Fiber-Optic Connector Technology for O&G Ops

Fiber-optics (FO) technology is finding new uses in subsea applications. Fiber allows longer transmission distances and higher data rates than copper — a fortuitous development, as offshore drilling moves to deeper depths. Petroleum exploration and production are also becoming smarter, as operators pursue real-time information and analysis of both the individual well and the entire production chain from well to topside or land-based platform.

AAE-1 Cable System Upgrade Underway

TE SubCom and the consortium behind the Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1) cable system, announced today that the deployment of a large-scale wavelength equipage to the system is currently underway. The equipage will utilize TE SubCom’s advanced 100 Gbps optical transmission equipment, representing a leap forward in undersea capacity. AAE-1 is a 25,000 km system owned by a consortium of 19 global service providers that will connect Southeast Asia to Europe across Egypt…

Iran to Launch Home-Made Submarine Soon

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says the Islamic Republic will soon launch a new domestically-manufactured submarine. "The Navy's new submarine will be launched soon," Iran's state-run news agency quoted Rear Admiral Sayyari as saying. The Submarine 'Fateh' (triumphant) was tested in a joint military forces maneuver in January 2015. Iran is also working on a new destroyer and…

Evolution of Ocean Exploration: Mapping the Seafloor with Geodesy

The evolution of ocean exploration continues with seafloor mapping with Geodesy. In an age where the surface of Mercury and Mars can be mapped in great detail, it’s difficult to imagine how around 85-95 percent of our ocean floor remain enigmatic. While advanced sonar technology has allowed ships to create highly detailed topographic maps, it would take 125-200 ship-years to survey the deep oceans alone, costing billions of dollars.

Global Markets Ripe for US Marine Technologies

The growing worldwide demand for marine technologies, port construction and shipbuilding is generating new export opportunities for U.S. companies. As more firms look to boost their bottom line by maximizing their reach to the more than 95 percent of world consumers who live outside of the United States, many are taking advantage of numerous export resources along the way. At the same time, many other businesses have yet to export. International Trade Specialist Maryanne Burke leads the U.S.

FMC Gets Shell Ultra-deep Subsea Equipment Order

FMC Technologies, Inc. to support Shell's ultra-deepwater project in the Walker Ridge area of the Gulf of Mexico. Stones is located approximately 200 miles (322 kilometers) off the Louisiana coast in approximately 9,600 feet (2,926 meters) of water. FMC Technologies' scope of supply includes eight subsea trees, a subsea manifold, topside and subsea controls and associated equipment. "Deepwater operations in the Gulf of Mexico require advanced capabilities and innovative solutions…

Tracking Underwater Pipes and Cables

Utility companies have been laying pipes and cables across the ocean floor for more than a century. Prior to the introduction of GPS, marking their position was a difficult and tedious task, fraught with error. It is extremely important to know the exact location of existing lines before undertaking dredging operations or when new pipes and cables are laid down. Regulations require they be buried from…

Next-Generation Subsea Metrology: Better Measurements, Fast

DOF Subsea, together with subsea technology companies Sonardyne, 2G Robotics and Seatronics (an Acteon company), successfully demonstrated a new underwater surveying technique in December that could significantly shorten the time needed to map underwater structures and offshore sites. Representatives from across the North Sea energy sector, including senior figures from oil majors, contracting companies and service providers…

Riptide Expands Its UUV Product Line

Unmanned undersea vehicles (UUV) manufacturer Riptide Autonomous Solutions said it has added two new platform offerings to complement its micro-UUV launched in 2016. The new 1-Man and 2-Man Portable UUVs use the same technical architecture, hydrodynamic hull shape and electronics as the original Micro-UUV. Drawing upon advanced manufacturing, modern electronics and open source concepts the larger Riptide vehicles will deliver the same flexible solution already favored by Micro-UUV users.

SoCal Tech Focus: DimEye

In February 2017 DimEye released the diver version of its 3D subsea inspection system: VLS (video laser scan). The system is based upon a combination of advanced photogrammetry and laser triangulation techniques: photogrammetry provides characteristic points and features of the object to be measured as well as precise location and orientation of the cameras, while laser triangulation allows the measurement of thousands of 3D points on every single laser line projected on the object surface.

KVH Industries Acquires Videotel

KVH Industries, Inc., acquired Videotel, a producer of high-quality training films and e-Learning services for the commercial maritime industry. Servicing over 11,000 vessels, Videotel is a market leader in the provision of maritime training services, offering video, animation, e-Learning computer-based training (CBT), and interactive distance learning courses. “The acquisition of Videotel is an important…

iXBlue Launches ROVINS NANO

iXBlue is launching ROVINS NANO, an inertial navigation system designed for ROV navigation. Based on iXBlue’s fiber optic gyroscope technology, ROVINS NANO has been designed for ROV pilots performing maintenance and construction operations. It offers the stability and accuracy of the inertial position, outputting true north, roll, pitch and rotation rates. Paul Wysocki, iXBlue ROVINS NANO Product Manager…

Technic Awarded New Offshore Agreement by Oil Majors

Technip informs it has been awarded a new framework agreement by Statoil, Exxon Mobil and Gassco for diving, subsea intervention and repair contingency services. Under the terms of this framework agreement, a replacement of an existing frame agreement held for eight years, Technip will provide these services for the next four years. This new contract, effective from December 1st 2014, also includes an option for additional periods up to seven years.

EvoLogics Showcase Latest Developments

EvoLogics extended its ranges of underwater acoustic modems (S2CR series) and combined positioning and communication devices (S2CR USBL series), with new products - the S2CR 42/65 and S2CR 42/65 USBL, high-speed devices with hemispherical beam patterns for transmissions in vertical, slant and horizontal channels. Both devices rely on the EvoLogics patented S2C (Sweep-Spread Carrier) broadband communication technology.

Forum Subsea Rentals Adds iXBlue Systems

Forum Subsea Rentals made further investment in inertial navigation technology from supplier iXBlue. The equipment is due to be utilized for ROV positioning in survey and construction support applications on projects worldwide. The contract includes a quantity of ROVINS subsea inertial navigation systems as well as OCTANS gyrocompasses that are upgradable to full INS capability of the ROVINS. The positioning…

Keppel Delivers Arabian Drilling Company Rig

Keppel delivers its 45th KFELS B Class jackup rig with another 18 such rigs on order. These KFELS B Class rigs make up more than 30% of the total jackups completed globally since 2000. The rig was delivered to Arabian Drilling Company (ADC) 14 days ahead of schedule, on budget and with a perfect safety record. Keppel FELS earning them an early delivery bonus of US$210,000. Named ArabDrill 50 at a ceremony, the rig will be chartered to Saudi Aramco for operations in offshore Saudi Arabia.

Design of Hydraulic Systems for Subsea Applications

More than two-thirds of the earth’s surface is covered by water, and there are many potential resources there that await exploration and development. Industries involved in this new frontier include mining, oil and gas, infrastructure, energy generation and natural science. These activities all involve complex and highly technical systems. Many of them, particularly those performed beneath the sea’s surface…

Acoustic Zoom: The Future of Offshore Exploration

Since industrial oil extraction began in the mid-19th century, civilization has gradually turned to new offshore resources to meet global energy demands. As the industry ventures further into polar and deep-water regions, the complexity of today’s exploration projects continues to rise. Given the falling oil prices and rising production costs, current market dynamics will become a catalyst for changes in conventional explorative and extraction practices.

General Dynamics Fidelis Cybersecurity Solutions Tie-up with Microsoft

General Dynamics Fidelis Cybersecurity Solutions announced that it has joined the Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP). Under this industry partnership program, General Dynamics Fidelis will receive advanced information from Microsoft about their monthly security bulletins, allowing the team to anticipate emerging threats and provide faster and more comprehensive protection for Fidelis XPS customers.

Klein Hires Dentzman as Sales Manager

Klein Marine Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitcham Industries, Inc., announced that Richard Dentzman has joined Klein as Regional Sales Manager. Dentzman joins Klein Marine Systems as a Regional Sales Manager, contributing to Klein’s market share expansion and new product introduction, as well as strengthening cooperation with customers in the U.S. Navy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the U.S.