Kvaerner will sign the final contract for delivery of the drilling platform jacket to the Johan Sverdrup field. This is number 45 in a series of steel substructures from Kvaerner in the past 45 years.
On 26 June 2014 Kvaerner entered into a frame agreement for delivery of steel jacket substructures for future Statoil projects. At the same time Letter of Intent were signed for the steel jackets for the Johan Sverdrup riser platform and drilling platform.
Kvaerner is known in the business to always deliver demanding projects at the agreed time and quality. With the two contracts for delivery of steel jackets to Johan Sverdrup in order backlog, Kvaerner Verdal has a solid and predictable foundation as basis for continuous improvement and long-term planning in connection with further development of Kvaerner in Verdal, says Jan Arve Haugan, Kvaerner's President & CEO.
The new contract reinforces Kvaerner's position as the market leader for large steel jacket substructures to the North Sea region. The drilling platform jacket is scheduled to be delivered in the spring of 2018. The engineering has now started at Kvaerner's offices in Oslo. Kvaerner Verdal is the contract party, and the project management will be based at the company's specialized jacket facility in Verdal in Mid-Norway, where fabrication will be executed. Prefabrication will start in the summer of 2016, and assembly will take place from the spring of 2017.
At peak manning, around 250 Kvaerner employees will be working on the drilling platform jacket. Together with the delivery of the riser platform jacket, this will engage around 500 Kvaerner employees when the two projects are at their most hectic. Additionally, it is expected that as spin-off effects of the two deliveries work will be created for another 1 500 people in Kvaerner's sub-suppliers and from regional service providers in private and public sector. Johan
Subsea IMR provider, N-Sea Offshore Ltd, has successfully completed a fully integrated and managed service for Maersk Oil UK’s 2015 Subsea Inspection Program.
The work scope involved four field locations in the North Sea and utilized N-Sea’s IMR and subsea capabilities for a duration of 135 days. The four locations were combined within one scope which commenced on 1 March this year, thus achieving optimum levels of efficiency and productivity.
The Siem N-Sea was utilized for the scope, to combine ROV inspection services with IMR diving works. The vessel is part of N-Sea’s fleet of dive, multi-support and construction vessels designed to deliver a range of subsea services for offshore assets, platforms, FPSOs and renewables operations.
Roddy James, N-Sea chief operating officer
N-Sea’s chief operating officer, Roddy James, said: “The successful completion of this contract further consolidates our excellent relationship with Maersk Oil, which has always been based upon trust and transparency. The project was completed efficiently and safely with no incidents, and reflected our ability to always provide ‘safe, sound and swift’ solutions.
“At a time when identifying streamlined and cost effective solutions is crucial, combining ROV inspection services and IMR diving works into one work scope ensured this project delivered significant cost savings and achieved optimum efficiencies for the client.”
N-Sea is known for its innovative work as an independent offshore subsea contractor, specializing in IMR services for the renewable, oil and gas and telecom/utility industries, as well as for civil contracting communities. N-Sea provides near shore, offshore and survey services to major operators and service companies alike.
Subsea cable protection specialist, Tekmar Energy, is bucking the market trend after experiencing steady growth in the oil & gas sector during what has been a challenging time for the industry.
Since the start of the year, and against the dramatic fall in the oil price, the company has expanded its reach into new global regions, won multiple orders of repeat business and brought in six new clients so far this year including JDR Cables, FlexLife and GE Oil & Gas.
James Ritchie, CEO, commented, “Working under the stringent guidelines of the American Petroleum Institute’s API 17L specifications, we have invested and expanded our materials processes and in house testing to support the supply into this quality demanding sector. It has been tremendous to see the growth potential coming from the oil and gas division in what is described as a declining market”.
In addition, Tekmar has successfully supplied and installed equipment on the prestigious Martin Linge project. Their involvement on the landmark Norwegian development included supply of bend restrictors on the world’s longest high voltage subsea power cable at 170 km (105 miles).
Charlie Sullivan, Tekmar’s Technical Sales Manager, said: “It has been an extremely encouraging time for Tekmar following extensive business development, including the formation of a new oil and gas management team, seeing us gain increasing traction in the sector. This has resulted in us securing several significant orders for cable protection systems to be supplied on projects in Angola, Venezuela and Brazil to name a few.
“Not only are we continuing to supply our core market-leading products such as bend restrictors, j-tube seals, split pipe and TekDuct but we are also receiving more enquiries for bespoke solutions where we can deliver further added value through our innovative approach and ideas. As we continue to grow into new regions, there are an increasing number of opportunities and everyone at Tekmar is looking forward to realizing this potential.”
Tekmar’s growth has seen the company expand into the Gulf of Mexico and Middle East for the first time. To support its expansion in the United Arab Emirates, Tekmar has also appointed Emdad as its strategic, local partner.
Formed in 1979, Emdad is an established service provider and EPC contractor which has played a vital role in enabling Abu Dhabi's key energy players to achieve higher levels of reliability, and performance.
Chief operating officer at Emdad, Aly Abdel Malak, said: “Emdad is committed to strengthening its products and services offering to producers and contractors in the Middle East energy industry. As part of this, we are focused on bridging the gap between trading and service activities through our selective choice of suppliers and targeted development of related products.
“Our partnership with Tekmar is fully in line with this strategy because it enables us to answer the requirements of our customers in the high growth O&G offshore sector. At the same time this provides Tekmar with opportunities for local content through our Coating Services as well as a closer cooperation early in the sales process with our in-house offshore installation partner. We are confident that the value this partnership will bring will be distinct, meaningful and provide many benefits to clients.”
With more than 30 years’ experience, Tekmar is a market leader in the design, manufacture and supply of subsea cables, umbilicals and flexible protection systems for the renewable energy and oil & gas industry.
Tekmar is set to exhibit at the Middle East oil & gas conference ADIPEC for the first time in November where they will be on Emdad’s stand.
Tekmar’s renewable energy division has also announced success in the past month. The firm was selected to provide its innovative TekTube on a wind farm in the Netherlands as well as supplying TekLink cable protection systems on the U.S.’s first offshore wind farm, Block Island.
For more information about Tekmar, please visit www.tekmar.co.uk.
Aquatic Engineering & Construction Ltd, an Acteon company, has appointed Martin Charles as group managing director. Charles replaces Aquatic’s former president, Chris Brooks, who has departed Aquatic after eight years.
Charles joined Aquatic in 2014 as regional general manager, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and became COO earlier this year. He has a wealth of experience in oil and gas and associated market sectors.
Bernhard Bruggaier, executive vice president, Acteon, said, “Martin’s progression from COO to group managing director will ensure Aquatic’s mission remains as the first choice for products and services to support flexible product installation, recovery, replacement and decommissioning, on a worldwide scale.”
Charles said, “It has been a pleasure working with Chris and the Aquatic team. Their focus on technology and commitment to the company has been instrumental to the global growth and regional expansion of Aquatic. As group managing director, I will be building on the collective achievements of the leadership team by continuing to meet the needs of the challenging market environment in which we operate. Aquatic has a strong, proven reputation, and we will continue to invest in our core strengths: people, services and products.”
Fugro has secured a contract for the installation and burial of array cables at the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm being built in the English Channel, 13 kilometers off the Sussex coast, by E.ON alongside partners, the UK Green Investment Bank plc.
The engineering and planning will start immediately with installation being carried out in two phases in 2016 and 2017. Fugro will lay and bury the cables with its construction and installation vessels Fugro Symphony and Fugro Saltire using one of its two Q1400 trenching systems to bury the cables. The array cables will be pulled in and laid between the wind turbines and the offshore substation, where the power is then transmitted onshore.
“The award of this contract has strengthened Fugro’s successful working relationship with E.ON and comes soon after finishing cable-lay and burial on E.ON’s recently completed Humber Gateway Wind Farm,” said Derek Cruickshank, Managing Director, Fugro Subsea Services Ltd. “Subsea installation and trenching systems are amongst Fugro Subsea’s specialist services and our focus on offshore energy is supported by a team of highly experienced onshore and offshore personnel.”
The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm will consist of 116 turbines, each with a generating capacity of 3.45 MW. Construction is expected to be completed in 2018.
Sparrows Group, a global leader in offshore lifting related engineered products and services, has won a five-year deal with Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO) in the Middle East.
The successful retender through the company’s local partner, Abu Dhabi Oilfield Services, will see Sparrows Group providing the operations and maintenance support to all cranes and lifting equipment aboard offshore platforms and the Al Hyleh Barge in the UAE and Zirku Islands. The agreement which covers ADMA-OPCO’s offshore installations – the Umm Shaif Super Complex, Zakum West Super Complex and the Zakum Central Super Complex – is initially a three year contract with the option for two one year extensions.
Sparrows Group will provide operations and maintenance support for cranes and lifting equipment to ADMA-OPCO
Stewart Mitchell, Sparrows Group chief executive officer, said: “We have established a strong and successful relationship with ADMA-OPCO since we began working together approximately 16 years ago. The work we have been contracted to do involves providing the total integrated management of cranes and other lifting equipment which optimizes the performance and reliability of all safety critical lifting operations.
“As well as providing offshore personnel who are supported by our onshore staff in Abu Dhabi and worldwide we will be supplying preventative maintenance, repair and refurbishment, spare parts, and comprehensive technical support.”
“We have placed an emphasis on growing our presence in the Middle East and an important part of this involves building upon our existing contracts. Our strong reputation for quality and a client focused delivery is proving to be particularly appealing to operators in the region.”
In addition to being experts in lifting and handling, Sparrows Group is a specialist in the provision of engineered products and services in cable and pipe lay and fluid power to the energy industry.
The firm has been expanding in the Middle East with bases in Abu Dhabi and Al Khor (Qatar), and recently opened new regional headquarters in Dubai. Sparrows Group has also formed a strategic partnership with the Zamil Group in Saudi Arabia recently.
Established originally in 1946, the Sparrows Group moved into the oil and gas market in 1975 and celebrates 40 years working offshore this year. They are one of the most well-known and trusted names in the oil and gas industry.
The next MTS Houston Section luncheon will be held on September 24, 2015. Danny Hough, Vice President of Developments and Kodiak Project Construction Director with Deep Gulf Energy, will describe the challenges associated with the Kodiak project tieback and how these challenges were addressed using an existing technology in a new application for the Gulf of Mexico.
When embarking on tiebacks, in many cases there are few host facilities with adequate topsides weight or process capacities available. Solutions must be found to add capacity to existing facilities to accommodate the tiebacks. Fluid properties and flowing conditions can result in flowline material specifications which are not readily available or easily installed.
About the project
The Kodiak field is located in Mississippi Canyon blocks 727 and 771 in water depths ranging from 4829 to 5,610 feet. It is approximately 60 miles southwest of Louisiana. The project consists of a subsea tieback to the Devil’s Tower truss spar in Mississippi Canyon block 773.
Devil’s Tower spar, named after Devil’s Tower National Monument, was at one time the world’s deepest production truss spar in 5,610 feet of water. It lost its record holding distinction to Shell’s Perdido platform in 2010.
About the Speaker
Danny Hough is the Vice President of Developments for Deep Gulf Energy. Danny has 40 years of industry experience, including US and international onshore and offshore operations and construction. He has spent ten years working in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
Deep Gulf Energy was formed in April 2005 and specializes in subsea tiebacks. Beginning in 1995 as the Mariner Deepwater Management Team, the group was one of the first independent management teams to operate in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, and to date has acquired interest in over 20 deepwater prospects.
UPCOMING MTS HOUSTON PRESENTATIONS AND EVENTS IN 2015
VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S has announced it has acquired a part of Australia-based Wiltrading Pty Ltd.’s maritime safety equipment activities effective 1 September. The move strengthens VIKING’s offering in Australasia, adding 4 locations to the company’s global network of wholly-owned servicing stations as well as several products and services, bringing new advantages for shipowners and offshore operators in the region.
A subsidiary of Wilh. Wilhelmsen Investments (WWI), Wiltrading offers integrated activities in marine safety, fire fighting and protection, equipment and servicing, serving the offshore, oil and gas, shipping, military and cruise industries. The company is an authorised representative and service partner for a wide variety of maritime and offshore equipment producers.
Under the new agreement, selected safety equipment and servicing activities previously managed by Wiltrading will be seamlessly integrated into the global VIKING organization, offered and serviced locally, whereas remaining activities will be carried out in close cooperation between the two. VIKING’s CEO, Henrik Uhd Christensen, welcomes the new addition to his company’s constantly expanding worldwide presence and the growth opportunities it provides in the region:
“We’ve worked in close partnership with Wiltrading for several years,” he said. “They are a professional organization with a strong, service-minded approach to customers – something that makes these activities and the people who operate them an excellent fit for VIKING. We strive to be close to our customers, so we can support their competitiveness with fixed prices, flexibility and fast delivery no matter where they operate.”
At the same time General Manager of Wiltrading, Michael Connolly is pleased that VIKING and Wiltrading can continue their respective growth activities, for example through their popular VIKING Shipowner Agreements:
“With the VIKING Shipowner Agreement rapidly winning favour in the market, and plans for even more capabilities in the future, VIKING has much to offer Wiltrading’s customers and staff. We have always had a great deal of respect for the company, and are really looking forward to leveraging VIKING’s global network resources.”
Brian Jacobsen has been appointed Country Manager for VIKING Australia. He is a former VIKING sales and marketing director, and started the company’s Singapore office several years ago. He has recently returned to VIKING.
Jee Ltd, a leading multi-disciple subsea engineering and training firm, has completed more than a thousand specialist span assessments already this year, delivering major cost-savings by avoiding remediation work.
Graham Wilson, Head of Late Life at Jee Limited, said: “Pipeline spans are formed due to an uneven seabed, scour or sandwaves, and can cause integrity issues with potential catastrophic and costly results. These spans can be susceptible to failure through fatigue and, as span length increases, the risk of fatigue damage due to direct wave loading or vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) also increases.”
Jee’s engineering team boasts a proven track-record for providing pipeline span assessment to the global oil and gas industry, with systems in place to run span analysis quickly and accurately.
Jee span monitoring kit
Mr. Wilson continued: “We have an in-depth understanding of the codes and standards and appreciate their limitations, allowing us to effectively challenge them without adversely affecting safety. By doing so we can remove conservatism and increase the allowable span length, minimising the remediation work required which can lead to expensive operations and potentially create new issues.
“When intervention work is necessary, we are pragmatic in our approach and ensure offshore vessel time and activities are optimized to maintain economical operations.”
In addition, Jee has developed an innovative span monitoring kit which monitors the motion of spans and the associated environmental conditions. The data collected can be used to prove that VIV isn’t occurring when predicted by the design codes, removing the need for costly corrective work. Alternatively, the kit allows the occurrence of VIV to be detected, providing supporting evidence of the need for intervention (the kit can also be used to provide assurance that remediation measures are having the desired effect).
“Jee has a long history of supporting subsea operations and is committed to providing quality engineering services in a technically advanced, secure and sustainable way. Our clients’ needs are always at the forefront of what we do, and we consistently aim to add-value to all projects and operations.” Mr. Wilson concluded.
ADIL, a leading independent energy consultancy, has recorded a 100% increase in demand for its Accelerated Conceptual Engineering (ACE) services as acquisition, merger and divestment activity by UKCS operators ramps up in the lower oil price environment.
Stork to Deliver ECITB Certified MJI 21 Bolt Tensioning Course
Leading subsea training and trials facility, The Underwater Centre, is working in collaboration with Stork, global provider of knowledge-based asset integrity services focused on the oil & gas, chemical and power sectors, to deliver a brand new one-day certified course in bolt tensioning.
The ECITB approved course, MJI 21 Hydraulically Tensioned Subsea Bolted Connections, addresses a key activity which every offshore construction diver should be familiar with and will be added to the Centre’s commercial diving training suite, firstly as a standalone course.
It will provide students, of varying levels of experience, with the knowledge and experience of working with and using bolt tensioning equipment, which they can then use in their job – whether on the surface or underwater.
Industry has identified that bolt tensioning is a skill more commercial divers should have experience of before going subsea.
It will be delivered by an expert from Stork’s on-site training facility, who have also supplied all the equipment for the course, and will include isolations, dismantling techniques, inspection of components, alignment techniques and assembly and tightening techniques in specialist critical bolting.
Steve Ham, The Underwater Centre’s General Manager, said: “The courses we deliver at the Centre have been tailored to meet industry needs and this addition is a perfect example of this.
“We have been working very closely with Stork to develop this course so that it provides our students with the opportunity to train with the specific equipment they would be using on the job, allowing them to hone their skills before heading offshore.
“Here at the Centre we have been delivering bolt tensioning training for a number of years, but this new course takes things a step further and provides students with a certified ticket which they can add to their CV.”
Rod Agnew, Vice President for Service Delivery at Stork, said: “We are extremely pleased, to again be working in collaboration with The Underwater Centre, integrating higher levels of Subsea Mechanical Joint Integrity Courses. Stork recognizes that quality training and competency lies at the core of safe operations and our vastly experienced and multi-disciplined instructional team, plan, tailor and deliver courses to meet client specific requirements. The new bolt tensioning course is one example of this and builds upon our extensive list of industry recognized courses.”
Both the Premium Industry and Construction Career Packages provide training in the statutory components of the Health and Safety Executive's commercial diving curriculum, as well as training in the use of subsea tools and practical exercises in carrying out construction and maintenance tasks underwater such as subsea welding and cutting, and rigging and slinging operations.
The Premium Industry Package also includes training in subsea inspection techniques: a vital skill to have when working offshore.
The Underwater Centre is a purpose built training facility which incorporates an extensive pier complex including four dive stations, classrooms, workshops and decompression chambers.
With accommodation and additional classrooms based at the landward end of the pier, The Underwater Centre is set up to provide its students with the skills and experience to succeed in their new careers, and continue providing the subsea industry with the workforce that it needs.
Oil and gas company MOL Energy UK has completed its collaborative partnership process – an approach championed by MOL Energy UK Managing Director Chris Bird following the company’s entry into the UK market last year.
Collaboration has become highly topical for those in the North Sea oil industry, as operators and suppliers recognize the future relies on a movement away from competition and towards closer partnerships throughout the value chain.
’’At MOL Energy UK we are clear the path to success lies in adopting a collaborative business model,” says Chris Bird. ’’And as a new market entrant, we are in an ideal position to create a corporate culture and values-driven approach that is based on effective collaboration from the start.”
After putting into practice the collaborative process required to meet the certification standard BS11000, as well as undertaking a commercial assessment, MOL Energy UK now has five collaboration partners. They are:
”We are at the start of our journey to overcome the challenges in our current environment and find solutions which will make the basin successful and support government initiatives to attract new investment and maximize economic recovery,” says Chris.
’’From the outset the company has made early engagement with potential partners a priority, and our aim is to build long term, mutually beneficial partnerships. I’d like to specifically thank our partners as well as the rest of the supply chain for their willing engagement in this process.”
MOL Energy UK’s Head of Supply Chain and Procurement, Ian Rattray, says the selection process covered the commercial offering, added value, cultural alignment, managing the interfaces between the company and external partners, resourcing, good communication and having a process for managing conflict.
Collaboration is the theme of the OGUK Share Fair in November, and OGUK, OGA, the Government and Deloitte are working together to embody the need for collaboration within the Energy Bill currently going through Parliament.
Aberdeen-based behavioral change consultancy Optimus Seventh Generation, has reinforced its commitment to safety by securing a new agreement with Apache North Sea to deliver a series of unique training workshops in 2015 and 2016.
A new level of well control training that for the first time combines simulated advanced technical and behavioral content has been successfully piloted by Seadrill and will now be rolled out globally.
Clark, a UK national, has more than 30 years of experience from the oilfield services, projects and contracting industry, most recently as vice president of production facilities for Schlumberger. He has also held leadership positions at Wood Group and Technip and has broad international experience in overseeing operations and new business developments.
Clark will be based in London and work on expanding Aker Solutions' international presence with a special focus on the African market. He will assume the position on September 21 and report to Chief Executive Officer Luis Araujo.
"David is a true oil and gas professional with extensive experience in some of our most important markets," said Araujo. "His strong track record in business development will be of major value as we grow in strategically important regions such as Africa."
Aker Solutions has operations in more than 20 countries, including the U.S., Brazil and India. The company in 2011 established regional management teams in key markets to better coordinate customer contact and operations between its business areas, Subsea, MMO and Engineering. The UK role has been expanded to include Africa, a major growth market.
CGG is engaged in an ambitious transformation plan to adapt to the new environment and market conditions. A more centralized organization is now deployed to ensure we have the strongest possible foundation from which to operate and grow in the future.
As from 1st September, the Corporate Committee (C-Com) is chaired by the CEO, Jean-Georges Malcor, and formed by the CFO, Stephane-Paul Frydman, the two COO’s, Pascal Rouiller and Sophie Zurquiyah, and the EVP, Human Resources, David Dragone.
The C-Com will share global management of the Group and responsibility for the various Business Lines, Group Functions and Group Departments.
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