Subsea Forecast Looking Brighter - Subsea UK

SUBSEA UK NEWS
THE NEWSLETTER FROM SUBSEA UK WWW.SUBSEAUK.COM JUNE 2010
Subsea
Forecast Looking
Brighter
IN THIS ISSUE
Secrets to Global Export Success
A Special Feature on Deepwater
Market Dynamics
Spotlight on Subsea Safety
...and more

2 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2010
SUBSEA UK NEWS
3 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2010
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Member List
20/20 Business Group, AC-CESS Co Uk, ACE Winches,
Acergy, AFT Ltd, AGR Subsea Ltd, AKE Ltd, Aker Qserv,
Aker Solutions Allomax Associates Limited, Andrew
Palmer & Associates, ANSYS UK Limited, Ashtead
Technology, Atkins Boreas Consultants Ltd, Aubin
Limited, Baule UK Limited, Bel Valves, BG Group, Bibby
Offshore Limited, BJ Process and Pipeline Services, Bond
Pearce LLP, Bonds, BP Exploration Operating Company
Limited, BPP-TECH, Bruck UK Limited, Buchan Technical
Services Limited, C3 Global Limited, Caley Ocean Systems
Limited, Castrol Offshore Ltd, Centrica Energy, Champion
Environmental Technologies, Chevron Upstream Europe,
C-MAR, CodaOctopus Limited, Cognetas LLP, Consub,
Cosalt, Cranfield University, CSL, CTC Marine Projects,
Cutting Underwater Technologies Ltd, Deepwater EU
Ltd, DES Operations Limited, DOF Subsea UK, Dominion
Gases, Douglas Westwood, DUCO Ltd, Dunlop Oil & Marine
Ltd, Dynamic Positioning Services (DPS),
E & M ENGENHARIA E MONTAGEM LTDA, E.ON Ruhrgas
North Sea UK Ltd, East of England Energy Group,
EPC Offshore Limited, eProduction Solutions, Escape
Business Technologies, ESS, Expro Group, EXSTO UK Ltd,
Ferguson Modular Ltd, First Subsea Ltd, Fisher Offshore,
Flexlife Limited, Framo Engineering UK Ltd, FTV Proclad
International Limited, Fugro impROV, Fugro Rovtech
Limited, Furmanite International Limited, Galathea, GE
Sensing, General Robotics Limited, Genesis Oil and Gas
Consultants, Global Energy Group, Global Marine Systems
Limited, Granherne Limited, Hallin Marine UK Ltd, Helix
Esg - Well Ops, HTL, Hydrasun Limited, Hydratight, IHC
Engineering Business, ii-corr-Subspection,
Imes Systems, Infield Systems Limited, Inspectahire
Inst. Co. Limited, INTECSEA (UK) LTD, Integrated
Subsea Services Limited, International Power plc, IPWL
Limted, iXSea Limited, J + S Ltd, J P Kenny Engineering,
J. Ray McDermott, K.D. Marine Limited, Kongsberg
Maritime Limited, L&N (Scotland) Limited, Lankhorst
Mouldings, Marine Subsea, Marlin Engineering Limited,
Master Flo Valve Co (UK) Limited, MCS, Millbrae Wood
Technical, MODUS, Molecular Products Ltd, NaREC New
and Renewable Energy Centre, National Hyperbaric
Centre, National Oceanography Centre, Nautronix PLC,
NCA - Norse Cutting & Abandonment Ltd, NCS Survey
Limited, Neptune Deeptech, NETmc Marine Ltd, Nexen
Petroleum UK Ltd, Noordhoek Offshore B.V, Noratel
UK Ltd, NSIG (Northern Scotland Industries Group),
NSRI, NSW Technology Ltd, Nylacast Ltd, Oceaneering,
Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, Offspring International
Limited, Online electronics, Optical Metrology Services
Ltd, Optimus Safety Management Limited, Pan-Ocean
Engineering Limited, PDL Solutions (Europe) Limited,
Perry Slingsby Systems Limited, Petro-Canada UK Ltd,
Photosynergy, Pipe Coil Technology Ltd, Polar Media,
Poseidon International, Presens AS, Project Development
International Ltd, Proserv Offshore, Prospect, Prosper
Distribution Limited, Quest Offshore Resources Inc,
Quest Project Personnel (UK) Ltd, RBG Limited, Reson
Offshore Limited, Robert Gordon University, Rotech
Subsea Limited, Roxar Limited, RRC Controls Services
Limited, Saab Seaeye Limited, SAIPEM, Schilling Robotics
Ltd, Schlumberger Subsea Surveillance, Score Subsea
and Wellhead Limited, Scottish Enterprise, Seal-Tite UK
LLC, SECC, Seebyte Ltd, Shell UK Ltd, Silverstone Energy,
Simmons & Co International Limited, SMD Ltd, Smit
Subsea Europe BV, Society for Underwater Technology,
Solstad Offshore (UK) Limited, Sonardyne International
Limited (Aberdeen), Sonavision Limited, Sonomatic,
Speciality Welds LtD, Splash Offshore Engineering
Limited, SPT Group Ltd, Strategic Resources European
Consultants Ltd, Stronachs LLP, Sub-Atlantic Limited,
Subocean Group Limited, Subsea 7, Subsea Integrity
Group (SIG), Subspection Ltd, Sulzer Pumps (UK) Ltd,
Technip UK, Teijin Aramid BV, Thales Underwater
Systems Limited (associate), The Underwater Centre,
Total E&P UK plc, Tracerco, Transvac Systems Limited,
Trelleborg Offshore, Tritech International Limited, Triton
Group, UKPS/SUBCO, UnderSea Sense Ltd, Underwater
Engineering Services Ltd, Univation, Universal Pegasus,
University of Aberdeen, University of Strathclyde, UTEC
Survey, Valeport Ltd, Vector International, VerdErg
Connectors Limited, Vetco Gray UK Ltd, Visualsoft Limited,
Webtool Subsea, Wellstream International Limited,
Wilton Marine Services Limited, Wireless Fibre Systems,
Worldwide Business Portfolios Ltd, Xodus Group Limited.
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Subsea UK Safety
Leadership Forum
The subsea industry is recognised as a challenging sector, and safety is
paramount. Subsea UK recognises the importance of collaboration to ensure
that we provide the safest possible working environment.
Formed in December 2009, the Subsea UK Safety Leadership Forum is
emerging as a platform to engage our industry (and the subsea construction
sector in particular) in Safety leadership, a critical success factor for us all.
The Forum was established because of a joint desire from a number of
Subsea UK’s member companies (Acergy, Bibby Offshore, DOF Subsea, Subsea
7 and Technip) to discuss the Safety agenda within the subsea construction
industry.
The Forum’s mission is ”to focus on safety so as to deliver safer workplaces
by promoting a common approach to safety...” The Forum meets periodically to
debate, agree, plan and implement courses of action to improve safety in line
with its mission objectives.
Work has already begun and is progressing in three areas, initially identified
by the Forum, where a common approach will add value and help improve
performance:
Sharing Statistics: Currently Subsea UK members maintain safety
statistics individually. There is little or no visibility of safety performance
for the UK subsea construction sector as a whole. The Forum members
are now participating in a trial scheme using a common format for data
gathering. The compilation of such data for our sector with a view to
sharing and learning from our collective experiences would therefore be a
‘first’ and is a positive and proactive initiative.
Common Inductions: Standardisation of inductions could, and ideally
should, be a common thread across all Subsea UK member companies.
Work is progressing to promote a common approach by developing a ‘best
practice’ framework for inductions.
Common Language: Work is also ongoing on a matrix to encourage,
highlight and promote the use of common safety terminology across the
sector.
Separate communications will be issued by the Forum to update on progress
and to launch these initiatives with the full Subsea UK membership.
As a result of these initiatives, Subsea UK has also been invited to
participate in the Step Change Leadership Team, where the findings from the
Forum can be discussed at a broader level.
Ron Cookson, Managing Director of Technip
UK, and Chairman of the Subsea UK Safety
Leadership Forum, said: “It is my firm belief
that this discussion on safety can provide a
robust platform for identifying key areas of
improvement to the greater benefit of the
subsea construction community.”
Updates on the progress of the Forum
will be announced in future issues.
Hot News
Visit our website for all
the latest hot news on
everything subsea:
www.subseauk.com
Forthcoming Events in 2010
2010
30th June
Members’ Parliamentary Reception
House of Commons, London
3rd September
Subsea UK Annual Golf Day
Inchmarlo, Aberdeenshire
13th September Rio Oil & Gas
Rio de Janeiro
27-28th October Subsea Europe Paris
Paris
30th November DOT Amsterdam
- 2nd December Amsterdam
Please visit our website for details of forthcoming events.
Cosalt Offshore Invests
Heavily in Developing
Lifeboat Division to
Win New Business
Cosalt Offshore, a provider of lifting, tooling and marine services to the oil and
gas industry, has invested more than £1million in developing its lifeboat division
to underpin future expansion plans.
The division is adjacent to Cosalt Offshore’s Bridge of Don premises and
includes 3,000sq ft of dedicated workshops, a service centre and store
rooms, as well as a one-acre yard.
Along with the significant expenditure on infrastructure, Cosalt Offshore
has also expanded the product lines it offers and taken on an additional eight
skilled staff to give a team of 56 multi-disciplined service technicians serving
all sectors of the offshore and marine industry.
Cosalt’s main focus is the oil & gas industry and, as well as working
predominantly in the North Sea and Europe, and have expanded into West
Africa and expect to increase the levels of work they do in these regions in
future. Cosalt are also looking to target the marine industry generally and see
many opportunities there for growth in the coming years.
Colin Cunningham, general manager of Cosalt Offshore’s Lifeboat Division,
said: “The core of our work at Cosalt Offshore is providing the best possible
customer support and advice to our clients, assisting and advising them on
matters such as maintenance, inspection, testing, design & build of lifeboats
and on specialist subjects such as latest directives from the HSE, including
the significant “Big Person In Lifeboats”. These areas are where we work
closely with our clients to achieve the safest and most economical solutions to
meet their operational requirements offshore.”
Contracts recently secured by the Lifeboat Division include work with
Chevron and Dolphin Drilling. The Chevron agreement involves Cosalt Offshore
supplying lifeboat inspection and maintenance services to Chevron North Sea
Limited’s North Sea assets under a five-year agreement, while the work for
Dolphin Drilling was supplying its first lifeboats designed to meet the new HSE
guidelines allowing for offshore workers being larger-sized than in the past.
Ace Winches Appoints
New Head of Group
Sales and Business
Development
ACE Winches, a leader in the design,
manufacture and hire of hydraulic
winches, marine deck machinery
and provision associated personnel
for the offshore oil and gas, marine
and renewable energy markets,
has appointed Derek Penny as
head of group sales and business
development.
With 18 years experience in
the upstream and downstream oil
and gas, marine and naval defence
markets, Mr Penny joins the company
from subsea engineering company,
SMD, where he was engaged in
strategic business development.
Derek gained his BSc at Glasgow
University and his MBA at Dundee
University. Mr Penny has previously
worked with Shell, Tyco, ABB and
IMES.
Mr Penny’s new role will involve
building upon the company’s
international growth success, which
was recently demonstrated through
the Scottish Offshore Achievement
Export Award, presented by Scottish
Enterprise, recognising business
growth from successful development
of overseas activity in the oil and
gas sector. His first objective is
to establish ACE Winches (Norge)
AS, as a significant player in the
Norwegian Winch Hire and Bollard
Pull Testing market.
Mr Penny said: “ACE Winches is
a well respected Scottish company.
This is an exciting challenge at a
time when it is making major financial
investments in manufacturing,
engineering and sales facilities, hire
equipment service and training within
Aberdeenshire and internationally.”
Alfie Cheyne, CEO of ACE
Winches, said: “We are delighted
to welcome Derek on board during
a time of company growth and
internationalisation. Derek brings
with him an excellent track record
in business development and sales
management within the marine
and offshore oil & gas industries
and, more recently, the expanding
renewables energy market.”

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Exploring Deepwater Market Dynamics
Thom Payne, Senior Analyst at Energy Business Analysts, Douglas-Westwood.
Despite last year’s global economic
turmoil and oil price fluctuations,
the deepwater sector is forecast
to quickly recover and resume its
previous growth. Indeed, annual
deepwater expenditure is predicted
to reach around $35 billion in 2014,
with a total global Capex of $167
billion estimated for the 2010-2014
period. Between 2010 and 2014,
deepwater expenditure is projected
to expand at a Compound Annual
Growth Rate of 8%.
Three main elements dominate
deepwater spend over the next five
years: the drilling and completion
of subsea development wells,
pipelines and production platforms.
To put this in perspective, a total
of $63.6 billion will be spent on the
drilling and completion of subsea
wells alone. Pipelines and control
lines will also continue to play a
vital role in providing the necessary
infrastructure for deepwater
developments. The opening up of
reserves further from the coast
and the incorporation of satellite
fields into deepwater hubs will drive
expenditure on pipeline & control
lines to over $62 billion, while
investment in subsea wells and
pipelines & control lines account
for approximately 75% of all Capex.
Platforms are expected to account
for around 15% of total deepwater
expenditure over the 2010-2014
period (a total spend of $25.4 billion),
compared to 17% over the previous
five-year period ($21 billion).
Africa is by far the world’s
most significant deepwater region.
Deepwater activity really began
in earnest off West Africa in
2001, with the commencement of
production from Total’s landmark
Girassol project on Block 17 off
Angola. Over the 2005-2009 period
a total of $45.1 billion was spent
on deepwater developments in the
region – approximately two-fifths of
this was accounted for by the drilling
and completion of some 535 subsea
wells. A large number of world-class
development projects are underway
or planned for the forecast period and
we anticipate that these will push
annual regional deepwater Capex
above $12 billion. Expenditure over
the period is set to total close to
$64 billion – over 40% more than the
amount spent in the preceding fiveyear
period.
Production in Asian waters has
until recently been restricted to
shallow water fields, but there are
now a number of deepwater projects
underway or producing. Future
deepwater prospects may include
relatively unexplored places such
India’s Cauvery Basin, and Sri Lanka’s
Mannar Basin; Cairn India started
a 3D seismic, gravity and magnetic
pre-drilling survey in the latter area
December 2009.
Closer to home, deepwater
activity off Western Europe over the
2005-2009 period was dominated
by Statoil’s Ormen Lange subsea
development, in particular the large
deepwater pipeline development
scheme associated with the project.
In fact, pipelines accounted for
almost 80% of the region’s historic
spend. Over the 2010-2014 period,
a number of projects are expected to
go ahead – including Eni’s Aquila field
development, which is due onstream
in 2011 and includes two subsea
wells tied back to an FPSO. In the
UK, there are several deepwater
projects under development including
Total’s Laggan/Tomore and Chevron’s
Lochnagar/Rosebank, the former of
which will include subsea wells tied
back to an onshore processing plant
while the latter will be developed
using an FPSO.
Data taken from Douglas-
Westwood’s, “World Deepwater
Market Report 2010-2014.”
Douglas-Westwood is a leading
provider of business research &
analysis, strategy and commercial
due diligence on the global energy
services sectors.
Kongsberg Maritime Secures Camera
and Sonar Orders for Fugro’s ROV Fleet
Kongsberg Maritime is pleased to announce substantial
orders from Fugro for an extensive suite of cameras and
scanning sonars as part of its Global 2010 ROV sensor
refurbishment and newbuild programme.
The orders include more than 140 high performance
Kongsberg Maritime underwater navigation and inspection
video cameras, numerous lamps and over 35 Kongsberg
Mesotech obstacle avoidance scanning sonars. Further
orders are also expected for the newbuild programme.
As well as the latest versions of the industry’s most
widely used low-light navigation and high resolution colour
zoom cameras, Kongsberg Maritime will be supplying
over 20 of its new low-light OE13-124/5 BIT navigation
cameras and 6 ultra high resolution imaging sonars.
The new cameras and sonars will be fitted to Fugro’s
existing Global fleet of Work Class, Intermediate Class
and Observation Class ROV, whilst the equipment for the
newbuild fleet will be installed on the Fugro FCV 3000 and
new FCV 2000 Work Class ROV Systems, which are built
in-house in Singapore. The sensors will provide accurate
navigation and inspection imaging support for a broad
range of applications, including: Construction Support,
Inspection, Repair and Maintenance, Pipeline and Seabed
Survey and Drill Rig Support.
The orders follow on from a long relationship between
the two organisations and the continued reliable
performance of Kongsberg Maritime’s underwater
imaging equipment throughout Fugro’s demanding global
ROV operations.
“The greatest importance is placed on the accuracy
and reliability of the payload of sensors we choose for
our World Class ROV Systems, and after many years of
putting Kongsberg Maritime’s equipment through its
paces, we are impressed with the comprehensive range
of high quality, dependable and well supported equipment
offered,” says Jim Mann, Fugro’s Global ROV Manager.
Steve Williamson Joins UTEC Survey
as Chief Financial Officer
UTEC Survey has announced the appointment of Steve
Williamson to the position of Chief Financial Officer,
effective immediately.
Williamson brings with him extensive management
experience. He was most recently Vice-President of
Finance with Helix Energy Solutions and prior to that
Vice-President of Corporate Administration with Canyon
Offshore. He previously spent 11 years in various
engineering and management positions with Hewlett-
Packard (Compaq Computers).
In addition to his work experience, Williamson has a
distinguished academic record. After graduating with
a Bachelor of Science Civil Technology/Construction
Management degree from the University of Houston, he
earned an MBA from the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School
of Management at Rice University, graduating with the
distinctions of Jones Scholar and Jones Citizen.
UTEC Survey is one of the world’s largest independent
offshore survey companies providing a wide range of
offshore survey and geotechnical services, including
construction support, industrial measurement,
positioning, and geophysical survey services worldwide.
With offices in Houston, Aberdeen, Singapore and Perth,
UTEC provides professional customer-focused services
and innovative solutions in both shallow and deep water
environments.

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Sonomatic Forges New Path
with First Diver-free Subsea Inspection Tool
Ultrasonic inspection specialist Sonomatic has introduced
a new subsea inspection tool that can be deployed entirely
by ROV, bringing significant benefits to operators including
reduced inspection costs and access to deeper waters.
The new ROV-deployed tool can operate both vertically
and horizontally and has been designed for inspecting
pipelines, risers, caissons and structural assets using a
wide range of techniques. Key among these are corrosion
mapping and time of flight diffraction (ToFD).
Sonomatic — which has UK bases in Aberdeen and
Warrington — is a global leader in ultrasonic nondestructive
testing and bespoke scanner designs for
complex inspections.
The company has invested £600,000 in developing the
new ROV inspection tool and
is already assisting in BP’s
operation in the Gulf of
Mexico.
Subsea Project
Manager for
Sonomatic Ryan
Phipps said: “This
tool marks a new
generation in
subsea inspection
technology as it
means accurate
scanning can now be
carried out entirely diverfree
and to depths currently
out of inspection range.
“The tool is deployed by the ROV, giving the pilot
maximum control when manoeuvring and setting up. A
ten-metre umbilical connects the tool to the ROV via a
Sonomatic subsea pod which has all electrical and motion
services, and all data is transferred back to the surface.
No additional cabling is needed.
“Once the tool is on location, it is held in position by
hydraulic clamps activated by the ROV pilot after which it
is ready to begin scanning.
“Because it is quick to set up and simple to operate,
our system can be adapted for use with both working
class and inspection class ROVs.”
Mr Phipps said full functional and ultrasonic trials were
recently completed at Oceanlab and witnessed by BP,
MCS, and Subsea 7. “The trials were a great success.
Throughout, all electrical and mechanical interfacing
components were monitored for performance, and passed
with flying colours.”
The Inspection tool ranges in size depending on the
asset and application. The current 10-inch tool is only
700mm x 800mm and weighs approximately 35kgs.
There is full integration with Sonomatic’s Microplus
Digital Ultrasonic software and ovality measurement
package as well as the multi-channel corrosion mapping
and ToFD suites. Multiple data presentations are available,
in A, B, C and D-Scan formats.
The tool can be used with both wide-angle video
cameras on a multiplexer and with LED lighting systems.
The ROV UT tool is pressured-rated to 2,000 metres, and
communications are via RJ45 ethernet or by RS232.
Queen’s Award for Enterprise International
Trade 2010 Follows 400% Growth for Penspen
Over the last three years, Penspen
has grown exports by over 90%.
Penspen has two principal business
services in the oil and gas industry.
Its traditional business providing
engineering and project management
services for the development of
new pipelines, pump or compressor
stations, tank farms and similar
facilities and its more recent
expansion into operating and
maintaining oil and gas assets such
as offshore platforms, onshore
fields, pipelines, tank farms and gas
storage.
In the Americas, Penspen’s USA
subsidiary operates many of the
recently developed shale gas fields,
many of the offshore platforms in the
Gulf of Mexico and is a consortium
member along with Penspen’s UK
Integrity business on a $1.3bn
contract for Pemex in Mexico.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East,
Penspen has also been engineering
and designing the huge $3bn plus Abu
Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline in partnership
with China Petroleum Engineering
and Construction Corporation and
providing project management
services to Khafji Joint Operations
for the multi-billion dollar development
of the Khafji Field facilities. And in
the Asia Pacific region, Penspen is
engineering or managing projects
in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and
Australia.
In Europe, Penspen is providing
the lead engineering role for the
development of the $7bn Nabucco
pipeline planned to bring natural gas
from the Caspian Region and maybe
Iraq to Western Europe. Penspen
continues to secure engineering
and project management contracts
for the development of the natural
gas pipeline system in Greece. In
North Africa, GreyStar operates the
offshore platforms for the Sabratha
field in Libya.
David Stanley, Penspen Group’s
CEO, said “The Queen’s Award for
Enterprise 2010 to The Penspen
Group is the most prestigious
recognition of our staff and their
work. Our ability to grow in the
way we have and continue to
achieve is based on the outstanding
performance and quality of work from
our personnel. The most significant
factor in our success is our
reputation and this relies completely
on how well our staff performs for
our clients. I am enormously proud
of what everyone at Penspen has
achieved.”
The Penspen Group has placed
strategic importance on the training
and education of engineers both
in-house and in the wider oil and
gas industry and the participation
in developing engineering codes and
standards particularly relating to
pipelines. Lead by Technical Director,
Professor Phil Hopkins, Penspen
has contributed significantly to
and continues to actively support
Newcastle University’s MSc in
Pipeline Engineering. Several
Penspen employees have successfully
completed the course and it
continues to provide highly successful
graduates into the wider international
energy industry.
Mark Patterson, CEO
Simmons Closes
Multi Million Pound
Subsea Deal
Specialist corporate finance advisors, Simmons & Company
International rounded up last month with a total of four
transactions, one of which was a multi million pound
Subsea deal. Simmons initiated and acted as exclusive
financial advisor in the sale of Nautronix (Holdings) Ltd to
private equity investors SCF Partners. Established 25
years ago, Aberdeen based Nautronix is well known in the
subsea positioning and communications market and is a
leader in the design and supply of advanced underwater
acoustic systems. Nautronix employs around 80 staff in
their Aberdeen and Houston offices.
Nautronix has a clear focus on growing revenue and
gaining track record within the global deepwater subsea
oil and gas market. The company is strongly committed to
research and development and has invested substantially
in its key technology base, ADS2, and its game changing
products such as NASNet ® , NASCoM, NASDrill and
Helle Systems. Its global customer base spans national
and international oil companies, subsea engineering and
construction companies, and vessel and rig operators.
Mark Patterson will continue as CEO of the new company,
Nautronix Group Limited, and all management and staff
have remained with the business.
Ingrid Stewart, Director, Simmons & Company
International commented, “The completion of four
transactions in April alone is testament to the hard effort
of our corporate finance team over the past few months.
It is promising to see another deal close within the Subsea
sector, an area within the market in which we are seeing a
significant increase in activity.
“We are proud to work with very high quality clients
to help them achieve their strategic objectives. Many of
the transactions Simmons are now involved in have an
international or cross-border element which builds on our
extensive corporate finance experience and international
network.
“It has been a pleasure to work with CEO Mark
Patterson and his talented team at Nautronix and we
wish them all the very best in business going forth.”
As one of the largest financial advisory practices
serving the energy industry, Simmons enjoys a leading
market position in its specialised merger & acquisition
and public offering practices. The firm’s corporate finance
group also specialises in company sales, finance raising
transactions, private placements and strategic advice.
Acquisition of Prosper
Distribution Limited by
Beck Industries
Prosper Distribution Limited has recently joined Beck
Industries, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of
special bolts for the power generation and oil industries.
The Prosper name has been well known as one of the
few top British manufacturers and distributors of special
bolts for subsea, petrochemical and power generation
industries. Thanks to its earlier merger with Midsteel
and subsequent rationalisation and sales success, the
company is expanding strongly especially in the subsea
industry.
Prosper employs over 120 people in Kingswinford, in
the heart of the Midlands and in Aberdeen, the Scottish
base for the North Sea subsea activities with total sales
exceeding £13M, including worldwide exports.
Beck Industries is a 4th generation family-owned
group, focussed on the manufacturing of special bolting,
operating 8 sites in France, Germany, Belgium, China
and now, the United Kingdom. The group is implementing
a strategy of federation of first class bolting companies
throughout the world, in order to serve its customers
most competitively.
The new group turnover will exceed €65M and this
acquisition will further strengthen the current impetus at
all sites.
Prosper perfectly complements Beck Industries, both
for sales areas and product portfolio. Beck Industries
bring to Prosper a large and diversified manufacturing and
stock capability and synergies will range from technical to
purchasing and sales.
Prosper and Beck both share the same absolute
resolve regarding quality and safety. Clients operate
facilities and equipment where human lives and the
environment are at risk. In such an acquisition it was a
pre-requisite that the quality culture matched. Clients
will benefit from the advantages of bringing together
two companies with a similar approach to business
and a similar attitude to integrity. The ability to serve
international contracts is also further enhanced. Prosper
and Beck have solid grounds to be excited and ambitious
for the new venture and for the international development
of Beck Industries.
Mr Martin Boulter will remain the Managing Director of
Prosper and there is still the same dedicated workforce
that served customers previously. However, Prosper
now have access to a much larger stock facility to meet
customers’ demands including any urgent shortfalls.
The Prosper workforce are extremely proud to be part
of the Beck Industries group and have already been to
visit the Beck head office site in Armentières, France.
For many years Prosper have been one of the UK’s
largest manufacturer and distributor of high integrity
bolting and now, due to the acquisition by Beck
Industries, can truly declare themselves as players on
the world stage.

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Bibby Offshore Acquires World Class
Dive Support Vessel
Bibby Offshore Limited, the Aberdeen-based provider of
subsea construction and offshore management services,
has announced that it has acquired the dive support
vessel (DSV), Bibby Sapphire, from the vessel’s present
owner, Volstad Subsea AS.
A £34million loan facility has been provided by Standard
Chartered Bank to fully fund the acquisition. Standard
Chartered Bank will act as sole lender in the transaction.
Bibby Sapphire has been on time charter from Volstad
to Bibby Offshore for the last five years. When the
vessel first arrived under control of Bibby Offshore it was
operated as a construction support vessel (CSV). In 2007,
following significant investment, the company converted
her to a DP II, North Sea class DSV. Her acquisition brings
a high specification vessel with a proven track record
under the full ownership and long-term control of Bibby
Offshore.
Commenting, Bibby Offshore’s chief executive, Howard
Woodcock said: “The formal purchase of Bibby Sapphire
marks a 20 plus year commitment by our shareholders to
this business. It secures our asset base for the longterm,
allowing us to progress our growth strategy of
expanding our services and capabilities in the North Sea,
Trinidad, South East Asia and beyond.
The Sign of a Champion
“Ownership of the vessel will transfer next week. As the
majority of the existing marine crew are already Bibby Ship
Management employees, continuity of personnel will be
maintained. We now look forward to repainting the vessel’s
funnel livery in the traditional Bibby colours and welcoming
her and her crew into the owned Bibby fleet.”
This acquisition follows the recent announcement
from Bibby Offshore to its client base that it is now
fully certified by the International Marine Contractors
Association to undertake its own diving operations. The
company, which has traditionally outsourced this area of
its business, has now begun the process of recruiting
its own diving personnel. It expects to fill 80 positions
between now and October, with up to 160 more forecast
by the end of the year.
“The arrival of Sapphire into our fleet of owned vessels
and the recent creation of our own in-house diving
capability are two very important step changes in our
evolution”, explained Mr Woodcock. “Both outline our
passion in ensuring that as a company we continue to
deliver the best possible service to our clients.”
Established in 2003, Bibby Offshore has engineering and
office facilities in Aberdeen, Trinidad and Singapore.
Aberdeen based company, Champion Environmental Technologies, the marker leader in subsea signage are delighted to
announce they are now widening their product portfolio to cover all forms of oilfield signage from surface to seabed.
The continued company growth has created a need for a new sales position, with Craig Ogston joining the team. Craig
brings a wealth of experience to the business from his previous roles, particularly his time as Scottish Regional Sales
Manager at Scafftag.
The sales department is headed up by Business Development Manager; Emma Learmonth who says: “Our investment
in state-of-the-art technology has resulted in several exciting contract awards. Our commitment to only utilising fit-forpurpose
materials as well as our ability to customise designs cost effectively provides an edge over the competition.”
Champion Environmental Technologies have specialised in the supply of environmentally friendly anti-fouling solutions to
the Oil and Gas Industry for over three decades. Their subsea products, Aquasign ® and Solis are designed to improve
the efficiency and safety of subsea operations by providing highly visible markings guaranteed for a minimum of 30 years.
Now the company has announced a new division, surface signage to support the demands of their global client base.
Broadening Horizons
– SMD Spread Their Wings
There is frenetic activity across the globe within SMD. In
Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific there are expansion
plans afoot. Here we take a look inside to survey the
developments...
SMD’s UK headquarters in Newcastle-upon-Tyne is
bulging at the seams with new faces. In the pristine new
office facility on the banks of the Tyne there is not an inch
of idle space between the banks of engineers beavering
away on a myriad of projects.
One corner of the open plan office plays host to a design
team creating the world’s first subsea mineral mining
machines for Nautilus Minerals. Beside them another team
is immersed in a 1MW tidal power project for Atlantis
Resources Corporation. Extraordinary projects within SMD
are quite the norm.
Adjacent to the office, the proud history of SMD’s
Turbinia Works lives on and indeed is shortly to be
complimented by additional workshop space to cope with
anticipated demand.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the UK, a nucleus of
experienced engineers form SMD’s new Robotics division.
Based in the picturesque town of Malton, this small team
focus SMD’s considerable experience into new areas of
business such as tooling and nuclear decommissioning
projects.
In a climate far removed from the English spring, the
Singapore office continues to be a focus for expansion. The
modern high rise office facility in the heart of Singapore’s
Sun Tec business hub is set to be complemented by a
workshop facility providing technical support and spares
provision to an expanding local customer base.
Travelling back west to the Americas, SMD are
opening a new subsidiary in Houston to support customer
operations in the Gulf of Mexico and Brazil. Focussing
primarily on after sales service and technical support, this
will be SMD’s first tangible presence in the region.
Away from the office and production facilities, SMD
Expanding its advanced technology portfolio for the
deepwater drilling and production sector, GE Oil & Gas
has officially launched the new VetcoGray DHXT deepwater
horizontal tree and integral control system at the 2010
Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) which took place in
May in Houston, Texas, U.S.
The DHXT is designed to operate in water depths up
to 10,000 feet and at pressures up to 15,000 psi. The
streamlined design reduces standard industry horizontal
tree footprint by 12% (to 4.5M x 4.4M) and weight by
10% (to 43.7 tonnes), delivering significant installation,
maintenance and cost benefits for operators.
The D-Series package includes the integral VetcoGray
ModPod, a subsea control module that is powered
by SemStar5, representing a new generation of
ultra-reliable, open architecture subsea control and
instrumentation systems.
Manuel Terranova, Global Region Leader – Drilling &
Production, GE Oil & Gas said: “Building on the successful
launch in September of our new S-Series with the SVXT
tree for harsh shallow-waters, we are delighted to
introduce the new DHXT subsea tree for deep-waters
equipment and offshore staff have been globetrotting the
world in ground breaking new projects.
The mighty Rock Trencher, RT-1, designed and built by
SMD and now owned and operated by CTC Marine has
recently completed a contract for Chevron off Australia’s
North West Shelf. The SMD development team have
received very positive feedback, particularly in regard
to the equipment’s ability to perform beyond its design
criteria of 60 MPa material hardness.
Australian waters have also played host recently to Jan
de Nul’s new acquisition from SMD. Rock dump operations
on Woodside’s Pluto project have been aided by a Rock
Dump ROV designed and built specifically for this task.
A support vessel dumps rocks under free-fall through a
fall pipe to the sea bed. The innovative Rock Dump ROV
envelops the bottom of the fall pipe and uses its powerful
thruster configuration to manoeuvre the end of the fall
pipe to the desired location.
All this expansion and activity seems to come easily to
SMD. Staff numbers now exceed 200, over 60% of whom
are graduate engineer qualified; 2009 revenue of £50m
is forecast to hit £75m in 2010; and Chief Executive,
Andrew Hodgson describes his role as “the best job I have
ever had”.
With SMD hoping to announce significant additional
contract awards in the next few weeks it seems the only
way is up for this dynamic subsea expert.
GE Oil & Gas Launches New VetcoGray
D-Series Deepwater Subsea System
globally. The DHXT is a highly flexible deepwater solution
that offers operating companies superb engineeringdesign,
functionality, installation and maintenance, and
cost benefits.”
As with the new VetcoGray SVXT S-series subsea
tree (for shallow-waters) that GE launched at Offshore
Europe 2009, the new VetcoGray
DHXT is a flexible solution, and
design-engineered as the result of
continuous consultation and input
from both major
and independent
oil companies.
This approach
delivers improved
functionality
and flexibility
by incorporating
common project
requirements to
meet a wide range of
customer standards.

10 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2010
TECHNOLOGY
11 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2010
TECHNOLOGY
J+S Making
the Right
Connections
J+S has recently completed two very
different projects associated with the
delivery of high power, high voltage
subsea connectivity: one for Expro in
a deepwater oil and gas application,
and one for EMEC in a shallow water
renewables application.
J+S have designed, manufactured,
tested, and delivered several sets of
high voltage, high current, pressure
compensated enclosures, electrical
harnesses and penetrators to Expro
for their novel AX-S subsea wireline
intervention system. The project was
already well established when J+S
became involved, and the challenge
was to deliver to a demanding
specification and schedule.
The enclosures and harnesses are
oil-filled and pressure compensated
to simplify the design and minimise
the weight for operations at depths
of up to 3000 metres. Where
possible, penetrators were used
instead of connectors to reduce the
complexity and improve reliability.
J+S’ polyethylene injection moulding
process was used to produce high
integrity penetrators and cable
splices
All the J+S-supplied parts were
integrated onto the AX-S tool
assembly, and successfully completed
integration testing. Expro now has
a reliable, modular power and signal
distribution package that meets their
requirement for rapid and reliable
mobilisation and assembly of the tool
to deep water oilfields around the
world.
The other project saw the
design, manufacture, testing and
qualification of a re-usable shallow
water connection system for use at
the EMEC test facility on Orkney.
It was designed to operate both as
a termination when no generation
devices are connected, and as a
reusable connection to connect a
variety of devices that will be deployed
and tested at EMEC.
PhotoSynergy’s LED Fibre
Sub-sea Luminous Cable
PSL has developed a new and
unique energy efficient LED fibre
illumination technology, ‘Lightpath’
that forms a continuous line of light
up to 100 meters in length that
carries no electrical power.
As the fibre rope carries only light
(no electrical power) this makes it
ideal for underwater illumination/
identification applications such as
diver umbilical, tether ropes and
hazardous conditions associated
with operating in challenging
environments. In addition the rope
can be injected from both ends to
form a loop, extend operational
length, increasing brightness or as
an additional safety feature providing
built-in redundancy.
Initial trials of the surface based
system were conducted at the The
Underwater Centre in Fort William.
The high performance LED is
injected into the 5mm diameter
flexible fibre light rope utilising a
patented coupling system. This
creates a continuous line of light
along the full length of the fibre. The
light output colour is green, closest
to the peak eye response for optimal
visibility in low light and in water.
Blue light is an option.
Following the initial trial and as a
result of ongoing discussions it was
recognised that a compact diver
mounted submersible evaluation
system would be a valuable addition
and a compact canister design
was previewed at Subsea 2010 in
Aberdeen.
The canister houses an LED,
drive electronics and battery pack.
The unit is powered from the divers
umbilical supply with a one-hour
emergency backup battery. The
diver has the option of controlling
directly, including flashing. This
version could be adapted to fit an
ROV, increase illuminated length or
identify underwater objects. The
specification is being finalised.
Diving SIDC
Arrive
KD Marine’s two Subsea Intervention
Daughter Craft (SIDC) have mobilised
in mid April for FPSO diving IRM
work, west of Shetland at Teekay
Petrojarl’s “Foinaven” and at the
“Captain FPSO” for Acergy who
contracted KD Marine through
its DSVi contract. The craft are
mobilised on the mother ships “Toisa
Valiant” and “Far Sovereign”.
The two craft are purpose built
“state of the art” vessels which
were commissioned by KD, designed
by the marine architect Ian Darley
and built at the SeaWind Barclay
Curle yard at Appledore in Devon. The
craft are designed and built to Lloyds
codes and are MCA category 3 work
boat certified.
The design brief was arrived at as
a result of experience of using Fast
Rescue Craft or “FRCs” in the role.
Although these boats were perfectly
capable in their intended roles, they
were not ideal for diving since they
did not have space in their design
for such things as built in breathing
gas supplies, accommodation space
for dive control, seating areas for
the dive crew etc. They were also
relatively unstable while moored up
for diving due to their deep “V” hulls
which are more suited to high speed
cruising.
Both craft have a dedicated
McGregor/Hydramarine davit which,
are man riding and equipped with
constant tension and a snubbing
device; a considerably safer
proposition than crane deployment.
The craft that have emerged from
the yard have proved to be extremely
stable due to the design of the hull
and have never failed to produce the
“wow” factor in all those who have
been aboard. The first craft “DC 01
had its first outing at Haewene Brim
FPSO for Bluewater at the end of
last year’s season and performed
well.
This year is off to a good start
with both craft out at work and
enquiries continue to come in
for work in domestic and foreign
markets.
If you would like more information,
please contact Philip Milne on 01224
705075 or philip@kdmarine.com

12 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2010
TECHNOLOGY
13 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2010
ACHIEVEMENT
Tritech Launches
SeaKing Hammerhead
DST Sonar
Pier structure captured by SeaKing Hammerhead at
The Underwater Centre Fort William, 30m
Tritech International have launched
the latest addition to the SeaKing
family of imaging scanning sonar
products – the Hammerhead
sonar. The unit can create higher
resolution imagery than comparative
mechanical scanning imaging sonars,
by utilising a large transducer
aperture, very fine mechanical
step size and proven Digital Sonar
Technology.
The SeaKing Hammerhead sonar
has two frequencies of operation: A
high chirped 935 kHz frequency to
enable high resolution imagery, and a
second chirped frequency, 675 kHz
to allow for long range capability.
The wide transducer allows for a
very narrow horizontal beam to be
created on both frequencies, to
increase image resolution.
The Hammerhead has a built in
attitude sensor, which makes the
unit ideal for tripod deployment,
giving the user a clear indication as
to the position of the unit relative
to the seabed. In addition to the
attitude sensor, the unit also has an
integrated three axis compass, to
allow the sonar image bearing to be
continually displayed and updated.
The Hammerhead unit can easily
be networked with existing SeaKing
equipment. Or if using on its own,
the unit will automatically establish
communications with little input
required from the user.
Tritech’s Product Line Manager
for Imaging Sonars, Ben Grant, said:
“The Hammerhead sonar is at
the forefront of scanning sonar
technology, and is an ideal addition
to the well established SeaKing
range. The high operational
frequency, combined with a wide
transducer aperture, makes this the
sonar of choice for any application
requiring the highest possible
resolution of imagery.”
Pipeline Video Acquisition
Options with NETmc Marine
NETmc Marine is happy to reveal the
latest addition to its family of digital
video recorders, the Triops. The Triops
is specifically designed for the pipeline
inspection market; it is a 3U, triple
channel video acquisition system, with
2TB of SATA drive storage that allows
for the synchronous recording and
storing of pipeline video from an ROV.
Live view video can be displayed on
the QC screen and passed through
for display on the ROV monitor if
required. Video overlay is also available
by use of NETmc Marine’s triple
channel VideoTXT-3, which has up to
three serial ports for data input.
To supplement this product, NETmc
Marine has partnered with EIVA A/S
of Denmark, developers of marine
navigation software, to interface the
Triops with EIVA’s suite of software
including their newly developed
NaviEvent package. NaviEvent allows
for both online and offline eventing of
pipeline inspections, with video being
associated by time, thus enabling
Subsea 7, one of the world’s leading
subsea engineering and construction
companies, is pleased to announce
that as part of its ongoing
investment in assets and technology,
and following a two year trial in
conjunction with SeeByte, the two
companies will collaborate further to
bring the first commercially available
Autonomous Inspection Vehicle (AIV)
to market. Designed by Subsea 7,
the vehicle incorporates key SeeByte
technologies and will be in-service
during 2011.
Subsea 7’s OTC booth had a scale
model of the AIV, where visitors
could gain a better understanding of
the technology and speak with the
programme managers.
a “jump to video” facility, with the
NETmc Marine Triops system.
EIVA has also developed a 3D model
client deliverable, NaviModel 3D, this
allows the client to look at the data
in as fine details as is required or
to zoom out for a more overall view
of the survey area, and of course
Triops video can be included in this
deliverable.
The Triops/EIVA combination has
already caused a stir at the recent
Subsea 2010 exhibition in
Aberdeen,
where the
quality of
video, ease
of use and
integration
to a single
software
package
were key
points of
interest.
Subsea 7 Announces First
Autonomous Inspection Vehicle (AIV)
to be Commercially Available in 2011
Neil Milne, Subsea 7’s Vice
President of Life-of-Field/i-Tech,
commented: “The AIV represents a
significant technological advance in
the area of subsea remote inspection
and intervention. Autonomous
underwater vehicles (AUVs) have
been in service for some years,
capable of tracking and surveying
pipelines. With the arrival of the
AIV, subsea structures such as
manifolds, wellheads and risers
will be able to be inspected by this
tetherless technology, significantly
increasing flexibility and efficiencies
throughout the life-of-field cycle.”
Professor David Lane of SeeByte,
added: “The advanced autonomy
systems that underpin the AIV’s
capabilities are the outgrowth of
many years of research, development
and technology de-risking by SeeByte
for security, renewable energy,
offshore and transport applications.
The AIV is yet another example of a
SeeByte enabled remote machine
that is improving productivity and
reducing risk for its operator. We are
delighted to be working with Subsea
7 to realise this game changing
capability in the offshore oil and gas
arena.”
The Secrets to Global
Export Success
An insight from Subsea UK Exports Award Winner 2010
UK-based company Optical Metrology Services (OMS) Ltd is seeing a
continued increase in demand for its pipe measurement and inspection
services, primarily from overseas customers. In the last four years, OMS
has grown its annual sales revenues by a whopping 544 per cent, through
a combination of factors.
In recognition of OMS’ outstanding
achievements in export sales to global
oil and gas companies, Subsea UK
recently acknowledged these efforts
by presenting OMS the Subsea Global
Exports Award 2010. OMS was one
of three companies shortlisted for the
Award, the other two finalists being
First Subsea and Dominion Gas. The
award was sponsored and judged by
UK Trade & Investment.
Headquartered in Bishop’s
Stortford, London, OMS specialises
in providing measurement services
and precision measurement systems
to the oil and gas industry worldwide.
A key focus for the company is in the
dimensional measurement of oil and
gas pipes or other similar structures
such as aero engines, process
industry tubes or manufactured
cylindrical objects, where dimensions
are critical. Around 80 per cent of
annual turnover currently comes from
overseas projects.
Denise Smiles, Commercial
Director at OMS, says: “The unique
combination of measurement and
inspection services, hardware and
software that OMS is able to offer
its clients is just one contributing
factor to OMS’ success over the
last four years. We fully understand
and have an in-depth knowledge of
pipe measurement issues and so we
are able to look at projects from the
customer’s perspective. This means
we are able to provide measurement
tools, software and inspection
services that cut costs and make life
easier for the oil companies and their
contractors.”
OMS has been and will be involved
in some of the world’s highest profile
oil and gas projects. In 2009, OMS
was awarded a contract to undertake
dimensional measurement of pipes
for the Gumusut-Kakap oil field
installation, the first Shell deepwater
project in Malaysia.
This three-week project required
OMS to carry out critical analysis
and sampling of 3,500 pipe ends and
seven different sizes of pipe. The
pipe ends were used for both steel
catenary risers (SCRs) and flow lines.
OMS provided assistance in the
planning and execution of the creation
of the J-Lay double joints, which
enabled the most round pipes to be
allocated to the more critical areas
of the pipeline. OMS also advised
on the most suitable dimensions of
the J-lay collars for welding the pipe
ends, ensuring the easiest and best
fit up of pipes offshore, where it was
essential to minimise the time and
costs of the pipe-lay vessel.
More recently, OMS completed a
six-week pipe inspection study for BP
Exploration (Angola) Ltd, on its Block
31 PSVM deepwater Development
in Angola. This £650,000 contract
required OMS to carry out an initial
sample survey of pipe ends, followed
by the detailed laser dimensional
inspection, the sorting and marking
of more than 12,000 pipe ends,
including critical, fatigue-sensitive,
flow line sections. As well as helping
the customer (Technip) to better
implement the pipe end fit-up process
and fatigue HiLo strengths, the study
also ensured that pipe welding time
Above: OMS engineer inspecting a pipe end as part of an onshore project for Petrobras in Brazil
Top right: Two OMS engineers inspecting the dimensional accuracy of pipe ends as part of a 5-week project
for BP Exploration & Production Inc., on the Galapagos Development Project in the Gulf of Mexico
and AUT and counter-bore crew costs
were minimised.
Although most contracts are
with main contractors on oil and
gas projects, OMS also works
directly with the major oil and
gas companies. In late 2009, for
example, OMS successfully completed
a five-week pipe end dimensional
inspection project for BP Exploration
& Production Inc., on the Galapagos
Development Project in the Gulf of
Mexico. The project was secured by
OMS’ US office and all inspection
work was carried out on site by an all-
American crew.
In deepwater pipeline
developments, pipe shape features
that are unaddressed cause delays
associated with weld fit up and
ultrasonic inspection, which in turn
can have severe schedule and financial
cost consequences for the operator.
The contract with BP required OMS
to carry out an initial survey sample
of pipe ends to establish average
wall thickness, AUT calibration block
groupings, HiLo misalignment and
parameters for selecting SCR pipes.
This was followed by the detailed
laser dimensional inspection, sorting
and marking of all pipes – more than
5,900 pipe ends in total – including
critical, fatigue-sensitive 8” and
12” flow line sections and 8” SCRs.
As well as helping BP to better
understand any potential issues that
might arise on the project, it also
enabled BP’s installation contractor
to implement the best pipe end fit-up
process and fatigue HiLo solution.
This measurement service also
ensured that pipe welding time and
counter-bore costs and material
removal were minimised.
OMS is currently working on a
variety of other overseas contracts
for oil and gas customers, including
Block 18 for BP Exploration (Angola).
OMS is also providing custom
designed software to the main
contractor, Subsea 7, which, at the
touch of a button, enables pipes to be
automatically sequenced for the firing
line.

14 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2010
ACHIEVEMENT
at Subsea Asia 2010
Stand 5029
visit us on
WFS Delivers Wireless
Capability to Beerenberg‘s
Subsea Conductor Cutting Tool
WFS Energy & Environment, a
division of WFS Technologies, is
proud to announce successful
delivery of its Seatooth ® wireless
broadband radio modem and
wireless power transfer technology
to Beerenberg Corp AS. WFS
Technologies is the world’s leading
developer of wireless radio frequency
(RF) technology for communication,
navigation and power transfer and
the delivery for Beerenberg Corp will
deploy this technology to support
disconnection and decommissioning
of subsea conductors.
Beerenberg has delivered
this unique and complex tool for
Caldive for use in Gulf of Mexico
decommissioning projects, enabled
by the integration of WFS wireless
technology. The cutting tool
comprises two “rings” around the
conductor: one ring is fixed on
the conductor, and the other ring
containing the cutting tool sits
above it. The top section rotates
and severs the conductor ready for
removal from the well. The upper
and lower parts of the tool exchange
data wirelessly throughout the
operation using the WFS Seatooth ®
broadband radio link, to ensure the
task is completed accurately, whilst
at the same time the static part
of the tool transfers power to the
rotating part using WFS Wireless
Power Transfer technology.
A conventional tool for
disconnecting subsea pipes and
conductor would require an umbilical
to deliver power and data from a
vessel on the surface. Snagging
and tangling of wires is often seen
with subsea cabling, but with cables
attached to a rotating unit those
issues would increase. By allowing
the two units to communicate and
recharge wirelessly using WFS
technology, downtime of equipment
is minimised and overall operational
performance is improved.
Ian Crowther, General Manager
for WFS Energy and Environment
comments:“WFS is pleased
to have been able to provide
specialist systems and support
for this complex and missioncritical
operation. As the world’s
only provider of subsea wireless
connectors incorporating data and
power transfer, I am confident that
the success of this project will lead
to many more similar applications in
the oil and gas sector.”
EPC Offshore Exceeds Business Targets
with Highly Successful First Year
EPC Offshore, the Aberdeen-based oil and gas project
delivery company established in 2009, has exceeded its
own first-year business targets before its first year is half
completed. Set up to assist existing and new operators
to the North Sea – as well as major contractors, in all
aspects of project evaluation and management up to
successful sanction, EPC Offshore has grown from its
start-up core team of three senior professionals to more
than 20 staff in less than a year.
Chief Executive Keith Wallace adds ‘EPC Offshore is
focused on working with North Sea operators to control,
define and deliver offshore developments,’ he says, ‘and
we recognise the constraints in place today as a result of
the harsh economic climate and the importance of presanction
effectiveness.
‘Our success in our first year of business, with a
turnover for our first year approaching £3 million, is a real
achievement in this economic climate. We had set that
figure for our second year’s target, so it is very satisfying,
and it is undoubtedly down to our focused work, our solid
experience and a good reputation for timely and costsaving
project completion.
‘We have developed our own highly effective and
innovative Opportunity and Project Delivery System (OPDS)
that directs and streamlines the progress of offshore
opportunities towards sanction, and then onwards to
project control and facilities execution.
Refined from many years of experience on pre-sanction
work for established and new North Sea operators, the
EPC Offshore OPDS is an outstanding professional tool
for maximising project success and delivering a rapid
return on investment. It also ensures that the goals and
processes of the project’s stakeholders are aligned, a
critical step for any North Sea project.
With tens of millions of pounds traditionally spent
on the pre-sanction phase of a North Sea project, EPC
Offshore is now supporting a number of companies
with opportunities under evaluation – and this at a time
when oil prices are variable and swift execution is key to
economic success.
Keith Wallace adds ‘We know the North Sea industry,
the deadlines, the critical steps, and the timescales
needed to achieve a fully-commissioned facility, whether
FPSO, topsides, subsea or a combination of installations.
Stakeholder alignment is high up on that list of priorities.
‘A speedy return on investment is what really counts,
especially as our economy is emerging from a deep
recession, and major North Sea investments are required
to deliver revenue as early and safely as can be achieved.
That’s where EPC scores highly. Our staff numbers are
just over 20 right now, and we expect that number to
reach 30 in the coming months.’
introducing the new
ATOM ROV
WORKCLASS ROVS
TRENCHING SYSTEMS
DECK EQUIPMENT
SPECIAL PROJECTS
CURVETECH ® COMPONENTS
SMD Singapore Office
Level 42, Suntec Tower Three,
8 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038988
T +65 6829 2164
F +65 6829 2121
E info@smd.sg
WWW.SMD.SG

16 SUBSEA UK NEWS JUNE 2010
ACHIEVEMENT
Queen’s Award for Hallin Marine
Hallin Marine UK Ltd has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise
after increasing its sales 14-fold in just three years.
The wholly owned, UK arm of Hallin Marine Subsea International PLC last
year recorded sales in excess of £22million despite only being formed in 2006
in Scotland.
The Queen’s Award judges described this phenomenal increase as an
‘outstanding achievement,’ adding that it reflected ‘an effective marketing
strategy based on establishing strong client relationships.’
Headquartered in Aberdeen, Hallin Marine UK now employs more than 100
people offshore around the globe. Their skilled staff operate and service their
large fleet of ROVs and associated equipment that inspect, repair, maintain
and assist in the construction of subsea platforms, pipelines and structures.
The UK company has recently moved into diving and vessel operation with
their purpose built SOV Windermere due to arrive in the region shortly.
Mike Arnold, Hallin West Division’s MD, said: ‘The award reflects the brilliant
teamwork from all our Hallin family in the UK and from the staff that we send
to work around the world.
‘Our aim is simple: “To provide outstanding customer service and to go the
extra mile or ten, if that is what it takes, to ensure a successful outcome for
our client.”
‘We are really proud our achievements have been recognised by this Queen’s
Award and proud we are flying the flag for the subsea oil and gas industry. Now
I’m going to go and order the flagpole so we can really fly the Award flag!’
Aker Solutions and Marine Subsea Earn
Prestigious Health and Safety Awards
Aberdeen-based companies Aker
Subsea and Marine Subsea (UK) have
both been presented with the British
Safety Council’s International Safety
Award.
The prestigious accolade is
awarded following a rigorous and
independent assessment of an
Aker Solutions VP Charlie Ingrame with the
International Safety Award certificate
organisation’s health and safety
policies and procedures. Businesses
must demonstrate they have
comprehensive health and safety
policies in place, a clear commitment
to health and safety from the
boardroom to the shop floor and be
committed to promoting a positive
safety culture throughout the
organisation.
Charlie Ingram, vice president
of HSE in Aker Subsea, said: ”We
are delighted to have received this
award for 12 consecutive years,
this demonstrates our continued
hard work and the contribution made
by each and every member of staff
to sustain our health and safety
culture.”
Meanwhile, Alasdair Cowie,
managing director of Marine Subsea
said his firm’s reputation as a leading
provider of subsea services has been
enhanced by the award: “We are
honoured to win this award which
recognises the importance that we
place on health and safety policies and
procedures within the organisation.
Now, as part of the Marine Subsea
organisation, we are moving forward
to new business levels and HSE
will be at the forefront of all of our
endeavours and never compromised.”
Julia Nerney, Chief Executive of the
British Safety Council said: “For more
than 50 years, the British Safety
Council has led the way in promoting
health, safety and environmental
best practice in society. In the
21st century many organisations
worldwide are understandably making
health, safety and environmental
management their top priority. Aker
Solutions and Marine Subsea (UK)
Ltd are helping to make our vision of a
healthy and safe working environment
a reality.”
Former Prime Minister Gordon
Brown added his congratulations to
the winners: “I am delighted to send
my congratulations to all of those
organisations presented with an
award by the British Safety Council.
These awards recognise the crucial
success that those organisations
and their employees have achieved
in their pursuit of excellence in
the management of health, safety
and environmental matters at an
international level.”
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