As the Clock Ticks on the Titan Sub, an Expert Explains What Safety Features a Submersible Should Have
specific verification (theoretical) and validation (tests) for the specific environment.Commercial off-the-shelf equipment can potentially fit onboard, if a demonstration of fitness for purpose is made for various scenarios. However, most of the external components (because of crushing pressure) and safety systems would warrant custom design.According to reports, the Titan was using certain “off-the-shelf” equipment, but it’s difficult to say whether this was certified for its intended use at these depths.Safety systemsIn the Titan’s case, a tether with the mothership would have
Bosch Rexroth Presents "Disruptive" Electric Subsea Valve Actuator
solution uses a great deal of energy in order to compensate for the cumulated losses and it cannot control the movement with precision, the company explains."To date, plant engineers and operators have still relied on hydraulic cylinders because they are the only components to offer field-proven safety systems with a mechanical spring in a compact design. The electric actuators which are currently available do not have such a safety function as this is not possible given the size and weight requirements," the company further says.Per Bosch Rexroth, approaches designed to ensure safety using subsea
Subsea Valve Actuator certified for Safety Integrity Level 3
The new concept for Subsea Valve Actuators (SVA) from Bosch Rexroth has been certified by DNV GL for application in safety systems with up to Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3 requirements. The SVA is a self-contained actuator for opening and closing process valves in the deep sea at depths down to 3000 meters and deeper. The system consists of an electrically controlled drive with a hydrostatic transmission.The patent-protected SVA is design to open and close process valves for oil and gas production or in CO2 storage systems in deep sea applications. A redundant design, for example of the safety
Support Vessel Delivered to Oceaneering
vessels design and construction was done with well stimulation and light well intervention in mind as a key capability. The underdeck storage capacity of up to 413 cubic meters of special products maximizes use of the critical deck space for pumping and intervention equipment. The vessel layout and safety systems meet ABS class requirements for a special well stimulation and well intervention notation.The vessel is equipped with two Oceaneering work class ROV systems. One 220-horsepower Millennium Plus and one 250-horsepower NEXXUS systems are on board, each with active heave compensated launch and recovery
BP Doubles Down on Deepwater
. Richard Sears - who served as chief scientist on the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling - said such projects can be managed safely at low oil prices. The causes of the BP disaster had more to do with poor decision-making and slipshod safety systems than cost-cutting, said Sears, who previously managed production projects at Shell. BP said it has bolstered safety operations globally since the spill, introducing a safety and operational risk staff with 800 positions and an internal global wells organization to standardize drilling
ABS Makes it Safer to ‘Walk to Work’
ABS announced the publication of The ABS Guide for Certification of Offshore Access Gangways. The new Guide addresses certification for safety systems used for “walk to work” (W2W) crew transfers. “As advanced crew transfer options become the norm in the offshore oil and gas industry, more and more companies want to benefit from W2W vessels and are looking to ABS for safety guidance,” says ABS Chief Technology Officer, Howard Fireman. “Our new guide provides the information the industry needs to execute safe personnel transfers.” Offshore access gangways with
Lloyd's Register Extends Drilling Rig Integrity Support
support for the Deepwater Invictus drilling rig. The company’s expertise in blow-out preventers (BOPs) and rig integrity will be used to provide confidence in how risk is managed for deepwater drilling and well exploration. Kevin Comeau, Dynamic Positioning / Power Management & Marine Safety Systems Manager at LR, said, “We have had a team supporting the Gulf Of Mexico (GOM) drilling program on board Deepwater Invictus and it is this same team that has been requested for BHP Billiton’s drilling program in Trinidad. Although the core part of our work is on BOP operation, rig integrity
Expro Sign Subsea Framework Agreement with Statoil
;Expro are well positioned to support Statoil in Norway with recent investments in a new base and technology – including our $10m facility in Tananger.” Last year, Expro secured key contracts with Statoil in Canada and Norway for the provision of surface well testing, subsea safety systems, drill stem testing tools, tubing conveyed perforation, downhole sampling and on-site chemistry services.
Top 10 Cyber Security Issues for Oil & Gas Industry
are rare, but a lot of lesser attacks go undetected or unreported as many organizations do not know that someone has broken into their systems. The first line of attack is often the office environment of an oil and gas company, working through to the production network and process control and safety systems,” says Petter Myrvang, head of the Security and Information Risk, DNV GL - Oil & Gas. While the study focused on operations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, the issues are equally applicable to oil and gas operations anywhere in the world. The top ten cyber security
February 2024
