energize oil & gas 01/2010 - GL Group

GL Noble Denton 

energıze 

e n e r g y. e ff i c i e n c y. e n g i n e e r i n g . 

oil & gas 

Getting to the Top 

design Unique Combination of Competencies 

rules Following in Captain Noble’s Footsteps 

software SynerGEE Affects Energy Costs 

Issue 01 • 2010 

www.gl-nobledenton.com 

3

01/2010 

editorial 

John Wishart 

To Our Readers 

We are working hard to establish ourselves and be recognized as a leading advisor to the 

oil and gas industry. GL Noble Denton has a comprehensive service portfolio ready to 

assist to provide safe, sustainable solutions with quality you can trust, wherever you operate. 

As a full-service provider and independent advisors with broad upstream and midstream 

competence for the complete asset lifecycle, we provide consulting, design, assurance and 

project execution. GL Noble Denton combines excellent engineering and analytical skills with 

operational experience of offshore, maritime and onshore oil and gas assets. 

Given the breadth of our skills, our experience and as one of the mechanisms of 

keeping our customers informed, we have launched a customer magazine to let you know on 

a regular basis about the scope of our activities. We hope this updates you on the projects 

we are involved with and the technical and operational challenges we are dealing with. While 

safety, integrity, reliability and performance are our fixed targets, we rely on our strong 

expert ise in complex oil and gas assets such as MODUs, FPSOs, pipelines, subsea systems, 

OSVs, marine operations, project management and software services to get the job done. 

Our focus is beyond a given project. We share your understanding of a challeng- 

ing commercial environment as well as legislative changes and your concern about safe and 

clean energy supplies. Today’s demand to balance energy, security, employment, and 

economic development with combating global climate change requires diversity, 

competition and, after all, efficiency. In less than 30 years, the world will need 45 per cent 

more energy than it consumes now, and double current demand by 2050. While this 

projection requires a huge investment, it is of greatest importance for the industry to 

preserve the global climate and to reduce greenhouse gas. 

GL Noble Denton has the ambition to play its part promoting innovation, quality 

and efficiency in energy exploration, production and transportation. We are ready to assess 

investment choices and engineering designs as a way of making sure that you, our clients, 

remain competitive – today and in the future. 

Yours sincerely, 

John Wishart 

President, GL Noble Denton 

3

contents 01/2010 

40 

syneRgee: 

software for cost 

optimisation at 

pump stations 

12 

CORROsIOn: 

yours faithfully: 

rust loves 

sea water 

32 

spadeadam: 

the need 

for full-scale 

testing 

14 

mOORIng: 

ultra-deepwater 

research – new 

possibilities 

28 

18 

ResOuRCes: 

supply and 

demand – the 

peak oil mystery 

guIdelInes: 

following in 

Captain noble’s 

footsteps 

31 

InTeRvIeW: 

david Wells 

about his new 

business unit 

36 

InsTallaTIOn: 

dynamic 

positioning – 

faster than ever 

4 energıze

8 

22 

safeTy: preventing 

accidents – 

human factors 

engineering 


desIgn: 

a unique 

combination of 

competencies 

21 

envIROnmenT: 

efficient coal 

gasification 

technology 

42 

aWaRds: 

gl noble denton’s 

software solutions 

acclaimed 

profile inbrief 

gl noble denton in Brief 

GL Noble Denton is a TeChnICal advIsOR and TRusTed paRTneR for 

the oil and gas industry. 

The oil and gas business segment of the GL Group helps to design, 

build, install and operate oil and gas onshore, maritime and 

offshore assets to ensure safeTy, susTaInaBIlITy and 

supeRIOR value. 

GL Noble Denton is the meRgeR BeTWeen geRmanIsCheR llOyd’s 

(gl) OIl & gas BusIness and nOBle denTOn, a premier provider of li- 

fecycle marine and offshore engineering services. Since January 2010, 

they have been offering their services as GL Noble Denton. 

GL Noble Denton is a full-service provider with broad upstream and 

midstream competence fOR The COmpleTe asseT lIfeCyCle. 

GL Noble Denton combines excellent engineering and analytical skills 

with operational experience of offshore, maritime and onshore oil and 

gas assets. The oil and gas business segment of GL employs mORe Than 

3,000 engIneeRs and expeRTs In 80 COunTRIes. 

We have strong expertise in complex oil and gas assets such as 

MODUs, FPSOs, pipelines, subsea systems, OSVs – and assurance, asset 

integrity, safety and risk, marine operations, project management and 

software services to match. The scope of technical services includes safe- 

ty, integrity, reliability and performance management. 

GL Noble Denton is a TRuly IndependenT advIsOR without any vested 

interest in selling a design, installation, fabrication or equipment. 

GL Noble Denton services oil and gas clients in onshore production, 

onshore pipelines, storage, import terminals, LNG, refineries and pet- 

rochemicals, distribution networks as well as mobile offshore drilling 

units, mobile offshore production units, fixed platforms, subsea, risers 

and flowlines, offshore support vessels, tankers and shipping and off- 

shore pipelines. We oversee and support the full lifecycle of an asset 

from project concept to decommissioning. The business segment has 

a glOBal ReaCh In The OIl and gas CenTRes of the world. 

gl Noble Denton 


5

oil asiatridentconsulting 

& gas merger 

6 

Offering consulting across 

the entire asset lifecycle, 

GL Noble Denton combines 

exceptional engineering 

and analytical skills with 

operational experience of 

offshore and onshore oil 

and gas assets. Photo: 

Atlantic Hose 

energıze

advanced 

engıneerıng 

01/2010 7

advanced engineering design 

Centre of Design Competency 

GL Noble Denton is the leading consultant for jack-up rigs and 

dynamic positioning services as well as for design work 

“These new vessels are complex in both the jack- 

up and dynamic positioning areas,” says David 

Rowan, Managing Director, Execution Services 

at GL Noble Denton. “We add a practical dimension to such 

units because we have extensive experience in managing off- 

shore wind farm projects and are currently overseeing the 

biggest offshore wind farm to-date, the Thanet project off the 

UK south-east coast.” 

GL Noble Denton has been awarded a contract by a 

company for jack-up system upgrade design work offshore 

as well as overall project management services for this 

development. 

“One element of our design work success was our previ- 

ous experience with mobile offshore production unit conver- 

sions. In the case of the Legendre project, we developed an 

innovative top-tensioned-riser concept that saved the client a 

lot of money by eliminating a large wellhead support platform. 

We also addressed the challenge of seabed scour, a common 

problem for mat-type units on hard bottoms, by developing an 

anti-scour system that could be quickly deployed by remote- 

operated vehicle.” 

Current projects include jack-up system design work. 

“We have performed many basic designs for FPSOs, jack-up 

units, and other offshore equipment. The aim of basic de- 

8 energıze

sign is to establish the main characteristics of the unit and 

develop preliminary performance criteria and initial costing.” 

Heritage in Rig Design 

“As an example, the ‘Legendre’ mobile offshore production 

unit, as purchased by Oceaneering, was unsuited to its in- 

tended use in harsh environments. During the basic design 

phase, we developed an innovative ‘pipe-in-pipe’ configura- 

tion for the legs that re-configured the existing structure very 

cost-effectively to withstand the significantly-increased loads. 

Once we had shown it was doable we moved into the detail 

design phase. Our heritage in rig design has two roots: firstly 

our acquisition of Standard Engineering, a company that has 

designed numerous semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling 

units. Examples are latest-generation rigs such as the Aker 

H-6, the biggest semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling 

unit ever developed.” Standard Engineering has been involved 

in semi-submersibles pretty much since their inception and 


Photo: Gazprom 

experience. 

offshore drilling 

units have to 

satisfy specific 

requirements. 

has worked on all the industry’s “work-horses” such as the 

Aker H-3 for many years. “Our second root is Noble Denton, 

acknowledged as the world’s leading jack-up unit consultancy. 

Noble Denton has built up a huge breadth of knowledge in 

jack-up design and operation, which proved beneficial in the 

‘Legendre’ example. We were able to turn this rig into a very 

efficient production unit after it had lain idle for years because 

of inherent design problems.” 

The two main design competency centres are in Norway 

and Sharjah. The former is supported by a strong team based 

in Poland that is focused mostly on marine systems. The 

Group is considering expanding design centres into both the 

Far East and Brazil in response to cli- 

ent requests. “GL Noble Denton believes 

in putting the right person on the job. 

Thanks to our large and geographically- 

diverse staff we can place personnel 

where needed to best fit the requirements 

of the work at hand. This has two ben- 

efits: first it allows the ‘best for client’ per- 

son to be used, and second it offers our staff the ability to 

travel and advance their careers.” 

abstract 

GL Noble Denton has 

extensive experience in 

managing offshore 

projects. 

Know-how in design and 

operation advances 

efficient production. 

GL Noble Denton operates in a matrix structure with four 

regions – the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Far East – 

and four business segments: Technical Assurance, Advanced 

Engineering Consultancy, Marine Operations and Consultancy 

and Execution Services, complemented by a Major Accounts 

segment. Each region is further broken into countries, and 

each segment into individual service lines. “This organisation- 

al structure will allow us to perform a much broader range of 

services and to be a single stop for clients. Our average job 

size is expected to increase noticeably,” says Mr Rowan. Cm 

GL NobLe DeNtoN expeRt: 

David rowan 

Managing Director Execution services 

Phone: +713 543 4319 

E-Mail: david.rowan@gl-group.com 

9

advanced engineering design 

Giant. Newer, 

bigger: the 

6th generation 

of Aker rigs. 

A Unique Combination 

of Competencies 

In Norway, the first two aker H-6e rigs leave the yard – 

the world’s largest semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling 

units. GL Noble Denton was a preferred partner not only for 

hull design 

The first two Aker H-6e semi-submersible rigs, 

“Aker Barents” and “Aker Spitsbergen”, are now 

operational. They represent the sixth generation 

of drilling rigs from Aker Solutions. 

With a displacement of 56,900 tonnes and a deck area 

of 6,300 m², these are the largest drilling rigs ever built. 

With the H-6e rigs, Aker Solutions takes offshore drilling into 

harsher environments at high latitudes and in greater water 

depths. 

Aker Spitsbergen and Aker Barents are now fully operational 

in the North Atlantic and the North Sea after an initial 

period of offshore testing and commissioning. For several 

decades, GL Noble Denton’s design department in Brevik / 

Norway has been one of Aker Solutions’ preferred partners 

for hull design. 

In the Aker H-6e project GL Noble Denton has been responsible 

for all detailed design, engineering and strength 

analyses of the substructure (everything located below the 

10 energıze

top of the columns). GL Noble Denton has also played an 

important role in following up on the construction of the pontoons, 

columns and bracings at Dubai Drydocks (now Drydocks 

World-Dubai). 

A Key Factor for Success 

At the peak of the project, 56 engineers where involved, 

representing disciplines as diverse as naval architecture, 

machinery, piping and structural engineering as well as electrical, 

instrument and telecommunications (EIT) engineering. 

After completion of the substructure, the hulls were towed to 

Norway for assembly of the topside. 

“We are proud and honoured to have been part of this 

cutting-edge technology project,” says Engineering Manager 

Tor Lønnerød of GL Noble Denton. “Hull design has been the 

basis of our company since it was founded in 1978. Our longtime 

collaboration with Aker has been a key factor in bringing 

us to where we are today.” 


In 2009 the design department in Brevik, Norway, merged 

operations with their former competitor Standard Engineering 

in the neighbouring city of Sandef- 

abstract 

jord. Today, the joint GL Noble Denton 

and Brevik-Sandefjord team represents In the project, GL Noble 

Denton was responsible for 

a unique combination of technology the substructure. 

competencies in the field of mobile off- At the peak of the project, 

56 engineers were involved, 

shore units. Over the past 25 years, the 

representing different 

two companies have jointly contributed to disciplines. 

the design of 175 mobile offshore units. 

“Such an accumulation of experience is hard to find anywhere 

else on the planet,” says Lønnerød. mwH 

GL NobLe DeNtoN expeRt: 

tor Lønnerød 

General Manager GL Noble Denton brevik and Global Design 

Phone: +47 35 51 71 15 

E-Mail: tor.lonnerod@gl-group.com 

Finishing. After 

completion of the 

substructure, the 

hulls were towed 

to Norway. 

11

advanced engineering corrosion 

Yours Faithfully: 

Rust Loves Sea Water 

steel and salt water make a corrosive couple. Protecting offshore structures 

against rust can be a frustrating task, to say the least. Even small mistakes will 

show soon. remote locations and environmental issues add to the headache 

abstract 

Economically and ecologically 

feasible anticorrosion concepts 

for offshore structures 

are in high demand. 

The unique conditions in the 

environment must be noted. 

Proper corrosion protection not only means 

long-term cost-savings but is also a safety- 

critical issue. Therefore optimised, economically 

and ecologically feasible anticorrosion concepts for offshore 

structures are in high demand. The topic was discussed in 

depth during the 9th Conference on Corrosion Protection in 

Maritime Engineering in January. 

The Copper-Nickel Alternative 

Bernd Sagebiel of KME Germany, a manufacturer of copper- 

nickel alloy products for seawater applications specialising in 

the protection of highly exposed transitional and splash zones 

of offshore structures, explained: “Cathodic 

protection is effective in zones of structures 

that are permanently immersed in water. 

However, it is largely ineffective in transi- 

tional and splash zones, because the metal 

is not continuously in contact with seawater, 

the electrolyte.” The traditional method of 

protecting steel components in this area uses PU (polyurethane) 

or epoxy resin. But, Sagebiel said, there is an attractive alterna- 

tive: “High-strength copper-nickel alloys have been widely used 

for their excellent resistance to seawater corrosion, their high 

inherent resistance to biofouling, and good fabricability.” 

One of the first major anticorrosion applications of the 

copper-nickel alloy CuNi 90/10 in tidal and splash zones were 

offshore platform legs in the Morecambe Bay gas field in 

the Irish Sea, in 1984. The support columns of all platforms 

were sheathed in copper-nickel sheets from +13 to –2 metres 

above and below the lowest water level. The metal sheets 

were 4 mm thick and were welded directly onto the steel. The 

underwater sections of the columns were protected cathodic- 

ally with zinc anodes fixed directly to the steel. No corrosion 

allowance was specified. 

“Regular inspections have found no indication of corrosion 

on the steel or the alloy cladding,” Sagebiel emphasised. Since 

the robust nature of the material also prevented mechanical 

damage, there was never any need for repairs in the alloy- 

protected zone. “The fact that the transition and splash zones 

of the steel columns neither require corrosion coatings nor any 

repairs or maintenance work clearly shows that copper-nickel 

alloy cladding is a durable, economical alternative to conven- 

tional protection methods for offshore load-bearing structures.” 

Environmental Responsibility 

The fight against corrosion can be especially challenging 

when environmental restrictions add to the complexity of the 

task, as Horst Winterhoff from the German utility company 

RWE Dea showed in his report about the Mittelplate Drilling 

and Production Island. Located in a national park, the facility 

has to meet stringent environmental requirements. The production 

platform is protected by sheet piling. The structure re- 

12 energıze

sembles a steel tub, its design preventing both the ingress of 

seawater and the escape of oil or dirt. “Many aspects of the 

project were developed specifically to meet the requirements 

of this ecologically sensitive area,” Mr Winterhoff explained. 

The Never-Ending War Against Rust 

Corrosion-damaged surfaces of the steel superstructure are 

regularly mended. Loose rust and blisters are removed using 

needle hammers, then the affected areas are sanded and 

spot-repaired. Due to the exposure to salt, surfaces must 

be washed with fresh water before being worked on. When 

finished, the repaired surfaces resemble a patchwork. This 

makes it easier to track the quality of the repair works done, 

and to detect recurring corrosion in places still under warranty. 

Currently, works are underway to remove the entire tarbased 

coating of the sheet piles. Blasting off the old coating 

was not an option for environmental reasons. The design of 

the platform and the rough weather conditions did not allow 

the scaffolding to be covered by protective plastic sheeting. A 

method using electrical induction to remove the coating was 

01/2009 

Photos: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 

abandoned because the equipment was too bulky; and etching 

proved to be too time consuming. In the end, the traditional 

derusting method of hammering and needling turned 

out to be most effective. 

“Repair works on site are a challenge,” Mr Winterhoff confirmed. 

“Therefore it is essential to give due consideration to 

corrosion protection during the early planning stages of any 

project.” For example, bimetal corrosion can be avoided by 

selecting appropriate materials or by integrating other protective 

measures at the design stage. Covering special areas 

with suitable materials can prevent flash corrosion. “Due to 

the remote location, ongoing work cannot be monitored continuously. 

To ensure efficient corrosion protection you need an 

experienced and reliable team familiar with the unique conditions 

in the offshore environment.” NL 

Photos: RWE, KME 

GL NobLE DENToN ExpERT: 

Johann taferner 

Plants and Pipelines 

Phone: +49 40 36149-7739 

E-Mail: johnann.taferner@gl-group.com 

Challenge. The fight against 

corrosion is a complex issue: 

Located in a national park, 

the Mittelplate Drilling and 

production Island has to meet 

stringent environmental 

requirements. 

13

advanced engineering ultra-deepwater research 

Advances in 

Mooring Systems 

Evaluating the reliability of deepwater mooring lines is critical before floating 

systems can be deployed with confidence. An analytical truncation procedure 

allows a rapid assessment of line dynamics and opens up new possibilities for 

model testing 

Simulation. 

GL Noble Denton is 

funding a research 

programme at the 

University of 

Cambridge to 

consider effective 

modelling for 

ultra-deepwater 

mooring and riser 

developments in 

the oil and gas 

industry. 

14 energıze

The move by the exploration and production 

sector toward working in water depths greater 

than 1,500 m creates significant challenges for 

the integrated modelling of deepwater systems, the floaters, 

moorings and risers. Ensuring the reliability of such lines is 

critical and is normally achieved by efficiently combining com- 

putational models and model testing. 

In the case of numerical simulations, the complete sys- 

tem dynamics are highly coupled and nonlinear, with simul- 

taneous responses at different time scales. For this reason 

the governing equations of motion are normally solved in the 

time domain, which is computationally intensive. For physi- 

cal model tests it is impossible to produce a scale model that 

accurately captures all aspects of the system, given the re- 

stricted water depth of testing tanks worldwide and the lack 

of environmental control in fjords and lakes. 

Software Developments 

These difficulties have driven a significant research effort over 

recent years, and a significant degree of progress has been 

made. The drive to improve numerical efficiency has led to a 

number of recent developments in commercial software. In 

particular, the use of a linearised frequency domain analysis 

can offer a reduction in computational cost of up to two orders 

of magnitude, although a fully coupled time domain analysis 

may still be necessary to check critical design cases and 

benchmark the more approximate frequency domain method. 

With regard to model tests, one approach to the limited 

depth problem has been to truncate the lines and employ either 

a passive or active system to simulate the remainder of 

the lines. This approach has been studied on one phase of 

the DeepStar joint industry research project, particularly in 

understanding detailed effects of individual physical process- 


es in such complex systems. Research currently being carried 

out by the University of Cambridge and supported by GL 

Noble Denton is further addressing this issue, with the aim of 

developing line truncation techniques for use in both computational 

(time and frequency domain) and physical models. As 

described in the following, the adopted approach exploits a 

number of physical features of the system dynamics. 

View on Upper Sections 

Firstly, the wave action zone typically extends to around 40 m 

below the water surface. Below this point, the lines can be 

considered to be oscillating in still water (or in a current), 

driven by a dynamic top motion. Secondly, the transverse 

elastic waves induced in the line by the 

AbstrAct 

top motion decay with depth due to the 

In deepwater drilling, the forces 

action of non-linear fluid drag forces. 

acting on the long mooring lines 

In deep water, the transverse elas- and risers are a major challenge. 

The length of the lines renders 

tic waves are likely to decay before they 

model testing near-impossible. 

are reflected from the seabed, and in this A new study aims to simplify 

case the line can be considered to be ef- mooring analysis through line 

truncation techniques. 

fectively infinite, at least with regard to 

the transverse dynamic response. It follows 

from these arguments that there is no need to model the 

detailed dynamics of the whole line. Rather it is feasible that 

only the upper sections of each line require detailed modelling, 

terminating in an approximate analytical model that aims 

to simulate the remainder of the line. 

A preliminary study of this approach has considered a taut 

string model of a mooring line, in which non-linear damping 

has been included, but bending and VIV effects have been neglected. 

The line is considered to be anchored at the seabed, 

and the top end is given either a harmonic or random displacement, 

representing the displacement at the bottom of the 

15

advanced engineering ultra-deepwater research 

VIV. 

Vortex-induced 

vibrations are 

motions induced on 

bodies facing an 

external flow by 

periodical irregularities 

on this flow. 

wave action zone (Fig. 1). The principal item of interest 

is the decay of vibration along the line, and this is measured 

by a parameter referred to as l 50 . This is the distance down the 

line (measured from the top) at which the vibration amplitude 

is half the input amplitude. 

Universal Curve 

This parameter is very useful in deciding whether a truncated 

line model is appropriate, and if so, at which point truncation 

might be applied. It might initially be thought that the calcula- 

tion of l 50 would need to be performed for each mooring line 

of interest and for each possible type of top motion. 

However, a dimensional analysis, supported by ex- 

act benchmark numerical solutions, has shown that 

it is possible to produce a “universal” curve for l 50 

which is suitable for any kind of line with any top 

motion. 

To be more precise, two such universal curves 

arise, one for the case of a harmonic top motion (Fig. 2), and 

one for the case of a random top motion (Fig. 3). For the har- 

monic case the horizontal axis involves a parameter , the 

non-dimensional ratio of drag to inertia forces; where F D is 

the damping coefficient as described by the drag term from 

Morison’s Equation, A 0 is the top end amplitude and M is the 

dry mass plus added mass per unit length of line. 

The vertical axis is a non-dimensional version of l 50 , giv- 

en by the product of l 50 and the undamped wave number of a 

string, k 0 , which is defined as forcing frequency, over elastic 

wave speed, c. The value of l 50 for any particular line can be 

read from this curve; typical “beta” ranges for chains and ropes 

are shown on the graph. Strictly speaking, the universal curve 

is rigorous and universal for the harmonic case, and approxi- 

mately so for the random case. However, even in the random 

Photo: Woodside 

case it has been found that predictions yielded by the curve 

are highly accurate for the type of top input spectrum likely to 

be found in practice. In this case the non-dimensional axes are 

defined by similar parameters, however substituting in for , k0 and A ; with 0 2 , being the mean frequency, k , the mean wave 

2 

number and the standard deviation of the top motion. 

Two Strategies 

Figure 1. Damped 

string vibrations. 

In a water depth of 3,000 m, a mooring line typical for a taut 

configuration deepwater system has an l 50 with order of mag- 

nitude 300 m for chain; less for rope. As such the transverse 

dynamics would decay significantly by the seabed; therefore 

the rationale for seeking a truncation procedure is verified and 

an infinite analytical approximation is feasible. Ongoing work 

is considering ways to produce a truncated model. It would 

16 energıze

Figure 2. Universal curve for harmonic vibrations. Figure 3. Universal curve for random vibrations. 

start below the wave action zone consisting of a semi-infinite 

line, coupled to the end of the detailed model. Seeking an 

analytical description necessitates first a linearization of the 

drag force using a least-squares Borgman approximation. The 

length scale l is a useful means to compare the accuracy of 

50 

the different solution procedures. It is found that a linearised 

numerical solution matches very closely the exact benchmark. 

Using then a frequency domain analysis, such an approximate 

description can be implemented in a computational model. 

Conjointly the truncated segment of the line, represented 

accurately by a dynamic boundary condition, can improve the 

computational efficiency of a numerical time domain simulation.This 

can subsequently be applied to physical modelling. 

In the current study two strategies will be considered. The 

first will use actuators to replicate the behaviour of the lower 


FpSo. The vessel must be anchored reliably. 

both, turret and spread moored systems 

are used depending on directionality of 

the environment. 

sections using the type of model developed for the computational 

work. The second will use dynamic similitude to develop 

a passive shallow water line that has the same vibrational 

characteristics as the full line. 

These theories, if tested successfully, have the potential to 

make fundamental advances in model testing of ultra-deepwater 

concepts and in improving the efficiency of computational 

models. AA/rSL/rVA 

AUTHorS A. Argyros and R.S. Langley, University of Cambridge, UK, and R.V. Ahilan, Noble 

Denton. This article previously appeared in “Scandinavian Oil & Gas”. 

GL NobLe DeNToN experT: 

r.V. Ahilan, Managing Director 

Advanced Engineering consulting GL Noble Denton 

Phone: +44 20 78128713 

E-Mail: ahilan@nobledenton.com 

17

advanced engineering production 

The Peak Oil Mystery 

Tens of millions of barrels of oil are produced and consumed every day. The balance 

between supply and demand demand underlying this gigantic gigantic industry is is surprisingly 

delicate. For now, it it seems to be favouring the supply supply side – but but for how long? 

1973 

Yom Kippur War 

1st oil crisis 

1970 

Climate change, geopolitics and human ambition 

World oil 

are all factors in one of the great debates of 

supply at 

our time – when will the world run out of oil? 

48.941 Million 

barrels/day 

Or, more to the point: when will the demand for fossil fuels 

exceed the supply? 

During the late 1930s, U.S. geologists warned that the 

country’s oil reserves would be exhausted within 30 years. 

Today, some 70 years later, the world consumes 

PEAK OIL 

CONCEPT. around 85 million barrels of oil each day (bpd), 

Based on oil production with reserves for decades still underground. So 

statistics of individual 

much for past prophecies of doom. 

oil wells as well as 

entire oil fields. 

But just how long the earth’s remaining oil 

reserves will last remains the subject of heated 

discussion. A key term this debate revolves around is “peak 

oil” – the point in time at which the global oil and gas produc- 

1979 

Iranian 

Revolution 

2nd oil crisis 

tion will hit its all-time maximum before beginning a slow but 

steady decline while demand continues to rise. 

A Matter of Interpretation 

The concept we refer to as peak oil oil today first emerged in 

the 1950s when M. King Hubbert, an American geologist 

working for Shell Oil, pointed out that the world’s oil reserves 

are finite, and that the rate rate of discovery, following 

an exponential increase, will eventually reach a climax and 

then decline. 

The actual term peak oil was first used in 2001 by former 

Royal Dutch/Shell geologist Colin Campbell in a newsletter for 

the newly-founded Association for the Study of Peak Oil and 

Gas, and was quickly picked up by the media. There are two 

opposing factions in the peak oil debate. They differ in their 

18 energıze

Photo: Photo: Statoil 

Uncertain future. While worldwide energy demand continues to climb, the global oil and gas production peak is nearing. 

interpretation of the available data. Critics of the Peak Oil 

theory believe the global oil and gas reserves are sufficient 

to sustain industrialised and and developing developing economies for for over over 

a century. They claim that countries such as Russia, Saudi 

Arabia and Iraq are under-explored, sitting on billions of 

barrels of untapped resources. Sceptics contend that the 

accessible oil reserves will be depleted soon, and neither 

new technologies nor alternative energy sources will be able 

to satisfy the energy demand. They predict huge economic 

and social upheavals. 

The Search Continues 

Fatih Birol, chief economist of the influential Paris-based 

International Energy Agency (IEA), believes that unless 

major new discoveries are made, “the output of conven- 


1997 

Asian financial 

crisis 

tional oil will peak in 2020 if oil demand grows on a business-as-usual 

basis.” According to the IEA, conventional oil 

(as opposed to hard-to-extract sources 

like Canada’s tar sands) is “projected ABSTRACT 

to reach a plateau sometime before The world’s petroleum reserves are 

limited. The big question is, where 

2030”. 

is the limit? 

Based on an analysis of histori- Some experts say there is enough 

cal production data from 800 oilfields, oil and gas for well over a century. 

the IEA recently concluded that the Others forecast the oil production 

peak within the next few years or 

decline in annual output from mature decades. 

fields could average 8.6 per cent in 

2030. “Even if oil demand were to remain 

flat, the world would need to find more than 40 million 

bpd of new capacity – equal to four new Saudi Arabias – 

just to offset this decline,” says Mr Birol. 

19

advanced engineering production 

2000 

Thoughts From Davos 

dot-com 

bubble burst During the 2010 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland 

Thierry Desmarest, chairman of the French oil major company 

Total, said oil production will never exceed 95 million bpd. “Peak 

oil is still a problem; it will be reached in about 10 years, but 

not today.” But Khalid Al Falih, president of Saudi Arabian Oil 

Co. (Aramco), disagrees, saying that fears over future supplies 

are overstated: “There is too much rhetoric in the 

OUTLOOK. public domain about moving away from oil... This 

IEA statistics issue of peak oil has been pushed behind. There 

predict the decline 

are plenty of resources out there.” 

in output at 

existing fields to 

drop by almost So What About Climate Change? 

two-thirds by 2030. 

The topic of climate change as reflected in the 

Copenhagen talks of early 2010 plays a major role in the 

peak-oil debate. The IEA believes that coordinated efforts 

to limit the global temperature increase to 2 ºC will cut the 

worldwide oil demand to 89 million barrels per day in 2030, 

Nothing Lasts Forever 

THE THEORY OF PEAKING IS A SIMPLE CONCEPT. The 

exploitation of natural resources by man, begun centuries 

ago, evolves in a bell-shaped curve, with the rate of 

extraction increasing over time. It will eventually reach 

a peak, followed by a period of gradual decline until the 

natural resources have been depleted. 

PEAK OIL IS NOT ABOUT “RUNNING OUT OF OIL”, 

rather, the term denotes the point in time where oil production 

reaches its all-time maximum. The peak in the 

supply of base commodities is usually reached when the 

2009 

World oil 

supply at 

84.159 Million 

barrels/day 

compared to 105 million barrels per day if no action is taken. 

That, the IEA’s Birol says, “could push back the peak of production, 

as it would take longer to produce the lower-cost oil 

that remains to be developed.” 

Peter Davies, former chief economist of BP, believes 

glob al oil production could peak within the next generation 

as a result of a drop in demand induced by climate policies, 

rather than by a supply peak. 

So the Peak Oil question remains wide open. Yet, as the 

debate continues, there can be no doubt that the age of easy 

and cheap oil will come to an end before long; hopefully it will 

be a gradual and measured decline. BM 

GL NOBLE DENTON EXPERT: 

Lutz Wittenberg 

Executive Vice President, Europe 

Phone: +49 40 36149-313 

E-Mail: lutz.wittenberg@gl-group.com 

resources become too challenging to extract or too expensive, 

or are replaced by something cheaper, better or 

more plentiful. 

OIL PRODUCTION IS EXPECTED TO GO INTO DE- 

CLINE from around 2012 as the biggest and most productive 

fields are nearing depletion while new discoveries are 

generally recorded as being progressively smaller and of 

lower quality. Discovery of new oil peaked over 40 years 

ago and has been declining ever since, despite extensive 

drilling activities and high prices. 

20 energıze

advanced engineering gasification 

Volatile Coal 

Today’s approaches of gasification are 

high-tech – making this technology ideal 

for countries with rich coal deposits 

Between 1945 and the mid-1950s, motor vehicles 

powered by wood gasifiers were a common 

sight on Europe’s streets. Producing gas to generate 

useful energy has once again moved into focus. While 

the basic principle hasn’t changed, the smoking gasifiers of 

the old days are now being replaced by highly sophisticated, 

high-tech systems. The basic fuel is no longer wood or organic 

waste but coal. In recent decades, scientists and engineers 

have developed numerous methods of turning coal into 

gas. The raw gas produced can be purified and used directly 

as a fuel for generating electricity or as a raw material for 

chemical processes. 

High Efficiency, Low Environmental Impact 

GL Noble Denton is joint licensor with the German company 

Envirotherm of the BGL Gasification Technology. “The process 

is highly efficient – it converts nearly 94 per cent of the 

energy content of coal into useable gas,” says Mike Pritchard, 

gasification expert at GL Noble Denton. The German-British 

cooperation in the BGL process has a long tradition. The 

process is the result of a joint research programme launched 

in the 1970s by British Gas and Lurgi GmbH in response to 

the crisis on the oil market at the time. 

The development project produced a gasifier only 120 

cm in diameter, yet capable of processing 200 tonnes of coal 

per day. This delivered proof that a combined gas and steam 

turbine power plant with integrated coal gasification can be 

operated very flexibly and economically. This result can be 

put to use immediately: “The BGL technology has been proposed 

for a coal gasification plant in North Dakota/USA, India 

and China with discussions ongoing for further plants in Chi- 


Photo: iStockphoto 

demand. the gas produced in the gasification process can 

also be used for many chemical applications. 

na,” Pritchard explains. “We are technical consultants for the 

project.” The plant will produce electricity and capture carbon 

dioxide, an option that will boost further development of the 

technology in the USA. A demonstration 

absTracT 

plant operated in China in 2006/2007, 

Coal gasification methods 

and two large scale plants are currently 

are experiencing a revival. 

under construction. 

GL Noble Denton has the 

The technology is especially attrac- expertise to model various 

gasification processes for 

tive for countries that are rich in coal use in power plants. 

but poor in natural gas reserves. It will 

be used primarily by the chemical industry to provide feed 

gas for processes such as methanol synthesis, rather than 

for generating power. GL Noble Denton not only has technology 

of its own, it also has the expertise to model various 

gasification processes and to evaluate their comparative 

efficiency. JI 

GL nobLE dEnton ExpErt: 

Dr Michael Pritchard 

Head of Gasification 

Phone: + 44 1509 282452 

E-Mail: michael.pritchard@gl-group.com 

21

advanced engineering safety 

The Human Factor 

Do we control technology, or does it control us? 

Human Factors Engineering helps improve the interaction between humans 

and machines to prevent catastrophic accidents 

The offshore oil and gas industry is continuously 

striving to make the offshore environment a safer 

place to work. Most serious offshore accidents (a 

generally accepted figure is 80%) have been primarily attributed 

to “human error”. Detailed investigations, however, indicate 

that human errors are most often caused by a mismatch between 

human and machine behaviour. The “human factor” thus 

needs to be given much more serious consideration to avoid 

accidents. The offshore industry has begun to acknowledge 

the role that Human Factors Engineering can play in the design 

of offshore facilities. 

abstract 

Human Factors Engineer- 

Human factors need to be 

ing (HFE) addresses the need 

given much more serious 

consideration. 

for an effective interaction be- 

GL Noble Denton offers services tween humans, the technology 

such as human error identifica- 

they use and the environment in 

tion and analysis using accepted 

methodologies. 

which both must operate (human- 

GL Noble Denton develops guid- machine-environment, or “ergoance 

documents/specifications for 

various HFE and HSE activities. system”). HFE also ensures that 

all factors that can influence humans 

and their behaviour (workplace 

organization, physical work environment, workspace 

design, job factors and individual characteristics) are taken 

into account to create beneficial and efficient working conditions, 

thus reducing the potential for human error whilst 

improving safety and overall system performance. 

Unfortunately, HFE has traditionally not received the 

same practical emphasis as industrial engineering and occupational 

medicine. However, considering the advancement 

of technology in the 20th and 21st centuries, all reasonable 

efforts to mitigate the risks inherent in this technology should 

be given the same emphasis. 

Complex Technical Systems 

It is considered the “duty” of HFE to question engineering 

concepts. Wherever a task is designed, all requirements, including 

those relating to human performance, must be accounted 

for. In operator training programmes intended to 

minimize risk, the underlying assumptions and procedures 

must be challenged. Detailed investigations of serious largescale 

industrial accidents – such as Three Mile Island, Bhopal, 

Chernobyl and Piper Alpha – have shown that so-called 

“human error” needs to be viewed in the wider context of the 

circumstances created by organisational and management 

structures. 

HFE recognises that the causes of errors and accidents 

are usually to be found in the way the engineered and human 

systems fit together and interact. It promotes an approach 

in the design of systems and equipment that minimises the 

potential for human error. This is particularly important in today’s 

complex and large-scale technological systems that 

confront human operators with new demands. On many oc- 

22 energıze

Safety. Optimising the 

performance and effectiveness 

of the working 

BP 

system, including the 

human element. Photo: 

casions, the error and resultant failures can be attributed to 

factors such as: 


complicated operational processes 

ineffective training 

non-responsive managerial systems 

non-adaptive organizational designs 

haphazard response systems and 

sudden environmental 

disturbances. 

It is obvious that it would be irresponsible for the offshore 

oil and gas industry not to give due consideration to human 

performance factors in its efforts to mitigate the risks to people 

and assets in the offshore environment. 

Understanding Human Nature 

With all this in mind, GL Noble Denton has expanded its 

Safety and Risk services to include Human Factors Engineering. 

The company’s expertise in this field covers many 

23

advanced engineering safety 

different industry sectors and is 

transferable to any domain. GL Noble 

Denton’s head HFE specialist has over 

13 years experience in Human Factors 

Engineering and Ergonomics. GL of- 

fers a diverse range of HFE services 

to the oil and gas industry: 

IntEgratIon oF HFE Into tra- 

DItIonal saFEty casEs – Dur- 

ing the formal safety assessment, 

GL Noble Denton accounts for 

human factors to ensure that op- 

erators can handle “non-design” 

emergencies. 

HFE HazarD analysIs anD 

scrEEnIng stuDIEs – In the in- 

itial stages of a project cycle for 

a new facility, GL Noble Denton 

determines where HFE could add 

value by improving human efficien- 

cy or reliability and/or by reducing 

HSE risk during maintenance and 

operational tasks. The result is an HFE Issue Register. 

HFE ImplEmEntatIon plans – Define the HFE organisa- 

tional structure, responsibilities, scope of work, schedule 

and integration plan within the engineering project organi- 

zation. 

HFE DEsIgn stanDarDs – Aids for the design of hardware 

and software that provide quick and easy access to project- 

specific criteria for certain HFE design requirements. 

Front-EnD Human Factors EngInEErIng analysEs 

(FEHFEa) – A high-level task analysis performed early on 

during FEED to “think through” the activity sequences a 

person would need to go through to use the equipment 


and to verify whether the capabilities and limitations of the 

persons who will operate and maintain the equipment have 

been accounted for. 

assIstancE wItH Epc contractor sElEctIon anD 

awarDs – Ensures that bidding EPC contractors include 

in the bid packages their own HFE Plan (HFEP) describ- 

ing the scope of HFE measures, the deliverables and other 

relevant details. GL Noble Denton will help in the assess- 

ment of the HFE information presented in the bid packages. 

HFE awarEnEss traInIng – Specific HFE training for all 

technical personnel involved in detailed design work before 

the actual detailed design begins. 

24 energıze


Accuracy. When handling safety-critical 

equipment, every movement by the 

operator must be well controlled. 

HFE spEcIalIst stuDIEs – Valve Analysis Studies, Skid- 

packaged Unit Analysis and Control Room Studies assess- 

ing these items in terms of HFE criteria. 

DEtaIlED control systEm IntErFacE 

DEsIgn/moDIFIcatIons: 

worKloaD analysIs: Determines optimal staffing 

numbers over all shifts and covers all operating modes 

(normal, degraded and emergency). 

rEvIEw oF tHE alarm managEmEnt systEm: Alarm 

systems are often a contributing factor in accidents. 

Human Error analysIs stuDIEs – Identify potential op- 

erator errors during human-machine interaction in complex 

systems, such as control room monitoring. 

3D moDEl DEsIgn rEvIEws – Ensure efficient mainte- 

nance of equipment, safe movement of staff and equipment, 

sufficient clearances, safe access to critical items, 

adequate pathways and egresses for escape, evacuation 

and rescue, and other items. 

rEvIEw oF vEnDor pacKagEs – Review of proposed designs 

for compliance with project HFE requirements, speci- 

fications and standards, and assistance in incorporating 

improvements to the package. 

HFE InspEctIons – For details not included on drawings, 

GL Noble Denton HFE Consultants can audit compliance 

with HFE design requirements. 

support DurIng tHE InstallatIon of “field run” equipment 

– Ensures compliance with project HFE design requirements. 

Input Into crItIcal opEratIng procEDurEs, opEratIons 

anD maIntEnancE DocumEntatIon – Serves 

to identify potential human error during critical operations 

as a result of poorly written operating procedures. 

Man as a risk factor will never be eliminated entirely but 

needs to be managed professionally. KJ 

GL NObLe DeNTON experT: 

Karen Jacka 

principle consultant Human Factors Engineering 

phone: +603 21 61 00 88 

Minor Defect, Major Accident Accident. 

cHErnobyl 1986 – the worst nuclear power plant disaster in history. 56 direct deaths were 

recorded, but it is estimated that there were 4,000 additional cancer deaths. The incident resulted 

in the evacuation of 336,000 people. Investigations indicated that besides inadequate 

safety features, an unstable reactor design and lack of containment, opErators wErE InsuFFIcIEntly 

traInED, tHErE was a lacK oF communIcatIon about the emergency 

core cooling test that was being performed, and at the time of the incident all control had been 

transferred from the process computer to inadequately trained operators. 

E-mail: karen-louise.jacka@gl-group.com 

The Chernobyl 

nuclear power 

plant. 

25

marine 



operations 

26 


energıze

GL Noble Denton leads the 

way in the field of marine 

consulting and operations. 

Working on behalf of 

insurance underwriters, our 

expertise in marine warranty 

and consulting can provide 

exemplary independent 

assessment. 


marine operations guidelines 

Following in 

Captain Noble’s Footsteps 

Transporting and operating huge, awkwardly shaped structures in rough seas involves 

risks that can only be mitigated by adhering to rigorous codes and stan dards. 

With a new update of key rules, GL Noble Denton stays abreast of technology 

When a Marine Warranty Surveyor (MWS) conducts 

an approval process for an operation on 

behalf of insurance underwriters, he usually 

verifies compliance with “industry best practice”. The specific 

requirements must be clear at the tender and early design 

stages of a project so that the implications can be allowed 

for and priced. Changing a design at a later stage is much 

more expensive. 

For well established operations, approval may require 

comparison with industry codes of practice, such as IMO, 

API codes or classification soci- 

absTracT 

ety rules. However, many of these 

Many codes merely represent the codes are developed by indus- 

most basic requirements. GL Noble try “consensus”. This may not be 

Denton wrote guidelines with 

specific added variations. 

acceptable to underwriters who 

The very first general guideline was are interested in stricter rules to 

released in 1976. 

reduce the loss rate. GL Noble 

GL Noble Denton operates a 

helpline to assist clients in finding Denton may use these codes as 

or interpreting criteria. 

a basis for writing its own guidelines 

with specific variations added. 

This approach has been taken in 0009/ND “Self Elevating 

Platforms – Guidelines for Elevated Operations”, which refers 

to SNAME T&R 5-5A. 

Offshore. Many assessments 

are based on GL 

Noble Denton's Technical 

Guidelines. 

For innovative projects, setting standards may require 

comparisons with similar past operations, making allowances 

for differences in scale and scope. In the early days of North 

Sea development (1960s and 1970s) this usually meant early 

discussions between the MWS, designers and contractors to 

agree on design criteria and associated operating limits for 

critical operations. These criteria often had to be developed 

28 energıze

Photo: Dragonoil 

Condeep. 

Specific recom- 

mendations for 

construction, 

towage and 

installation 

were trans- 

formed into 

general guide- 

lines. 

using model testing since even the best computer simulations 

were very unreliable. In particular it was, and still is, impor- 

tant to learn from past mistakes or near misses. 

Pioneering Safety 

Much of GL Noble Denton’s present work originated with 

Capt. Noble in the early 1960s when North Sea drilling be- 

gan and he was asked by marine underwriters to help reduce 

the industry’s loss rate of jack-up drilling rigs when moving. 

Initially as high as 13 per cent p.a., this rate is now down to 

about 0.07 per cent (1 total loss in the 1,400 operating rig- 

years from 2006 to 2009). 

Drawing on his personal experience towing dredgers, 

scrap vessels and other unusual objects, Capt. Noble would 

write recommendations for each tow once he had studied its 

challenges. Many of the criteria he developed empirically are 

still in use as industry standards today, if with slight modifi- 

cations. He also insisted on damage stability, something that 

was considered as normal for ships but not for jack-ups. 

In 1976, Noble Denton in London began amalgamating 

these specific recommendations into general guidelines. The 

very first guideline addressed the construction, towage and 

installation of concrete gravity platforms, drawing on expe- 

rience gathered with the Norwegian Ekofisk tank and early 

Condeeps, as well as the Scottish Seatank units. This 

GL Noble Denton Technical Guidelines 

revised and reissued in March 2010 

0009/ND rev 5 (31 March 2010) – 

seLf-eLevaTiNG PLaTforMs – GuiDe- 

LiNes for eLevaTeD oPeraTioNs 

These guidelines are used by GL Noble 

Denton for the assessment of self-ele- 

vating platforms in the elevated condition. 

They address: 

general feasibility studies, including 

optional checks for punch-through 

resistance and fatigue; such studies 

may result in a Statement of Compli- 

ance 

assessment for specific locations; 

such studies may result in a Certifi- 

cate of Approval. 

Photo: Swinsto101 

0013/ND rev 5 (31 March 2010) – 

GuiDeLiNes for LoaDouTs 

These guidelines were developed for the 

loadout of items including offshore jack- 

ets, SPAR sections, modules, bridges and 

components from the shore onto floating 

or grounded barges and ships. 

0015/ND rev 2 (31 March 2010) – coN- 

creTe offshore GraviTy sTrucTures 

These guidelines were developed by GL 

Noble Denton for the marine aspects of 

construction, towage and installation of 

offshore concrete Gravity Base Structures 

(GBS) with a deck. They apply to deep 

draft structures where much of the con- 

struction work is carried out afloat, as well 

as to shallower draft structures where the 

construction of the GBS can be essentially 

completed in dry dock. 

0016/ND rev 5 (31 March 2010) – sea- 

beD aND sub-seabeD DaTa for aP- 

ProvaLs of MobiLe offshore uNiTs 

These guidelines describe the seabed and 

sub-seabed data required by GL Noble 

Denton to assess the suitability of loca- 

tions for self-elevating (jack-up) platforms, 

anchor installation and performance as- 

sessments. 


marine operations guidelines 

guideline has since been developed into 0015/ND. 

The next guidelines focussed on marine heavy lifts (1977). 

Lifting criteria were adapted from those used in the more benign 

environment prevailing in the Gulf of Mexico. The latest 

version, 0027/ND, has been revised extensively to account for 

increased crane capacities and expanded operat- 

TPb. 

The Technical ing practices. It also supports an extended range 

Policy Board of equipment. 

commissions and 

authorises all 

Going Global 

technical guidelines, 

internal Since then, GL Noble Denton gradually devel- 

procedures and oped its TPB. The board now includes 15 world- 

guidance notes. 

wide Technical Authorities, assisted by over 60 

Technical Correspondents who contribute their expertise and 

knowledge acquired in different areas of the world. 

The TPB operates an internal technical helpline to assist 

clients in finding or interpreting criteria, or in complying 

with them. It also reviews reports of accidents and near miss- 

0021/ND rev 8 (31 March 2010) 

– GuiDeLiNes for The aPProvaL of 

ToWiNG vesseLs 

These guidelines are intended to lead to 

an approval by GL Noble Denton for entry 

into the Towing Vessel Approvability 

Scheme. They also provide guidance for 

the approval of towing vessels for specific 

tow and bollard pull tests. They do not 

cover the towage of specific vessels or 

barges, guidance for which may be found 

in 0030/ND. 


GuiDeLiNes for MariNe LifTiNG 

oPeraTioNs 

Provides guidelines for the design and approval 

of marine lifting operations. 


GuiDeLiNes for The TraNsPorTaTioN 

aND iNsTaLLaTioN of sTeeL JackeTs 

This report sets out guidelines for the 

approval of the transportation and installation 

of steel offshore jacket structures. 

0030/NDi rev 4 (31 March 2010) – 

GuiDeLiNe for MariNe 

TraNsPorTaTioN 

These guidelines are used by GL Noble 

Denton for the approval of specialised 

marine transports, including: 

cargo on ships or towed barges 

towage of self-floating marine and 

oilfield equipment, civil engineering 

structures and ships. 

es. These activities support the constant efforts of GL Noble 

Denton to update guidelines, procedures or other guidance. 

Instead of writing “one-size-fits-all” rules, GL Noble Denton 

has always tried to be flexible and responsive, combining 

specific goals with practical marine and engineering advice on 

how to achieve them, and often giving alternative ways of doing 

so. Engaging in an active dialogue with clients, GL Noble 

Denton keeps an open mind for alternative ways of achieving 

an acceptable level of risk, and updates its guidelines periodically 

to reflect the lessons learned. bj 

GL NObLe DeNTON exPerTS: 

Mike hoyle 

Technical Policy board chairman 

Phone: +44 20 7812 8788 

e-Mail: mike.hoyle@nobledenton.com 

bob Jack 

Technical Policy board secretary 

e-Mail: bob.jack@nobledenton.com 

These guidelines are not intended to apply 

to “standard” cargo such as bulk liquids, 

bulk solids, refrigerated cargo, vehicles 

or containers. 

Upcoming 

0029/ND Guidelines for 

Pipeline Installation due 2010 


Float-over Installations due 2010 


Moorings due 2010 


Installing Subsea Equipment due 2010 

30 energıze

marine operations interview 

“We Can Do the Job Immediately” 

Starting from 1 January 2010, David Wells heads GL Noble Denton’s Global Business 

Stream “Marine Consulting & Operations” 

ENErGizE: David, what is “marine warranty”? 

WELLS: Marine warranty is a “third party” or in GL 

terms a verification role, generally related to offshore 

projects where we are appointed by underwriters to ensure that 

risks are kept within acceptable levels. Essentially, with offshore 

projects, we verify the engineering calculations and ensure that the 

proposed installation procedures are adopted. So, for example, if 

we are involved with a 1,000-tonne module lift, we want to make 

sure that the contractor provides the right size of crane, the correct 

rigging arrangement, that the lift points have sufficient capacity, 

that the module itself has sufficient structural strength and that 

the contractor complies with the approved installation procedures. 

ENErGizE: Who is interested in “marine warranty”? 

WELLS: Marine warranty requirements are driven by the terms and 

conditions of the project insurance policy. They stipulate the extent 

of insurance coverage but require that certain high risk operations 

within the project must be approved, i.e. are subject to these being 

“warranted” by a third party. The “warranty clause” stipulates both 

what operations need to be third-party approved and gives the assured 

options of certain named companies who can be retained as 

warranty surveyors. These critical operations generally cover loadouts, 

towages, heavy lifts, pipeline beach pulls, etc. We act for most 

reputable international insurance companies. 

ENErGizE: You also do “marine operations”. That sounds like 

hands-on first party-work! 

WELLS: Yes, we offer our services to oil companies, contractors, 

or perhaps a shipowner, where we provide key people to supervise 

a particular operation or to actually do the operation generally 

working with the clients personnel or crew. Examples would be 

provision of a tow master to position and moor up a barge within 

an offshore field, or to undertake a rig move of a jack-up or semisubmersible 

drilling rig or drillship. The latter might involve either 

an ocean tow or an in-field move. We also provide ship’s pilotage 


Photo: Bruce Bennett 

DaviD WELLS (54) is a Master Mariner who has 

served on various merchant ships including tankers, 

cargo ships, and offshore vessels where he achieved 

his firSt COMMaND aGED 27. In 1989, he joined 

the Noble Denton Group as a Principal Surveyor in the 

Abu Dhabi office. David subsequently SpECiaLiSED iN 

JaCk-up riG-MOviNG within the Middle East region 

and India. In 1996 he became General Manager of the 

Dubai office and was promoted to become Regional 

Managing Director Middle East in 2007. 

services on some offshore oil export terminals. These generally 

involve bringing a ship onto a single point mooring (SPM) buoy, 

where the cargo is loaded and then we take the ship off. We sometimes 

provide pilots for putting new FPSOs onto location and in 

hurricane zones, if a hurricane is forecast to come through, then 

we have, on occasions, been involved in taking the vessel off their 

moorings to a safe place and then to return back afterwards. We 

tend to look after the smaller operators or marginal fields on these 

occasions, where the operations are not big enough for our clients 

to have their own dedicated marine department. 

ENErGizE: Why should the oil and gas industry commission you? 

WELLS: The GL Noble Denton brand is strong in the market. It is 

made up of well known companies which are staffed by experienced, 

capable and well respected individuals. We are a people 

company and it is our people who provide our clients with the 

quality of service that they seek. Our clients trust and respect 

us and we pride ourselves on reliability. Our size helps, so there 

is a reasonable chance that we will have people available at 

short notice. This is essential in the offshore industry where the 

demands of day-to-day operations change very quickly. snb 

ContaCt. 

Phone: 

+ 971 4 3317952 

E-Mail: 

david.wells@ 

nobledenton.com 

31

marine operations spadeadam 

The use of full-scale testing can prove to be im- 

practical or prohibitively expensive, so it has be- 

come standard practice to use computer model- 

ling based on theoretical predictions, mathematic calculations 

and laboratory scale experiments. Although this type of testing 

and hazard prediction has its place, it is still important from 

time to time to validate the predictions with full-scale testing. 

This is particularly important in new research and the long 

term development of theoretical modelling as many problems 

involve physical or chemical processes which are scale dependant. 

The purpose of the modelling and testing is to determine 

the material, component, assembly or process operational pa- 

rameters and so predict and protect against possible failures. 

This cannot be done without a full understanding of the haz- 

ards, the four principal stages being: 

the identification of possible failures through 

experience or foresight 

understanding the nature and mechanism of 

the failure and its potential consequences 

determining the probability and consequences 

of a failure 

establishing the means of preventing a failure 

as well as limiting and protecting against the 

consequences 

Pipe. Flexible risers 

connect subsea structures 

with surface production 

units. 

Although the probability of a failure can be managed and 

32 energıze


The Need for 

Full-scale Testing 

Computer modelling is the standard – but it is still important to validate the predictions 

with full-scale testing. A case for GL Noble Denton’s Spadeadam test site 

minimised by the use of modelling and testing, the combination 

of a failure probability and its consequences must not 

give rise to an unacceptable risk. This can only be truly understood 

by full-scale testing especially when working on new 

technologies and processes where there is little or no existing 

information. A good example of full-scale testing producing 

unexpected results and identifying unanticipated potential 

hazards is that of a gas explosion in a congested area, as 

conducted by Germanischer Lloyd at its Spadeadam test site 

in Cumbria, UK. These full-scale tests resulted in an overpressure 

substantially higher than that predicted by modelling. 

Wellstream (see page 37) have developed a modelling 

system called PipeMaker TM to predict the burst pressure for a 

given flexible pipe type. They have used this successfully for 

a number of years and have now confirmed that the data from 

testing at full-scale at Spadeadam is providing them with the 

confidence that their model predictions remain valid for their 

new range of flexible pipes. 

Factory Acceptance Testing and Burst Testing 

As part of their quality control system, Wellstream carry out 

Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) on all production runs and 

a burst test on a type test basis. This is to verify the quality 

of the product plus to acquire data to verify their PipeMaker TM 

software. The software is used to establish pipe mechanical 

properties based on analytical formulae supported by com- 


prehensive empirical test data. 

A test sample is taken from the end of a production run and 

fitted with standard production end fitting for use in a type test. 

This sample is then firstly subjected to a 

normal hydrostatic test or FAT. Upon suc- AbStrACt 

cessful completion of the FAT the same Failure probability can only be truly 

understood by full-scale testing. 

test sample is then taken through 10 pres- 

Wellstream have developed a 

sure cycles before finally being hydrostati- modelling system called PipeMaker 

cally burst tested. 

to predict the burst pressure for a 

given flexible pipe type. 

For the FAT, the pipe is pressurised to 

They validate the results in the 

the design pressure x 1.5 x 1.04 and held Spadeadam test site. 

for a period of 24 hours. After successfully 

completing the FAT, the same test sample is taken through 10 

pressurization cycles to the working pressure of the pipe. The 

pressurisation and depressurisation rates are controlled 

Fountain. Underwater burst tests show weak spots. 

33

marine operations spadeadam 

KNowLeDGe. 

The team of 

scientists and 

engineers at 

Spadeadam 

possess a wealth 

of experience in 

carrying out 

full-scale testing. 

with a 10-minute hold period at the elevated pressure. As 

soon as the final pressurisation cycle has been successfully com- 

pleted the test sample enters into a hydrostatic burst test. Again 

the pressurisation rate is controlled but this time the pressure is 

continually increased until a pipe failure is detected by the rapid 

depressurisation of the test sample. After complet- 

ing the above tests the test sample is finally dis- 

sected to verify the condition of the internal layers 

post burst failure. 

Tensile Testing 

GL Spadeadam has recently installed a 10,000 

kN dynamic tension - tension testing rig for test- 

ing subsea pipes and other equipment on behalf of Well- 

stream. The test rig is capable of housing pipes up to 24" in 

diameter and 12 m in length. The tests are fully automated al- 

lowing for 600 mm of extension on the sample and in excess 

of 2,000,000 cycles per test. A data acquisition system is set 

up to record 130 instruments although this can be increased 

if required. 

Along with the dynamic tension - tension testing the facil- 

ity can simultaneously hydrostatically pressurise or burst the 

test sample with up to 60,000 psi. The test pressure is con- 

Widget. GL Spadeadam has 

installed a 10,000 kN dynamic 

tension – tension testing 

rig for testing subsea pipes. 

trolled via a PLC allowing pressurisation and depressurisation 

rates to be pre-programmed into the system. 

The test rig building was completed in 16 weeks from 

concept to commissioning including the design and manufac- 

ture of the test rig itself. Within that time scale the site was 

cleared with the construction of a roadway, parking together 

with a floating foundation allowing a further two rigs to be 

built if required. The facility has been designed to enable the 

test samples to be installed through the roof of the building 

with the entire operations run through a remote control room 

over 60 m away. Wellstream are also able to monitor their 

tests from the comfort of their offices in Newcastle with all 

Location. The facilities at the GL Spadeadam Test Site. 

34 energıze

the data and CCTV systems streamed live over the Internet. 

Wellstream are developing new products to work in ever more 

demanding environments where operating parameters such 

as pressure, water depth, temperature and fluid character- 

istics become even more challenging. As these new designs 

mature, the tailored facilities at the GL Spadeadam test site 

are ideally placed to carry out the necessary development 

and proof testing. 

Looking to the Future 

The permanent team of scientists and engineers at Spadeadam 

possess a wealth of experience in carrying out full-scale testing 

and this knowledge along with the large investment in equipment 

and services has provided GL Spadeadam with the infrastructure 

to successfully complete full-scale testing for many of the major 

oil and gas companies including Wellstream. 

As technology and innovation moves forward, GL will con- 

tinue to design and develop the means to test the resulting 

products on a full-scale basis. This will ensure that the haz- 

ards and risks continue to be identified and managed suc- 

cessfully. The GL Spadeadam team are now investigating the 

feasibility of installing a larger tensile testing rig to compli- 

ment the range of tests required for subsea pipes and other 

equipment. The machine is to be rated to 16,000 kN capable 

of housing a 20 m test sample with the added features of 

torque measurement and application. The entire facility will 

allow a pipe sample to be tested under tensile and torsional 

loadings whilst being hydrostatically pressurised at elevated 

temperatures. This will capture data which will more accu- 

rately represent the increasingly challenging operational con- 

ditions found in the field. dB 


GL NOBLe deNTON exPerT: 

David brown, General manager 

Spadeadam test Site & GL flow Centre 

phone: +44 1697 749138 

e-mail: david.brown@gl-group.com 

Wellstream: A Profile 

Wellstream was founded in 1983 in Panama City, Florida (USA), 

where they established themselves as a niche market manufacturer 

supplying products to the global offshore oil and gas industry. 

In 1995 Wellstream was acquired by Dresser Industries and began 

to emerge as a SiGNifiCANt mArKet pLAyer, securing the larg- 

est flexible pipe contract ever awarded to that date from Norsk Hy- 

dro in 1995 as part of the Troll Ojle and Gas development offshore 

Norway. This was followed by the opening of a state-of-the-art man- 

ufacturing facility in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, in 1997. 

Wellstream became a part of Halliburton in 1998, and continued 

to improve its position with continued product development; Well- 

stream becoming the first company to qualify products to operate in 

2,000-m water depth following many years of technical cooperation 

with Petrobras in Brazil. In 2003 the company was acquired by Can- 

dover Investment Partners together with a management buy-in, this 

led to the commercialization of FlexSteelTM onshore systems and 

the decision to site a second manufacturing facility in Brazil, con- 

firming Wellstream’s position as a world leader for these products. 

Offshore Products 

Wellstream’s uNboNDeD DyNAmiC fLexibLe riSerS AND StAtiC 

fLowLiNeS are a key integrating technology in connecting subsea 

structures with the surface. Working alongside installation compa- 

nies, Wellstream ensures that its increasing product envelope fits 

well with new offshore systems as they develop, including hybrid 

riser systems. HiGH preSSure/HiGH temperAture proDuCtS: 

1,034 bar (15,000 psi)/54 ˚C (130 ˚F) are stock items for well servic- 

ing applications and deliverable worldwide. Their spoolable deploy- 

ment, improved pumping efficiency and longevity are ideal for the 

extreme operating environments of the drilling industry. 

Onshore Products 

fLexSteeL tm – Wellstream’s latest innovation, FlexSteelTM, chal- 

lenges the dominance of onshore rigid steel solutions. This product 

brings together the advantages of rigid and flexible pipe technolo- 

gies. Major Canadian onshore operators have already adopted Flex- 

SteelTM for fluid transfer and pipeline rehabilitation: its ease of 

installation being just one advantage over other solutions in harsh 

tundra conditions. 

35

10:50 

– 

11:45 

marine operations dynamic positioning 

“Tai An Kou” starts approaching and eventually 

the docking guide enters the jacket. 

Faster Than Ever 

Floatover installations are the platform installation method of choice. Using DP for 

high-precision navigation makes floatover installations much cheaper and faster 

About 180 km north of Doha lies the Al Shaheen 

oil field, Qatar’s largest offshore oil reservoir. 

Under the Al Shaheen Field Development Plan, 

Maersk Oil Qatar (MOQ) and Qatar Petroleum have been 

jointly developing this field, applying cutting-edge technology 

to overcome geological challenges once believed insurmountable. 

Among the 15 new platforms built under the plan are the 

BE Process Platform and the BG Utilities Platform. Their topsides, 

fabricated by Sime Darby Engineering (SDE) in Pasir 

12:00 

– 

13:10 

Gudang, Malaysia, had to be transported 3,650 nm from the 

fabrication yard to the installation site. GL Noble Denton was 

contracted to perform the detailed engineering for the loadout, 

transportation and floatover installation of both units. 

New Record 

“Tai An Kou” at final position and starts ballasting. 

Undocking starts after completion of load transfer. 

In September and December 2009, respectively, the fully assembled 

BG and BE topsides, each weighing approximately 

10,000 tonnes, were transported to the installation site on 

board the COSCOL semi-submersible heavy lift vessel “Tai 

13:20 

“Tai An Kou” exits from jacket after 2.5 hours 

setting a new time record. 

36 energıze

Transportation. The “Tai An Kou” shipped the topsides about 3,650 nm from Malaysia to the Al Shaheen oil field. 

An Kou”. For the transportation phase, GL Noble Dentons’s 

responsibilities included load-out engineering, vessel stabili- 

ty and motion analyses as well as grillage, stability box and 

seafastening design. The self-propelled vessel required 14 

days to arrive at the site, travelling at an average speed of 11 

knots. 

In preparation of the floatover installation, GL Noble 

Denton performed mating, ballasting and stability analyses 

as well as fendering and mooring design, and defined the 

offshore procedures. Once a suitable weather window for in- 

Floatover Log 

the DYNaMIc PosItIoNINg (DP) MethoD for floatover 

installations, pioneered by GL Noble Denton, allows the 

semi-submersible vessel carrying the topside to find its posi- 

tion inside the jacket without the help of expensive mooring 

systems that take time to deploy onsite. The BG topside 

was installed within a record time of only 2.5 hours using DP. 

The period of greatest risk, when the vessel is restrained 

within the jacket slot, was limited to only 95 minutes. 


stallation had been determined, GL Noble Denton’s offshore 

teams worked closely with MOQ, SDE and the crew of the 

“Tai An Kou” to ensure smooth installation 

operations. 

The “Tai An Kou” is equipped with a 

Class II Dynamic Positioning (DP) system 

which was used to precisely manoeuvre 

the vessel into the jacket slot and re- 

strain it during ballasting. The use of DP 

removed the need for a costly conven- 

tional mooring spread, significantly reducing the time and re- 

sources required to perform the floatover, thereby minimising 

the exposure to the environment. 

The BG topside was successfully installed on 13 October 

2009. The entire operation, including vessel approach and 

exit, was completed within a record time of only 2.5 hours 

(refer to box) – an impressive demonstration of the power of 

DP technology. Rp 

GL NobLE DENToN ExpERT: 

richard Palmer 

abstract 

GL Noble Denton played a key 

part in the loadout, transportation 

and floatover installations. 

DP reduces the time and 

resources required to perform 

floatover installations. 

group Director, transportation & Installation, gL Noble Denton 

Phone: +44 20 7812 8748 

e-Mail: richard.palmer@nobledenton.com 

37

software 



solutıons 

For over forty years, GL Noble Denton 

has led the way in the use of advanced 

software solutions to enhance operations. 

We offer a comprehensive portfolio of 

world-class software suites across the oil 

and gas sector, which enhance the safety, 

performance and integrity of assets 

across their lifecycle. 

38 


energıze


software synergee 

abstract 

Refinery. GL Noble Denton offers a comprehensive portfolio of software solutions across the oil and gas sector. 

SynerGEE optimises the operational 

costs of transporting petroleum 

products through a pipeline. 

The software allows users to view 

past, present and future results of 

the simulation. 

Pipeline operators can now reduce two main 

cost factors with GL Noble Denton’s new soft- 

ware product “SynerGEE Liquid Transmission”. 

The two main cost factors in operating a pipeline are the 

cost of drag-reducing agents (DRA) and the energy used to 

pump the liquid. SynerGEE pro- 

vides short-term operational cost 

optimisation by optimizing flow 

rate, pump station operation and/ 

or DRA concentration injection per 

batch at pump stations. “It is the 

only product on the market that 

can optimize these variables simultaneously,” says Shelly 

Young, Vice President of Software Solutions Practice for GL 

Noble Denton. A steady state analysis engine simulates the 

hydraulics in the pipeline and determines an optimum, also 

allowing for model calibration and simulation of what-if sce- 

narios. “This development project was based on clear indus- 

try requirements and advanced through strong client engage- 

ment,” said Ms Young. 

Information for Operational Planning 

SynerGEE’s user interface provides a schematic of the 

batches and the pipeline, allowing users to view past, present 

and future results of the simulation. Variables such as pres- 

sure, flow rate, power consumption and DRA injection rates 

are selected by the user for display on the results screen. 

Time and distance charts can also be used to view the re- 

40 energıze

Photo: BP 

SynerGEE Affects Energy Costs 

GL Noble Denton introduces new software technology to the oil & gas industry. 

synerGEE provides short-term operational cost optimisation at pump stations 

sults. Standard reporting provides the information needed for 

operational planning, with set points and equipment change 

strategies for upcoming hours of operation. 

Combining years of pipeline experience and expertise 

with advanced mathematical modelling techniques, SynerGEE 

Liquid Transmission optimizes the operational cost of trans- 

porting petroleum products through a pipeline. “The introduc- 

tion of SynerGEE Liquid Transmission further complements 

our comprehensive suite of software products and marks an- 


Information. Pressure, 

flow rate, power consumption 

and DRA 

injection: the user can 

select all relevant variables 

for display on the 

results screen. 

other major milestone in our delivery of software based solu- 

tions that provide accurate, short term liquid pipeline opera- 

tions and planning optimization,” said Shelly Young. “Our vi- 

sion is to develop innovative software solutions for our clients 

that improve their asset and business performance. Syner- 

GEE will highlight operating plans that result in energy and 

DRA savings that will positively impact the bottom line.” GL 

Noble Denton offers a comprehensive portfolio of software 

solutions across the oil and gas sector. 

Part of an Expanding Portfolio 

SynerGEE Liquid Transmission is the latest addition to a prod- 

uct portfolio that addresses the engineering, operations and 

data management requirements for simulation and asset in- 

tegrity management for the pipeline and utility industries. Our 

software solutions blend high fidelity analytics, sophisticated 

mapping functionality and robust data management to provide 

decision support to reduce opex, capex and manpower while 

increasing the safety and reliability of assets. Sy 

GL NObLE DENtON ExPERtS: 

John akujobi 

Director, business Development Usa 

Phone: +1 71 77 24 19 00 

E-Mail: john.akujobi@gl-group.com 

John scrivener 

business Development Manager outside of the U.s. 

Phone: +44 7768 10 37 98 

E-Mail: jon.scrivener@gl-group.com 

41

software awards 

Burstfinder. The technology helps to 

identify anomalies in water networks 

such as possible burst locations. 

Better Leakage Detection 

For their “Burstfinder” technology, the GL Group won the Pipeline Industries Guild 

Award. It was given for significant contribution to utility pipeline technology 

The prestigious Pipeline Industries Guild (PIG) 

Award was given to Germanischer Lloyd (GL) for 

significant contribution to utility pipeline technology 

for their Burstfinder technology at the 53rd annual 

awards ceremony in London. 

“Burstfinder” is GL’s leakage and demand location technique 

and is provided as a service to water utilities and leakage 

contractors to help identify “hotspots” of anomalies in water 

networks such as non-revenue water, boundary breaches 

and possible burst locations. 

Up to Four Times More Efficient 

The Burstfinder Technology has helped many water utility 

companies to focus better on leakage detection and repair 

activities, resolution of “problem” networks and location of 


leakage, and other forms of unaccounted for water. GL has 

worked with many water utilities and contractors in the last 12 

months with results demonstrating that a Burstfinder-enabled 

detection programme is up to four times more efficient than 

traditional approaches 

Antony Green, GL’s Vice President, Water, and Arthur 

Stoddart, GL Managing Director Midstream/Downstream UK, 

accepted the PIG award on the night. NS/SNB 

GL NoBLE DENToN ExpErT: 

Antony Green 

Vice President Water 

Phone: +44 1509 28 21 03 

E-Mail: antony.green.@gl-group.com 

42 energıze

Efficient Net 

European Commission Award for the 

Beywatch collaborative project 

The collaborative European project “Beywatch” 

has received the European Commission’s best 

information and communication technology (ICT) 

for energy efficiency project award. Beywatch was selected for 

its contribution towards development of energy efficiency. 

After a competition involving 39 EU-funded projects focusing 

on ICT for energy efficiency, Beywatch has been selected 

as the “best ICT4EE project” on the occasion of the ICT4EE 

international conference, organized in Brussels by the European 

Commission. The award is shared 

ABstrACt 

with the OLED100.eu project. This com- 

Beywatch is developing petition, launched by the European Com- 

smart networking 

technology. 

mission, is aimed at promoting innovation 

One main objective is in ICT that will contribute to substantial 

power demand balancing. 

and measurable improvements in energy 

efficiency, and that have the potential to 

provide visible and convincing showcases for investment by 

businesses, individuals or both. 


Intelligent Energy Control 

The Building Energy Watcher (Beywatch) project is developing 

smart networking technology that will be able to provide 

intelligent energy control and power demand balancing across 

energy networks. The Beywatch project partners are GL Noble 

Denton, EDF, Fagor, Gorenje, Sigma Orionis, Synelixis, Telefonica 

and the University of Palermo. GL Noble Denton’s team 

has provided specialist support in the development of energy 

and network models that demonstrate the impact of new and 

renewable technologies on future gas and electricity networks. 

GL Noble Denton is also making a contribution to the development 

of networking technology that will allow future energy 

appliances to optimise energy and cost savings. 


City. Substantial progres in energy efficiency. 

Beywatch is a European project aiming at information and 

communication technology for energy efficiency through ultralow-power 

white goods, intelligent control of electrical devices 

in smart homes, hot water and electricity generation from renewable 

energy sources, and enhanced consumer awareness 

towards less CO emissions. To achieve its objective and to 

2 

support the European Commission’s proposals to save 20% 

of the EU’s energy consumption through improved energy efficiency 

by 2020, Beywatch has established a consortium of 

eight key players in the field, including major service companies, 

manufacturers, technology companies, universities as 

well as small and medium sized enterprises. ML 

www.beywatch.eu 

GL NoBLE DENToN ExpErT: 

Ian Freeman 

Manager, Commercial systems 

Phone: +44 1509 28 24 17 

E-Mail: ian.freeman@gl-group.com 

43

oil&gasxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 

around the world 

projects in brief 

Lukoil Warranty and Classification for Oil Platforms 

russia In the Yuri Korchagin oil field in 

the Russian sector of the North Caspian 

Sea, GL Noble Denton assisted in the 

transportation and installation of two 

ice-resistant fixed offshore platforms. 

The marine warranty experts, collaborating 

with Crane Marine Contractor 

Ltd. (CMC), had been requested by 

Lukoil to provide technical expertise for 

the operation. 

Platform LSP-1, built at the Astrakhansky 

Korabel shipyard in Kaliningrad, 

will be used to drill and operate 

wells and to collect and pretreat reservoir 

content. It carries a 560-tonne rig 

capable of drilling up to 7,400-metre 

wells. LSP-1 will be equipped with 

living quarters for up to 105 employ- 

ees. LSP-2 accommodates the health 

care area, service quarters, the galley, 

pantry and a helipad. The two platforms 

will be joined by a 74.2-m bridge. 

Upon completion in Astrakhan, the 

platform modules were taken on barges 

from the Volga Delta seaport and 

installed using CMC’s sheerleg crane. 

LSP-1 was towed down the Volga Caspian 

Canal under the guidance of marine 

specialists from CMC and Noble 

Denton. 

Among the challenges the experts 

tackled successfully were a draught 

problem on the canal, low power lines, 

and identifying overnight “parking” 

locations during the tow. After installation, 

platform LSP-1 was connected 

via a pipeline to a floating storage unit, 

which in turn feeds the Transneft pipeline 

system. 

Installation. Towing, aligning, joining: 

GL Noble Denton provided engineering 

support for the transport and installation 

of the ice-resistant offshore platform 

LSP-1 and its connection to the 

service platform, LSP-2. 

Amposta reservoir 

Redevelopment. The Amposta reservoir 

will become a back-up gas storage. 

ACS Cobra Gas Storage Contract 

spain In May 2009, Spanish ACS Cobra 

Castor UTE contracted GL Noble Denton to 

provide project management and support 

services for an underground gas storage 

development initiative. The project involves 

the redevelopment of the abandoned Am- 

posta reservoir as a back-up gas storage for 

the Mediterranean coast of Spain during 

periods of high gas demand. 

Barcelona 

The technical specification of the work 

will comprise a wellhead platform bridge 

linked to a production, utilities and quar- 

ters platform in approximately 60 m of 

water. The platform will support gas injec- 

tion into the reservoir at flow rates of up 

to 8 MMSCMD and gas withdrawal and 

transfer to shore at up to 25 MMSCMD. 

44 energıze 

Photo: NASA

Photo: Nepenthes 

Talisman Malaysia Ltd. Dynamic Positioning – Major Floatover Project 

malaysia The floatover method is an attractive, 

relatively low-cost option for topside 

installation but poses a number of 

technical and operational challenges. Dynamic 

Positioning (DP) is a leading-edge 

navigation method allowing transport and 

installation vessels to install topsides on 

their supporting jackets without the use of 

costly mooring systems. 

The heaviest topside installations using 

DP to date were performed in the northern 

Gulf of Thailand’s Joint Development Area, 

with GL Noble Denton providing all associated 

engineering and monitoring services 

for load out, transport and installation of 

the topside module. 

ADCOP Inspection and Certification of a Crude Oil Pipeline 

abu dhabi The Abu Dhabi Crude Oil 

Pipeline (ADCOP) project is receiving 

technical assurance and certification by 

GL. The contract on technical assurance, 

risk and safety, asset management and 

industrial inspection was awarded by 

China Petroleum Engineering and Construction 

Corporation (CPECC), the main 

EPC contractor, and signed by Mr Hassan 

Fahim, GL Noble Denton’s Country Manager 

United Arab Emirates, and Mr Liu 

Xihui, CPECC Project Director. The 400 km 

pipeline from Habshan in Abu Dhabi to 


The Bunga Orkid A topside for operator 

Talisman Malaysia Limited weighed 13,300 

tonnes, and was transported on board a 

specialised semi-submersible HLV, one of a 

small number of vessels capable of carrying 

out floatover operations of this magnitude. 

Noble Denton also advised Talisman and 

Aker during the project pre-feed and feed 

stages on installation issues, including vessel 

selection. 

The project was successfully completed, 

despite a number of challenges. The topsides 

were at the vessel limit for draught, 

stability and strength. Furthermore, the 

installation took place during the monsoon 

season, so the time window was small. 

Abu Dhabi. The 

new pipeline 

will transport 

crude oil to 

Fujairah. 

the Main Oil Terminal (MOT) in Fujairah, 

United Arab Emirates, will transport 1.0– 

1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude 

oil. It will develop a reliable export capability 

on the eastern seaboard of UAE, 

which can accommodate larger vessels. 

The project includes the construction of 

12 million barrels of storage tanks in the 

Main Oil Terminal facilities (MOT) in the 

Emirate of Fujairah for crude exports. 

Construction started earlier in 2008 

and is scheduled to be completed by 

August 2011. 

Photo: Ali Badri 

Thanks to DP, the installation 

was completed within an exceptionally 

short time span. 

GUPCO Asset Integrity 

and Risks Assessment 

Services 

egypt In a mega project begun in 2005 

and scheduled to be completed in 2011, 

GUPCO, the Gulf of Suez Petroleum Company, 

has been overhauling its entire 

infrastructure of platforms, pipelines and 

other facilities. 

GL Noble Denton Egypt has won a 

major contract to provide inspection, assessment 

and other expert services associated 

with the rehabilitation of GUPCO oil 

platforms in the Badri GS315, July 10, July 

4 and Ramadan R6 complexes located in 

the Gulf of Suez. 

The engineers of GL Noble Denton 

deliver procedures, examination schemes 

and maintenance schedules and perform 

extensive inspection and monitoring of 

oil, water and gas risers, topside piping 

and platform supply vessels (PSV). 

Platform. 

Overhauls 

of the entire 

infrastructure. 

45

service 

dates & rules 

Conferences & Fairs 

MAy 

03. – 06.05.2010 

Offshore Technology 

Conference (OTC) 

Houston, USA 

GL Noble Denton: booth 2241 (Hall A) 

26. – 27.05.2010 

The 2nd European Dynamic 

Positioning Conference 2010 

London, UK 

JUNE 

08. – 10.06.2010 

Global Petroleum Show 

Calgary, Canada 

GL Noble Denton: booth 5230 

(Lower Big 4) 

08. – 10.06.2010 

IOGCEC 2010 

Beijing, China 

GL Noble Denton: booth 73/74 

20. – 24.06.2010 

ACE (American Water 

Works Association) 

Chicago, USA 

23. – 26.06.2010 

IGEM Annual Conference 

and Exhibition 

Loughborough, UK 

AUGUST 

24. – 27.08.10 

Exhibition & Conference ONS 

Stavanger, Norway 

GL Noble Denton Guidelines 

Ref Title Rev 

0009/ND Self-Elevation Platforms – Guidelines for Elevated Operations 5 

0013/ND Guidelines for Loadouts 5 

0015/ND Concrete Offshore Gravity Structures – Guidelines for Approval of 

Construction, Towage and Installation 

2 

0016/ND Seabed and Sub-Seabed Data Required for Approvals of Mobile 

Offshore Units (MOU) 

5 

0021/ND Guidelines for the Approval of Towing Vessels 8 

0027/ND Guidelines for Marine Lifting Operations 9 

0028/ND Guidelines for the Transportation and Installation of Steel Jackets 4 

0030/ND Guidelines for Marine Transportations 4 

IMPRINT 

energize oil & gas, issue No. 01/2010, 

May 2010 Frequency energize oil & gas 

is published twice a year Published by 

Germanischer Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft, 

Hamburg Editorial Director Dr Olaf 

Mager (OM), Corporate Communications 

Managing Editor Stefanie Normann- 

Birkholz (SNB) Authors of this issue 

RV Ahilan (RVA), A. Argyros (AA), David 

Brown (DB), Martin William Hay (MWH), 

Jörn Iken (JI), Bob Jack (BJ), Karen Jacka 

(KJ), R.S. Langley (RSL), Martin Layfield 

(ML), Nora Luttmer (NL), Christopher 

Mayer (CM), Bruce McMichael (BM), 

Francis Minah (FM), Richard Palmer 

(RP), Neil Slater (NS), Shelly Young (SY) 

Cover photo Statoil Design and 

production printprojekt, Schulterblatt 

58, D-20357 Hamburg Layout Oliver 

Lohrengel Translations Andreas Kühner 

Prepress Fire Department Printed by 

Media Cologne Kommunikationsmedien 

GmbH, Luxemburger Straße 96, D-50354 

Hürth Reprint © Germanischer Lloyd 

Aktiengesellschaft 2010. Reprinting 

permitted on explicit request – copy 

requested. All information is correct to the 

best of our knowledge. Contributions by 

external authors do not necessarily reflect 

the views of the editors or of Germanischer 

Lloyd Enquiries to: Germanischer 

Lloyd AG, Corporate Communications, 

Brooktorkai 18, D-20457 Hamburg, Phone: 

+49 40 36149-4509, Fax: +49 40 36149- 

250, E-Mail: pr@gl-group.com 

Subscription service: for address 

changes and orders please send an 

e-mail to publications@gl-group.com 

This product was 

printed on FSC 

Certified Paper 

46 energıze

Photo: Fotolia

0E713 2010-26-04 

GL Group 

Head Office 

Brooktorkai 18 

20457 Hamburg 

Germany 

Phone: +49 40 36149-0 

Fax: +49 40 36149-200 

E-Mail: headoffice@gl-group.com 

Houston 

GL Noble Denton 

Region Americas 

Suite 900 

5177 Richmond Avenue 

Houston, TX 77056 

USA 

Phone: +1 713 586 7000 

Fax: +1 713 586 7007 

E-Mail: glnobledenton@gl-group.com 

www.gl-group.com 


www.gl-garradhassan.com 

www.gl-maritime-software.com 

www.friendship-systems.com 

www.futureship.net 

Aberdeen 

Region europe 

Brooktorkai 18 

20457 Hamburg 

Germany 

Phone: +49 40 36149-7700 

Fax: +49 40 36149-1781 

E-Mail: glis@gl-group.com 

Hamburg 

London 

Cairo 

Abu Dhabi 

singapore 

Region Middle east/ 

Africa 

Zahret El-Maadi Tower 

66, Cornich El-Nile, El-Maadi 

35th Floor, Apartment 2 

11431 Cairo 

Arab Republic of Egypt 

Phone: +20 2 25287295 

Fax: +20 2 25287294 

E-Mail: glnobledenton@gl-group.com 

Kuala Lumpur 

Region Asia/Pacific 

Level 39, Menara Ambank 

No. 8, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng 

50450 Kuala Lumpur 

Malaysia 

Phone: +60 3 2160 1088 

Fax: +60 3 2160 1099 

E-Mail: glnobledenton@gl-group.com

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