Argeo to Use Uncrewed Vessel for Stromar Offshore Wind Farm Survey
Norwegian offshore survey company Argeo has signed a survey contract with Stromar, a consortium of Ørsted, Renantis, and BlueFloat Energy looking to build a floating wind farm offshore Scotland. Stromar has awarded Argeo a contract to conduct a geophysical survey in the project’s development area, located in the Moray Firth off the coast of Scotland.The Stromar offshore wind farm covers an area of 256 km2, and the project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the wind farm's life cycle, including survey activities. Argeo will mobilize its low-emission uncrewed
HAL Buys Offshore Installation Equipment Firm IQIP from Royal IHC
HAL, the Dutch investment subsidiary of HAL Holding, has acquired IQIP, a supplier of foundation and installation equipment to the offshore wind, coastal & civil, and oil & gas markets from Royal IHC for an undisclosed fee.IQIP is active worldwide and both sells and rents out equipment. According to HAL, IQIP's revenue over the financial year ending December 31, 2022, amounted to € 102 million. IQIP is based and has approximately 300 employees.The sale involves the transfer of 100% of the shares of IQIP Holding B.V. to HAL. "For Royal IHC, this is an important
Nord Stream Owners Looking to Seal and Drain Damaged Gas Pipeline to Halt Corrosion
Shareholders of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline operator are discussing how to seal and empty the damaged gas pipeline to halt corrosion from sea water, said the chief financial officer of E.ON, one of the owners.The chief financial officer of E.ON, one of the stakeholders, told reporters at the group's results news conference that it was unclear whether the pipeline would be repaired but that any forthcoming decisions are likely to be made with the support of all shareholders."We continue to exercise our rights as a minority shareholder in the Nord Stream 1 operating company. And we still see no
Katmai Flowline Jumper Failure Caused by Hydrogen Embrittlement
Hydrogen embrittlement was found to have caused a 2020 flowline jumper failure in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) said in a recent report.The incident, which occurred on July 24, 2020, in the Fieldwood Energy-operated deepwater Katmai field, resulted in the release of approximately 479 barrels of oil. The affected well, Well #1, is located in about 2,082 feet of water on Green Canyon Area Block 40, approximately 140 miles south of New Orleans. The K1 Jumper is approximately 26 miles from the Tarantula platform host facility in South Timbalier area
BlueFloat Energy Deploys LiDAR for 1GW Floating Offshore Wind Project in Taiwan
Floating offshore wind developer BlueFloat Energy said Thursday that its 1GW ‘Winds of September’ floating wind project had taken a step further by deploying a floating LiDAR in the waters off Hsinchu, Taiwan. The project was named after the strong winds blowing in the Hsinchu region every September, and is BlueFloat Energy’s first project in Taiwan. The planned wind farm is located approximately 25 kilometers offshore from Hsinchu city, with a water depth of 64-96 meters and an area of approximately 125 square kilometers.BlueFloat Energy said Thursday that the floating
Petrobras Partners with Fugro for Pioneering Remote ROV Survey
Dutch offshore survey firm Fugro and Brazil's national oil company Petrobras have completed what they say is Brazil's first-ever remote subsea inspection survey.Fugro said that the technology trial was carried out with the aim of minimizing risk and improving sustainability during inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) projects.Fugro used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployed from the Fugro Aquarius vessel to conduct the survey.Office-based personnel piloted the ROV from an operations center in Aberdeen, Scotland, instead of from the vessel itself. "The approach was informed
Reach Subsea to Provide Full Range of Services for Equinor under 3-year Agreement
Norwegian subsea services firm Reach Subsea said Monday it had signed three-year frame agreement with Equinor for work on the Norwegian continental shelf and internationally to 2026. The agreement covers the full spectrum of Reach Subsea services, the company said. Reach Subsea CEO Jostein Alendal said the frame agreement will be an excellent driver for the growth and utilization of Reach Subsea’s modern and expanded fleet of conventional vessels as well as the unmanned Reach Remote fleet, with the two first vessels expected to be launched in 2023."I would also highlight
Interview: Geir Håøy, CEO, Kongsberg
Kongsberg CEO Geir Håøy explains how renewable energy will power the group’s ambitious growth plans, with particular focus on consolidating a leading global position in offshore wind. With Nor-Shipping 2023 on the horizon, Håøy says #PartnerShip will help unlock value and drive development throughout the ocean space.Geir Håøy isn’t the kind of CEO that suffers from over-enthusiastic language and grandiose promises. Instead, he speaks with a calm-headed clarity that is, appropriately enough for a man at the helm of a global technology group with 12
UTEC Launches Cloud-based Platform for Subsea Asset Visualization
UTEC, a Geo-services brand in Acteon’s Data and Robotics division, has launched “iSite Subsea,” a cloud-based platform enabling 360° visualization of subsea assets and data. According to UTEC, the solution has been designed to meet the needs of the offshore renewable energy market and oil and gas subsea asset owners."Through iSite Subsea, users can source, view, manage, and report on seabed, survey, and asset data using a single secure cloud-based interface, enabling interrogation and comparison of data over time, remotely, 24/7, and without specialist software
Ross Offshore Charters Fishing Vessel for Offshore Survey Work
Norwegian offshore energy industry services firm Ross Offshore has agreed to charter Teige Gruppen's Sunny Lady fishing vessel for future offshore activities.The initial agreement is for the charter for the summer of 2023, but the parties envision long-term cooperation, too.Ross Offshore will use the vessel for seabed surveys. The vessel will be equipped with an observation ROV and be able to perform mapping- and environmental surveys."The first project starts in May, and we anticipate a large demand going forward," said Jarle Magne Vespestad, Vice President of Operations of Ross Offshore.
JF Subtech Charters Edda Savanah Vessel for IRM Services in North and Irish Seas
(IRM) and construction vessel, Edda Savanah.JF Subtech will start using the vessel in April 2023 for work in the North and Irish Seas on IRM projects for JF Subtech’s customers, utilizing remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and multiple diving methods."The charter comes as the UK’s offshore energy industry faces supply chain crunches, allowing JF Subtech to be agile and responsive to customers’ changing needs at a time when vessel availability within the industry is constrained. The Edda Savanah will provide a valued and stable cost base for JF Subtech’s new and existing
Belgian Firms Unveil Harsh-environment Offshore Floating Solar Tech
The Belgian companies DEME, Tractebel, and Jan De Nul on Wednesday introduced a new harsh-environment offshore floating solar technology called SEAVOLT.According to the three firms, SEAVOLT technology (patent pending) can withstand harsh offshore conditions while creating large surfaces that are protected from the waves. "The modular design allows for easy adaptation to different sites and demands. Benefits include local renewable energy production and the possibility to install the panels in offshore wind farms (where local authorities permit multi-use concessions). Another advantage is the
New Intelligence Points to Pro-Ukraine Group in Nord Stream Attack
New intelligence reviewed by U.S. officials suggests that a pro-Ukraine group - likely comprised of Ukrainians or Russians - attacked the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September, but there are no firm conclusions, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.There was no evidence that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy or other Ukrainian government officials were behind the attacks which spewed natural gas into the Baltic Sea, the newspaper reported, citing U.S. officials.Reuters could not independently verify the report.The Sept. 26 explosions on the pipelines connecting Russia and Germany occurred in
Eni Installs "World's First" Inertial Sea Wave Energy Converter Offshore Pantelleria
results for developing the second-generation device currently under study," Eni said.ISWEC was developed by Eni in collaboration with the Politecnico di Torino and Wave for Energy s.r.l. (a spinoff of the university). It converts wave motion into electricity, which then supplies energy to offshore infrastructure, small off-grid islands, and coastal communities. ISWEC design can be optimized with reference to the metocean conditions of the site where it is installed by means of a genetic algorithm that leverages on the significant computing power of Eni’s Green Data Centre (GDC)
Report: Russia to Mothball Damaged Nord Stream Gas Pipelines
Russia's ruptured undersea Nord Stream gas pipelines are set to be sealed up and mothballed as there are no immediate plans to repair or reactivate them, sources familiar with the plans have told Reuters.Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, each consisting of two pipes, were built by Russia's state-controlled Gazprom to pump 110 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas a year to Germany under the Baltic Sea.Three of the pipes were ruptured by unexplained blasts in September, and one of the Nord Stream 2 pipes remains intact.But soaring tensions between Moscow and the West over Russia's
Scottish Project Harnesses Wave Power and Subsea Storage to Power Subsea Equipment
Verlume’s 20,000 square foot facility in Dyce, Aberdeen.Alex Seinuah, Baker Hughes Growth Hub Leader said: “The integrated deployment of our renewable subsea power solution in Orkney is a historic moment for all partners involved. Baker Hughes looks forward to sharing the outcome of the offshore deployment with its customers, who are looking at field electrification via renewable sources.”“This is a fantastic opportunity to further test our resident autonomous underwater drone in an open sea environment” says Nigel Money, managing director Transmark Subsea Ltd. &ldquo
NKT Secures Record-breaking High-Voltage Power Cable Deals in Dutch North Sea
Offshore cable firm NKT has secured three turnkey high-voltage power cable projects for the IJmuiden Ver and Nederwiek offshore wind zones in the Netherlands. The company said the projects have a combined order value of approximately EUR 2 billion, making the award a new company record for NKT as the largest combination of orders ever received.The wind zones are located in the Dutch part of North Sea, where the Dutch-German Transmission System Operator (TSO) TenneT is preparing the grid connection for several offshore wind farms. NKT has been awarded the turnkey projects to design, produce
Prysmian Bags €1.8B Order to Connect Dutch Offshore Wind Farms
Energy and telecom cable firm Prysmian Group has secured contracts worth approximately €1.8 billion (currently around $1.9 billion) in total with the Dutch transmission system operator TenneT for the two grid connection projects IJmuiden Ver Alpha and Nederwiek 1 to link two future offshore wind farms located in the Dutch North Sea to the province of Zeeland located in the southwestern part of the Netherlands.Prysmian said the contracts’ aggregate value increases the total value of Prysmian’s order book to about €8.5 billion.Prysmian Group will be responsible for the design
Kongsberg Digital Launches Industrial Work Surface to Transform Carbon-Intensive Industries
Kongsberg Digital has launched its Industrial Work Surface, which aims to "fundamentally change how carbon-intensive industries operate by enabling the company’s software users to work within a single digital environment.""By providing end-to-end user workflows, Kongsberg Digital’s customers will benefit from cleaner, more efficient, and lower cost operations, reinforcing the company’s proven technology already deployed across the energy and maritime sectors," Kongsberg Digital said."Boston Consulting Group research states that as much as 70% of the value of
TGS and SLB Collaborate on Ultra-Long Offset OBN Survey in U.S. Gulf of Mexico
Offshore seismic data firm TGS, in collaboration with oilfield services giant SLB, this week announced the Engagement III ultra-long offset ocean-bottom node (OBN) acquisition in Green Canyon, U.S. Gulf of Mexico.The 111 OCS block survey is underway, and acquisition is expected to be complete in April 2023. "Following the success of previous projects, imaging uplifts will be delivered through the application of full-waveform inversion (FWI) velocity model building utilizing the ultra-long offsets—imaging to be carried out by SLB with final results expected in mid-2024," TGS said.
PXGEO Names Tony Bowman CEO
Offshore seismic survey firm PXGEO announced it has appointed Tony Bowman as chief executive officer, effective April 3, 2023.Bowman joins PXGEO from an executive career at Schlumberger. During his almost 30-year tenure, he held a number of senior roles across multiple geographical locations, including president, WesternGeco as well as president, Schlumberger Information Solutions.Bowman’s appointment follows the departure of CEO Duncan Eley, who has decided to resign and leave PXGEO. The company's founder Peter Zickerman will serve as interim CEO.PXGEO also announced changes to its board of
Subsea: Argeo Builds the Tools to Bridge the Data Gap
Argeo is an offshore service company, created in 2017 and on the move, driven by its mission to transform the ocean surveying and inspection industry via autonomous surface and underwater robotics solutions. We recently caught up with Argeo CEO Trond Crantz for a far-reaching discussion on the company and its recent innovations in the surface and underwater vessel sector, as well as insights on its digital platforms and patented electromagnetic sensor systems. The full report will publish in the March/April print edition of MTR; here we present an excerpt focused on Argeos AUVs and uncrewed systems.
Baker Hughes Lands Major Subsea Equipment and Services Deal with Azule Energy
Oilfield services giant Baker Hughes said Tuesday it had scored a "major" contract to provide subsea equipment and services for the Angolan company Azule Energy's Agogo offshore oilfield. Azule Energy, the Angolan joint venture of oil companies BP and Eni."This award represents the first major new greenfield project awarded in offshore Angola in more than five years," Baker Hughes said.For Baker Hughes, the scope of work includes 23 standard subsea trees, 11 Aptara manifolds, SemStar5 fiber optic controls, and the related system scope of supply. Baker Hughes will also provide
Luna Innovations' Monitoring Services for Largest Offshore Wind Project in US
Optical technology specialist Luna Innovations will provide monitoring services for what will become the largest offshore wind project in the United States - Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project. The company’s EN.SURE long-range power cable sensing system will be used to monitor the wind farm’s export cable system, which will transport power to shore.Scott Graeff, President and CEO of Luna. “The technology that we’re able to provide will ensure the integrity of the project’s operations and support efficient delivery of energy into
Ocean Business '23 preps for Southampton, Announces Exhibitor List
With two months to go until Ocean Business 2023, more than 300 manufacturers and service providers have booked space at the sold-out show, which runs from April 18-20, 2023, at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton.The three-day event is open to all visitors for free by registering online at www.oceanbusiness.com.This year’s exhibition, covering two halls and including a full program of training and demonstrations on the dockside, on board vessels and in the classroom, promises to attract record crowds from around the world.Visitors will be able to see the latest developments in
FET to Deliver Four ROVs to DOF Subsea
Forum Energy Technologies (FET) said it has secured an order from DOF Subsea to deliver four of its advanced work-class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).The ROV order comprises of two 200HP XLX-C’s, which have recently been delivered and mobilized in late 2022, as well as two 200HP XLX Evo II’s to be delivered in Q2, 2023, FET said. The XLX Evo II’s hydraulic systems have been redesigned in line with this contract and now share a vastly increased quantity of common component parts with the XLX-C’s, providing a customer benefit for spares commonality and subsequent availability
PSW Technology Nets 'Sizable' Deepwater BOP Stack Services Contract
Norwegian offshore services and equipment provider PSW Technology has secured a "sizable" contract for deep-water BOP stack services.Subsea blowout preventer (BOP) is a system used in offshore oil drilling to prevent well blowouts.Under the deal announced Tuesday, PSW Technology, a subsidiary of Oslo-listed Scana, will provide services for the modification, classification, and testing of a deepwater BOP stack, for an unnamed "international subsea customer."The work under the contract will start in the first quarter of 2023. Scana said the contract was a sizable one
Argeo Searcher Conversion, Rigging Completed
needs, the Argeo Searcher has been converted to cater for large scale deep-water work with dual LARS deploy- and recover systems and a complete set-up for two Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). In addition to being an effective multipurpose AUV/ROV survey vessel the Argeo Searcher is now rigged for offshore inspection and maintenance operations with allocated space for optional ROV operations. Being equipped with diesel electric propulsion the vessel provides a fuel economic platform for Argeo’s customers projects with reduced carbon footprint. Other upgrades include:State-of-the art data &
DEME to Use Special Drilling Tech Again as It Wins Second Major Offshore Wind Deal in France
Offshore installation firm DEME Offshore will need to deploy its special drilling technology again to install offshore wind monopiles at an offshore wind farm in France, due to rough ocean conditions and a rocky seabed.The company recently secured two deals for the transportation and installation contracts for the foundations and the offshore substation for the Yeu and Noirmoutier islands’ offshore wind farm. For DEME this is the second major offshore wind farm project in France following groundbreaking solutions and industry-first technology deployed at Saint-Nazaire.DEME Offshore
Fugro's USV with eROV Wins UK Maritime Agency Approval
Fugro’s Blue Essence uncrewed surface vessel (USV), has received approval from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to operate as the first USV with an electrical remotely operated vehicle (eROV) in UK waters.The MCA is the government body that regulates vessels in the UK ensuring they meet technical, safety and environmental requirements of the region. "Fugro sees this as a breakthrough development as USVs play a vital role in the future of the maritime sector by improving safety, reducing carbon emissions, and delivering data more efficiently," Fugro said."With
Hydrogen Pipelines: DNV Launches Phase 2 of H2Pipe Project
DNV said Monday it was launching the second phase of H2Pipe, a joint industry project (JIP) aiming to develop a new code for the design, re-qualification, construction, and operation of offshore pipelines to transport hydrogen—either pure or blended with natural gas.DNV’s Hydrogen Forecast to 2050 anticipates that over 50% of hydrogen pipelines globally (and as much as 80% in some regions) will be repurposed from existing natural gas pipeline networks, as it is expected to cost less than 35% of new builds."A large-scale deployment of hydrogen transport through pipelines requires the
Mooreast to Create "at least 100 jobs" in Aberdeen with Subsea Foundation Production Facility
hoped, would help the company realize its ambition to open a subsea foundation production facility there.Once secured, the site, which will also support the consolidation and assembly of mooring components, will act as a European base for Mooreast’s efforts to target an increasing number of offshore wind projects, including the ScotWind auction, the Celtic Sea Cluster and the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) project, which are expected to deliver over 20 GW, 5 GW and 4.5 GW of floating wind energy, respectively. The company is working with ETZ Ltd, the private sector-led and
Funding Granted for "World’s First" Vessel Charging Station within Offshore Wind Farm
A renewable energy technology consortium has secured £1.5 million funding to what they say is "the world’s first offshore charging station within a UK wind farm."The funding was awarded as part of the UK's Department for Transport and Innovate UK’s £60 million Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) grant.Project leaders Oasis Marine, who specialize in marine charging solutions, have partnered with power electronics and rapid charging specialist Turbo Power Systems and, Verlume, an intelligent energy management and storage technologies specialist, and the
Dutch Project to Grow Seaweed in Offshore Wind Farms Gets $1.6M from Amazon
Amazon.com has granted 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) to a Dutch project testing the viability of commercially growing seaweed in between turbines of offshore wind farms, the company and organizers said on Thursday. The project, led by the non-profit group North Sea Farmers, will also research the potential of using seaweed for carbon capture. Hundreds of thousands of hectares (acres) of the Dutch North Sea have been earmarked for wind parks as the government seeks to build 21 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030 and will be closed for shipping. The spaces between the turbines
Floating Energy Allyance Selects Ocean Infinity for Offshore Wind Farm Survey
Floating Energy Allyance (FEA), comprising of BW Ideol, Elicio, and BayWa r.e., has appointed Ocean Infinity to carry out an initial geophysical and geotechnical site investigation at its Buchan floating offshore wind project, 75 km to the northeast of Fraserburgh, Scotland.The Floating Energy Allyance last year secured the rights to develop a floating offshore wind farm with an approximate capacity of 1GW off the northeast coast of Scotland through Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind leasing round.Ocean Infinity, the company that will be conducting survey, is a specialized survey firm using
Vietnam, Sembcorp in Subsea Power Cable, Offshore Wind Collab
said on Friday. The announcement was made after a meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Semcorp deputy chairman Tow Heng Tan in Singapore earlier in the day. Sembcorp Utilities and a unit of Vietnam's state oil firm PetroVietnam on Friday also reached an agreement to develop offshore wind projects to export electricity to Singapore, the government said in a statement, without elaborating. In a separate statement, PetroVietnam said the agreement would pave the way for the companies to develop wind farms with a combined capacity of 2.3 gigawatts by 2030. (Reuters / Reporting
James Fisher Names New Head of Energy Division
Offshore services firm James Fisher and Sons has appointed Neil Sims as its new Head of Energy. Sims will report to Chief Executive Officer, Jean Vernet, as part of the James Fisher executive team.Sims joins James Fisher from Expro, where he most recently served as Product Line Vice President and was responsible for their well flow management portfolio and sustainability and ESG transitional strategy.
TGS in U.S. Gulf of Mexico 4D OBN Survey
Norwegian offshore seismic data acquisition and processing firm TGS said Monday it had signed a memorandum of understanding to carry out a proprietary 4D OBN survey in Walker Ridge canyon in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The survey is planned to start in the third quarter of 2023, with a duration of about 100 days, the company said.Kristian Johansen, CEO at TGS, commented: "In January, TGS acquired Magseis Fairfield with the ambition to create a unique offering of robust data processing and imaging quality, best-in-class OBN technology, and a leading multi-client business. "We are
Chevron Taps ABL for MWS at Jansz-Io Compression Project in Australia
for the Jansz-Io Compression project off the coast of Western Australia.Part of the original development plan for the Chevron Australia-operated Gorgon Project, the Jansz-Io Compression project involves the construction and installation of a 27,000-ton, normally unattended floating field control station offshore western Australia. In addition, the development includes approximately 6,500 tonnes of subsea compression infrastructure, at 1,350 meters of water depth, and a 135-kilometer-long submarine power cable linked to Barrow Island.ABL’s Australian operations has been awarded the contract to
Synthetic Tendons for MPS' Floating Wind Tension Leg Platform
Marine Power Systems is collaborating with cable manufacturer FibreMax to provide integrated floating foundation and tendon solutions to the growing floating offshore wind sector.The tendon solution will be used in the anchoring and moorings of Marine Power Systems tension leg platform (TLP), PelaFlex, to deliver the "highest system stability and zero tilt."According to MPS, this will be the world’s first tension leg platform with FibreMax tendons, made with Twaron fiber from Teijin, a company specializing in aramid fibers. Compared to traditional steel moorings, synthetic
Nova Innovation Double Size of Offshore Tidal Power Array
Edinburgh-based tidal energy company Nova Innovation has achieved another world-first by doubling the size of its Shetland Tidal Array. In 2016, the array of three underwater tidal turbines was the first of its kind and has been powering homes and businesses in Shetland ever since. A fourth turbine (Eunice) was added in 2020. Now, with the installation of the 5th and 6th turbines, it becomes the array with the largest number of turbines anywhere in the world, according to the company.Turbines 5 and 6, Grace and Hali Hope, are connected via a pioneering subsea ‘hub’, sending power to
Oceaneering, Kontiki Winds ink MoU to Electrify Offshore Assets with Renewables
Oceaneering International said that its Norwegian subsidiary, Oceaneering AS, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kontiki Winds AS (a Havfram AS company) to jointly pursue the application of floating offshore wind for remote microgrid renewable power generation to electrify offshore assets such as oil and gas production as well as other small scale power generation opportunities among island states currently producing electricity by fossil fuel.“The MoU leverages each parties’ capabilities to provide safer and cleaner energy production in a dynamic subsea environment,”
Russian Antarctic Vessel Docks in South Africa as Green Groups Protest
A Russian research vessel which has been prospecting for oil and natural gas in the Antarctic docked in South Africa on Saturday following protests by green campaigners who say its operations in the region violate a treaty banning mineral exploration.Several members of the Extinction Rebellion environmental group held banners reading "Hands off Antarctica" as the polar explorer ship Akademik Alexander Karpinsky arrived as scheduled in Cape Town's port during the morning.Earlier this week, several dozen protesters from Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion demonstrated at the port, saying
Norway Finds 'Substantial' Mineral Resources on Its Seabed
found a "substantial" amount of metals and minerals ranging from copper to rare earth metals on the seabed of its extended continental shelf, authorities said on Friday in their first official estimates. The Nordic country, a major oil and gas exporter, is considering whether to open its offshore areas to deep-sea mining, a process that requires parliament's approval and has sparked environmental concerns. "Of the metals found on the seabed in the study area, magnesium, niobium, cobalt, and rare earth minerals are found on the European Commission's list of critical minerals
Subsea Infrastructure Power Looks at Renewables
Using renewable energy to power critical subsea infrastructure needs power management. It’s a capability Verlume will soon be proving off the Orkney Islands – and Hawaii.Integrating offshore renewables into offshore operations has become a major goal for oil and gas companies. A remote power supply could improve project economics for long step-outs, where they replace long power cables. Powering facilities from a nearby offshore wind park could help reduce the carbon intensity of oil and gas production. But how do you balance that power – ride out intermittency – to provide a
First Sea Cable Installed for TenneT's West Alpha Offshore Substation
Jan de Nul Group and LS Cable & System have completed the installation of the first sea cable for West Alpha offshore wind substation for Dutch grid operator TenneT. The offshore installation contractors used the cable-laying vessel Connector and the remote-controlled cable-laying vehicle UTV1200 for the operation.Over sixty kilometers of cable were laid in the seabed between the Heemskerk beach on the Dutch coast and the jacket foundation of the transformer platform at sea.With over sixty kilometers of marine cable on board, the cable-laying vessel Connector from contractor Jan de
Norwegian Marine Seismic Player Enters Offshore Wind Market
Norwegian company PGS, best known for its seismic survey services in the offshore oil and gas sector, said Wednesday it had scored its first offshore wind contract. The company said it had secured its first ultra-high resolution offshore wind farm site characterization project, marking its debut in "a strategically important new energy market.""PGS New Energy offers solutions to the ongoing energy transition by building on the subsurface and operational expertise of PGS’ employees and using the company’s assets. PGS aims to develop New Energy into a significant
PGS to Conduct 4D Surveys on Gullfaks and Gudrun Fields for Equinor
Norwegian energy giant Equinor has exercised an option to extend the framework agreement with the seismic company PGS, originally entered into in March 2021. The extension is valid for two years.The two-year framework agreement covers 4D monitoring surveys on the Norwegian and the UK continental shelf. As a part of the agreement, Equinor has two 2-year options, of which one option, has now been exercised.As part of the current agreement, PGS will acquire a 4D survey over the Gullfaks field and a 4D survey over the Gudrun field during the 2023 summer season."An important part of our strategy is to
Rovco Expands Offshore Capabilities with Glomar Supporter Charter
Rovco, a UK-based subsea robotics and survey firm, has signed a three-year charter with Glomar Offshoreof the multipurpose support vessel, Glomar Supporter.The company said the charter was part of its growth strategy within its site characterizing business unit, and market a significant expansion of the company’s offshore hydrographic, geophysical, and shallow geotechnical survey capabilities."Responding to high client demand amid a rapidly growing offshore wind market, Rovco, working in collaboration with Glomar and marine design consultants, Medea, will reconfigure the vessel to permanently
Hellenic Cables to Boost Subsea Cable Production Capacity with $86M Investment
neighboring property with a total area of 43,000 square meters, it said Friday."With this investment, Hellenic Cables will enhance the existing center of manufacturing excellence for a wide range of subsea cables, from medium voltage up to extra-high voltage ones needed in fast-growing markets like offshore wind, subsea interconnections, and power-from-shore," the company added.Offshore Wind: Hellenic Cables Hires Asso.Subsea for Cable Installation in GermanyAccording to Hellenic Cables, renewables are projected to lead this effort in the foreseeable future, with most of their growth expected
Swift Anchors Looking to Expand Engineering Team
Swift Anchors, a UK-based company that develops anchoring solutions for the global offshore energy (floating wind, floating solar, tidal and wave) and aquaculture industries, is looking for new engineers to join its team. The company said that the need to has been spurred by its current work program and a growing commercial interest in its technologies. The company plans to more than double its workforce during 2023.Swift Anchors, acquired by Schottel last year, is currently working on marine energy projects on both sides of the Atlantic, and is pursuing a number of other project opportunities
Fugro Wins Survey Deal for Gas Field Project Offshore Brunei
Dutch offshore survey firm Fugro said Wednesday it had received a "sizeable" contract from Petronas Carigali Brunei, for the Kelidang Cluster gas field development project.Under the contract, Fugro will carry out various site characterization surveys to support the front-end engineering design for offshore production facilities and the pipelines to prospective buyers onshore. A geotechnical drill and autonomous underwater vehicles will be used, among other things, to collect geotechnical and geophysical data. The majority of the work will be executed during 2023 in different phases.
Kraken Update Progress on Subsea Laser Scanner Service Activities
Kraken Robotics' SeaVision 3D underwater laser scanning technology is primarily used in assisting the offshore energy sector to acquire quality subsea asset integrity information. Specific examples include providing measurements to help clients avoid unscheduled interruption of production and enabling reverse engineering of damaged subsea equipment to enable repairs in-place. During several recent offshore deployments, Kraken’s SeaVision technology has shown that as-built 3D dimensions of installed subsea structures differ from their existing documentation, especially when servicing
Tidal Energy Firm Minesto Tapped for Site Development Services in Asia
Tidal energy technology company Minesto said Friday it had received its first historic sales order for site development services,.The order includes Minesto's Dragon Class tidal energy powerplants and comes from an unnamed "major corporation in the Asian offshore energy sector.""Minesto has been contracted to support a leading Asian corporation in the offshore energy sector for the evaluation of a tidal-current site targeting the deployment of Minesto Dragon Class tidal energy powerplants. The work is planned to be completed in the first quarter of 2023 and has an initial
Marine Robotics Tech Firm GreenSea Systems Starts Off 2023 with Key New Hires
during Kerson’s deployment from day one.”Greensea said its Program Managers are responsible for the timely and accurate delivery of technology to Greensea’s customers and are committed to advancing the technology of ocean robotics across the full landscape of commercial marine, offshore energy, ocean scientific shipping and maritime industries
National Subsea Centre Opens in Dyce, UK
The National Subsea Centre (NSC), a center of excellence for subsea research and technology development, has been officially opened today in Dyce, Aberdeen.The center was opened byMichael Matheson, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport and UK Government Minister for Scotland, Malcolm Offord.The multi-million-pound center has been developed through a partnership between Robert Gordon University (RGU) and Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal (ACRD).Its goal is to provide advanced research to accelerate the transition to net zero
Grandeur Subserv Acquires Gaps M5 USBL for Shallow Water Ops
Grandeur Subserv Ltd., a company specializing in underwater and environmental engineering services, recently acquired Exail Gaps M5 USBL system for shallow water geophysical surveys on the Nigerian coast. Looking for an agnostic acoustic positioning system compatible with third-party transponders and capable of accurately tracking any asset in very shallow water, the Gaps M5 USBL system was recommended.“As part of a survey to determine the location of pipelines or hazards that could impede drilling on the Escravos field, we have to track sensors in water depths ranging from 8 to 100 m, which is
Offshore Services Firm Acteon Names Bruggaier as New CEO
Offshore energy industry services company Acteon Group Ltd has appointed Dr Bernhard Bruggaier as Group Chief Executive. He succeeded Dr Carl Trowell, effective from January 1, 2023.Bruggaier joined Acteon’s subsidiary MENCK in 1994, became its Managing Director in 1998, and joined Acteon’s executive management team following the acquisition of MENCK in 2003. After that, Bruggaier served in various senior strategic and operational management roles before being appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2018 and joining Acteon’s Board of Directors in 2021.Chairman of the Board
Norwegian Petroleum Directorate Awards Seabed Mapping Contracts for Offshore Wind
Fugro and Enviros have secured contracts with the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) for mapping of the shallowest strata under the seabed offshore Norway, with the objective of locating sites that are best suited for the installation of wind turbines.Fugro has won the contract for the Sørlig Nordsjø II area, while Enviros will map Utsira Nord. The Fugro Searcher and the Kommandor Iona vessels will be used for the seabed mapping work.The companies will acquire seven different measurements.Geophysicist Lars Jensen, who is managing the project for the NPD said: "MBES (multibeam
New Contracts for Tekmar's Pipeshield, Subsea Innovation
Offshore services firm Tekmar Group said Tuesday that its group companies Pipeshield International Limited and Subsea Innovation Limited had secured several significant contracts.According to Tekmar, Pipeshield International Limited has won multiple contracts from an offshore EPC contractor to provide pipeline support and protection materials for major subsea construction projects in the Middle East. The combined value of the projects is over £8 million ($9,74 million), with delivery expected in the first half of 2023. The contracts include the design, manufacturing, and supply of
Offshore Wind: Hellenic Cables Hires Asso.Subsea for Cable Installation in Germany
Hellenic Cables has hired the offshore installation company Asso.subsea to move, install, and protect the 220 kV export subsea cable system that will connect the Windanker offshore wind farm to the German extra-high voltage transmission grid.The overall system will consist of one export cable, which will be more than 100 km long in total, to be installed along a submarine route characterized by numerous technical challenges, including shallow water areas, landfall pull-in through a 900 m long HDD conduit, boulder fields, numerous crossings, and soil conditions varying from very soft to hard soils.Asso.
The Top 10 Offshore Wind Energy Trends to Watch in 2023
The drivers for global offshore wind growth look good for 2023. Global offshore wind is forecast to grow from over 60 GW at the end of 2022 to 240 GW by 2030 and over 410 GW by 2035. But the sunny outlook must be balanced with some building dark clouds. As we prepare for the new year, let us look at ten factors that will shape the offshore wind sector in 2023.1. Solid foundations: Optimism for the supply chain is founded on declared and inferred offshore wind deployment targets by a growing number of countries of over 400 GW, driven by energy transition and energy security policies.2. New kids on
Allspeeds Delivers 'Largest' Webtool Cutter to Ashtead Technology
Ashtead Technology.According to the company, this is the largest Webtool cutter manufactured so far, and is designed to cut large diameter umbilicals and subsea power cables up to 330mm.It will add to the fleet of high-performing subsea cutting technologies that Ashtead Technology already has for the offshore energy sector."Advances in subsea power cables mean they are now larger in diameter and better armored. The Webtool HCV330 allow the cables to be cut cleanly in a single guillotine cutting action. It can be either attached to a work-class ROV for subsea operations, or deck mounted on a vessel
Iberdrola to Install its First-ever Floating Solar Plant in Brazil
Spanish renewable energy company Iberdrola has chosen Brazil as a place where it plans to install its first ever floating solar plant.The project will be built on the water surface of the Xaréu dam on the island of Fernando de Noronha, recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site.This initiative is carried out together with Companhia Pernambucana de Saneamento (Compesa), which operates the water and sewage distribution network throughout the island, and with the support of the Energy Efficiency Programme regulated by the Brazilian National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel).With an output
Brazil: TGS, CGG in Foz do Amazonas 3D Survey
Offshore seismic data companies TGS and CGG on Wednesday announced the second phase of the Foz do Amazonas 3D multi-client survey, located in the offshore Brazil equatorial margin. This survey, covering 11,425 square kilometers, will broaden the region's 3D coverage and deliver additional high-quality data essential for the exploration efforts in the basin, the companies said.According to a statement by TGS, existing 2D data and adjacent 3D data indicate the presence of reservoir depositional fairways in this location which overlies a source interval contemporaneous with the Guyana Basin
2023 Outlook: The Offshore Service Vessel Market
The market for offshore support vessels has been through a rather rough few years since offshore exploration and production activity took a nose-dive in 2015 following the oil price crash the year before.The newbuild order boom that came with the ever-greener pastures imagined in the industry ensured that not only was the supply- and demand balance off by an insurmountable degree in the years that followed, but at its peak, in 2017, the oversupply of anchor handling tug supply- and platform supply vessels was in excess of 30% more units than the market required at its all-time high demand!And
Tech File: A Robotic Reach in Offshore Wind
With a background in subsea and offshore, coming up with new ideas is the norm’ for UK-based engineering consultancy STL (Submarine Technology Limited), writes Elaine Maslin.The last few years have been no different. The company has been focusing on ship-based robotics, including robotic arms. These aren’t just any robotic arms – they’re motion compensated systems for deploying/recovering people and robots to and from fixed or moving objects. That could be wind technicians to an offshore wind turbine or an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in and out of the water – all
DEME Offshore Taps Tekmar for Dogger Bank C Cable Protection Systems
Tekmar Group will supply Cable Protection Systems (CPS) for the Dogger Bank C offshore wind farm in the UK, under a contract with offshore installation firm DEME Offshore.This follows the existing contract with EPCI contractor DEME Offshore to supply 380 CPS to protect subsea array cables on Dogger Bank A and B project phases. Under the scope of the Dogger Bank C phase, the company will design, manufacture, and supply a further 172 CPS."The combined contract value across the Dogger Bank Wind Farm represents Tekmar's largest CPS supply contract to date," the company said without
CGG, TGS Win OBN Seismic Survey Work Offshore Norway
Seismic data acquisition and processing companies CGG and TGS have together secured a contract for the acquisition and imaging of a dense ocean bottom node (OBN) multi-client seismic survey in the Sleipner Area of the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). The Sleipner OBN survey, located directly south of the Utsira OBN in the North Sea, will span an additional 1,201 square kilometer area under receivers (AUR) to increase the contiguous multi-client OBN coverage in the region to 3,278 square kilometers AUR, CGG said.The survey area covers a mature part of the North Sea that includes the Sleipner
February 2023
