NEWS & PRESS RELEASES

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

conferences
April Issue 2014

SOS
SUBSEA & OFFSHORE
SERVICE MAGAZINE

12 Subsea Manual Ball Valve

with gear box, #1500

www.sosmagazine.biz

Ready for the field?

Being a field calibration technician is a tough job: you need to have many
skills and carry multiple devices, environmental conditions can be challenging
and constantly changing, documentation of data takes time and is difficult in
the field and work efficiency requirements are demanding. However, having
the right gear makes the work much easier and also more efficient.
Learn more at beamex.com/readyforthefield

www.beamex.com
info@beamex.com

Welcome to the Subsea & Offshore Service Magazine

Aimed at Sub-Contractors all the way through to OEMs, the
publication backed by the Website is a great marketing tool
for the companies choosing to advertise and market their
products and services with us.
With a good sized circulation across the UK, we will
distribute to the companies that will use the products and
services that are advertised in this magazine.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES

PRODUCTS & SERVICES
EXHIBITIONS
April Issue 2014

SOS
SUBSEA & OFFSHORE
SERVICE MAGAZINE

12 Subsea Manual Ball Valve

with gear box, #1500

Print runs are increased when we are to attend both the

national and international oil and gas exhibitions, gaining
our clients as much awareness and exposure as possible.

Contents
3sun Group secures
10m investment from
BGF

Setting the standard for

safety
BMT joins forces
with Met Office and
Oceanweather

LUX Assure
strengthens ties in
USA with service
agreement

www.sosmagazine.biz

20

The Innovative L300

Light from Remote Ocean
Systems (ROS).

32

26

Competence Assurance is it really necessary?

38

Cortez Subsea delivers one

of the most progressive
software systems for
inspection and reporting

48

10

Stateside success
continues for Bibby
Subsea

16

Wet Mateable
Jumper and Umbilical 29
Monitoring Device

Staff

Editor: David Sullivan

editor@sosmagazine.biz

Designer: Steve Simmonds

design@sosmagazine.biz

General Manager: Robert Taylor

rob@sosmagazine.biz
Tel No: +44 (0)1634 867404

Sales Manager: Jon McIntosh

jon@sosmagazine.biz
Tel No: +44 (0)1634 682464

Publisher: Crystal Design & Media Ltd

Crystal Design & Media Ltd and the publication Subsea & Offshore Service
magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material or the accuracy of
information received.
All material will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication under
copyright and within the editors rights to edit and offer comment.
All editorial contributions are to be sent to editor@sosmagazine.biz

Contributors
The Big Partnership
FT Publicity Ltd
Browser Media
Fifth Ring Ltd
Wordsun Ltd
Acumen PR
Think PR

News & Products

Paradigm goes to extreme lengths with new miniature coiled tubing system
Technology innovator calls for
North Sea operator partners to
push boundaries
Paradigm Flow Services, the blockage
removal experts for the oil and gas
sector, has launched Flexi-Coil Extended
Reach to take riser and flowline blockage
remediation and internal inspection to
new lengths. The company is now calling
on North Sea oil and gas operators to
collaborate on trailblazing applications for
the technology.
Conventional methods for remediating
riser and flowline blockages are limited
due to deployment difficulties and inability
to overcome bends and safely navigate
beyond 200m. Flexi-Coil Extended Reach
has been proven in tests up to 2,000m. As
the technology continues to be enhanced,
Paradigm is positive of its potential to
tackle more than double that distance to
4,000m. The firm is currently undertaking
major projects with an international
operator in West Africa.

www.sosmagazine.biz

The Aberdeenshire-based company is

launching this new technology at the ITF
Technology Showcase which is taking
place on 5 March 2014 at the Aberdeen
Exhibition and Conference Centre.

The system, based on miniaturised coiled

tubing principals, can be deployed in-situ
into risers and flowlines and currently
provides the only safe solution to unblock
these lines when working from an FPSO.
The innovative system can carry out high
pressure jetting, chemical and nitrogen
injection over long distances, to de-sand,
de-wax and de-pressurise hydrate plugs.
This industry first can save operators
tens of millions of pounds and solve
blockage and restriction issues within a
few days. Lines that may have been shut
in for months or years can be remediated,
restoring flow and enhancing oil recovery.
Rob Bain, managing director of Paradigm
Flow Services, said: Flexi-Coil Extended
Reach is game changing, taking proven
coiled tubing technology and adapting
it in a way that makes it applicable and
viable for the remediation of production
systems. The only other option at the
moment is to disconnect risers and
bring another rig on site to carry out
conventional coiled tubing. The safety and
logistical implications have rendered this
option redundant.
Our method means the shut in line can
be left in-situ and we can enter using

Paradigm Flow Services has launched Flexi-Coil Extended Reach to take riser
and flowline blockage remediation and internal inspection to new lengths

existing facilities, reducing risk for

operators. We can also attach monitoring
devices and retrieve and analyse debris to
provide assurance on operational success.
Mature offshore basins such as the North
Sea and West Africa are key markets for
this and we are calling on UK operators
to partner on the bespoke development
of the technology to really push its
boundaries and address the main issues
they are facing.
The technology can be adapted for several
applications. In the UK, integrity of flexible
risers is becoming a more prominent issue
and inspection tools can be added to the
system to address that challenge. FlexiCoil Extended Reach can also be used
for decommissioning to clean flowlines
in-situ for safe abandonment as a cost
effective and environmentally positive
solution.
The Flexi-Coil Extended Reach system
comprises a blow-out preventer stack,
thruster system and lightweight composite
hose reel. With capacity to clear sand and
wax plugs, there is a unique mechanism
to deploy the water through the outer
annulus of the hose and return through
the inner hose. The operation is managed
by skilled Paradigm engineers.

UNDERWATER
ENGINEERING
SERVICES

Specialising in the supply of

marine and subsea support
equipment to the diving, ROV
and survey sectors of the global
offshore renewables industry.

We listen to our clients, determine their requirements and challenges and

offer innovational packaged solutions using our extensive knowledge and
experience from working with a multitude of clients from across various
markets over many years.

Underwater Engineering Services

(Part of the ATR Group)

www.uesltd.net
www.atrgroup.co.uk

ATR Equipment Solutions

ATR Lifting Solutions

t: +44 (0) 1224 222 777

t: +44 (0) 1224 826 662

f: +44 (0) 1224 708 573

f: +44 (0) 1224 826 671

sales@atrgroup.co.uk

sales@atrgroup.co.uk

ATR Marine Solutions

ATR Power Solutions

t: +44 (0) 1358 789 808

f: +44 (0) 1358 789 575

t: +44 (0) 1224 826 662

t: +44 (0) 1224 775 050

f: +44 (0) 1224 826 671

f: +44 (0) 1224 722 283

sales@uesltd.net

sales@atrgroup.co.uk

sales@atrgroup.co.uk

News & Products

3sun Group secures 10m investment from BGF

First business located in the
East of England to be backed
by BGF
Funding will be used to
expand operations in the UK
and Europe
BGF (Business Growth Fund), the
independent company established
to help Britains growing businesses,
today announced it has made a 10m
investment in energy-focused firm - 3sun
Group, a specialist provider of products
and services to the global energy industry.
Founded in 2007 by Graham Hacon,
3sun Group operates in the oil and gas
onshore and offshore wind sectors. It is an
established supplier of control panels for
offshore oil and gas subsea and platform
applications, whilst in the offshore wind
sector it installs, inspects and maintains
wind turbines.

www.sosmagazine.biz

3sun Group secured the funding following

six years of consistent growth and is the

first business based in the East of England

to secure backing from BGF.
Over the last seven years 3sun Group
has grown rapidly, now employing 240
people and 31 apprentices across its
headquarters in Great Yarmouth, and its
bases in Aberdeenshire, Bergen, Norway,
Lubeck, Germany and Esbjerg, Denmark,
and is currently looking at other UK and
overseas locations. The Group is on track
to deliver revenue in excess of 25m in
the current year.
The Groups five divisions include
3sun, which manufactures, installs and
maintains topside control equipment
for offshore oil and gas platforms, 3sun
Inspection Services providing testing and
inspection services to the oil and gas
and renewables sector, Dawson Energy
supplying skilled technicians for the
installation and maintenance of offshore
wind turbines, and the recently launched
3sun Academy delivering advanced
training courses for skilled offshore
technicians.

In line with its drive for expansion and

development, 3sun Group acquired RRC
Controls Services in 2013, an established
manufacturer of subsea control systems
for the offshore oil and gas industry.
The acquisition allows the Group to offer
full turnkey engineering solutions to the
global subsea market. Through the 3sun
Groups five divisions, it has the collective
skills and capabilities to offer a high
quality fully integrated service from launch
to completion.
The investment of growth capital from
BGF will principally support 3sun Groups
plans to accelerate expansion in its Great
Yarmouth base and advance further
opportunities in the UK and northern
Europe.
3sun Group is well placed to benefit from
strong growth dynamics in its target
markets. The offshore wind market is
forecast to grow dramatically, both in
the UK as operations and maintenance
contracts become available for Round
2 turbines and Round 3 construction

3sun Group technician overhauling an Oil and Gas Drawer Control Module

commences, and in northern Europe.

News & Products

3sun Group has an attractive market

opportunity in oil and gas where it is
focused on maintaining legacy equipment
and, where appropriate, replacing it with
new systems. It is particularly competitive
in meeting niche requirements when it
is often uneconomic for large original
equipment manufacturers to provide a
solution.
To date, BGF has backed a number of
companies across the UK operating
in the energy and associated services
sectors including STATS Group, Aubin,
Petrotechnics, Magma Global, and
Inoapps.

Chris Hodges, BGFs Investment Director,

added:
We are delighted to be backing 3sun and
supporting Graham and the management
team in realising their ambitions for the

Graham Hacon
business. It is testament to Grahams
energy and entrepreneurial vision that
he has grown 3sun from a small outfit
to its current position as one of the UKs
leading energy services and engineering
businesses.
3sun has consistently won market share
on the back of its reputation for delivering
high quality service and its responsiveness
to customer needs, both in the oil and gas
sector and increasingly in the offshore
wind market. Boosted by an injection of
growth capital, it is in great shape to take

advantage of growing demand for its

services. Graham has demonstrated his
ability to create value through growing
businesses organically and through
acquisition and we are excited to be
partnering with him.
The investment was managed for BGF by
Chris Hodges, Mark Nunny and Jessica
Zoutsos with support from Mike Sibson.
3sun Group is backed by NatWest.

www.sosmagazine.biz

Graham Hacon, Managing Director of 3sun

Group, commented:
Securing this 10m investment is an
enormous achievement for us. The
financial support from BGF is testament
to the dedication of the entire 3sun Group
team and the notable work we are already
doing in the industry.
Established in 2007, the Group has grown
steadily and significantly, now consisting
of five separate divisions, allowing us
to offer our clients a full service from
inception to completion.
This significant sum will prove highly
beneficial for 3sun Group in the long run,
providing us with the additional capital
required to accelerate our capabilities
and increase our global presence. We are
outgrowing our current premises and
expect 50 more employees by March 2015
increasing an extra 200 by March 2017,
so we will be investing in a new site for
our Group headquarters.
The investment will also allow us to
continue to innovate our high quality
service delivery worldwide and bring
a variety of new products and service
solutions to the marketplace, along with
new overseas locations. We look forward
to working with BGF in the future and
using the investment to drive further
business success.

News & Products

The Scottish Loan Fund invests 3.5 million in Oil & Gas service specialist
Coretrax Technology
The Scottish Loan Fund invests 3.5 million in Oil & Gas service
specialist Coretrax Technology

Kenny Murray, Managing Director at Coretrax, said: As a team

we felt Maven had a real understanding of our business and

Maven Capital Partners (Maven), the leading Private Equity and

Alternative Asset Manager, is pleased to announce a 3.5 million
Scottish Loan Fund (SLF) investment in energy services business
Coretrax Technology Limited (Coretrax).
Set up in 2011 by the Scottish Investment Bank, the investment
arm of Scottish Enterprise, and managed by Maven, the 113
million SLF provides loans of up to 5 million to ambitious
Scottish businesses. Since launch the SLF has committed over
30 million in support of growth-focused companies.
Coretrax was established in 2008 and offers a wide range
of downhole tools and services with applications across the
well life cycle, including well bore clean-up, completion and
abandonment, to the global oil & gas industry. The Coretrax
suite of tools has been extremely well received by the market
resulting in the business developing a good spread of blue-chip
international customers as well as many of the leading North Sea
operators.
The global oil & gas industry is in the midst of a period of
significant investment and with the worlds resources of easy
oil depleting, the business is benefitting from operating in a
subsector which is driven by the need to extend the useful
operating life of a producing oil well.
Aberdeen-based Coretrax has carved a niche in the market by
being able to provide a bespoke customer solution quickly and
efficiently. The flexibility of this service offering and the technical
expertise held within the business have helped forge strong
customer relationships.

www.sosmagazine.biz

The business has achieved year on year growth and has

established an excellent reputation in the market for innovative
technological solutions and impeccable customer service. Led
by an experienced senior management team the business is
focussed on driving further growth over the next three years.
The flexible funding package from the SLF will also allow
Coretrax to expand its existing Middle East operation, having
already won significant contracts in Saudi Arabia.

Kieran Good, Investment Manager at Maven, said: Coretrax

is an excellent example of a high growth business which is
ideally suited to take advantage of the flexible long term capital
the Scottish Loan Fund can provide. Kenny and his team have
a superb track record of delivering growth on the back of
innovative technology and impeccable customer service and we
are delighted to be on board. SLF funding has proved to be a
perfect fit for what the business is trying to achieve and we are
pleased to support this dynamic Scottish SME with its growth
plans.

recognised our aspirations for future growth. We are delighted

that Maven and the SLF have committed to support Coretrax.
2013 was an immensely successful year for the company and,
thanks to this investment, we look to meet and surpass targets in
the coming months.
Kerry Sharp, Head of the Scottish Investment Bank, said:
Coretrax has been working intensively with a number of
areas of Scottish Enterprise to realise its ambitious growth
plans, including commitment to innovation and new product
development in the oil and gas sector. We are pleased to see
them extending their international reach, and to have been able
to support this through the Scottish Loan Fund. We look forward
to what the future brings for Coretrax.

With the ECLIPSE Model 706 guided wave radar transmitter,

Magnetrol provides process control professionals with more
power than ever before, improving operational safety, efficiency
and performance.
Eclipse Model 706 Transmitter Advanced GWR Transmitter for
Level Measurement

News & Products

Eclipse Model 706 - Advanced Guided Wave Radar Transmitter for Level
Measurement and Control

The ECLIPSE Model 706 transmitter has taken technology to the

next level with a strong, accurate signal, powerful diagnostics
and an extensive probe offering designed to meet the special
demands of temperature, pressure, viscosity, liquid interface,
extended ranges and other variables.
ECLIPSE is at work in the most demanding applications, including
those in petroleum refining, electric power generation, chemical
manufacturing, water and wastewater, pulp and paper, food and
beverage, and pharmaceutical processing.

High Performance, Low Power

Incorporating GWR technology, ECLIPSE measurement
performance is not process-dependent; therefore, varying
specific gravity or dielectric constant have little or no effect
on measurement accuracy. The ECLIPSE Model 706 utilizes
many special-purpose probes, including those having hightemperature (to +850 F / +454 C), high-pressure (to 6250 psig
/ 430 bar), ultra-low dielectric (1.2) and bulk solids probes with
3000 lb. pull-down capability. Flexible probes with an extended
measuring range up to 30 meters can be utilized.

Superior Signal Performance

While GWR options on the market today promote the amplitude
(size) of transmitted radar pulse, a far more important parameter
in reliable level measurement in difficult applications is the
overall signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Breakthrough innovation in
the transmitter GWR circuitry allows the Model 706 to achieve
both a higher transmit pulse amplitude and improved receiver
sensitivity, resulting in superior signal-to-noise ratio as
compared to competitive GWR devices. This reduction in system
noise, coupled with a stronger transmit signal, results in a SNR
that is up to 3 times higher than the nearest competitor. This
simply makes the ECLIPSE Model 706 more robust, even in those
difficult, low dielectric applications.

Overfill Capable Probes

Advanced Diagnostics
The ECLIPSE Model 706 takes the user interface experience
to new levels of convenience and functionality. The LCD
diagnostics convey critical real-time waveform and trend data
with outstanding ease of use. The transmitter can actually be
configured to automatically capture troubleshooting waveforms
based on diagnostic events or based on time. Additionally, the
ECLIPSE Model 706 can be preconfigured prior to shipment, to
ensure plug-and-play transmitter commissioning.
With the ECLIPSE Model 706 transmitter, Magnetrol has taken
the industry to the next frontier of precise, reliable level
instrumentation.

For more information about the ECLIPSE Model 706,

visit: www.eclipse.magnetrol.com

www.sosmagazine.biz

A unique feature to the ECLIPSE Model 706 transmitter is

the Overfill Capability of many of the probes in its offering.
An Overfill Safe probe is one defined by the fact that it has
predictable and uniform characteristic impedance all the
way down the entire length of the waveguide (probe). These
probes allow the ECLIPSE Model 706 to measure accurate levels

to within specification up to the top of the probe, without any

unmeasurable zones. Overfill Safe GWR Coaxial and Caged
Probes can be installed in various configurations, even when the
risk of flooding exists.

News & Products

Setting the standard for safety

Gone are the days where a refrigerated unit was a 20ft container
with a fridge pack attached. In todays offshore environment
it is it about quality and reliability and the safety of the people
working with our kit from dock to deck, explains Greg Spence,
managing director of Reftrade UK.
The oil and gas industry is synonymous with the highest
standards in health and safety, it is paramount to any operator
and service company working in the sector. As a result the
technology developed for use on and offshore, to protect the
lives of the men and women in the industry, is at the forefront of
technological advancement where else would you find a giant
explosion proof fridge?
Reftrade UK is one such company, setting the standards for
the sale and lease of refrigerated containers and temperature
controlled units to the offshore energy sector, having recently
made a significant investment into its rental fleet to ensure its
units are upgraded to the highest standards that exceed both
ATEX and DNV accreditation standards.
Modifications to our new and existing range of standard and
zoned refrigerated containers include easy access safety doors,
overriding man-trap alarms, emergency lighting and interfacing
to connect the containers alarms to installation control rooms.
This will improve the safety standard of each unit and more
importantly, personnel using our reefer units.

www.sosmagazine.biz

This recent expenditure to upgrade the fleet follows considerable

investment in 2013, which saw Reftrade UK take a market-lead

10

Greg Spence
as the only rental supplier of 10ft and 20ft rated explosion proof
containers in the UK.
Operating within an industry where there are many hazards, we
are continuously looking for ways to improve our product range,
ensuring our units not only meet, but set the standard for safety
and what clients should expect in the rental market.
Using an integrated business model, Reftrade UK supply, deliver
and advise on the rental and sale of all DNV 2.7-1 / EN 12079
storage reefers including manufacturing for bespoke projects in
both standard and zoned containers.
In addition to its refrigerated containers, Reftrade UK is also
equipped to supply clients with a complete range of offshore
transportation and storage containers, baskets and tanks. All
units are manufactured to the highest standards to ensure clients
receive safe and reliable serviced solutions.

Senior appointments support Premier Hytemps growth plans

Campbell MacPherson, who has spent

almost 20 years working in high precision
oil and gas engineering, will join the
Edinburgh headquartered firm in April
as its chief executive officer while
Gavin Rippe will take up the post of
chief commercial officer in early March,
bringing 15 years of experience of sales
and marketing in the subsea oil and gas
sector to the role.
Mr MacPherson is currently general
director at Schoeller Bleckmann Oilfield
Equipment in Vietnam, where he
established a greenfield manufacturing
facility in 2009 to serve the global
directional drilling market. He was
previously managing director of Schoeller
Bleckmann Darron Ltd in Aberdeen, from
where he also established and ran the
firms Russian subsidiary.
Mr MacPherson gained a first class BEng
honours degree in naval architecture and
offshore engineering from the University
of Strathclyde before joining the oil and
gas industry in 1996. He spent the initial
years of his career with Schlumberger,
BI Group and Forth Tool & Valve Ltd.

His appointment
brings extensive
engineering
and industry
experience to
Premier Hytemp
as it pursues plans
to increase the
scale and scope
of its work with
the global energy
industry, onshore
and offshore.

News & Products

Premier Hytemp, a leading manufacturer

of engineered alloy components for the
oil and gas industry, has announced the
appointments of two experienced industry
professionals to its senior management
team.

Mr Rippe joins
Premier Hytemp from JDR Cable Systems,
where he was sales director responsible
for global oil and gas subsea accounts
across Europe, the Middle East and Asia
Pacific. He has a BEng first class honours
degree from the University of Portsmouth
and worked with a small automotive
company before joining Hydratight in
1999. He moved to JDR Cable Systems in
2002 and has since achieved a ten-fold
increase in the firms revenues.
Premier Hytemp is a global leader in
the manufacture and supply chain
management of precision engineered
alloy components used in safety critical
applications in the energy sector,
including wellheads, valves and downhole
tools. It provides a comprehensive
package of solutions to customers, from
raw materials, bar and forged products
through to finish machined products,
complete assemblies and testing.

Premier Hytemp is headquartered in

Newbridge, Edinburgh, has a turnover in
excess of 40 million and employs 200
people across its operations in the UK
and Singapore. The firms 34.5 million
management buyout in November 2012
was backed by Dunedin, the UK midmarket private equity buyout house.
Maurice McBride, chairman of Premier
Hytemp, said: Campbell and Gavin have
a wealth of industry experience, which
will be extremely valuable to us as we
pursue our growth strategy. Premier
Hytemp has three decades of experience
in the industry and a strong team in place
across the business. They will provide
the leadership and insight to ensure that
we increase our market share through
our established relationships and new
business, founded upon our integrity
and thorough understanding of customer
requirements.
Campbell MacPherson said: Premier
Hytemp has a strong record of
performance in the industry which
provides a firm platform for further
growth. The opportunity to work with a
company with so much potential in an
industry that I know well was one that I
could not resist and I am delighted to be
joining the team at this exciting time.

Gavin Rippe

www.sosmagazine.biz

Campbell Macpherson

Gavin Rippe said: Premier Hytemps

combination of experience and technical
capability provides a great offering to the
oil and gas industry and I look forward
to developing our relationships with
established and new customers.

11

News & Products

Aberdeen microbiology experts delighted their toxicity tests are included

in DECC preferred method of offshore discharge testing to reduce marine
environment risk
Toxicity tests developed by Aberdeen
based microbiology and chemical
analysis specialists NCIMB, have been
recommended by the Department of
Energy and Climate Change (DECC) as
part of the preferred approach to the UKs
implementation of a risk based approach
(RBA) to testing of produced water
discharges from offshore installations.
The recommendation for a RBA, which
combines examination of the exposure
resulting from produced water discharge
and the sensitivity of the environment,
was adopted by OSPAR in 2012, with
full implementation to be achieved by
31 December 2018. OSPAR manages
international cooperation on the
protection of the marine environment of
the North-East Atlantic.
While companies have already been
undertaking chemical analysis as part of
the biannual testing programme, toxicity
testing is a new requirement.

Terry Dando from NCIMB analysing MARA results

NCIMBs MARA and LumiMARA bioassays,
which include an array of carefully
selected microorganisms, have been
recommended in preference to single
species microbial testing.
The microorganisms provide
a rapid and cost-effective
analysis of produced water
toxicity and have been trialled
on samples from 15 offshore
installations as part of a wider
DECC coordinated study
to assess the role of whole
effluent toxicity (WET) testing.

www.sosmagazine.biz

While DECC does not intend to

specify which species should
be used for toxicity tests, the
preferred scheme for the UK
implementation programme
would use the MARA and
LumiMARA tests.

12

NCIMB CEO Dr Carol Phillips

NCIMB will be exhibiting at the

ITF Technology Showcase today
(5th March). ITF is hosting the
showcase in collaboration with
Oil & Gas UK at the Aberdeen
Exhibition and Conference
Centre (AECC). The event,
which is supported by DECC
and the UK Technology Strategy

Board, will provide an opportunity for

organisations to showcase innovative
technologies, directly to operating
companies.
Commenting on the benefits of the tests,
NCIMBs CEO Dr Carol Phillips said: All
substances present in produced water
will contribute to the total environmental
risk and WET testing measures not only
the effects of substances known to be
present but also the impact of unknown
substances and the combined effects of all
components. Using MARA or LumiMARA
as an alternative to toxicity testing with a
single species of bacteria is a very simple
and feasible means of increasing the
breadth and genetic diversity of toxicity
testing, and may give more robust results.
We are thoroughly looking forward to
attending the ITF Technology Showcase
and explaining more about our innovative
technology and testing capabilities to
what has always been a very enthusiastic
audience.
For further information on the conference
programme, sponsorship opportunities
and to book exhibition spaces visit:
http://showcase.itfenergy.com

Aberdeen-based standby vessel

operator Atlantic Offshore Rescue has
commissioned a 6 million vessel for a
long-term charter with Nexen Petroleum
UK Ltd (Nexen).
Thirty new jobs have been created as
a result of the new vessel, Ocean Tay,
a Class A Emergency Response and
Rescue Vessel (ERRV), which will provide
emergency vessel cover for Nexens
flagship Golden Eagle Area Development
in the North Sea. The charter will last a
minimum of two years.
Atlantic Offshore Rescue is part of the
Atlantic Offshore Group, which is based
in Norway. Atlantic Offshore Rescue Ltd
employs 350 people (approximately
330 seamen and 20 office-based staff)
and provides multi-role offshore and
emergency rescue and response vessels
for many of the oil majors operating in the
North Sea.
John Bryce, managing director of
Atlantic Offshore Rescue, said: This is a
significant contract for the company and
is one of a number of agreements with
major operators, both retained and new
clients, which we secured throughout
2013.

News & Products

Atlantic Offshore Rescue announces long term agreement with Nexen that
supports commissioning of 6 million vessel

Ocean Tay: the Class A Emergency Response and Rescue Vessel which has been
commissioned for a long-term charter with Nexen
Ocean Tay underwent conversion at Wear
Dock & Engineering Co, Sunderland,
to become one of a fleet of 12 ERRVs
Atlantic Offshore Rescue manages out of
Aberdeen. The 63-metre vessel has the
capacity to accommodate a crew of 20
people and as a Class A ERRV can rescue
in excess of 300 persons.
Mr Bryce continued: We worked
closely with our contracted partners to
successfully convert Ocean Tay with the
utmost attention over a three month

period to meet the needs of Nexen. We are

very proud of the outcome.
Atlantic Offshore Group has invested
approximately 300million in its fleet
modernisation programme in the last
three years and this is the second of
two high-specification ERRVs which the
company has commissioned in recent
months. The first, Ocean Troll, is the UKs
most powerful emergency response and
rescue vessel and is Atlantic Offshore
Rescues principal relief vessel supporting
the fleet in the North Sea. In addition
the company has 2 ERRV/TAVs under
construction for delivery in 2014 & 2015.
Mr Bryce said: Sound emergency response
is absolutely crucial for all in the oil and
gas sector and we aspire to provide the
very best vessel support in the North Sea.
Inclusive of Atlantic Offshore Rescues 12
vessels, Atlantic Offshore Group currently
operates a fleet of 24 ERRVs and PSVs and
manages further PSVs on behalf of third
parties.
www.sosmagazine.biz

John Bryce

The Groups aim is to continue to expand

its capabilities within both the Norwegian
and British sector of the North Sea and to
be able to provide cross-border solutions
reflecting the needs of its clients for both
ERRVs and PSVs.

13

News & Products

Proserv completes acquisition of KRG Industries Ltd

Global-leading energy production technology services company
Proserv has further bolstered its rapidly-expanding subsea
manufacturing capabilities and specialist integrated services
after completing the acquisition of major engineering player KRG
Industries Ltd.
Proserv has acquired the entire share capital of UK-based KRG
Industries (KRG) from majority shareholder Torishima Pump Mfg.
Co. Ltd, (Torishima) in Japan.
With a 35-year track record, KRG is a well-established provider
of precision engineering services to the oil & gas and aerospace
& defence industries. Using a modern fleet of high specification
equipment, the company provides a broad suite of services
including machining, welding, inspection and testing to an
increasingly international base of blue-chip customers including
oil and gas original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), oilfield
service companies and defence contractors.
The deal comes just eight months after Proserv acquired
Australian-headquartered Velocious, a pioneering subsea
intervention and tooling company, and integrated its 20
members of staff. Proserv also took on US company, Total
Instrumentation & Controls (TIC) towards the end of 2012,
adding a further 300 staff to the company.
The latest acquisition, which includes integrating all 170
personnel based at KRGs Coatbridge headquarters in Scotland
and its Stockton-on-Tees facility, sees Proserv increase its talent
pool to over 2,200 employees with all existing KRG management
continuing to run the day-to-day operations as part of the
Proserv organisation.
It also reinforces Proservs position as a leader in the
engineering, manufacturing, testing and after-market servicing
of specialist and highly-critical subsea equipment.

David Lamont, Proservs chief executive officer, said: Our

plan for growth is to invest in complementary world-class
technologies and build on our existing range of value-added
products and services. The acquisition of KRG is a perfect
strategic fit for Proserv. They bring a broad range of technical
skills and experience but, most importantly, they share our
core values and ambition to be the provider of choice to our
customers and together, as one company, we are even stronger.
It will be an exciting new partnership that enhances our
integrated capabilities and creates significantly more capacity
to develop our international business. It will also bring further
positive benefits for employees and give them the opportunity
to become involved in a broader, more diverse range of projects
as well as considerable benefits to our fast-growing portfolio of
clients through the delivery of an enhanced service capability.
Proserv, which operates worldwide across several regions, has
a 40-year track record in delivering bespoke technologies and
services for the energy industry, particularly in the drilling,
production, subsea and marine market sectors.

www.sosmagazine.biz

The company has experienced exceptional growth over the past

12 months particularly in the subsea services sector. Last year,
Mr Lamont won the industry accolade for Private Equity Backed
Business at the EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year awards. He was
praised for the companys impressive acquisition strategy, its
geographical reach and the opportunities for further expansion.
During his two years at Proserv, the company has recorded
annual organic growth rates of 28%.

14

Nick Dalgarno, managing director of Simmons & Company

International in Aberdeen - corporate finance advisors to the
energy industry - advised Torishima on the transaction. He said:
This is an excellent deal for both parties, providing international
opportunities for KRG management and staff while securing the
supply chain for rapidly-growing subsea firm Proserv, enhancing
their competitiveness in an increasingly tight market.

In its quest to find people with a passion

for Quality, Health, Safety and the
Environment (QHSE), Technip has launched
an Associate QHSE Advisor programme, a
two-year entry-level initiative. Applicants
from all walks of life were invited to
showcase their passion and suitability
for QHSE in a bid to win a place on the
programme. Technip received more than
380 applications for the positions, 50%
more than the anticipated amount.
The widely documented skills shortage
within the oil and gas industry
encompasses many disciplines. Technips
QHSE initiative is at the core of the
companys long term strategy to address
this future shortfall, ensuring that the
organisation is best placed to continually
nurture and develop its teams in the years
to come.
John Colley, Technip UK QHSES Manager
said: When launching the Associate QHSE
Advisor programme our aim was to find
people who are truly passionate about
this area of expertise. Our focus was
on their desire to work in a QHSE role
and capability rather than their previous
experience. We were delighted with the
number and calibre of applicants we
received.

Seven Associate QHSE Advisors have

now been appointed, two of whom have
been assigned to the vessel management
department while the remainder are
working within Technips UK Business
Unit.
John continued: The successful applicants
come from a wide cross section of
professions. Our new Associate QHSE
Advisors include a former nurse and
an apprentice joiner as well as a site
supervisor/contracts manager and a
number of internal applicants. While
their professional backgrounds are
diverse these people all have one thing
in common - the passion to develop
their existing competence in QHSE in to a
rewarding career.
The two-year training programme will
encompass all aspects of Technips
Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental
functions. To help them get a fuller
understanding of Technips business
the Associate QHSE advisors will have
time in all sectors of the organisation.
The programme combines on and off
the job training to give the Associate
QHSE Advisors the skills, knowledge and
experience they will need to fulfill their
roles.

QHSE is a fundamental part of our

business, concluded John. Its vital we
maintain our focus on it and ensure it
remains at the core of our operations.
To achieve this we need to have people
in post that put QHSE at the heart of
everything they do.

News & Products

A search for passion - Technip UK takes a new approach to finding QHSE

personnel

Technip is a world leader in project

management, engineering and
construction for the energy industry.
From the deepest Subsea oil & gas
developments to the largest and
most complex Offshore and Onshore
infrastructures, our 36,500 people are
constantly offering the best solutions and
most innovative technologies to meet the
worlds energy challenges.
Present in 48 countries, Technip has
state-of-the-art industrial assets on
all continents and operates a fleet of
specialized vessels for pipeline installation
and subsea construction.
Technip shares are listed on the NYSE
Euronext Paris exchange and traded in the
USA on the OTCQX marketplace (OTCQX:
TKPPY).

Left to right:- Mark Bosson, HSE Manager, Andrew Millar, Associate QHSE Advisor, Katie Morrison, Associate QHSE Advisor
Daniel Moir, Associate QHSE Advisor, Pete Somner, QHSE Director Hannah Milne, Associate QHSE Advisor
Graeme Walker, Associate QHSE Advisor, John Colley, QHSES Manager, Gavin Jackson, Associate QHSE Advisor
Suzanne Ross, Associate QHSE Advisor, Nick Edwards. Development Manager

www.sosmagazine.biz

15

News & Products

BMT joins forces with Met Office and Oceanweather

BMT ARGOSS, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has announced
a joint initiative with the Met Office, the UKs national weather
service, and Oceanweather Inc, to help support oil and gas
majors with offshore engineering design and operational
planning in the mid-Atlantic region.
The main deliverable of this project, entitled the Mid-Atlantic
Current Hindcast (MACH), is a 20-year high quality ocean
current reanalysis for the mid-Atlantic region, with nested high
resolution grids covering principal oil and gas concession areas.

Esa_bathy Chart showing coverage of MACH

Atlantic 1/12 degree model grid
to demonstrate to the oil and gas community our technical
credentials in ocean modelling.
With BMT ARGOSS extensive experience in providing metocean
services, Oceanweathers strong standing in the provision of high
integrity wind and wave hindcast data, and the Met Offices world
class science and forecasting expertise, we are confident that we
can provide oil and gas customers with a robust ocean simulation
which will help them plan future projects.

Example current flow stream from MACH 1/36

degree model grid at 70m depth.

With an initial focus on the West Africa region, the hindcast

will provide a strong framework for conducting fine resolution
modelling in other parts of the mid-Atlantic basin, including
Brazil.

www.sosmagazine.biz

Robin Stephens, Metocean Group Manager at BMT ARGOSS

explains: In recent years, ocean modelling technology has
significantly advanced - therefore we recognised the importance
and timeliness of conducting a comprehensive, new West Africa
ocean current hindcast. Much of the oil and gas activity in this
region is in deep water and involves the design, installation
and operation of floating production systems with substantial
subsea components such as risers and moorings, both of which
are very susceptible to current-induced loadings. By simulating
ocean current, temperature and salinity in profile we can provide
customers with a long term simulation which has been validated
and optimised against data that has been measured in the
region.

16

Following completion of a pilot two year integration and a

detailed validation study against available concurrent in-situ
current measurements, a full 20-year integration is underway to
produce an ocean current hindcast database, suitable for use in
offshore engineering and operational planning.
Arwel Griffiths, Business Development Director at the Met
Office comments: This initiative is an exciting opportunity

Newa_bathy Chart showing coverage of MACH

West Africa 1/36 degree model grid

CUI breakthrough product is unveiled

Corrosion

A breakthrough in coatings for the

corrosion under insulation (CUI)
petrochemical market has been unveiled
for Europe, Middle East and Africa by
specialist manufacturer Sherwin-Williams
Protective & Marine Coatings.
With high heat resistance up to 650C,
the Heat-flex High-Temp 1200 is
already having widely-acclaimed success
in America because of its effective
applications to carbon steel or stainless
steel - either insulated or uninsulated - in
a variety of uses.
Now the next generation product for
the petrochemical market is available in
Europe, Middle East and African markets
manufactured from the Sherwin-Williams
plant at Bolton, Greater Manchester.
The project applications include pipes,
tanks, vessels and stacks in offshore
and marine installations, power plants,
refineries and major chemical industry
facilities.
The tangible benefits emerging from tests
and initial projects include no adhesion
loss, no blistering with faster drying and
re-coating and savings in time throughout

without compromise to quality and

durability.
Lee Spoor, oil and gas coatings project
development manager for SherwinWilliams Protective & Marine Coatings
Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA),
said: Weve had a very positive response

from the market in America, and we

can now make it available across EMEA
markets with the same benefits.
This is relevant to many of the sectors
using carbon steel or stainless steel with
insulation where condensation can creep
in and create corrosion issues.
Heat-flex High-Temp 1200 raises the
bar in its field, with higher temperature
applications, extending service life and
offering improved environmental benefits
with fewer volatile organic compounds
emitted and long-term durability.
The inert multipolymeric matrix coating
outperforms alternatives in combating
CUI and in high heat applications and can
be applied in situ or by transporting for
application, offering a hard initial film and
less vulnerability to damage during the
process.

www.sosmagazine.biz

Heat-flex High-Temp 1200 has been

tested under the boiling water test,
with no adhesion loss, no blistering and
increased flexibility, and the CUI Test,
during which it had no adhesion loss after
80 cycles, an excellent rating for rust and
excellent rating for blistering.

17

Corrosion

Aerogels coming to UK Oil & Gas market through new trading partnership
with SIG Technical Insulation
The US-based manufacturer of some
of the worlds most efficient insulation
products, Aspen Aerogels, will be
introducing its products to the UK
market thanks to a new three-year
distribution partnership with SIG
Technical Insulation.
SIG Technical Insulation part of FTSE250 listed specialist construction
materials supplier SIG plc has been
granted exclusive rights to distribute
Aspens Cryogel and Pyrogel products
to the UK market.

Cryogel Z on sphere
Braskem Brazil

www.sosmagazine.biz

Aspen products are used by leading

Oil & Gas companies around the world,
including Conoco Phillips, Shell, Statoil
and ExxonMobil but for the UK, the
Aerogels range is a new concept in
insulation technology. Designed for
use in extreme conditions, Cryogel and
Pyrogel are amongst the worlds most
efficient thermal insulation materials and
differ only in their application (Cryogel is

18

Pyrogel XT on pre-insulated
equipment Valero Benicia USA

designed to be used in conditions with a

temperature range of -270 to +125oC,
while Pyrogel should be applied when
temperatures range from -40 to +650oC).
Both products will resist water ingress
while allowing evaporation from system
leaks effectively pumping the system
dry. In doing so, Cryogel and Pyrogel
provide Oil & Gas facility operators with
a means by which to insulate industrial
piping while eliminating the risk of
corrosion under insulation (CUI) a
problem that costs on and offshore
operators tens of millions of pounds per
year.
Andy Cruickshank, Regional Manager
Scotland Oil & Gas, SIG Technical
Insulation said: Corrosion under
insulation has been a persistent problem
for the Oil & Gas industry, costing huge
amounts in maintenance and associated
downtime. Despite the best efforts of
operators, it has proven almost impossible
to keep water out to prevent CUI.
In the Aerogels range, Aspen have found
a solution to this perennial problem, and
the value that this will bring to operators
around the world is only just becoming
apparent. We are therefore extremely
excited to be working with Aspen to bring
these products to the UK, and are looking
forward to working with Aspen over the
coming years to develop the product
offering in this market.
Joseph van Loo, European Director,
Aspen Aerogels, added: SIG Technical
Insulations national branch network
allows for availability across the UK and
Ireland. Combined with their specialist
technical expertise in the Oil & Gas
Sector, this made them the perfect fit to
be the exclusive distributor for the first
innovative insulation product within the
industry for many years.
With the product knowledge and resource
that SIG can offer alongside Aspen
Aerogels innovative product solutions,
operators and contractors can be secure

in the knowledge that life cycle costs and

downtime on site will be greatly reduced
through the use of Aerogel products.
Aspen Aerogels materials are available
as pre-cut bends, tees and fittings
drastically reducing fitting time on site
while ensuring a neat fit. This time-saving
factor is particularly important in offshore
installations where labour time and cost
are at a premium.
SIG Technical Insulation is the new trading
brand for Kitsons Thermal Supplies and
GRM Distribution two of the leading
thermal insulation, industrial H&V and
high temperature materials suppliers.
The business was formed in 2013
following a major streamlining of trading
brands by parent company SIG plc.
The company has 19 offices across the
UK, from Aberdeen and Gateshead to
Portsmouth and Heathrow.
As part of the offering, SIG Technical
Insulation is offering customers a free
lifecycle consultation to determine how
Aspen Aerogels could help Oil & Gas
operators to increase the lifecycle of their
pipelines.

Pyrogel XT - heat exchanger

Kawasaki Refinery Japan
Please call 01224 771566
or 07767 408837 to receive
your free lifecycle extension
consultation.

SIG Technical Insulation

Broadfold Road, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, AB23 8EE
Tel: +44 (0)1224 771566 Fax: +44 (0)1224 770319 Website: www.sigtechnicalinsulation.co.uk

Corrosion

LUX Assure strengthens ties in USA with service agreement

Oil and gas asset integrity and corrosion
management firm LUX Assure has made
great strides in developing a presence
in the USA by establishing a sales and
service agreement with Houston-based
Brown Corrosion Services Inc.
Brown Corrosion Services will be handling
the business development of LUX Assures
innovative corrosion management
products CoMic and OMMICA, and
handling the deployment of CoMic in the
USA.
Charles Cruickshank LUX Assure CEO,
said: The USA has long been a target for
us, and we are delighted to be working
alongside such a well-established
company to enable us to introduce and
develop our ground-breaking technology
and services in the region.

www.sosmagazine.biz

LUX Assure will be exhibiting alongside

Brown Corrosion Services at the upcoming

20

Charles Cruickshank LUX Assure CEO

NACE Corrosion 2014 conference in San

Antonio, Texas on stand 1827 from the
9-13 March. It will have personnel onhand to explain the companys flagship
products, corrosion management tool
CoMic, and hydrate inhibitor monitoring
technology OMMICA and their uses.
Jerry Brown, President of Brown Corrosion
Services said: We pride ourselves
on offering our client base the best
equipment and a reliable, expert service.
LUX Assure has developed a suite of
products that fit perfectly into our remit
and we are excited to present them to
our clients, as well as to help build and
grow the companys profile and reach
in the region. We have many years of
experience in all aspects of corrosion
monitoring, inspection and prevention,
and are confident that working with LUX
Assure will be a mutually beneficial service
for both companies, as well as our client
base.

Mr Cruickshank continued:
The international steps the company is
making is testament to our dedication to
provide innovative solutions to the oil and
gas community. CoMic and OMMICA
have the potential to be used worldwide
in industry operations, and the interest
and uptake we have been receiving really
showcases its capability and worth to the
industry.
We look forward to furthering our
reputation in North America by exhibiting
at NACE, which will provide an extra
platform for us to demonstrate our
capabilities to the market there.
LUX Assure has bases in Edinburgh and
Aberdeen. The company specialises in
asset integrity, developing novel chemical
monitoring technologies for the oil and
gas industry, both on and offshore.

CSL
Corrosion protection & preservation - The way ahead
Corrosion Solutions Ltd (CSL) are firmly established as a leading

Inhibitors for oilfield corrosion prevention & preservation.

worldwide Oil, Gas & Petrochemical industries.

offer the following successful programmes.

specialist corrosion control and preservation company within the

Corrosion

Corrosion Solutions Ltd

Maintenance for oilfield assets is always of key importance and CSL

The company is based in Aberdeen, UK and offers a range of services

that include; application, inhibitor supply, instruction, supervision

Deluge cleaning and preservation

objective is to reduce clients maintenance & clean up costs by the use

Bolt/crevice corrosion protection

levels of corrosion protection in all areas of electrical, mechanical

Electrical & Instrument preservation

fabrication, commissioning, shutdown & storage to operational use.

Corrosion under Insulation preservation

Now in our 15th year we continue to work closely with our clients

New builds preservation management

registered with FPAL and certified to ISO 9001:2008

Materials spares management preservation

and technical writing/ application manuals. The companys main

of Vapour phase Corrosion Inhibitors (VpCI). VpCIs provide effective

& process systems in each phase of the equipment lifecycle from

to ensure their assets remain in fit for purpose condition. CSL are

corroless

CORROSION CONTROL

We offer...
Corroless Vapour Corrosion Inhibitors - CCI's.
Problem solvers for Plant, Pipework Systems and Electrical Equipment - Long term preservation.
Also...
Corroless Rust Stabilising Primers and Glass Re-inforced Topcoats.
Problem solvers for Rusty Steelwork Protection - Minimum surface preparation - Long term
effectiveness and cost savings.
We welcome your enquiry

www.sosmagazine.biz

Corroless Offshore (UK) Ltd

Unit 53, Howe Moss Avenue
Kirkhill Industrial Estate
Dyce, Aberdeen
AB21 0GP
Tel: +44 (0)1224 723207
E-Mail: sales@corrolessoffshore.com
Website: www.corrolessoffshore.com

21

Subsea Equipment

The Underwater Centre addresses vital training needs in rov industry

The global ROV industry is experiencing a massive surge with the
ongoing boost in the oil and gas sector and Douglas-Westwoods
report on the Market for Work Class ROV Operations from 20082017 showed that work class ROV expenditure was expected to
more than double by the end of the period.
This projected growth along with the International Marine
Contractors Association (IMCA) predicted shortfall of
approximately 2,000 ROV personnel through 2012-2017 has
lead to the Fort William based subsea training facility, The
Underwater Centre, working in collaboration with industry to help
meet the challenges that the increase in activity is creating.
At the end of 2013 the Centre purchased a new vessel which has
been adapted to provide a mobile marine platform for work class
ROV training. The vessel will be an integral component in the
new ROV Industry Training Academy which has been created by
several organisations in the industry coming together with The
Underwater Centre to deliver a higher level of ROV training than
has previously been available.

www.sosmagazine.biz

Steve Ham, The Underwater Centres General Manager, said:

The objective is to provide a structured learning experience
that accurately replicates the offshore working environment but
within controlled surroundings, allowing more timely competence
achievement and a faster throughput of ROV personnel to more
senior ranks.
The Centre is working with several organisations which are

22

The Underwater Centre Pier

providing equipment, expertise and assistance in order to

develop this training.
This new training initiative will allow candidates to maintain and
pilot a full contemporary work class ROV system from the mobile
marine platform, building and progressing competence levels to
help meet the industrys requirements.
Delivered by competent and qualified personnel, the course
syllabus has been developed by the Centre in tandem with some
of the major ROV operators to ensure that the key competencies
in work class ROV operations are taught.
As Steve continues, providing the industry with skilled personnel
who have relevant experience is imperative to the ongoing
success in the sector.
For companies to take advantage of the market opportunities out
there the competency of staff is crucial.
We believe the new industry-led training programmes offered
by the ROV Industry Training Academy will help to increase
the competence of ROV personnel and ultimately help ROV
companies deliver safe, effective, profitable contracts.
Having held discussions with leading industry players, it was
clear that providing students with a contextual environment
training programme was of the utmost importance.

It is vital that our students can be sure that they will receive the
most up-to-date training in a contextual environment to prepare
them to be successful in this industry.
We have an important role to play in ensuring that the sector is
provided with the highly-trained people it needs, and that we
work closely with major companies to ensure we do this.
At The Underwater Centre, we take our responsibility to our
students and the industry very seriously. We are constantly
developing our courses to benefit our graduates and the
companies they go on to work for.

Subsea Equipment

For an individual this will make them more employable, for a

company this will increase the effectiveness of their training
budget.

The course is designed specifically for those who possess

prerequisite experience to apply their skills to work class ROV
systems and candidates will be screened according to IMCA
guidelines to assess suitability for entry to the industry at the
appropriate level.
All students will be given a thorough introduction before moving
on to electrical and hydraulic systems and then work class ROV
operations and maintenance. Students will have continuous
assessment throughout the course and will sit final theoretical
and practical examinations.
Steve Ham
Steve recently delivered a presentation to a group of more than
70 professionals at Oceanology International in London, where he
outlined plans to tackle the challenges the industry is currently
facing.
The skills shortage in the oil and gas sector continues to be a
priority for many in the industry, Steve continues.
The training an ROV pilot technician receives will play a large part
in making that individual more competent, more quickly.

To help facilitate the work class ROV courses, the team has been
bolstered by the arrival of new instructor and work class ROV
Project Manager Kevin Randerson (52), originally from Yorkshire.
Kevin, an experienced ROV instructor, previously worked for
Forum Energy Technologies.
Based at the head of Loch Linnhe, The Underwater Centre
offers a unique sheltered, seawater site with a large private pier
extending into the loch. The waters plunge to depths of 150
metres, which are ideal conditions for ROV pilot technician and
commercial diving training. There is also a large, purpose built,
onshore tank complex.

www.sosmagazine.biz

The Underwater Centre Vessels

23

Subsea Equipment

Hydro Group showcases subsea connector to US market

Innovative subsea design and
manufacture group to showcase
subsea connector to US market
for the first time.
Hydro Group Plc, a global design and
manufacturer of underwater cables and
connectors for subsea, underwater,
topside and onshore applications, took a
technological lead when it launched the
36KV Dry Mate connector into the offshore
energy systems market last year.
The Aberdeen, Scotland headquartered
group aims to further penetrate the US
energy market by showcasing the 36KV
Dry Mate connector, along with the
groups extensive product offerings, at
the Subsea Tieback Forum and Exhibition
in San Antonio, Texas USA next month
[March]
Doug Whyte, Hydro Group managing
director, said: The new connector is
a significant advance on our previous
product with an impressive reduction in
installation time from 24 hours to less
than 12 hours, and its ability to carry
three times more power.
Originally developed for the UK renewable
market, the connector is being showcased
at the Subsea Tieback to offer exhibition
goers an insight into the heritage,

Hydro Group to showcase 36KV Dry Mate Connector to US market for first time
expertise and technical innovation the
team at Hydro Group possess and an
opportunity to explore the many ways
Hydro Groups technological innovations
can be adapted for the US market.
Hydro Groups cable and connectivity
solutions are developed to withstand
the harshest environmental conditions,
including salt water, solar effects,
storm force winds and dynamic tidal
and wave motion. These factors place
extreme loads on the subsea systems,
connectors and cables, resulting in the
companys connectors being designed

and manufactured for flexibility and

environmental endurance.
Mr Whyte continued: The team at Hydro
Group are increasingly being asked for
complex designs. Our engineers apply
their extensive knowledge and expertise
in materials and applications, developed
over 30 years of manufacturing, to
produce high quality products suited for
their environment.
With an extensive product range, Hydro
Group takes the raw materials and
manufactures products from start to finish
in Scotland, before exporting globally.

www.sosmagazine.biz

Hydro Groups current pioneering R&D

program, includes trialling various low
smoke flame retardant materials to
address single cable designs capable of
operating between separate boundaries
from topside to subsea.

24

Hydro Group plc, subsea cable systems

manufacturer, made up of Hydro Bond
Engineering and HydroCable Systems
Ltd, is a major global supplier of harsh
environment engineered products
to the offshore oil and gas, defence,
oceanographic, renewable energies, diving
and ROV/AUV markets.

Doug Whyte, Hydro Group Managing Director with 36KV Dry Mate Connector

New in situ Integrating Cavity Absorption Meter (ICAM)

The patented integrating cavity design means that little or no

scattering correction is needed.
Built with solid-state optics and electronics, ICAM provides
excellent reliability with low power requirements in a relatively
small package only 31cm long, 7cm diameter and weighing 33
pounds (15kg) in air.

Each data line recorded will have a date/time stamp and

may contain up to nine absorption values depending on the
wavelengths selected.
ICAM enables absorption measurements of water systems to
generate data that are used in modeling to help with bloom
predictions, water mixing or transport, and satellite imagery as
well as plant physiology, laboratory research and wastewater
monitoring.

Subsea Equipment

Turner Designs is very excited to introduce our newest major

product, ICAM, an in situ Integrating Cavity Absorption Meter.
Factory configured with nine (9) wavelengths from UV (365nm)
to Red (676nm), ICAM enables absorption measurements over a
wide spectrum.

Absorption can be measured from 0.001 m-1 to a maximum of

15 m-1.
Data can be collected at a maximum rate of six data lines per
second using the ICAM GUI.
Alternatively, data can be logged internally and output over RS232 at a maximum rate of one data line per second.

in our element

Serving the world of

Hydrography & Oceanography
Tide Gauges
Sound Velocity
Current Meters
CTD & Multi-Parameter

Tel: +44 (0) 1803 869292

sales@valeport.co.uk

www.valeport.co.uk

www.sosmagazine.biz

in our element

Echo Sounders & Bathymetry

Wave Recorders
Telemetry Instruments
Ocean Engineering

25

Subsea Equipment

Stateside success continues for Bibby Subsea

Bibby Offshores newest international
division, Houston-based Bibby Subsea,
has gone from strength to strength since
its launch in October last year, having
trebled the team in the past four months.
The subsea installation contractor
developed the base in North America
as part of its continued global growth
strategy and to meet the growing demand
of its clients in the region. In a bid to
further strengthen ties with the region,
Aberdeen-based Bibby Offshore last
week hosted Houston based HM Consul
General, Andrew Millar, the senior official
representing the government in Texas,
Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Alongside Aberdeenshire Council Provost
Jill Webster, Chief Executive of Subsea
UK Neil Gordon, and senior members of
Aberdeenshire Council; discussions were
held regarding Aberdeenshires extensive
investment into the Subsea Industry and
plans to further develop Bibby Offshores
presence in Houston and the Gulf of
Mexico.
This expansion plan is already evident
with Bibby Subsea having increased its
initial Houston team of three to now
include Barry Straughan as HSEQ Manager,
Daniel Wheeler as Subsea Business
Manager, and four offshore personnel.

It plans to double the Bibby Subsea

workforce by the end of the year.
Mr Straughan brings 37 years health and
safety experience to the team, having
previously worked internationally in
the subsea industry. Mr Wheeler also
complements the team with several years
experience and will provide the team
with a wealth of regional expertise and
knowledge to develop the companys
business opportunities in the Gulf of
Mexico.
Andrew Duncan, President and Managing
Director of Bibby Subsea, said: We have
received significant interest in the division
since its launch, with Bibby Subsea being
perfectly positioned to deliver enhanced
capabilities and undertake subsea projects
using our international fleet of subsea
support vessels and remotely operated
vehicles (ROVs).
Bibby Subseas preliminary $1million
contract with Cal Dive International to
mobilise a work-class remotely operated
vehicle (WROV) on Cal Dive Internationals
support vessel in Mexico, the Mystic
Viking, is ongoing, with talks in place to
increase our ROV presence in the region.
Market demand for subsea services is
forecast to grow by 43% over the next five
years, and Bibby Subsea is positioning

Andrew Duncan
itself as a major player within the ROV
market, with an increased level of inhouse capabilities which we can offer to
clients.
Bibby Subsea aims to deliver a diverse
range of subsea construction projects
for operators worldwide. Services include
project management and engineering,
innovative remotely operated vehicle
support vessels (ROVSV) and survey
capabilities, diverless intervention,
advanced remote systems and tooling
packages, in-house survey and data
processing, subsea construction support
services, and inspection, repair and
maintenance (IRM).

www.sosmagazine.biz

Bibby Subsea, Bibby Offshore and sister

company Bibby Remote Intervention
Limited has grown from 10 employees
in 2003 to now employing more than
1,300 people onshore and offshore
worldwide, with offices in Aberdeen,
Liverpool, Newcastle, Singapore, Trinidad
and Houston. The company has an
international fleet of eight subsea support
vessels and 15 ROV and will continue to
add to its fleet to meet demand.

26

The Quasar ROV

Bibby Subsea aims to further penetrate

the US energy market by showcasing its
services and capabilities at the Subsea
Tieback exhibition and conference from
the 4-6 March Booth 1511, at the Henry B.
Gonzalez Convention Center San Antonio,
Texas USA.

Atlantas Marine operator familiarisation day to improve customer service

The invitation only event was arranged to allow experienced

operators to get to grips with the latest Ocean Modules V8 ROV,
the M500. Attendees had the chance to spend time piloting the
ROV and checking out improvements to the design over previous
vehicles including enhanced hydrodynamics and upgraded
diagnostic and repair features.
Atlantas Marine value events like these highly as an excellent
chance for us to stay in contact with operators we work with;
keeping them on top of the latest equipment developments

as well as any changes to operations, maintenance, repair and

emergency procedures. said Atlantas Marine MD Charlie Foll.
The day followed the announcement that Atlantas Marine are to
expand their ROV hire pool with the acquisition of a V8 M500
following a second year of successful deployment of the previous
generation V8 ROV, the Sii, in the high current waters of offshore
Vietnam.
The M500 was on show on Atlantas Marines stand at Oceanology
last month alongside a range of other intelligent solutions for
underwater inspection including; The VideoRay Pro 4, recently
launched Teledyne BlueView V Series Sonar and the advanced and
versatile Dextera manipulator which Atlantas Marine are due to
officially launch late spring.

Subsea Equipment

Underwater inspection specialist Atlantas Marine have

reinforced their commitment to service quality and continuous
improvement, hosting their first V8 operator familiarisation day
of 2014 at Vobster Quay Dive Centre North Somerset.

www.sosmagazine.biz

Atlantas Marine Ltd

Telstar House, Mead Avenue, Houndstone Business Park, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 8RT
Tel: +44 (0)1935 426000 Fax: +44 (0)1935 426522 E-mail: info@atlantasmarine.com

27

Subsea Equipment

Tritex Multigauge 3000 Underwater Thickness Gauge

The Multigauge 3000 Underwater Metal Thickness Gauge, from
Dorchester based Tritex NDT Ltd, is a simple, robust underwater
ultrasonic thickness gauge designed to survive extremely
harsh conditions that exist in the offshore and underwater
industries worldwide. The gauge uses multiple echo which means

measurements can be easily taken without the need to remove

coatings. The large bright red 10mm LED display ensures the
measurements can be seen by the diver, even in poor visibility.
The gauge is hand held for ease of use and due to its excellent
performance, only one probe type is required. The single crystal
probe can be used on all applications, including extremely
corroded metal, with no probe zeroing. The Multigauge 3000 has
an integral battery with 55 hours runtime on a single 2 hour fast
charge. In addition, the gauge can be easily upgraded to a topside
repeater by simply exchanging the end cap. The gauge is supplied
completely ready to use in a Peli case with all the necessary spare
parts. As with all Tritex NDT products it comes with a 3 year
warranty and free annual calibration for the life of the gauge.
Tritex NDT also offer ROV mountable thickness gauges, which fit
onto most ROVs, allowing measurements to be taken at 1000m
and 4000m depths. The gauges have a user selectable RS232
or RS422 output. A dedicated probe holder ensures accurate
presentation of the probe to flat or round surfaces with a 360
freedom of movement. Dedicated Communicator software allows
datalogging of the measurements on a surface PC.
For further information please contact Mr Jon Sharland using the
contact details below, or go to www.tritexndt.com.

Measure metal thickness only and ignore coatings!

Intelligent Probe Recognition ( IPR ) for enhanced

performance.
Automatic Measurement Verification System ( AMVS ).
Single crystal probe to avoid 'V-beam' error.
Can be calibrated for all metal types.

Extremely rugged and robust.

Pressure tested to 500 metres.
Supplied in a Peli case.
Protective membranes to prevent probe wear.
3 year warranty.
Free annual calibration for the life of the gauge.

www.sosmagazine.biz

28

Large bright 10mm display for poor visibility with simple measurement
information.
No zeroing required.
Hand held for ease of use.
No calibration at switch on.
No removing coatings.
One integral battery with 55 hours runtime.
Can be upgraded to have topside repeater options by simply replacing the
end cap.

Oceanology Stand N600

www.tritexndt.com

Also
ROV
Gauges

Tritex NDT Ltd

Unit 10, Mellstock Business Park,Higher Bockhampton,
Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8QJ, United Kingdom.
t: +44 (0) 1305 257160

f: +44 (0) 1305 259573

Tritex NDT Ltd

Melstock Business Park, Higher Bockhampton, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8QJ
Tel: +44 (0)1305 257160 Website: www.tritexndt.com E-mail: sales@tritexndt.com

e: sales@tritexndt.com

Wet Mateable Jumper and Umbilical Monitoring Device

As subsea field umbilical arrays grow ever more complex the

integrity of the components becomes increasingly critical. It is
paramount that subsea electrical arrays are made up of umbilical
cables & connectors that are known to be good.
Unfortunately it is all too easy for jumper assemblies to be
damaged in transit between factory floor and sea floor. Once the
array is fully assembled and in place on the sea bed then fault
finding becomes highly problematic and test via disconnection
runs the very real risk of introducing further faults.
Possible faults could include;

Manufacturing Errors & Design Flaws

Transit Damage via Incident or Accident
Incorrect Installation or Load Out
Mechanical Damage (impact, vibration, crush, cut, abrasion,
etc.)
Hydrostatic Effects
Water Leak or Pin Hole

ROV Manipulator Damage

Sea floor movement
The Zetechtics C-Kore is a Subsea (rechargeable) battery
powered electronics package, fully integrated into the dummy
plug normally fitted to the electrical connectors of subsea
termination heads and umbilical / jumper assemblies.
When Subsea, the C-Kore can detect the arrival of any ROV
(via light source or proximity sensors), and when activated,
installation resistance, continuity and capacitance (cable length)
are measured automatically.

Subsea Equipment

C-Kore is designed to provide assurance to field installation

engineers that their umbilical systems will meet the client
requirements by checking electrical integrity immediately prior to
connector make-up.

Tests are performed between all / any required electrical cores

and the surrounding sea water.
Lowest measured values are shown on the full colour OLED
display; these values can be used to determine if any damage has
occurred to the subsea component.
The operator then makes up the connection in the normal
way and can be sure that known good components are being
assembled at every point in the process.
For more information please contact the sales team on:
+44 (0)1653 602021, Or email: sales@zetechtics.com

Powerful jumper and umbilical monitoring

As subsea field umbilical arrays grow ever more complex then
the integrity of the components becomes increasingly critical.
C-Kore is designed to provide assurance to field installation
engineers that their umbilical systems will meet the client
requirements by checking electrical integrity immediately
prior to connector make-up.
For further information visit our website or call our sales
team on 01653 602020

Zetechtics Ltd

www.sosmagazine.biz

Tel: +44 (0) 1653 602020 | Email: sales@zetechtics.com | Web: www.zetechtics.com

29

Subsea Equipment

Proserv unveils game-changing technology for subsea intelligence

Global-leading energy technology services company Proserv today
unveiled a game-changing technology for subsea control and
monitoring communications, reinforcing the companys rapidlyexpanding subsea capabilities and world-class engineering
expertise.
The Artemis 2G (A2G) subsea electronics module is a next
generation controls and communications tool that uniquely frees
operators from the constraints of an existing brownfield umbilical
by finding additional signal capacity to enable a cost-effective field
upgrade or extension. In addition, A2G offers high-speed, copperbased, multi-drop networks as a viable alternative to fibre optic
infrastructures within the subsea production system.
A2G maximises flexibility and optimises functionality providing
more powerful communications and instrument support.
Furthermore, it increases accessibility for remote usage though
its webpage interface from subsea to the desktop and provides
advanced configuration and diagnostics to deliver unparalleled
adaptable communications.
Proservs A2G, which was revealed at the 2014 Subsea Tieback
Forum in Texas, has been developed as an evolution of
the companys suite of subsea control modules and is fully
compliant with the latest ISO 13628 part 6, API 17F and Subsea

Instrumentation Interface Standardisation. A2G can be used to

co-exist with existing networks, is fully back compatible with all
existing technology and does not require any proprietary software
for remote configuration and support.
Alan Peek, Proservs Vice President for Subsea Controls and
Communications, said: With the extraction of subsea oil and
gas reserves becoming increasingly challenging in deeper
and more isolated areas, greater data is required from subsea
instrumentation to provide operators with the information
necessary to make effective decisions and optimise production.
Longer step-out distances between subsea fields and host
facilities also mean that improved communications and power
technologies are needed to enable production in remote locations.
The A2G has been developed as an advanced intelligent
management tool which, as a result, is more flexible and
optimises functionality. It is effectively the brain of the subsea
and control operations because unlike other tools, it controls all
of the communication systems and enables the power, speed
and accessibility necessary for the control and monitoring of
challenging subsea infrastructures and environments.
What sets A2G apart is the way in which it manages information
and power and the sophisticated way that it configures and
communicates the data while at different rates. This new
technology has already generated an extraordinary level of
industry interest and we expect a strong uptake.
David Lamont, Proserv CEO, said: The development of A2G
is further evidence of our considerable engineering talent and
capability within Proserv. Innovation is at the heart of everything
that we do and we have invested significantly in people, R&D
and facilities in order to create Centres of Excellence to leverage
our global expertise and deliver industry-leading solutions to
clients worldwide. Some of the most exciting developments
we are currently involved with are in the subsea controls and
communications market and we see demand for these products
and services growing significantly.

www.sosmagazine.biz

Earlier this year, Proserv announced two separate contract wins

with Noble Energy and Talos Energy in the Gulf of Mexico where
the A2G system is to be implemented on Noble Energys Gunflint
field in the Mississippi Canyon area as part of work to control two
deepwater wells about 70 miles from the Louisiana coast.

30

Proservs next generation Artemis 2G (A2G) offers a

game changer for subsea intelligence.

Proserv, which operates worldwide across several regions, has

a 40-year track record in delivering bespoke technologies and
services for the energy industry, particularly in the drilling,
production, subsea and marine market sectors. For more than
20 years, the company has been providing subsea controls and
communications equipment and is at the leading edge of subsea
communications provision with the likes of Artemis 2G and
the Proserv Seahawk, an in-situ video surveillance system for
environmental monitoring.

Tharsus Group support the development and manufacture of Remotely

Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for the offshore energy industry.

The Blyth-based company is working

with one of the worlds leading remote
intervention equipment manufacturer,
SMD, to produce aluminium chassis for a
range of three Work-Class ROVs.
SMDs WROVs, which are utilised in the
offshore oil & gas, offshore renewables
and telecommunications industries,
are highly-regarded across the globe
for delivering technology-led solutions
to meet the requirements of these
sectors, which operates in hazardous
environments.
The two companies have worked together
for around five years with Tharsus
Engineering producing fabricated guards
for SMDs subsea trenching vehicles
and aluminium and stainless steel ROV
components before embarking on the
chassis project.

Tharsus Engineering is hoping to fabricate

around 24 ROV chassis a year for SMDs
Centurion, Quasar and Quantum WROV
models at its facility in Spencer Road,
Blyth.
To deliver the complex aluminium chassis
structures, which can measure up to three
metres long, two metres wide and two
metres high, Tharsus invested in new
equipment and processes at its production
facility.
In addition, it increased the portfolio of
qualifications held by its professional
welders.
All of Tharsus Engineerings welders are
third-party certified and assessed and
hold qualifications to enable them to work
on a range of materials, material thickness
and configurations.
Elements of the chassis complex structure
required the welders to achieve additional
qualifications due to the thickness of the
materials used in the construction.
Once completed, the chassis are delivered
to SMDs ROV Centre of Excellence at

the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate in North

Shields where the company completes the
build, full-system integration and testing
of the WROVS.
As part of the Tharsus Groups focus on
building collaborative relationships with
its customers, its engineering division
are also working closely with the team at
SMD to further develop the design and
production of the chassis with the aim
of enhancing the quality of the product
whilst aiming to reduce cost.

Subsea Equipment

Tharsus Engineering, part of The Tharsus

Group, is applying its technical fabrication
specialism to support the development
and manufacture of Remotely Operated
Vehicles (ROVs) for the offshore energy
industry.

In addition to working with SMD, Tharsus

Engineering has delivered projects
for other ROV manufacturers and is
exceptionally experienced at delivering
high-specification fabrication and welding
projects with full supply chain material
traceability to multiple sectors including
offshore energy.
Peter Sayer, Sales Director at Tharsus
Group, said: SMD is globally-recognised
for its technology-led solutions and we
are very proud to work alongside them to
produce their ROV chassis.
It reflects the quality of
the advanced technical
fabrication services we
offer as well as the success
of our collaborative
approach to working
closely with our customers.

An ROV chassis in production at Tharsus Engineering

www.sosmagazine.biz

The success of the

offshore energy sector
very much depends on the
creation and application of
specialist technologies. In
addition to supporting the
industry with high quality
welding and fabrication
services, Tharsus Groups
design engineers work in
partnership with customers
to enhance their products
and reduce cost to
strengthen their market
position.

25
31

Subsea Equipment

The Innovative L300 Light from Remote Ocean Systems (ROS).

Bob Acks (CEO/President), seen here holding his new L300 LED
Underwater/Subsea Light at Oceanology International 2014,
London. Originally developed to solve a major problem with LED
lights on the market, Remote Ocean Systems (ROS) have spent the
last 18th months developing the L300. The work has gone into
electronics behind the LED lights, so that when its attached to
a dimming switch, the user has full range dimming (with phase
control), but without the inevitable flickering and flashing of the
LED light no matter the voltage input (AC/DC).
This will be of particular interest to our clients as they often need
to work at lower levels of light depending on their application,
and require a full controllable range of light, with stable light
output. Additional features include: 10,000 lumens, Flood (90)
or Spot(38); conical half-intensity, 6000 metres depth rating,
aluminium or titanium, less than 3 lbs in water; 6300K Colour
Temp; flexible rear or side mounted connectors.
The L300 will officially go into production in April 2014.
Along with the L300, ROS is launching a full range of new products
including the C600 (Interchangeable HD/SD) Colour Camera, C400
B/W Camera, C200 Mini Colour Camera, and Pan & Tilt Positioners:
P20 and P100, which have 5 new and improved features: Internal
mechanical stop, reduced backlash and increased accuracy (to 0.5
degrees), new connector mounting options to prevent damage to
connector, replaceable zinc anode eliminating corrosion, and
improved robust structural design.

www.sosmagazine.biz

ROS clients are now benefiting from being able to buy their
products at list price directly from the Aberdeen sales office, as

32

The new L300 LED Underwater/Subsea Light

Bob Acks and the new L300 LED Light

opposed to buying through an agent with a varying mark-up.
The UK office was set up in 2012, an extension of the ROS Inc in
America, that has been in operation for 38 years. Bob Acks and
his then partner, Bruce Fugitt, two engineers working at Naval
Ocean Systems had an idea, some savings and started work in
Bobs garage to create their first ROV: named TELESUB. TELESUB
was the first of its kind incorporating a single coaxial cable for
all communications. Since then, ROS has grown from strength
to strength and today has a 28,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art
manufacturing facility in San Diego, US.
ROS full range includes: underwater/subsea video cameras,
lights, pan and tilts, controllers and video inspection systems,
manufactured primarily for the: nuclear, oceanographic and
military industries.

A range of products from Remote Ocean Systems

Remote Ocean Systems Ltd

Unit 4/5, Gordon Court, Durno, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, AB51 5ER
Tel: +44 (0)1467 681780 Website: www.rosys.com E-mail: Kathr@rosys.com

Engineering

NeoNickel

Delivering speciality
alloys throughout
Delivering speciality alloys
Europe
throughout Europe

NeoNickel companies have been supplying

a wide range of speciality alloys for more
than 30 years across the UK and Europe.
We have developed the resources, skills
and inventory to satisfy the industrys
demanding needs which includes value
added processing and the capability to
process fast track daily transactional
business to major turnkey projects.
NeoNickel is dedicated to quality, which
is reflected in our quality approvals. Our
knowledgeable staff and our team members
understand your requirements. We are
dedicated to handling orders quickly,
accurately and efficiently to support ourgoal
of constantly surpassing your expectations.
NeoNickel is a leading European supplier
and processor of high alloy creep, heat &
corrosion resisting stainless steels, nickel
alloys (including C276 & 22) and titanium
alloys. Materials stocked include the
leading brands ZERON 100 super duplex
stainless steel, AL6XN super austenitic
steel, 253MA heat resisting stainless
steel and RA 330 heat resistant alloy. Our
extensive product portfolio and conversion
capability is designed to deliver quality
materials for arduous applications.
NeoNickel are specialists at servicing the
high performance material requirements for
the Aerospace & Power Generation, Oil &
Gas, Chemical Process Industries & Thermal
processing markets. Available 24 hours a
day, NeoNickel provide a rapid response
to enquiries and despatch requirements.
Same day next day shipments are a key
part of NeoNickel daily routine.

Alloys for demanding

applications
NeoNickel supplies its products, which
include bar, billet and forgings, sheet and

coil, plate, pipe and tube, flanges and pipe

fittings, fasteners, precision ground bar,
machined parts and fabricated components
to customer drawings, laser cut kits and
metal spinnings for a wide range of
demanding applications. These include
Aerospace, Power Generation, Oil and gas,
Refinery and Petrochemicals, Chemical
process, Pharmaceutical, Environmental,
Thermal processing, Waste incineration
and Motor sport.

complete range of forged, heat treated

and tested machined parts. This is
supported by detailed production
plans including forging, heat treatment,
testing, machining, Ultrasonics and
final inspection.

Processing includes

NeoNickel operations
in Europe

trade names of Rolled Alloys, Inc.,

ATI & Outokumpu

Laser cutting

Water jet

Under Water Plasma

NeoNickel Blackburn
Email: SalesBlackburn@neonickel.com

Shear

0044 1254 582999

Automatic Band Saws

Metal Spinning

NeoNickel Kingswinford
Email: SalesKingswinford@neonickel.com

Machining

0044 1384 282400

Fabricating

Positive Material Identification

Ferritiscope Testing &

In situ Metallography
NeoNickel operates a fully integrated
laboratoryon site at our facility in Blackburn
in the UK. With the support of qualified
metallurgists, corrosion and welding
engineers, we can offer material selection
advice, corrosion testing, metallurgical
testing and detailed metallurgical analysis
for support in problem solving.
NeoNickel operates a metal conversion
centre located in Sheffield. With a team
of qualified metallurgists we can offer a

NeoNickel Milton Keynes

Email: SalesMiltonKeynes@neonickel.com
0044 1908 275700
NeoNickel Sheffield (Conversion Centre)
Email: Sheffield@neonickel.com
0044 1142 841890
NeoNickel Czech Republic
Email: SalesCeska@neonickel.com
00420 581 604712
NeoNickel France
Email: SalesFrance@neonickel.com
0033 4 72 47 46 46
NeoNickel Germany
Email: SalesGermany@neonickel.com

www.sosmagazine.biz

0049 211 542 0680

NeoNickel Italy
Email: SalesItaly@neonickel.com
0039 0362 494 1
Web site: www.neonickel.com
1

34

Registered

S t a i n l e s s

S t e e l

W o r l d

A p r i l

2 0 1 3

www.stainless-steel-world.net

Oil & Gas

Delivering Speciality Alloys throughout Europe

OIL AND GAS
NeoNickel is proud to be a certified supplier of speciality metals to the Oil and Gas Industry. In addition to our proprietary grades
ZERON 100 and AL-6XN, we offer an extensive inventory of stainless steels, nickel alloys and titanium grades in a variety of product
forms. NeoNickels approach sets the industry standard by offering reliable service, superior materials, and unmatched expertise. We
also offer in-depth knowledge of material specifications, supply chain management, and metallurgical expertise. NeoNickel brings your
project from concept to delivered product.
Alloy

Blackburn

Zeron 100 (UNS 32760 F55)

Zeron 100 AFP TM

Zeron 100

FG

2205 (UNS 31803 F51)

AL-6XN

Kingswinford

C276

C22

625

725

API 6A 718

Milton Keynes

X750

400

K500

Titanium Grade 5

Titanium Grade 2

* Zeron 100 AFPTM advanced forging properties for the most demanding environments!
* Zeron 100 FG fastener grade
NeoNickel are exclusive representatives in Europe of both Rolled Alloys Inc and Corrosion Materials Inc

NeoNickel
Unit 16 Walker Industrial Park
Guide, Blackburn,
Lancashire, BB1 2QE.
Tel: +44 (0)1254 582 999
Fax: +44 (0)1254 582 666
salesblackburn@neonickel.com

NeoNickel
8 First Avenue,
The Pensnett Estate,
Kingswinford, DY6 7TG.
Tel: +44 (0)1384 282 400
Fax: +44 (0)1384 270 800
saleskingswinford@neonickel.com

NeoNickel
Number 1 Java Park
Bradbourne Drive,Tilbrook
Milton Keynes, MK7 8AT.
Tel: +44 (0)1908 275 700
Fax: +44 (0)1908 275 701
salesmiltonkeynes@neonickel.com

Engineering

VSpringsAd

25/9/06

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Precision
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down-hole tools
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www.sosmagazine.biz

Sub-sea gears and geared systems

36

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www.sosmagazine.biz

Training & Certification

Competence Assurance - is it really necessary?

38

The short answer is yes, it really is

necessary! The not so short answer
is addressing the question of why.
Why do we need to put our staff
through what is often perceived to
be a rigorous and time consuming
competence assurance process when
we know they are perfectly capable of
doing the job?
Health and Safety Legislation is
key when answering this question.
For example, The Control of Major
Accident Hazard Regulations
1999 (COMAH), indicates that it
is no longer acceptable to make
untested assumptions about
staff competence. The
Health & Safety Executive
require a system in
place for providing and
maintaining appropriate
levels of management
and employee
competence which
should include
the setting of
appropriate
competence
standards,
assessment and
reassessmentwith a specific link
between identified
safety critical tasks, roles
and responsibilities and
a targeted comprehensive
management system.
According to the HSE report Human
factors: Training & Competence:
The inadequate management of
competence has not only contributed
to disasters such as Esso Longford
and BP Texas City, but also to
fatalities, personal injuries and ill
health. The Australian Longford Gas
Plant explosion some fourteen years
ago, clearly highlights the need for
a robust competence management
system in hazardous industries.
When questioned post explosion,
the operators on the plant did not
understand what was wrong with
their answers.

In particular, although they knew the

correct answer to a question they did
not always know the reason behind
the answer - giving their answers
purely because they were in the
training manual.
More recently, A Guide to the
Offshore Installations (Safety Case)
Regulations 2005 has been published

COMPETENCE ASSURANCE CYCLE

to help people understand the

requirements of the Offshore
Installations (Safety Case) Regulations
2005. The Regulations implement
the central recommendation of Lord
Cullens report on the public inquiry
into the Piper Alpha disaster, that the
operator or owner of every offshore
installation should be required to
prepare a safety case and submit it to
HSE for acceptance.
The reasons behind having a
meaningful competence management

system however are more in depth

than purely adhering to legislation.
Not only is risk properly managed
and performance standards
maintained, but the workforce is
kept current, motivated and retained
enabling greater success in making
sound promotion decisions.
At this point it may be helpful to take
a step back and explain exactly what
is meant by competence as this often
causes more misunderstandings
than it should. In their guidance on
Developing and Maintaining Staff
competence the HSE state that:
Competence is the ability to
understand responsibilities
and to perform activities
to a recognised standard
on a regular basis. It
is a combination of
practical and thinking
skills, experience
and knowledge, and
may also include
a willingness
to undertake
work activities in
accordance with
standards, rules and
procedures. This
definition makes the all
important reference to
standards, meaning
competence is equated to
an ability to perform to the
expected standard.
In the Oil and Gas sector competence
is a major component in ensuring
reduced environmental risks and for
assuring the safety of others. When
we speak of competencies for Oil and
Gas, we may immediately think of
technical competencies such as those
for Well Design and Construction,
Well Completions, Subsea
Engineering, Engineering Operations
and Maintenance however, that falls
quite a long way short of providing
a complete picture. Behaviours
associated with competencies such
as accountability, problem solving,
decision-making, attention to

Training & Certification

detail, safety leadership and their

relationship to health and safety
simply cannot be ignored.

MBA Ltd
3rd Floor, Regent Centre, Regent Road, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB11 5NS
Tel: +44 (0)1224 564999 E-mail: info@maggiebraidassociates.com

competence specialist who will be

able to identify and implement
the necessary processes. Many
competence specialists focus on a
specific area of competence where
you may need to employ more than
one to get the job done. MBA Ltd
are unique in being able to offer
the entire suite of competence
management tools and services;
competence development and
management, competence training
and competence software, all of
which have been designed to
complement each other and offer a
complete competence solution.

www.sosmagazine.biz

Having understood the need for a

competent workforce both in terms
of adhering to legislation as well
as the advantages for employer
and employee alike, the next stage
is to achieve and capture all the
information, in other words to apply
a Competence Assurance System.
This assessment process measures
workplace performance against a
set of standards, providing critical
information which enables an
organisation to manage risk more
effectively. By identifying the gaps
between measured performance
and the required standards for
the job, competence assurance is
essentially the link between individual
performance and organisational
success. A properly designed
Competence Assurance System will
provide an auditable record of the
management of competence at both
the individual and organisational
level whilst providing a structure and
process aligning mission and safety
critical competencies to business
goals and objectives. It will provide
an inventory of performance
standards and will measure
performance in the workplace
against those standards; reviewing
performance, identifying any gaps
and determining training needs to
close those gaps.

And therein lies the reason why there

is still a degree of reticence today in
totally embracing the management
of competency. It is a highly complex
and involved area requiring specific
expertise to achieve the desired
level of competency management
while maintaining a simple, effective
and sustainable process. Similarly
to most management systems,
there is no fixed approach to
managing competence that suits all
organisations and so time taken to
find a tailored approach is often the
best way forward. MBA Ltd highly
recommends working with a

39

Training & Certification

The Academy of Joint Integrity providing hands-on, practical training

scenarios
The Academy of Joint Integrity, part of the Flexitallic Group, has
invested in new specialist training equipment to meet demand
for joint integrity skills from international markets.
The Academy has taken delivery of three Flexitallic Sustainable
Training Units (FSTU), which will be deployed to Singapore,
United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Providing hand-on, practical training scenarios, the FSTU forms
an integral part of the Academys joint integrity programmes
for engineers involved in flange assembly, pipeline integrity and
hazardous areas.
The units enable engineers undergoing training to tighten a
bolted joint and see the impact of tightening procedures, onscreen, through innovative load monitoring software.
Through the application of bolt loads to flanges containing
different gaskets, the unit allows engineers to view the interplay
between the flange, fasteners and the gasket using various
assembly and tightening procedures.
The unit is equipped with Ring Type Joint and ASME B16.5 raised
face flanges.
The two flange arrangements are fully interchangeable and
give engineers direct experience of tightening a comprehensive
range of gaskets including solid metal ring joints, spiral wounds,
Kammprofiles and soft gaskets.

www.sosmagazine.biz

This investment adds to the existing fleet of three FSTUs owned

by the Academy, which are in operation in the UK and Europe.
The additional units will enable the Academys engineering and

40

training professionals to deliver training to Middle East, South

East Asia and Australasian markets.
The Academy will support the growth of the Flexitallic Group,
which is an international sealing product and services specialist
and is expanding its presence in these markets.
It recently established a gasket manufacturing facility in Saudi
Arabia to complement its existing Middle East operation in the
United Arab Emirates.
Flexitallic has also appointed a new Regional Sales Manager in
Singapore; engineer Paul Welsford, who will deliver Academy
training programmes to customers as part of his role.
Alex Lattimer, Training Director for the Academy of Joint
Integrity, said:
The new FSTUs will help the Academy meet international
demand for our specialist joint integrity training.
We have seen an increase in enquiries from the Middle East and
South East Asia, which, like many parts of the world, hold UK
training and accreditations in high esteem.
Investing in the FSTUs allows the Academy to deliver incountry training in new markets and support companies skills
development requirements.
The skills and accreditations provided we provide form an
essential part of competence assurance for personnel working
on mechanical joints and the FSTUs offer a practical and effective
way to deliver our specialist training.

Astrimar is an internationally recognised

authority in the field of subsea reliability
engineering and have been providing
technical support and training to the
industry for years.
Based on industry best practices, their
one day training courses ensure that the
designers and operators of subsea systems
are fully aware of the technical risks they
face and how these risks can be effectively
managed to ensure robust and reliable
systems.
A major challenge facing the oil and gas
industry today is the increasing remoteness
and inaccessibility of deepwater subsea
fields.
Failures in subsea systems are difficult,
time consuming and incredibly expensive
to address; and designers and operators of
subsea systems are finding it increasingly
imperative that reliability and failure

prevention procedures take centre stage.

Designers need to design not only
for reliability to prevent the need for
intervention, but also for maintainability
so that subsea failures can be isolated and
interventions can be as efficient
as possible.
Operators of deepwater assets need to be
fully aware of the risks which affect the
reliability of subsea systems and make
the constant management of those risks
integral to their procedures.
Astrimar offer unique, fully interactive
training courses aimed specifically at
engineers and technical specialists
working with project teams, equipment
designers, vendors and operations
teams to manage reliability, integrity
and technical risks as part of technology
development, subsea development
projects and operations.

Training & Certification

Subsea Reliability Engineering and Training is ever more essential to the Oil
and Gas industry

To book a place on an Astrimar course,

please visit their website or email:

training@astrimar.com

www.sosmagazine.biz

41

Training & Certification

MBA Ltd appoints new Finance Director

MBA Ltd (Maggie Braid Associates) has
recently announced the appointment of
Christopher Doan as Finance Director for
the company.
Based in the companys city centre
headquarters at Regent Road, Aberdeen,
Mr Doan will be working closely with the
existing team of directors as well as being
hands on with the various departments
of the business to help them plan and
manage their budgets.
Mr Doan brings with him over twenty
five years of expertise in the financial
field having gained experience in both
accountancy practice as well as in
industry, enabling him to appreciate both
sides of accountancy. My experience in
accountancy practice has been invaluable
whilst the skills I have gained within

industry have enabled me to see past

purely numbers and understand the
effect those same numbers have on
people, explained Mr Doan. A Fellow
member of the Association of Chartered
Certified Accountants, Mr Doan began his
working career getting his hands dirty,
literally, working down the coal mine as a
management trainee at the National Coal
Board in Derbyshire. He soon realised
his future lay in accountancy, achieving
Partner level in accountancy practice as
well as director level in industry.
Commenting on the appointment, Karen
Bellu, Operations Director said: With
MBA experiencing such growth year on
year the time had come to take on board
a financial expert who can help us run
the business both on a day to day basis
as well as for the longer term through

Christopher Doan
analytical and strategic financial planning.
Chris fits the bill for the role very well as
he has extensive financial knowledge and
experience and offers exactly the right fit
for our organisation.

Improving Safety: Integrating human factors

People Factor Consultants Ltd is
increasingly acknowledged as the
foremost provider of safety-related
training and consultancy through its
unique combination of human factors
and technical training and assessment
(predominantly electrical).
Unique to electrical training in Scotland,
the company strongly promotes
improvements in safety and performance
by integrating human factors into their
technical courses, many of which have
received City & Guilds accreditation.

www.sosmagazine.biz

Major benefits have been reported

by clients through our emphasis on
non-technical skills, such as situation
awareness, communication, and decision

42

making, in combination with technical

skills.
Our facility at Langstane House, Union
Street, Aberdeen, hosts training rooms
and a purpose-built power distribution
simulator suite. The power distribution
simulator is the only one of its kind in
Europe, and is a key attribute in the
training and assessment of electrical
discipline personnel.
Examples of simulator-based courses
include:
HV/LV system control
Protection relay operations
Responsible Electrical Person
Courses such as Electrical Safety and
Situation Awareness (ESSA) and Electrical
Safety Monitor (ESM) have also been
approved by the Royal Society for the
Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA).
Our client base spans a range of high
hazard organisations and comprises

companies from oil & gas (drilling and

production), nuclear power production
and decommissioning, power distribution,
and emergency services.
See our range of products and services at:
www.peoplefactor.co.uk

New subsea engineering course from Jee Ltd

In addition, attendees will learn the skills
required to write accurate specifications
for flexibles, an essential skill for anyone
looking for career development, as well as
earning 28 CPD points.

Providing a full curriculum of training

spanning the whole life-of-field, Jees
new Engineering of flexibles course is
one of its most unique offerings to date.
In addition to an expert tutor drawing
on decades of experience, this course is
among a small number of programmes
on the market providing delegates with
the opportunity to partake in practical
OrcaFlex software training.

The next course will be held 23-26

September in Aberdeen.

The four day practitioner level course

gives a comprehensive look at flexible
risers and flowlines, to deliver an expert
level of understanding from design
and manufacture, to installation and
operation.

Training & Certification

Jee Ltd, a leading independent multidiscipline subsea engineering and training

firm, has set industry standards with
its portfolio of subsea courses, training
nearly 6,000 delegates to date!

Jee has been training the global oil and

gas industry with its subsea portfolio for
19 years and the curriculum has become
the benchmark for excellence in the
industry.
The company has built up a portfolio of
23 subsea engineering courses, including
Integrity management of subsea pipelines,
Pigging and plugging and Subsea controls.
Jee offers its courses over public, in-house
and online learning platforms to cater to
global demand.

For more information on the course

please visit: www.jee.co.uk/training Or
call: 01732 371 391 and speak to one
of our expert course advisors.

Training, Assessment and Consultancy for Hazardous & industrial Areas

Courses

Professional Services

CompEx Scheme

Electrical Safety Rules

Area Classification Surveys

Area Classification Assessment

Competency Plus Programme

DSEAR Surveys & Training

Ex Courses

CE Marking

HV/LV Competency

ATEX QA Assessment

ATEX Guidance & Standards

Electricity at Work Regulations

Product Certification

Competency Assessment

Tel: 01224 798635, Email: info@epitgroup.com

www.epitgroup.com

www.sosmagazine.biz

Explosion Protection International Training Ltd, Blackburn Business Park, Aberdeen, AB21 0PS

43

Inspection & Maintenance

Cortez Subsea delivers one of the most progressive software systems for
inspection and reporting
Every operator wants lasting integrity
success for their assets. The only way
to ensure this is with a robust ongoing
life extension programme that captures
the current condition of offshore
infrastructure and sets out a schedule for
maintaining its working life in the future.

Structure Commander software screen grab

Investigating the structural integrity of

aging installations pulls together many
facets including safety regimes, riskbased inspection management, anomaly
tracking and maintenance planning, as
well as corrosion risk assessments to
ensure the asset stays safe, reliable,
and sustainable, enhancing production
throughout its life-cycle.
Everyone in the supply chain has a
stake in this business critical area and
with a 30billion-plus of life extension
and decommissioning workload facing
the North Sea oil and gas industry over
the next few decades, inspection and
maintenance companies are just one part
of the jigsaw looking for smart ways to
capture the maximum economic benefit.
Aberdeen-based subsea services and
technology products provider Cortez
Subsea is delivering one of the most
progressive software systems to the
market for inspecting and reporting of
assets. As a result, the companys clients
are experiencing a fast and cost effective
solution to managing any number of

offshore assets from platforms and FPSOs

to pipelines.
Sales and tendering manager, Iain
McMillan said: At a time when
organisations are increasingly influenced
by revenue streams and higher operational
costs, having a subsea surveillance system
and easy access to a pipeline integrity
programme can make all the difference to
the viability of an installation.
The Pipeline Commander and Structure
Commander systems form the basis
for our integrated suite of integrity
and inspection management software
applications for the subsea energy sector.

www.sosmagazine.biz

Pipeline Commander 3D viewer screen grab

44

They pull together the raw data gathered

during diving and ROV inspection
campaigns which is then sent back to
our onshore processing team, using
the unique Offshore Automated System
(OAS), for analysis and draft reports are
generated within 10 days, allowing you
to get the most out of your inspection
campaign and resulting in significant cost
savings.
Traditionally, companies have two
different departments looking after
structures and pipelines, explained Mr
McMillan.
So when it comes to pulling everything
together, there can be a mass of
information in hard format as well as
electronic data held on a number of
different formats which are not devised
to synchronise with each other. Going
through all this data can be a very time
consuming process and has the potential
for vital information to be missed
altogether.
By using the Web GIS (Geographical
Information System) Commander, Cortez
Subsea can put these newly prepared
inspection reports side-by-side with
previous campaign reports on the same
screen which then allows operators to
view the entire field on the one system.

Once the work is collected and collated,

Cortez Subsea supply a final report within
six weeks, which can then be turned
around with all the commentary and
anomaly testing allowing the respective
repair and maintenance departments to
carry out their work.
By being able to view all this information
through Web GIS Commander on one
computer screen which is similar to a
big dashboard, the video can be indexed
geographically which makes it easy to
pull up a certain point of the pipeline for
closer scrutiny.

A screen grab of the real time Video Broadcasting application

Screen grab of the pipeline commander application

Inspection & Maintenance

Web GIS Commander allows long stretches of pipeline to be

viewed at one time

This allows operators to look at large

complex fields of pipeline, structures
and platforms along with the progress
planning and maintenance management
of the entire field. This makes for easier
identification and defect management
assessment which allows operators to
plan solutions much quicker and therefore
more efficiently.
The software also reduces the need for
physical storage space as all reports,
whether new or from previous inspection
campaigns, can be held together,
replacing the need for large quantities of
paper documents to be retained for future
use.
Having a subsea pipeline or offshore
asset remain healthy throughout its
lifetime may be the greatest challenge
the industry now faces but with the right
reporting system in place, the safety,
reliable, and sustainability of an asset can
be assured and optimized to the full.

Mr McMillan explained: Historic reports

can be uploaded from a variety of
different types of software, providing
operators with the opportunity to compare

asset information at the same time as

new integrity data and therefore begin
planning the next maintenance or repair
campaign, all at the click of the mouse.

We are extremely excited about playing

such an important role during this crucial
time throughout the development and
decommissioning of offshore assets.

www.sosmagazine.biz

We work alongside operators and

understand the core issues they face
when preparing asset integrity reports. So
whether this is providing the best solution
for data acquisition or presenting a more
comprehensive integrated structure
inspection database system, these new
software applications can provide the
solution.

45

Do you need to Advertise?

The Publication
Place your advert in this A4 publication, from a 1/4 page to a
double page spread.
Take advantage of the free editorial which will equal the size
of your advert.
A great way to showcase both your Company details and to
also explain a product or a service you supply in your own
words and with colourful images.
With a good circulation across the UK and distribution at
the major exhibitions both here and overseas, you can
expect awareness from companies in the industry looking to
purchase equipment you manufacture or seek your specialised
services.

The Online Version

Company Logo advertising

is available on our website.
We allow for static Logos
that can be placed in a
prominent position on our
Home Page.

Demonstration Videos are another option!

Have your advert display the video play sign in the on-line
magazine. Readers can click on the link to activate your video.

www.sosmagazine.biz

Take a look on our website www.sosmagazine.biz

44
46

Contact our sales team:

Robert Taylor
General Manager
01634 867404
rob@sosmagazine.biz

Jon McIntosh
Sales Manager
01634 682464
jon@sosmagazine.biz

break through
the

NOISE
Better Signal-to-Noise Ratio Means
Better Level Control Performance
While transmit pulse amplitude (signal size) has helped to make

3X
Higher

4.40
Model 706
SNR

1.57
Competitor
SNR
The ECLIPSE Model 706 transmitter has a
signal-to-noise ratio nearly 3 times higher
than competitors.

guided wave radar technology the standard for accurate, reliable level
measurement, the fact is signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) represents a far
more critical indicator of level control performance. For superior SNR in
all process conditions, no other GWR device beats the Eclipse Model
706 transmitter from Magnetrol.

To learn more about the breakthrough

ECLIPSE Model 706 GWR transmitter
visit eclipse.magnetrol.com or contact
your MAGNETROL representative today.

magnetrol.com 01444 871313 sales@magnetrol.co.uk

Exhibitions & Conferences

Another potential catastrophe on the horizon!

Change required to prevent future disasters, industry
warned
Experts from the global oil and gas industry have heard that a
catastrophic disaster can and will happen again if the lessons
of Macondo and other similar incidents are not learned and shared
routinely.
The stark warning was issued to delegates at SPE Aberdeens
Another Perspective on Risk conference in Aberdeen, which was
organised to address the shocking number of incidents occurring
in recent years despite the horrifying images of the Deepwater
Horizon being beamed around the world.
Incidents at Frade, in Brazil, Eagle Ford in Texas, Gullfaks in
Norway, and others in Angola were highlighted as evidence that
valuable lessons had not been taken on board by the industry on a
global level.
Speakers at the event including Lord Cullen of Whitekirk, who
chaired the public enquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster, and David
Pritchard, co-chair of the Presidential Technical Commission for
the Deepwater Horizon study group (US) highlighted the fear of
the workforce to voice safety concerns as being one of a number
of factors restricting progress.
Mr Pritchard told the conference the industry had to do better
but that the number of incidents which had followed on from
Macondo indicated that this was not happening.
Referring to Macondo, he said: If you wanted to put it in a simple
perspective, the left hand didnt know what the right hand was
doing.
He added that, rather than focusing on the disaster itself, it was
important to look at the build up to the event.

www.sosmagazine.biz

With Macondo as well as other operations I look at, there were

unmistakable forewarnings throughout the design and execution
process.
It can happen again, it will happen again we cannot dismiss early
warning signs.

48

Lord Cullen, in his keynote address, reiterated the lessons of

the Piper Alpha disaster, when he said: Safety awareness at all
levels should avoid any tendency to tolerate, cut corners, forget
or fail to report, investigate and take lasting corrective action.
That assumes, of course, a general commitment to safety which
enables employees to report what has happened without fear of
recrimination.
The event was the first international conference of its kind in
the world and was proudly organised by SPE Aberdeen. It saw
hundreds of delegates attend the Aberdeen Exhibition and
Conference Centre to take part in Another Perspective on

Risk The Next Tipping Point.

SPE Aberdeens Another Perspective Committee chair Ella Minty
who has organised this major event said: Some people may
wonder why SPE Aberdeen chose a topic that, at least in the UK,
is generally dealt with by other organisations. The answer is very
simple: the time is long overdue for this matter to reach the public
domain and, until now, it hasnt.
Irrespective of whether we are working in the North Sea, Gulf
of Mexico or the Indian Ocean we cannot have another loss of
human life or environmental disaster. Or can we? Have we become
complacent to major incidents and fatalities? Is the return on
investment more important than human life?
A tipping point can be constructive as much as it can be
destructive and it is up to us as a global industry to decide
which point of the tipping point we will be on.
The panel session brought together a distinguished group of
safety experts including Mark Griffon, member of the US Chemical
Safety Investigation Board; Les Linklater, team leader of Step
Change in Safety, Susan Mackenzie, Head of HSE Energy Division
Hazardous Installations Directorate, Health And Safety Executive
and Jake Molloy, regional organiser of the RMT union.
Speakers included Dr Tim Marsh, expert witness at the Safety
Culture and Management of Change forums at the Cullen Inquiry;
Lillian Espinoza-Gala, independent researcher and Member of
Berkley Universitys Centre for Catastrophic Risk Management
(US); Jem Thomas, head of operations of Albany and consultant
to the UK Governments Stabilisation Unit and Thomson Reuters;
William Libby, director of key accounts for Control Risks and the
US lecturer and author Loren Steffy.

A-Z Directory
Pg 6

3Sun Group

Tel +44 (0)1493 666266

Website. www.3sungroup.co.uk

Pg 27

Atlantas Marine

Tel +44 (0)1935 426000

E-Mail. info@atlantasmarine.com

Pg 41
Pg 13
Pg 5

O/B/C
Pg 2

Pg 36
Pg 9

Pg 16
Pg 8

Pg 21
Pg 21
Pg 44
Pg 50
Pg 43
Pg 40
Pg 24
Pg 43
Pg 20
Pg 38
Pg 12
Pg 34
Pg 4

Pg 42
Pg 11
Pg 30
Pg 10
Pg 36
Pg 32
Pg 36
Pg 17
Pg 18
Pg 15
Pg 31
Pg 28
Pg 25
Pg 36
Pg 29

Atlantic Offshore Rescue

ATR Equipment Solutions

Axflow Ltd
Beamex Ltd

Belleville Springs Ltd

Magnetrol Ltd
BMT Argoss
Coretrax
Corroless Offshore

Corrosion Solutions Ltd

Cortez Subsea Ltd
D.F.A/Media Ltd

E.P.I.T Ltd
Flexitallic Ltd

Hydro Group Plc

Jee Ltd
Lux Assure
MBA Ltd
NCIMB Ltd

NeoNickel Ltd
Paradigm

People Factor Consultants

Premier Hytemp Ltd
Proserv Ltd
Reftrade UK Ltd

Reliance Precision Ltd

Remote Ocean Systems

Rotaflow FV Ltd
Sherwin-Wiliams
SIG Plc
Tecnip
Tharsus Group Ltd

The Underwater Centre

Tritex NDT Ltd
Valeport Ltd
Valley Springs Ltd

Zetechtics Ltd

Tel +44 (0)1467 620692

Tel +44 (0)1224 212159
Tel +44 (0)1224 222777
Tel +44 (0)1224 729367
Tel +44 (0)1455 821920
Tel +44 (0)1527 500500
Tel +44 (0)1444 871313
Tel +31 (0)5272 42299

Tel +44 (0)1224 872020

Tel +44 (0)1224 723207
Tel +44 (0)1224 772694
Tel +44 (0)1224 392888
Tel +44 (0)1732 370340
Tel +44 (0)1224 798635
Tel +44 (0)1274 851273
Tel +44 (0)1224 822996
Tel +44 (0)1732 371390
Tel +44 (0)1315 167290
Tel +44 (0)1224 564999
Tel +44 (0)1224 711100
Tel +44 (0)1254 582999
Tel +44 (0)1224 618300
Tel +44 (0)1224 572210
Tel +44 (0)1313 334140
Tel +44 (0)1224 737000
Tel +44 (0)1330 861016
Tel +44 (0)1484 601000
Tel +44 (0)1467 681780
Tel +44 (0)1663 735003
Tel +44 (0)1204 521771
Tel +44 (0)1224 771566
Tel +33 (0)1477 82400

Tel +44 (0)1670 368000

Tel +44 (0)1397 703786
Tel +44 (0)1305 257160
Tel +44 (0)1803 869292
Tel +44 (0)1246 451981
Tel +44 (0)1653 602020

E-Mail. training@astrimar.com

Website. www.atlantic-offshore.no
E-Mail. sales@atrgroup.co.uk
E-Mail. info@axflow.co.uk

E-Mail. info@beamex.com

E-Mail. info@bellevillesprings.com
E-Mail. sales@magnetrol.co.uk
E-Mail. info@bmtargoss.com

E-Mail. enquiries@coretrax.co.uk

E-Mail. sales@corrolessoffshore.com
E-Mail. info@corrsol.co.uk

E-Mail. info@cortezsubsea.com
E-Mail. info@dfamedia.co.uk
E-Mail. info@epitgroup.com

E-Mail. enquiries@flexitallic.eu

Website. www.hydrogroupplc.com
Website. www.jee.co.uk

E-Mail. contact@luxassure.com

E-Mail. info@maggiebraidassociates.com
E-Mail. enquiries@ncimb.com

E-Mail. salesblackburn@neonickel.com
Website. www.pdgm.com

E-Mail. info@peoplefactor.co.uk

E-Mail. contactus@premierhytemp.com
Website. www.proserv.com
E-Mail site@reftrade.com

E-Mail. sales@reliance.co.uk
Website. www.rosys-uk.com
E-Mail. sales@rotaflow.com

E-Mail. enquiries@sherwin.com
Website. www.sigplc.com

Website. www.tecnip.com

E-Mail. enquiries@tharsus.co.uk

E-Mail. fortwilliam@theunderwatercentre.com
E-Mail. sales@tritexndt.com

E-Mail. sales@valeport.co.uk

Website. www.valleyspring.com
E-Mail. sales@zetechtics.com

www.sosmagazine.biz

Pg 22

Astrimar Ltd

37
49

Exhibitions & Conferences

European Offshore & Energy 2014 set to make waves

With only days to go until the European
Offshore & Energy Exhibition, event
organiser DFA Media is optimistic the
show will exceed expectations.
The newly launched event is part of the
established co-location of DFA Media
exhibitions Fluid Power & Systems, AirTech, Drives & Controls, and The Plant &
Asset Management Exhibition, all to be
staged at the NEC Hall 3/3A, Birmingham,
from 8-10 April 2014.
Suppliers, manufacturers and service
providers at European Offshore & Energy
Exhibition will cover all sources of
energy generation, including: oil & gas,
nuclear power stations, gas-fired power
stations, biomass, wind farms (offshore
& onshore), hydropower, geothermal
power, photovoltaics, shale gas plus new
technologies are being developed such as
wave/tidal power and carbon capture &
storage for power stations.

www.sosmagazine.biz

As well as the extensive range of offerings

to be showcased at European Offshore
& Energy, the event will also feature
EnergyDialogue, a three-day conference
covering a host of energy issues together
with product/solution analysis and debate.
EnergyDialogue will ensure delegates
receive all the information they need

50

directly from leading authorities, policy

makers and expert practitioners.
Conference topics include a review of Sir
Ian Woods recently published interim
report (The Wood Report) revealing
the economic and energy security
opportunities still available from the UKs
offshore oil and gas resources.
In addition Ray MacSweeney, Ernst &
Young will examine the supply chain
implications of the Report.
Clive Evans, Deepwater EU, will discuss an

innovative solution for the prevention of

crevice corrosion at pipe supports. While
Dr John Constable,Renewable Energy
Foundation, will debate the costs and
future of offshore renewables.
Other highlights include a discussion on
safety in the wind energy sector by Steve
Green of Safety Technology; Opportunities
in the supply chain for marine renewables
by Stephanie Merry, Renewable Energy
Association; Unconventional Gas by
Nick Grealy, NoHotAir; The future for
CCS and its relevance in the EU offshore
context by Jeff Chapman, Carbon
Capture & Storage Association; Rise
of the Machines Predictive and Event
Driven Analytics in Energy by Jonathan
Guthrie, TIBCO Software, and the Impact
of electricity market reform and investor
issues in the offshore sector by Simon
Monk, IPA Economics.
The UKTI will also feature prominently
in the seminar programme for European
Offshore & Energy. UKTI will highlight
many of the areas it is currently working
and the levels of success it is currently
achieving for UK businesses including an
insight into the supply chain for nuclear
energy.
These are just a few of the highlights of
the three-day conference. For the full
and most up-to-date programme and to
register please go to:
www.europeanoffshoreenergy-expo.com

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Just one of seven

co-located shows
The inaugural European Offshore & Energy exhibition and conference, being
held on 8-10 April 2014 at the NEC Birmingham, brings the upstream energy
market together under one roof; providing visitors with the ideal opportunity to
learn about the industrys latest product innovations, solutions and services.
And as well as the extensive range of offerings
showcased across the exhibition floor, European Offshore
& Energy will also feature EnergyDialogue, a three-day
conference covering a host of energy issues together
with product/ solution analysis. EnergyDialogue will ensure
delegates receive all the information they need directly from
leading authorities, policy makers and expert practitioners.

PROGRAMME OF FREE TECHNICAL SEMINARS:

EnergyDialogue Conference
Drives Seminar Theatre
Fluid Power & Air Seminar Theatre
Maintenance Seminar Theatre

Additionally, delegates will also have the opportunity to

attend event organiser DFA Medias other highly
complementary co-located exhibitions: Drives & Controls,
Fluid Power & Systems, Plant & Asset Management and
Air-Tech. So, whether you are involved in oil and gas, power
generation, shale gas or renewable energy, European
Offshore & Energy, along with its associated exhibitions,
provides a unique one-stop shop for all your information,
technology and product requirements. Dont miss out on
being a part of the inaugural European Offshore & Energy
show and the UKs largest co-located industry event!

...The perfect fit

Join us on LinkedIn
European Offshore & Energy

Co-located with Drives & Controls, Air-Tech, Fluid

Power & Systems, Plant & Asset Management,
Mach and National Electronics Week

Join us on Twitter
@EuOffandEnergy

To exhibit contact:
Shawn Coles +44 (0)1732 370340 +44 (0) 7919 884650 shawn.coles@dfamedia-energy.co.uk
Ryan Fuller
+44 (0)1732 370344 +44 (0)7720 275097 ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk
Primary
Media
Partner

Media Partners

In association with

Hydraulics&Pneumatics

Drives&Controls

Official
Recruiter

Plant&Works

Engineering

OFFSHORE DESIGN &

ENGINEERING EUROPE
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For FREE show registration visit www.europeanoffshoreenergy-expo.com

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