Large Diameter Drilling (LDD) and Barge Master have partnered to deliver the first-ever drilling operation from a diving support and construction vessel (DSCV), in water depths in excess of 885 ft. Through the integration of LDD’s reverse circulation LD2500 drilling rig and Barge Master’s motion compensation platform (BM-T700) LDD, the companies have successfully completed the installation of seven anchor mooring piles for a Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring (CALM) Buoy. The Limetree Bay Installation project was executed in the Caribbean Sea, approximately 1.2 mi off the coast of St. Croix, where operational and environmental constraints reportedly limited the use of more conventional methods. Photo: Barge Master.
Fugro has secured a large marine survey contract from Inpex Masela, Ltd., for the Abadi LNG project in Indonesia. Under terms of the contract, Fugro will perform geophysical and geotechnical surveys, as well as the associated studies needed to support FEED for offshore production facilities and the submarine pipeline to the onshore LNG terminal. According to the company, geo-data will be acquired using its deepwater AUV Echo Surveyor and its robotic seafloor drill, Seafloor Drill 2. Photo: Fugro.
Ocean Installer has won a subsea power cable installation contract for CNOOC’s Liuhua 16-2 development, in the South China Sea. The field is situated approximately 149 mi south of Hong Kong, in a water depth of about 1,312 ft. Under terms of the contract, the company will provide project management, engineering, transportation and installation, as well as various other support functions. Ocean Installer reportedly will perform the work as a subcontractor to COOEC Subsea Technology Co., Ltd., which is responsible for the deepwater SURF EPCI scope. According to the company, this is its second subsea job in China.
Sparrows Group has been awarded a contract from McDermott International. Under terms of the contract, Sparrows will manufacture three cranes for Qatargas’ North Field expansion project, situated offshore Qatar’s northeastern peninsula. It will deliver two of its EC750 cranes for installation on wellhead platforms, as well as an EC1000 crane for a riser platform. The cranes are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter. Once on location at North field, Sparrows reportedly will support the continued operation of the cranes.
Shell International E&P, Inc., and i-Tech 7, Subsea 7’s life-of-field business unit, have entered into a collaborative technology agreement to accelerate subsea digitalization. The agreement is for an initial period of five years, beginning from fourth-quarter 2019. According to the companies, the agreement will help fast-track innovation and streamline the adoption of applied technologies in areas such as marine robotics, advanced sensing, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems to address the industry’s challenges to improve safety, cost-efficiency and sustainability. Photo: i-Tech 7.
Subsea UK has partnered with Big Blue Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit ocean protection organization that supports initiatives to prevent pollution of the ocean. As part of the new partnership, the company is supporting Big Blue’s Ocean Protection Project, which is aimed at companies seeking to make a positive contribution to supporting the marine environment and preventing further pollution. Subsea UK CEO Neil Gordon said, “Our industry takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. We recognize that, as our underwater industry sectors profit from the Blue Economy, we have a duty of care to the oceans and the seabeds, and are committed to operating in this fragile environment in a way that is safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly.”
Tendeka has received a Letter of Intent for a multi-million-pound sand-face completion scope from Aker BP. Over the next three years, the existing frame agreement reportedly will see Tendeka deliver its sand screens and FloSure Autonomous Inflow Control Devices to Aker BP’s fields on the NCS, including the Valhall, Ula, Ivar Aasen (pictured), Alvheim and Skarv field hubs. Photo: Aker BP.
BJ Services has entered into a multi-year contract with Aethon Energy for deployment of the company’s first TITAN next-generation fracturing fleet in the Haynesville shale. According to the company, the first TITAN prototype pump completed more than 500 hr of field testing on Aethon Haynesville well locations already this year. The first fleet reportedly will deploy during the fourth quarter, which will launch the beginning of the company’s next-generation fleet strategy.
Emerson and Quantum Reservoir Impact (QRI) have partnered to develop and market next-generation applications for AI-based analytics and decision-making tools customized for oil and gas E&P. The combination of the companies’ technology and expertise reportedly will help oil and gas customers embrace digital transformation technologies and harness vast amounts of data to optimize their reservoir management strategies. They will apply advanced computational technologies to help geoscientists and engineers make actionable and reliable field development decisions quickly, mitigating risks and leading to higher productivity and better performance.
Sandvik has secured its first large-scale stainless steel umbilical tube order in Brazil’s pre-salt Mero field, in the Santos basin offshore Rio de Janeiro. The contract win is significant for the country’s offshore oil and gas sector, because it typically uses thermoplastic hose umbilicals. The order will consist of over 500 km of the company’s super duplex Sandvik SAF 2507 stainless steel umbilical tubes encapsulated by Prysmian Group. The tubes are austenitic-ferritic stainless steel, which is said to perform well in highly corrosive conditions, offering resistance to stress corrosion cracking, pitting and crevice corrosion, erosion corrosion and corrosion fatigue.
Ampelmann has entered Guyana with a new contract from SBM Offshore for FPSO hook-up and commissioning. An Ampelmann E-type system was mobilized on the Normand Installer vessel to allow personnel to easily access the FPSO. The system reportedly was perfectly suited for the conditions as it is said to have an outstanding track record and can fully compensate vessel motion in wave heights up to 4.5 m Hs. According to the company, the system enabled close to 10,000 safe personnel transfers to and from the FPSO throughout the duration of the project.
