SERVICES | SUPPLIERS

July 7, 2014

Cortez Subsea

Rapidly growing subsea services and technology products company Cortez Subsea has been granted a UK patent for its Modular Pipelay System, making new shallow water pipelay technology available to the North Sea for the first time.

The culmination of three years of research and development to bring the technology - a collaboration between Cortez Subsea and NOV Tuboscope Zap-Lok - to the marketplace, the first trials will get underway at the beginning of 2015 and will see Cortez Subsea build on its current six-figure investment over the next six to 12 months.

"This is a significant step in the development of our company towards advancing technology and maximising value for the subsea market," said Cortez Subsea managing director, Alasdair Cowie.

"The Zap-Lok connection, which has been used onshore and offshore for over 40 years, has gone through significant testing and is now approved by a number of major and independent oil and gas companies who see the advantage of the Zap-Lok technology. We are now progressing towards fabrication and trials of the first of the units for operations at the beginning of 2015."

The collaboration has seen the continued development in the application of the Zap-Lok mechanical pipeline connection for offshore application.

The Modular Pipelay System allows the use of the Zap-Lok connected pipeline to be installed from a suitable offshore multi-purpose DP vessel. The Modular Pipelay System is designed to facilitate the storage, handling, connection and deployment of the pipeline in an S-lay configuration onto the seabed at a speed of three to five minutes per joint, which is a daily installation rate of up to five kilometres.

CIS Group

Conductor Installation Services Ltd (CIS), an Acteon company that provides hammer services to install conductors and drive piles, announced that it successfully completed its first subsea piling services contract. CIS used its new remotely operated Subsea Piling System, which makes it possible to drive piles as large as 36-inches in diameter, in water depths to 300 metres. The piles were driven to permanently secure two subsea structures to the seabed and to initiate three rigid pipelines being installed by customer Technip on the Bøyla Development project offshore Norway.

Following preparation and testing of all equipment at its base in Great Yarmouth, England, CIS mobilised the full Subsea Piling System to Haugesund, Norway. It was then loaded onto the support vessel, from which the four-member CIS crew would carry out all subsea piling operations remotely using a control unit and monitoring system.

In late March 2014, in a maximum water depth of 120 metres, CIS successfully drove the three 30-inch Initiation anchor piles, four 30-inch manifold piles and four 24-inch pipeline end manifold (PLEM) piles. All piles were successfully driven into the seabed to their respective target depths, ranging from 10 metres to 23 metres. The subsea operation was successfully completed in April 2014, well within the requisite timeframe.

The scope of work was to install two different sizes of piles, which required re-dressing the pile-driving hammer to accommodate the second size of piles to be driven. Instead of transporting the hammer on the support vessel back to port to be re-dressed onshore, CIS and Technip worked together to formulate a more efficient solution to safely re-dress the hammer on the vessel in the field. By doing so, the time invested in this task was reduced, increasing vessel productivity by allowing it to remain in the field to carry out other work offshore. Throughout the operation, the Subsea Piling System performed as intended, confirming that the new technology reliably delivers substantial benefits.

T.D. Williamson

With the completion deadline of the massive Lom Pangar dam construction project looming on the horizon, a leading Italian construction firm has been hard at work in the jungles of Cameroon modifying sections of the Chad-Cameroon pipeline.

The Chad-Cameroon pipeline extends 1,080 kilometers from Chad to Kribi, Cameroon on the Atlantic coast. It transports oil from Chad through Cameroon's coastal port, where it is exported. The two 13 kilometer pipeline sections in need of modification lay in partial jungle terrain east-northeast of Douala. The objectives of the modification program were to re-route and strengthen the two pipeline sections to ensure that they would be capable of supporting 20-meter water columns that would eventually be installed upon completion of the dam.

Tasked with executing the entire pipeline modification project, the construction firm retained T.D. Williamson (TDW), specializing in pipeline intervention and pressure isolation services, to isolate the live pipelines so that repair or modifications could be made safely, without disrupting product flow

TDW carried out more than 30 hot tap and plugging operations to isolate pressure in the two sections. TDW used the tandem STOPPLE® pipeline pressure intervention method to achieve a Double Block and Bleed isolation, which makes it possible to cut, plug and safely isolate pressure from the sections without shutting them down, resulting in disruption to flow.

While the lines were safely isolated, providing a safe working environment, the necessary modifications to the lines were made so that they could be re-routed. Each line was safely isolated for approximately 20 days while the tie-ins were completed. The entire pipeline intervention operation, from deployment to completion of the final intervention, was completed by TDW well within the four- month timeframe.

The isolation made it possible for TDW's customer to connect the existing pipeline to new pipeline, safely and efficiently. Maintaining product flow throughout this complex operation was critical, so TDW's ability to make that possible was key.

HB Rentals

Offshore accommodation and workspace specialists HB Rentals has been awarded a major integrated services project with self-elevating platform provider Jack-Up Barge.

The contract, has seen HB Rentals deliver and install a 60Pax linkable accommodation complex comprising of sleeper and welfare modules, access stairs and walkways for a six-month contract as part of Jack-Up Barge's operations in the Conwy gas field in Liverpool Bay, UK.

The project, one of HB Rentals' biggest in the region, involved not only the rental of modules but also hook-up and engineering services during the course of the project.

The project saw the company work in challenging conditions including limited deck space on the barge the JB115, making it necessary to stack the modules 4 high and undertaking additional structural analysis to meet this requirement. The modules were also required to meet blast overpressure criteria due to the proximity of the barge to the platform.

The 60 bed accommodation complex comprises sleeper modules, wash rooms, laundry, recreation facilities and meeting and conference rooms.

Given the scale of the project the modules were mobilised from both HB Rentals' Eastern Hemisphere bases in Aberdeen, UK and the UAE.

HB Rentals Eastern Hemisphere unit is a subsidiary of Superior Energy Services and has operations in Aberdeen, UK and Dubai, UAE, servicing clients throughout Europe, the Caspian, Middle East and Africa.

Nine Energy Service

Nine Energy Service, a new oilfield services company which offers completion solutions and wireline services, was formally announced today as a merger of four best-of-breed oilfield services companies; Northern States Completions (NSC), Tripoint LLC, CDK Perforating (CDK) and Integrated Production Services Canada (IPS).

The new company provides customized conventional and unconventional completions and wireline services and offers its clients big company services with the responsiveness of a local supplier. Nine brings years of experience into play with unmatched service, committed to ensuring clients reach their goals in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

With experience in the major North American basins, NSC and Tripoint, CDK and IPS bring different areas of oilfield service expertise to Nine and allows the company to keep a strong foothold and reputation in the areas where the legacy companies previously operated.

The company will continue to couple strategic acquisitions with organic growth to further diversify and improve the services the company offers, starting with the first two acquisitions; Peak Pressure Control, a pressure control services company and Dak-Tana Wireline, a wireline services company.

This adds to the company's geographical footprint in all the major North American plays with over 20 locations offering a full range of conventional and unconventional completions and wireline services. Peak Pressure Control, founded in 2010 operates out of Midland, Texas and Dak-Tana Wireline, founded in 2007, operates out of Baker, Montana and Dickinson, North Dakota.

NSC and Tripoint, formerly known for both conventional and unconventional completions, had operations in Alaska, North Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, Oklahoma and Louisiana. CDK began as a perforating services provider in the Barnett Shale, and expanded to offer wireline services for clients in Texas, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Eastern Ohio, North Dakota, Southern New York and Pennsylvania. IPS earned a reputation for delivering innovative production enhancement solutions for oil and gas producers via discreet services and customized solutions throughout all of Canada.

National Subsea Research

The National Subsea Research Institute (NSRI) will be the focal point for the co-ordination of research and development activities for the UK's subsea oil and gas sector.

As a direct link between the subsea community and academia as well as government, NSRI will facilitate the development of subsea technologies which enable increased recovery of hydrocarbons, prolonging the life of the UKCS as well as innovation which adds value to the UK's subsea engineering base, helping to maintain the country's position as a world-leader in subsea.

NSRI will play an influential role in making sure the UK's subsea technology needs are understood and met within the increasingly complex and competitive technology strategy and associated funding landscape in the UK.

Subsea UK director and NSRI Steering Group leader John Mair believes that within the current landscape, which includes the Oil and Gas Innovation Centre and the Oil & Gas Technology Strategy Board, there is a greater need for more meaningful engagement between industry and academia.

He said: "NSRI will become the single voice on subsea technology in the country. As the 'go-to' advisory body and knowledge centre for subsea technology, it will essentially broker the development of subsea technologies, rather than seek to fund R&D activity itself."

Mr Mair added that with countries like Brazil and Norway continuing to invest significantly higher levels of funding into deepwater research than the UK, there is a more pressing need for an industry-led body in the UK that will build stronger links between industry and academia.

Initial funding for the initiative over a three year period has been secured from Scottish Enterprise, Subsea UK and industry with further industry funding expected in the coming months. David Rennie, Sector Head, Oil and Gas/Thermal Generation and CCS at Scottish Enterprise, says as a not-for-profit independent organisation, the NSRI will be in a strong position to work closely with Subsea UK to champion subsea development.

Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management, has released a new I/O family for its Foxboro Evo™ process automation system. The Foxboro® Compact 200 Series I/O fieldbus modules support more I/O modules in less space, reducing footprint up to 50 percent and offering significant potential for cost savings.

The new FBMs are especially valuable for new implementations in confined spaces, such as offshore platforms, and for adding capacity to existing installations without incurring the trouble and cost of facility expansion. Higher-density baseplates and optional cabinets contribute further to footprint reduction, which also drives significant savings in weight, energy consumption and inventory over traditional I/O offerings.

In keeping with the company's commitment to delivering future-proof technology through its Foxboro Evo process automation system, the Compact 200 Series I/O modules are compatible with multiple generations of Foxboro controllers, software and infrastructure, and they provide the ability to mix and match I/O types on the same controller. They are the latest addition to the Foxboro Evo system's flexible I/O sub-system family, which includes its 100-percent software-configurable Foxboro Intelligent Marshalling universal I/O solution; competitive migration plug-and-play modules; and intrinsically safe I/O options.

MICROSEISMIC

MicroSeismic, Inc. announced that Jeff Foster has been named President and CEO. Founder of the company and past CEO, Peter M. Duncan, Ph.D. will continue with MicroSeismic as Co-Chairman, focusing his efforts on the advancement of MicroSeismic's technology and promoting its economic and environmental benefits to the company's clients, the industry, and the world.

Duncan stated, "I am very happy to welcome Jeff to MicroSeismic. He is an excellent business leader and is committed to our vision of providing customers with the technology needed to optimize field wide completions and ensure that unconventional oil and gas remains an abundant supply of energy for generations to come."

Mr. Foster brings more than 25 years of diverse oil field drilling and completion experience to the role, having worked for a major operator, a major service provider and a small cap products and service company. In addition to his role as President and CEO, Mr. Foster will serve on the Board of Directors.

Prior to MicroSeismic, Mr. Foster was Senior Vice President of several divisions within Tesco Corporation such as Corporate and Business Development and Operations. During his tenure at Tesco, Foster drove significant growth and margin improvement within the company, while maintaining a focus on safety, quality and strategy. Prior to joining Tesco, Mr. Foster was a Global Operations Manager at Halliburton and a Senior Drilling and Completions Engineer at Exxon.

Mr. Foster holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from Tulane University.

KCA Deutag

The Land division of KCA Deutag, one of the world's leading international drilling and engineering contractors has been awarded a contract worth more than $90m USD by Russia's second largest oil company, Lukoil for the supply of two arctic cluster slider rigs in the northern republic of Komi, Russia. The first rig deployed has been an existing rig from within KCA Deutag's Russian operations and the second will be a new-build rig.

The three year contract for KCA Deutag's arctic drilling rigs T-505 and T-506 comes with two, one year options which could see the project continue into 2019.

This deal will see the creation of 40 new jobs within the Komi region, which will be filled by skilled local nationals and bring KCA Deutag's Russian operation up to 1,240 staff.

The design and fabrication for the T-506 rig, an HR-5000 series rig, will be undertaken by Bentec, KCA Deutag's manufacturer of drilling rigs and equipment, at its Tyumen facility in Russia.

Andy Hendry, President of KCA Deutag's Land division said: "From our entry into Russia in 2002 we have been extremely successful in building a business founded on the highest possible standards of safety and drilling efficiency. We are extremely pleased to partner with Lukoil in its drilling programs as we continue our growth aspirations.

KCA Deutag has been carrying out land drilling operations for more than 125 years in several markets including Africa, Asia, the Caspian, Europe, the Middle East and Russia.

Osprey Informatics

Osprey Informatics has released their latest intelligent visual monitoring product: Osprey Identify.

Specifically built for oil and gas operations, Identify gives companies the power to remotely detect, recognize, and visually monitor personnel at field sites. Identify is part of the Osprey Reach cloud-based visual monitoring platform.

Identify was built to meet the unique needs of the oil and gas industry. For example, Identify can be used for remote access control at unmanned field sites. Rather than just knowing that a vehicle is at the gate, Identify users will know whether the driver is authorized to be there, and will be able to respond accordingly. It displays the name of the authorized driver, tracks arrival and departure times, and provides easy access to imagery and video from the site visit.

This new product can also be used to support work alone programs by ensuring that the worker arrives and departs within the expected window, and by giving a supervisor remote visual access to the worker's site activities.