are
present aboard most types of vessels including
gas carriers, bulk carriers, oil tankers, chemical
and product carriers. Furthermore Portalevel
MAX Marine products are also applied within
other maritime sectors including ferries, cruise
ships and defence, where the company has
delivered large amounts of equipment to the
fleets of the US Navy, Royal Navy and various
Commonwealth and European navies.
The manufactured products provided by
Coltraco Ultrasonics include the UL-approved
Portalevel MAX 8th generation portable
ultrasonic liquid level indicator, which was
developed over the course of two years to
ensure that the unit provides the quickest and
simplest method for identifying the contents
of CO2, FM200, NOVEC 1230, FE-13, FE-25
& FE-36, Halon and a variety of similar liquid
gaseous fire suppression agents, as well as most
oil and water based substances. Additionally,
the Portalevel Standard 7th generation portable
ultrasonic level indicator provides the ideal
ultrasonic solution for land-based applications
in identifying cylinder content of CO2, FM200,
NOVEC 1230 and a variety of similar clean
agent suppressant systems.
These units are vital in monitoring and
maintaining substance levels in a host of safety
critical fire protection systems that might
otherwise suffer from diminished levels due to
accidental discharge or slow seepage of contents.
assetsProtecting
AbovePortagauge
BelowPortascanner
PROFILE COLtRACO ULtRASOnICS
27EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Coltraco Ultrasonicscoltraco.co.uk
ServicesUltrasonic design and manufacture
thickness gauging requirements including the
corrosion testing of any metal.
Additionally the Portascanner II ultrasonic
watertight integrity test indicator is capable of
inspecting any watertight, airtight or weather
tight seals for areas of leaking or reduced
compression in the seal, particularly in
watertight compartment doors and multiple
cable transit areas. This is a vital consideration in
offshore and subsea installations where leaks can
lead to the damage or destruction of equipment
housed within the legs of offshore platforms or
even the capsizing of structures.
As such, the combined portfolio of Coltraco
Untrasonics represents a comprehensive package
of high-quality and safety critical systems for the
offshore oil and gas sector.
As the market leader in ultrasonic measuring
devices, exporting 95 per cent of its output to
104 countries, Coltraco Ultrasonics is present
in markets all over the globe and has earned
a trusted reputation for quality and integrity.
Indeed, the company offers a uniform pricing
policy for all of its clients regardless of their
location, so that customers can order from
Coltraco Ultrasonics in complete confidence that
they will receive the highest level of quality at a
fair price.
As the business grows, it will continue to
rely on the support of both its clients and its
partners within the scientific community, as
Carl concludes: “Coltraco Ultrasonics has a
commitment to science and we are proud to
support British graduate and postgraduate
physicists and mathematicians. We have received
an incredible level of support from the British
research community, particularly from UK
universities. We aim to design and manufacture
the most mathematically accurate products and
systems in our fields of ultrasonic measurement
and monitoring. Science is our underlying basis
to provide the offshore oil and gas industry with
the best equipment in our fields of clean agent
fire suppression system monitoring, watertight
integrity testing of W/T compartment doors, and
Cable Transit Areas.”
DuPont™, FM-200®, and FE-241™, FE-13™,
FE-25™, FE-36™ are trademarks or registered
trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
or its affiliates. Novec™ 1230 is a trademark owned
by 3M™. Coltraco, Portalevel®, Permalevel®,
Portascanner®, Permascanner® Portagauge® and
Portasonic™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Coltraco Limited.
The Portalevel Standard and Portalevel MAX
are supported by the Portalevel Datalogger,
which represents the world’s first ultrasonic level
indicator that is capable of recording, storing and
downloading readings. This provides operators
with a simple, efficient and cost-effective solution
for collecting and storing up to 1000 cylinders
worth of readings for evidential work. Again, this
unit is capable of operating with a wide range of
high value fire extinguishing agents.
As Coltraco Ultrasonics approached its 25th
anniversary it was proud to unveil its Permalevel
Multiplex fixed fire suppression system
monitoring system with remote monitoring
capability and with integrated data recording. The
system allows the continuous monitoring of fixed
gaseous fire suppression systems 24 hours a day,
seven days a week, every day of the year from
any location on the planet. This offers clients
peace of mind that no accidental discharge or
leakage goes unnoticed, and it is compatible with
any existing alarm system and central control
station in order to relay current status and alert
any change in level, making the system ideal for
high value assets and hazardous environments.
“Permalevel Multiplex is the world’s first
ultrasonic fixed contents monitoring system
for clean agent suppression systems used in
offshore oil and gas installations to safeguard this
critical infrastructure from accidental discharge
or slow leakage of these pressurised systems,”
says Coltraco Ultrasonics CEO, Carl Hunter. “It
contains a datalogger so that all measurements
are recoded and three layers of remote
monitoring; in the cylinder room, integrated
into the alarm system and a remote monitoring
capability so that the whole system’s contents
can be monitored from a central monitoring
point. Business continuity values of an offshore
oil and gas installation, which itself can be up to
$2 billion, often exceed $500,000 per day. It is
to aid this essential business continuity that we
designed this system.”
Coltraco Ultrasonics is also able to support
the business continuity of high-value offshore
assets through the provision of its Portaguage
III ultrasonic thickness gauge and its ultrasonic
watertight integrity test indicator, Portascanner.
Often oil and gas installations operate within
harsh marine environments where corrosion and
metal fatigue are constant threats, particularly to
the aging infrastructure found in the North Sea
oil fields. The Portaguage III, launched in March
2013, provides an incredibly robust, reliable
and accurate solution to the vast majority of
Additionally the Portascanner II ultrasonic watertight integrity test indicator is capable of inspecting any watertight, airtight or weather tight seals for areas of leaking or reduced compression in the seal, particularly in watertight compartment doors and multiple cable transit areas
PROFILE COLtRaCO ULtRasOnICs
29EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
aboveWatertight doors
“At the same time UBHI itself moved away
from the standard market to focus on building
higher added value, specialist tank containers,
optimising and exploiting its accumulated
expertise to build a new, highly profitable
niche business.”
As a result of this approach, the company
consistently returns a healthy manufacturing
profit from its UK operations, whilst most of the
employees, who number around 75, have
a shareholding in the company and thus
benefit from the company’s success by way of
regular dividends.
This success has continued since UBHI was
last featured in European Oil & Gas Magazine
in 2013, as Tom was happy to confirm: “The
last year has seen very high levels of production
of larger offshore tanks (10 ft and 20 ft DNV-
approved tanks) for the oil and gas industry, as
well as continued high demand for the more
familiar 4000-litre offshore chemical tanks.
Steady demand has also held up for the 2000-
and 3000-gallon nitrogen tanks, which the
company supplies for well stimulation operations
around the globe and for specialist equipment
such as mud-gas separators, which represent a
niche product in which UBHI has developed an
excellent reputation thanks to its engineering and
specialist vessel manufacturing skills.”
2013 also witnessed the outright purchase
of the company’s production facility (hitherto
Enjoying a worldwide
reputation for excellence in design and quality
UBH International (UBHI) is the UK's only
manufacturer of the full range of inter-modal
tank-containers for the secure transportation
of bulk liquids (both chemical and food-grade)
and gases.
Inter-modal tank-containers can be used
interchangeably for road, rail and sea transport
worldwide, and this means that they have
considerable ecological advantages, being almost
infinitely reusable with a service life that can
easily exceed 20 years. They are strong and
damage resistant, and so minimise the danger
of accidental release of potentially harmful
pollutants into the environment.
The history of UBHI began over five decades
ago, and it has been through various evolutions
to become the market leader it is today. A
constant feature of these changes has been
UBHI’s willingness to adapt, as Tom Harding,
sales director, highlighted: “In the late 1990s,
UBHI was the world’s second largest producer of
tank-containers. However, recognising the threat
posed by low-cost manufacturing in China,
UBHI embraced the situation, licensing its
standard designs of tank-container to a Chinese
container builder at the start of what became a
spectacularly successful ten-year alliance, which
has seen its licensee become the world’s largest
manufacturer of standard tank containers.
commanders
PROFILE UBH IntERnatIOnaL
Tank
30 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
UBH International Ltdwww.ubh.co.uk
ProductsTank containers
and environmental security,” noted Tom.
As it enters the New Year, UBHI plans to
continue with the great strides it has made in
the tank-container market. “Its focus will remain
on the development of the range of offshore
tank containers and 10 ft and 20 ft DNV-
approved tanks to improve safety characteristics,
to facilitate ground operation of valves, to
minimise tare weight, and maximise capacity,
thus optimising the number of tank moves,”
explained Tom. “It will also continue to develop
its range of cryogenic tanks to encompass the
full range of liquefied gas transport needs,
including LNG. Particular focus has been placed
on enhancing pipework integrity and resilience
to optimise performance and durability in the
rigorous conditions found in the oil and gas
industry. Overall, the company will keep up
its attention on the skills and competencies it
has already established, in order to maintain its
world’s leading position.”
leased) covering 100,000 sq ft. on a four-acre
site. Tom explained that this investment was
the beginning of a sustained period of progress,
which has included installing larger cranes
to allow the handling of higher capacity and
higher pressure gas tanks, as well as the mud-gas
separators and larger offshore tanks for which
the company has developed a strong reputation.
“We have also acquired new welding equipment
to improve weld integrity and manufacturing
efficiency, and made general improvements to
the fabric of the buildings to enhance safety,
efficiency and economy,” added Tom.
Given the careful attention to detail and a
constant determination to improve the design,
safety and effectiveness of tank equipment,
it is no surprise UBHI has a steadily growing
reputation within the oil and gas industry. “The
company’s principal products are transportable
tanks and tank-containers for chemicals and
cryogenic gases, and a wide range of such tanks
are required in the oil and gas industry for both
on- and offshore operations.
“As well as transportability and robustness,
safety is key, and UBHI has developed a range
of tanks which responds to the rigorous
expectations of oil and gas clients,” Tom
continued. “Ease and economy of transport to
and from the well-head is assured, with tanks
being mounted in strong protective frames
equipped with slings and fork pockets, and
with DNV, CSC or other relevant approvals
as required. With damage to tank frames an
everyday occurrence in the offshore business,
tanks can be built to a bolt-in design, allowing
easy removal of the vessel while frame repairs are
carried out, and if necessary enabling quick, easy
and economical replacement of the entire frame.
“The UBHI range of tanks for the oil and
gas industry is bringing benefits to companies
around the globe, not only in efficiency and
profitability but also, critically, in employee safety
Ease and economy of transport to and from the well-head is assured, with tanks being mounted in strong protective frames equipped with slings and fork pockets, and with DNV, CSC or other relevant approvals as required
PROFILE UBH IntERnatIOnaL
31EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
32 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Although a relatively new
venture, A.Hak Drillcon (part of A. Hak which
celebrated its 50 years’ anniversary in 2013) has
developed a leading reputation in the field of
trenchless technology, specialising in the design
and execution of underground tunnelling and
drilling of pipelines, casings, culverts, cables
and more for the oil and water, petrochemical,
telecommunications and energy industries. “On
the 18th of December 2014 we celebrated the
fifth anniversary of A.Hak Drillcon,” observes
managing director Ronald Van Krieken. “In
2009, we started small-scale and since then
we have become a global player in trenchless
technology with over 100 highly motivated and
hard working staff. We are all very proud of
reaching this milestone and we have undertaken
some technically challenging and large-scale
projects, as well as many smaller drillings.”
To date A.Hak Drillcon has executed a
number of highly specialised projects for both
internal and many external clients, within
Europe, Canada, South America, the Middle East
and Asia. Throughout 2014 A.Hak Drillcon has
continued to win new contracts within a number
of industry sectors as Ronald elaborates: “In
September 2014 A.Hak Drillcon was awarded a
contract by Energie und Wasser Potsdam (EWP)
for the execution of five HDD crossings under
the Brauhausberg ('Brewery hill') in Potsdam,
near Berlin. These crossings are part of a new
110 kV and 10 kV cable network, which is being
constructed in the city of Potsdam. The works
comprise of the supply, welding, drilling and
pull-in of HDPE ducts in bundles of 4x200mm
and 110+160mm. After completion, EWP will
pull its electricity cables into these ducts. The
total length to be drilled is 1700m. The crossings
commence at the Geotechnical Research
Institute at the Brauhausberg and terminate at
various junctions at street level.”
Further to the contracts that it has won with
EWP, A.Hak Drillcon has also worked closely
with Gasunie Deutschland and Open Grid
Europe throughout 2014, as Ronald further
explains: “Gasunie Deutschland and Open
Grid Europe have recently awarded the drilling
works associated with the Elbedüker project to
A.Hak Drillcon as main contractor. The project
comprises of the tunnelling of a concrete
casing under the river Elbe, to accommodate
the new gas pipeline that will secure the safe
supply of natural gas to Northern Germany
and Scandinavia.
“The permits were successfully obtained and
on 14th August 2014 drilling commenced in a
24-hours double-shift system and on December
4th 2014 we concluded the drilling. The length
of the route is 1525m. The AVMD 2400/AB
3000 machine is deployed for the insertion of
the concrete casing. Subsequently, two high-
pressure gas pipelines of 30’ will be inserted into
the tunnel in addition to a few bundles of HDPE
ducts for future cable use. The remaining void
will then be grouted entirely.”
A.Hak is able to supply its clients with
fully turnkey solutions in trenchless drilling
technology, encompassing everything from
engineering to applying for a license. Once
the company has been given the location and
the preconditions of crossings it has all of the
information it needs to produce a complete
design and secure the necessary approval. Once
the application is granted, A.Hak will move
swiftly into execution of the project. As such,
the company ensures that it is able to offer its
An embedded
PROFILE A.HAk DRILLcOn
A.Hak Drillcon B.V.a-hakdrillcon.nl
ServicesTrenchless drilling technology
clients a full spectrum of trenchless technologies
including horizontal direction drilling (HDD),
up to 500 ton capacity, micro tunnelling up to
OD 3.000mm; direct-pipe drilling; pilot guided
auger-boring and impact ramming. Besides its
existing technologies, within A. Hak Drillcon
a dedicated team works on innovations on a
daily basis in order to provide it’s clients the best
solutions, now and in the future.
Between May 2013 and April 2014, A.Hak
was involved in a project that made use of a
number of its specialist trenchless technologies
for its client, Gasunie. ‘Gas Hub’ represented a
significant investment for Gasunie that would
transform into an integrated gas infrastructure
utilised for the production, transport, storage
and transit of gas for the European market. One
of the major operations within this project was
the construction of a new gas transport pipeline
between the Dutch towns of Beverwijk and
Wijngaarden. A.Hak Leidingbouw and A.Hak
Drillcon was granted two of the three lots of
this trajectory and thus became responsible for
the construction of 60 kilometers of this 48"
gas transport pipeline. This was a challenging
project, in part because of the surrounding soil
conditions and water management requirements
and also due to the abundance of railroads and
waterways in a varying landscape. This left it
up to A.Hak to ensure that it delivered the most
suitable drilling solution at every location.
Horizontal directional drilling, for example
was employed for long crossings. HDD
operations were carried out using a 250, 330
ton mega rig and later a 500 ton mega rig. These
operations were complicated by the presence of
ground water so the rigs were often deployed on
mounds and special return pipelines for drilling
fluid were constructed both above and below the
surface. Throughout the project micro tunnelling
was carried out using medium-capacity steel
gas pipelines, while in areas containing railroad
crossings concrete case tubes were used.
Adjacent to Highway A4 near Hoofddorp, close
to Schiphol International Airport, the local
N201 road and its neighbouring business park
were crossed using the direct pipe method. This
method was selected as the available space was
limited and this drilling method allows for work
with short pipeline sections.
Although A.Hak Drillcon is a relatively new
business, it has rapidly developed a leading
reputation as a vital partner in trenchless
technology through the delivery of several
specialised technique and swift, turnkey service.
As such, the journey of A.Hak Drillcon is set to
continue for many years.
A.Hak is able to supply its clients with fully turnkey solutions in trenchless drilling technology, encompassing everything from engineering to applying for a license
PROFILE A.HAk DRILLcOn
33EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
34 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Founded in 1958, IHC Vremac
Cylinders has a 56-year history in the
engineering and manufacture of hydraulic
cylinders, swivels and accumulators. The
business was incorporated with only four
members of staff and has today grown into a
global player, with a workforce of over 110
people as part of the Royal IHC group.
Initially Vremac provided repair services for
hydraulic cylinders for clients across several
industrial sectors, and the company has become
synonymous with market-leading design and
manufacture. So much so that during 2007
Vremac became part of the IHC Merwede
Group after operating as a trusted supplier
to the company for many years. Later during
June 2014, ICH Merwede became Royal IHC
in celebration of its award of the honorary title
of Koninklijk (Royal) by His Majesty the King
Willem-Alexander, incorporating the name
Royal and the image of the crown into its
corporate identity. Following this accolade both
Royal IHC and IHC Vremac have continued to
grow from strength to strength. “Having Royal
IHC as a parent company and owning our own
production capabilities allows us to fabricate
equipment in-house, which means that we
understand the full life-cycle of our products at
every step of fabrication and engineering,” says
sales manager, Jacco Lemmen. “We also share
moveour clients’ understanding of operation from
vessels and rigs as well as what is possible and
what are the limitations of these environments.”
The strong foundation provided by Royal IHC
and close to six decades of operation within the
oil and gas industry has allowed IHC Vremac
to continuously adapt it’s product portfolio and
service offering to reflect the changing needs of
its clients. “IHC Vremac was founded as a repair
company then later on we also began to focus on
hydraulics and presses,” Jacco elaborates. “After
some time the business shifted to focus exclusively
on cylinders, however over the past three or
four years we have again increased our product
portfolio to include piston accumulators and
pressure vessels, all of which are in-line with the
cylinders. Additionally the company has its own
swivel range, the newest and latest is the MaXine -
a passive heave compensation (PHC) system.”
The MaXine PHC is an engineered solution
to the challenges imposed on lifting operations
in maritime environments by peak forces that
stem from the oscillation of waves. The MaXine
range of heave compensators reduces the stress
of these forces and extends the weather window,
allowing operators to minimise downtime and
work for longer periods in high sea states. The
system is positioned between the crane hook
and the load to keep the rope taut at all times. It
reduces the peaks and troughs by following the
The right
PROFILE IHC VREmaC CyLIndERs
35EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
MTV Metallveredlung GmbH & Co. KG
MTV Metallveredlung is a technology and market leader in the field of functional surface technology as well as the development of new functional coatings for highest corrosion protection and wear resistance. With unit weights up to 120 t and its own R&D department, MTV can plate very big parts and develop application specific coating processes like NiL35 and NICABOR with its customers. For IHC Vremac, MTV electroplates special hydraulic cylinders for the offshore industry, which require a durable seawater resistance.
IHC Vremac Cylinders B.V.ihcvremaccylinders.com
ServicesHydraulic cylinders, swivels and accumulators
the first three successive demonstrations were
measured and proved to be exactly correct, a
clear indication that the MaXine 50 PHC is fit
for purpose. “We received some useful feedback
from the crane driver, who was initially sceptical
about the demonstration,” commented Jacco.
“However, his opinion was transformed when
the hoisting of a five-tonne deadweight ran so
smoothly. The energy generated by lowering
this weight was successfully consumed by the
acceleration of the remaining load and the
weight of the MaXine 50 PHC.”
The highly successful demonstration of the
MaXine 50 and the potential for further product
development has generated rapidly increasing
levels of interest in IHC Vremac’s products. The
company has worked with clients including
leading subsea players like Subsea 7 and
Technip, and during the course of 2014 open
quotations and tenders for its PHC systems have
increased from three to four open quotations
to as many as 30 to 40 ongoing enquiries. In
fact, there has been a very positive response
from the market, with a number of outstanding
quotations and a continued growth in interest.
However, rather than simply ride the wave of its
current success, IHC Vremac is committed to
further enhancing its service offering to meet the
needs of the offshore oil and gas market.
Presently the company is keen to transform
its rich knowledge base into solid solutions
lifting through the ocean splash zone and the
safe installation of sensitive subsea equipment.
Through further growth and co-operation with
prospective future partners, IHC Vremac hopes
to redefine the standards of offshore heavy
lifting. “We have discovered that the market for
PHCs is not very mature at all and it is also a
new a market for the operators because up to
five to six years ago there was not a solution to
solve these kinds of problems. I think all the
possibilities are still there to be explored with
PHCs, so it is the beginning of a new way of
thinking but my vision is that within five to ten
years that it will be mandatory that all cranes
without active heave compensation to more
PHCs,” Jacco says. “For the next 12 months
we will continue to focus on cylinders and
providing excellent service to customers, while
increasing our focus on the MaXine range. These
are relatively new but there is a big market for
them and we have had a very positive response
from the sector, so we will work to make
ourselves known and build up our rental fleet.
We currently have four units and I think this
number should double next year at least.”
motion of the sea and allows work to proceed
safely, efficiently and in a controlled manner, and
can even be used under water. In addition the
MaXine acts as a stand-alone system, eliminating
the need for an external power source.
IHC Vremac Cylinders has designed a
comprehensive range of MaXine heave
compensators, which are capable of handling
weights of between 50 and 500 tonnes, and
it continues to evolve the technology in-line
with market needs. During October 2013 for
example, the company unveiled its MaXine
50 PHC with a physical demonstration of the
product at work, which was attended by a
number of heavy lift experts. A series of tests
were conducted at IHC Vremac headquarters at
Apeldoorn in the Netherlands, in co-operation
with Biglift and Mammoet that demonstrated
the capability and efficiency of the MaXine
PHC system. A 12.2 tonne crane utilised the
MaXine 50 PHC unit to hoist a heavy plate from
ground level and the crane’s hoisting ropes were
gathered together into a single shackle, which
was in turn connected to a quick-release hook
that was finally welded to the plate itself.
The hoisting of the crane led to the extension
of the MaXine 50 PHC in much the same way
as a spring and when the quick-release hook
was activated, the MaXine PHC contracted and
the plate was pulled upwards. The hoisting
speed, height and combination of natural
frequency and damping were all important
parameters highlighted by IHC Vremac and
PROFILE IHC VREmaC CyLIndERs
36 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Netherlands B.V.
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions’ Turcon® M12 excels in virtually any hydraulic applicationExtensive testing has shown Turcon® M12 has exceptional performance against the most important hydraulic sealing characteristics, such as wear, friction and high-pressure operation. The PTFE based sealing material is also resistant to virtually all media, including a broad range of lubricants.The cost-effective material provides customers with extended seal life, as well as a wide operating window in terms of temperature, pressure and velocity, and performs as well or better than specialised compounds in each parameter.Turcon® M12 is recommended as the material of choice for a wide variety of hydraulic applications.
Features and benefits:S��Resistant to virtually all media
including a broad range of lubricantsS���Outstanding wear resistance and
friction characteristicsS�Provides extended seal lifeS���Operates in wide temperature,
pressure and velocity rangesS���Minimal abrasion of hardware,
preventing damage to counter surfaces
S�Robust for harsh environmentsS�Good resistance to extrusionS���Less environmental impact as it
does not include bronze fillersS���Reduced stock holding and fewer
items to handleS�Cost-effective solution
Based in Stockton-on Tees,
England, Marine Fabricators has proven to be a
trusted provider of medium to heavy fabrication
projects designed for a number of applications
across the oil and gas, offshore, marine and
renewable energy industries. The business has
been in operation since 1998 and has earned a
strong reputation in the fabrication of bespoke
as well as more conventional structures. In fact
the company was originally established at the
suggestion of some of its clients who saw the
potential for its founders to take a leading role
in a niche market, as founder and managing
director, Steve Reed elaborates: “Originally two
of us set the company up. We had previously
been employed in similar work; that is to say
marine and offshore manufacture. We were
encouraged by some of our customers to begin
our own venture, and we started with a large
project to provide three carousels for a vessel
conversion for DSND, as it was then. That
company has since become part of Subsea 7.”
Following the successful delivery of its first
projects, Marine Fabricators has continued
to grow and has increased the size of its
fabrication facilities from two bays within the
main fabrication shop at Haverton Hill Shipyard
(formerly Swan Hunter) to seven bays covering
a combined area of approximately 45,000
ft2. During 2008 with financial support from
One North East and The European Regional
Development Fund the company installed a new
wireless controlled 40 tonne overhead travelling
crane, with a second unit arriving in 2011. The
fabrication shop is currently served by three
15 tonne as well as the two 40 tonne overhead
travelling cranes with maximum hook heights
of 10.5 metres and 17 metres respectively.
Furthermore during 2009, to meet project
requirements Marine Fabricators manufactured
and installed a triple-panel sliding door, 17.2
metres wide and 15 metres high in bay seven of
its workshop. This grants the facility effective
access to a 2000 tonne capacity load out quay,
while the site also benefits from excellent access
to the local road network with wide-load access
to the A19 and therefore the A1. Other nearby
quayside facilities, which are easily accessible,
include Tees Offshore Base and the deepwater
port Tees Dock. “We originally started with two
bays of the old shipyard fabrication hall, around
15,000 square feet, and we have since expanded
that to seven bays in response to the increased
workload. We are currently mostly involved
in the production of cable and pipe laying
equipment for ships. We have also undertaken
offshore standard and other more specialised
fabrication projects too,” says Steve.
“With the increase in the amount of floor
space that we had available to us we were
able to turnover twice as many contracts and
by increasing our workforce to meet demand
A lasting
PROFILE MaRInE FaBRIcaTORS
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With its strong portfolio of completed works, ideally designed fabrication facilities and well-connected location, Marine Fabricators is set to continue long into the future
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Marine Fabricatorsmarinefabricators.co.uk
ServicesMedium to heavy fabrication
39EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Indeed Marine Fabricators shows no signs
of slowing down as the demand for its large-
scale production and installation capabilities
continues to grow within the renewables and
offshore sectors. In this respect, the company’s
proven track record is a key asset that continues
to drive the business forward, as Steve explains:
“We have a strong track record, especially where
carousels are concerned. We have shown that
we are consistently able to build them very
efficiently. We produce good quality products
and do so on time – which is crucial.”
With its strong portfolio of completed works,
ideally designed fabrication facilities and well-
connected location, Marine Fabricators is set to
continue long into the future. The company’s
strengths are in its ability to provide solutions
in a niche market as well as to take on more
standard or larger projects. This diverse range
of solutions makes Marine Fabricators Ltd
a key partner for clients looking for reliable
fabrication solutions.
we were able to increase our financial return
accordingly,” he adds. “We are almost at single
shift capacity now, limited by the floor space. We
currently do not have any plans to expand on a
permanent basis, however we do have options
for the hire of another site. Then of course we
would be operating two sites, which is never as
efficient. So this is something we will consider in
conjunction with our future workflow.”
Previous projects undertaken by Marine
Fabricators include overboarding/lay towers
with capacities from 60 tonnes to 200 tonnes;
sheaves: 600 dia. wire rope sheaves, through
to 6000 dia. over-boarding vee-sheaves;
carousels: (for flexible pipe and power cable)
from 750 tonne capacity 15 metre diameter to
7000 tonne 27 metre diameter, (50+ carousels
manufactured to date); tensioner systems:
currently up to 30 tonnes capacity, (ten 30
tonne tensioners manufactured to date); pipe
handling equipment: hydraulically operated
spooling arms and chute structures; ROV
launch and recovery systems for Lawson
Engineers and the Kizomba TLP and A-Frames
up to 150 tonnes capacity.
The company’s investment into its fabrication
facilities in anticipation of increasing market
demand has allowed the business to double its
turnover in recent history and the market is still
looking strong. Presently Marine Fabricators is
completing a 7000 tonne carousel for MAATS
Tech Ltd and is in the process of tendering for
a number of major projects for two important
clients. Furthermore, the company has a strong
order book for the next 18 months, throughout
2015 and into 2016.
Today the company serves a number of clients
across a range of industries and its previous
customers include 2H Offshore, Amclyde
Norson, CTC Marine Projects, Heerema
Hartlepool Ltd, EMAS AMC, BAE Systems and
Technip Offshore Ltd amongst others. Its main
customers at the moment are MAATS Tech as
well as AmClyde Norson Engineering and the
Norwegian company DEMAnor. Commenting
on the company’s current customer base Steve
says: “MAATS Tech are by far our current largest
customer in terms of capital value and tonnage
through the workshop. DEMAnor are a new
client and the first Norwegian customer for us.
We manufactured a winch mounting system,
which was then shipped to them in northern
Norway. We have been discussing several large
projects with them for renewables cable storage
and handling equipment.”
PROFILE MaRInE FabRIcatORs
Angle Ring
Angle Ring has been at the forefront of the steel bending industry for over 60 years and offers the UK’s widest range of bending solutions to meet today’s markets. Significant investment ensures we remain the UK’s number one, and new plate rolls now allow 100mm thick plate to be rolled in widths up to 3000mm. Plate can also be pressed in lengths up to 10,000mm and up to 200mm thick.
forceUse the and Stones floating units.
Since it was previously featured in European
Oil & Gas Magazine in July 2014, head of
BHDT’s oil and energy department Manuel
Prohaska claims that although the oil and gas
industry has been affected by oil prices and
project delays, the company has enjoyed a strong
financial year thanks to an impressive number
of orders: “The first two quarters of the financial
year have been fantastic, with a lot of orders
for our special types of flanges, pressure spools,
valves and cladding, which have been used
in a number of projects. In fact, two to three
months in we have already achieved 60 per cent
of our goals for the year; since these positive
developments our oil and energy department
has unfortunately been severely affected by
the postponement of several projects that were
announced for the second half of 2014. This has
been difficult for us, but by the end of March
2015, when our business year comes to a close,
we will see if we achieved our goals for 2014.”
Key to the company’s success is its
commitment to maintaining a traditional
approach to business while also focusing on
the continued improvement of its products and
services. Most notably this has involved the
development of high-pressure ball valves, as
Manuel discusses: “One of our major activities
throughout 2014 was to establish an expert
group to develop high-pressure ball valves for
the subsea market and deepwater applications.
This will more or less complete our product
range as these types of valves are only common
type of high-pressure valves that we are not
yet manufacturing; I have had a number of
application talks in November and December
2014. These discussions are now almost
finalised and our development group will begin
operations in March 2015.
“The most important aspect of developing this
new product line is to comply with all relevant
API certifications; the required modifications
of our processes and quality system are already
ongoing. By mid 2015 we will have the first
innovative prototypes available. Our goal for the
second half of the year is to have the first orders
for these high-pressure ball valves to allow us
to enter the market. To ensure this happens
we will strongly focus on sales activities and
approaching clients,” he adds. Although the
company delivers approximately 2500 high-
pressure valves annually, the implementation of
ball valves into its scope of supply is viewed as a
critical development for the innovative firm. The
Originally established as the
high-pressure technology division of the Boehler
Group, BHDT’s heritage extends as far back as
1958. Since then the company has diversified its
services and developed a strong presence in new
markets, most notably by expanding into high
pressure pumps in 1979 and progressing into
the oil and gas industry in 2009; a move that
has proven highly fruitful for the company, with
dramatic growth of 50 per cent witnessed year-
on-year since 2011.
A private entity since 1996, BHDT GmbH
adopted its current name in 2007; although the
name was synonymous with the specialised
design, supply and manufacture of high pressure
equipment and components for the chemical
and petrochemical industries, BHDT used
its knowledge and expertise to successfully
develop a reputation for superior products
and service in the demanding oil and gas
market. These NORSOK conforming products
include a wide range of compact flanges, orifice
spacers and reducers, which are developed and
manufactured with high quality materials such
as Duplex, Super-duplex, high strength carbon
steel and low alloyed carbon steel. In addition,
BHDT produces pipe spools with complex
shaped geometry with the highest accuracy.
These pipe spools for instance are widely used as
“Inner Pipes” of high-pressure swivels for state-
of-the-art FPSOs or FLNGs. BHDT has recently
delivered its products for the Prelude, Ichthys
PROFILE BHDT
40 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
BHDT GmbHbhdt.at
ServicesHigh-pressure equip-ment and high-pressure components
on site so no further assembly was necessary;
this way of working reduced costs for the client
considerably and increased our involvement, so it
was a positive project for both of us.”
Despite the short length of time that BHDT
has been active in the oil and gas industry, the
company’s flexibility to market demand has
led to the accumulation of a number of blue
chip clients, such as Petrobras, Shell, BP, SBM
Offshore and Aker Solutions. “We are being
increasingly selected because we have a unique
combination of highly accurate measuring,
approximately 100 expert welders and expertise
in flange fabrication. On top of this, all of our
engineering is in-house, so all drawing, advising
and manufacturing takes place in one place,”
says Manuel.
“Our vision over the next three years is to
become a well-known and respected player in the
subsea equipment market, particularly for our
high pressure ball valves. Meanwhile, over the
next 20 years, we will focus on delivering a total
package solution to our customers,” he concludes.
relevant API certification will be also finalised by
December 2015 at the latest.
This commitment to meeting the stringent
and ever changing demands of customers within
the oil and gas industry has resulted in BHDT
increasing its scope of supply to FPSO’s over recent
years and progressing into more complex offshore
projects. “A recent notable project for us is the
FLNG Prelude project, which is the first project
where we have supplied all of the inner piping,
flanges, bolts and other equipment in the centre
of the turret. This was a very challenging project,
as Shell does not allow for any deviation, even if
this deviation would have absolutely no impact
on performance, and it rejected for instance one
of our parts as it was six micrometres too short
after performing one demonstration measurement
during an inspection. Anyway, we have learnt our
lessons and are now well prepared for upcoming
projects, e.g. the Browse FLNGs,” explains
Manuel. “Meanwhile, the Stones FPSO was
interesting for us as it allowed us to do all of the
pre-assembly of SBM Offshore’s new piping design
PROFILE BHDT
41EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
“In addition, the savings we make (by not
sub-contracting work) are passed on to our
customers, making us the most competitive
service provider in the region.”
Top Oilfield Industries was last featured in
European Oil & Gas Magazine during May 2014,
and over the past eight months it has maintained
its drive to manufacture highly reliable, high
performance and fair priced land drilling rigs
and equipment. “We have been commissioned
to build four rigs for completion in 2015, these
are designed for desert operations, are fast
moving and because our field engineers and
maintenance personnel are available throughout
the Middle East, our clients are assured of full
after sales support,” Ian noted.
It was also during 2014 that the company
opened a new division, Top Oilfield Rentals,
for drilling equipment. Ian explained the
thinking behind the launch and the benefits it
has generated: “Top Oilfield Rentals provides
highly reliable, high performance equipment
drilling equipment, engines/generators and
service equipment on a rental or lease purchase
basis. These products are available throughout
the Middle East and include BOP control units,
independently driven mud pumps, engine/
generator sets and batch mixers, cementing
units and so forth. For us the division provides
an opportunity to demonstrate the high
reliability and performance of the equipment
we manufacture. For our customers who wish
to restrict their ‘CAPEX’ purchases and use
operating revenues to undertake their activities,
renting equipment provides them with an
economical means to do so.”
The clients that Ian referred to for both rental
and purchase are major and minor drilling rig
operators throughout the Middle East, India
and North Africa. Ian noted that whilst the
issues that prevail in such places as Iraq, Libya
and Egypt etc. have without a doubt made
drilling operations more difficult in these areas,
Top Oilfield is still finding opportunities and
continued demand in the remaining (non-
sanctioned) locations.
Illustrating the organisation’s growing
order books, during 2015 the company will
be tendering for a number of projects in new
regions, as Ian highlighted: “For most of our
existence, we have provided products and
services to oil and gas drilling rig operators
throughout the Middle East. Whilst we continue
to develop our traditional regional presence, the
company’s reputation has spread and we are now
Top Oilfield was founded in 1994 in
Sharjah, UAE as a drilling equipment repair/
refurbishment service company. Over the
ensuing years the company pursued a policy of
continuous improvement in terms of the quality,
production methods and product offerings.
Significantly, this vision has resulted in Top
Oilfield receiving both ISO and API certifications
and a region wide reputation for delivering high
quality, and timely and value for money products
and services.
Ian Midgley, managing director/CEO,
expanded further on the company’s offering:
“Our services mainly cover the manufacture,
refurbishment/re-certification, repair and
upgrade of land drilling rigs. Alongside this
we also offer specialist manufacture and
maintenance services for land and offshore
drilling equipment including engine overhauls,
as well as supplying mechanical, electrical and
engineering field technicians throughout the
Middle East and beyond, who undertake vital
repair and maintenance projects in support of
our clients.”
He added: “Our commitment is that every piece
of equipment that leaves our workshops has been
overhauled to the highest industry standards,
tested and will perform to its design specifications.
We offer a ‘one-stop-shop’ concept, whereby
drilling equipment, engines, electrical work and
steel fabrication work are all undertaken in-house,
by our own personnel. This means that we retain
full control over all aspects of the projects we are
commissioned to do.
Manufacturer of
PROFILE TOP OILFIELd IndusTRIEs
42 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Top Oilfield Industries Limitedtopoilfield.com
ServicesDrilling equipment repair/refurbishment
this year, as well as a strategy for further
development and growth. “We are dedicated
and on course to complete the four new build
land rigs I mentioned previously, and our focus
is on ensuring that these rigs are manufactured
to the highest standards available anywhere in
the world and provide highly reliable and high
performance service for our customers for many,
many years,” concluded Ian. “Looking further
ahead, our vision is to become the manufacturer
of choice for land rig operators both here in the
Middle East and globally. By ensuring that our
drilling rigs are manufactured to the highest
available standards, are built on time and are
priced in accordance with Top Oilfield’s ‘fair
pricing policy’, we believe that they will be in
high demand.”
receiving interest and orders for our products
and services in new areas such as the North Sea,
Far East and newly emerging oil producers in
North Africa.
“Historically we also have supplied highly
experienced and qualified field service personnel
for projects being undertaken in Norway and
other North Sea oil producing nations, and this
will continue going forward.”
It is very encouraging that despite the
significant drop in oil prices over the past few
months, Top Oilfield is still finding strong
demand for its products and services within
its operating region. “I am optimistic that this
will continue,” added Ian. “Long-term, I believe
that once the current troubles affecting various
Middle Eastern oil producing countries subside,
the desperate need for rebuilding collapsed
oil/gas producing infrastructure will provide
opportunities for companies such as us to be
part of the recovery process.”
One month into 2015, Top Oilfield has several
significant orders on its books to complete
PROFILE TOP OILFIELd IndusTRIEs
43EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
44 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
game-changing products. Beginning with
two personnel, the Aberdeen-based company
today boasts 50, of which over 30 are highly
trained electrical and mechanical engineers
and technicians that strive to provide high
quality technical support to the entire product
range. The growing numbers of staff operate
at Bowtech Products’ brand new headquarters,
located in Aberdeen’s major new international
business park, ABZ, which it moved into in
December. Having secured a prominent entrance
plot, the company developed a high specification
office and manufacturing facility, which
centralised its operations to one site and ensured
there is potential to double staff numbers over
the next five years.
“The new building is an enabler; with all
departments under one roof it allows us to take
innovations from concept through design and
production as well as the ability to offer training
in house now and ongoing support. The new
facility is 2.5 x larger than all our previous
facilities combined, which will enable us to grow
to over 100 personnel in the coming years,”
highlights Mike.
Key to this ongoing expansion is Bowtech
Products’ impressive portfolio of innovative
underwater harsh environment vision systems,
From its humble beginnings
as a net importer of US manufactured products
specifically designed for the subsea arena,
Bowtech Products Ltd has grown over the years
to become a specialist in the design, manufacture
and supply of underwater harsh environment
vision systems, as Mike Winstanley begins:
“Bowtech Products Ltd (Est. 1989) began
trading in January 1990 with just two members
of staff: founder Steve Bowring and myself, then
operating as sales executive. Bowtech grew over
the next 18 years to become a specialist in the
supply of cameras, lighting, connectors and
multiplexers. In 2008 we decided to concentrate
on the design, manufacture and supply of our
own range underwater harsh environment vision
systems. Today our underwater vision systems
are deployed in the harshest environments
within the ROV AUV, oil and gas, defence,
oceanographic, nuclear, leisure and
marine science industries.”
On the verge of celebrating
its 25th anniversary in
operation, Bowtech has
expanded in all areas over
the years as it developed a
strong reputation for meeting
market demand for innovative and
visionOne
PROFILE BOwtEch PROducts
45EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
cent optically pure sapphire window.
“The Pioneer is a product that is so typical of
how Bowtech create new products. A Norwegian
client, FMC, was being supplied by a competitor
but found that they were lagging behind in
technology and non-responsive. Bowtech
listened to the clients’ needs and created with
them their ideal solution, which was to fit
within the existing space envelope but deliver
higher performance,” explains Mike. “The
camera is 4000 meter rated with a 720 TVL
resolution camera, 300 lines greater than the
incumbent. In addition it has greater sensitivity,
draws less power and is manufactured with
a highly corrosion resistant titanium housing
and sapphire viewport. The camera has been
designed with other markets in mind and is
already being introduced to other clients.”
Although the innovative firm boasts a global
client base, the highest areas of activity are
the North Sea, Asia Pacific and Brazil, where
its products are used in projects involving
equipment such as ROVs, semi-submersibles
and FPSOs. In fact, Bowtech Products was
recently involved in BP’s Quad 204 project,
which involves the redevelopment of the
Schiehallion and Loyal Fields in the North Sea.
The project, which was approved in July 2011
and is due to begin production in 2016, will
extend the life of both fields, thus enabling them
to continue production beyond 2035. Since
being awarded the EPC contract for the internal
turret mooring system (TMS) for the Quad 204
project, SBM Offshore subcontracted Bowtech
Products to supply its Chain Stopper Monitoring
System during the TMS’s installation.
Following this contract win, the global market
leader in subsea vision systems announced
which includes video inspection systems,
underwater LED lights, xenon underwater
emergency relocation strobes, custom moulded
cable assemblies, pan and tilts, underwater
electrical and fibre-optic connectors, fibre-optic
multiplexers and slip rings for use in hazardous
areas or subsea, to 6000 metres.
“Bowtech Products’ underwater vision systems
are deployed in the harshest environments
within the ROV AUV, oil and gas, defence,
oceanographic, nuclear, leisure and marine
science industries. We pride ourselves on
listening to customers to ascertain their
requirements and supply to OEM manufacturers
such as SMD, one of the largest suppliers of
work class ROV’s, trenchers and ploughs as well
as Sub Atlantic and Seabotix who manufacture
electric ROV’s primarily for light intervention
and observation tasks. Contractors such as
Subsea 7, Oceaneering, and ROVOP are key
clients as well as drilling contractors such as
Transocean. SBM head up the customer base for
FPSO’s but are often specified by operators such
as BP,” says Mike.
The most recently launched product within
the company’s range is the high-resolution
Pioneer multipurpose underwater camera with
six integral high intensity LEDs. Suitable for
general underwater viewing observation at
depths as great as 4000 metres, the product
measures only 53 mm diameter and 78.8 mm
in length, and provides a cost effective solution
for projects involving tooling and manipulators.
Enclosed within a high quality titanium housing,
the camera is fitted with a fixed focus wide-
angle lense, thus providing customers with a 58
degrees diagonal angle of view when submerged
through its highly scratch resistant and 98.8 per
PROFILE BOwtEch PROducts
The most recently launched product within the company’s range is the high-resolution Pioneer multipurpose underwater camera with six integral high intensity LEDs. Suitable for general underwater viewing observation at depths as great as 4000 metres, the product measures only 53 mm diameter and 78.8 mm in length, and provides a cost effective solution for projects involving tooling and manipulators
Bowtech Products Ltdbowtech.co.uk
ProductsUnderwater harsh environment vision systems
now focusing on its strategy for future growth by
taking its products overseas to new geographical
markets and continually improving its portfolio
in conjunction with its client base. “We want
to work with customers to enhance the vision
systems and create solutions which make remote
operations safer, more reliable and more cost
effective,” concludes Mike.
the delivery of a new £100,000 Chain Stopper
Monitoring System in July 2013; the system
will allow visual monitoring of each chain
stopper ratchet when chains are being tensioned
during the installation phase. The TMS has
a total of 20 chain stoppers located on the
chaintable on the lower turret; because these
will be based approximately 15 metres below
sea level during the phase, the company’s
scope of supply for the subsea system includes
high sensitivity, high resolution monochrome
cameras and LED lights. These will be installed
on the I-tubes above the chain stoppers to allow
downward viewing of operations throughout the
installation. Meanwhile, the scope of supply for
the topside system includes a video inspection
and control system, which will enable viewing
and controlling of the cameras and LED lights.
On top of this, Bowtech Products supplied all
associated cables, connectors and brackets for
the contract.
Having earned a reputation for excellence in
the oil and gas industry, Bowtech Products is
PROFILE BOwtEch PROducts
46 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
This year Kongsberg, one of
the world’s leading providers of systems for
merchant marine, subsea and offshore, is
celebrating a milestone anniversary. For two
centuries the business has been at the forefront
of technology and innovation, transforming
from a manufacturer of small arms to a leader
in many technological fronts including marine,
oil and gas, space and defence. “The company
was originally founded in 1814 and is one of the
oldest industrial concerns in Norway,” says Dave
Shand, general manager offshore at Kongsberg
Maritime in the UK. “This year we celebrated
our 200th birthday, and we have reached this
milestone by constantly developing through
innovation.” Indeed, the history of Kongsberg
is steeped in innovation, success and a strong
vision for development, dating back to 20th
March 1814 when Poul Steenstrup established
Norway’s first factory – Kongsberg Vapenfabrikk.
Poul was a visionary who believed in industrial
progress and technical understanding, combined
with national pride and strong determination.
Innovation remained key to Kongsberg as
the business continued to develop into the
20th century, being involved in a range of
industries and technological developments, from
manufacturing world-class rifles to the ground
breaking dynamic positioning systems that the
Kongsberg Maritime business division is world-
renowned for today.
Kongsberg Maritime itself was established
in 1992 to capitalise on Kongsberg’s growing
international business within the maritime
dynamic positioning sector. Today the
business is a globally respected organisation
serving key markets in the offshore, shipyard,
and the energy exploration and production
industries. Kongsberg Maritime provides a
plethora of services and solutions to these
sectors; for example in field development it
supports construction and offshore vessels with
innovative solutions for operation and specialist
applications, in production it offers automation
systems and software to enhance output and
minimise downtime, whereas for maritime
transport and offshore vessel clients it offers a
complete package of solutions such as navigation,
automation, training and safety systems.
“We have several divisions which address
the oil and gas industry, including Subsea and
Offshore Divisions,” says Dave. “In general
we address all phases from exploration
through production to transportation. One
of our specific focuses is integrated control
and safety systems for oil and gas floating
fixed production installations. In conjunction
with this activity we established a subsidiary,
Kongsberg Maritime Engineering, which
undertakes EPC contracts to deliver complete
packages. We are one of the leading global
providers of marine systems in the oil and gas
industry, encompassing drill ships and rigs,
LNG vessels, offshore support vessels, offshore
survey and ROV support vessels.”
Indeed, for the offshore sector the business
provides a vast catalogue of products and
services that encompasses bridge systems,
camera systems, deck systems, engine room
and automation systems, engineering, safety
TopBluewater Aoka Mizu
AboveThermopylae House, Aberdeen
BelowKongsberg process automation control room
PROFILE KOngsBERg MARITIME
47EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
innovationHistory of
49EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Kongsberg Maritimekongsberg.com
ServicesAutomation Systems
field development by Statoil. The business
was awarded a Project Specific Agreement,
including FEED, for the delivery of its safety and
automation (SAS) systems in May 2014, and
the deliveries will include Kongsberg Maritime’s
industry-proven SAS technology, which is
applicable for process control, power distribution
control, process shutdown, emergency shutdown
and fire and gas systems. Ultimate delivery
will also include the company’s latest systems
and technology for production, integration,
presentation, simulation, training and operation.
The company has already installed a range of
similar systems before on ten Statoil production
platforms, illustrating the high levels of regard
that Statoil holds the Kongsberg name, and
this particular project will further strengthen
Kongsberg’s position as a leading supplier of
automation and safety systems to the global
offshore production market.
Also, more recently the business has won
a significant contract from BW Offshore to
provide all control systems for its new Premier
Oil Catcher Field FPSO, which will operate in
the UKCS. “This is a significant project for the
Kongsberg Maritime business and for the UK
business in particular as it builds on the current
portfolio of ICSS installations, including Statoil
Mariner,” Dave highlights. “It continues our
strong relationship with BW, which includes the
BW Athena FPSO in the UK sector, and builds
on Kongsberg’s strengths in the FPSO market,
including Bluewater Aoka Mizu, Hawene Brim
and Maersk Gryphon Alpha in the UK sector
with many more operating globally.”
With such a strong history and an equally
high reputation, there is little doubt that
Kongsberg Maritime will remain the leading
name in automation systems into the future,
as Dave points out: “We are encouraged with
the amount and quality of enquiries for our
solutions given the current market, but we
have technological differentiators that make
our solutions attractive in a sector that looks to
reduce lifecycle costs.
“We will continue to focus on the oil and
gas market, encompassing production control
systems and the subsea IRM market, where
we have key technologies such as AUV and
environmental monitoring systems. Our vision is
to be a key provider of ICSS systems in the UK
sector, building on our success in the Norwegian
sector and what we have achieved to date in the
UKCS,” he concludes.
systems, simulators, sensors and transmitters,
tank gauging and measurements. On a wider
scale Kongsberg is even active in other areas
of offshore energy through its Kongsberg Oil
& Gas Technologies division, such as drilling
operations support, integrated operations,
process simulation, and riser management.
“One of our main strengths is the ‘Full
Picture’,” Dave highlights. “For example, in
floating production we can utilise our strengths
in marine with our experience in topside to
realise a common solution for all control aspects
of a production installation. In conjunction
with our colleagues in Kongsberg Oil & Gas
Technologies we can deliver a solution that
includes dynamic process simulation and
operator training systems. We have built up a
strong customer focused MMO support team
in the UK as part of our global support team,
which works proactively with the customer
to maximise the operation and productivity of
their assets.”
The company is globally renowned for
its range of dynamic positioning systems,
which have been developed to minimise
fuel consumption and wear and tear on the
propulsion equipment of a vessel. These can be
used across a wide range of vessels such as drill
ships, cable laying vessels, crane vessels, FPSOs,
diving support vessels, floatels, and various other
ships and vessels for a wide array of applications.
Kongsberg’s system can be provided as a
standalone system or can be offered as part of an
integrated system that communicates with other
Kongsberg systems on board the vessel including
the K-Chief (marine automation system) and the
K-Thrust (thruster control system).
Kongsberg Maritime is also a leader in the
development and production of subsea systems
covering a broad scope of applications and
technologies. This can range from acoustic
communication and control, autonomous
underwater vehicles (AUVs) through to
environmental monitoring solutions, seabed
mapping and underwater positioning systems.
The ability of Kongsberg to provide an entire
suite of products for offshore, subsea and
maritime operations ensures the company
continually secures major contracts and
significant projects. For example, since the
business was last featured in European Oil & Gas
Magazine in August 2013 it has been selected
to supply safety, automation and lifecycle
simulation technology for the Johan Sverdrup
PROFILE KOngsbERg MaRItIME
Autronica Fire and Security
Autronica Fire and Security is a leading innovator, manufacturer and supplier of fire and gas safety worldwide. Its products ensure safety in applications on land, sea and in the petrochemical, oil and gas sectors. Oil and gas installations around the world are becoming a safer place to work. Autronica Fire and Security is bold enough to take some of the credit. For years it has been a preferred supplier of fire and gas safety systems in the petrochemical, oil and gas market throughout the world. It makes world-class products, but believes that even the very best can get better. Appreciative of this, it continuously develops new products whilst providing safety to an entire industry, where thousands of lives depend on Autronica every single day and night.Owned by United Technologies Corporation (UTC), it employs more than 450 people handling the complete value chain, from idea, development and manufacturing to the marketing, sales and servicing of its products. Autronica Fire and Security is an international company with worldwide offices and its HQ is located in Trondheim, Norway’s technology hotspot.Protecting life, environment and property.
Consilium Marine & Safety
Consilium Marine & Safety focuses on the international shipping and offshore industry and offers products and systems in safety and navigation. The range of products includes fire and gas detection systems and navigational products.Consilium’s safety solution; the Salwico fire detection for offshore SIL2 IEC 61508 and Consilium Voyage Data recorder VDR F2 fulfils the latest SOLAS regulation. Over 20,000 ships are equipped with Consilium SAL Speed Logs.
We believe that the best project solution is for
all involved to feel that they are a valued team
player with a combined ‘desire to succeed’ rather
than a ‘commercial fear of failure.’ We do not
promote blame culture or complacency and
believe that it is a constant learning process
in moving ahead and appreciating where
improvements can be made.”
Through its commitment to technical
excellence and dedicated research and
development, Parkburn has been able to deliver
many differing types of Marine handling system
solutions for applications including diving bell
launch and recovery, rigid and flexible pipelay,
HV cable storage and lay, seismic and sonar
system deployment, deck module handling and
seabed landout in both offshore and renewable
sectors. Additionally, complete carousel cable
or pipe storage and handling systems, land and
sea, with payloads of up to 7000 tons have been
provided year on year.
Increasingly, as oil and gas operators move
into ever-deeper waters the demand for robust
and reliable equipment is becoming an ongoing
concern. Through its in-depth experience,
Parkburn has devised a new deepwater heavy
lift fibre rope winch system, which aims to
revolutionise deep sea operation, as Andy
explains: “With the move into deep water,
beyond 1500m depth, for the majority of
future oil and gas developments; the need to
be able to safely and economically deploy and
recover equipment to and from these depths
has brought many challenges to the industry. At
depth, the weight penalties of current steel wire
systems are becoming a major issue and as we
go deeper we will soon reach the point where
the wire weight alone will be too much even
to support itself, therefore alternative solutions
are essential. The industry for the last 12 years
has been striving for reliable solutions utilising
synthetic rope in lieu of steel wire as this type
of rope is effectively weightless in water and has
Operating out of its two UK bases
in Hamilton and Telford, Parkburn Precision
Handling Systems is a specialist marine handling
systems provider that was rebranded in October
2002 to combine the extensive experience and
complimentary products of Parkburn Controls,
Dowty Precision Handling Systems and Marine
Project Development (MPD). Engineers Dennis
O’Hara, Campbell McFall and Andy Lawson,
who today remain equal shareholders and
owners as well as working directors within the
business, originally founded Parkburn in 1989
as a private limited company providing control
and drive solutions for original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) across a wide range of
industries. Later during 2002 Parkburn, having
made the conscious strategic decision to become
its own OEM product manufacturer, completed
the acquisition of its largest customer at that
time, Dowty Precision Handling Systems, part of
the Smiths Industries Group.
Today, Parkburn has evolved into a total
handling systems solution provider to the oil
and gas, offshore, naval, and oil and renewable
energy sectors. With three engineers running
the company, there has always been a total
commitment to technical excellence and full
customer support. “The company remains
engineering driven as well as a strong believer
in research and development and continues to
re-invest significant turnover in this respect,”
elaborates director, Andy Lawson. “Partnerships
with both customers and suppliers are key.
The bar ofsuccess
PROFILE PaRkbuRn PREcIsIOn HandLIng systEms
50 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Parkburn Precision Handling Systemsparkburn.com
ServicesMarine handling systems
on to a ship,” Andy says “The cost of these ships
at the quayside when not working is very high
so downtime for the vessel must be mitigated
wherever possible. Our new test facility at Telford
will allow a far higher and more thorough set of
tests to be carried out on our handling systems,
far more like its actual use and installation on the
ship. In this way, the client can be thoroughly
satisfied that the system will work as required.
Our new test tower is 30m tall and is capable of
lifting loads up to 125te, we can also simulate
many of the emergency situations likely to be
seen in an offshore environment, such as full
speed dynamic testing and black ship situations,
to ensure safety circuits and back-up systems are
fully functioning”
Parkburn has a strong dedication to achieving
‘best in class’, which is reflected in its rolling five-
year plan to raise the bar of what is technically
possible. With continued focus on technical
excellence and customer support Parkburn is set
to remain a vital partner to operators looking for
the most demanding and reliable solutions.
no penalties associated with depth. Parkburn
has worked and developed patented solutions
for handling and deploying synthetic ropes as
part of its R&D work in addition to its normal
project work and after extensive testing, is now
looking to take these solutions to the offshore
heavy lift and crane sectors in the coming year.
Parkburn’s system, we believe, provides the
kindest de-tensioning, handling and storage of
rope in the market today and coupled with the
rope termination technology of our partners;
we believe this will be the game changer for
deepwater heavy lifting.”
Further to the development of bespoke
equipment that the company delivers, Parkburn
is also keen to ensure that it invests in its facilities
and testing capabilities to ensure that it is able to
fully meet the demanding needs of its clients and
to ensure all equipment delivered is fully tested
and validated prior to delivery. “In the UK and
Europe, there is a major lack of good facilities
that would allow winch and handling systems
to be thoroughly tested prior to being installed
PROFILE PaRkbuRn PREcIsIOn HandLIng systEms
51EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
53EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
TTS Offshore (TTS Offshore Handling
Equipment AS, TTS Ships Equipment AS and
TTS NMF offshore products), part of TTS Group
ASA, offers a complete range of lifting and access
equipment for offshore vessels, drill ships and
rigs. Over the years, the company has invested
significant resources into the development
of better and safer solutions for offshore and
subsea load handling in rough and deep waters,
and as a result it now offers a comprehensive
product range that includes everything from
conventional knuckle boom cranes, telescopic
boom cranes and straight boom cranes, to highly
advanced active heave compensated cranes with
lifting capacities up to 400 tonnes, as well as
lattice boom cranes for rigs and windmill vessels.
These can be applied to a variety of operations,
including:
Offshore load handling (ship-to-ship/platform) 6
Subsea load handling 6
Internal deck lifts 6
Pipe handling 6
Special lifting operations 6
Operation in harsh environments 6
Personnel lifting 6
For offshore vessels TTS also supplies a wide
variety of different external doors, moon pool
hatch covers, hangar doors, skidding systems,
observation platforms, provision platforms and
sideloading systems for cargo.
In the area of offshore cranes, TTS has been
an active operator in the market since the
inception of the offshore industry in the North
Sea. The company recognises that the quality
and performance of on board cranes is vital for
efficient utilisation of an offshore vessel, ensuring
trouble-free operation and reducing downtime,
and therefore over the years it has researched and
developed robust cranes that can withstand the
extremes of such a harsh environment.
Safety is further enhanced by the use of
active heave compensation, a technology that
TTS offers on several of its products. Active
heave compensation (AHC) is a technique
used on lifting equipment to reduce the
influence of waves in offshore operations.
The purpose of AHC is to keep a load, held
by equipment on a moving vessel, motionless
with regard to the seabed or another vessel.
TTS OHE’s AHC system is among the most
advanced in the market and by compensating
up to 99 per cent of the ship movements,
based on real time measurements, it is
possible to realise very high precision and safe
operations at extreme depths.
The company's range of offshore cranes and
access equipment are manufactured to meet
customers’ requirements and can be delivered
progressSteady
PROFILE TTS OFFShORE
54 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
TTS Offshore tts-group.com
ServicesLifting and access equipment for offshore vessels and rigs
market segments.
The close, flexible working relationships
within the group enable the company to
assemble complete project teams when expertise
in a range of fields is required. The customers
that purchase its solutions, such as Hyundai,
Kleven Verft, and DSME - to which TTS has
under delivery a complete crane package for
a drillship, also illustrate this. The company is
always keen to work with further renowned
organisations, as well as sustain its global
position – for example, in 2013 the company
signed a milestone contract with the COSCO
Qidong Offshore Co., Ltd shipyard in China,
which was the result of co-operation between
TTS OHE in Norway and TTS Neuenfelder
Maschinenfabrik GmbH (NMF) in Germany.
At the end of 2014, the TTS Group further
enhanced its presence in China through its
subsidiary TTS NMF in Hamburg, Germany;
with the creation of a new joint venture the
company established for development, design,
assembly, production and services for heavy lift
marine and offshore cranes.
The new joint venture company formed with
South China Marine Machinery, controlled by
China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC),
will strengthen the economic co-operation and
exchange of technical knowledge between the
two organisations. With the aim of the Chinese
government to focus on localisation in the
shipbuilding supply industry, CSSC
and TTS’ strategic partnership has reached
another milestone.
“I firmly believe that this new joint venture
will improve and gain a competitive position
in the market. And it will ensure satisfactory
economic benefits for each party,” said Björn
Andersson, CEO of TTS group ASA.
in several configurations. With a large customer
base operating in the harsh environment of the
North Sea, TTS products are known for their
rugged construction, with functionality and
safety as key design factors. Proven modularised
designs are used to tailor solutions meeting the
exacting lifting requirements for each vessel,
and at the same time securing reduced time to
market with optimised production.
Through the operational lifetime of the
equipment, TTS also provides a comprehensive
service concept with presence in the important
locations for offshore operations. TTS has a
worldwide network of branch offices, service
stations and agents. It provides after sales
services covering the major shipping regions of
the world. Services include genuine spare parts,
inspections and surveys, rapid response service,
remote access, service agreements and training.
The training offering includes training courses
for operators and maintenance personnel,
each tailored to customers’ specific needs and
objectives. TTS’ skilled team of trainers can
provide both a practical, theoretical or combined
learning experience that covers operation and
maintenance of mechanical, hydraulic and
electrical systems. Courses can be held wherever
it’s most suitable, such as at the office or on the
actual crane.
While quality and service are always part of
the offering from TTS Offshore, the company
also benefits from being part of the TTS Group,
with its global reputation for excellence.
The group’s activities primarily involve the
design, assembly and testing of equipment
while, apart from manufacture of certain key
components, production is undertaken by a
global network of subcontractors. TTS is one of
the top three largest suppliers in its specialised
The purpose of AHC is to keep a load, held by equipment on a moving vessel, motionless with regard to the seabed or another vessel
PROFILE TTS OFFShORE
55EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Focused on delivering
environmentally friendly energy and sustainable
energy solutions since its foundation in 1961,
Finnish family-owned group Oilon is known
across the globe for its company slogan ‘The
Warm Way’. Proud to provide customers
with excellent service through co-operation,
transparency and communication, the group
has witnessed rapid growth and developed a
significant global market position.
“Since our establishment in 1961 we have
developed long-term expertise in combustion
technology,” explains business director of Oilon
Energy Oy Tapio Murtonen. “We started as
a burner manufacturer and this has been our
most important business throughout our history,
however, in the early 2000s we began the heat
pump business for small properties and private
houses. This led to the acquiring of Oilon
Scancool in 2011 and the expansion of the heat
pump business for industry on a larger scale.”
With more than 60 per cent of Oilon’s
revenue coming from foreign operations, the
group manufactures oil, gas and dual fuel
burners for a range of applications such as
power plants, industrial processes, hazardous
waste incineration plants, district heating plants
and vessels. On top of this, the group provides
industrial heat pumps and refrigeration solutions
for domestic heating and industrial applications;
this includes heat pumps, burners and solar heat
collectors. “It was in the 1980s that we began to
seriously develop our combustion technology
for different kinds of liquids and gases; today we
can combust any liquid or gas if there is a little
burnbit of heating value in the fuel,” says Tapio. To
ensure customers receive high quality, innovative
solutions, Oilon boasts three production facilities
in Finland and another in China. Moreover,
to complement its company slogan, the group
has sales offices in Russia, Brazil and the US
in addition to resellers in over 30 countries to
ensure a local presence to clients.
Following two key market trends that have
remained valid over the last 20-30 years, the
group has maintained a strong commitment to
reducing emissions and aiding customers in the
utilisation of side streams from their processes.
“These market trends have been the same
throughout the industries we operate in, be it
the steel, chemical, pulp and paper, shipping
or oil industries,” says Tapio. “The side stream
from industrial processes is something we find
particularly important as it is free energy for the
plant owners that can be used to achieve the
required capacity of the plant.
“Within the oil and gas industry one
interesting area is oil refineries as we have had a
number of recent projects involving
the utilisation of refinery gases; this is a
challenge as the hydrogen content and heating
value in the fuel changes, which means it
is difficult to control. To combust this kind
of gas you previously required an expensive
component known as a Wobbe analyser, but
Oilon has developed a cost effective special
control technology that eliminates the need for
this product.”
One way the group has successfully provided
solutions to market issues has been through a
Feel the
PROFILE OILOn
56 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Oilon Oyoilon.com
ServicesHeating applications for energy products and the oil and gas industry
and low emissions.
In addition, the group has recently launched
Ecopower, the newest product in its burner
range, which has the ability to function without
a separate fan unit. This means that at full
capacity, an Ecopower burner saves tens of
kilowatts of electricity per hour in comparison
to conventional burners. Furthermore, advanced
automation ensures precise, energy efficient
control of the burner process.
Moving forward, as Oilon continues to benefit
from opportunities in Europe and China, it
has also begun sowing the seeds to expand its
presence into the US, a market that provides vast
potential thanks to its shale gas resources and the
group’s developing relationships with potential
clients, as Tapio concludes: “We want to be
stronger in the existing market areas we currently
operate in, while also focusing on this new
strategic area. Three years ago we established a
company in Brazil, Oilon Brazil, and last autumn
we moved to the US with the establishment of
Oilon US, so north and south America will be
our growth areas for the coming years.”
core focus on research and development, which
acquires five to six per cent of the company’s
annual turnover.
This dedication to ongoing improvements
has resulted in a broad range of combustion
solutions for various liquid and gaseous fuels
that are used in a diverse number of industries.
Innovative and adaptable, the group has
maintained a strong presence across the globe
due to its ability to react to changeable markets
and customer demand; a notable example of this
is its low NOx burners, which have generated
increased demand from the market following
increasingly stringent emissions regulations.
“We anticipated heavy fuel oil will go down in
demand in many market areas where emission
is important, while light fuel oil is a more
realistic option as one time investments are not
that large. However, natural gas is very good
when it comes to emissions and is a pure fuel
in comparison to many others when it comes
to the environment; because of this we believe
investments for natural gas should be increased
and, as such, have developed superior low NOx
burners for natural gas that are among the best
in the world,” highlights Tapio.
He continues: “With burner combustion we
are able to go far below 100 mg/nm3, three per
cent 02 in NOx emissions with natural gas.
If the NOx requirements are lower still, we
utilise other means additionally, such as flue
gas recirculation (FGR) and over fire air (OFA).
In case of extremely low NOx emissions, less
than 30mg/nm3, Oilon has its own state-of-the-
art technology: the catalytic solution, which is
patent pending worldwide. The special feature
of this technology is, that with extremely low
NOx emission, we are able to improve plant
efficiency by lowering the excess air in flue
gases from two or three per cent 02 – which
is typical in plants – to very low level. In
competing systems the 02 goes typically the
opposite direction, reaching higher than two or
three per cent.”
So far Oilon has delivered more than 7000
MW low NOx burner capacities to district
heating plants in Beijing that use natural gas.
One of the group’s low NOx burner types is
Ultrax, which has been designed for power
plant boilers to ensure they fulfil stringent
emission requirements. The technology achieves
this by leading fuel into different zones of the
flame, while combustion air is also divided into
individually controlled chambers and directed to
the flame in stages. This flowing of fuel and air
causes optimal air envelopes both in and around
the flame, which results in long residence time
With burner combustion we are able to go far below 100 mg/nm3, three per cent 02 in NOx emissions with natural gas
PROFILE OILOn
www.siemens.com/buildingtechnologies-oem
Economical operation and environmental protection are important criteria with plant for large building complexes and in industrial process heat generation. With large bur-ner and boiler capacities, efficiency becomes a major cost factor. Also, high emission levels can cause problems to plant operators.
Siemens electronic air-fuel ratio control can bring into play a number of benefits: Simpler burner design and greater precision ensure higher efficiency levels while re-ducing emissions. So, all in all, it‘s a more economical and more environment-friendly solution.
LMV – Innovative electronic air-fuel ratio controlControl Products & Systems OEM
Founded in 2007 as a spin-off of
the Delft University of Technology, Ampelmann
was established with the vision to make offshore
access as easy as crossing the street. As such,
its mission is to set new standards in safety by
operating motion compensation offshore access
systems and services all over the world. At the
core of the business is the company’s unique
technology: the Ampelmann system. This is a
motion compensation platform that allows rapid,
simple and safe access from moving vessels to
inert offshore structures even during high wave
conditions. Since it was incorporated seven years
ago, Ampelmann has found clients across the
world and consecutively doubled its fleet year on
year. It presently operates 35 systems worldwide
transferring offshore crew from various types of
vessels to offshore oil and gas platforms, offshore
wind turbines, FPSOs and all other floating and
fixed structures at sea.
The Ampelmann solution is a ship-based, self-
stabilising platform that actively compensates
all vessel motions. Accessing offshore structures
can be problematic due to the motions of vessels
compared to fixed installations. Ampelmann
provides the answer to the problem of accessing
offshore structures with a solution that acts
similarly to a flight simulator. The Ampelmann
design eliminates relative motion by taking
measurements of the ship’s motions and then
compensates accordingly through the use of
six hydraulic cylinders. As a result the top of
the platform remains completely stationary
compared to the structure. The offshore gangway
can then be extended towards the structure,
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enabling all personnel to walk to work offshore
safely. Indeed, all of the products developed by
Ampelmann are designed with safety in mind.
As such critical components are equipped
redundantly to ensure, reliable, safe operations at
all times. Furthermore the full system is checked
and certified by Lloyd’s Register.
Although the technology employed by
Ampelmann is relatively new within the oil and
gas sector, it has a number of advantages that
have made it a highly attractive partner for blue
chip companies the world over at every stage of
offshore operation from installation, operation
and maintenance to final de-commissioning. For
example, Ampelmann motion compensation
gangway systems can be installed on any vessel
with sufficient deck space in around eight hours.
The systems themselves are ‘plug and play’
and operate stand-alone with their own power
packs. Operationally, no modifications to the
platform are required to enable safe landing with
the heave compensated gangway making it a
highly cost effective solution. Additionally the
Ampelmann system is highly flexible and can
be used for cargo transfer as well as the transit
of personnel. Several applications have been
developed for small tools, larger equipment such
as generators as well as fuel and grout houses.
Indeed, since the Ampelmann system was
introduced, it has distinguished itself as a proven
and effective solution that is being increasingly
adopted by clients. Elaborating on the continued
success of the Ampelmann system, CEO Jan
van der Tempel explains: “The biggest reason is
the improved cost and operational efficiency it
offers. Because it can work 24 hours a day, the
ship can simply be parked next to the structure
and left so that a lot more man hours of actual
work are achieved. The platform basically turns
the ship into a very versatile working hotel
directly next to where the crew is working.”
Presently the Ampelmann system is available
in three iterations. The original A-type model,
which is capable of compensating actual heave
motions up to 2.5 meters and the larger E-type,
which can handle sea states up to four meters.
The Cargo Transfer System (CTS), which was
successfully tested in the summer of 2014, is the
latest innovation of the Ampelmann fleet, and
can carry up to ten tonnes to heights of up to
30 metres whilst compensating for motion of up
to 2.5 meters. These new capabilities will mean
PROFILE AmPELmAnn
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The Ampelmann design eliminates relative motion by taking measurements of the ship’s motions and then compensates accordingly through the use of six hydraulic cylinders
HydrauRent
From the very beginning of the development of Ampelmann, HydrauRent joined their interesting journey to world leader by designing and producing the hydraulic powerpacks for the gangway systems. Redundancy, small deck space, durability and worldwide service are key words to describe the added value of the rental equipment provided by HydrauRent, a brand name of Hydrauvision Rental BV. For operating the A-type, Ampelmann uses a set of the HydrauPack 200, and a set of HydrauPack 750+ for operating the E-type.
Ampelmannampelmann.nl
ServicesOffshore access
functionality not just for crew transfer but for
equipment transfer as well, making it an ideal
accessory for offshore construction work.
“Innovation is key to our ongoing success,”
explains Jan. “When a product enters the
market, that is not the end of it. Once it is out
there, clients give us feedback such as wanting
a higher reach or to carry more cargo – leading
to the E-type. We are also particularly interested
in developing client-specific applications for
the system. Innovation has been the key to
the extremely rapid growth we’ve had over the
past five years. Innovation is where we see our
business and now that we fully understand
the core of our technology, we can continue
pursuing that.”
Ampelmann was last featured in European
Oil & Gas Magazine during January 2012 and
since that time, in addition to developing its
product portfolio and fleet the company has
also increased its global footprint. During 2013
Ampelmann announced that it had increased
its global presence through the acquisition of
Dutch Offshore Solutions. The acquisition of
Offshore Solutions adds seven offshore access
systems to its fleet, including the personnel to
operate, maintain and continue development
of these systems. In a press release issued at the
time, Jan commented: “We are quadrupling our
presence in the Gulf with this acquisition and
are broadening our current product portfolio
which includes the A-type and the larger E-type,
with the offshore access system. Moreover,
the Offshore Solutions employees bring along
a welcome expansion of knowledge and
experience to our fast-growing organisation.”
More recently Ampelmann has continued to
increase its global footprint to bring it closer to
its clients with new offices in Singapore, Qatar
and in Houston, US in 2015. The Singapore
office represents a significant milestone for
the company following its first project in the
area, and in a region in which Ampelmann
intends to grow over the coming years with an
expanding fleet to coincide with the monsoon
season. With a unique and effective transit
solution and a growing global presence,
Ampelmann is in a strong position to continue
to develop its technology and solidify its
position as a leading name in offshore access
throughout 2015 and beyond.
The acquisition of Offshore Solutions adds seven offshore access systems to its fleet, including the personnel to operate, maintain and continue development of these systems
PROFILE AmPELmAnn
61EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
RedWave
RedWave is a service provider specialising in supplying staff for both onshore and offshore drilling, production, marine contracting and construction and maintenance activities. In addition, RedWave provides medical back-up services for activities undertaken on the Dutch and UK Continental Shelf. In 2008, RedWave was approached by Ampelmann to recruit qualified operators for their personnel transfer system. In close working partnership, RedWave and Ampelmann have successfully identified and placed operator mechanics to control and function the Ampelmann system.
As such the Leuna refinery has become an
important petrochemical hub for the region
that incorporates the most modern processing
technologies and the efficient use of raw
materials, energy and water to ensure that the
refinery is operated in an environmentally
friendly way. The refinery relies on energy-
efficient processing and employs a resource-
efficient use of water from the Saale River,
which is carried by multiple water saving
technologies and efficient water treatment
plants. As a newly constructed plant, the Leuna
refinery is equipped with noise protection
technology and the surrounding soil and
ground water are protected from contamination
by double-walled and double bottom tanks with
leak detection systems.
During June 2014 the refinery was shutdown
for the third time in its history to undergo
a large turnaround and inspection project.
Such fundamental refinery check-ups must
be performed by law and preparation for the
shutdown started in May 2011 because as part
of the mammoth project columns, vessels, heat
exchangers, compressors, safety valves, etc must
be disassembled, cleaned, inspected, repaired
and finally reassembled again. “We have a
strategy for a full turnaround every six years,”
Reinhard elaborates. “Legally it should be five
years, however through a system of inspection
it is possible to extend this to six years. The
refinery is a highly integrated one, so the units
are not simply separate units acting on different
products, but they are also highly integrated for
energy efficiency and so on. For example, one
unit will feed another with hot feed, so it does
not make sense to have a partial shutdown of the
refinery, and as such we have a strategy to have a
full shutdown every six years.”
The shutdown itself lasted some 45 days
and involved as many as 60 small, medium
and large investment projects valued at around
65 million euros. All of these projects were
carried out simultaneously by over 3000
employees from multiple contractors, turning
the refinery premises into a major construction
site with 85 cranes in operation, including a
1250-ton crane at the site’s cracker at the peak
of the turnaround. “It was a huge shutdown,”
confirms Reinhard. “Normally you can expect
around 800,000 work hours for a big shutdown,
however we did 1.2 million work hours. To
ensure that this was not a risky operation
preparations for the shutdown commenced three
years before it took place, so there was a long
period of preparation for such a big event, which
represents more than just the shutdown as it
Following a three-year
construction period, the Total refinery at Leuna
first went into operation in 1997. The facility is
the newest and one of the most modern refineries
in Europe producing a comprehensive product
range including gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, LPG,
naphtha, aviation fuel, bitumen and methanol.
Furthermore, the refinery is Germany’s largest
producer of methanol, which is an important raw
material within the chemical industry.
The refinery is a 235 kilo barrel (kBOE) per
day plant, capable of producing around three
million tons of gasoline meaning that it largely
covers the needs of Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and
Thuringia, including approximately 1300 service
stations located within the catchment area of the
refinery that obtain their supplies from Leuna.
Each day the refinery processes an average
of around 30,000 tons of crude oil, which is
imported primarily from Russia into the plant’s
storage tanks via pipeline. The finished products
produced at Total Refinery Leuna are delivered
to market through its comprehensive road, rail
and pipeline links.
“The special focus of Leuna is to produce
methanol from the residue at the bottom of the
refinery,” says general manager, Reinhard Kroll,
commenting on the development of the plant.
“There are only a few refineries in the world that
are doing this and it is an important point in the
development of Leuna, because when Elf (which
became Total) decided to build the refinery, the
methanol plant already existed and was quite new
at the time. The decision was made to incorporate
this because we are an inland refinery, and as
such we do not have easy access to the bunker
market. At that time no one was talking about
changes in bunker regulation and it was difficult
for the refinery to access that market, but you
can gasify the heavy residue for transport. This
is what the POX (partial oxidisation)/methanol
plant is doing, it is gasifying the heavy residue
and producing a syn (synthesis) gas of hydrogen
and carbon oxides, and then transferring it to
methanol through synthesis.”
Cracking themarket
PROFILE TOTaL REFInERy LEuna
62 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
EDL
EDL and Total have been successfully working together for more than ten years. EDL, as an experienced engineering contractor with special expertise in the refining industry, has implemented a great number of challenging, process-oriented revamp projects in different refinery units such as POX, methanol, visbreaker, alkylation, and FCC at Leuna.At present EDL is involved in the preparation of future projects at Total Leuna.This trustful co-operation demonstrates how the global player Total relies on EDL’s high-quality work and strict adherence to schedules.
Total Refinery Leunatotal.de
ServicesRefinery
63EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Within Europe, where there is a large surplus
of gasoline, there is also a slightly decreasing
market for diesel. There is however some market
for intermediate chemical products, so we have
adapted our cracker to produce less gasoline and
more chemicals such as propylene. That was
really our intent to develop our product portfolio
to meet market needs.”
This focus on more efficient, cleaner and
increasingly market focused operation will
enable the plant to weather the challenges
of a decreasing market within Europe and
an increasing focus in its native Germany, as
Reinhard concludes: “Looking at the German
market, the German government is dedicated
to shifting the country’s reliance on oil and coal
to other energies, so that it can significantly
decrease emissions and the number of refineries
that are necessary on the market. So there is
a level of competition that is associated with
operating in Germany, and what we are doing
as the newest refinery in the area is working to
keep that level of competition in our favour. We
want to remain in the group of refineries that are
able to survive in the German market.”
also encompasses bringing together the right
contractors and organising the correct logistical
support including cranes and insulation etc.”
Although the shutdown of the Leuna refinery
was a vast operation, steps were taken to ensure
that the standstill of operations did not aversely
affect fuel customers within central Germany.
Prior to the beginning of operations the tanks
located on the refinery premises were filled to the
brim with automotive and heating fuels to ensure
fuel supplies remained consistent throughout
the shutdown. This allowed the refinery’s
operators and supporting contractors to focus on
completing the task at hand without distraction.
The purpose of the shutdown was to inspect,
maintain and upgrade the refinery as well as
adjust its focus to better meet the requirements
of the current petrochemical and fuel markets,
as Reinhard explains: “What we did was invest
in the replacement of equipment, which is a
normal part of such shutdowns, and we invested
in improving our energy consumption as well as
in slightly shifting the plant's product focus. The
European market is developing in a decreasing
direction in general, but mostly in gasoline.
PROFILE TOTaL REFInERy LEuna
Advanced Actuators started
business in 1999 in Bradford West Yorkshire,
evolving from a company known as Elram
International Actuators Limited. In 2005 the
business moved to a purpose-built factory
outside the town of Skipton, and since that time
has focused its efforts on manufacturing a range
of electro-hydraulic actuators used primarily
for valve controls in the oil and gas, water and
power generation markets.
As Chris Woodhead, managing director
explained, its products come in a number of
guises from linear modulating units to quarter
turn actuators for ball and butterfly control.
“With our specialist team of design engineers
we also get involved with unusual applications,
for instance radio controlling a Chieftain tank
for the British Army,” he added. “Hydraulic
actuators lend themselves to applications of
high thrust or torque requirements, fast speeds
or a high degree of positional accuracy, and we
address all these with our actuator range.”
The company was last featured in European
Oil & Gas Magazine during March 2011, and
since that time it has seen several significant
developments. Said Chris: “One example of this
was the need to establish a general manager for
the Middle East, as this is a huge market for
valves and actuators, primarily to be used in the
oil and gas sector.
“We had tried breaking in to this market at
‘arms length’ by visiting from the UK every four
months but this proved to be unsatisfactory, as
even though we were seeing great interest in
the product we were not offering support for
what is a niche market, where the workings of
these products is not well understood. Having
studied how our customers cover the region and
canvassed their thoughts, it became imperative
that we had a general manager based out there,
and as a result we appointed Alistair Carson as
our Middle East general manager.”
He added: “There are a number of large
projects under review in the Middle East at
present that we would like to be involved with,
and also one of Alistair’s key tasks is strongly
pursuing end user approval. Middle Eastern
clients require that you have end user approval
to do business with them, so this is at the top of
the agenda.”
As well as the Middle East, Advanced
Actuators is currently involved in new projects
in Brazil, and the projects in both countries
are on oil or gas field developments, both on
and offshore. “In the majority of cases the
applications are on choke valves,” said Chris.
“The actuator types being built for these projects
are our linear modulating control version
and our stepping type actuator. We have also
expanded into the Indian and Far East sectors,
and our end users include blue-chip names
such as Koso, Cameron, Weir, ADMA, Petronas,
Petrobras and Statoil.”
Alongside the expansion that Chris
highlighted in the Middle East, Advanced
Actuators is also growing in the UK, currently
growth
PROFILE AdvAncEd ActuAtORs
65EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
BelowChris Woodhead, managing directorAdvanced Actuators
Ready for
Wandfluh UK Ltd
Wandfluh UK offers a market leading range of hydraulic valves and electronic controllers, using its technical expertise and experience to provide component solutions to most industries’ applications. Its in house design facilities are used to take control system concepts through to complete bespoke manifold assemblies. In-house test facilities enable pressure and function testing with valves set to customer requirements.Wandlfuh UK is pleased to be associated with Advanced Actuators and wishes them continued success.
Advanced Actuatorsadcomtec.co.uk
ServicesElectro-hydraulic actuators
Actuators’ dedication to the development of staff,
and to ensuring that as the business grows it can
continue to find skilled and valuable employees.
“Even though we are not a large company, we
have a policy of encouraging young people to
look at engineering as a career. Without more
students becoming part of engineering, our
manufacturing base will go into further decline,
and so we are doing what we can to avert this,”
Chris stated.
Thanks to its growing order books and new
projects in the Middle East, Advanced Actuators
is set to achieve 40 per cent growth in 2015.
Chris highlighted what he believes are the key
strengths of the company: “Innovation and
standardisation are the two key words I would
use. We have taken a product that normally sold
in quantities of four to ten and standardised it
such that we can bulk purchase and compete
for quantities of 100 plus. Furthermore, we are
constantly looking to see how we can improve
what we do whether by design of the product or
how we assemble and test the units.”
As we enter 2015 and oil prices continue
to decline, Chris and his team at Advanced
Actuators are keeping their eye on the market,
to ensure that they can meet the future needs of
clients. “Even with the oil price heading down
on what seems to be a never ending spiral and
a number of major players trimming budgets
for 2015, from where we stand and for what we
want and can offer, the market is still strong,”
Chris confirmed, adding: “Even though politics
is denying or preventing business with countries
such as Russia or Iran at the moment, at some
stage these policies will change. Both these
locations have huge oil and gas reserves, as well
as Russia being a major player in coal mining. So
for the longer term we must be prepared to be
ready to enter into these markets as well.”
being in the process of enlarging the factory
by a further 350 sqm. Such has been its
success over the past three years that in 2014
Chancellor George Osborne heralded this
factory as an example of the national recovery in
manufacturing following a visit. “The Chancellor
was ‘hugely impressed’ with the business and
our investment in apprentices and the future
generations of engineers,” stated Chris. “He was
shown the depth of innovation taking place
within the company, from actuators that have an
output torque of over 1.2 million Newton meters
to linear actuators that develop 2500kg of thrust
from a total power consumption of 50 watts.”
He continued: “In September 2014 we also
showed our commitment to developing the future
of hydraulic engineering by partnering with the
University of Bradford on a Knowledge Transfer
Partnership (KTP) to employ a graduate on a two
year, part-funded government project.” KTP is a
national programme supporting UK businesses
to innovate and grow by partnering with UK
universities and colleges to gain access to the
technology, expertise and skills available. “As part
of this Evangelia Tsasliagkou has been hired as a
mechatronics development engineer to work on
the design and prototyping of power generators for
remote valve actuation,” Chris added.
This project perfectly illustrates Advanced
The Chancellor was ‘hugely impressed’ with the business and our investment in apprentices and the future generations of engineers
PROFILE AdvAncEd ActuAtORs
67EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Panda Engineering Limited
Panda Engineering Limited is a key supplier of specialist machined components for use in the Advanced Actuator product range. We fully support their strategy of using local manufacturers and are dedicated to producing high quality parts on time and complete to meet production requirements. We are committed to supporting Advanced Actuators in their long-term aim of becoming a global leader for innovative actuator and control solutions.
Leach and Thompson
A Cast Metal Foundry with production facilities including, greensand moulding and chemically bonded sand moulding. Melting is done through Electric Induction Furnaces, alongside in-house testing facilities and accreditation of ISO 9001.Supplying all industries within the UK and Worldwide. Forging great working relationships with customers such as Advanced Actuators.Through heavy investment Leach and Thompson now has capacity to take on new work at competitive rates with on time deliveries.
for low and high-pressure applications and
the product has continued to develop through
to the present day. “The products that we
developed during the 1970s and 1980s are the
products that we are still making today, which
is rather remarkable,” elaborates engineering
director, Charles Wemyss. “However the
technology involved in them as well as how
they work has changed, and the market in
which they are used has changed too. Coming
forward to today, 70 per cent of our business
comes from the oil and gas industry, while ten
years ago it was 25 per cent. Meaning it has
grown significantly and this is the reason we are
so successful at the moment.”
Although demand has declined in recent
years, Litre Meter continues to provide its Pelton
wheel design, today however it is its VFF design
that acts as the company’s flagship product and
range’s design has continued to evolve to meet
Based in Buckinghamshire,
UK, Litre Meter Ltd has developed a leading
reputation in the field of flow measurement and
has built a well-established name as a quality
brand in the design, manufacture and supply
of flow meters of all kinds. The company was
established in 1975 and will celebrate its 40th
anniversary during June 2015, marking an
important milestone for Litre Meter that is
made all the more impressive considering that
its pioneering designs introduced four decades
ago are still in use today – although in greatly
evolved and enhanced variants.
During the 1970s the company pioneered the
development of the Pelton Wheel Flowmeter, an
accurate, effective and versatile design suitable
for many different fluids including acids,
chemicals, fuels water and hot fats at both high
and low flow rates. Later, in 1986 Litre Meter
introduced the Viscous Fluids Flowmeter (VFF)
readingA positive
PROFILE LItRE MEtER
68 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
requirements. A new development in this area
is the new Flowpod display instrument that was
launched on 1st January 2015 as a replacement
for the existing FPod display. The FPod was
originally designed and introduced in 2005
to provide a solution that would enable Litre
Meter to sell into the US and other markets
using Exd, which is a US standard and has since
proven to be a major driver in increasing the
company’s sales. However, following several
years of operation and customer feedback several
areas were identified that Litre Meter felt could
be addressed to provide an even more effective
solution. “One of the comments that we got
about the FPod was that it was bulky, physically
it is a six and a half inch enclosure and when
you look at the unit it is substantial. The second
area was that there was a blue cable coming from
the FPod to the flow meter and again this was
picked up on by clients. The third point was the
the requirements of its clients. As such, product
development is at the forefront of the service
offering that Litre Meter delivers. “Research
and development is a massive consideration for
us,” Charles confirms. “We do training on our
products fairly regularly through presentations
and so on and possible improvements come up
through those. This has been at an accelerated
rate; currently there are three people in the
engineering department while ten years ago we
only had one. We invest a lot on research and
development and we have a simple metric that
in three years time 25 per cent of our sales will
be due to development carried out this year.”
Furthermore, Litre Meter provides an ever-
evolving range of instrumentation in support
of its flow meters. Indeed all of the flow meters
provided by the company include a pulse output
and most are coupled with instruments to
tailor these outputs to meet specific customer
Litre Meter Ltd has developed a leading reputation in the field of flow measurement and has built a well-established name as a quality brand in the design, manufacture and supply of flow meters of all kinds
PROFILE LItRE MEtER
69EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Litre Meter Ltdlitremeter.com
ServicesIndustry standard flow meters
70 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
ability to programme the electronics, which can
be done with the FPod but it is a clunky process
using a special cable and a special programme,”
Charles says.
“The Flowpod is designed to address these
concerns and is encased in an enclosure that is
around three inches, making it much smaller
than the previous model. The design also does
away with the blue cable and there are a number
of ways you can programme it, using digital
communications HART protocol version 7 and
you can also use a magnet on the outside of the
unit, which is again rather clunky but can be
useful in an emergency,” he continues. “It is also
possible to open up the housing and remove an
internal micro SD card and put it into a laptop
for programming. Additionally we will also use
the SD card as a data logger, which is a relatively
simple tool that will allow us to monitor how
the unit has performed and how stressed it has
been. This will allow us to further understand
the way units are being used to make them even
more efficient.”
Presently Litre Meter remains a global player
with a unique solution that can be applied
within a number of industry sectors. During
2009 the company began a journey to reach a
target of £5 million in turnover by 2014. Having
reached that goal the company is set to target
similar growth for 2019 and with a strong global
base and continuing research into new products,
the indicators are looking good.
PROFILE LItRE MEtER
Presently Litre Meter remains a global player with a unique solution that can be applied within a number of industry sectors
systemA changing
Formerly known as the Compagnie
Parisienne des Asphaltes, the Rubis Terminal
was originally founded in 1877. By 1992 the
total recorded storage capacity of the business
peaked at over a million cubic meters across two
locations in Rouen and Dunkirk. These coastal
locations and connections to the main French
pipeline infrastructure provided major strategic
assets that allowed Rubis to further establish its
presence in the chemical and oil markets within
France and later throughout Europe.
Rubis Terminal is a subsidiary of the wider
Rubis Group alongside the associated company,
Rubis Energie. The Group is an independent,
international operator specialising in the
downstream petroleum and chemicals sector that
has continued to grow and expand through a
combination of organic growth and acquisitions.
Between 1992 and 2002 the Rubis Group acquired
almost one million cubic meters of additional
storage in France by taking over strategic terminals
in Brest and Saint-Priest as well Strasbourg Pétrole
and the Propetrol Company. These acquisitions
raised the total storage capacity to two million
cubic meters. Over the course of two decades,
Rubis Terminal has successfully grown to be the
number one independent operator in France and
the fifth in Europe.
Fifteen locations Today Rubis Terminal maintains 2.6 million
cubic meters of bulk liquid storage and is
present across fifteen locations within the
Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey and France.
The majority of these operate as fully owned
facilities, while others are run as joint ventures
between Rubis and its partners. While the
business is headquartered in France, in recent
years it has undertaken targeted expansion
outside of its home market. In 2007, Rubis
Terminal expanded with the formation of its
Rotterdam terminal followed by Antwerp, the
second busiest port in Europe, in partnership
with Japanese group Mitsui in 2010.
More than 160,000 cubic meters of versatile storage capacityThe terminal at Rotterdam in the Netherlands
represents a significant capacity with
construction of the Greenfield site beginning
during 2007. Rubis Terminal BV went into
operation a year later in 2008 with a storage
capacity of just over 85,000 cubic meters.
Since then Rubis Terminal has embarked on a
continuing programme to develop the terminal
and its facilities, steadily increasing the amount
of storage available at the site. “If you look at
the development of Rubis Terminal BV over
the last two years, we have expanded our
capacity to currently encompass more than
160,000 cubic meters of storage capacity, of
which half is chemical and the other half is
mineral storage,” explains general manager
Paul van Herrewegen. “If you look at the
size of the current terminal it was originally
planned to fill the location to create an efficient
terminal in terms of both size and scale, both
from a cost and commercial perspective, and
PROFILE RubIs TERMInaL
71EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Rubis Terminal BVrubis-terminal.nl
ServicesIndependent mineral oil and chemical storage
73EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Small and flexibleAs the petrochemical market within Europe
continues to evolve, Rubis Terminal perceives
itself as being well placed to navigate the
changing tides of the market. “If you look at our
position both geographically and commercially,
we are a smaller player that is able to take
advantage of the fact that we are small and
therefore more flexible,” Paul says. “We have
direct contact with clients, short communication
lines and rapid decision making. Within
Rotterdam, we target our market growth mainly
in chemicals. In the longer term I believe the
market will see a change in production, which
is already becoming apparent through the trends
in refineries and chemical production facilities
where some locations are ceasing their activities.
This means that North West Europe will change
into a predominantly import based continent,
which will require more storage.”
The best infrastructureAs Rubis Terminal heads into 2015, it will
continue to promote itself as a highly buoyant
and agile business that is able to deliver bespoke
storage solutions to clients within the mineral
fuel and chemical sectors. As the market adapts,
Rubis Terminal BV will continue to evolve to
ensure it maintains the best infrastructure to
meet the needs of is clients, as Paul concludes:
“There is a big difference in the logistics for
mineral products and for chemical products. Fuel
oil is only ship or barge related while chemicals
require connections via train and truck as well.
It is important to be flexible, especially in the
chemical market, where it is very important to
be able to adapt in a short timeframe. Generally
speaking, when you change the product you also
need to change the system.
“Next to being a state-of-the-art terminal
for chemicals Rubis Terminal also provides
especially designed services for bunker fuels.
The availability of two deep-sea jetties with high
pump rate capabilities (up to 1500 m3/hour)
and a fully dedicated barge jetty completes the
highly flexible infrastructure. Together with our
homogenising and heating possibilities it allows
clients to react quickly to market demands.”
growth has been a natural process since. Due
to the combination of an increased number
of clients and the diverse transportation
connections we have at the terminal, all
stakeholders, but primarily our customers will
benefit from this increase in capacity.”
Unique fuel oil configurationWith a state-of-the-art vapour treatment
system, Rubis Terminal BV currently reaches
pump speeds up to 1500 m3/hour from its
three jetties designed for deep-sea vessels up to
225m. A fully dedicated barge jetty completes
the highly flexible infrastructure. This allows
clients to react quickly to market demands by
homogenising and blending different grade
mineral products 24/7.
Extension area of 4.5 hectaresAs of January 2014 six new tanks went into
operation at Rubis Terminal BV consisting of
four 2500 cubic meter mild steel tanks and
two 2500 cubic meter stainless steel tanks
for chemicals. This represented the last of
several phases of expansion for the Rotterdam
terminal at the existing terminal, and will now
be followed on a site adjacent to the terminal
in agreement with the Port of Rotterdam for
the lease of 4.5 hectares of land. Presently
Rubis Terminal is developing new tank sizes,
which will vary between 500 cubic meters and
10,000 cubic meters in capacity and will be
suitable for chemicals and niche products. “The
present expansion represents the first period
of development with all phases scheduled to
be undertaken over a ten year period,” Paul
elaborates. “We have an extension area of 4.5
hectares of land to develop and we divided the
construction into five phases. The first phase will
be available during the fourth quarter of 2016
and will deliver extra capacity equal to 35,000
cubic meters.”
Strong interest in different tank sizes“We will expand to almost double our current
capacity in ten years time thus offering a wide
range of chemical tanks in an even wider range
of capacities,” adds commercial manager, Marlies
Tol. “We currently see strong interest from
clients in different tank sizes that we have on
offer. In addition, we also receive a lot of requests
for tank sizes we cannot offer, simply because
we do not have the right tank sizes available.
Adding additional tank sizes is an important step
forward for us.”
PROFILE RUbIS TERmInaL
Today Rubis Terminal maintains 2.6 million cubic meters of bulk liquid storage and is present across fifteen locations within the Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey and France. The majority of these operate as fully owned facilities, while others are run as joint ventures between Rubis and its partners
conduits. Technip Umbilicals’ track record of
thermoplastic umbilical supply showcases some
of its previous projects, which contain DUCO
manufactured hose.
Steel tube conduits were gradually introduced
in the mid-1990s, and their use has escalated in
recent years due to increased tieback distances
and the exploration of deeper water depths. As
such, Technip Umbilicals has been supplying
steel tube umbilicals to the industry since 1994,
and introduced the first steel tube umbilical
to the Gulf of Mexico region in 1995. In some
instances, combinations of steel tubes and
thermoplastic hoses are employed in umbilicals.
Pioneered by DUCO in the late 1990s, this
hybrid concept provides the subsea system
designer with greater flexibility in optimising the
performance of the subsea production system.
Acquired by the Technip Group in 2003, the
company today is a major designer, innovator
and global provider of umbilical systems for use
by the offshore industry. “We operate globally,”
confirms Technip Umbilicals’ managing
director Jean-Louis Rostaing. “If you look at
our portfolio in terms of current projects we
have a lot of work going on in the North Sea,
with further demand in West Africa, Asia and
Australia. Because of this growth, we decided
that integrating our facilities in the UK, the US,
Angola and Malaysia was important to show
customers that we maintain the same values
with regards to safety, quality and ethics as the
Technip Group. We changed our name from
DUCO to Technip Umbilicals in September
2014, a move that lets our customers know
when they deal with Technip Umbilicals Ltd.
in Newcastle, UK, or Technip Umbilicals Inc.
in Houston, US, they still receive the same
level of service in terms of safety, quality and
delivery as all segments of the Technip Group.”
Viewing quality, health, safety and environmental
(QHS&E) guidelines as key to safe and efficient
operations, the ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001:2004
and OHSAS 18001:1999 certified company
places safety at the forefront of all projects.
Taking the rebrand as an opportunity to
continue consolidating and developing best
practices across the three additional umbilical
units of the Technip Umbilicals Group –Technip
Umbilicals Inc., Angoflex Ltda. and Asiaflex
Products Sdn Bhd. - Technip Umbilicals is
keen to not only evolve with market demand,
but also maintain the North East’s position as
a leader within the subsea industry. “We have
With a history dating as far back
as 1977, Technip Umbilicals (TU) has designed,
manufactured and supplied subsea umbilicals for
the oil and gas industry for more than 30 years.
Formally known as DUCO Ltd., the company
has been developing pioneering umbilical
designs since the first subsea production systems
were installed in the 1970s. Business expanded
in the 1990s when these systems became
an accepted means of offshore hydrocarbon
recovery; the early systems tended to involve
short tieback distances installed in water depths
accessible to divers, which are typically less than
200 metres, and used umbilicals constructed
almost entirely from thermoplastic hose fluid
connection
PROFILE TEchnIP UmbILIcaLs
74 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Building a
Mexico and West Africa.
With a strong history of successfully providing
thermoplastic hoses to the oil and gas industry,
the company’s products offer a broad spectrum
of control and chemical injection fluids and
are available in seamless lengths in excess of
20,000m depending on bore size. Meanwhile,
steel tube umbilicals can provide high
pressure, corrosion resistance, tensile strength
and deepwater and long distance operation.
Although diverse in physical characteristics,
combining both functional components can
deliver technical and commercial advantages.
Having developed a strong reputation
for superior services, Technip Umbilicals is
currently working on a major contract with
Chevron North Sea to manufacture a 28 km
umbilical for the Alder field; a critical link in
subsea operations as it relays power, chemicals
and communications between a platform or
support vessel and hydraulically operated
subsea equipment. The umbilicals are being
wholly manufactured at the Newcastle, UK
site to coincide with Chevron’s goal to develop
the field via a single subsea well. Meanwhile,
parent company Technip’s Aberdeen operating
centre will be involved in the engineering,
procurement, installation and construction
(EPIC) contract for the project.
“This is an important project for us because
we are manufacturing a 28 km hybrid umbilical,
which merges our original thermoplastic hose
technology with steel tubes,” says Jean-Louis.
“To take advantage of this demand and meet
the needs of our customers, we came up with
the idea of combining these two technologies;
this innovation is called hybrid because it is
made up of both steel tubes and thermoplastic
hoses, which thus results in an improved field
development solution. The 28 km umbilical will
be made up of steel tubes and then wrapped
in thermoplastic hoses; this is a competitive
invested vast amounts into our facilities to
ensure we have the modern assets needed to
meet the capacity and capability demands of
the current market, whilst also being prepared
for future demand. Technology is also a key
strength for Technical Umbilicals, as we have
developed products that can comply with
client application requirements and meet the
needs of the subsea market as it moves into
deeper waters. Key to these technological
developments is our Research and Development
Centre in Newcastle, which is linked with
all other research and development centres
within the Technip Group; in addition, having
a highly skilled and loyal workforce means we
have long-term experience readily available
in-house,” highlights Jean-Louis.
Considered a fundamental part of the
division’s current and future capabilities, the
Research and Development Centre receives a
significant amount of revenue to ensure Technip
Umbilicals continues to provide groundbreaking
products and capabilities. Well positioned to
handle any challenging requirements in the
future, the Research and Development Centre
focuses on umbilical/functional component
structural improvements to boost performance
and reliability, improvements in hardware design
to ensure complete protection from harsh
environmental conditions, integration of electric
power conductors into umbilicals and hardware
designs for deepwater dynamic and static
service, and the development and improvement
of mathematical modelling and analytical tools
to further grow engineering capabilities and
understanding. With strong links to other
Technip Research and Development groups,
the team are able to draw on expertise such
as flexible pipe manufacture and installation
expertise to ensure the optimal installation
ability of the umbilical and hardware.
As leaders in technology development, the
four strategically located umbilical entities are
able to design, manufacture and supply bespoke
umbilical products to customers from project
inception to project completion. Viewing
each clients’ requirements as unique, Technip
Umbilicals is a specialist in delivering optimised
industry solutions to the shallow and medium
water markets as well as the ultra-deepwater
markets. In fact, the division as a whole has
developed umbilicals for the harsh environments
of the North Sea and Atlantic Frontier region
and ultra-deepwater locations in the Gulf of
PROFILE TEchnIP UmbILIcaLs
75EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Shepherd Offshore
Shepherd Offshore has been providing Technip Umbilicals with first class specialist logistics support for almost three decades.The relationship between the two companies has enabled Technip to open the world's largest steel tube umbilical assembly plant and given the company easy access to the deepwater global market.Since the 1980s Shepherd Offshore, which specialises in mobilisations and demobilisations for the offshore industries, has provided Technip with a bespoke support system available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.Shepherd Offshore is proud to have assisted Technip in developing its infrastructure and facilities to become the world leader in the manufacturing of umbilicals it is today.
77EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Technip Umbilicalstechnip.com
ServicesSubsea umbilical systems
solution for a challenging bespoke project.”
Having invested in its main facility, equipment
and increased plant size over the last four years,
in addition to hiring an extra 100 personnel in
2014, the strong team at Technical Umbilicals
Ltd. in Newcastle, UK, remains committed to
operating within the North East. However, as
energy demand continues to grow in developing
countries, the company is also keeping vigilant
of any potential opportunities further afield.
On top of this, Technip Umbilicals maintains
its vision of continuous improvement with
the implementation of a quality improvement
programme, as Jean-Louis concludes: “All of our
efforts over the last four years have been with the
intention of positioning ourselves as a leader in
the umbilical market; over the next 12 months
we will continue to consolidate this position
and work more closely with clients to anticipate
demand in terms of technology and delivery.
“Moreover, we will also be focused on the
implementation of our quality improvement
programme “Quartz”; this Technip Umbilicals-
born programme has been adopted by the
Technip Group and aims to boost quality in all
areas of the company, including engineering and
manufacturing. These developments have been
well received by our clients as it means we can
meet their demands in an increasingly stringent
and challenging market. We will also be deploying
a lot of new products such as aluminium cable
umbilicals for deepwater applications and will
continue to actively work internally as well as with
clients to extend our performance.”
PROFILE TEchnIP UmbILIcaLs
infrastructure and is committed to providing the
safest, highest quality cellular glass insulation
material available. The new plant will give
the business the ability to quickly respond to
customer needs while assuring that their plants
operate safely over the long term.
FOAMGLAS is a unique product with a
manufacturing process comprised of four stages;
glass production, grinding of the glass to glass
powder and mixing it with carbon, foaming and
annealing of glass and finishing of the product.
The result is an extensive range of different
grades of FOAMGLAS insulation, which have
varying degrees of compressive strength and
thermal conductivity. These variations make
FOAMGLAS the ideal insulative solution for a
number of applications. “FOAMGLAS insulation
is a closed-cell, lightweight, rigid material
composed of millions of completely sealed
glass cells,” explains Frank Ergeets, business
development director. “Due to its closed-cell
nature, it is completely impermeable which
means that it is 100 per cent moisture resistant,
it has a zero water vapour permeability and isn’t
liable to deterioration by vermin. It represents
the pre-eminent insulation material for corrosion
resistance, as it is resistant to organic solvents,
nearly all acids and most corrosive atmospheres.
It is a dimensionally stable material with a high
compressive strength, which is still easy to cut
to shape. Finally, FOAMGLAS insulation is 100
per cent glass and contains no binders or fillers,
therefore it cannot burn or support combustion
nor will it absorb flammable liquids or vapours.”
Within the oil and gas industry FOAMGLAS
Established in 1937 Pittsburgh
Corning has developed a leading reputation in
the supply of high-performance glass insulating
products for the building, energy and industrial
markets and has remained at the forefront of
designing products that stand the test of time.
The company was formed from Pittsburgh Plate
Glass Company and Corning Glass Works and
for 75 years it has supplied its innovative glass
block technology to clients within a number of
industries. Today Pittsburgh Corning is active in
every corner of the world through the delivery of
its technically advanced FOAMGLAS insulation
and glass block products, and continues to grow
while further investing to allow the company to
better reach its clients.
FOAMGLAS insulation was introduced in
the US during the mid-1940s and later, owing
to the growing global demand for the product,
Pittsburgh Corning expanded its presence into
Europe with a large manufacturing plant
in Belgium that went into operation
in 1965. Today Pittsburgh Corning
Asia has become an important part
of the company’s global operation as
it responds to increased demand for
Pittsburgh Corning insulation products.
The company is building a brand new
factory in China, which is estimated
to be completed in the spring of 2015.
It has already had the good fortune
to work with all of the large energy
companies in China during the last decade. As
a consequence, Pittsburgh Corning understands
the urgency in developing China’s energy
Protecting
PROFILE PIttsbuRgh CORnIng EuROPE
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Pittsburgh Corning Europefoamglas.com
ServicesInsulation systems for industry
thermal insulation properties.”
As such Pittsburgh Corning has delivered
FOAMGLAS insulation to clients all over the
world including Qatar, where it was used for
the chilled water system at Hamad International
Airport in Doha, Qatar. The project was one
of the company’s largest, encompassing over
350 kilometres of pipeline section and over
35,000 prefabricated fittings. As it enters 2015,
Pittsburgh Corning will continue to deliver its
market leading insulation products and it has a
strong order book that will enable the business
to continue to grow and solidify its premier
position as a supplier of industrial insulation.
“The biggest project that will dominate 2015 for
us will be Gazprom’s Yamal LNG project in the
Yamal peninsula in Russia,” Frank concludes.
“The Yamal LNG project is one of the largest
industrial undertakings in the Arctic, which will
involve the construction of three LNG trains and
a vast gas terminal. FOAMGLAS insulation is
specified for the insulation works so this will be
one of the main projects for the upcoming year.”
insulation is the leading solution in both low
temperature environments and high temperature
situations. For example during low temperature
operation it is possible for water vapour to
enter permeable insulations and condense,
which causes a build up of water and/or ice that
drastically reduces performance. Furthermore,
during high temperature service poor insulation
can lead to loss of thermal efficiency and increased
energy consumption. In each case, FOAMGLAS
offers an effective solution that mitigates the effects
of extreme temperatures, making it a highly
sought after solution throughout the oil and gas
sector. “Since the 1960s tank builders worldwide
have trusted FOAMGLAS insulation as a core
component in tank base insulation systems and
today thousands of hot, cold and cryogenic
tanks are supported by FOAMGLAS insulation
systems,” Frank says. “In fact, FOAMGLAS HLB
insulation is a core component of over 90 per
cent of the world's liquified natural gas tanks
base insulation systems, a critical application
requiring high load bearing capabilities and
PROFILE PIttsbuRgh CORnIng EuROPE
79EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
Founded by chief technical officer
Jonathan Thursby in Norwich in 2001,
downhole video specialist EV began as a small
team of engineers who developed their expertise
in ruggedized CCTV cameras for use on boats
or cars, to give close up views of action related
events. “The original designs were used in
racing environments such as the British Rally
Championship, Formula One, the BT Around
the World Yachting Challenge and also Top
Gear,” explains Federico Casavantes, VP
marketing for EV. “However, in 2004 we were
commissioned to develop a camera for a UK
customer that would be used for diagnostics in
oil and gas wells in the North Sea. From here
the first generation of our OPTIS RT-120 was
launched and deployed commercially.”
Following this strategic move into the oil
and gas industry, the company’s expertise in
this business segment was further strengthened
with the appointment of Francis Neill, an
experience oilfield services professional, as
CEO in 2010. “Mr Neill has taken EV from a
small Norwich based organisation to the global
service provider it is today,” confirms Federico.
“Since 2010 we have grown from 15 employees
with annual revenues of approximately one
million pounds, to a global entity of 115
employees and annual revenues of more than
£20 million. In the last 12 months we have
run more than 1400 downhole camera jobs in
35 countries and witnessed a profit increase
of 109 per cent; this success stems from our
consistent delivery of high quality downhole
video cameras that are able to operate in the
most extreme environments as well as our
knowledge on how to obtain images in these
conditions. It is not only our leading edge
technology that is key to our success but
also our highly experienced and competent
operations team that is able to advise our
customer base on the best procedures and
preparation to capture the best video images.”
By using the expertise it gained from
operating ruggedized cameras in fast paced yet
moderately benign environments, EV has been
Wellahead
PROFILE EV
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InsetComplexity of EV downhole video leading edge technology
BelowDownhole video equipment bench test workshop
BottomField engineer preparing downhole video camera for a job
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EVevcam.com
ServicesDownhole video specialist
Normally, in the realm of video imaging, it is not
possible to quantify the size of the problems or
anomalies encountered in the well. However,
by combining our cameras with our Multifinger
Caliper, we’re not limited to only seeing what
is happening, but now, we can also accurately
assess the dimensions of the problem we are
looking at. The benefits of this integration are
all too clear; in a single run in the well, EV is
able evaluate downhole completion problems
like corrosion, pitting or ruptures to even greater
detail than has ever been possible before with
standalone electromechanical measurement
devices,” explains Federico.
“With IVC, the axial downview camera is
run as the tool goes into the well, capturing a
real-time overview of the well features. When
at bottom, the Multifinger Caliper is opened to
obtain a dimensioned circumferential profile of
the well as the tool is pulled out. By switching
on the lateral camera we can further inspect
any serious conditions or anomalies by taking
a circumferential 360 degree video at any point
of interest. All this data can be streamlined
instantaneously, as it is being acquired, to our
customers’ remote offices so they can make
decisions on whether additional information is
required or whether they will begin to deploy
equipment to start a repair operation. The thing
to note is that when EV pulls the IVC out of the
well, our customers have 100 per cent certainty
of their well integrity conditions,” he adds.
Officially launched in 2014, the IVC
has successfully completed in excess of 40
operations, primarily in Canada where it
was tested and developed, but also in the
UK and Italy. Following the success of this
innovative product, Federico anticipates further
opportunities for the EV as its remains focused
on growing customer awareness of the value of
downhole video by providing them with robust,
high quality and unique answer products. “As
a firm specialising in well diagnosis, our focus
is to continue to build on our downhole video
expertise to retain industry leadership and to
add further value to our customers. Wherever
there is an opportunity to provide more robust
answer products, we will look to integrate
complementary sensors. We anticipate further
market growth in the regions where we are
already present, and will actively open operating
bases in new geographical regions to ensure we
are better able to support our growing customer
base,” he concludes.
able to transfer and develop its know-how into
the oil and gas industry and thus transform itself
into the global market leader in downhole video
technology. “Our headquarters are in Aberdeen
and Norwich, but we also have 17 operating
locations across the world; our region head
offices located in Canada, the US, Latin America,
Europe, Western Africa, the Middle East, South
East Asia and Australia,” says Federico.
To retain its technology leadership in the
downhole video market, the company invests
more than ten per cent of its annual profits into
research and development, which has resulted in
camera systems that can work to 10,000m below
the surface in environments up to 125 degrees
Celsius and 15,000 psi. Proud of its success in
obtaining images that can help customers find
solutions in the harshest of environments, EV
has a success rate of more than 95 per cent
thanks to its ultra-modern technology and
expertise in high speed data transmission, video
compression techniques, CCD sensors, optical
and lighting technology and image processing.
“We specialise in providing well diagnosis
services to oil and gas operators; our services are
based on a range of downhole video cameras,
which we call OPTIS. These can be deployed
on electric line, slick line, drill pipe and coil
tubing. The main feature of our cameras is
that they utilise a proprietary telemetry, which
enables us to stream up to 300 kilobits per
second of data on a monoconductor cable and
can thus provide a full colour video of up to 25
frames per second. We can also record up to
35 frames per second in memory. In terms of
ruggedization, OPTIS Downhole Video cameras
hit a record in 2013 when a job was successfully
run to 28,522 feet/8695 metres for an operator
in the Gulf of Mexico,” highlights Federico.
EV’s HD E-line camera works on 35,000 feet
of mono-conductor cable; this combined with
sensors that also operate at up to 15,000 psi,
means customers can rely on quality video
diagnostics deeper than ever.
The most recent example of the company’s
commitment to innovation is its new Integrated
Video Caliper (IVC), which provides real-time
answers to well integrity issues and is based on
EV’s proprietary telemetry that transmits data
to surface at a speed two to three times greater
than industry standard systems. “Thanks to
our telemetry, the main feature of the IVC is
that it combines qualitative HD video data with
quantitative Multifinger Caliper dimensioning.
PROFILE EV
83EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
AboveEV HD video sideview camera
GOWell
GOWell is a global technology company that manufactures cased hole logging tools able to identify the corrosion induced deterioration of both the casing and the tubing in oil wells.GOWell has worked closely with EV to combine its multi-finger caliper tool with EV’s downhole camera. This has allowed them to successfully introduce a new service to the market: IVC – Integrated Video Caliper, providing both measurement and quality images of the condition of the tubing and casing. GOWell strives to continue to produce high quality products to help deliver unique and efficient solutions to the oil and gas industry.
Acutech
Acutech Precision Engineering is proud to remain one of EV’s main suppliers of engineered parts, having done so since their inception, helping them to meet deadlines for both time critical short-term projects and planned ongoing expansion goals alike. Specialising in CNC milling and turning, Acutech Precision is extremely well suited to manufacturing a vast array of precision components in a multitude of materials to meet the ever changing requirements of its customers.
84 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
NOV is a leader in the design,
manufacture and sale of equipment and
components used in oil and gas drilling and
production operations, and the provision of
the oil and gas industry. Its headquarters are
located in Houston, Texas, and it has more
than 60,000 employees operating as a global
family in 69 countries at approximately 899
locations worldwide. Recently, in order to bring
clarity to its strategic direction and to enhance
its product and service offering to customers,
the company restructured into three distinct
business segments: NOV Rig Systems, NOV
Wellbore Technologies and NOV Completion &
Production Solutions.
Simon Garantini is European regional
manager for the division now known as NOV
Wellbore Technologies, and he explains how
the restructure is going to benefit clients:
“NOV Wellbore Technologies links all our
business units that pertain to the wellbore,
from fluid control systems and tubular
inspection services, to downhole products and
automation solutions. This makes it easier
for our customers to do business with us,”
he states. “NOV recognises that the key to
developing commercially viable hydrocarbon
production is economic field development
and we are uniquely positioned within the
energy industry to supply independent
products and services across many facets of
the well construction phase. Our products and
services include drilling tools, fishing tools,
drill bits, drilling motors, thru tubing, service
equipment, borehole enlargement, coring,
intervention and completion, power sections,
and directional tools, and we understand the
complete process and anticipate what our
customers need to thrive. At every stage, our
unique, integrated model delivers value. We
have the proven technologies and global scale
needed by our customers to be more efficient,
productive and successful.”
One of the most important products
developed by NOV is the Agitator™ System,
which utilises the energy in the drilling fluid
flow to impart a high frequency, gentle, axial
oscillation in the string. “This tool is by far
the leading friction reduction tool in the
industry,” says Simon. “It has been around
for more than ten years and amassed close to
50,000 runs globally so far. Its most important
application is in oriented motor drilling,
where the Agitator™ System reduces friction,
improves weight transfer and tool face control,
and extends the potential horizontal length of
sections drilled dramatically.”
He continues: “The tool is also used very
successfully to reduce stick-slip in rotary
steerable applications, to extend the reach in
coiled tubing work and to improve the recovery
rates in tubular retrieval (casing pulling, fishing,
sandscreen positioning and so on).”
Researching and developing highly innovative
products such as this is an area where NOV
invests considerable time and money. As a
result of its dedication many of its products
have seen major success in the oil and gas
industry and have been embraced by blue chip
clients. For example, its new generation of
synthetic diamond Helios™ Inferno™ cutters
have enjoyed very pleasing results on projects
in the North Sea. “These products are high
performance PDC cutters that are engineered
for specific drilling applications that may require
increased thermal resistance, increased abrasion
resistance or increased toughness,” explains
Simon. “Helios™ Inferno™ cutters are fitted
into ReedHycalog™ drill bits to improve drilling
performance in difficult geological formations.
Each Helios™ Inferno™ cutter is certified with
a unique Cutter Index rating to determine
the characteristics necessary for challenging
applications. This ensures the optimal cutter
is selected for the application, which provides
familyGlobal
PROFILE NOV wELLbORE tEchNOLOgIEs
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86 EuropEan oil & gas europeanoilandgas.co.uk
NOV Wellbore Technologiesnov.com
ServicesOil and gas equipment
Simon identifies NOV’s combination of
extraordinary products and diversity of services,
alongside its independence as major strengths.
“With our global footprint and experienced
staff we are able to support the market’s needs
in many challenging regions,” he adds. “We
are continually introducing new products
and business models to satisfy the various
markets we serve. We can also leverage off
our engineering capability and manufacturing
capacity to provide leading industry technologies
that are cost effective and tailored to the
economics and unique challenges of drilling in
many different environments.
The new organisational structure and also
improved website at www.nov.com both signify
progressives step towards shedding light on
strategy and further customer alignment for
NOV. “Through our broad capabilities and
vision, NOV’s family of companies is now
positioned and ready to serve the needs of this
challenging, evolving industry,” agrees Simon.
“NOV has the technical expertise, advanced
equipment, and readily available support
necessary for our customers’ success.
“Moving forward we will continue to provide
our customers with solutions tailored for them
and supported by engineering and operations
back-up so that we are truly delivering solutions
to our clients’ challenges. We will continue to
introduce innovative technologies that address
drilling needs globally and locally that are fit
for purpose and meet the value objectives our
clients have come to expect from our products.
NOV will continue to be dedicated to its
relentless pursuit of increasing customer value
delivery while decreasing risk.”
increased durability, increased penetration
rate by staying sharper longer, and maintains
drill bit stability and steerability due to better
wear characteristics. The initial success in the
North Sea came from a well in the West of
Shetlands area when a 12-1/4” bit fitted with
Helios™ Inferno™ cutters was used to drill
a section that historically required multiple
bits to complete. An even more challenging
conglomerate formation in the Central North
Sea has recently been successfully drilled in one
run with Helios™ Inferno™ cutters, establishing
a breakthrough performance for this technology.
Key results such as these provide significant cost
savings to operators by reducing trip time and
overall drilling time.”
Furthermore, NOV Wellbore Technologies
also recently released a new tool called the
FluidHammer. “The main feature of this is a
mechanism housed in the lower bearing section
of certain NOV positive displacement drilling
motors,” says Simon. “This does not alter the
dimensions of the motor significantly, but
through a cam and roller system that imparts
a high frequency weight on bit variation it
enhances the drill bit’s ability to fail the rock.
The mechanism is actuated by WOB, so only
functions when the bit is on bottom.
“This ‘hammering’ or WOB fluctuation
improves ROP and the resultant smoother
torque curve helps reduce weight transfer
issues and aids in mitigating stick-slip. The tool
functions well with both PDC and insert bits,
and has shown to be very beneficial in a variety
of applications where ROP is a performance
limiting variable, like hard rock applications,
interbedded formations and bedrock drilling.”
PROFILE NOV wELLbORE tEchNOLOgIEs
Allied Maxcut Engineering Co Limited
AMEC® is a global supplier of drilling and thread milling tools for the manufacturing of components used in offshore exploration in the oil and gas industry.In addition to an extensive range of standard tooling, with the widest choice of drilling diameters, replaceable inserts substrates and advanced coatings, AMEC has also developed an array of special purpose products to achieve maximum performance on often unique applications.This experience and knowledge of the industry is shown in the upcoming AMEC oil and gas specific brochure, which can be requested from marketing@alliedmaxcut.com.
Schofield Publishing Ltd10 Cringleford Business Centre
Intwood Road Cringleford Norwich NR4 6AU
T: +44 (0) 1603 274130 F: +44 (0) 1603 274131
Editor Matt High mhigh@schofieldpublishing.co.uk
Sales Manager Joe Woolsgrove jwoolsgrove@schofieldpublishing.co.uk
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