Deepwater Survey Completed in Working Oilfield
Fairfield Geotechnologies completes Gulf of Mexico Ocean Bottom Node surveyFairfield Geotechnologies announces the successful completion in May 2018 of the Stampede deepwater ocean bottom node survey, located in the Green Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico. The field, operated by the Hess Corporation, is in approximately 3,500 ft. of water. The 238 km2 survey was the second successful deployment of Fairfield Geotechnologies’ ZXPLR system. ZXPLR is the newest generation of ocean bottom node technology and features a compact design, automated back deck systems, and powered and
N-Sea Hires van Peet as Survey Lead
U.K.- and Netherlands-based subsea provider N-Sea has appointed Hans van Peet as the company’s survey authority.Hans van Peet, who joins the organization from Heerema Marine Contractors, brings more than 30 years of specialist experience in survey, positioning and ROV intervention to the role. He previously led subsea services for a variety of leading offshore companies, including the technical management of major frame agreements for ROV and survey and positioning services.Based in the Netherlands, van Peet will be responsible for overseeing all survey activities within N-Sea, as well as
Schlumberger CFO Ayat to Retire Soon
Schlumberger NV Chief Financial Officer Simon Ayat plans to retire this year and a company insider has emerged as top candidate to replace him at the world's largest oil services firm, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.Stephane Biguet, currently vice president of finance, is the frontrunner to replace Ayat, according to the people who declined to be named because the matter is not yet public.Schlumberger declined to comment.The CFO change would come as rising oil prices and dwindling producer reserves are helping lift demand for oil services, which were hit hard by the 2014 oil
Kreuz Subsea Names Liew CFO
;s leadership team. He is the company’s fifth executive hire since AJ Jain took over the reins as chief executive officer in October 2017. In June, Jerry Starling joined as director of diving. In April, Pradeep Verma took up the role of chief commercial officer and Marek Kaminski became director of marine assets. Phil Bradbury started as QHSE director at the end of 2017 following Jain’s appointment
Symbiotic Autonomy for Deep Water Survey
Marine technology partners have developed a new long endurance, multi-vehicle, autonomous survey solution.ASV Global (ASV), in partnership with Sonardyne International Ltd., the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and SeeByte, have delivered a long endurance, multi-vehicle, autonomous survey solution after a two-week trial in Scotland’s Loch Ness. The tests were the culmination of the three-year ‘Autonomous Surface and Sub-surface Survey System’ collaborative project, part-funded by Innovate UK and Dstl, which set out to produce an integrated system to perform low cost, full water
Tidewater and GulfMark Announce Merger
Tidewater Inc. and GulfMark Offshore, Inc. announced Monday that the boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved a definitive agreement to combine the two companies, creating the industry’s largest owner of offshore support vessels and continuing consolidation in the offshore sector.The combined company will be operated under the Tidewater brand and will be led by Tidewater president and CEO John Rynd, with the industry’s largest fleet and the broadest global operating footprint in the OSV sector, with an ability to support customers across geo-markets and water depths.
Oceanscan Invests in Sonardyne Acoustics
International equipment supplier Oceanscan has added underwater acoustic positioning technology from Sonardyne International Ltd. to its rental fleet. The Mini-Ranger 2 Ultra-Short Baseline (USBL) vessel-based systems and Wideband Sub-Mini 6 (WSM 6) transponders have been acquired by Oceanscan following client demand for accurate and reliable underwater tracking technology to support their projects, especially in the growing offshore wind and shallow water hydrographic survey markets. Compact, portable and quick to install, Mini-Ranger 2 offers a standard operating range of 995 meters, extendable
FairfieldNodal Changes Name
FairfieldNodal has changed its name to Fairfield Geotechnologies (Fairfield Geo). The name change reflects Fairfield Geo’s strategy and continuing evolution as a provider of life-of-field technology, data and solutions.FairfieldNodal pioneered the use of ocean bottom nodes (OBN) and is a leading provider of ocean bottom nodal technology, related services and data to Oil Majors, National Oil Companies and Independent Operators. The data and services are necessary to manage reservoirs, enhance productivity and mitigate risk over the entire life-of-field.Fairfield Geotechnologies continues
Airborne, Subsea 7 Launch TCP Riser Program
Oilfield technology firm, Airborne Oil & Gas, has started a qualification of a TCP Riser for deepwater and dynamic applications for a major operator in South America in collaboration with Subsea 7, effective today, June 26, 2018.As a leader in the manufacturing of Thermoplastic Composite Pipe (TCP), Airborne Oil & Gas has developed The TCP Riser qualification program, aimed to provide a disruptive new riser pipe technology for operators with international deepwater applications.The TCP Riser design delivers the lowest cost solution for total installation in comparison to existing solutions
TE Connectivity: AMP MCP 9.5 Connectors
TE Connectivity (TE) introduced its high-power AMP MCP 9.5 two position connectors designed for harsh environment wire-to-wire and wire-to-circuit board connections. AMP MCP 9.5 two position connectors are designed to withstand the extreme conditions of the trucking, agricultural, mining, construction and marine industries. The connectors utilize TE’s field-proven AMP MCP 9.5 contacts and have a current rating of 78 amps for 10 millimeter² wire.The AMP MCP 9.5 two position connectors are constructed of heavy-duty thermoplastic and withstand severe vibration and mechanical shock. They are IP 67
ION Sells Compasses for Subsea Vehicle Navigation
or acoustic navigation and without locally calibrating the compass. Our mechanically gimbaled optical magnetic heading sensor does not require calibration across different latitudes as the Earth’s magnetic field changes. We are exploring additional commercial opportunities for our technologies in marine robotics and other industries.”
US Announces $18.5 Mln for Offshore Wind Research
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that $18.5 million has been made available for offshore wind research and development (R&D).The DOE selected the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to administer an $18.5 million cooperative innovation hub that will bring together industry, academia, government and other stakeholders to advance offshore wind plant technologies, develop innovative methods for wind resource and site characterization, and develop advanced technology solutions for installation, operation, maintenance and supply chain.The overall goal
Rock Installation ROV Delivered to Van Oord
Subsea technology company Seatools said it has delivered a highly automated fall pipe remotely operated vehicle (ROV) on behalf of its client Van Oord.The 450-kW rock installation ROV underwent extensive sea trials and is ready to be deployed for subsea rock installation (SRI) campaigns from Van Oord’s new SRI vessel Bravenes.The ROV positions the fall pipe above the target (e.g., a pipeline) and with high accuracy facilitates rock installation in over 1,000 meters water depth. The ROV features an advanced dynamic positioning (DP) system enabling the vehicle to pursue a preprogrammed track with
Fugro Tallies ROV Services Contracts with Petrobras
in Petrobras oil fields. The ROVs are being deployed in water depths of 3,000 meters on the Brazilian continental shelf.The first of the two contracts commences in the second quarter of 2018 and is being executed from the Far Santana, an anchor handling and towing support (AHTS) vessel owned by Norwegian marine contractor SolstadFarstad. The contract duration is 319 days.During the second contract, which starts in the third quarter of 2018, Fugro and SolstadFarstad will jointly manage operations, which will involve Fugro’s ROV being deployed from SolstadFarstad’s Far Scout AHTS offshore vessel
MacArtney, OSIL Partner in China
with Ocean Scientific International Ltd (OSIL).The newly established strategy and business plans applying to the Asian markets, among others, have led MacArtney Singapore to enter into the exclusive sales agreement with OSIL, a provider of tailored integrated systems for environmental monitoring in all marine environments, from shallow coastal waters to full ocean depth.With such an agreement, MacArtney said it is confident of being able to cover the ocean science industry and improve business relations in the Chinese market as well as provide optimized after-sales service in a demanding market.Initiatives
Ocean Infinity to Deploy AUVs for Scarborough Survey
Seabed exploration company Ocean Infinity said it has been awarded a contract to provide data in support of the development of the Scarborough field 375 kilometers west-north-west of the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia.The contract, awarded by Australian oil and gas company Woodside Energy, involves a deepwater geophysical pre-engineering route survey, extending approximately 300 kilometers from the Scarborough subsea field in 950- to 1,400-meter water depths up the scarp break toward existing onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing facilities on the Burrup Peninsula.The deepwater geophysic
EU Grant Supports New Unmanned Survey Vessel
A pioneering hydrographic survey company has been awaded grant funding from Marine-i, the EU funded program set up to boost the marine technology sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.The company, Ultrabeam Hydrographic, which provides ultra high resolution hydrographic surveys for clients with marine based assets, such as harbors, subsea pipelines and oil and gas platforms, has developed a new type of unmanned surface vessel believed to be the first of its kind.The Ultra-USV 3-meter catamaran carries a full suite of high-tech survey equipment and has been designed to gather fast, accurate and
TechnipFMC Wins Subsea Contract Offshore China
TechnipFMC said it has been awarded a subsea contract by CNOOC Limited for the Liuhua 16-2, 20-2 and 21-2 Oilfield Joint Development Project in the South China Sea, at water depths ranging from 380 to 430 meters.The contract covers the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of subsea equipment, including 26 units of Enhanced Horizontal Christmas Trees (EHXT) as well as wellheads, subsea control systems, manifolds, tie-in systems and intervention workover control systems (IWOCS). This contract also covers support services for the installation and commissioning, as well as the provision of a
SOCAR Inks Deals for Caspian Fields with Equinor
Azeri state oil company SOCAR and Norway's Equinor on Wednesday signed a risk service contract for the development of the Karabakh offshore oil and natural gas field in the Caspian Sea.The two companies also signed a product-sharing agreement for Ashrafi, Dan-Ulduzu and Aypara exploration area."The agreements signed today represent a natural next step in the region. This will strengthen our position in a prolific basin and develop growth options," Equinor Chief Executive Eldar Saetre said in a statement.To operate the licences, Equinor and SOCAR will form a 50-50 joint operating company.
JW Fishers Pipe Tracking Made Easy
What do modern day people and ancient Egyptians have in common? You guessed it; underground piping! It has been discovered that the very first metal piping can be traced back thousands of years to copper pipes buried and used by Egyptians to carry wastewater. The first manufactures of modern metal pipes, however, first appeared well over a century ago in Great Britain. No matter what material is used to manufacture buried or undersea piping, keeping track of these complex systems has been a challenge from the very beginning. The Global Positioning System constellation of satellites revolutionized
UK Hydrographic Office Appoints Makewell CTO
(UKHO) appointed Terry Makewell to the position of Chief Technology Officer. Makewell has more than 20 years’ experience in leadership positions in government, academia and the creative industries, and will be instrumental in further developing the UKHO as a world-leading center in the marine domain. This will support the UKHO in delivering its vision of becoming the world-leading marine geospatial information agency and hydrographic office by 2020. Makewell joins the UKHO from the Office for National Statistics, where he held the role of Chief Digital Officer. His previous
AUV Tracking System Tested in Loch Ness
A collaborative research project called Autonomous Surface and Sub-surface Survey System (ASSSS) aims to deliver an integrated system to provide a means of conducting low cost, shore based, full water column marine surveys using multiple unmanned systems. The project, part funded by Innovate UK, hopes to encourage wider adoption of unmanned systems.The project is being led by a U.K. based developer of unmanned and autonomous marine systems, ASV Global. It combines the advantages of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) to further data gathering opportunities.
InterMoor Delivers H-Links Connectors for Appomattox FPS
InterMoor, a provider of mooring services, foundation solutions and offshore installations in subsea services group Acteon, completed the delivery of all H-Links connectors for the Appomattox Floating Production System (FPS) mooring lines. The Appomattox facility will be a four-column semi-submersible production platform moored using 16 mooring lines arranged in 4x4 clusters, in 2,255m (7,400ft) of water approximately 130km (80 miles) offshore Louisiana. The platform will become Shell’s largest floating platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Collaborating with Oceanside Equipment Ltd out of Nova
Unique Grillage Design for Offshore Wind Farm
Conbit has developed a unique grillage design as part of a collaborative scope for an offshore wind farm project in the U.K. and one of the biggest in the world.Conbit said it is providing the specialist offshore engineering for parent company ALE, who has been contracted to provide the marine transportation, sea-fastening, load-out and ballasting of over 100 TPs for Ørsted’s Hornsea Project One in the North Sea, set to be the biggest wind farm in the world.For the structural engineering, Conbit used its internal structural engineering expertise to conduct the structural integrity and sea
Offshore: Nippon Foundation, Deepstar Sign MOU
Japan's Nippon Foundation and Deepstar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently which essentially will allow Japan to tap the expertise and resources of DeepStar to help Japan discover and recover new-found subsea resources, as well as educate future generations of Japanese. The MOU was signed on May 1, 2018 at the Hotel ZaZa in Houston, and speaking at the event Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa said "We need to acquire the resources to discover and reach (our) natural resources. There is no question that Houton is the hub of space exploration, but ehere are two
Aker to explore options for Aker Energy after Ghana plan filing
Norwegian investment firm Aker will consider options for its stake in oil startup Aker Energy after the unit has appraised its offshore field in Ghana and submitted a development plan for the site to the Ghanaian government.Aker Energy bought a 50-percent stake in Ghana's ultra deepwater Tano Cape Three Points block from Hess for $100 million in February.Options for the stake include listing Aker Energy separately, offering it for sale to oil companies in the area or those seeking to enter Ghana, or a combination of both, Aker's CEO Oeyvind Eriksen told Reuters.Aker Energy is 50 percent owned
Shell Awards Deepwater Installation Contract in GOM
In another sign that activity in the moribund offshore sector is starting to loosen, Jumbo said that it has won the installation contract for the Shell deep-water Vito development in the US Gulf of Mexico. The Vito development is located in the Mississippi Canyon, approximately 150 miles south of New Orleans in water depth of more than 4,000 feet. Jumbo’s installation contract involves the initial pre-lay of the mooring system as well as the subsequent tow and hook-up of the FPS. Roddy Lafontaine, VP Offshore for Jumbo says: "The Jumbo Offshore team is very
In US Gulf, Robots, Drones Take on Dangerous Offshore Oil Work
industry has turned to robots and drones to cut costs and improve safety in some of the world's tougher working environments. Drones inspect gear high up on floating rigs. Robots crawl underwater to test subsea equipment for microscopic metal cracks. Remotely operated mini submarines can replace divers. Big oil producers such as BP and Statoil are racing to create the oilfields of the future, where smart devices replace workers. They have the potential to cut costs, save lives, and reduce the scope for human error. "This is going to change the way oil and gas does
BSEE Regs Update to Cut Burden on Operators
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) – incorporating industry innovation, best science, and best practices – is proposing to update regulations covering offshore oil and gas drilling operations to improve reliability, safety, efficiency, and environmental stewardship, and reduce unnecessary burdens on operators. BSEE reviewed the existing regulations in response to Executive and Secretary’s Orders instructing it to identify ways to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens while ensuring that offshore oil and gas drilling operations are conducted in a safe and
Fugro Goes Hunting for Hydrocarbon Seeps Offshore Brazil
Geochemical Campaigns.“We have been operating in Brazil for more than two decades, providing a wide variety of geotechnical, survey, subsea and geoscience services, principally for the deepwater oil and gas industry,” he added. For almost two decades Fugro has been at the forefront of modern marine seep-hunting operations in the energy sector and has led the market in integrated multibeam and geochemical coring campaigns.Project deliverables will be used by energy companies to help optimise and refine their exploration and development activities in this prolific region
Dual GyroUSBLs for Allseas' Lorelay Stinger
Offshore pipeline installation and subsea construction company Allseas has ordered Sonardyne International’s GyroUSBL acoustic positioning technology for two systems for its 236 meter long lay vessel Lorelay.Used in conjunction with a Ranger 2 USBL (Ultra-Short BaseLine) topside which also formed part of the order, the GyroUSBL transceivers will be installed on the end of the Lorelay’s stinger to acoustically track a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployed to ensure a pipe is accurately touching down in the permitted corridor.USBL transceivers are routinely deployed through the hull or
Sonardyne Hires Lynch
Navigation and positioning technology company Sonardyne International Ltd. UK, has appointed Derek Lynch as its new Global Business Manager for Marine Vessel Systems, with immediate effect.Lynch brings with him more than 25 years of experience working within the offshore energy, maritime and naval sectors. A former serviceman in the RAF and licensed avionics engineer, Lynch has held senior management positions with several technology companies involved in positioning, navigation and vessel control systems, including maritime software developer Sea Information Systems, Nautronix where he was Vice
iXblue Equips Manned Submersible for Titanic Mission
and operates in the low frequency band for deep sea tracking operations. To communicate with Posidonia during each dive, Titan is equipped with iXblue’s MT8 compact low-frequency transponder.“Everyone at iXblue is very excited to be part of the Titanic Survey Expedition.” States Marine Slingue, Sales Director at iXblue. “We are thankful for the renewed trust OceanGate puts in us after a first partnership back in 2016 for the survey of the iconic wreck of Andrea Doria. It is a real vote of confidence for our products to be chosen again -- especially to explore and help survey
Fugro Supporting Seabed Mining Exploration
In the deep waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, Fugro’s specialist marine geoscience team will perform detailed site characterization surveys to help advance seabed mining exploration.Fugro said it is commencing its first project supporting deep sea polymetallic nodule mining under a contract awarded by seafloor mineral exploration company Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI), a subsidiary of DeepGreen Metals Inc.The project, which began on April 19, will advance NORI’s polymetallic nodule project. Polymetallic nodules are potato-sized concretions enriched in nickel, copper and cobalt.
Fugro Commences Deep Sea Mining Support
Fugro is commencing its first project supporting deep sea polymetallic nodule mining under a contract awarded by seafloor mineral exploration company Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI), a subsidiary of DeepGreen Metals Inc. In the deep waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, its specialist marine geoscience team will perform detailed site characterisation surveys. The project, which began on 19th April, will advance NORI’s polymetallic nodule project. Polymetallic nodules are potato-sized concretions enriched in nickel, copper and cobalt. These nodules also contain metals and non-metals
Oil Recovered from Sunken Ship Thorco Cloud
Jaya Salvage Indonesia early last year. Bumi Subsea provided remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and the dynamically positioned Surf Allamanda, owned by Bourbon Offshore. This served as the work platform during the salvage of the trapped fuel by using the Moskito hot tap tool developed in Norway by Miko Marine. Thousands of sunken ships along the coast of Norway represent pollution dangers from the fuel trapped inside their hulls. This prompted the Norwegian Coastal Administration to invite Miko Marine to devise a method for removing it. The result was a unique tapping machine, known as the Moskito
Mannering Named Polarcus Chairman
Michael Mannering has been nominated to succeed Polarcus’ outgoing chairman of the board, Peter Rigg, with effect from the 2018 AGM on May 10.Rigg will retire after a decade as chairman of the marine geophysical company, having served in the role since the company’s inception in 2008.Mannering has previously held many senior corporate positions in Schlumberger as well as chairman and, subsequently, non-executive director of Songa Offshore until its acquisition by Transocean. He has a BSc (First Class) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southampton.
Top Five Trends in Offshore Wind
advances and cost reductions continue, much as they have in the bottom-fixed segment. Statoil sees key markets for its Hywind technology in Europe, Japan and West Coast U.S., and predicts there could be nearly 13 GW floating wind capacity installed by 2030.(As published in the April 2018 edition of Marine Technology Reporter
C-Innovation Secures Subsea Construction Contract with BP
C-Innovation, LLC (C-I), an affiliate of Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) and its family of companies, has secured a three-year contract with BP Exploration & Production, Inc. (BP), the largest energy investor in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The contract encompasses subsea construction, inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) and logistics services in the Gulf of Mexico. With Port Fourchon, La., serving as the home port, the new contract will bring together ECO’s extensive fleet of multipurpose platform supply and well intervention vessels with C-I’s ROV, tooling, project
Saipem CEO Could Be Reappointed in May
The main shareholders of Italy's Saipem indicated on Thursday they would support the reappointment of Stefano Cao as chief executive of the oil service company. State lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and oil major Eni, who jointly control Saipem, included Cao's name in the slate of directors they will propose at a shareholder meeting in May. Cao's name was second in the list, a position which traditionally indicates the name of the potential CEO. Saipem shares have fallen more than 80 percent in the last three years as the sector continues to suffer from lower spending
Flynn Signs on to Represent EOM Offshore
its strategic position in the U.S. market with the appointment of John Flynn and Flynn Technical Solutions LLC to serve as its representative in the “Hurricane” states. Flynn’s professional background serving as Technical Sales and VP Global Marketing Communications with various marine-related and technological companies will create synergy and momentum for EOM Offshore, the company said. “EOM Offshore’s innovative technologies bring an exciting new capability for increased reliability for data transmission and health management of moored buoy systems to the market
Kreuz Subsea Strengthens Senior Management Team
subsea services business, Kreuz Subsea, has strengthened its senior management team with two key appointments at its Singapore headquarters to support its global expansion plans. Pradeep Verma has joined the company as chief commercial officer while Marek Kaminski is welcomed as director of marine assets. The duo brings more than 50 years of combined oil and gas experience to Kreuz Subsea. Verma will be responsible for strengthening the company’s position in its core markets of India, Asia Pacific, and the growth of business into the Middle East market. He joins the
Statoil Bags Four Blocks Offshore Brazil
Statoil and partners were the high bidders for four blocks in the Campos basin in Brazil’s 15th licensing round held on 29 March. With the new licenses, Statoil strengthens its position in Brazil and increases synergies with current projects. A consortium comprising Petrobras (30%), ExxonMobil (40%) and Statoil (30%), presented the winning bid for the C-M-657 block in Campos Basin with a signature bonus of 638,550,000 USD*. The same consortium made up of Petrobras (40%), ExxonMobil (40%) and Statoil (20%), presented the winning bid for the C-M-709 block in the Campos Basin with a
NOAA Taps Graham to Lead National Hurricane Center
Kenneth Graham has been selected to serve as the next director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center in Miami, as preparations continue ahead of the 2018 hurricane season, which begins on June 1. He will assume this new role on April 1. “The forecasts in last hurricane season were 25 percent more accurate than average, and with new satellites and other measures they are undertaking, we are very hopeful to keep improving the timeliness and accuracy of our forecasts,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “Ken will be a great leader of the Department’s efforts in
TechnipFMC, Magma Global join forces on Hybrid Flexible Pipe
TechnipFMC has agreed the terms of a collaboration agreement with Magma Global Ltd. to develop a new generation of hybrid flexible pipe (HFP) for use in offshore applications. HFP is expected to provide increased strength and fatigue performance, while also achieving dramatic weight and cost reductions, for subsea fluid transport applications. As part of the collaboration, TechnipFMC is purchasing a minority stake in Magma Global. Barry Glickman, President of Engineering, Manufacturing & Supply Chain at TechnipFMC, stated, “I am very pleased that we have reached this agreement with Magma
Record-size US Offshore Oil Lease Sale Draws Modest Bidding
Oil and gas drillers bid modestly on Gulf of Mexico acreage in the largest lease sale in American history on Wednesday, dealing a setback to the Trump administration's efforts to rapidly pump up investment in the region. The Interior Department had offered up a record 77 million acres (31.2 million hectares) for development in the Gulf with discounted royalty rates on the shallower tracts as part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump's administration to ramp up U.S. fossil fuels output. But companies bid on just 1 percent of that acreage, and won those tracts with bids
Løken Named CEO at Kvaerner
Karl-Petter Løken has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the international contracting company Kvaerner. Løken succeeds Jan Arve Haugan, who left Kvaerner for a position at Aker Energy. Kvaerner's EVP & CFO Idar Eikrem will continue as interim CEO until Løken steps into the role this spring after ending his current position as head of Project Development for Lundin Norway. Since 1991, Løken has held positions in the oil and gas industry for companies like Statoil, Aker Solutions and Lundin Norway. From 2011 to 2015
CGG Begins Deepwater Survey Offshore Brazil
CGG said it has commenced acquisition of a large broadband 3D multi-client survey in the pre-salt area of the deepwater Santos Basin. Santos VIII is the most recent survey in CGG’s vast ongoing pre-salt program that delivers ultramodern seismic data, enabling exploration companies to better evaluate pre-salt opportunities in advance of Brazil’s pre-salt licensing rounds. Santos VIII covers an area of over 8,000 km2 adjacent to the Peroba, Pau Brasil and Boumerangue fields. The resulting BroadSeis data will be imaged with CGG’s advanced full-waveform inversion (FWI) technology
Dennis joins SeaRobotics as Director of Programs
Lou Dennis has joined the SeaRobotics Corporation as Director of Programs based at the company's headquarters in Stuart, Fla. Dennis entered the ocean industry as a commercial diver after graduating from Florida Institute of Technology. He then joined Subsea 7's engineering group focused on Deepwater ROV and Intervention Tooling System design. Dennis later joined ROV manufacturer Perry Slingsby Systems, as its Vice President of Programs then moving onto Lockheed Martin as Business Development Manager for its AUV program. Before joining SeaRobotics, he served as General Manager of the Southeast
Ashtead Invests $3.9 Mln in Its Rental Fleet
Global subsea equipment specialist Ashtead Technology said it has invested £2.8 million ($3.9 million) in new technology over the past month in response to anticipated market demand. The company has stocked up with core survey, imaging, mapping and positioning systems from a range of industry suppliers including Teledyne, Sonardyne, R2Sonic, EdgeTech and Geometrics, in order to fully support customer projects. The announcement follows the recent completion of Ashtead’s joint venture with Forum Energy Technologies to provide subsea survey and ROV equipment rental services.
Digital Ocean: Making Subsea Data More Easily Accessible
The digital ocean is a reality and U.K.-based digital communications marine technology firm Sonardyne International Ltd is one of the organizations driving innovation to enable the extension of electronic and communications connectivity into the subsea domain. Based on a presentation given by Tom Rooney, Lead Trainer at Sonardyne, at the Digital Ocean conference held in Galway, Ireland in June 2017, this article describes the current state of play in the subsea acoustics and optical communications technology field, presents examples of the many ways these technologies are being applied and considers
US States Slow Trump Offshore Oil Drilling Expansion Plan
The Trump administration's plan to broadly expand drilling in U.S. offshore waters is moving slowly due to opposition from coastal states and indifference from oil companies that have turned their focus to other opportunities. The administration hopes encouraging U.S. energy development outside of shale oilfields will further its goal of "energy dominance." But existing Obama administration lease rules remain in place through 2022 unless the new rules gain approval. The Department of the Interior this year proposed opening vast new acreage in the U.S. outer continental
ATLAS MARIDAN to Offer AUV Rental Services
ATLAS MARIDAN ApS. of Rungsted Kyst (Denmark), a subsidiary of the German naval systems supplier ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, has launched an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) rental service. The opportunity to rent ATLAS ELEKTRONIK’s latest unmanned underwater technology shall support customers within the offshore oil and gas, renewable energy, UxO and naval markets. The AUV SeaCat has recently finalized its serial maturity process and concluded certifications covering a wide range of requirements for system robustness, environmental conditions, navigational accuracy and transport safety.
Keppel Bags Awilco's Semi-submersible Rig Order
Following the Letter of Intent signed by Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Keppel FELS Limited, with Awilco Drilling PLC, Keppel has secured the contract to construct a mid-water semisubmersible (semi) drilling rig for harsh environment use worth about $425 million. As part of the transaction, Awilco has independent options to order up to another three similar rigs to be exercised within 12, 24 and 36 months respectively. The prices of the three additional rigs are subject to cost adjustments and will only be finalised and announced separately if and when the
Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE Announcements at OI2018
The participation of Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE in the world-leading Oceanology International 2018 marine science exhibition and conference in the ExCeL, London adds an extra incentive to visit an already pivotal event. Now in its 49th year, Oceanology International is renowned as an invaluable global maritime technology business networking hub, with 8,500 industry professionals from more than 79 countries anticipated to attend this year. The 36-month Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE competition was launched in December 2015, with a $7 million prize purse, and challenges teams from
iSURVEY Investing in Training
iSURVEY, a provider of survey and positioning services to the global oil and gas, offshore renewables and telecommunications markets, said it has invested more than £40,000 in staff training. In order to meet client demand, iSURVEY staff were educated in rapid and accurate acquisition and processing of seabed survey data, the company said. During February and March, the staff gained a deeper understanding and awareness of the key elements of multi-beam echo sounder (MBES) acquisition and data management. Training was carried out through a combination of instructor-led
SBG Systems Launches Navsight Marine Solution at OI2018
SBG Systems releases at the Oceanology International trade show in London (UK), the Navsight Marine Solution, a full high performance inertial navigation solution designed to made surveyors’ tasks easier on both shallow and deep water. Built on a proven technology, Navsight strengthens SBG Systems position as leading innovator in the marine technology market. Navsight Marine Solution consists in an Inertial Measurement Unit available at two different performance levels (from shallow to deep water), and connected to Navsight, a rugged processing unit embedding the fusion intelligence
Oceaneering Acquires Ecosse Subsea
International has, through one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, acquired the Aberdeen-based Ecosse Subsea Limited for approximately GBP 50 million (US$69 Million). Headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, Ecosse builds and operates seabed preparation, route clearance and trenching tools for submarine cables and pipelines on an integrated basis that includes vessels, ROVs and survey services. Enabling technologies acquired in the transaction include Ecosse's modular SCAR Seabed System, capable of completing the entire trenching work scope (route preparation, boulder clearance
EIVA Rolls Out Virtual Buoy Solution
Danish hardware and software engineering specialist EIVA has introduced a new system solution that offers an alternative way to ensure safe navigation by marking channels, shoals, wrecks, etc as well as during harbor expansions and other construction projects. NaviSuite Perio provides harbor and other waterway authorities with the possibility of replacing marker buoys with virtual buoys that are managed via a software user interface and never actually deployed – yet, they are still displayed to AIS users as actual buoys at a given location in the water. “NaviSui
Sotzing Joins Sea Machines as Engineering Director
Boston-based developer of autonomous vessel technology Sea Machines Robotics has hired Chris Sotzing as director of engineering. Sotzing will be responsible for the development and deployment of the company’s Sea Machines 300 technology system, as well as managing the engineering team. He reports to COO Jim Daly from the Boston office. Sotzing joins Sea Machines from SeeByte, where he served as an engineering manager supporting unmanned vehicle technologies in Boston. Prior to relocating to Boston, Sotzing held positions of increasing responsibility for nearly nine years at
