oil&gasf r o m e x p l o r a t i o n t o e n d u s e r

europeanis

sue

101

ear

LY

europeanoilandgas.co.uk

this issUE:

High standardssafety and regulation for offshore workers at height

Minimising the risksHow companies can lower the risks within cloud computing

Why investing in infrastructure is a lifelong task

Builtto last

the emergence of the projects, technology and procurement division in E&P

http://www.ge.com/

Over the past 40 years the North

Sea has been filled with offshore oil and gas infrastructure,

much of which is nearing the end or has already exceeded

its original design life. With the decommissioning industry

experiencing an enormous surge in activity there is little

doubt that the market for abandonment projects for these old

platforms is huge.

But, considering the scale of such work is abandonment

really the best option? Well, in our lead feature this issue

Chris Hamlet of ADIL discusses why lifelong investment and

maintenance could be the best option for operators. “It is well-

recognised in the industry that it is much easier and cheaper

to maintain a structure than to repair it offshore,” he explains

from page four. Of course, in an industry where budgets are

scrutinised, structural integrity is often an area that is the first

to be cut by eager operations managers, but should that really

be the case? Take a read to find out the other options.

As we’re all aware, the dangers of neglecting maintenance can

be catastrophic in our sector, which is a theme that is picked

up in our second lead feature this issue. Here we are reminded

that above all else, complacency is something that should

never be allowed to creep into E&P operations.

editors Libbie HammOnd & matt HigH

1

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

it is well-recognised in the industry that it is much easier and cheaper to maintain a structure than to repair it offshore”

PLEASE NOTE: The opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers within this publication do not necessarily coincide with those of the editor and publisher. Every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information published is accurate, but no legal responsibility for loss occasioned by the use of such information can be accepted by the publisher. All rights reserved. The contents of the magazine are strictly copyright, the property of Schofield Publishing, and may not be copied, stored in a retrieval system, or reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Chairman andrew Schofield Group Managing director mike tulloch

Managing editor Libbie Hammondlibbie@schofieldpublishing.co.ukeditor matt Highmhigh@schofieldpublishing.co.uk staff Writers Kirsty birkett-StubbsJo Cooperdrew dann editorial Administrator emma Harris

Art editor gérard Roadley-battinAdvertising design Jenni newmanProduction Manager Fleur ConwayProduction AdministratorVicky Howes

sales director david garnerCorporate Advertising sales david Kingdking@schofieldpublishing.co.uksales Finlay JohnsonHead of research Philip monumentBusiness development Manager mark Cawstonresearch Managers natalie martin ben Richell editorial researchers ed Hipperson Kieran ShukriJeff Johnson

office Manager tracy Chynoweth

© 2013 Schofield Publishing Limited all rights reserved

10 Cringleford business Centreintwood Road Cringleford norwich nR4 6aU

T: +44 (0) 1603 274130F: +44 (0) 1603 274131schofield-media.com

Editors

Profiles

Regulars

4 Lead feature Chris Hamlet on why investing in infrastructure is a lifelong commitment

8 IT How oil and gas companies can minimise the risks within cloud computing

12 News A look at some of the recent developments within the oil and gas industry

14 Lead feature While safety has improved, the threat of serious incidents offshore remains 18 HSE The importance of safety and regulation for offshore workers at height 22 Technology The emergence of the projects, technology and procurement division in E&P

26 Apache North Sea

45 Isolated Systems

48 A.Hak International

50 Tata Steel

53 Suretank

55 Fluxys

58 Bibby Maritime

60 VTTI Fujairah Terminals

63 TME Hydraulics

65 Breman Machinery

68 Favelle Favco

70 Ocean Rig UDW

73 Stork Technical Services

75 AXTech

79 Loops Automation

81 North Sea Shipping

26

2

EuRo

PEaN

oIL

& g

aS

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

9618

4

14

58

55

75

Contents

101 Koso Kent Introl

103 STREICHER Drilling Technology

106 Geokrak

108 Arctic Services group

110 Prime Drilling

112 Buchan Technical Services

115 Swift Energy

85 IHC Handling Systems

88 Icon Offshore Berhad

90 Uvdal Maskinfabrikk

93 ATPC

96 Deep Sea Mooring

98 ProtankGrüp

26

3

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

96

88

108

90

55

75

ver the past 40 years there have been in

excess of 300 structures installed in the

North Sea on which people work. There

are also more than 10,000 km of pipelines,

5000 wells and numerous subsea clusters

to facilitate the extraction of oil and gas. This is the result

of a huge investment in the North Sea, but represents only

a small proportion of the offshore structures that exist

around the globe. This oil and gas infrastructure has brought

wealth both to the host nations and, in most cases, the oil

companies who funded their construction and installation.

It is unlikely that when any one of these structures was

built it was contemplated that it would still be operating

40 years later. Typical design lives for installations were

25 years: yet they are still operating today. In the early

days of the North Sea the Southern North Sea gas jackets

were based upon designs used in the Gulf of Mexico, for

operating conditions vastly different from those seen in

the North Sea.

But it is a testament to the engineers who designed,

installed and cared for this infrastructure that the majority

of it is still here, and still capable of operating. Early

platforms were generally designed by slide-rule (the days

well before computers), to codes that were influenced

by experience and designs, which were usually over-

engineered. By contrast, modern design techniques are

much more sophisticated, with large computer models and

finite element analysis.

The over-engineering approach adopted in the past, coupled

with modern day analysis and design techniques, has allowed

engineers to modify, add to and extend the life of these

structures in a way that no-one could have imagined in those

early days. Indeed, there are several structures for which current

and future plans will take them past 50 years in operation.

O

Chris hamlet, operations and improvement manager at adiL, on why investing in infrastructure is a LifeLong task

4

euro

pean

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

“

Builtto last

Belowchris hamlet, operations and improvement manager at adiL

Lead one

end of its economically useful life it has to be removed. The

advantage now turns to the newer platform, which may have

had abandonment designed in, and the chances of having

complete drawings is higher. Few of the older platforms

had abandonment as a consideration, resulting in really

challenging projects to remove these structures safely and in

the most environmentally responsible way.

The success criteria of an abandonment project are often

very different from an installation. These projects are often

driven less by schedule and more by the technical challenges,

but are, and will be a huge industry for a long time to come.

It is well-recognised in the industry that it is much easier

and cheaper to maintain a structure than to repair it offshore.

Typical estimates in terms of cost difference have a large

range, but most engineers will accept a ratio of five times

more expensive to repair or replace infrastructure than to

care for it properly in the first place.

Some structures are, however, being replaced.

For example, ConocoPhillips is investing in new

infrastructure for its Norwegian North Sea Ekofisk

development, which celebrated 40 years in operation

two years ago. There is an expectation that the Ekofisk

development will still be in operation in 2050: amounting

to 80 years of continuous production.

Eventually even the best designed, maintained and

cared for structures will come to the end of their lives. In

some cases, like Ekofisk, production is sufficient to justify

replacement. But in other cases, future production of the

owners will not be sufficient to underpin the capital required

to fund replacement or enhancement of the infrastructure.

Unless there is external interest (and funding) from third

party neighbouring field owners to keep it alive, it will come

to the end of its useful life.

Where a structure or subsea development has reached the

5

Euro

pEan

oiL

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

North Sea field owners, just does not hit the radar of the

Super Major or Major that currently owns and cares for

these structures. Yet if not cared for, they will have to shut

down and be removed, potentially stranding the smaller

fields. This will choke the investment that the smaller

companies can bring and may ultimately result in a loss of

income for the country.

So what can the industry do?Where budget cuts are unavoidable, operators need a tool

that will allow them, once all the efficiency savings have been

achieved, to assess the long-term impact and costs associated

with cutting spend on structural integrity. This will ensure

that the focus is on what is important rather than what is

obvious or easy. These tools are available.

The major infrastructure owners need some incentive to

ensure that significant structural infrastructure (both topsides

processing capacity and pipelines) is operated and cared

for in a way that makes its utilisation by third parties as

attractive as cost cutting. This may be a bigger issue than the

industry can solve on its own.

Traditionally, where large investments have been made

to renew or upgrade infrastructure they have been justified

and funded on the basis of the economics of a single large

field or group of fields, where the operators have managed

to resolve the difficulties and are investing as a group. No

major investment to date has been on the basis of providing

infrastructure independent of field ownership - which

6

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

aS

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

So why, in some cases, has our infrastructure not been looked after as well as it might have been? One answer may be that the oil industry has long been

inflicted with boom and bust cycles. What areas traditionally

get cut first when an operations manager has to reduce his

budget for financial reasons rather than technical ones?

Two that immediately spring to mind are crew competency

assurance and structural integrity.

The former because the effects are (mostly) not

immediately obvious, the latter because integrity

programmes are often aimed at providing assurance that

nothing is wrong – the maxim being “Why should we spend

a lot of money telling us nothing is wrong?”

For infrastructure that has been sold on, the asset integrity

history may have been lost or, in the years preceding the sale,

the seller has cut budgets to gain better selling economics.

The seller may also have had a diminishing long-term

interest during these years in the structure, classing it as little

more than an item for sale.

Most of the larger infrastructure was put in the North

Sea by companies now classed as ‘Super Majors’ or

‘Majors’. The increase in net present value (NPV) to such

companies to be gained from extending the life of large

and complex infrastructure is, in the twilight years of the

underlying reservoirs, often low down in the priorities of

their investment portfolios, especially when any future value

needs to come from third party business. The size of third

party projects that may make or break many of the smaller

ADILChris Hamlet is operations and improvement manager at ADIL, an integrated development and operations management business, providing full field development and operations services to its operator clients. Established in 2006, the company uses tried and tested management tools developed in-house by its experienced personnel. The service offering extends from field appraisal to abandonment and encompasses development and operations management, acquisition support, due diligence and non-operated joint-venture assistance, performance improvement, licence operations management and full supply chain support. The company is completely independent, owned and funded by its founders and senior staff, and is uniquely positioned to offer impartial services to operators of any size.

For further information please visit:assetdev.com

Lead one

anyone can access. A smaller player seeking to tie in to a

major existing development can lose a significant proportion

of the value in its field in major modifications, high operating

costs possibly as a result of someone else’s poor investment

decisions, and paying to keep existing infrastructure open.

Alternatively, it may see a development opportunity fail

through lack of available infrastructure.

So, has the time come for entrepreneurs to invest in new

infrastructure or enhancements to existing infrastructure on

the basis of processing and transportation tariffs, not on the

basis of reserves? In this way the infrastructure is the asset,

with structural integrity becoming an investment, rather than

a cost. At the same time the plethora of smaller operators will

have an opportunity to access and use this infrastructure at a

fair cost that leaves them with value and is not compromised

by the infrastructure owner's reserves position.

As an innovative company without any vested interests in

North Sea licence equity, ADIL is actively promoting ways

of bringing smaller field operators together to create hubs of

activity around new independent infrastructure. We believe

that without such initiatives much of the remaining volumes

still undeveloped in the North Sea may be lost. But we (or

others) will only succeed if the smaller players in the North

Sea are prepared to co-operate with each other and to have

some degree of faith and trust in those who are trying to

facilitate such an enterprise.

It is obvious that if an entity’s profits are generated mainly

by product sales, its focus will be on this, rather than on

7

Euro

pEAn

oIL

& g

As

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

offering services to third parties. If, however, its profits are

generated by providing services (in this case the processing

and transportation of crude hydrocarbons) the focus will be

on providing the service for as long as possible. That brings

a focus on operating efficiency and structural integrity, and

must be good for everyone.

In the brave new world of the North Sea an offshore

oil and gas structure may not be just for one field. It

could be a long-term asset for the benefit of all, if its

integrity is maintained.

Where budget cuts are unavoidable, operators need a tool that will allow them, once all the efficiency savings have been achieved, to assess the long-term impact and costs associated with cutting spend on structural integrity. This will ensure that the focus is on what is important rather than what is obvious or easy. These tools are available

ost organisations have an unnecessarily

complex IT infrastructure that has grown

organically and limits performance,

scalability and the ability to adapt to

changing business requirements. Cloud

computing promises limitless capacity, almost total flexibility

and increased efficiency, as well as moving IT spending

from capital costs to predictable operating expenditure. The

reasons organisations should consider cloud computing are

shown in Figure 1.

However, take-up has been slower than might be

expected. Based on industry surveys and Fordway’s own

analysis, the main issues limiting the growth of cloud involve

the management of risk. A major loss of service such as a

data centre failure, security breach or other outage, or even

reduced performance, can create significant issues.

Under most public cloud service SLAs, the cloud provider

will apologise and refund a proportion of the monthly service

fee. The user, on the other hand, is receiving recompense

that covers a very small proportion of the disruption, missed

business opportunity, effort and cost that they have incurred

due to the outage.

The majority of these issues are negated if the

organisation re-architects its IT infrastructure as a private

cloud serving its users, potentially with specific, low

risk elements migrated to publicly available services –

effectively creating a hybrid cloud. This will still need to

have and run its own infrastructure, or have a trusted third

party run this.

Once the organisation is familiar and comfortable with

cloud concepts and practices, it can consider moving more

services to public cloud. There are two choices – managed

cloud services and ‘vanilla’ cloud (Table 1).

With a vanilla cloud service, a third party provides capacity

in its data centre, but the organisation still manages the

service itself – which means it needs to have appropriately

skilled staff and the time to manage the service effectively.

Vanilla cloud also does not include application specific

security or anything tailored to the organisation’s specific

needs. Many cloud services are not yet able to handle all

aspects of infrastructure and applications – especially when

an organisation has 20 years’ worth of legacy applications

that still run or support important business processes. For

legacy and existing applications that your organisation

needs to retain, the best option would be to host these on

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). If you do not opt for a

managed cloud service it will still need in-house monitoring

and management capability to ensure the service you have

contracted for is actually what you receive.

In contrast, managed cloud enables an organisation to

transfer responsibility for all aspects of a specific service

or services to a third party provider, who provides a cloud

M8

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

richard Blanford discusses how oil and gas companies can minimise the risks within cloud computing

minimising the

IT

consider how best to deliver them. You may want to run

business applications yourself, but could decide to hand

non-core or commodity services to a third party to provide

and manage. The decision could also be based on handing

over responsibility for areas where the organisation does

not have the skills in-house or cannot justify the cost of

employing specialists, such as a storage system and back-up

management or IT security. At this point, the organisation

will want to review whether cloud or managed cloud services

are most appropriate. Do you simply want capacity and

equipment to be provided by a third party, or would you like

management too?

The next step is to assess potential suppliers to see if any

can provide the required service to the desired level. The key

criteria to consider are:

Expertise 6

Track record 6

Responsiveness and flexibility 6

Financial stability 6

Innovation 6

Whether they provide the service directly themselves or 6

are fronting for other providers

Ability and willingness to guarantee required service levels 6

Independently verified quality standards such as 6

ISO27000, Pan-Government Accreditation, ISO20000,

ISO9000.

service with a management layer on top. The outcome

is fixed and predictable costs, internally managed service

delivery and clear internally developed, robust SLAs. We call

it ‘cloud on the user’s terms’.

Public cloud Managed service

On demand Committed resources

Pay as you go and pay on use Known, fixed costs

Primarily self service Assisted service

Basic hosting Managed environment

Standard SLA Custom SLA

No customisation Tuned to user requirements

Table 1.

Based on our experience with a range of organisations,

Fordway recommends a five-step process to review the best

solution for your organisation:

Define the services you need 6

See whether there is a viable cloud option available 6

Assess potential suppliers 6

Assess the risks of each approach 6

If the cloud option is suitable or best value, agree an 6

appropriate SLA.

The first step is to agree the applications and services

required and the associated SLAs your business needs, and

9

Euro

pEan

oIl

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

an SLA for the service or services, followed by migration to

the chosen service provider. Please remember that moving

existing applications and services to the cloud is a migration,

in the same way that internal infrastructure and application

upgrades are, so you either need to have the migration skills

to move the applications and services yourselves, if using

public cloud, or engage with organisations that also have

expertise in that area.

Practical examplesPetroplan is a global recruitment organisation that provides

staff to companies in the oil, gas and petrochemical

industries in more than 40 countries. As well as designing

a new IT infrastructure for Petroplan’s headquarters,

Fordway provides backup and recovery as a service

(BRaaS). It hosts a replicated version of Petroplan’s

SAN on its own shared services platform and data is

asynchronously replicated in real time between the two

sites using an automated process which can be managed

from a single console. Fordway also provides remote

monitoring and management of the infrastructure.

An engineering joint venture was set up by three large

organisations to deliver a major infrastructure project. They

10

Euro

PEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

Despite the benefits of managed cloud services, concerns

about trust, reliability, security and continuity remain, and

the right partner is crucial. Not all service providers are the

same, and an organisation may need to work with multiple

providers to create a hybrid solution.

The next step is to assess the risks of using a third party

provider for specific services. Fordway recommends using

the following checklist:

Will the supplier still be around in five years’ time? 6

Is their infrastructure up to the job? 6

Are the SLAs understandable, viable and agreeable to you? 6

Do they have genuine expertise in the areas they 6

will be managing?

6Will you as an organisation have access to that in-depth

expertise, or will your needs by handled by a junior

member of their team?

Are they flexible enough to respond to changing 6

circumstances, or so tied up in red tape that any change

requires a lot of work?

Are you just another customer or does providing a first 6

class service genuinely matter to them?

If the review concludes that managed cloud services will

be beneficial in one or more areas, the final step is to define

Please remember that moving existing applications and services to the cloud is a migration, in the same way that internal infrastructure and application upgrades are, so you either need to have the migration skills to move the applications and services yourselves, if using public cloud, or engage with organisations that also have expertise in that area

FordwayRichard Blanford is managing director at Fordway, which has over 20 years’ experience helping large and medium-sized organisations, across all market sectors, realise the best from their IT infrastructure. To find out more or to discuss whether a free Cloud Readiness Assessment might be appropriate for your business, please contact Fordway on 08448 700 100 or email cloud@fordway.com

For further information please visit:fordway.com

decided to create an independent IT infrastructure and

use a managed service from Fordway, enabling them to get

the infrastructure up and running quickly and ensuring

consistent access for all parties. They can add capacity as

needed, only paying for capacity used, and scale back as

the project draws to a close. At the end of the contract they

will have no residual issues and the environment will be

torn down, with data distributed as required. This solution

is ideal for “volatile” projects, providing IT on a pay as you

need basis.

Cloud service modelsCloud Software as a Service (SaaS). The organisation

uses the cloud provider’s applications running on a

cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessed

through a thin client interface such as a web browser

(e.g. web-based email). The organisation does not

manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure.

Cloud Platform as a Service (PaaS). The organisation

deploys its own-created or acquired applications onto

the cloud infrastructure. It does not manage or control

the underlying cloud infrastructure, but has control

over the deployed applications and possibly application

11

EuRo

pEAn

oIl

& g

As

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

hosting environment configurations.

Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). The

organisation can provision processing, storage, networks

and other fundamental computing resources and deploy

and run arbitrary software, which can include operating

systems and applications. They do not manage or

control the underlying cloud infrastructure but have

control over operating systems, storage, deployed

applications and possibly limited control of select

networking components (e.g. host firewalls).

IT

Guardian, the leading independent designer and manufacturer of advanced ballistics and

production logging technology, is pleased to announce the appointment of oil and gas upstream

expert Patrick Keenan as the company’s new CEO.

With a 38-year career in technology services in the oil and gas industry, Keenan is extremely well

qualified to take over the executive leadership of Guardian. As CEO he is charged with driving the

company’s growth and leading expansion internationally, particularly in the US.

He will focus on the commercialisation of the company’s significant portfolio of technology

products that have been developed over the past two years. Keenan was most recently CEO of

FRAM Exploration ASA (Fram), a start-up Norwegian oil and gas exploration and production

company with oil producing assets in North Dakota and Colorado in the US and onshore Trinidad.

Prior to joining Fram, he served as President of GeoMechanics International (GMI), a technology

spin-off from Stanford University, for seven years. During this period he guided the company

to become the recognised leader in consulting, training and software in the field of reservoir

geomechanics in the oil and gas and geothermal industries and then he led the sale of company to

Baker Hughes Inc. in April 2008.

Key acquisition

Guarding the future

3sun Group, a specialist provider of products and services to the global energy industry, has

announced the acquisition of RRC Controls Services Ltd, based in Gourdon, Aberdeenshire. The

deal, worth a six-figure sum, is part of 3sun Group’s plans to expand its footprint in Aberdeen and

enhance its service offering to the energy industry.

The acquisition of RRC Controls Services, an established manufacturer of subsea control systems

for the offshore oil and gas industry, will allow 3sun to provide the global subsea market with full

turnkey engineering solutions. These will be delivered at much shorter timescales from a lower

cost base and all elements of a subsea system will be manufactured in-house, rather than being

outsourced.

Graham Hacon, managing director of 3sun Group says: “RRC Controls Services delivers high

quality products and services and we have been tracking its progress for some time now. We saw an

opportunity to extend beyond our past working relationships through acquisition.

“Bringing RRC Controls Services into the 3sun Group combines our collective knowledge and

resources to provide clients with full turnkey solutions, quickly and cost efficiently. This puts us in a

unique market position to serve the global subsea sector whilst extending our oil and gas portfolio.”

Above: (l-r) Graham Hacon, managing director of 3sun Group, Neil Tawse, regional director for 3sun Group, and Ray Connelly director of RRC Controls Services Ltd

12

Euro

pEan

oil

& G

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

impeccable recordInternational drilling contractor,

KCA Deutag, has signed two

significant contracts valued at over

$165 million. The first contract

is a new five-year operations

and maintenance programme

for platforms offshore Angola

with mutually agreeable options

to extend the duration of this

contract. KCA Deutag has had an

operational presence in Angola

since 2004, and with this contract,

extends its Angolan business from

one operational string to three. In

keeping with KCA Deutag’s history

of utilising local talent, 70 per cent

of the crew for this project will be

Angolan nationals.

The second award is a 30-month

extension to an existing drilling and

maintenance services contract for

a platform in Norway. This work

further complements KCA Deutag’s

business, which commenced drilling

in the Norwegian Continental Shelf

in the 1970s and now has circa 1100

employees.

Rune Lorentzen, president of

offshore for KCA Deutag, said:

“To be awarded two contracts in

these core markets is an excellent

result for KCA Deutag. We have

an undeniably strong reputation

working in these offshore regions,

and these contracts will only serve

to enhance this even further. Going

forward we are able to continue to

produce results in regions where we

have an impeccable track record.”

A snapshot survey taken after the recent North Sea helicopter crash, and responded to by over 1000

offshore workers, has revealed that 89 per cent believe that the Super Puma should be taken out of

service, and other helicopters considered, such as the more advanced S-92.

The S-92 helicopter was introduced widely in Norway after oil unions put pressure on companies

to improve helicopter safety. Furthermore, the survey, which was undertaken by Oilandgaspeople.com,

the world’s largest oil and gas jobs board, shows that lack of confidence in the way the industry deals

with helicopter safety issues is widespread – 80 per cent feel that companies are putting profits first,

and safety is being compromised.

Furthermore, 56 per cent feel that their opinions regarding helicopter safety matters aren’t taken

seriously by their current employer. While 59 per cent feel that the offshore oil and gas industry

doesn’t do enough to raise helicopter safety.

Since the crash, 53 per cent don’t feel safe flying offshore, with 33 per cent saying they will no

longer travel on Super Pumas, and 57 per cent believe that other methods of crew transfer should be

considered, including boats and frogs.

Oilandgaspeople.com has also set up an RNLI Just Giving page that has risen almost

£5000 in 24 hours. (http://www.justgiving.com/supportthernli)

Facilitating growthOffshore accommodation and workspace specialist, HB Rentals, has officially opened its new eastern

hemisphere headquarters in the North East of Scotland. The purpose-built £1 million facility, located

in Sauchen, was officially opened by the Provost of Aberdeenshire, Councillor Jill Webster, in a

ceremony attended by HB Rentals’ clients, suppliers, employees and senior management.

Provost Webster said: “HB Rentals' new facility represents a significant investment in

Aberdeenshire and we welcome this boost to the local economy through employment opportunities

and increased business activity in the area. The facility is ideally located at the centre of the North

East oil and gas industry in Aberdeenshire, benefitting from being located in an area consistently

judged to have the highest quality of life in Scotland as well as being an ideal base for HB's

international growth plans."

With over 500sqm of covered workshop area and employing a multi-disciplined workforce

of around 46 people, the new premises will handle all manufacturing for the company’s eastern

hemisphere and allow it to build and consolidate the fleet of A60 accommodation units it currently

supplies, as well as handling any custom build projects the firm receives. The base is seen as crucial

to HB Rentals’ ambitious growth targets for its key operations in the region, which include Europe,

West Africa, the Caspian and Middle East.

Telling statistics

Above: Derek Penny, corporate development directorAbove: (l-r) Glenn Aguillar, vice president sales and marketing

and Norman Port, business unit director, eastern hemisphere

13

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

news

Bringing experienceAberdeenshire-based Ferguson

Group is pleased to announce a

new appointment to its senior

management team. The Ferguson

Group, a specialist in the rental of

containers, refrigeration containers,

accommodation modules and

engineering modules to the global

offshore energy, has boosted its

senior management team with the

appointment of Derek Penny as

the Group’s corporate development

director.

Derek Penny joined the Ferguson

Group earlier this year as its business

development consultant. Recently

it was announced that he has been

appointed as the Group's corporate

development director. The new

position will support the executive

team, focusing on the management

and execution of strategy to meet

the Ferguson Group’s three-year

expansion programme. Derek Penny

brings to the Group extensive oil

and gas sector experience drawn

from previous senior roles with

international operators, engineering

consultancies, supply chain

contractors and manufacturers.

Steven Ferguson, chairman and

CEO of Ferguson Group said: “I

am delighted to welcome Derek

to the team and I am confident

that his depth of experience in

disciplines including change

management, strategic planning and

internationalisation, will be a great

asset to the Ferguson Group.”

quarter of a century has passed since a

series of explosions brought Piper Alpha

- once the biggest production facility in

the North Sea - to a horrific and tragic

end, claiming the lives of 167 men. The

subsequent Cullen Report demanded a major overhaul of

all offshore safety practices and procedures, and today the

industry is in many ways unrecognisable from the 1970s and

early 1980s.

However, the sad and shocking fact is that serious offshore

accidents continue to occur globally; Deepwater Horizon

(2010) which killed 11 people, the Montara blowout

offshore Australia (2009), the loss of the Kolskaya-rig on the

east-coast of Russia (2011), and the fire and explosion on

the Endeavour rig offshore Nigeria (2012) are key examples.

The recent gas leak on the Elgin field and the well kick

on Gullfaks C in 2010 could have resulted in catastrophic

consequences under slightly different circumstances.

Battling complacencyThere is therefore a mounting need to challenge

complacency and to increase general awareness over key

process safety issues. The aim is to stimulate thinking and

to re-energise industry professionals to improve process

safety delivery. Process safety is the vital engineering area

that ensures the complex offshore process plant stays within

a safe design envelope and in particular, avoids loss of

containment of highly hazardous fluids.

The barrier approach, increasingly adopted by today’s

oil and gas companies, uses the bow-tie risk model as an

underpinning concept. Bow-tie barrier models can greatly

assist with the identification of critical barriers and set out

in a simple figure the scenarios that may occur and steps

to mitigate risk. This model, unlike previous approaches,

encapsulates the human role in risk prevention through

decisions taken. In order for it to make a true difference

to the occurrence of any incident, there must be a balance

A

14

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

While the number of loW consequence incidents in the north sea has dramatically dropped since piper alpha, the threat of a similar catastrophe still looms large, as Colin MCWhirr explains

challengingcomplacency

Lead two

costly and complicated fragmented approach.

The HAZOP (Hazard and Operability) study in particular,

is one of the most widely used hazard identification methods

and has found applications in many aspects of the offshore

industries. Its intention is to identify many potential

problems through the examination of new, modified

or existing designs, procedures and operations using a

systematic and structured approach.

The assertions made are based on a root cause analysis of

common themes/issues resulting from 30 years of offshore

engineering and technical safety experience. Practice has

shown that few process safety reviews yield negligible

recommendations, resulting in around one third of HAZOP

reviews being terminated due to either ‘fatal’ findings,

inadequate information or failure to assemble a competent

HAZOP team. For example, a recent three day process

HAZOP study yielded 154 recommendations, which clearly

between aptitude and attitude of the people, solid and

rigorous processes and robust design of the plant.

The pertinent problem of plant designThe fundamental issue of plant design in particular, is an area

which has probably seen the least improvement over the past

30 years. Despite extensive studies and reviews being carried

out by project teams, the design process is still delivering

poor quality, which it’s believed may be attributable to lack

of competency and cohesion. Many do not see the benefit

of early philosophy writing and a lot of system designing is

being carried out in discipline silos, using inter-discipline

checking and not by system integrating engineers. An

integration of all the engineering disciplines, such as

mechanical, piping, instrument, process, etc., would have a

radical effect in this area. The benefits of joined-up thinking

to deliver best practice consistently far outweigh an often

15

Euro

pEan

oiL

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

shockingly poor plant uptime and production efficiencies

despite having generally simpler process configurations.

The reasons behind this need to be better understood as

the economic impacts of low availability are high in the

upstream sector.

There is a wide spectrum of training initiatives and skill

levels observable between different companies, but in general

the level of learning and development investment is poor

and this must in part contribute to the poor performances

observed. A particular area of concern is seen as the

increased nature of the industry to subcontract work and to

use agency workers. There is less willingness by companies

to invest in their staff if they are employed on an agency

basis, and for the contract staff to be interested in developing

young talent (who may take over their position).

Learning lessons from the past for a safer futureThe UK industry’s response to the recommendations and

16

Euro

pEan

oiL

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

indicate that the design had not been suitably developed. A

particular worry or trend is for the HAZOP to be used in the

design process rather than as a final quality assurance of a

process design.

As a result, we keep seeing the same issues in both the

technical area and in information availability. Typical issues

seen are pipeline high pressure to low pressure systems

interface management, cold start Joule-Thompson effects

not being considered properly, interconnection of systems

via drains, poor consideration by design for operations

and maintenance, and little effort expended into plant

simplification and inherent safety.

Information and knowledge is another common problem

area where as-built information is often found to be lacking or

there is a loss of critical information and knowledge. Similarly,

real plant operating reliability data collection is often of

insufficient quality and this leads to critical reliability analysis

being carried out using very poorly conditioned data sets.

In order to achieve maximum effectiveness HAZOP

studies require skilled chairs as well as experienced and

committed team members. This, over time, has raised

a number of challenges in terms of demographic and

availability of fresh talent.

a reality check for the next generationThe average age of experienced HAZOP chairs in the UK

offshore sector is over 60 and there is little sign of potential new

candidates. Very few HAZOP chairs have been trained in the

oil and gas industry, with most coming from other industries

such as petrochemicals, refining and nuclear. The results of the

root cause analysis indicate that this is partly due to difficulties

within the industry in giving staff sufficiently rounded training

in engineering, operations, real-site experience, and high

pressure protection management, etc.

As technology improves in the sector, young engineers

are relying more on desk-top training from onshore offices

rather than practical experience and understanding of

working life and its issues offshore. This is an extremely

worrying trend which could have serious implications

for the industry in the future. If the new generation

of engineers, innovators and developers do not get

the opportunity to learn at the coal face, then we are

encouraging an industry that deals in virtual knowledge

rather than hands-on expertise. Real life visualisation and

hands-on experience can never be substituted.

As a result we need to establish far better process safety

information and learning sharing across the sector, including

training schemes that allow engineers better access to

offshore facilities and operations experience.

This increasing lack of real plant experience and learning

being fed back to design engineers highlights another

key issue with the industry failing to share information,

anecdotes and good practice in the process safety area.

Compared to downstream refinery and petrochemical

plant performance, the offshore industry often has

Xodus Group Colin McWhirr is director, technical safety and risk at Xodus Group. He has more than 30 years experience in the petrochemical and oil and gas sector, is a leading authority in process safety and has a comprehensive background in technical and operational safety. Colin is a Visiting Teaching Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, lecturing in process safety.

Launched in 2005, Xodus Group offers integrated services covering both oil and gas and low carbon. Following significant investment the company has grown to more than 700 people worldwide with offices in Houston, Nigeria, Perth, The Hague, Norway and in the UK.

For further information please visit:xodusgroup.com

Lead two

lessons stemming from Lord Cullen’s report has been

significant, but with an ageing offshore infrastructure, the rise

and arrival of newer technologies, challenges with human

resourcing, and even the changing physical size and shape of

the workforce, the industry must rise to this challenge and

overcome new pressures. There is a serious and immediate

need to improve the availability and quality of process safety

training/development in the oil and gas sector and to be far

more open and effective in information and learning sharing.

Piper Alpha and other such horrendous events are tragic

reminders of the vital necessity for thorough and advanced

safety and risk management and implementation across

all operations in the high hazard oil and gas industry. This

viewpoint is aimed at generating debate within the industry

in order to improve the delivery of safe plant. It also calls

for further empirical research to better understand the

demographic concerns and information management system

issues to better share learning and information.

17

EURo

PEAN

oiL

& G

As

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

If the new generation of engineers, innovators and developers do not get the opportunity to learn at the coal face, then we are encouraging an industry that deals in virtual knowledge rather than hands-on expertise. Real life visualisation and hands-on experience can never be substituted

hen taking the harsh environmental

conditions and the challenging operations

into consideration, working at height on an

offshore platform is extremely hazardous

and demanding. HSE’s Offshore Injury, Ill

Health and Incident statistics, recording a period from April

2011 - March 2012, reveal that injuries from slips, trips and

falls including falls from height and confined space access

account for 47.2 per cent of all major injuries for those

working offshore in the oil and gas industry. Of the two

fatalities to have occurred during 2011-2012, one was due to

a fall from height during a work shift.

Due to the nature of offshore drilling assets, the need for

working at height and in hazardous areas is unavoidable.

This means for that for both operators and services

companies alike, the safety of their personal cannot be

compromised and the use of personal fall protection

equipment is necessary and lifesaving. Accordingly,

equipment such as harnesses, lanyards and self-retracting

lifelines have been widely used over many years to position,

suspend, prevent falls and assist rescue missions.

Through the years much has been learnt in respect of

ergonomics, fall dynamics, technology, performance and the

inter-compatibility of devices. Such knowledge and the often

resultant innovations typically filter through to ‘guidance’,

sometimes legislation and often eventually into applicable

European Normative Standards. The Normative’s (EN’s)

are where minimum performance criteria is agreed and

established under the auspices of Directives.

However, it’s important to recognise that the EN’s (as

well as Osha ANSI) have historically established a ‘baseline’

or minimum performance criteria, and the associated CE

(Conformity Europe) mark is neither a mark of quality or

necessarily, compatibility.

W

18

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

ChristophE ChaussE discusses the importance of safety and regulation for offshore workers at height

standardshigh

HSE

and as such may not arrest a fall if used in a real life

scenario. Equally, there are claims and misinterpretations

about product use in close proximity to ‘sharp edges’. A

tested ‘sharp edge’ may be quite different to a real sharp

edge, such as that of a substructure and the degree of risk

could therefore be misunderstood entirely. Decision makers

have to be mindful of information available and provided

in regards to the context of use and requirements for

compatibility, ensuring that complete assemblies will work

as anticipated rather than focusing on the performance

of individual elements and a need to be connected to

something with a CE mark.

In order to bring every offshore worker at height home

safely, it is critical that manufacturers take the responsibility

to ensure workers are provided with personal protective

equipment that goes one step further, and commit to

testing on ‘as built’ structures and validate the engineering

An example of this is in self-retracting-lifelines (SRL),

which vary in length, quality, material, performance,

compatibility and of course price. Workers are required

to climb the derrick ladder to access different areas of a

rig for servicing, tripping operations and during rig up

and down operations. Many climbs per day in excess of

100 feet are typical, and conditions such as the ladder

and/or the platform structure being slippery, icy, or with

un-comfortable rungs, mean that choosing the correct SLR

and ensuring it is suited to a particular situation and is

tested in situ is critical in protecting against injury through

trips and falls. Crucially, offshore SRL blocks, which house

the dynamic components of a lifeline, should always be

‘sealed’ so that the moving parts are protected, ensuring

reliability, longevity and safety.

While some SRL’s will be developed, tested and proven

safe for use, others are simply not put through their paces

19

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

aS

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.ukstandardsHigh

The belts attach to harnesses and accommodate for storing and

tying back tools, and harnesses and belts have multiple back,

front and side D rings, allowing for versatility of positioning. D

rings are lightly sprung to ensure they ‘stand up’, as opposed to

non-sprung traditional types which are notoriously difficult to

self-connect, and this could make the difference between being

connected properly and not.

Ultimately, additional features that make equipment more

useful for workers, combined with a balance of comfort-

orientated padding and breathability of the body, sufficient

rigidity and resistance in exterior materials to give support,

and finite easy on body adjustment can make all the

difference to proper fit, meeting compliance and ultimately

the individual’s safety.

Sub assembly, connection options, are varied – but

typically consist of shock-absorbing lanyards (EN355)

required to be 2m in length or less, Self-Retracting Lifelines

(EN360) up to 60m, and Guided Type Fall Arrestors (flexible

vertical lifelines)(EN353-2) typically up to 50m or more. Key

considerations should be simplicity, ease and appropriateness

of use; compatibility with harness, work positioning and/

or anchor, limitation of fall factor (minimising potential for

free fall before shock absorbency), proximity to sharp edges,

swing falls, durability relative to work environment and fall

arrest performance.

Recent developments in lightweight, D ring attached,

mini SRL’s can offer distinct safety advantages over more

traditional lanyards – as surplus material is retracted whilst

moving (or falling), thereby limiting worker fall distances,

20

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

performance/parameters of their offer. It is then the

responsibility of the employer to ensure they provide

workers with the best possible equipment.

Beyond the thorough testing of PPE, the effectiveness of

any item of personal fall protection equipment or anchorage

in controlling risk is then highly dependent on individual

choices, be that of the user or decision maker. The main

thing to remember, for both manufacturer and employer,

is that people have a choice over their fall protection; the

choice of equipment, choice to wear properly, choice to

connect, choice to use correctly, ensure compatibility, inspect,

maintain and understand, all play a critical role. Typically,

‘in the field’, the more complex (to don, assemble, use),

time consuming and cumbersome a protective solution is,

then the less likely it is to be used effectively. There is a huge

question to be asked of effort verses risk.

To increase the likelihood of fall protection equipment

being used correctly it needs to be made more accessible.

What the worker at height wears, which is likely to be a

Full Body Harness (EN361) should fit (sized for the worker

and designed for the work task), be light enough, simple

to inspect, easy to identify which limbs go through where,

quick to don, adjustable, comfortable both elevated and on

the ground, made of sufficient quality material and, most

importantly, be compatible.

Employers may also want to consider providing derrick belts

and harnesses that are specially designed to meet the needs of

those working on the monkey or tubing board, or carrying out

maintenance work and servicing operations throughout the rig.

Much of the industry’s most recent and important innovations have centred on harness to anchor connecting devices with developments in heat, chemical and arc resistant materials, the ability to switch SRL’s from arrest mode to descent, thereby negating the need for secondary rescue and the advent of visual, tactile inspection only requirements, all designed to simplify and ensure safety

Capital SafetyChristophe Chausse is regional director, emerging markets – EMEA, at Capital Safety, the global leader in fall protection with 22 operating sites worldwide. Capital Safety is home to the DBI-SALA and PROTECTA brands of fall protection equipment. Both of these brands have invested decades in the science of fall protection to ensure that workers are safe and employers have confidence they are providing their employees with the best protection possible.

for further information please visit:en.capitalsafety.us

HSE

arresting quicker and not getting in the way of work tasks.

This is particularly important for those operating at height

on the board, where workers are exposed to the greatest risk

of falling on a drilling rig.

There are also various options when it comes to

connectors that assist in escape and rescue scenarios.

Escape systems must be in place in the event of a disaster.

A system that provides controlled descent in the event

of unconsciousness or injury should be positioned in a

location for safe and easy access. It must provide positive

locking once connected, which is critical for the safety of a

worker in an emergency situation. Ease of set up, the ability

to modify the slope of descent and a system that is easy to

use and maintain is a priority during selection. For rescue

scenarios; fall arrest must be considered and planned for,

and a suspension trauma safety strap may be considered in

order to enable a suspended worker to stand in their harness

to relieve pressure and prevent suspension trauma, where a

worker hangs in a vertical position and blood pools in the

lower extremities.

Much of the industry’s most recent and important

innovations have centred on harness to anchor connecting

devices with developments in heat, chemical and arc resistant

materials, the ability to switch SRL’s from arrest mode to

descent, thereby negating the need for secondary rescue and

the advent of visual, tactile inspection only requirements, all

designed to simplify and ensure safety.

The range of such devices and assemblies available is

constantly evolving and improving, and new innovations

21

EuRO

PEAn

OIL

& g

AS

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

designed to solve specific problems and meet specific safety

demands are constantly being bought to market. But it is

always important that employers first consider the testing

and compatibility of safety products to ensure they are fit-

for-purpose and reliable, and then the ease and comfort of

use for their workers so that equipment is used correctly.

It is also always important to store safety gear in clean, dry

and enclosed spaces, and that equipment is regularly checked

and receives mandatory annual recertification by certified

third party inspectors and maintenance providers to ensure it

is fully operational and meets safety standards.

Those who influence and use personal fall protection

equipment in the offshore sector would be well advised to

seek wider exposure to the breadth of solutions, innovations,

techniques and practices to ensure protection against the

potential dangers of working at height and in confined space.

ompanies are under increasing pressure to

deploy their best available technological

capabilities to maximise recovery

and efficiency, while at the same time

minimising costs in a safe way.

Innovations should have the greatest impact in

greenfield projects given that the performance levels

‘baked in’ with technology selection are locked-

in for the full 20 to 40 years. However, the strong

pressure on ‘first oil’ means that project managers

are rewarded against delivery on schedule and

scope. This is because they do not like the surprises

associated with new technology and they resist any

attempts to standardise procurement.

One new organisational form that tackles these challenges

is the integration of the Projects (including Drilling),

Technology and Procurement units into one single,

integrated global division.

The Projects Technology and Procurement (PTP) organisationThe main features of an integrated Projects, Technology and

Procurement (PTP) organisation are illustrated by the recent

changes seen at both Shell and Statoil.

Figure 1 presents the generic features of a PTP division

and is based on Shell and Statoil’s implementation of this

approach. The typical PTP division reports as one of the

main organisational divisions:

6 Procurement is centralised, with global responsibility for

all contracting and procurement strategies and enterprise

C

22

Euro

PEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

BEn Thuriaux-alEmÁn and sTEPhEn rogErs talk about the emergence of the Projects, technology and Procurement division in e&P

integrationachieving

6 Research and development with an increased focus on

implementation of technology

6 Well delivery is centralised, operating in a matrix,

reporting to both local asset and global functional

units and with responsibilities for drilling, completion,

intervention and maintenance.

A centralised PTP organisation leads to: Clearer accountability for project delivery because of the 6

greater ease in aligning relevant stakeholders

Improved integration of key suppliers both in project 6

delivery and in technology transfer

A more coherent business planning and targeting of 6

technology development, which drives better knowledge

transfer and greater standardisation.

Technology

framework agreements. Procurement staff operate in

different geographies but report in direct line to the

procurement function.

6 Project delivery is centralised for large CAPEX projects and

PTP has project responsibility and accountability – from

feasibility to commissioning.

6 Technology may be geographically dispersed but operates

in an integrated function which provides:

6 Technical support delivered at the asset level by pooled

technical staff operating in a matrix

6 Development of technical capabilities and disciplines

through creation and enforcement of standards,

discipline control, and assurance and application of

the latest approaches developed by lead engineers/

discipline heads

23

EuRo

PEAn

oil

& g

As

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

Figure 1. Typical features of the Project Technology and Procurement Division Source: ADL analysis, 2012

Figure 2. Drivers for organisational change in Shell and Statoil. Source: ADL analysis, 2012

it also strengthens the role of procurement in maintaining

cost control.

HSEWeak project execution can have significant HSE and

economic consequences. Providing a functional role for

drilling and wells – involving performance validation, control

and the enforcement of global technical standards – improves

quality and reduces technical risk. A close interaction

between drilling operations and the teams that set technical

standards also speeds up the adoption of new standards.

Early adoptionEarly adopters are more exposed to technology risks, which

is unattractive from an asset perspective. In contrast, from

a corporate perspective, value is created when the best

available technology is incorporated into long-life assets.

There is also a need for leading companies to demonstrate

technology leadership to secure access to resources.

A centralised PTP division, with responsibility for

deploying cost-effective technologies, can overcome

conservative attitudes by strengthening delivery and

assuming overall project responsibility. It can also make sure

that technology is adopted across assets.

24

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

aS

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

Drivers for changeFigure 2 presents the main drivers for adopting a PTP

organisational form for Shell and Statoil. At a general level

Arthur D. Little identified five global drivers for change

which support the move to a PTP organisational form:

Ensuring the delivery of large scale projects are on time 6

and to budget

Managing technical, project risk & HSE concerns 6

Ensuring early technology deployment 6

Making better use of limited technical talent 6

Implementing total cost control across 6

large CAPEX projects.

project deliveryThe industry has experienced increasing project size and

increasing reserve replacement costs over the last decade,

with corresponding increases in the risks associated with

delayed delivery, delivery of sub-optimal technology or the

costs of upgrading technology. A complex organisation with

technical expertise and decision-making located in different

divisions (often with conflicting views) slows down decision-

making and execution.

The PTP approach reduces project handovers between

asset owner, project execution, and technology. Critically,

Arthur D LittLeBen Thuriaux-Alemàn is principal – energy practice technology & innovation practice, and Stephen Rogers is partner – global energy practice leader, at Arthur D Little, a leading international management consulting firm. Founded in 1886, the business is recognised as a leader in linking strategy, innovation and technology to solve complex business issues and deliver sustainable solutions.

For further information please visit:adlittle.co.uk

Talent gapThere are growing shortages in key petrotechnical staff. This

is constraining industry growth at a time when high oil

prices are driving companies to increase their investment.

Pooling technical support, project staff and R&D teams

together into a single division, improves the ability to balance

and plan future resource needs and to allocate resources

efficiently.

Total cost controlThe industry has always experienced significant cost

problems and still faces increasing cost pressures. As an

example, Shell reported a doubling of its cost base between

2004 and 2009 – this was undoubtedly a factor in adopting

the PTP model. Centralising procurement can result in

strong cost reduction by ensuring that cost and performance

trade-offs are considered at a companywide level. The

procurement function can also mandate the standard

deployment of technology.

Some of the challenges of this organisational modelThere are some organisational and structural challenges that

need to be considered. Some of these reflect limitations of

the approach, which can be partially overcome by tailoring

25

EuRo

pEAn

oiL

& g

AS

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

organisational design and processes to fit with company

strategy or individual characteristics.

Meeting asset needsA more centralised project development approach shifts

responsibility for project delivery away from the asset,

reducing local content and host-country involvement and

potentially diluting some of the benefits of a local, P&L-

focused, asset-based project delivery team. Engineers have

a tendency to ‘gold plate’ processes or only address the

technical challenges that are most obvious at the time,

diluting the operational focus that production and operations

need. Handing the project over for development and delivery

means that there may often be subtle pressures to deliver

on development KPIs (time and CAPEX) by trading off on

operational issues (e.g. de-prioritising OPEX, maintenance or

abandonment costs).

Arthur D. Little typically advocates strong stakeholder

representation on project boards, setting clear operational

readiness and assurance procedures and teams; and the

development of operational project KPIs to ensure the asset-

owning customer gets what they really need.

Sustaining exploration and production R&DThe PTP division creates strong links between R&D

technology and the development function. There is

hence potential to over-concentrate on technology issues

associated with the development at the expense of those

within exploration, production or new energy. Another

potential cause for concern is the almost inevitable bias

towards a focus on short-term technology with under

resourcing on long-term R&D. To compensate for this bias

we often work with clients to create different ‘ring-fenced’

budgets for short-, medium- and long-term R&D and for

exploration and production.

Concluding remarksThe PTP approach, or key elements of it, offers a range

of benefits that may otherwise be difficult to access. As

asset development challenges drive the development and

adoption of more and more complex technologies, this

is an organisational design that we will see adopted more

frequently in the future.

Technology

is approximately $33 billion on the New York

Stock Exchange. The company has ten operating

regions around the globe and produces around

800,000 barrels a day. Apache’s production

has grown at a cumulative average rate of

approximately 12 per cent year-on-year for the

past two decades and in 2012 its revenue stream

Formed in 1954 with $250,000

of investor capital with the intention of

becoming a profitable oil company, Apache

Corporation is today one of the world’s most

successful independent oil and gas exploration

and production companies. A member of the

Fortune 500, Apache’s market capitalisation

Generatinggrowth

26

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

kproFilE apachE north sEa

2003. Subsequent investments over the past ten

years in drilling activity, facility upgrades and an

intensive re-evaluation of the field resulted in

cumulative production in excess of the proved

reserves originally purchased. At the time of the

purchase there were 140 million barrels in place,

and Apache has since produced over 200 million

was over $17 billion. In 2012 the North Sea

region produced over 75,000 barrels of net oil

equivalent per day, contributing to 16 per cent of

the global production revenue and ten per cent

of worldwide production for Apache.

Apache entered the North Sea after acquiring

the Forties field from BP for $683 million in

27

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE apachE north sEa

aboveFASP alongside the Forties Alpha

Visit our award winning innovations showcase at Offshore Europe 2013.

www.storktechnicalservices.com

STORK TECHNICAL SERVICES IS THE EXPERT PROVIDER OF ASSET OPTIMISATION AND INTEGRITY SERVICES TO THE OIL & GAS INDUSTRY.Our services are tailored to help our clients optimise performance by maintaining, repairing, and modifying major assets. We are committed to continuity, quality, innovation and cost efficiency to ensure that we add value throughout the asset lifecycle.

ASSET LIFECYCLE INTEGRITY PARTNER

COMMITTED TO INNOVATION

barrels, with many millions of barrels worth of

opportunity yet to be realised.

Having operated in the highly successful

Forties field, Apache also acquired operatorship

of the Beryl, Ness, Nevis, Nevis South, Skene

and Buckland fields from ExxonMobil in early

2012. The asset deal also included the SAGE

gas plant and pipeline plus the non-operated

interests in the Maclure, Scott and Telford fields.

The acquisition of Beryl field assets and active

drilling in both the Beryl and Forties fields

resulted in a 36 per cent hike in the region’s

29

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE apachE north sEa

The speed of development in bringing oil to the market is central to Apache; a drive to succeed with a sense of urgency

leftForties Charlie Platform

T: 0191 295 8700 E: info@ogn-group.com W: www.ogn-group.com

Engineering | Procurement | Construction | Installation

EPC – Solutionsl Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms l Minimum Facilities Platforms

l Jacket and Subsea Structures l Offshore Modules

l FPSO Conversions and Refurbishments

Stork technical ServiceSStork Technical Services (Stork) is the leading global provider of knowledge-based asset integrity management services for the oil and gas, chemical and power sectors. Stork’s relationship with Apache has been established over the past six years; working within their Forties and Beryl Fields and onshore Sage Terminal. Stork's Asset Integrity Service portfolio continues to deliver a proactive approach to asset optimisation; providing safe, efficient and innovative service solutions. Stork has supported Apache in the successful completion of major works including Bacchus, Partial Process, Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) installation, Vessel Overhaul’s throughout the field and most recently Forties Alpha Satellite Platform (FASP), on-going projects Distributed Control System (DCS) Electrical and Fabric Maintenance contracts. This fully integrated service offering will continue to be delivered through strong leadership, effective communications and a commitment to respond to the needs of Apache.

production in 2012, making Apache the fifth

largest producer in the UKCS.

Since its arrival in the North Sea in 2003,

Apache has invested over $9.7 billion in

acquisitions (including the Beryl field) and

in exploration and production expenditures.

Notwithstanding these massive expenditures,

Apache remains comfortably cash positive in the

North Sea.

The key to Apache’s success has been its

clear mission and core values that have unified

the corporation throughout its 59-year history.

31

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE apachE north sEa

above leftThe Forties Alpha Satellite Platform topsides being installed by the Thialf heavy lift barge

PROFILE APAchE NORth SEA

The ApAche/OGN SucceSS STOryOffshore Group Newcastle Limited (OGN) is a leading UK oil and gas and offshore wind engineering, procurement and construction contractor, headquartered in Tyneside.The Hadrian Yard, OGN’s flagship facility, has a long and distinguished history of executing and delivering a significant proportion of the offshore oil and gas infrastructure operating in the North Sea/UKCS/Norwegian sector over a 30 year period. In late 2009 OGN required a facility that could accommodate large scale EPC contracts, and the Hadrian yard with its previous track record and glowing credentials, which had been mothballed by former owners Amec in 2005 was

the perfect option.

OGN’s big break – The Apache Forties Alpha Satellite Platform (FASP) projectOGN’s first major FEED & EPC contracts were the Forties Alpha Satellite Platform (FASP) for Apache North Sea Ltd – one of the largest North Sea EPC contracts to be fully completed in the UK in recent years.Awarded in September 2010, the scope of work for this 18 slot drilling and production platform is summarised below:

l A 5750te integrated production platform including wellbay drilling area, separation, compression and power generation, which sailed away from the

Hadrian Yard in May 2013.l A 5900te 4-leg jacket for 106m of water comprising 3-pile cluster assemblies

and mud-mat structures at each corner, which sailed away from the Hadrian Yard facility in August 2012.

l 4000te of fabricated jacket piles around 80m in length.l A 450te link bridge structure between the new satellite platform and

the existing Forties Alpha host platform carrying personnel access and hydrocarbon/utility services between the facilities.

So why choose OGN?There are three underlying fundamental factors why Apache North Sea Limited and other major oil and gas operators have had the confidence and foresight to

place major EPC contracts with OGN Group, and they are:1. Resources & experience – The North East has a longstanding heritage within the heavy industry sector, and as

a result benefits from the UK’s largest resource of skilled engineering manpower. This is combined with a senior management and project team with unrivalled experience and knowledge gained within the oil and gas fabrication sector.

2. Facilities – The Hadrian Yard boasts a 32 hectare (~75 Acres) dedicated offshore construction site with extensive fabrication shops, engineering and project offices and reinforced quays which allow for handling of heavy load-out structures up to 13,000 tonnes. This provides OGN with the perfect facility to undertake large scale EPC projects for the oil and gas market.

3. Access to the market - Located on the banks of the River Tyne OGN is perfectly situated to cost effectively access and service the North Sea oil and gas industry.

Apache FASP - successThe three factors above, together with a collaborative ‘can do’ approach adopted by both the Apache and OGN integrated team’s, has produced a world-class performance and a positive business result for both organisations. Commenting on this proactive and dynamic approach to the fast-track project execution, Craig Melville, OGN’s executive director & chief commercial officer states: “Both Apache and OGN recognised from the outset that delivery of the FASP project would only be achieved with the focus of our integrated effort being on the project and jointly embracing the execution and implementation challenge, we would face. This was achieved and maintained throughout the project and the fully installed FASP bears testament to this. OGN now looks forward to continuing to support Apache’s growing business going forward, both from a North Sea and international perspective. Building on the SuccessSuccess breeds success, and OGN is now working on another major project for Talisman Sinopec Energy UK Limited on the Montrose field. Awarded in October 2012, the project is for a jacket structure, which will form part of a new bridge-linked platform within the Montrose Area Redevelopment (MAR) field. In a multi-million pound deal, the jacket which weighs circa 5400 tonnes, measuring 118 metres in length will be due for delivery in March 2014.

OGN GrOup

AboveCraig Melville, OGN’s Executive Director & Chief Commercial Officer

and compliance are paramount to all Apache

operations, it is Apache’s pace of work that sets

it apart, with the results being returned to their

shareholders.

The speed of development in bringing oil

to the market is central to Apache; a drive to

Dedicated to empowering employees to achieve

the company’s strategic goals through devolved

decision-making, Apache’s global team is united

by a commitment to build shareholder value

through a culture of innovation and knowledge

where the best answers win. While safety

33

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE apachE north sEa

The ApAche/OGN SucceSS STOryOffshore Group Newcastle Limited (OGN) is a leading UK oil and gas and offshore wind engineering, procurement and construction contractor, headquartered in Tyneside.The Hadrian Yard, OGN’s flagship facility, has a long and distinguished history of executing and delivering a significant proportion of the offshore oil and gas infrastructure operating in the North Sea/UKCS/Norwegian sector over a 30 year period. In late 2009 OGN required a facility that could accommodate large scale EPC contracts, and the Hadrian yard with its previous track record and glowing credentials, which had been mothballed by former owners Amec in 2005 was

the perfect option.

OGN’s big break – The Apache Forties Alpha Satellite Platform (FASP) projectOGN’s first major FEED & EPC contracts were the Forties Alpha Satellite Platform (FASP) for Apache North Sea Ltd – one of the largest North Sea EPC contracts to be fully completed in the UK in recent years.Awarded in September 2010, the scope of work for this 18 slot drilling and production platform is summarised below:

l A 5750te integrated production platform including wellbay drilling area, separation, compression and power generation, which sailed away from the

Hadrian Yard in May 2013.l A 5900te 4-leg jacket for 106m of water comprising 3-pile cluster assemblies

and mud-mat structures at each corner, which sailed away from the Hadrian Yard facility in August 2012.

l 4000te of fabricated jacket piles around 80m in length.l A 450te link bridge structure between the new satellite platform and

the existing Forties Alpha host platform carrying personnel access and hydrocarbon/utility services between the facilities.

So why choose OGN?There are three underlying fundamental factors why Apache North Sea Limited and other major oil and gas operators have had the confidence and foresight to

place major EPC contracts with OGN Group, and they are:1. Resources & experience – The North East has a longstanding heritage within the heavy industry sector, and as

a result benefits from the UK’s largest resource of skilled engineering manpower. This is combined with a senior management and project team with unrivalled experience and knowledge gained within the oil and gas fabrication sector.

2. Facilities – The Hadrian Yard boasts a 32 hectare (~75 Acres) dedicated offshore construction site with extensive fabrication shops, engineering and project offices and reinforced quays which allow for handling of heavy load-out structures up to 13,000 tonnes. This provides OGN with the perfect facility to undertake large scale EPC projects for the oil and gas market.

3. Access to the market - Located on the banks of the River Tyne OGN is perfectly situated to cost effectively access and service the North Sea oil and gas industry.

Apache FASP - successThe three factors above, together with a collaborative ‘can do’ approach adopted by both the Apache and OGN integrated team’s, has produced a world-class performance and a positive business result for both organisations. Commenting on this proactive and dynamic approach to the fast-track project execution, Craig Melville, OGN’s executive director & chief commercial officer states: “Both Apache and OGN recognised from the outset that delivery of the FASP project would only be achieved with the focus of our integrated effort being on the project and jointly embracing the execution and implementation challenge, we would face. This was achieved and maintained throughout the project and the fully installed FASP bears testament to this. OGN now looks forward to continuing to support Apache’s growing business going forward, both from a North Sea and international perspective. Building on the SuccessSuccess breeds success, and OGN is now working on another major project for Talisman Sinopec Energy UK Limited on the Montrose field. Awarded in October 2012, the project is for a jacket structure, which will form part of a new bridge-linked platform within the Montrose Area Redevelopment (MAR) field. In a multi-million pound deal, the jacket which weighs circa 5400 tonnes, measuring 118 metres in length will be due for delivery in March 2014.

OGN GrOup

AboveCraig Melville, OGN’s Executive Director & Chief Commercial Officer

aboveBacchus bundle towhead being launched from Wick

Petrofac is one of the world’s leading oilfield service providers with an exceptional track record for the safe delivery of commitments to our North Sea and global customers

Our Offshore Projects & Operations businesses specialise in brownfield engineering, operations and maintenance, on a standalone or integrated basis, on and offshore

Together, we help customers across the globe unlock the value of their resources and extend the life of their assets

To find out more about us visit www.petrofac.com

succeed with a sense of urgency. The company

likes to foster a contrarian spirit; if it sees

opportunities to do something differently it

will make the change. Apache expects top

performance from its staff and invests in its

people to make sure they are competent and

well trained. At Apache all opinions are valued,

which fosters an open culture where the best

answers win. Through living and breathing this

culture of transparency, drive, responsibility,

innovation and safety, they demonstrate that

they are different on a daily basis.

Apache’s ten-year anniversary in the North

Sea was in April 2013. The company intends

to invest in the North Sea for the long term

and it plans to continue to grow production.

It is opportunity rich with a large inventory of

platform-based targets and many exploration

35

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE apachE north sEa

Petrofac’s relationship with Apache Corporation is fast becoming a cornerstone of its continuing North Sea success story.

Four years on from picking up the contract to provide EPC services to the five Forties field assets, Petrofac’s remit has nearly quadrupled in size. Worth £25 million initially, the contract was extended last year to cover the Beryl Alpha and Bravo platforms and the Scottish Area Gas Evacuation (SAGE) facility at St Fergus, and with more work constantly coming on stream, it will be worth more than £85 million by the end of 2013.

Early in the relationship, Petrofac Offshore Projects & Operations executed high-profile projects including the Forties Alpha and Delta debottlenecking and the Bacchus field tie-back to Alpha. And the project team already has Apache’s biggest ever turnaround on its CV – in 2011, it successfully liquidated some 22,000 hours over a three week period on the Forties Alpha. But Apache’s ongoing investment programme has seen Petrofac required to continually increase its commitment and resources, to work smarter, and to maintain its focus on delivering high-pressure projects on accelerated schedules, as the contract scope has constantly expanded.

Petrofac is currently executing the hook-up and commissioning of the Forties Alpha Satellite Platform, along with corresponding brownfield modifications on the Forties Alpha itself. And the team has taken on Apache’s portfolio of flowlines, which are making a significant contribution to Apache’s wider production enhancement agenda. The first output from this intensive work program, the Tonto flowline, was successfully delivered allowing the well to come on stream as a significant addition to Apache’s 2013 production plan.

Another new aspect of the Apache contract portfolio is onshore, where a team is engaged in the positive isolation and cleaning of Treatment Train Two at SAGE. Decommissioning is an important growth area for the wider Petrofac Group, which is committed to supporting the customer at every stage of the asset life cycle and is therefore developing an increasingly integrated offering.

This offering is built on North Sea expertise based in Aberdeen, with a team that has experience of working on major decommissioning projects including Brent Delta and North West Hutton - but with the additional advantage of being able to call on additional conceptual and front end engineering, subsea and well engineering expertise from other parts of the Petrofac Group wherever the project demands it.

A NORTH SEA SUCCESS STORYFour years on from picking up the contract to provide EPC services to the five Forties field assets, Petrofac’s remit has nearly quadrupled in size. Worth £25 million initially, the contract was extended last year to cover the Beryl Alpha and Bravo platforms and the Scottish Area Gas Evacuation (SAGE) facility at St Fergus, and with more work constantly coming on stream, it will be worth more than £85 million by the end of 2013.

Other live decommissioning projects include the redundant ENI gas terminal at Bacton, where Petrofac has carried out positive isolation, engineering down and cleaning of the process equipment, and is now managing the dismantling, demolition, hazardous material removal and site clearance.

One decommissioning project with a difference has been on the FPF1 floating production facility on behalf of Ithaca Energy. This work involved engineering down and the removal and disposal of more than 200 tonnes of asbestos and naturally occurring radioactive materials. But with the engineering down complete, the vessel was transferred to Poland where it is currently undergoing modifications ahead of its redeployment on the Greater Stella field in the Central North Sea. When it is redeployed, Petrofac’s operations and maintenance teams will take over Duty Holder responsibilities – just one of many exciting projects that are coming to fruition in the North Sea this year.

These include GDF Suez’s new Cygnus development in the southern North Sea, where Petrofac is providing operations and pre-operations support; the major modifications and life extension work on the ‘EnQuest Producer’ FPSO, (for which Petrofac is providing operations, maintenance and marine services support) ahead of its redeployment on EnQuest’s Alma/Galia project; and the peak construction period at Total’s Shetland Gas Plant.

opportunities near existing infrastructure,

which may be tied-back in a similar way to the

Bacchus subsea development. Platform drilling

will sustain a reasonably flat production profile,

while new projects will increase production in

the region.

Apache has had several recent exploration

successes. Located approximately 116 miles

northeast of Aberdeen, the Bacchus oil field

was put into production in April 2012. It

was discovered in July 2005 in the Fulmar

sandstones of the Upper Jurassic age. The

third well at Bacchus was brought on stream in

July 2013 taking production to 17,400 barrels

37

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE apachE north sEa

aboveThe Beryl Bravo Platform with helicopter and subsea operations

http://www.harlenenergy.com

of handling 110,000 barrels of fluids per day

and can produce up to 25,000 barrels of oil per

day of oil. It is a full process facility, with deep

gas lift compression and two power generation

turbines. The total weight of construction is over

18,000 tons and it is the largest platform built for

the Central North Sea in the UK in the last 25

years. The platform was installed with minimal

carryover work and the fast track offshore hook-

up and commissioning is ongoing and planned

of oil per day. Having already produced over

three and-a-half million barrels, the project has

already reached pay back. The Bacchus oil field’s

production is transferred through a four-mile

subsea bundled pipeline to the Apache operated

Forties Alpha platform.

FASP (Forties Alpha Satellite Platform)

was installed in May 2013, as a bridge linked

platform to the Forties Alpha. It will increase

Forties’ capacity by 18 drilling slots, is capable

39

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE apachE north sEa

HarlenSafely delivering turnkey solutions for apacheHarlen is an established and growing provider of fabrication and engineering services. Proud of its longstanding relationship with Apache, Harlen attributes the company’s rapid growth to successfully delivering a wide range of fabrication services directly to Apache, and through its longstanding relationships with major engineering and construction providers, as well as key drilling contractors.Building on its core expertise in fabrication for the UKCS, Harlen has used its experience in the manufacture and delivery of specialist modular builds to establish itself at the forefront of accommodation services; delivering turnkey accommodation solutions to Apache and clients across the international energy and marine sectors.Harlen’s philosophy of delivering quality safely is enhanced by its ability to achieve its objectives with a sense of urgency at all times.

inset The new Forties Alpha Satellite Platform bridge linked to the Forties Alpha Platform

Economic Benefits to the Operator

Following the installation of AAF HydroCel E12 grade (H)EPA filtrationtechnology, Apache North Sea have reported no failures due to hot gascorrosion issues. This is on units that have now operated for up to 24,000hours with no sign of the onset of Hot End Corrosion. The compressorsections of the gas turbines were also found to be noticeably cleaner wheninspected during the routine maintenance schedules. The engines are stillhot water washed every 4,000 hours as per the service schedule, howeverthe compressor sections of the gas turbines are considerably cleaner thanbefore the upgrade. The planning stage for both production andmaintenance is now a much more efficient process, leading to clear strategic gains in terms of TARS etc.

AAF the solutions provider for Gas Turbine auxiliary equipment repair,refurbishment, upgrade, retrofit & noise abatement solutions to meetyour assets specific requirements:

Air Intake Filtration Systems / Intake Systems / Hot Gas Exhaust Systems/ Waste Heat Recovery Units (WHRU) / GT & AC Generator AcousticEnclosures / Ventilation Systems, Bespoke Acoustic Screens, Barriersand Enclosures for noise suppression.

The Successful Outcome

15MW Gas Turbine Forties Field boroscopecirca 8,000 hours post upgrade to AAF E12

15MW Gas Turbine Forties Field circa16,000 operating hours protected byAAF EPA E12 technology

Europe & North AfricaAAF LtdBassington Lane, Cramlington,Northumberland, NE23 8AF, UKTel: +44 (0) 1670 713 477Fax: +44 (0) 1670 714 370email: info@aafgb.com

ProblemThe gas turbines were frequently failing due to hot end corrosion issues, theaverage operational period between failures being 6,000 to 16,000 hours. The units were hot water washed at regular service intervals of 4,000 hours,and also on an ad hoc basis where it was noted that generally the compressorsections of the gas turbines were found to be in a fouled condition.The frequency of the failures across the assets meant that long term strategicplanning from both production and maintenance perspectives was severelylimited. Apache North Sea Limited, were aware that the cause of the failureswere due to 2 major contributing factors: (1) the poor quality of air entering thecombustion process, contaminated with hydrocarbons, dry salt particles and saltin solution and (2) the high level of sulphur present in the fuel gas.

SolutionApache North Sea Limited made a decision to eliminate one of the hot endcorrosion failure contributing factors, which was the poor quality of air enteringthe combustion process, contaminated with hydrocarbons, dry salt particles andsalt in solution. Due to a sound legacy of success in the North Sea, AAF wereapproached to offer its solution. AAF's global site services division initiallysurveyed the units in February 2010 to collect the relevant existing dimensionaldata and to ensure any potential solution would be practical from a destruct andsubsequent install perspective. AAF's proposed low velocity solution, in order ofairflow consisted of Snow Hoods, AmerVane mist eliminating vane, AmerkleenM80 coalescing pre filter and HydroCel E12 grade (H)EPA filter. AAF has beeninstalling (H)EPA grade filtration for use on Gas Turbines based in the North Seadating back to 2004. It is the ability of the AAF HydroCel to operate in constantwet/dry conditions, effectively removing sub micron particulate, dry salt andwater containing salt in solution, that makes the HydroCel the leading technologyin this environment.

Following AAF's proposal, Apache North Sea commissioned AAF to manufactureand install the 4 No. 15 MW replacement air intake housings. Unit 1 beingcommissioned 16 weeks from the initial site survey. The period from POplacement, to equipment delivery being 11 weeks.

(H)EPA Air Intake Filtration for Gas TurbineOffshore Applications Apache North Sea Limited - Forties Field UKCS"AAF Hydrocel E12 EPA technology was undoubtedly the correct air inletfiltration choice for our critical gas turbines across the Forties assets, eliminatingcompressor fouling and dramatically reducing the potential for hot end corrosionrelated breakdowns by the unmatched removal of hydrocarbons, salt andseawater from the combustion airstream. For the first time since installation,ANSL are now able to plan for the phased replacement of their Solar Titan fleetas the units approach their scheduled 30,000 running hour target"

Ray BrattonTurbine Controls EngineerApache North Sea Limited

Installation of AAF low velocity system, original highvelocity system in the foreground

Installation of AAF low velocity system

15MW Gas Turbine Forties Field with hot endcorrosion failure circa 8,000 operating hours (2007),first stage compressor blades showing high levels ofsalt loading and blade damage.

F5058AAF_CaseStudyApacheForties 1/8/13 15:51 Page 1

Economic Benefits to the Operator

Following the installation of AAF HydroCel E12 grade (H)EPA filtrationtechnology, Apache North Sea have reported no failures due to hot gascorrosion issues. This is on units that have now operated for up to 24,000hours with no sign of the onset of Hot End Corrosion. The compressorsections of the gas turbines were also found to be noticeably cleaner wheninspected during the routine maintenance schedules. The engines are stillhot water washed every 4,000 hours as per the service schedule, howeverthe compressor sections of the gas turbines are considerably cleaner thanbefore the upgrade. The planning stage for both production andmaintenance is now a much more efficient process, leading to clear strategic gains in terms of TARS etc.

AAF the solutions provider for Gas Turbine auxiliary equipment repair,refurbishment, upgrade, retrofit & noise abatement solutions to meetyour assets specific requirements:

Air Intake Filtration Systems / Intake Systems / Hot Gas Exhaust Systems/ Waste Heat Recovery Units (WHRU) / GT & AC Generator AcousticEnclosures / Ventilation Systems, Bespoke Acoustic Screens, Barriersand Enclosures for noise suppression.

The Successful Outcome

15MW Gas Turbine Forties Field boroscopecirca 8,000 hours post upgrade to AAF E12

15MW Gas Turbine Forties Field circa16,000 operating hours protected byAAF EPA E12 technology

Europe & North AfricaAAF LtdBassington Lane, Cramlington,Northumberland, NE23 8AF, UKTel: +44 (0) 1670 713 477Fax: +44 (0) 1670 714 370email: info@aafgb.com

ProblemThe gas turbines were frequently failing due to hot end corrosion issues, theaverage operational period between failures being 6,000 to 16,000 hours. The units were hot water washed at regular service intervals of 4,000 hours,and also on an ad hoc basis where it was noted that generally the compressorsections of the gas turbines were found to be in a fouled condition.The frequency of the failures across the assets meant that long term strategicplanning from both production and maintenance perspectives was severelylimited. Apache North Sea Limited, were aware that the cause of the failureswere due to 2 major contributing factors: (1) the poor quality of air entering thecombustion process, contaminated with hydrocarbons, dry salt particles and saltin solution and (2) the high level of sulphur present in the fuel gas.

SolutionApache North Sea Limited made a decision to eliminate one of the hot endcorrosion failure contributing factors, which was the poor quality of air enteringthe combustion process, contaminated with hydrocarbons, dry salt particles andsalt in solution. Due to a sound legacy of success in the North Sea, AAF wereapproached to offer its solution. AAF's global site services division initiallysurveyed the units in February 2010 to collect the relevant existing dimensionaldata and to ensure any potential solution would be practical from a destruct andsubsequent install perspective. AAF's proposed low velocity solution, in order ofairflow consisted of Snow Hoods, AmerVane mist eliminating vane, AmerkleenM80 coalescing pre filter and HydroCel E12 grade (H)EPA filter. AAF has beeninstalling (H)EPA grade filtration for use on Gas Turbines based in the North Seadating back to 2004. It is the ability of the AAF HydroCel to operate in constantwet/dry conditions, effectively removing sub micron particulate, dry salt andwater containing salt in solution, that makes the HydroCel the leading technologyin this environment.

Following AAF's proposal, Apache North Sea commissioned AAF to manufactureand install the 4 No. 15 MW replacement air intake housings. Unit 1 beingcommissioned 16 weeks from the initial site survey. The period from POplacement, to equipment delivery being 11 weeks.

(H)EPA Air Intake Filtration for Gas TurbineOffshore Applications Apache North Sea Limited - Forties Field UKCS"AAF Hydrocel E12 EPA technology was undoubtedly the correct air inletfiltration choice for our critical gas turbines across the Forties assets, eliminatingcompressor fouling and dramatically reducing the potential for hot end corrosionrelated breakdowns by the unmatched removal of hydrocarbons, salt andseawater from the combustion airstream. For the first time since installation,ANSL are now able to plan for the phased replacement of their Solar Titan fleetas the units approach their scheduled 30,000 running hour target"

Ray BrattonTurbine Controls EngineerApache North Sea Limited

Installation of AAF low velocity system, original highvelocity system in the foreground

Installation of AAF low velocity system

15MW Gas Turbine Forties Field with hot endcorrosion failure circa 8,000 operating hours (2007),first stage compressor blades showing high levels ofsalt loading and blade damage.

F5058AAF_CaseStudyApacheForties 1/8/13 15:51 Page 1

42

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

Tonto follows Bacchus and Maule as the third

new oil field bought online by Apache within

the Forties area over the last three years, with

all three developments qualifying for the UK

Government’s small field allowance.

These successes have been complemented

by top quartile safety and environmental

performance. Apache has very low operating

to take less than six months.

Apache also commenced production of

its Tonto oil field in April 2013. Tonto-1 was

drilled as a deviated well from the Forties

Bravo production platform to just above the

main Forties Paleocene reservoir. It is the first

producing well in the field and began producing

at an initial rate of 10,346 barrels of oil per day.

43

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE apachE north sEa

aboveThe Beryl Alpha Condeep Platform with bridge linked riser access tower and flare

Apache North Seaapachecorp.com

ServicesOil and gas exploration

Sea, Apache aims to continue to generate future

growth opportunities through drilling wells,

exploiting its assets through high levels of

operational efficiency, obtaining new seismic

in both the Beryls and Forties, and exploring

and appraising an attractive portfolio of project

opportunities. With a new office in Kingswells,

Aberdeen due to be completed in the fourth

quarter of 2013 the future looks very bright for

Apache in the North Sea.

costs of $13.50 per barrel and has the best

operational efficiency in the North Sea. (2012

annual average efficiency >92 per cent).

With ten per cent of the total global

production coming from the North Sea and an

expectation of a significant level of income for

2013, Apache’s North Sea region produces a

significant amount of cash that will continue to

help fund future Apache projects both locally

and around the globe. Meanwhile, in the North

PROFILE APAchE NORth SEA

44

EuRO

PEAN

OIL

& g

AS

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

LeftThe Scottish Area Gas Evacuation (SAGE) Terminal at St. Fergus supplied from offshore by a 323 km, 30-inch pipeline

It has been an eventful, productive and highly successful few years

for Isolated Systems (ISL), the manufacturer,

designer and supplier of bespoke engineering

solutions. Established in 1970, the company

focused on anti-vibration equipment for the

HVAC industry, before expanding into thermal

insulation systems, acoustic enclosures,

packaged skid units and thermal expansion

compensators. The evolution of Isolated Systems’

services and product range was steady, until the

mid 2000s when Gary Peet joined as managing

director. Since then the company’s growth has

accelerated and its reputation as an innovative

solutions provider has soared.

“We used to be a very small company and

limited in resources and capabilities, but our

forward thinking chairman, David Colebrook

looked for every potential opportunity out there

that we could say yes to. This enabled us to take

advantage of our then place in the market and

take on bigger and more challenging jobs,” says

Barry Bend, sales manager at ISL. Having joined

the company 15 months ago, Barry has been

involved in major projects such as commercial

building services/HVAC for the Olympic Village

and the Shard.

“There were ten tower blocks built for the

Olympic Village and each of these required

ISL to supply pumping skids the size of a

family saloon to service the air conditioning,

water supply and so on. With some of our

key suppliers, and in conjunction with major

construction companies working on the project,

we were able to deliver this product to support

the development of the Olympic Village, as

well as anti-vibration equipment, acoustic

enclosures, pipework and design services to

support the success of the ‘Village’,” highlights

Barry. “Similarly, we have participated in the

development of the most prestigious building

in London by manufacturing isolated pumping

skids, which are situated in the pump and

services room to support all water and air

conditioning services within the building.”

With a wide product range, the company

has developed a very broad customer base,

particularly in the commercial building sector

and the offshore oil and gas industry, which ISL

offers its services and products on a global scale.

“We supply everywhere from the North Sea to

Australia, Brazil and the Scandinavian oil fields

and are currently working in Korea. It is very

typical for us to support products and companies

on the other side of the world now,” says Barry.

“Because we have been around since 1970 we

are finding that we might well be in the second

or third cycle, whether that is replacement,

Forward

45

Euro

pEan

oIl

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFIlE IsolatEd systEms

46

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

AnglitempWith over 30 years of experience in thermal insulation, Anglitemp is acknowledged as a leader in the manufacture and fabrication of specialised industrial insulation systems for cryogenic and high temperature applications in the oil and gas, petrochemical and power generation sectors, and provides innovative solutions to suit its clients’ design criteria. Anglitemp’s product range includes Calcium Silicate for high temperatures, Cellular Glass for cryogenic and low temperature use, and Elastomeric Polymers for subsea. Anglitemp also supplies a full range of rigid foam insulation including Polyurethanes and Phenolics. All materials are also available in higher densities for use as pipe supports.

Isolated Systemsisolatedsystems.com

ServicesBespoke engineering solutions

design team is nothing without a sales team

that offers excellent customer service, ISL is

dedicated to the ongoing resourcing and training

of its experienced sales engineering team, as

Barry highlights: “I came into ISL from outside

of this industry around 15 months ago, but I

have a sales and marketing background and

what was evident to me when I arrived at ISL

was that we were extremely competent but

lacked the ability to market what we do and

tell people how good we are. It was a matter

of turning this very skilled sales engineering

team, which then comprised of five people, into

a more proactive, innovative sales team that

focuses on dialogue to see if there is any other

aspect of the clients business we can help with.

This increase in customer service has led to our

record sales year and continued success.”

To further enhance customer satisfaction,

and in response to the increase in demand for its

products and services, ISL recently extended its

offering to include comprehensive site surveys,

global support of its products, which includes

full installation and commissioning of its

systems from its qualified team of site engineers;

this service extends to offshore facilities.

In anticipation of increased demand, the

company has increased its sales team by more

than 50 per cent and is currently training its

new personnel to learn new skill sets. On top

of this, the business is looking to move into

new sectors such as food and beverage, as Barry

concludes: “We are proactively looking for new

opportunities in new sectors to keep the cash

register going in the right direction. One area we

are interested in is the food and beverage sector,

and we are working on a project related to that

at present. It is still at the R&D stage but we

aim to talk to some key players with a view to

launching this new product range.”

refurbishment or repair. This means that not

only are we acquiring new customers, we are

also servicing customers that may have been

with us in our earlier days.”

The incredible success the company has

enjoyed recently has helped in its ongoing

development of new and innovative products, as

Barry explains: “At the end of our financial year,

May 2013, we recorded our record sales year

for the company. Also significant is the fact that

we exceeded our first ever £1 million month in

July 2013 and this month we will be processing

business with our first ever £1 million plus

order. However, the more sales we start to put

through the business the more pressure goes on

the in-house design team, which is why we have

a very energetic and dynamic group of people.

We are very proud to have recently launched a

product range of low, medium and high thermal

pipe insulation, specifically for the offshore oil

and gas sector that can handle temperatures up

to 1000 degrees centigrade.”

ISL’s Calcium Silicate High Temperature Pipe

Insulation provides high quality pre-formed

insulation for pipe assemblies in hot process

applications, where fire protection and personal

protection is required. Manufactured from

non-combustible calcium silicate, this has

an upper temperature limit of 1000 degrees

centigrade and outer weather protection of

anti-static silicone coated glass fibre fabric

that is both waterproof and UV resistant. The

pipe insulation also offers environmentally

friendly insulation, manufactured from a unique

blend of mineral components that have no

toxic ingredients, asbestos, formaldehyde or

ammonia. Furthermore, the product requires no

maintenance after installation and can be easily

removed for inspection and re-fitted.

Aware that innovative products and a dynamic

47

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE isolatEd systEms

With a wide product range, the company has developed a very broad customer base, particularly in the commercial building sector and the offshore oil and gas industry, which ISL offers its services and products on a global scale

The international pipeline division

of A.Hakpark, a family of companies that

provide total solutions for the transportation and

distribution of oil, gas, water, electricity, lighting

and renewable energy, data, telecom traffic and

industrial services, A.Hak International BV,

handles the full spectrum of services for large

diameter transport pipelines.

Headquartered in Holland, the division

has been installing pipelines for 50 years,

as Theo Verkerk, area manager of Africa for

A.Hak International BV elaborates: “In 1963

a big gas field was discovered in Holland and

it became necessary to make a system for

that. We were transporting the pipelines at

first, then we began welding and putting the

pipes together and laying the pipes ourselves.

Today we are one of the major contractors

in Holland for underground infrastructure

services, such as oil, gas and water, but also,

district heating and electricity.”

As a family of companies that all operate

independently, A.Hakpark also integrates its

divisions to offer complete solutions to complex

multidisciplinary projects independently. The

divisions are characterised by their problem-

solving attitude, which is apparent in the

advanced machinery and equipment utilised,

such as the direct pipe drill technique, one of

the unique selling points of sister company

A.Hak Drillcon. “The technology we are using

for putting the pipelines together is used all over

the world, but we have a direct pipe drill system

that is unique in the world. A.Hak is the sole

company to use this method,” highlights Theo.

“If clients don’t want to cross rivers, railroads or

highways, this is one of the drilling methods that

allows us to drill underneath.”

Using this method, a tailor-made,

approximately 20 metre long tunnel boring

machine (TBM) is placed in front of the new

build transport pipe; featuring carefully selected

drill bits adapted to local ground conditions,

a number of measurement systems, steering

48

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

Growth in the

proFilE a.Hak inTErnaTional

A.Hak International BVhakinternational.coma-hakdrillcon.nl/englisha-hakpark.nl/englisha-hak-is.com

ServicesPipelines and related facilities

have our own quality system that we work by to

ensure our company and our staff benefit from

a safe environment. Our focus on safety and

quality also helps to meet the expectations of

clients like Shell and Total, companies that also

have extremely high levels of quality and safety

standards,” says Theo.

This commitment to safety and finding the

best possible solutions for its customers will

continue into the future as A.Hak International

focuses on steady growth and expansion into areas

such as South America, Libya and particularly

Africa, where the company sees potential for a

tremendous amount of work, as Theo concludes:

“Africa will be booming in ten years; it is

unexplored and a huge amount of oil is being

found that needs to be transported. Regarding

the water issue, we are looking into this market

in Africa because we want to supply water to

everyone. So far we have gained a contract in

Gabon, are busy in Rwanda, are tendering for

another contract in Gabon and are also tendering

in Cameroon and Kenya. The company is

developing positively and we aim to double our

turnover in the next three to four years.”

cylinders and bentonite injection points, the

TBM offers a number of advantages. These

include suitability for difficult permeable ground

layers, no jamming of the drill process, cost

reduction on shell piles and the ability to achieve

great depths with minimum chance of a ‘blow

out’. Furthermore, the TBM offers minimal waste

of bentonite, fewer transport movements, lower

noise levels and a safer working environment.

With a strong focus on working with state-of-

the-art technology to obtain the best results, the

company utilised the TBM for a recent major

project in Holland, as Theo explains: “Currently,

one of our biggest projects involves laying a 48

inch gas pipeline of 60 kilometres in the west

of Holland; I could mention another 200 – 300

projects we have been involved with in Holland,

but this is a major one. We also just completed

putting a big 30 kilometre pipeline through

a lake for district heating, from Diemen, near

Amsterdam to Almere. These are just projects in

Holland, we are also working on projects around

the world, such as three big oil projects in Iraq

and the construction of a 900 kilometre long

water pipeline through Saudi-Arabia.”

As part of Australian firm Leighton

Contractors’ project to lay two 48 inch pipelines

of 60 kilometres to two new offshore oil tanker

loading buoys for the Iraqi government, A.Hak

International is laying the onshore section of the

export pipelines from the Fao Terminal, located

150 kilometres from Basra, close to the border

with Iran and Kuwait. Vital to the reconstruction

of Iraq, the project will help rebuild the country’s

oil and gas industry following years of turmoil;

as part of this project, A.Hak International

will contribute to the mechanical work for the

construction of the Beach Valve Station on the

coast, the construction of eight kilometres of

double pipeline to the Fao Terminal, which

includes two metering skids and two scraper

traps for the laying of connecting pipework.

A.Hak International delivers pipeline

infrastructure to the stringently regulated

energy, petrochemical and food industries,

which requires a high focus on quality and

safety standards. Believing quality and safety

should be integrated at every step to ensure the

successful delivery of a project, the company

is fully certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO

3834-2 and OSHAS 18001, and is an acting

member of the International Pipe Line &

Offshore Contractors Association (IPLOCA).

This dedication ensures employee safety and that

the client’s own high standards are maintained;

on top of this, the company’s transparency

reduces risks, accidents and stoppages. “We

49

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE a.Hak intErnational

The technology we are using for putting the pipelines together is used all over the world, but we have a direct pipe drill system that is unique in the world. A.Hak is the sole company to use this method

LincoLn ELEctricWhether your application is wind towers, bridge decking, pressure vessels, panel line, pipe mill integrated solutions or submerged arc robotic welding, Lincoln Electric will have a solution for your business to help you improve weld quality, reduce welding and operational costs and to enhance productivity. Our submerged arc welding systems have provided the welding platform for over three decades and in 2012 TATA has chosen Lincoln Electric’s third generation Powerwave AC/DC systems as an integral part of its latest pipe mill investment.Lincoln Electric is proud to be a supplier to the TATA Group and is committed to developing this partnership in the future.

boundariesquestion of market suitability then competition

as Martin explains: “This is the first time that

we have produced a notable project for Iraq.

It’s extremely cost competitive and because of

its price suppression it has always been an area

that we have not necessarily been focused on.

We make a premium product and it’s sometimes

difficult to compete with groups that use cheap

feedstock, lower tech or lower performing

material. If that’s good enough then what is the

point in trying to sell somebody a BMW when

all they need is a Citroen? It’s a new venture and

we’re only dipping our toes in the water, but we

are breaking new ground into new markets,” he

concludes. While the company contemplates

the possibility of expanding into new areas it

remains focused on extending its reputation in

more established markets where its premium

product retains high demand. Looking to

offshore markets and the deepwater sector Tata

Steel has continued to work with suppliers such

as Petrobras, Chevron and many others.

The business has retained a high level of

activity in the past 12 months, including repeat

clients during a time of global uncertainty

in the oil and gas sector. Working with the

Brazilian state oil company Petrobras, Tata

Steel was awarded the contract for the firm’s

Rota Caviunes project. This represents a

significant coup for the company as it was

forced to contend with several rivals as well as

Brazilian rules in negotiating the presentation of

contracts. “In Brazil our applications have to be

completely open to the other competitors as it is

a completely open bidding process,” says Martin.

“We were the only ones who were able to

meet the needs of the project,” he continues.

“This represented some of the most demanding

pipe that has ever been made by a OUE mill,

it required a strength grade of X65 and had a

diameter of 24 inches. The thickest allowance

Since it was last included in

European Oil and Gas Magazine, Tata Steel has

continued to forge ahead as one of the world’s

leading producers of welded steel tubes and line

pipes used in the onshore and offshore oil and

gas industries. Established in 1907 and amongst

one of the top ten global steel companies, it

has earned a reputation for continuing to raise

the bar in terms of product quality and the

bespoke services it is able to

offer its customers. Currently

the company operates a crude

steel capacity of 28 million

tonnes per annum and has

operations in 26 countries, with

a commercial presence in over

50. Operating as part of the Tata

group, the company was able

to enjoy a strong financial year

between 2012 and 2013 despite a

difficult period for the market in

general, as technical manager Martin Connelly

elaborates: “I would say business wise, in the last

year Tata Steel bucked the trend for a downturn

of business in the offshore industry. We were

fairly well loaded within the last year and it was

only through to the end of May that we started

to see a notable downturn of activity. However,

throughout the rest of the financial year we were

constantly active and we are currently doing

a significant amount of work in the Gulf of

Mexico, West Africa, Brazil and even Iraq.”

The Middle East has traditionally not been a

market that Tata Steel is as active in compared

to other markets like Europe and the Americas,

however the company’s recent activity in Iraq

sees it testing the water for possible future

expansion. Like all markets, the Middle East

remains highly competitive but the reasoning

behind the company’s previous reluctance to

engage further in the Middle East is more a

50

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

aS

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

Pushing

proFilE TaTa STEEl

Tata Steeltatasteel.com

ProductsPremium line pipe manufacture

plate for the pipe was sourced from and likewise

welding consumables.

This evolution in project demands and the

company’s ability to consistently meet them is

representative of Tata Steel’s commitment to

raising the bar within its own capabilities. To

remain competitive the company places great

importance on continually evolving its products

and services to meet the unique requirements of

the offshore industry. Vital to this is its offshore

processing centre where pipes are developed,

but where the company is also able to offer a

range of support services including profiling,

pipe-in-pipe insulation, pipe coating services

and the supply of supporting components.

Moving forward, Tata Steel seeks to maintain

its reputation for breaking new ground in

the manufacture of the world’s best line pipe.

While market conditions remain challenging,

the company can be confident in its impressive

portfolio of projects and looks forward to further

surpassing customers’ expectations in the

coming years.

for the thickness of the pipe was 36.88

millimetres and we were able to deliver pipe at

a thickness of 30.5 millimetres while meeting

the project’s strength parameters. It was fully

serviced and conformed to DNV-OSS-101

standards of practice and we were able produce

this in decent volumes and in high quality, if you

put all of those together at that size that is really

quite challenging,” he observes.

Further to this impressive development, the

company was able to secure an agreement with

Chevron on its Mafumeira Sul project, supported

in no small part by Tata Steel’s previous work on

the Petrobras Rota Caviunes and Tupi projects.

This pipeline had a diameter of 18 inches with

a pipe thickness of 31.8 millimetres and a

strength requirement of X60, which matched

the size requirements of the Petrobras Tupi

project. While the size specifications were the

same, the crucial difference in the Mafumeira Sul

project was that it had much higher resistance

requirements. This was something Tata Steel was

able to meet through careful selection of where

51

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE TaTa sTEEl

52

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

standardSetting the

It has been an exciting time

for Suretank over the past few years; the

company has expanded with almost break-neck

momentum and is showing no signs of slowing

down. Whether focusing on improving its

production techniques or expanding into new

markets, Suretank has earned a reputation as

an industry-leading specialist in the design and

supply of offshore transport containers.

The company was formed in 1995 by Patrick

Joy, Pat O’Hare and Niall Lund, to supply

chemical tanks to the oil and gas industry in the

North Sea. The trio recognised the need for high

quality storage solutions within the industry

and this dedication has become the company’s

bedrock in subsequent years. Suretank’s focus

on quality translates to its personnel and its

attitude towards customer care. All of the

company’s sales team are engineers, which

means that they are able to offer customers

bespoke engineering solutions designed around

individual clients’ needs. It also has engineers on

the ground in every area of the world in which

it operates so that it is always on hand to offer

assistance from the design stage through to post

sale support. As such Suretank is able to offer

the highest quality products to its customers

and remains dedicated to maintaining a safety

record that is second to none. Its engineers

work to ensure that the company’s product

portfolio complies with industry standards

and it has more accreditations than any other

company operating in the field including PED,

CEN & DNV 2.7-1 certifications.

Its dedication to high quality design and

production, coupled with the company’s high

level of accreditation have given it a forceful

reputation as a market leader in offshore liquid

and cargo storage solutions. Suretank’s customer

base now includes most of the major rental,

exploration and production companies in the

offshore industry. As such its units are found

worldwide, from the North Sea, West Africa,

the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil to the Caspian Sea,

Sakhalin, India, Australia, the Middle East and

the Far East. Often, the company’s move into

new areas of business has been driven by clients

approaching Suretank looking to secure its

high standards for their new area of business.

Sales director Martin Laverty explains: “Often

companies come to us asking us to enter into

new parts of the market because they are aware

of the level of quality we can provide. They want

to have the same level of production and design

in their areas so that has spurred the move into

cryogenic and cabin markets.”

Owing to its continued focus on design in

new areas, the company boasts a strong product

portfolio with manufacturing being undertaken

at several locations globally. It is able to provide

53

Euro

pEan

oIl

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFIlE surEtank

Suretanksuretank.com

ServicesOffshore transport containers

An important recent development for

the company has been that Norwegian firm

HitecVision has bought a share hold in Suretank.

While it has been business as normal at the

company since HitecVision’s investment,

Suretank anticipates that the two companies

will be able to work together to strengthen their

mutual positions in the offshore industry. A new

Aberdeen office helped to raise the company’s

profile, as Martin explains: “Prior to HitecVision’s

purchase of part of the company, we opened an

office in Aberdeen, as we had identified the need

for high quality in the offshore cabin market.

This made us more visible to HitecVision in

Norway and allowed us to come into contact

with them. HitecVision are well known globally

for having a strong market approach and placing

an emphasis on quality.

“With HitecVision’s expert knowledge of

business development and growth we can expect

to see Suretank continue to develop as a quality

manufacturer in the global offshore container

and tank market.”

liquid storage solutions including ISO, acid,

chemical and helifuel tanks as well as cryogenic

storage tanks. It also provides an extensive

range of containers and workshop designs,

including associated spare parts and accessories.

The company began by building storage

tanks in Dundalk in Ireland before moving

construction to Dunlear, and has continued to

expand its production operations throughout

its history. Observing the need for high quality

storage containers within the offshore industry,

Suretank began commissioning the construction

of offshore containers in Poland. Key to the

success of this part of the business was the

company’s implementation of its own personnel

within Poland to oversee quality control. The

operation was so successful that the company

now works with several third party contractors

on the construction of offshore containers

within the country. Similarly, as the business has

grown, Suretank has expanded its production

capabilities into new locations so that it is able

to deliver its products quickly to the markets

that require them. It has opened a production

facility in Skelmersdale, near Manchester

and has moved into the Far East by taking a

controlling interest in a Chinese manufacturer

based in Zhongshan in Guangdong province.

Suretank understands that its business is spread

worldwide and continually seeks to invest in

new areas to improve its ability to supply its

clients. Complementing its other operations the

business has begun to work with companies in

the Americas, as Martin elaborates: “We already

knew that our customers were spread worldwide

but we worked towards shortening the time to

market by having production facilities closer

to fields. This includes Brazil and the US. We

started an agreement with a manufacturer in

Brazil last year and they are now producing

offshore containers.”

54

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k proFilE surEtank

Fluxys is a Belgium-based natural gas

infrastructure group operating on the European

market. The company is a major gas transit

operator and its offering combines gas

transmission, gas storage and terminalling of

liquefied natural gas (LNG). Besides its pipeline,

storage and LNG terminalling assets in Belgium,

Fluxys’ partnerships include ownership in the

Interconnector and BBL pipelines linking the

UK with mainland Europe, the Dunkirk LNG

terminal under construction in France, the NEL

and TENP pipelines in Germany, the Transitgas

pipeline in Switzerland and the TAP pipeline

from Turkey to Italy, to be constructed to take

gas from Azerbaijan to Europe.

Fluxys has developed its Belgian grid into

a crossroads of gas flows in North-Western

Europe. The 18 interconnection points on the

Belgian grid are opening the network to natural

gas flows from the UK, Norway, the Netherlands,

Russia and all LNG producing countries.

markets

Downstream the grid serves as a rubik’s cube for

gas flows to the UK, the Netherlands, Germany,

Luxembourg, France, and Southern Europe.

Since 2009 Fluxys has extended its Belgian

base into a tentacular infrastructure throughout

Europe to accommodate flows and trading

on a broader level, with an asset and capacity

portfolio in eight countries.

One of the major projects of the company is

the so-called reverse flow project for the Swiss

Transitgas pipeline and the German TENP

pipeline. On the route between the UK and Italy,

the Interconnector pipeline linking the UK to

Belgium and Fluxys’ Belgian grid is currently the

only infrastructure capable of moving natural

gas in both directions. The TENP and Transitgas

infrastructure, as well as the Italian grid, are only

designed for north-south flows.

The development of south-north capacity

between Italy and the UK is a first in Europe. It

will strengthen security of supply by opening

up additional supply opportunities for North-

Western Europe from Italy, where two new

supply arteries will reinforce the currently

available sources: the TAP pipeline, which is

to bring gas from Azerbaijan into the south of

Italy, and the South Stream pipeline, which is to

bring additional Russian gas to the north of Italy.

Creating south-north capacity will also enhance

market liquidity, as the Italian trading point

(PSV) will be linked in both directions with

trading points in Germany (NCG and Gaspool),

Belgium (ZTP) and the UK (NBP).

Key to Fluxys’ infrastructure is the Belgian

Bridging the

55

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE Fluxys lng

aboveThe second jetty at the Zeebrugge LNG terminal (operational 2015) will turn the facility into a hub for small-scale LNG

BelowFluxys has extended its Belgian base into a tentacular infrastructure throughout Europe with an asset and capacity portfolio in eight countries

56

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

Gas pipelinesGas pipelines for transport or distribution. New construction or reconstruction, surface or underground, a few yards

or miles long, Visser & Smit Hanab is a specialist in developing, building and maintaining both high-pressure

and low-pressure steel gas pipelines – in a wide range of diameters and distances.

Right-fit natural gas pipelinesNo two gas pipelines are the same. Each has its own set of variables: the distance and route, soil structure and conditions, greenfield

or brownfield, crossings of roads, waterways or railways, boreholes, landfalls and outfalls. Every project is unique, so the solution

Visser & Smit Hanab provides is customised, from concept to engineering and from execution to management and maintenance.

industrial Gas projectsVisser & Smit Hanab also has a long track record when it comes to pipework in factories, gas storage

and production line installations. Whether it concerns new construction, replacement or expansion of existing systems,

above or underground.

Installation on site: collaboration under specific circumstancesPlacing equipment, installing pipes and making connections on site must be done with the utmost care. Furthermore, our clients’

operations should be disrupted as little as possible. Our project staff draws up the execution plans in close consultation with

our client, accounting for all the specific circumstances. Our people are used to carrying out activities in special circumstances,

such as during pre-planned stops or in conditions where systems are kept in operation.

Qualified and certifiedWe have modern equipment and qualified staff with knowledge and expertise on the whole range of pipes for building all types

of pipelines. Visser & Smit Hanab always works in accordance with the safety standards and complies with the applicable NEN

standards, along with being certified under ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 3834, VCA-P, KIWA CKB and other certification systems.

Visser & Smit Hanab is also certified in accordance with the very highest industrial standard for safety, health and the environment:

VCA2008/05 Petrochemical.

visser & smit hanab

Please visit

www.vshanab.com

to find out more

about our company.

IHC Motion Control’s MaXine has been utilised in many of IHC Handling Systems’ projects in its capacity as

the main supplier of offshore installation equipment to its sister company – both organisations are part of IHC

Merwede, ‘the technology innovator’.

Safe and efficient control in high-sea statesHoisting and lowering a load in maritime conditions can mean having to deal with peak forces that stem from the

oscillations of the waves. MaXine reduces these forces and fluctuations during lifting operations. This allows the

operator to work longer in high-sea states, minimising downtime and extending the weather window.

The MaXine system is positioned between the crane hook and the load. It operates as a stand-alone system,

eliminating the need for an external power source. MaXine can be equipped for dynamic loads – from 25 to 500

tonnes – and carries approval from Lloyd’s Register of Shipping.

The availability of the MaXine tool has nurtured close-working relations between IHC Handling Systems and

IHC Motion Control, which go beyond that of a normal customer/supplier relationship. MaXine can also be used

in many of the projects explored by IHC Handling Systems. The tool can be an invaluable addition – or even a

necessity – to the equipment that IHC Handling Systems delivers. Each IHC Merwede company deals with the

same customers in this segment, and therefore their joint activities strengthen their respective propositions to the

market as a whole.

IHC Motion Control offers integrated, customised and innovative systems

for civil, maritime and offshore environments, inclusive of the following disciplines:

Complete hydraulic systems

Hydraulic and diesel power packs

Hydraulic and electrical winch systems

Hydraulic cylinders, swivels and accumulators

Electric controls.

ihc motion control

IHC Motion ControlIHC Hytop | IHC Winches

IHC Vremac Cylinders,

P.O. Box 335, 3360 AH

Sliedrecht, Industrieweg 30,

3361 HJ Sliedrecht,

The Netherlands

T +31 184 43 19 33

motioncontrol@

ihcmerwede.com

www.ihcmerwede.com

www.ihcmotioncontrol.com

Fluxys LNGfluxys.com

ServicesGas transmission, gas storage and LNG terminalling

shipping industry’s transition to LNG as fuel

by the time very stringent sulphur emission

standards come into force in the North Sea, the

English Channel and the Baltic Sea.

Another small-scale LNG feature of the

Zeebrugge LNG terminal is the possibility to

load LNG tanker trucks, with a capacity of over

4000 truck loadings per year. Currently, most

of the trucks filling their tanks with LNG are

bound for the UK, the Netherlands, Germany

and Poland. Transporting LNG by road is a new

but highly promising activity which supports

the use of natural gas in a broader range of

applications: supply of European industrial sites

not connected to a pipeline network; supply of

ships using LNG as fuel; and supply of filling

stations for long-distance haulage trucks using

LNG as a fuel.

In its LNG terminalling activity Fluxys, with

EDF and Total, is also partner in the LNG

terminal being built at Dunkirk. The terminal

is due to be operational by 2015 and will have

a capacity of 13 billion m³ of natural gas per

year, which will contribute significantly to

strengthening security of supply and to the

effective functioning of the market in North-

Western Europe.

Alongside construction of the LNG terminal

in Dunkirk, Fluxys and French transmission

system operator GRTgaz will lay a pipeline to

connect three infrastructures: the Dunkirk LNG

terminal as a new gas entry point for Europe, the

network of French transmission system operator

GRTgaz and Fluxys’ network in Belgium. This

combination will allow up to an additional

eight billion m³ of natural gas to be flown into

Belgium and elsewhere in Europe from the

Dunkirk LNG terminal, thereby strengthening

security and diversity of supply.

Zeebrugge area: the facilities in the Zeebrugge

area have a combined landing capacity of about

50 billion cubic metres per year, corresponding

to approximately ten per cent of the border

capacity needed for supplying the entire

European Union. Among the facilities is Fluxys’

Zeebrugge LNG terminal. It is one of the few

terminals in the world that can accommodate

nearly all LNG ships in circulation, from

small ships (7500 m³ of LNG) to the largest

carriers (266,000 m³ of LNG). The facility has

a throughput capacity of nine billion m3 of gas

per year and has received over 1300 ships since

it was commissioned in 1987. One of the main

advantages of the Zeebrugge LNG terminal is the

destination flexibility it offers, as terminal users

can choose from a whole range of destinations

for their natural gas. They can either trade it at

the Belgian trading points or move it via Fluxys’

Belgian grid to supply the Belgian market or

other end-user markets in Europe, such as the

UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg,

France and Southern Europe.

Currently Fluxys is also developing the

Zeebrugge LNG terminal into a hub for

accommodating the use of LNG as fuel for

ships and heavy-duty trucks. A second,

multifunctional jetty is currently under

construction, which is to accommodate both

ship unloading and loading operations and

will be capable of receiving LNG carriers with

capacities from 2000 m3, including so-called

bunker barges and feeder ships. These carriers

load LNG for supplying other ships using LNG

as fuel or intermediate LNG storage facilities.

Over 200 loading slots already have been booked

for small LNG ships.

With the second jetty scheduled to be ready

in 2015, the facility is set to accommodate the

57

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE Fluxys lng

With the second jetty scheduled to be ready in 2015, the facility is set to accommodate the shipping industry’s transition to LNG as fuel by the time very stringent sulphur emission standards come into force in the North Sea, the English Channel and the Baltic Sea

TopFluxys’ large transmission projects include reverse flow in the Swiss and German Transitgas and TENP pipelines, and laying a pipeline with French GRTgaz to connect the Dunkirk LNG terminal with the Zeebrugge area

aboveZeebrugge LNG terminal: optimum destination flexibility

As a provider of floating

accommodation in a variety of forms since 1982,

Bibby Maritime is now regarded as the market

leader in shallow water floating accommodation

vessels. Based in Liverpool, the company

maintains a fleet of five Coastels, which offer

high quality facilities for projects worldwide.

“We provide accommodation on large

developments, usually construction in the

private sector, but also typically oil and gas

in recent years,” says managing director Jon

Osborne as an introduction to Bibby Maritime’s

business model. “We supplement the land

accommodation that these projects have as

a matter of course. Often we are either the

pioneer camp at the very start of the project

whilst they are building the land facilities, or

we assist during the peak construction period.”

The company is used to working with other

accommodation providers due to the size of

the projects in the industry and the temporary

nature of the facilities.

There are significant benefits to Bibby

Maritime’s concept though, as Jon outlines:

accommodating

“Our vessels can be moored close to a work

site, which reduces the operational difficulties

and costs involved in moving workers between

sites. Furthermore, we are temporary by nature,

which means we have very good environmental

credentials. We can float in and out without

leaving any footprint behind, whereas if you

build or rent a land camp the infrastructure can

be quite telling on the environment.

“We also provide access to more remote

locations such as the Shetlands or north

of Norway, where often there is a desire to

not increase the urban footprint through

development. In fact there are very few places we

can’t go, with berth availability being the main

challenge that we face. Likewise, we are very

cost-effective as a solution compared with land

camps,” he continues.

At present Bibby Maritime’s vessels are

effectively divided between two fleets – one in its

home market of northern Europe, and the other

in Australia where one vessel is already working,

and set to be joined by a second at the end of

the year. The vessels are predominately the

58

Euro

pEAn

oil

& g

As

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

Most

proFilE BiBBy MAritiME

same, although the Australian fleet is more self-

sufficient in terms of power, sewage and water

supplies, whilst the European one requires more

access to the main supply.

“In the last two years four of the five vessels

we operate have had millions of pounds spent

on them in a full refurbishment to bring them

up to 21st century grade accommodation,” notes

Jon. “This includes Wi-Fi onboard each vessel,

TVs in most rooms, and en-suites. We see our

business as being very similar to a hotel, and

so it’s about making sure that our vessels meet

those same quality standards. The provision

changes subtly over time but it’s more about a

lifestyle choice now.”

Bibby Maritime is also speaking to suppliers

in Europe and Australia about securing two

new vessels for these markets. “We hope

to make that investment in the next few

months,” highlights Jon. “The market is

very good for us at the moment with strong

utilisation of the fleet, and I believe that is

based on the fact that we have such a strong

product. We’ve been in this business for 30

years and we feel we are becoming a more

accepted solution. As we work on more

projects, a lot of the workforce have stayed

on vessels in the fleet before and we actually

find that we are usually viewed as the most

popular accommodation option on a project.”

By investing based on this success, and the

company’s track record in gas projects, Bibby

Maritime hopes to have additional availability

to take on new projects. The company has

also introduced a number of changes to its

business proposal in order to make it simpler for

customers to do business with it.

This includes managing compliance with

the different standards and legislation in each

country on the client’s behalf. Another measure

Bibby Maritimebibbymaritime.com

ServicesFloating accommodation

is to remove the high upfront charge for

movement of the vessels between locations by

setting a single day rate, which includes recovery

of the mobilisation fee.

“On many projects the requirement for

the workforce goes up and down as the work

progresses. Therefore when renting our vessels

we will give the client a flat rate for their base

requirement of rooms, and then charge per room

for any additional used. This gives the client the

flexibility to adjust their requirement, without

having to pay for any rooms they don’t use,”

describes Jon.

“Later this year we will be taking another

vessel to Australia where we have secured

planning permission for a berth in Darwin,

and are subsequently in talks with a number

of contractors doing work on the Icthys LNG

project in the area. This is a new approach for

us, but we are taking the initiative to get all of

the berth permissions in place for areas that we

know are hotspots for accommodation, and then

securing the contracts after,” he concludes.

59

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE BiBBy MaritiME

We can float in and out without leaving any footprint behind, whereas if you build or rent a land camp the infrastructure can be quite telling on the environment

RotoRk Rotork, a major supplier of flow control equipment in the region, now supports the VTTI Fujairah Terminals from the recently opened Rotork Middle East Service Centre in Jebel Ali.Recent VTTI contracts include the motorisation of installed manual valves with IQ intelligent actuators which, with Rotork Pakscan two-wire control, represent the predominant valve control technology for tank farms and pipelines in the region.Rotork Middle East provides stockholding, retrofitting and asset management services for electric and fluid power actuators. Driven by the demand for reduced downtimes, Rotork’s planned maintenance contracts are attractive for Middle East operators.

Refinery Limited (FRL) refinery, which

is designed to process a combination of

condensate and heavy crude oil at a volume

of up to 80,000 barrels per day. VTTI Fujairah

Terminals is the only terminal company in the

region operating such an asset, which adds

further value to its offering.

“We have been very busy on the refining side

of the business during the last year or so,” notes

Siavash. “We’ve done well in the processing

of different types of feedstock and delivering

products to the market, and this is set to

continue going forward.”

VTTI Fujairah Terminal has seen an increase

in volumes over the last two years. The refinery

also celebrated the processing of its 50 millionth

barrel of crude. The last 12 months have seen

significant changes in VTTI Fujairah Terminals’

marketplace as new players in the terminal

market have moved into the Port of Fujairah,

the facilities of which the company uses in its

operations. “The total capacity of tanks in the

WellSitting on the Indian Ocean,

and close to the Straits of Hormuz, VTTI

Fujairah Terminals Ltd is perfectly placed to

serve the major bunker market from what is the

entry and exit point of the Gulf. It serves as part

of VTTI’s wider network of terminals, which

positions the Group at the key shipping lanes

and anchorages of the world.

Since its formation, VTTI Fujairah Terminals

has continued to grow year-on-year, trebling

its storage capacity to 1.2 million cubic metres

through significant expansion. The jetty

flexibility and deep waters means the company

can accommodate any size or type of vessel,

and offer facilities for all different types of

products. As such VTTI Fujairah Terminals is

predominately engaged in the transportation,

storage, loading and offloading of oil and

petroleum products for all manner of customers.

Reflecting on the last year of business, general

manager Siavash Alishahpour says: “The basic

set-up of the facility remains the same, but we

have further improved our flexibility to give us a

better rate of utilisation and serve our customers

better. Our customer base has also not changed

during this time, with the volume of products

moved looking fairly close to what we achieved

last year.”

Another arm of the business is the Fujairah

60

EurO

pEan

OIl

& g

aS

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

operated

prOFIlE VTTI FujaIrah TErmInalS

VTTI Fujairah Terminals Ltdvtti.com

ServicesBunkering, terminal operations and refining

61

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.ukWell

area has increased dramatically, which means

the market is quite competitive today in terms

of the services provided by different operators,”

explains Siavash.

“Due to the rising number of terminals

coming on-stream we have also seen an increase

in vessel traffic coming into the Port of Fujairah

as a common user platform,” notes Didier

de Beaumont, commercial manager. “This is

additional business within the port itself, as

opposed to a shift of existing business from one

operator to another, so it’s new growth which is

very positive.”

As common facilities used by all the operators

in the area, the news that the Port of Fujairah

is investing in an expansion of two new jetties

has been positively received. This will enable

companies like VTTI Fujairah Terminals to

enjoy better facilities and greater flexibility in

their operations, as well as reducing congestion

surrounding the jetties.

Another significant development is the local

government’s reclamation project, which sees

Fujairah securing new land from the ocean.

As part of this work, VTTI Fujairah Terminals

had been awarded a substantial plot of land in

a prime location. “We have not yet taken any

final decisions on expansion plans,” highlights

Didier but the company is considering potential

expansion projects

“I believe you will continue to see even more

terminals coming to Fujairah, both newcomers

and expansion of existing sites,” continues

Siavash. “But from VTTI Fujairah Terminals’

perspective we are putting a lot of resources into

developing different potential businesses as we

have this prime land available to us. We hope to

bring some of these to fruition in the near future

to further develop the business.

“As to our operations, we have medium-term

contracts ongoing and so we expect to continue

with these into the next year. This means we

expect our activities to be relatively similar to

those of 2013. We are also working to ensure

that we are flexible enough to respond to any

changes in the trading environment or customer

businesses. It’s about monitoring the market and

making sure we align to that,” he concludes.

proFilE VTTi Fujairah TErminals

http://www.stauff.co.uk

directionNew

The MKW Group subscribes to the

view that there are no problems in engineering;

only challenges and solutions. This is due to the

fact that since 1976, the group has maintained an

across-the-board engineering capability including

design, manufacture, testing, installation, and

maintenance and project management.

Formed in 1995, Total Maintenance &

Engineering Ltd (TME) started life as a

mechanical maintenance company providing

fitters and technicians for site work and outages.

In 2009, managing director Jerome Dardillac

sparked a shift in focus to hydraulics, which led

the company to adopt a new working name of

TME Hydraulics.

Hydraulics is a discipline that Jerome has

been passionate about since his apprenticeship

working on mobile systems. However, it is

the utilisation of hydraulic power for power

equipment aboard offshore work vessels and the

emerging niche of subsea equipment for which

TME Hydraulics is focussing its development as

a technically strong hydraulic partner.

“Once this had been identified as the correct

direction for the company there was then a

need to train and recruit hydraulic specialists,

and to make ourselves known to the target

customer base,” he explains. “This was helped

by the involvement of MKW in the fabrication

of subsea equipment, and the association

allowed TME Hydraulics to propose a complete

hydraulic package.

“In addition to the large equipment projects

driven by the oil and gas market we have also

engaged with northeast industries to offer a

hydraulic service package where we provide

routine service support, source spare parts and

also offer improvement advice to reduce energy

consumption and upgrade equipment. Much

of this work has a short turn-around time, and

we rely on our suppliers, as well as our own

technicians, to be able to provide quality service

in responsive timescales.”

As well as the in-depth knowledge of its

employees, TME also has the ability to design

bespoke systems in-house, utilising 3D CAD

and simulation software to calculate hydraulic

performance data. “We take an innovative

approach to systems design and problem

solving, always willing to look for a new way

of achieving the performance requirements.

As a systems designer and assembler we have

a willingness to engage with component

manufacturers and to utilise new products in

our designs. This allows us to reduce the size

63

Euro

pEan

oil

& G

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE TME Hydraulics

TME Hydraulics tmehydraulics.co.uk

ServicesHydraulic engineering

staff and respond even better to its customers’

distinct needs.

In the area of staff development, TME already

operates an apprentice training programme,

which currently has two full-time participants.

“For us it is important that they gain a good

general mechanical standard, which is supported

by their formal programme,” notes Jerome. “For

hydraulic training we have found that this type

of engineering is not promoted in the UK and

this is reflected in the shortage of suitably skilled

hydraulic technicians. We therefore provide an

additional hydraulic training programme for the

apprentices and other members of our team.”

For several years TME has been a supporter

of the French Compagnons system, where

young engineers travel outside of France to

develop their skills and improve their level in

a foreign language. This is beneficial for TME

as these young engineers bring a high level

of enthusiasm for hard work and learning, as

well as a fresh skill set. Furthermore, as well as

apprentices the company has university students

joining it over the summer to learn about design

and 3D modelling.

“Over the coming years we hope to have

established TME as a technically respected

hydraulic design company and to have repeat

business with all our customers. We see oil

and gas, and subsea equipment being a large

percentage of our business going forward as the

pressures to improve performance, reduce weight

and keep cost and lead time low drive operators

to look for technically innovative solutions. For

the service side we hope to become recognised

across the northeast as a provider of high quality

service. Longer term we have plans to look at

opening a satellite facility elsewhere in the UK,

close to our customers’ deployment locations, to

service the original equipment we are supplying,”

concludes Jerome.

and weight of our systems, and to achieve

greater functionality and performance reliability,”

explains Jerome.

TME makes use of a 1000-square metre

workshop, which is divided into a strip-down

and assembly area. Other equipment includes a

flushing system for hydraulic hoses and pipes,

pressure test facilities, and data recorders for

component efficiency testing, which together

give the company the ability to test and

assemble hydraulic systems and power units.

Likewise TME is able to access the fabrication,

machining and paint capabilities of MKW

Engineering to assist with short lead times or

certain project requirements.

One of TME’s previous contracts was for the

design and build of a bespoke hydraulic solution

for a wind turbine access system. “This project

came along at a time when we were developing

our design capability and it was a great technical

challenge for us to engage with,” highlights

Jerome. “The system was a unique concept and

specialist hydraulic expertise was required to

ensure it was able to integrate with the complex

control system and operate in the desired way

without earlier prototypes to compare against.

“More recently we have completed two

projects for large hydraulic power units for

the oil and gas industry. The first was for the

supply of two 132-kilowatt power units for

use as offshore deck equipment, primarily in

winch control. This is an application we hope

to expand in, particularly with respect to closed

loop systems, which offer greater control for

operators. The advantages of a bespoke closed

loop system for this application are particularly

beneficial when operating large winches offshore.

Closed loop systems are more compact and offer

greater control of the torque, speed and load

from a single pump and motor without the need

to oversize or have high power consumption.

“The second project was a modular system

with a total 180-kilowatt power output using

four 45-kilowatt sections. The pumps can be run

both individually or together to give maximum

flexibility in operation,” he adds.

TME is excited about some of the current

projects that are in the pipeline as these will

enable the company to develop its know-how in

areas such as active heave compensation. Much

of the company’s focus though is on developing

TME as a hydraulic partner to its customers,

and creating a structure with dedicated resources

for both new build and service. This will enable

TME to offer development opportunities to its

64

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k proFilE TME Hydraulics

AncoferWAldrAm SteelplAteS bvOver 35,000 tons of quality heavy steel plates in stockAs a specialised supplier of heavy carbon steel plates and profiled parts for more than 40 years now, AncoferWaldram Steelplates (AWS) has made its way to the forefront of this sector. Its completely new premises in Oosterhout (North Brabant), covering an area of 30,000 m² and with direct access to open water, allows it to operate extremely efficiently and cost-effectively.

Customer baseWith its 100-man workforce, AWS serves a broad and international customer base in offshore fabrication, steel and crane construction, boiler and pressure vessel equipment industry, heavy machinery, yellow goods, dredging and shipbuilding.

Plates from stock or profiled parts, the choice is yours!It is the combination of comprehensive stocks of over 35,000 tons of heavy carbon steel plates plus the sophisticated profiling plant that gives AWS a decisive lead in experience, product range and customer service.

Delivery programmeAWS stocks an extensive range of structural, offshore, high strength and pressure vessel grades, certified with 3.2 Lloyd’s Register/DNV.

Dillinger Hütte Group subsidiaryAWS is a subsidiary of the Dillinger Hütte Group in Dillingen, Germany, Europe’s leading producer of heavy steel plates with an annual rolling capacity of 2.5 million tons.

in total to a very short lead time of just six

months.” The company also has clients within

military, aerospace, and general industry such as

machine builders and mechanical engineers.

What is somewhat unique is that Breman

Machinery can fabricate these components and

structures entirely in-house. The company’s

25-metre high workshops are home to all the

necessary equipment for machining and non-

machining processing of materials including

rolling, boring and milling, welding, corrosion

protection, assembly and fitting. Its location

beside open water also means that it has a

direct connection to international ports such as

Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

“Often the first question we get is ‘can you

make this kind of unusual product’,” notes

Henk. “We are very strong in making extreme

components and work in a niche market

fabricating parts that are often far from the

With almost 150 years of

experience behind it, Breman Machinery has

extensive knowledge of working with metal. The

grounding for the company was laid by Harm

Breman in 1864 as a forge, and then following

the Second World War moved into making

weaving machinery. As the stock of machinery

slowly expanded, so the focus shifted to the

supply of spare parts, and particularly work-

pieces with unusual dimensions.

“Today we’re a specialist in the supply of

large components to the offshore and heavy

machinery industries,” describes Henk Breman,

managing director. As the fifth generation of

the Breman family to take the helm, Henk has

maintained Breman Machinery’s reputation for

taking on challenging projects. This includes

everything from simple structures to complex

mechanical components that weigh tens or

hundreds of tonnes, and other extremes of

dimension. Yet each is made to a precision of a

hundredth of a millimetre.

“Our core strength is our people and their

workmanship,” Henk continues. “We currently

deliver a lot of heavy components for drill ships,

crane equipment, and handling equipment for

the installation of offshore wind turbines. In fact

at present we are working on a wind turbine

handling system that weighs over 300 tonnes

Extremeprecision65

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE BrEman machinEry

AncoferWaldram Steelplates bv / P.O. Box 190 4900 AD Oosterhout The Netherlands T +31(0)162 49 15 00 F +31(0)162 42 98 06 E info@AWS.dillinger.biz I www.AncoferWaldram.nl

AncoferWaldram Steelplates bv is a subsidiary of the Dillinger Hütte Group

Structural strength in steel plates

Flame cutting• reliablehighlyexperiencedpartnerforheavyparts/high thicknesses• thickness6-300mm:5oxy-fuelcuttingmachines; 2 plasma cutting machines• authorisedbyDNV,LRS,TUVfortransferofmarkings(restamping)• 150x6metercuttingtables• automatictwo-sidesdeburringline• bevellingrobot,shotblasting/painting,additionaltooling

Steel plates• over35.000tonnesinstock:22.000m2 roofed surface• constructionplatesS235JR/S355J2+NaccEN10025-2• finegrainedconstructionplatesS355NLaccEN10025-3• offshoregradeS355G10+M/S420G2+M/S460G2+MaccEN10225• highstrengthfinegrainedplates(Dillimax690-1100)• wear-resistantplates(Dillidur400/500V)• exclusiveworldwideHIC-resistantDicreststockholder• boilerplates:SA516GR60/GR70,P355NL2,P265GH

AncoferWaldram Steelplates bv: Expertise,skillsandtruecompetenceinheavysteelplateprocessing.

Contact: JoostvanDijk,e-mail:joost.van.dijk@aws.dillinger.biz

Competitive competence in

steel plates and flame cutting

Over 35.000 tonnes of quality plates in stock

OffshOre gradesin stock 15 - 100 mm

•

•

•

•

s355g10aPI 2W-50s460g2s420g2

+M acc. eN 10225 (NOrsOK)

+M acc. eN 10225 (NOrsOK)+M acc. eN 10225 (NOrsOK)

SGSSGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. We are recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Established in 1878, the company was registered in Geneva as Société Générale de Surveillance in 1919. As Breman Machinery BV, SGS has over 135 years of experience through continual improvement and innovation, and through supporting our customers’ operations by reducing risk and improving productivity.Both companies fit perfectly to each other because of sharing the same values, i.e. no nonsense culture, flexible and down to earth. These values are the basis for a long-term relationship.

Breman Machinerybreman-machinery.nl

ProductsHeavy components

be a better company. This type of machine is

very sophisticated and much faster so it presents

a lot of possibilities, and we feel will gives us a

better position on the market,” elaborates Henk.

“We have also invested in a whole new

factory at IJmuiden, which will be home to our

new sister company – Breman Offshore,” he

continues. “The site is positioned right on the

sea enabling us to supply large ships, and to

create heavy and large projects which can then

be more easily transported.”

With the company viewing the offshore

industry as being a key growth area, both

from the oil and gas and renewable energy

perspective, this facility represents a major

strategic decision. “Our aim is to be able to

provide even larger components in the future,”

concludes Henk. “We also want to not only

be able to provide the steel work, but also

hydraulic and electrical competences for a more

complete component that customers can just

plug and play. This will remove some of the

challenges of production because the client can

just subcontract a complete system from Breman

Machinery.”

norm. A lot of the design and development work

is done by the customer so our aim is to try and

realise those dreams.”

Breman Machinery prides itself on the scope

of its facilities, which include a wide range of

CNC-controlled machines. These are essential

to enabling the company to form its large pieces

with the greatest precision to conform to the

accepted tolerances. Although the structures

themselves may be complex, many of the

manufacturing processes performed by Breman

Machinery are quite typical such as cutting

and angle bending. It also means that the

company is more flexible by not having to rely

on third parties. In fact it is Breman Machinery

that often gets certain processing operations

outsourced to it by mechanical engineers and

plant manufacturers that regard the company as

a subcontractor.

Earlier in the year Breman Machinery brought

a new RX18 machine from Reiden Swiss for use

in milling, turning and boring. This investment

is expected to be delivered at the end of the year.

“We have an in-house policy that we don’t have

to get bigger as a company, but we do invest to

PROFILE BREman machInERy

67

EuRO

PEan

OIL

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

Favelle Favco has established itself as a

premier supplier of material handling solutions

across a variety of industry sectors. For over 40

years the company has focused on driving crane

technology and achieving ever more impressive

heights in offering tailor made, high-speed

lifting solutions.

The group is comprised of two brands, Favelle

Favco and Krol, which between them possess

an impressive equipment portfolio that includes

the world’s largest hammerhead crane, the Kroll

K10,000 and the largest crane in the world,

the Favelle Favco M2480. The group’s patent

for large projects extends to the impressive

list of contracts and works undertaken by

the company. Out of the ten largest buildings

ever built, Favelle Favco has constructed nine

of them and the firm has also been awarded

prestigious, high profile contracts including

New York’s Freedom Tower. The group offers

a comprehensive package of services including

offshore, tower, wharf and crawler cranes and

also supplies a full range of marine winches.

These are produced and serviced by four

manufacturing facilities across the globe with a

total workforce of around 700 teammates.

Its history dates back to 1923 when Favco

was formed by Edward Arthur Favelle and

Harry Cole as an automotive repair and oxy car

structure welder. The company progressively

Raising

became larger, penetrating new markets and

developing its products until its first offshore

crane was constructed in 1969. By 1980 third

generation family member Ted Favelle left the

business and started his own company, Favelle,

in 1980. By 1990 Favco merged with Favelle

and by 1997 the group was in a position to

acquire the Kroll company, which was originally

founded by Mr. Fridtjof Berg Krøll as an agency

of Linden cranes in 1956. The Favelle Favco

group has been listed on the Kuala Lumpur

Stock Exchange as of 2006.

Favelle Favco’s vision is to be the leading

provider of material handling solutions within

the chosen market segment. Operating within

the heavy lifting market segment through a

range of industries including construction and

68

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

awareness

proFilE FavEllE Favco

Favelle Favco favellefavco.com

ServicesPremier material handling solutions

offshore oil and gas, the company’s mission

emphasises its dedication to effective, high

quality solutions delivered in a timely fashion.

The company also balances its services to

be cost effective so that it is able to offer the

benefit of allowing its clients to operate more

competitively. To this end the firm aims to be

the employer of choice in creating effective work

systems and providing a culture of excellence.

Operating in regions all over the world

the group has established a global presence,

cementing its reputation for delivering reliable

material handling solutions to often challenging

locations. Favelle Favco was prominent in the

construction of the New York Freedom Tower,

which is due for opening early 2014. The iconic

project attracted global attention and was a

significant feat with the construction standing

at 1776 feet tall. Favelle Favco contributed two

high-speed, diesel driven M760 cranes capable

of lifting 64 tonnes of material at a maximum

speed of 120m/min and each featured a 525HP

powerpack. Within the offshore market the

company collaborated with EWE AG E.ON

Climate and Renewable and Vattenfall Europe

New Energy on the joint Alpha Ventus offshore

wind farm. Situated 45 kilometres north of the

island of Borkum in waters about 30 metres

deep, the project represents Germany’s first

wind farm to be erected at sea under genuine

offshore conditions. The design, construction

and grid integration of the Alpha Ventus

project as a test field will gather fundamental

experience with a view to future commercial

use of offshore wind farms. A Favelle

Favco crane model PC300 was used for

installation of the 5-megawatt wind turbine.

This model, with maximum capacity of 300

metric tonnes, has a hoisting speed of 7.5m/

min at maximum capacity. This crane is

equipped with a 1000 bhp engine and was

commissioned in May 2009.

Crane rental and operation are complimented

by the group’s comprehensive after sales

and support services. Favelle Favco acts in

partnership with its end users to facilitate

maintenance contracts to help lower the total

lifetime operating cost of equipment and extend

service life. In the marine industry the group is

able to offer rental of water bags, flattop larges,

jack-up barges and tug boats. It is also able call

on the support of its sister facilities including a

shipyard which carries out shipbuilding, repair

and offers dry docking for vessels up to 5000

Dwt. To maintain its reach and effectiveness in

global markets the company operates a global

support network from facilities in Malaysia,

Texas US, Denmark and the UK.

As the offshore industry continues to develop

and requires ever more challenging engineering

and construction projects, opportunities to

provide high quality support and construction

infrastructure will be hotly contended. With its

impressive reputation, equipment portfolio and

track record Favelle Favco stands ready to be

the supplier of choice when it comes to effective

heavy material handling solutions.

69

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE FavEllE Favco

With its impressive reputation, equipment portfolio and track record Favelle Favco stands ready to be the supplier of choice when it comes to effective heavy material handling solutions.

RepnavalRepnaval, part of the Zamakona Yards group has, during 2012 and 2013, carried out large parts of the ten-year classification job on Eirik Raude in Las Palmas, as well as posterior onboard jobs transiting both to Liberia and Ireland. The O.R. project team used Repnavals courtesy offices 24/7 in Las Palmas and a good relationship was developed during the project. Repnaval is looking forward to maintaining a continuous dialogue with O.R. in order to optimise up-time of its fleet and assisting on future repairs and dockings on a regular basis.

Operationalsynergy

US, Stavanger in Norway, Rio De Janeiro in Brazil,

Luanda in Angola, and Geoje island in Korea.

The four sixth generation ultra-deepwater

vessels operate at up to 10,000ft water depth,

with a drilling depth of 35,000ft. They offer

two million lbs hook load capacity and boast

dual derricks allowing for optimal efficiency.

Ocean Rig is expecting delivery of three new

seventh generation ultra-deepwater drillships

during the second half of this year. A fourth

seventh generation drillship is also scheduled

for delivery in 2015. All four seventh generation

ultra-deepwater rigs are able to operate at a

water depth of up to 12,000ft and have a drilling

depth capability of up to 40,000ft. They offer 2.5

million lbs hook load capacity with dual derricks

allowing for optimal efficiency. All eight ultra-

deepwater drillships mentioned above are built

at Samsung Heavy Industries, which ensures

uniformity in relation to utilisation of spare parts

and training standards.

Ocean Rig’s fleet is one of the most advanced

and young ultra-deepwater rig fleets within the

industry with an average vessel age of three years.

Operating some of the most modern, advanced

and sophisticated drilling rigs have ensured a

solid performance improvement in the rig fleet’s

operating efficiency (currently about 96 per cent).

In parallel Ocean Rig has succeeded in improving

its environmental and safety records substantially

on a year-by-year basis. Furthermore, to ensure

Founded in 1996 Ocean Rig has

seen a history of lively growth and dynamic

expansion in over a decade of operating

experience in ultra-deepwater environments.

The company took delivery of its first two harsh

environment ultra-deepwater rigs, Leiv Eiriksson

and Eirik Raude, in 2001 and 2002, respectively.

In 2008 the company was acquired by Dryships

(NASDAQ:DRYS), controlled by Greek shipping

entrepreneur George Economou of the Cardiff

Group. The acquisition saw Ocean Rig become

part of the Cardiff Group’s wider shipping

activities taking advantage of the synergies of its

association with the group’s years of maritime

expertise. The Cardiff Group currently possesses

assets worth over $12 billion and in addition to

expanding into the offshore sector, the business

is active within the drybulk, container, tanker

and LNG shipping segments.

By 2011 Ocean Rig’s first four ultra-deepwater

drillships had arrived and a further three new-

builds were ordered for delivery in 2013. In

addition, in 2013 Ocean Rig ordered one new-

build for delivery in January 2015. In 2012

the company began a major management

re-organisation plan, which included relocation of

its headquarters to Athens, Greece in 2013. Ocean

Rig today is able to take advantage of the wider

group’s experience and infrastructure and currently

has several international hub offices in areas

including Aberdeen in the UK, Houston in the

70

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

kproFilE ocEan rig udw

Ocean Rig UDW Incocean-rig.com

ServicesUltra-deepwater drilling specialists

ultra-deepwater drilling sector while continuing

to focus on operational excellence. At present

the company has been aggressively expanding its

fleet, aiming to expand to ten deepwater drilling

units within the next few years. Long-term the

company aims to accelerate this growth to a total

of fifteen ultra-deepwater drilling units by 2017.

The group has also been focused on developing

its offices in Brazil, Angola and Norway with an

aim of being closer to its customers so that it is

able to deliver direct, effective and second-to-

none customer service.

Ocean Rig’s history has been one of internal

and collaborative synergy. The company operates

in an environment of mutual co-operation and

support by offering its clients focused customer

service while lending the support of a larger

shipping company to each of its sectors. This

sets Ocean Rig apart as a company that is able to

offer a diverse portfolio of services underpinned

by an impressively resilient support network,

which will place the business on a sure footing

moving into the future.

Ocean Rig continues to develop and build the

best crew competency it is in the process of

creating a training center in Athens. The excellent

performance of Ocean Rig has ensured a solid

contract backlog of about $6 billion.

Ocean Rig’s vision is to be the preferred

drilling contractor within the ultra-deepwater

drilling sector. It aims to supply sophisticated

and modern assets and unique engineering

solutions. Core to the company’s mission is its

focus on a motivated, competent workforce,

which is maintained through a high standard

training programme that is shared between all

vessels. As the company grows it is focused

on long-term customer relationships with a

strategy to obtain repeat business through its

reputation for providing world-class service.

Ocean Rig has drilled in excess of 150 wells for

a number of major, independent and national

oil companies and has a client list that includes

globally recognised names like Shell, BP, Total,

Eni, Statoil and Petrobras. As the company

moves forward it aims to expand its share in the

71

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE ocEan rig udw

72

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

K&L Ross A working relationship with StorkK&L Ross is a leading supplier of PPE to the UK and international oil, gas and energy markets. We are committed to offering excellent service standards and are accredited to ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001, as well as being members of FPAL and BSIF. During our established business relationship, KLR has worked closely with the Stork Supply Chain team to improve efficiency and health, safety and environmental performance to enhance overall employee safety. We are excited about the future, as working with a dynamic, growing company like Stork has seen KLR match that dynamism and growth.

Compass pRintCompass Print has an established reputation for exceeding customer expectation, and a strong relationship with Stork and its predecessors has developed over 30 years.Through constant reinvestment in new technologies and experienced personnel, Compass delivers a reliable, high-quality range of services and will celebrate 40 years in business in 2014.In reacting swiftly to the needs of Stork, it provides an eclectic array of products, such as external/internal signage, marketing materials (including the worldwide REACH employee packs), safety materials, stencils, labels, business stationery and so much more.Compass Print welcomes the opportunity to support Stork in this publication.

CaLdeR pRessuRe systemsFor over ten years of Calder’s 30-year history the company has been providing a complete range of fabric maintenance equipment including high and ultra-high pressure water jetting machines, hotwash units, vacuum systems and accessories to suit the varied range of projects Stork Technical Services undertakes worldwide.Calder’s experience and technical knowhow enables it to package equipment to operate in zoned or safe area installations in the most extreme environments.As the demands of the industry increase, Calder works closely with Stork technical Services to continuously develop its equipment ensuring safety, reliability and efficiency.

has also led to long-term working relationships

with clients, as Erik-Jan highlights: “We attract

personnel who are committed to delivering and

producing a forward thinking work ethic. Our

employees are given a lot of responsibility and

we empower them as experts in their field to

do what they know best; we have an unrivalled

appetite to deliver excellence. This is one of

the reasons why Stork has expanded its global

footprint significantly over recent years.”

Now organised in four global regions;

Continental Europe, UK and Africa, the

Americas, and the Middle East, Caspian, and

Asian Pacific area, Stork has noticed a change

in the demands of the market as clients look to

expand the life cycle of their assets as efficiently,

safely and productively at the lowest possible

overall cost. This has led to the company

strategically targeting this market by offering

its customers one partner for life and one level

of service from concept through to execution.

“We are finding that there has been an increase

in clients asking us to structure and frame the

problem before executing the work, so perhaps

in the past we were asked to carry out what

people specified to us but now we are being

requested to take responsibility for end results,”

highlights Erik-Jan. “This is a definite change

for Stork, which has come about from us

engaging with clients in their own workplace,

listening to their challenges, asking questions,

and working together to develop and deliver the

right solutions. It is about being innovative; we

are developing our skills base to deliver added

value solutions.”

With a passion for unraveling complexity,

Stork works with major operators on a range

of assets such as offshore installations, gas

turbines, petrochemical plants, and wind

turbines to deliver innovative asset management

solutions. The company’s most significant

contract win was for more than £15 million

of new work with a major North Sea operator

in February 2013, which will see Stork

Technical Service’s subsea team deliver a range

of integrated subsea inspection, repair and

maintenance (IRM) operations. These services

will be delivered from the company’s dedicated

dive support vessel and a range of bespoke dive

intervention craft, which have been deployed on

major subsea projects around the world and are

anticipated to generate more than £10 million in

revenue alone during 2013.

Recognised for commitment to quality and

innovation, the company won two awards at

the UK Oil and Gas Industry Awards in 2013,

which Erik-Jan discusses further: “One of the

It has been a productive and successful

few years for Stork Technical Services (Stork)

since it was last featured in European Oil and

Gas Magazine in December 2010, as Erik-Jan

Bijvank, senior vice president, UK and Africa

at Stork, explains: “The technical services

position in the UK and Africa market has been

greatly enhanced by a number of acquisitions.

Since the beginning of 2013 all Stork entities

that were acquired (Cooperheat, iicorr and

RBG) are now fully integrated. Bringing

onboard a vast amount of experience and

knowledge has established Stork as a fully

integrated asset integrity service provider,

through the combination of traditional fabric

maintenance methods, integrity and inspection

services, and our subsea diving offering.”

Dedicated to improving asset integrity for

clients throughout the lifecycle of their assets,

Stork offers a wide range of solutions and

specialist services for asset management and

maintenance, while constantly striving to reduce

risk, assure safety and enhance environmental

performance. With an entrepreneurial history

dating back 180 years, the company has

developed a large amount of technical expertise

across a range of disciplines that allows it to

maintain the integrity of its customers’ assets.

This commitment to offering excellent service

A partner for

life73

Euro

pEan

oIl

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFIlE stork tEchnIcal sErvIcEs

Brimmond GroupBrimmond Group's extensive hire fleet is one of the most modern and reliable in the industry. The company designs and builds its assets in-house at its custom-built base outside Aberdeen. Stork Technical Services has rented HPU's, umbilical spoolers and diver related tooling from Brimmond to help grow its subsea capabilities. Impressed by the quality and specification of the units Brimmond’s rental customers often become buyers. Stork Technical worked with Brimmond Group to design and purchase HPUs that met its precise requirements. Brimmond Group listens to each of its client’s needs and offers tailored solutions with unrivalled turnaround times.

Stork Technical Servicesstorktechnicalservices.com

ServicesAsset integrity lifecycle partner

companies continue investing in new

infrastructure and extending the life of assets

within their existing asset base. “We will

continue to focus on the four regions we are

working in around the world by developing

and nurturing existing relations. Our mission is

to build on our excellent reputation for service

delivery and to be truly recognised as an asset

integrity lifecycle partner,” concludes Erik-Jan.

awards was for innovation and safety, which

was a great achievement for Stork. A number

of different innovations have been introduced

into the market in recent years, with the Hot

Bolt Clamp being recognised by four different

industry bodies. This product is a true testament

to the expertise and forward thinking ways of

our organisation; it is now a tested and proven

piece of equipment that allows us to safely

remove and replace corroded bolts on live

bolted flange connections with no disruption

to ongoing production. This product was

researched and developed in-house by our multi-

skilled personnel who then went on to create an

industry first, a safe and successful solution.”

The other award won by Stork at the Oil and

Gas Industry Awards 2013 was in recognition of

scaffold chargehand Marc Brankin’s exemplary

attitude and behaviour towards offshore safety.

As ageing asset infrastructure requires

expensive maintenance and repair, Stork is

committed to continually developing high

quality, innovative products and services for

its clients; a commitment that is destined

to continue into the future, as oil and gas

74

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

kproFilE stork tEchnical sErvicEs

this size and magnitude has never been built to

handle modules of this size. The technology in

the tower is not unique on its own, but together

as a system it is fairly innovative. The winches

and the performance they are able to offer are

probably of the largest ever built,” he adds.

The Technip Norge project presented its own

challenges, which AXTech was able to discuss

with Technip Norge and develop solutions

for. Owing to the sheer size and weight of the

modules, weighing in at around 300 tonnes,

it was near impossible to use normal handling

solutions. As such, early on in the project the

company designed a special tower crane to

enable the deployment of the project’s massive

modules. The new crane tower design was

deployed on North Sea Shipping’s North Sea

Giant Vessel, which was given the accolade of

Ship of the Year Award in 2012 by the Offshore

Support Journal, during its Offshore Support

Conference in London.

AXTech has continued to focus on providing

innovative, high quality engineering solutions,

and recently it worked with Subsea 7 to

provide the architect equipment for its Seven

Viking Vessel. The company provided a full

inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR)

system for module handling including active

heave compensation (AHC) and an active

rope tensioning system (ART). The vessel is

considered to be the next generation in IMR

vessel design and was celebrated this year when

it was awarded the Ship of the Year Award,

presented at the Nor-Shipping Exhibition. For

AXTech the recognition of the Seven Viking’s

capability is an impressive achievement. “We

installed and commissioned a unique system

for Subsea 7,” says Richard. “The equipment

we have supplied is critical for the function

of the vessel. So the Ship of the Year was a big

milestone for us,” he concludes.

The IMR system was produced to operate at

the significant wave height (Hs) of 4.5 meters

and incorporates a range of specialist features

and designs. The main lift winch can operate

up to 70T to a 2000m depth and includes AHC/

ART functionality and an all-electric drive. The

system also includes an auxiliary lift winch

operating to a weight of 20T to a depth of

1000m and three guide wire winches capable

of 10T to a depth of 2000m. Finally there is a

cursor guide winch capable to 10T with Sync/

Art functionality. AXTech designed the system

to be able to offer synchronous operation of

the main and auxiliary winches as well as the

cursor guide winch, and synchronous operation

of all guide wire winches. “The system has

proven its ability to perform as expected during

Since it was last featured in

European Oil and Gas Magazine in November

2012, Axtech AS has solidified its position

as a leading supplier for heavy lifting and

handling equipment. The company is proud of

its reputation of delivering high-quality heavy

lifting solutions for use in harsh and corrosive

marine environments.

AXTech’s profile has been raised

internationally with the award of several

significant projects. In 2012 the company was

contracted by Technip Norge to supply a special

handling system (SHS) of 400t capacity to be

used during the installation and intervention of

Statoil’s Asgard Subsea Compression system. The

contract was valued at approximately 17 million

euros with delivery of the SHS expected in the

first quarter of 2014. “There is a lot of worldwide

attention on the project,” explains Richard

Myhre, managing director of AXTech.

“Things are progressing very well. We are in

the fabrication phase for the project just now

and it was a critical and key milestone to get

to this point. It’s a huge project, as a tower of

expectationsHigh

75

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

aS

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE aXTEch

above70t Module Handling Tower initially designed to operate on the vessel Skandi Bergen - ongoing project for DOF Subsea

Below35t Module Handling Tower for Subsea 7

76

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

AXTech ASaxtech.no

ServicesMarine heavy lifting specialist

HydratecH IndustrIes FluId PowerFrom massive scale to critical detailHydratech Industries Fluid Power is a global company with more than 35 years of experience designing and manufacturing hydraulic cylinders and piston accumulators primarily for the offshore and marine markets. The cylinders can be found in many on-board applications, such as all types of hydraulic cranes, A-frames, pipe handling equipment, etc., and can be certified by all major classification societies. Cylinders from Hydratech Industries are well known for their quality and robust design. Visit our website, www.hydratech-industries.com, and use the ‘Design Online´ tool to make your first selection and principle drawing.

of this is to continue to focus on engineering

skills,” he continues. “One of the main focuses

is on engineering leadership. Our focus is on

having project-leading engineers who can make

decisions in the way the company wants them

to. With that kind of focus you can get progress

and engineering integrity. We want to build a

more firm and solid structure and based on that

take another leap forward in the future.”

extensive sea trials and load tests prior to official

delivery, and the client seems to be very happy

with the equipment so far,” says Kjell Ødegård,

sales director at AXTech. “This delivery is an all-

electric system, but we do of course also deliver

the same systems with hydraulic drives,” he adds.

AXTech has its main office based in Molde,

Norway, where it is strategically placed to be

close to the country’s oil and gas fields. As

the company has expanded it has included a

subsidiary in Gdynia in Poland, operating as

Axtech Polska and has a local office located in

Kristiansund. It also works with agents in the

US, Brazil, and Malaysia. Moving into 2013

the company has identified Singapore as an

important future market, opening its own office

in the country in January of this year. While

AXTech still operates with agents and reps

globally, its aim is to be able to offer a more direct

service to its customers, including support from

sales through to post delivery support. “2013 will

be a year of consolidation,” says Richard.

“For the next three years we expect to

see steady, controlled growth. We intend to

strengthen the business step by step and part

77

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE aXTEch

above Render image of the assumed North Sea Giant tower arrangement

http://www.flowmd.com

Loops Automation is a system

integration and engineering company with a

focus on general industrial automation. This

covers a range of solutions from measurement

to process and manufacturing information

systems. The company’s field of expertise covers

various industrial sectors including upstream

and downstream oil and gas, chemical and

petrochemical, utilities and pharmaceutical.

Since 2000 Loops Automation has been

working in Iraq, where it has built up a solid

reputation through the execution of control and

instrumental projects directly alongside Iraqi oil

and gas companies and refineries as part of the

United Nations Oil for Food Programme. From

2005 to 2009, the company also established

itself as a reliable partner of the Coalition

Provisional Authority.

Whilst Iraq remains its largest market at

present, Loops Automation has gained footholds

in other countries such as the United Arab

Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Oman, Sudan,

North Africa and Egypt. This has seen the

company build up a good network of contacts

including international contractors and

developers, and end users.

The business offers an extensive range

of solutions for industrial automation

processes including engineering, control

& instrumentation system integration,

automation product sales, electrical product

sales, mechanical products sales, system

implementation and field services. Key to

the company’s product portfolio is its process

control and safety systems, industrial control and

SCADA systems, field instrumentation and flow

metering systems. The company also provides a

one-stop control solution for turbo machinery.

Understanding a client’s needs is critical in

ensuring that the correct solutions are provided

in every situation. This is especially true

where safety and process control systems are

concerned, and Loops Automation analyses

every customer’s functional requirements to

provide the most appropriate critical hardware

devices and software packages. The company

incorporates these packages into a total solution,

which is integrated at every stage along the line

and at every phase. This includes system and

process engineering, design, selection, quality

79

Euro

pEAn

oiL

& g

As

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.ukloopIn the

proFiLE Loops AutomAtion

Flow ManageMent DevicesFlow Management Devices LLC is a service-oriented engineering company located in the US that manufactures a line of Unidirectional Captive Displacement Provers and other measurement products such as Prover Data Acquisition or PDAQ. FlowMD Provers are the only Provers on the market utilising advanced technology such as Prover Validation. Prover Validation gives the user’s information such as self-diagnostics, time and distance between volume switches, Prover volume and flow rate through the Prover. This information allows the users to have confidence on the liquid measurement in the custody transfer environment.

Loops Automationloopsautomation.com

ServicesIntegration and engineering services

employing a diverse and highly proficient

team of professionals the business is able to

deliver quality solutions that are developed

and made under one roof. Further to this,

Loops Automation has always endeavored

to establish long-term relationships with its

customers, where trust is cultivated by providing

continuous, strong support and ensuring timely

delivery of first-class solutions.

“Being able to solidify such relationships

is something Loops Automation is extremely

proud of. The company believes in giving

top priority to its customer’s best interests

and in doing so it tailors its services to meet

each individual need and expectation. This

is a company that goes out of its way to

accommodate customer’s requirements, which is

something that will always be the case.”

Essentially, Loops Automation is able to

deliver a carefully designed and tailored package

for almost any industrial control or automation

requirement. The company’s understanding

of these individual fields, as well as its ability

to choose equipment and software that meets

customer-specific needs, means that its solutions

are as effective as possible. Its control of the

complete process also gives Loops Automation’s

customers confidence that their purchased systems

will leave them firmly in control at the end.

control and purchasing of products, hardware

and software configuration, testing, installation,

start-up, maintenance and spare parts, after-sales

service and training of customer personnel. This

support is complimented by Loops Automation’s

provision of integrated DCS/PCS and ESD and

F&G systems and all related interfaces at its

own workshop. Work is verified during FAT

(Factory Acceptance Test) witnessed by clients,

eliminating the needs to hire separate vendors.

The company offers process control and safety

systems to both offshore and onshore facilities

including field production facilities, degassing

stations, NGL and natural gas processing plants,

compressor stations and bulk storage terminals

and tank farms.

This type of technology has been the driver

for a number of Loops Automation projects,

including a more recent contract in Iraq. This

saw the company refurbish a gas turbine

control system with a modern, updated set-up

on a turnkey basis. Loops Automation is able

to deliver extensive knowledge of industrial

control and SCADA systems, meaning that it is

able to offer cost effective and tailored turnkey

control and monitoring systems ranging from

locally operated PLCs and HMIs to remote

operated RTUs and SCADA systems using state-

of-the-art communications.

The company is also an independent systems

integrator for flow metering solutions and is able

to provide custody transfer metering packages

for liquid and gas applications. Because Loops

Automation operates as a fully independent

system integration company it is able to comply

with its customers’ preferred brands and models

when building systems. It is also highly focused

on providing world-class quality and service,

which is an approach that the company takes

across its entire product portfolio.

Loops Automation’s specialist employees

number around 40 engineers, technicians and

support personnel. As such the company is able

to bring together the necessary expertise to meet

its customers’ needs, whatever their industrial

field. Since the end of 2011, Loops Automation

has operated out of new larger premises, which

has enabled it to increase the number of projects

it undertakes, and therefore the requirement for

such resources in turn.

Speaking previously to European Oil and Gas

Magazine sales director Hachem Kaddoura

described the aspects that distinguish Loops

Automation from its competition: “By

80

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k proFilE loops automation

Founded on the principles of

a family business by the Klepsvik and Okland

families, North Sea Shipping (NSS) participated

in the fast development in ocean going fishing

vessels throughout the 1950s and operated in

the fish farming industry in the 1970s. Having

developed a reputation for innovation, the

company saw an opportunity to expand within

the booming Norwegian offshore industry and

began focusing on the management of remotely

operated vehicles (ROV), inspection, repair

and maintenance (IRM), and cable and seismic

vessels in 1980.

Over the years, NSS has been involved in

the development of groundbreaking vessels

such as the North Sea Surveyor in 1983, which

was the world’s first ROV and survey vessel to

track ROVs acoustically. Later, in 1997, NSS

worked with Stolt Comex on the first purpose-

built IMR boat, the MV Seaway Kingfisher.

Today NSS group, and related companies, is

involved in nine different vessels. Three of

them are 100 per cent owned and the others are

together with partners. NSS has an international

client base; this includes major firms such as

ElectroMagnetic GeoServices (EMGS), Technip

operator

and Global Marine.

Providing a wide range of services based

around vessel ownership and the operations

of its fleet, as well as the management of the

vessels of other owners, NSS operates all vessels

according to the modern ISM code, with a focus

on experience and quality seamanship. All

operations the shipping firm is involved in are

in accordance with the Total Safety Management

Concept. This applies a variety of quality

controls, in which its quality assurance system

run in UNISEA marine software (based on ISO

9001/14001) has a central role.

The company’s most recent contract was in

June 2013 with EMGS, which extended the

charter hire period for the Atlantic Guardian

vessel from 1st September 2013 to 1st March

2014. Moreover, EMGS agreed to charter the

vessel for a further period of at least two years,

with the option of three one-year extensions.

Under the agreement terms, NSS will conduct

upgrades on the vessel to provide vastly

improved fuel efficiency and station-keeping

capabilities, which is anticipated to be completed

throughout a five-week yard stay in 2014.

Modifications will also be made on the vessel for

Smooth

81

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE north sEa shipping

aboveNorth Sea Giant

BelowIllustrations of North Sea Atlantic

82

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

Kongsberg MaritiMeKongsberg Maritime is a leading offshore and marine technology manufacturer, dedicated to supporting exploration, field development, production and transport by enhancing efficiency and safety throughout the maritime technology spectrum. Its portfolio includes dynamic positioning, navigation, automation and surveillance, satellite and underwater positioning, process automation, hydroacoustics, information management, simulation and training in addition to turnkey engineering within the shipbuilding and floating production sectors. With over 4000 employees across 55 offices in 18 countries, Kongsberg Maritime is present in all regions with large offshore, shipyard and energy exploration and production industries, and is an established supplier to NOCs and offshore service companies.

North Sea Shipping ASnorthsea.no

ServicesVessel owner and operator

well intervention, subsea construction and

drilling. Due to its low Loss concept diesel

electric system, the vessel has extremely high

redundancy; it also boasts a complete diesel

electric power plant, which offers fuel savings,

has a high load capacity on deck, thanks to its

overall length of 160.9 metres and breadth of 30

metres, and two AHC cranes, one of which has

a high crane capacity of 400 tonnes, with 3000

metres of wire for deepwater operations.

Developing a total power of 28,000 bhp,

North Sea Giant has a total bollard pull of

approximately 200 tonnes and, through utilising

the Voith Schneiber propellers, has an extremely

fast maneuvering response and active stabilising

system. Another strength of the vessel the unique

design of its six engines and six propellers, which

are fitted in three sets of two; this design ensures

North Sea Giant can continue operating at

dynamic positioning (DP) class III if one side of

the vessel is lost due to fire, water damage or total

engine breakdown in one of the three engine

rooms. Following the launch of North Sea Giant

in 2011, the vessel was awarded the prestigious

Offshore Support Journal Ship of the Year 2012

award in February 2012 for its innovative and

advanced features; the award was given to the

designers of the vessels, Sawicon, and builders,

Metalships and Docks.

Having developed an excellent reputation

and an impressive fleet, the future looks

positive for NSS as it prepares for the launch

of the North Sea Atlantic in late 2013 and

continues to lead the way in the offshore

industry for innovative vessels and offering

first class construction services.

EMGS’s state-of-the-art equipment.

Well established as an innovative shipping

company with industry expertise, NSS was

awarded a long-term charter contract with

Technip in July 2012 for a new build offshore

construction vessel, the North Sea Atlantic.

Designated ST-261 CD, the multipurpose

offshore construction vessel, with a length of

142 metres and width of 27 metres, was specially

designed by Skipsteknisk for operation under

harsh weather conditions, along with high

maneuverability and station keeping capabilities.

The vessel’s specification meets the most

stringent requirements for global deepwater

subsea operations and it will be outfitted

and prepared for duties such as pipelaying/

cablelaying from carousels with VLS through

moonpool or over stern, ROV operations, crane

operations for bottom positioning of modules,

and subsea installation works though moonpool

and over shipside.

Features on the North Sea Atlantic include

a power generating plant, with four diesel

generators, one harbour generator and one

emergency generator, tank capacities of 2100

cubic metres for fuel oil, two passive anti-rolling

tanks, a semi-active anti-roll system and an

anti-heeling tank system for crane operations.

The large advanced offshore construction

vessel also has two main Azimuth propellers,

4500 kilowatts each, two electric driven tunnel

thrusters in bow, each 2200 kilowatts, and two

retractable Azimuth thrusters in bow, each

2000 kilowatts. On deck it will be equipped

with a 550 tonne active heave compensation

(AHC) crane as well as a 50 tonne AHC crane

and will have capacity to accommodate 120

persons on board (pob). Bergen Group BMV

AS will construct the vessel in the Norwegian

city of Bergen for delivery in the second quarter

of 2014, before it is chartered to Technip for

a period of five to seven years with a five-year

optional extension and the further option of

purchasing the vessel.

The cutting-edge new build is certain to

further cement the excellent reputation NSS

has developed since its inception more than 60

years ago and will complement the company’s

ultra-modern ‘vessel for the future’, North Sea

Giant, which was launched in 2011 and is also

contracted to Technip Norge until the final

quarter of 2015. One of the most advanced

vessels built in recent years, according to

SPS rules in 2010/2011, the North Sea Giant

is capable of different activities, such as

83

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE north sEa shipping

above North Sea Giant laying umbilical

Below North Sea Giant entering Halden through the very narrow entrance

84

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

Gas pipelinesGas pipelines for transport or distribution. New construction or reconstruction, surface or underground, a few yards

or miles long, Visser & Smit Hanab is a specialist in developing, building and maintaining both high-pressure

and low-pressure steel gas pipelines – in a wide range of diameters and distances.

Right-fit natural gas pipelinesNo two gas pipelines are the same. Each has its own set of variables: the distance and route, soil structure and conditions, greenfield

or brownfield, crossings of roads, waterways or railways, boreholes, landfalls and outfalls. Every project is unique, so the solution

Visser & Smit Hanab provides is customised, from concept to engineering and from execution to management and maintenance.

industrial Gas projectsVisser & Smit Hanab also has a long track record when it comes to pipework in factories, gas storage

and production line installations. Whether it concerns new construction, replacement or expansion of existing systems,

above or underground.

Installation on site: collaboration under specific circumstancesPlacing equipment, installing pipes and making connections on site must be done with the utmost care. Furthermore, our clients’

operations should be disrupted as little as possible. Our project staff draws up the execution plans in close consultation with

our client, accounting for all the specific circumstances. Our people are used to carrying out activities in special circumstances,

such as during pre-planned stops or in conditions where systems are kept in operation.

Qualified and certifiedWe have modern equipment and qualified staff with knowledge and expertise on the whole range of pipes for building all types

of pipelines. Visser & Smit Hanab always works in accordance with the safety standards and complies with the applicable NEN

standards, along with being certified under ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 3834, VCA-P, KIWA CKB and other certification systems.

Visser & Smit Hanab is also certified in accordance with the very highest industrial standard for safety, health and the environment:

VCA2008/05 Petrochemical.

visser & smit hanab

Please visit

www.vshanab.com

to find out more

about our company.

IHC Motion Control’s MaXine has been utilised in many of IHC Handling Systems’ projects in its capacity as

the main supplier of offshore installation equipment to its sister company – both organisations are part of IHC

Merwede, ‘the technology innovator’.

Safe and efficient control in high-sea statesHoisting and lowering a load in maritime conditions can mean having to deal with peak forces that stem from the

oscillations of the waves. MaXine reduces these forces and fluctuations during lifting operations. This allows the

operator to work longer in high-sea states, minimising downtime and extending the weather window.

The MaXine system is positioned between the crane hook and the load. It operates as a stand-alone system,

eliminating the need for an external power source. MaXine can be equipped for dynamic loads – from 25 to 500

tonnes – and carries approval from Lloyd’s Register of Shipping.

The availability of the MaXine tool has nurtured close-working relations between IHC Handling Systems and

IHC Motion Control, which go beyond that of a normal customer/supplier relationship. MaXine can also be used

in many of the projects explored by IHC Handling Systems. The tool can be an invaluable addition – or even a

necessity – to the equipment that IHC Handling Systems delivers. Each IHC Merwede company deals with the

same customers in this segment, and therefore their joint activities strengthen their respective propositions to the

market as a whole.

IHC Motion Control offers integrated, customised and innovative systems

for civil, maritime and offshore environments, inclusive of the following disciplines:

Complete hydraulic systems

Hydraulic and diesel power packs

Hydraulic and electrical winch systems

Hydraulic cylinders, swivels and accumulators

Electric controls.

ihc motion control

IHC Motion ControlIHC Hytop | IHC Winches

IHC Vremac Cylinders,

P.O. Box 335, 3360 AH

Sliedrecht, Industrieweg 30,

3361 HJ Sliedrecht,

The Netherlands

T +31 184 43 19 33

motioncontrol@

ihcmerwede.com

www.ihcmerwede.com

www.ihcmotioncontrol.com

subsea solutions, IHC Handling Systems offers a

full package of offshore installation equipment,

either from its standard product range or to the

specific requirements of its customers. The three

units are currently working closely on a range of

projects within the offshore wind farm industry

and decommissioning sector.

Although more than £20 billion per year is

spent on the exploration and development of

oil and gas reserves in the UK, there will be an

increase in the number of oil and gas installations

decommissioned over the next few decades. With

this in mind, IHC Handling Systems has a large

focus on the decommissioning market, taking

on projects that involve the removal of jackets,

subsea templates, structures and pipelines

through the supply of customised equipment or,

in some cases, equipment that is modified from

existing tools. One such product available for

customers during decommissioning operations

is the internal lifting tool (ILT), which can be

used for lifting structures, structure sections and

topside modules.

Being part of the IHC Merwede group, IHC

Handling Systems benefits from having a well-

known name in the offshore industry and the

Originating in the heart of Holland,

IHC Handling Systems VOF was established

in 1955 as Boer Berkel. The company is now

part of IHC Merwede, world market leader and

specialist in building state-of-the-art offshore,

efficient dredging and mining vessels and related

equipment. Focused on a multidisciplined global

market, IHC Merwede segregated its units into

four divisions: dredging, mining, offshore and

technology & services. As part of the technology

& services division, IHC Handling Systems has

more than 50 years experience operating in the

oil and gas market and has worked on over 1500

offshore projects with tailor-made solutions.

Boasting a rich history as an innovative

and problem solving company, IHC Handling

Systems has developed the expertise to find

solutions for various offshore installation or

removal challenges to become a global player

in the supply of handling equipment for the

installation of platforms, offshore windmills

and pipelines. Working for global installation

contractors, the company, alongside its sister

companies IHC Hydrohammer, a designer,

builder and supplier of hydraulic piling

hammers, and IHC Sea Steel, developer of

Producing

85

EurO

pEan

Oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

prOFilE iHC Handling systEms VOF

86

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

KimmanOver the last decades seal technology has benefited from new developments in plastic and composite materials like PTFE. Kimman is one of the first companies in this field in the Benelux and has supplied several of those high performance seals to IHC Handling systems. The process of developing and selecting the best sealing solution is only optimal when both supplier and customer operate as a team. Exchange of information about the service condition and possibilities of the materials is the critical success factor of the seal, and IHC Handling Systems is always driven to improve its technical systems to the fullest and understands this situation. A long-term relationship between Kimman and IHC Handling Systems is one of the positive results.

IHC Handling Systems VOFihchs.com

ServicesDesign and supply of offshore handling equipment and services

piece lifting tools. All tools are required by

four different contractors in order to lift and

place 108 piles and transition pieces safely and

efficiently. Furthermore, following the company’s

successful assistance in the Global Tech One

offshore wind farm project in the German North

Sea through the delivery of rental equipment,

two 800 tonne leveling tools and an upending

frame have been fully operational for over a year.

Dedicated to innovation, the company is in the

process of enhancing the upending tool, which

will become part of the company’s wide rental

fleet by early 2014. It is designed for lifting large

diameter piles, with a maximum lifting capacity

of 1000 tonnes and is suitable for piles with an

upper diameter ranging from 4700 millimetres to

6000 millimetres. It can also be easily adapted to

a different pile diameter by adding space sets to

the product’s gripping wedges.

Known as ‘problem solvers’ within the

industry, the company is evolving in line with

the changing needs of the oil and gas sector by

identifying opportunities and translating them

into practical applications. “This is why our

company statement “No limits, No boundaries”

is well known by our customers,” says Pieter

Korterink, sales manager at IHC Handling

Systems. For example, IHC Handling Systems

has heeded the demand for equipment that can

operate in deeper waters by adapting a wide

range of tools to be operational in depths up

to 3000 metres. As a company that has stayed

ahead of market developments for many years,

IHC Handling Systems is sure to continue

offering cutting-edge solutions to the most

challenging of projects for years to come.

financial support of its parent company as well as

full availability of the group’s large machine shops.

Despite these advantages, a major element of IHC

Handling Solutions’ success stems from its work

in research and development. In the final quarter

of 2012, the company designed, constructed and

installed a pile guiding tool on a new jack-up

vessel, for the installation of 80 at-sea wind turbine

foundations at the Meerwind Offshore wind farm

project based in the German North Sea.

As part of an extensive package of advanced

handling and lifting equipment that was also

supplied by IHC Handling Systems, the new

pile guiding tool is a replacement for the

commonly used upending bucket and guiding

positioning tool as it combines two operations,

positioning and tilting, into one piece of

equipment. Saving valuable time throughout

the installation process, the pile guiding tool is

also much lighter and takes up less deck space.

Other lifting and handling equipment supplied

to contractor included a 700 tonne upending

tool and accompanying hydraulic power packs.

Produced in conjunction with several sister

companies, including IHC Vremac Cylinders,

IHC Hydrohammer and IHC Winches, the new

IHC Handling Systems tool enables the lifting

and positioning of monopiles to be completed

more efficiently than they were before.

With an increase in projects in the wind

energy industry, IHC Handling Systems has also

been involved in the West of Duddon Sands

wind farm project in the UK, which involved

the delivery of several tools such as jacket pile

grippers, an internal lifting tool, upending tool,

a leveling tool and the purchase of transition

87

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE iHC Handling systEms VoF

SEMANGATSEMANGAT was incorporated on 8th November 1994 and commenced business in the same year. It is a pioneering Malaysian company that specialises in the service and maintenance of life saving appliances, fire fighting equipment, marine and industrial safety equipment. Created to cater to the needs and demands of the Malaysian market, the company is committed to providing an efficient and reliable safety service, and to this end equips its team of staff and technicians with knowledge and experience, provides them with training, and continuously improves their skills, knowledge and abilities.This excellent team provides a reliable safety service and is backed up by a fully equipped, Class Approved service station, which complies with customers’ needs for a professional and effective service.

Formed in November 2012,

Icon Offshore Berhad is the result of merging the

unique strengths and capabilities of two offshore

support vessel (OSV) companies in Malaysia.

The coming together of Omni Petromarine Sdn

Bhd (Omni), a specialist in the provision of

logistics and oil and gas services, and Tanjung

Kapal Services Sdn Bhd (TKS), a leading major

oil and gas service provider that offers a range

of services such as ship management and

chartering, has led to the inception of the third

largest OSV firm in Malaysia, as Dr Jamal Bin

Yusof, CEO of Icon Offshore Berhad explains:

“The merger was a success as both companies

were approximately the same size in terms of

revenue and assets and it has made both entities

more cost effective due to improved economies

of scale. Icon is currently the only Malaysian

firm operating a DP2 diesel electric vessel in

the country. Our fleet of 34 OSV vessels are

operating in Qatar, Vietnam and Thailand;

previous operations were in India, Egypt, UAE,

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Australia and Indonesia.

We are now able to operate in deeper waters as

larger vessels are on order.”

As the owner, operator and provider of

offshore supply vessels for charter services,

Icon Offshore Berhad’s fleet is used for a range

of exploration, development and production

activities within the offshore oil and gas industry

both in Malaysia and around the world. The

company’s assets include 19 units of 4000 bhp

to 8000 bhp anchor handling tug and supply

(AHTS) vessels, three utility vessels, two 3500

dwt platform supply vessels (PSV), five anchor

handling tug utility (AHT) vessels, and four

straight supply vessels (SSV). On top of this,

the company charters and manages third party

vessels as required.

With a boom in the OSV market anticipated

over the coming years due to increased

domestic and regional exploration and

production (E&P) activity, Icon Offshore Berhad

has enhanced its fleet over the last six months,

as Jamal highlights: “Our five new builds have

mainly been anchor handlers in the 5000 bhp

area and also our new PSV, all of which are

currently working on long-term charters and

have dynamic positioning equipment. The PSV

will enable us to venture into deepwater fields,

while the increase in newbuilds means our

clients have more confidence in our products

and services, allowing us to continue growing

from strength to strength, not only in Malaysia

but throughout the region. Our current order

book stands at over one billion MYR, which is

a testament of our commitment to our clients,

employees and shareholders.”

The majority owner of Icon Offshore Berhad

is Government owned, Malaysian based

private equity firm Ekuinas (Ekuity Nasional

Berhad), which acquired 100 per cent equity

of TKS in 2012 during a comprehensive group

restructuring exercise, and 82.5 per cent equity

of Omni in September 2012. Following this,

as part of Ekuinas’ strategic restructuring of its

oil and gas portfolio, Omni, a company that

has won several awards for safety performance

and boasts clients such as Petronas, Maersk

Oil Qatar and Saudi Aramco, and TKS, which

has served Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd and

ExxonMobil Malaysia over the years, became

wholly owned subsidiaries of Icon Offshore in

preparation for the anticipated growth of the

OSV market.

“Repeat customers are mostly the main oil

and gas firms in Malaysia, such as Shell, Petrofac

and Petronas; we view customer service as one

of the most important factors to our success as

repeat customers are the biggest revenue driver

in any business. We place huge emphasis in the

company on driving customer service to the

highest level by listening to our customers’ needs

and trying to find solutions to their logistical

problems. We also assist oil and gas firms in

Leadership

PROFILE IcON OFFshORE BERhad

88

EuRO

PEaN

OIL

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

and skills

producing more oil in the fastest and safest way

possible,” says Jamal.

Key drivers in the oil and gas industry that use

the company’s assets and services are all potential

growth areas, such as production facilities,

deepwater drilling, transportation and installation

projects, inspection repair and maintenance

projects, enhanced oil recovery projects and

marginal field development. Projects are expected

to expand and development fields are anticipated

to operate in deeper waters to find oil and gas,

thus representing an excellent opportunity for

OSV firms such as Icon Offshore Berhad to

generate contracts for the operation of their assets.

Aware of the upcoming potential

opportunities, Icon Offshore Berhad has

Icon Offshore Berhadiconoffshore.com.my

ServicesCharter services of offshore support vessels

created an aggressive expansion plan, as

Jamal elaborates: “Our plan is in two parts,

the first involves a new building programme

that consists of more deepwater vessels being

built over the next two years; the second part

involves geographical expansion through

opening regional offices. We also aim to grow

the company through a merger and acquisition

plan that is currently being discussed and will

result in larger assets, improved value and

international growth.”

Dedicated to growth and improvement, the

future looks positive for Icon Offshore Berhad

as it prepares for being listed on the Kuala

Lumpur stock exchange, while also focusing

on expansion and the opening of its own

marine OSV training and development centre

to enhance the skills of its crew. “Our strategic

and long-term goal is to become a global player

in the OSV sector and develop into a multi-

national company that focuses on human capital

development through leadership and skill

enhancement,” concludes Jamal.

PROFILE IcOn OFFshORE BERhad

Dedicated to growth and improvement, the future looks positive for Icon Offshore Berhad as it prepares for being listed on the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange

89

EuRO

PEan

OIL

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

packageengineers, and we have a very successful track

record of projects involving the automation of

production processes. Having provided many

special machines and parts of production lines,

built on intelligent solutions as well as good

workmanship on all levels, we have many

satisfied customers who come back to us with

new and challenging projects time and again.”

Since it was last included in European Oil

and Gas Magazine, the business has been

spurred by further diversifying its activities

through greater focus on the subsea sector

and further refining its production and

product delivery systems. UMF retains

its commitment to offering a full range of

services while it anticipates future business.

“We have a strategy of approaching the

subsea service and after-market. The subsea

sector is a bit quiet at the moment, however, a

lot of projects are being set at this time so we

see that there might be opportunities in the

service and after-market in the future,” Betty-

Karin elaborates.

Relating this to the challenges faced by

the industry at present she adds: “Business

has been more challenging in recent years in

that delivery times have been shorter. That

represents both a challenge and an opportunity

because if you have a flexible organisation and

are a flexible supplier the opportunity is there

to impress current and potential clients. Our

major investment in 2013 is a new business

solution and ERP-system powered by Microsoft

Dynamics. Our aim is to improve our flexibility

and effectiveness in the market so this is a major

investment for us.”

Established in 1987 to produce

machine parts for industry, Uvdal Maskinfabrikk

AS (UMF) has accrued extensive engineering

knowledge through over two decades of

experience. The firm was founded in the Nore

og Uvdal municipality in Norway and currently

has a production facility and main office based

in Uvdal and a branch office in Sande, Vestfold.

At the heart of the business are its 60 employees,

who exemplify the company’s commitment to

providing high-quality solutions in all areas.

UMF aims to be a complete supplier, offering

a comprehensive portfolio of services to its

customers. The company’s founders brought

with them extensive experience from the

technology based industry at Kongsberg and

since then it has continued to expand and grow

into new areas. “To start with, our business

activities were based in production, and over

the years we have expanded our scope to new

areas, including engineering, certified welding,

assembly, testing, and quality control,” begins

UMF assistant managing director Betty-Karin

Nørstebø. “Today we are an established

subcontractor in the oil and gas business, and a

total supplier of intelligent solutions.

“Our production department consists

of machining and certified welding. The

department employs skilled workmen, who

operate CNC machining centres and lathes with

up to five controlled axes. Using the 3D models

from the design directly in the programming

tool eliminates human error, so this department

is very strong. Engineering is also an important

part of our business. Our engineering

department is comprised of highly qualified

90

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

The total

proFilE uvdal MaskinFabrikk

Uvdal Maskinfabrikk ASumf.no

ServicesComplete engineering solutions

Expanding further, Betty-Karin talks about

the close working partnerships between its

engineers and its clients and how important

they are in allowing the firm to provide tailor-

made solutions: “Most projects start with the

customer’s requirements. They present us with

the idea, and we put it into practice. In any

project our engineers work closely together with

the customer to ensure that their vision is what

guides us. We believe that this is important to

achieve the best possible result. Over the years

we have produced several tailor-made machines,

production lines and related equipment for

various industries.”

The future is set to bring great things for

UMF, the company has not simply weathered

the decline in manufacturing following the

global economic crisis but has instead invested,

optimised its production capability and identified

and targeted strong future markets. This

epitomises the experience UMF brings to the

market place and is why it remains a dynamic

and energetic player in the oil and gas industry.

Through managing its current projects and

investing in future markets, UMF is in a strong

position as it moves forward throughout the

rest of 2013. It remains an attractive option to

a variety of operators from both onshore and

offshore industries and its machining services

are in constant demand, providing the company

with the necessary stimulus to pursue its future

interests. The linchpin of its vision is the priority

UMF places on quality and the relationship the

business maintains with its customers. “Firstly,

quality and on-time delivery are imperative

across our operations,” Betty-Karin explains.

“Supporting this, our quality assurance system

is certified to ISO 9001:2008, and we have

a reputation as a provider of high-quality

equipment. We won the supplier of the year

award for quality from our customer FMC in

2007, which serves as proof of our continuous

focus on top quality in all our products. We

also look at documentation and strive to deliver

intelligent solutions, ensuring that we are flexible

and adaptable in our services to clients.”

91

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE uvdal MaskinFabrikk

http://www.dutchsteelworks.eu

Since it was last featured in

European Oil and Gas in August 2011, Antwerp

Terminal and Processing Company (ATPC) has

continued to enjoy a frenetic period of sustained

growth and development. The company was

acquired by the VTTI group in 2010, which

opted to redirect the business from refining

only to becoming a more commercial storage

and processing provider. This saw the group

make investments in the company and its

infrastructure valued at 150 million euros. This

investment, backed by many years of experience,

makes ATPC an obvious choice for world-class

storage and logistical solutions.

Located within the ARA (Antwerp-Rotterdam-

Amsterdam) region ATPC represents the heart of

Antwerp’s comprehensive harbor infrastructure.

Today the company owns one of Europe’s

largest tank storage facilities as well as one of the

largest bitumen processing plants. In addition

to these assets ATPC has recently completed

the development of full loading and unloading

facilities for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG),

which are fully operational. These investments

and upgrades are representative within ATPC and

its parent company VTTI, founded in 2006. VTTI

is one of the world’s fastest-growing independent

energy storage companies. Offering 8.6 million

cubic meters of combined storage capacity in

14 countries, across five continents, VTTI’s role

is to provide safe and environmentally sound

storage and to sharpen the competitive edge of its

customers through strategically located advanced

future

terminals around the world.

ATPC gives excellent solutions to its

customer’s logistical needs, the facility can be

accessed via sea, road, rail and pipeline ensuring

that the facility remains a vital hub within the

oil, gas and petrochemical industry. Located in

the centre of Antwerp’s harbor infrastructure

and connected to an extensive pipeline network,

supported by ICE, CDI-T and the ability to

supply aviation fuel (certified Jet A1), it is in a

strong position to attract new businesses.

ATPC is at the doorstep of several of the

world’s premier energy and petrochemical

suppliers including, BASF, Total, ExxonMobil,

Ineos, Bayer, Degussa and Borealis. The most

recent example of its robust growth strategy is

the investment of an LPG storage and handling

facility. At the waterfront barges and seagoing

vessels can handle LPG where, via an unique

privately owned rail infrastructure with six rail

track shunting facilities, RTC’s can be loaded

and unloaded. This state-of-the-art facility

will set a new standard in safety, reliability

and flexibility. The launching customer for

this installation is one of the world’s leading

petrochemical companies located in the south of

the Netherlands.

ATPC places great importance on having

a well-trained and motivated workforce and

central to this is its embedded culture of

responsibility that extends to health and safety

and to the environment. Recently the company

achieved 1150 days worked without lost-time

Inventing the

93

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

aS

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE aTpC

94

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

ATPCvtti.com

ServicesCommercial storage and processing

removed, representing an investment of more

than 12 million euros.

Martine Borghs, project manager says: “ATPC

provides first-rate storage solutions and is keen

to impress future customers with its world

class technology and dedication to service and

efficiency. Together, with our own facilities and

well trained educated and experienced workforce,

many potential projects are initiated to do what

we do best in class: provide the customers with

the best possible logistical services in storage,

handling, blending, and processing of feedstock,

compounds and finished products.

“We love to debottleneck and optimise

customers’ logistical challenges, not only in

providing existing infrastructure but also to

set up partnerships, long-term agreements

and investing in customised solutions. Our

differentiator compared to business colleagues

is not only our combined installations (as

mentioned refinery, gas and oil storage handling)

or our extensive pipeline and rail connections,

truck handling and marine infrastructure, but

the most important reason that makes the

difference is our strong belief in the qualities

and competences of our people.” To summarise

ATPC’s ethos regarding future innovation Gert

comments that: “the best way to predict the

future is to invent it.”

or injury, which represents approximately two

million hours of safe work carried out by its

workforce and contractors. Commenting on this

safety performance, Gert Quint, general manager

of the company, comments: “This is truly a

remarkable achievement, made possible only

through the conscious effort each person put

forth every day to work safely. This milestone

could not have been possible without the

superior dedication and teamwork demonstrated

by all personnel and contractors. Of course

we must continue with our safe working

awareness as safety has no end.” In addition to

this ATPC has taken part in one of the biggest

soil remediation projects in Flanders since

being part of VTTI; more than 150,000 tonnes

of historically polluted soil has already been

95

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE aTpC

Dummy copy, pull quote to be placed

LibbengaAfter 60 years Libbenga has expanded its wings outside the Netherlands and ATPC was one of our clients who made this possible, by allowing us to demonstrate our skills and expertise on their location.Jasmine Project was awarded to us and we understood from the beginning that working alongside ATPC with experienced labor and disciplines would be of mutual benefit to all parties.We will keep on demonstrating our expertise to ATPC and our other Belgium clients because it’s our way of working and that’s what drives us and results in continuity.In reference to the above we have started an office, Libbenga BVBA at the Noorderlaan 139, to serve all of our Belgium customers.

and continuously developing its range of

equipment and solutions while evaluating

opportunities to expand its portfolio.

In fact, innovation is a key factor in

Deep Sea Mooring’s success, with the

company having a high focus on the ongoing

development of solutions and the use of

innovation to provide safer and faster rig

move operations for its clients. One notable

innovation from the company is the ADAPS,

or Advanced Distance and Positioning System,

which has been developed to lower costs for the

operator by enabling the movement of rigs in

shorter weather windows. ADAPS can eliminate

the need for ROV verification and enable

movement in more extreme weather conditions.

It involves placing specially developed

transponders on the anchors of the rig and using

the standard transducer on the anchor handling

vessel for receiving signals about co-ordinates,

anchor tilt angle and depth.

The product has been tested on several

occasions and the feedback from the customers

is very positive. The product is already fully

operational and offered to Deep Sea Mooring’s

main clients. Furthermore, the prototype of a

new product, the SDH40 – a hydro acoustic

releasable hook is undergoing a test programme.

The hook is mounted with a transponder, which

communicates with the vessel and can release on

command from the bridge. Managing director,

Åge Straume, states that this product will reduce

operational time during pre-lay operations and

rig moves. The initial tests have so far been very

successful.

While innovation consistently brings new

products to the company’s portfolio, Deep Sea

Mooring is already widely known for its larger

range of high quality mooring equipment for

use in harsh environments. All this equipment

is sourced from well-known suppliers in the

industry and is manufactured according to the

most stringent specifications for use in the North

Sea and Norwegian Continental Shelf. Reliability

is a key issue in these types of environments,

and in this area it is important to note that all of

Deep Sea Mooring’s equipment is no older than

2008, and thus is still of high quality and the

latest design.

When it comes to anchors the company offers

the Stevpris Mk6 drag anchor. Drag anchors are

the most commonly used type of anchor in the

mobile offshore drilling unit market throughout

the industry, and Deep Sea Mooring is able to

provide examples of both 15MT and 18MT.

Established in 2008, Deep Sea

Mooring is a leading service company with

a dedication to providing the highest quality

services and solutions to meet its clients’ needs.

The company, which was previously part of

Odfjell Well Services, and is now part of the

HitechVision portfolio, is a leading provider

of mooring rental equipment, pre-lay mooring

solutions and ancillary services to E&P

companies and drilling operators of offshore rigs

on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Deep Sea Mooring is ideally placed to serve

clients in the region through its offices in the

Bergen area and warehouses/equipment bases

in Mongstad and Kristiansund. This gives close

proximity to the main operators

and short delivery times of

products. This approach goes

hand in hand with the company’s

vision, which is to always provide

the best possible service to

meet even the most demanding

customer’s needs.

Throughout its operations its

key words remain ‘zero faults

and continuous improvement’.

Deep Sea Mooring aims to be the

leading North Sea/North Atlantic

mooring service contractor and

to deliver the safest and most efficient services

through the use of remote-operated technology.

Deep Sea Mooring focuses on growth

opportunities through strong client relationships,

96

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

foundations

proFilE DEEp sEa Mooring

Strong

Deep Sea Mooring ASdeepseamooring.com

ServicesMooring equipment and technology

offshore supervision, inspection services,

spooling services, logistics, storage and handling,

service and maintenance, repair, re-certification,

consultation, and engineering solutions.

As its employees work in some of the

harshest environments in the North Sea, Deep

Sea Mooring naturally places considerable

emphasis on QHSE, nurturing a culture that

extends across all of its operations. The company

strives to be a leader within quality, health

and safety and works continuously to reduce

risk and hazards to employees, clients and the

environment and works in adherence to ISO

9001-2008.

When its comes to mooring solutions

and services, operators in the North Sea and

Norwegian Continental Shelf need look no

further than Deep Sea Mooring. The company

has worked tirelessly to develop and provide the

most advanced solutions to the highest possible

standards. With this key aim as its foundation

there is little doubt that the business will remain

a leading player in the market for many years.

Deep Sea Mooring also provides a wide range

of surface and subsurface buoyancy solutions

for offshore mooring applications, all of which

are produced by the leading suppliers in the

offshore sector. Accompanying these solutions,

the company has a broad portfolio of chain and

fibre ropes capable of meeting even the most

demanding specifications. For the former, Deep

Sea Mooring provides chains in accordance

with DNV-OS-E302, which can be used for

the mooring of offshore drilling units, and for

the latter the company holds a portfolio of the

latest polyester mooring ropes and provides

various types and dimensions upon request. The

company also has in stock a large selection of

mooring connectors, steel wire ropes, swivels,

and associated mooring equipment.

Of course, placing such an emphasis on

customer services means that Deep Sea Mooring

does not just provide products, but rather

high competence that can carry out a range

of services. From its manned base locations

in Mongstad and Vestbase the company offers

97

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE DEEp sEa Mooring

Tankcommanders

robust solutions. ProtankGrüp’s key clients are

oilfield service operators, including recognised

names such as Schlumberger, Halliburton, MI,

Clariants, Murphy, Petronas, Statoil, besides

the established ‘seven sisters’. “For the aviation

refuelling packages the FSO builders in

Singapore, China and Korea are our customers,”

added Esham.

The level of quality is also closely linked

with safety. With oil exploration moving into

deeper waters, material handling becomes more

dangerous. “In an industry that sets safety as

paramount, the packaging and transportation of

hazardous fluid has become a specialised field,”

said Esham. “We have the expertise to provide

that solution. Our liquid containers are all DNV

2.7-1 and EN12079 certified from as small as

1000 litre to the 8000lt, and this offers peace of

mind to our customers.

“But that is not the whole story,” he

continued. “Clients need consultancy and advice

on making sure they are purchasing the right

tanks for the products. They also need someone

to maintain the validity of the certification. We

do all those.”

Finally ProtankGrüp also offers offshore

containers for sale or for rent under its business

unit TankQuip Rental. “Containers for rent are

available for spot as well as long-term,” added

Esham. “Not many operators offer spot rental so

this makes us stand out from the competition.”

The containers mentioned by Esham are

created and manufactured in-house. Its products

are continually evolving, thanks to significant

investment into research and development, and

as the company president states, the staff and

products have a symbiotic relationship: “Every

bespoke product is unique and this means that

the roles played by competent engineers and

innovators could not be more important. We

invest in maintaining a team of engineers and

designers, as well as allocating dedicated space

on the production floor to the fabrication and

testing of new products.”

One of the most recent innovations to be

developed in this department is a new system

for aviation refuelling. Esham gave some details:

“We are currently in the final stages of this

project. It is the development of an aviation

refuelling system to be incorporated into the

newly built Littoral Combatant Ships (LCS)

being designed and built by DCNS of France for

the Royal Malaysian Navy. It is a classic case of a

tailor-made solution to fit into a limited footprint

and space in a demanding warship environment

As a boutique group of specialist

engineers, consignors and constructors,

ProtankGrüp is able to offer services in fluid

systems, fluid handling, liquid packaging,

fluid control measurement and simulation.

“Our primary products are offshore tanks and

containers, and the fluid handling and process

systems that accompany those tanks. In offshore

and naval aviations we design and build aviation

fuelling packages used on board FSOs, oil rigs

and war ships,” highlighted Esham Salam,

president, ProtankGrüp.

He continued with some details of the

company’s key strengths: “Because we are small

but very focused, we are very agile. And as a

result of our in-house design and prototyping

capabilities, our time to market is short.

This speed, and the ability and flexibility to

customise, is everything to many customers

and sets us apart from our competitors. But of

course, we also have a manufacturing line that

offers standard solutions.”

He continued: “We design and manufacture

our own products to internationally accepted

standards - in fact to the highest standard in the

industry, as all of our products are DNV certified

following European EN standards.”

This level of quality is essential when

working with offshore customers, who have

to adhere to high specifications and require

98

Euro

pEAn

oil

& g

As

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

kproFilE protAnkgrüp

BelowEsham Salam, president, ProtankGrüp

ProtankGrüpprotank.com.my

ServicesLiquid systems and offshore tanks and containers

positioned the company well for the future.

Esham noted that it’s an exciting time in the

industry particularly in South East Asia, and

he sees good growth opportunities ahead: “The

new deepwater platform has just been launched

after a two year delay, and there are Enhanced

Oil Recovery Projects and the under-tapped

potential of Indonesia for us to explore,” he said.

“China is hungry and we will see more storage

facilities appearing in different locations. The 15

billion euro Malaysian Petronas Rapid (Refinery

and Petrochemical Integrated Project) is also

looking to be a promising proposition.”

He concluded with some ideas on where

ProtankGrüp will be going in the future: “Just

like any top brand boutique we need to explore

new territories,” he said. “We are strong in South

East Asia but there are exciting things happening

in East Africa and the Pacific and we want to

be involved in them. To be competitive we also

need to build links with the more established

European market for components and materials,

and that is also on our agenda going forward.”

to military standards. “We are indeed excited

to be involved in such a high end project.” He

added: “However, orders don’t have to be on this

scale to get our full attention. Every order - even

for a single container - is an exciting contract

for us.”

ProtankGrüp’s dedication to creating the

right solutions to solve clients’ problems has

99

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE protankgrüp

100

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

Since it was last featured in

European Oil and Gas Magazine, Koso Kent Introl

(KKI) has continued to expand on its position

as a leading supplier of specialist valve solutions

across the global energy and offshore market.

In that time, the company has been

determinedly engaged in the expanding

offshore and subsea sector. In the financial year

from April 2011 to March 2012 the company’s

orders rose by 36 per cent, which in managing

director Denis Westcott’s words is “really a

growth figure that speaks for itself.” Following

on from this success Koso Kent Introl has

actively pursued a programme of investment

and development to ensure it remains strong

in a competitive industry, while exceeding

customer quality expectations.

In 2012 the company commissioned a new

machining centre at its Brighouse production

facility. The state-of-the-art Scharmann Ecoforce

1 HT2 represents a £2 million investment, which

will allow the company to further increase its

production capacity in coming years as Denis

explains: “The Ecoforce is a modern, reliable

machine purchased primarily to deliver angle

style bodies, typically used for topside choke and

subsea valves, in one operation. It allows castings

of up to three tonnes in weight and 1.5 x 1 x

1 metres in size, which enables the production

of angle style body castings to approximately

18 inches in connection size. Prior to the

installation of our new machine, large angle

bodies were produced on two separate machines,

whereas the Ecoforce provides the need for just

one machine and therefore produces individual

bodies much faster.”

To maintain its market-leading dedication

to quality, the company has also invested in a

submerged high-pressure gas testing facility and

its Kent Introl Business System (KBS), which

has been in operation for the past two years.

KKI’s continued improvement programme has

led to the introduction of a visible process flow

system for all products from receipt of order

through to manufacture, testing and dispatch.

Manufacturing

101

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

aS

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE KoSo KEnt introl

BelowDenis Westcott,managing director

ElEmEnt SixThroughout the oil and gas industry the challenge of working in new environments requires innovative ways to achieve new levels of reliability and efficiency. Element Six offers a range of components and materials for wear parts in valves and protective sleeves in high performance pumps to meet these needs. Element Six works in partnership with leading industry players to constantly innovate and develop customised products to meet the increasing demands of the energy industry. Element Six offers a comprehensive range of material solutions, including tungsten carbide and polycrystalline diamond (PCD) products.

Koso Kent Introlkentintro.com

ProductsControl valves

also the key supplier to a number of gas and

oil companies including BP and can boast a

working relationship with Statoil that has lasted

close to 40 years. “We have a good working

relationship with Statoil and a significant

installed base, not only onshore but also

offshore, both topside and subsea,” Denis

elaborates. “This, combined with our recent

investments and the quality of our supply,

has allowed KKI to extend its current frame

agreements by two years and also resulted in

KKI being selected to refurbish existing subsea

chokes valves, which have typically been in

service with Statoil installations in Norwegian

waters for between 12 and 18 years.”

As 2013 progresses and the company looks to

the future, its main aims will be to continue to

grow and expand its claim on the offshore and

subsea sector. Its excellent reputation for quality

and its extensive range of valves, actuators and

subsea products puts KKI in good step to make

impressive headway in offshore waters in the

coming years.

The implementation of this process has made

the production and dispatch procedure much

more visible to the relevant employees, KKI

management and visiting customers. The KBS

process has also led to two active projects, which

are expected to come to fruition by late Spring

or early Summer 2014. Firstly the company is

set to roll out a new business system, which will

control all functions from quotation to dispatch.

It will be designed to build on the company’s

existing system and incorporate other areas that

were previously out of scope. Secondly, KKI

intends to modularise its product portfolio to

enable it to meet exact customer expectations

and reduce variation.

The visible nature of its production process

has become a vital part of the company’s quality

control process as oil and gas operators seek

to obtain the highest possible quality in its

components. As Denis explains, “During the

last couple of years, most of the major oil and

gas operators have introduced significantly

enhanced specifications for both the production

and acceptance criteria for Duplex and Super

Duplex stainless steels. This imposes a very high

level of quality assurance and quality control,

not only on the valve supplier (KKI) but also the

foundries being used. KKI invariably uses UK

based foundries who are specialists in casting

these materials, but even so, these specifications

have raised the bar and made the challenges of

compliance even more demanding.”

The company’s commitment to improving

its design and construction processes are also

representative of the level of importance it places

on health and safety and the environment.

Again, these are becoming key focus areas within

the industry and KKI works hard to maintain its

lead in this field. “Over the past year or so, we

have seen a substantial increase in the number

of audits on KKI carried out by our existing and

potential customers. We continue to see quality-

focused audits but the number of audits focusing

solely on health, safety and the environment

is increasing,” Denis highlights. “Our internal

quality, health, safety and environment function

ensures that we continue to receive very

favorable audit reports.”

The reputation that KKI is able to maintain

has enabled it to work with a number of

significant projects and operators throughout

its history. Currently, the company has

frame agreements in place with Statoil and

ConocoPhillips for the GEAD project and

Lundin for the Edvard Grieg project. It is

PROFILE KOsO KEnt IntROL

102

EuRO

PEan

OIL

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

For more than 40 years the

Gommern-based subsidiary of the MAX

STREICHER GmbH & Co KG aA, SATVIA

Maschinen-und Bohrgeraetebau GmbH has

been manufacturing drilling rigs and other

equipment/accessories for the drilling industry.

Changing its name in June 2012 to STREICHER

Drilling Technology GmbH, the company

emphasised its corporate identity to the

international market and also its affiliation to the

STREICHER Group. “MAX STREICHER GmbH

& Co KG aA is headquartered in Deggendorf,

Germany, has approximately 3200 employees

and is divided into four sections: pipeline and

plant construction, mechanical engineering, civil

and construction engineering and construction

materials,” explains Matthias Kopp, project

manager of STREICHER Drilling Technology.

“The subsidiary in Gommern is structured

into four sections: the first of which comprises

the manufacturing of drilling rigs from 60 tons

to 200 metric tons, while section two covers

refurbishment of mobile and vertical drilling rigs,

as well as drilling equipment such as top drive

and mud pumps. Section three manufactures

complete mud systems and the fourth section,

for the construction of our own top drives in the

range of 120 tons to 200 metric tons, completes

this comprehensive service portfolio.

“The subsidiary in Gommern has more than

70 employees and its own design, electrical and

hydraulic departments; our employees do all of the

manufacturing, beginning from cutting the steel,

sandblasting, painting and up to commissioning at

the customer. We are also very proud of our own

service department, which enables service for own

equipment but as well as for other equipment of

third parties all over the world.”

With four decades of experience in the

field of vertical drilling, STREICHER Drilling

Technology today offers engineering, design,

production, sales and maintenance, and service

all in one place. Working as an innovative

partner to its client base, the company’s

overriding principle of business is to satisfy the

expectations and demands of its customers.

Previously featured in European Oil and Gas

in 2012/11, STREICHER Drilling Technology

has continued with its ongoing projects, while

also keeping watch for upcoming opportunities,

as Matthias highlights: “We have begun a

development project where we are redesigning

the mechanical rig series, which will involve

feeding in new technology to reduce the

operating costs of the rigs. Other projects this

year involve the refurbishment of a 120 ton

drilling rig for a customer in Germany, which

was delivered in June 2013 or the manufacture

of a 185 ton hydraulic drilling rig for a customer

in Russia, which will be delivered in October this

year. We also manufactured a mud system, for a

200 ton drilling rig that was delivered in January

2013. We are involved in several projects and

business is very positive for STREICHER Drilling

Technology right now.”

The refurbishment of mobile and vertical

103

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.ukinnovation

proFilE sTrEiCHEr Drilling TECHnology

Dedicated to

104

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

ELIN MotorEN With more than 120 years of experience in development and production of electrical machines, ELIN Motoren GmbH is one of the most traditional industrial enterprises in Austria.Motors for low and high voltage applications from 400V up to 15,000V and from 37kW up to 35,000kW are produced as well as asynchronous generators from 500 to 5000 kW and synchronous generators from 5000 to 50,000 kVA.The company’s strengths lie in the production of small and medium quantities, as well as custom-tailored products, designed precisely to customer’s specifications. The customers are offered all the advantages of a flexible business.

STREICHER Drilling Technologystreicher-drillingtechnology.de

ProductsDrilling rigs and platforms

Dedicated to enhancing existing products

and creating groundbreaking innovations for

the oil and gas market, STREICHER Drilling

Technology GmbH developed and launched

three new HDD rigs of the HDD 350 series,

including the HDD 350.6, in summer 2012.

Unique worldwide, this rig is the first in the

world to be designed specifically for slanted

directional drilling; boasting explosion-protected

components, and a rack and pinion drive which

allows to carry out exploration drillings at near

surface deposits.

In the previous publication, Andreas Beck,

head of development and design at STREICHER

Drilling Technology, discussed the challenges of

new developments and ideas into a conservative

market, yet Matthias believes the oil and gas

industry has changed over recent years: “I think

the market has become more welcoming to new

ideas; the biggest innovation from STREICHER

Drilling Technology is our offshore rig, which

we are building in Deggendorf, while the mud

system is developed, fabricated and tested in

Gommern. We are very happy to be building

our second rig of the offshore VDD type; in our

opinion the technology that our rigs are based

on is getting more acceptance in the industry,

which is why we are also re-designing the

mobile mechanical rigs. If we can find solutions

to reduce operating costs on the rigs through

installing hybrid technology, this will be a major

advantage for us in the future.”

Looking ahead, the company sees potential

for upcoming work in Russia and Poland but is

ultimately focusing on completing the projects it

is currently working on, as Matthias concludes:

“We are under a tough time schedule with the

current projects we are involved in, particularly

for the offshore rig as well as for the 125 ton rig

we need to deliver to Poland in March next year.

These contracts are what we are concentrating

on for now, but our prospects for the future are

very positive.

drilling rigs and drilling equipment, such

as mud pumps and top drive, involves the

complete disassemble of the rigs, which are

then inspected, repaired and replaced with new

technology before being put back together again.

“We are putting new technology, such as new

brake systems, electronic measuring systems or

data storage systems, into old rigs to transform

them into state-of-the-art products. The redesign

of this series is and will be a core focus for us in

the future,” explains Matthias.

Following the completion of the company’s

first offshore modular rig in 2010, which was

acquired by Archer for operations on the natural

gas platform ‘MAUI A’ off New Zealand’s coast,

STREICHER Drilling Technology was awarded

a contract by Archer in the first quarter of 2013

to manufacture another offshore drilling rig.

Similar in design to the VDD 400.1, which is

easily transportable, quick to rig up and rig

down, the VDD 400.2 has been developed and

accepted in line with NORSOK. During drilling,

the pipe handler will automatically operate while

insertion and extraction of drilling rod, pipes

and other equipment for the drilling process will

be carried out simply at the touch of a button.

The VDD system’s hydraulics will enable precise

steering and also allow for the transference of

high loads.

Being part of MAX STREICHER GmbH & Co.

KG aA gives the subsidiary a major advantage

against its competitors, with associated

company DrillTec GUT GmbH operating its

drilling rigs and thus enabling STREICHER

Drilling Technology to gain more experience

and knowledge through testing the rigs on

the field. All land based drilling rigs designed

and manufactured by STREICHER Drilling

Technology are done so in close co-operation

with DrillTec to ensure the rig spread can be

adapted to the demands of each drilling project

in the best possible way.

105

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE sTrEiCHEr Drilling TECHnology

With four decades of experience in the field of vertical drilling, STREICHER Drilling Technology today offers engineering, design, production, sales and maintenance and service all in one place

of development in the company we have gained

very good partners in Western Europe such as

Petrolog in the Netherlands, GeoData in Germany

and Kirk Petrophysics in the UK,” explains chief

executive officer Jan Purchla.

“These partners introduced us to Western

standards of service, which gave us an advantage

compared to other Polish companies as from

the very beginning we co-operated closely

with other operators to learn from them and

introduce them to the Polish market, and vice

versa,” he adds.

Geokrak’s experience has continued to bolster

the company and has allowed it to migrate its

services outside of Europe, with 2013 seeing it

expand its operations in to North Africa. Drawing

on its years of experience Geokrak is able to

deliver standardised service packs to even the most

remote locations, meaning that engineers are able

to begin work quickly with first-rate equipment

and strong technical support. What differentiated

the company in the project in Africa was that

for the first time it was focused on training

local personnel and was able to co-ordinate the

operation using modern communication channels,

including a Skype service. This allowed the

business a combination of strategic flexibility and

unlimited access to its core knowledge base from

its headquarters in Poland.

The company’s growth into new markets is

ultimately underpinned by its experience in its

core services and the quality of the equipment

at its disposal. It is able to provide geological

services, mud logging, core analytical services,

environmental studies, mapping, desorption,

and well site services. Geokrak provides a

complete package of services within the field of

geotechnical engineering; it offers investigative

designs, appraisals and evaluations, and in-situ

testing procedures to provide complete sampling

profiles. Complimenting these services, the

company offers geological mapping and digital

analysis solutions to its clients. By coupling

archived satellite images and modern GPS

technology Geokrak is able to produce results

in accordance to the operator’s geographic

information system (GIS).

The company’s desorption services have

become highly sought after within the European

oil and gas market. Throughout 2012 it worked

with several companies to provide the service

including Dart Energy, Talisman Energy, OMV,

PGNiG, Wintershall, CSG Energy Limited, ENI

and Marathon. Geokrak began its work with

desorption in the 1990s based on methods it

Since its last inclusion in

European Oil & Gas Magazine, Geokrak has

continued to deliver a Western style of geological

services to Poland, while expanding outward

in to other markets globally. The company

continues to push into the oil and gas sector and

its comprehensive portfolio of equipment and

services has earned it a high level of regard.

Geokrak has enjoyed continued momentum

since its formation in 1992, despite initially

contending with a market that was slow to

adapt to the services it offered. However, the

company was awarded its first major contract in

1994 working on a coal bed methane project for

Amoco, and its expert services have ensured that

it has continued to be awarded new contracts with

an ever-growing list of customers. More recently,

in 2012 the company embarked on major work in

the market of geological services related to shale

gas exploration in Poland. Geokrak’s geologists

were present on 29 of over 30 shale gas wells

drilled in Poland in 2012, meaning that around

90 per cent of geographical service requirements

were trusted to the company. Almost all the

companies involved in shale gas exploration in

Poland (Marathon, Talisman, ENI, BNK, Lane/

Conoco, Orlen, POGC, San Leon) used Geokrak’s

services, and at the same time the company was

undertaking work for several other businesses

globally including, OMV, Eni and Oxy Oman and

Saudi Aramco.

The company’s history in working with Western

partners throughout Europe has given it crucial

experience and a unique perspective in working

within culturally different markets. “At every stage

106

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

aS

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

koutlookA bright

proFilE gEokrak

Geokrak geokrak.pl

ServicesExpert geological services

Geological, and the company’s own laboratory

is supported by facilities in Germany (GEO-data

laboratory) to ensure that Geokrak is able to

deliver exceptionally accurate data analysis.

Moving forward, shale gas remains of key

interest to the company. As operators like Shell

and others seek to develop the possibilities of

shale gas, Geokrak aims to provide the range of

services necessary to this option. An important

advantage to the company is Poland’s attitude

towards shale, as Jan elaborates: “We are

fortunate in Poland that there still remains a

very good attitude towards shale gas exploration,

backed by the support of the government,”

he says. “We see shale exploration as a major

opportunity, not just for Poland, but for Europe

as a whole, for the geological sector and other

areas of industry like pipelines.” At present

shale gas exploration remains heavily regulated

within Europe, however Geokrak believes that if

managed correctly, shale gas exploration can be

conducted in a way that is beneficial to the oil

and gas industry and safe for the environment.

had learned while working with Amoco, and

has since developed this technology further in

the measurement of gas content in shale and

coal beds. This is a crucial technology in making

estimations of potential reserves. “Today we

have our own state-of-the-art equipment and

procedures, so this is something special that we

can offer to the oil and gas industry,” explains Jan.

“We take shale or coal samples, place these

into canisters which are then heated to reservoir

temperature, and we then measure the levels of

gas released. With the developments we have

made in our equipment we can provide very

accurate measurements to our clients, and are

also working on our lost gas calculation method

to further improve this.”

Geokrak also offers uncompromisingly high

standards in its other areas like site geology and

mud logging. To ensure that these standards

are maintained the company continually

invests in training and improving its laboratory

facilities. Personnel often attend geographic

courses within the UK in co-operation with Stag

107

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE gEokrak

Geokrak provides a complete package of services within the field of geotechnical engineering; it offers investigative designs, appraisals and evaluations, and in-situ testing procedures to provide complete sampling profiles

Increasingly, the oil and gas industry

must turn to remote and ever-more inaccessible

locations to drive business and discover new

sources of energy. Arctic Services Group (ASG)

was founded in February 2013 to meet the

challenges faced by companies looking to

operate inside Greenland, where exploration

sites and supply ports can be separated by

400-500 kilometres. The company’s managing

director, Gerth Jacobsen had worked with oil

companies within Greenland prior to forming

ASG and seen for himself the limitations caused

by the country’s remote locations to local

communities and the operators seeking to work

with them.

“Every day is a challenge,” he explains. “We

are very remote. We cannot just make a phone

call and expect support within a few hours.

It takes days to travel here, regardless of what

field you are operating in, that is a challenge.

We worked with Cairn Energy in 2010/11 and

because of that we have knowledge of what they

want from us here and more importantly, we

have knowledge of what services they brought

with them because the infrastructure was not

available locally. Because there was no way of

getting these services, they brought a full service

pack with them from Scotland which naturally

had a cost associated with it.”

growthASG’s mission is to provide a ‘one door’

arrangement to oil and mining companies

looking to operate in the area. Acting as a

parent company, ASG operates three separate

sub-companies each operating within a different

part of the oil and gas industry. Arctic Offshore

Services Ltd is perhaps the broadest of the three,

providing services ranging from administrative

assistance, office facilities and accommodation,

storage facilities, to logistical and security services

and bunkers, and catering supply among others.

Arctic Transport and Shipping Ltd aims to

provide full servicing solutions for shipping and

aircraft, while Arctic Work Wear Ltd supplies

its own brand of work clothes. The garments

are manufactured in Poland in accordance with

a customer’s special requests and orders have

already been delivered to Qeqqata Municipality,

BJ Entreprise A/S, Sisimiut, and BS-Build,

Sisimiut. The company’s services are designed

to be sold as concepts, which can be delivered

to any region where they are needed and can

be tailored to meet clients’ requirements as they

arise. For example, focusing on food supply,

an initial placement may require around 300

personnel, which can be catered for using mobile

canteens and local storage facilities. However, as

projects grow further investment in larger storage

and freezer facilities becomes a priority.

108

Euro

pEan

oIl

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

Stimulating

proFIlE arctIc sErvIcEs group©

Fin

n Pe

ders

en, a

ll ph

otog

raph

y by

per

mis

sion

Arctic Services Grouparcticservicegroup.gl

ServicesServices for the oil and gas, and mining industries

broadcasts throughout Europe, while in France

a television show has been commissioned to

follow the progress of the company. Currently

ASG is involved in training is own staff and local

residents to learn new skills and even to speak

English to make Greenland an attractive option

to oil companies in the near future. It is a strategy,

which has already generated a lot on interest

politically and one that should see Greenland

emerge as an important market for oil and gas in

the coming years.

ASG is ready to facilitate oil companies’

entry into Greenland’s oil market from early test

drills through to more substantial operations,

as Gerth elaborates: “We do have some small

business with oil companies at the moment,

when they come here to have meetings, we are

able to provide accommodation and cars, but

the exciting work will happen in the future.

Of course oil companies are never sure when

they are going to drill so there is an element of

waiting, but I have made our concepts so that

they are ready to go, I just have to ‘push the

button’ and we are ready to start.”

This compartmentalised approach to how

the business is designed offers two advantages.

Firstly it allows ASG to offer targeted services,

ranging from smaller specific requirements

like food supply and accommodation rental to

much more comprehensive packages to support

more sustained drilling operations. Secondly, it

facilitates a spirit of open co-operation, which is

a key focus in the company’s mission as Gerth

explains: “In my experience the way companies

up here work with oil companies is very

secretive but our plan is to do the opposite. We

plan to operate in a very open way. Being open

allows us to invite partners in, they can be local,

and they can be from abroad. It is to be able to

run our business in an open way so partners are

free to manage the parts of the business we do

not provide and they are running themselves.”

While Arctic Services Group will act as a parent

company and not work with partnerships

directly, its sub companies will encourage close

relationships with local companies and those

operating outside of Greenland. This way the

company will be flexible enough to offer its

comprehensive services while remaining able to

effectively manage its business.

The relationship the company has with local

communities represents a vital component in the

running of its business. Essentially ASG intends

to invest in local communities and infrastructure

to rejuvenate them, stimulating economic growth

through the oil and gas sector. It is an ambitious

project, but one that has received significant high

profile backing. As well as being approached

by oil companies and associated firms, the

business has been in talks with government

ministers regarding its proposal. Greenland has

only recently seen a change of government, but

the company is working in close contact with

the political system. This high level interest is

by no means contained to Greenland’s borders,

as ASG has been featured on radio and news

109

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE arctic sErvicEs group

Fluitronics GmbHFluitronics GmbH is a system integrator for electrohydraulic drive and control solutions headquartered in Krefeld, Germany. It develops and produces customer-specific hydraulic components and system solutions with around 75 employees and has an annual turnover of 20 million euros. Its customers are industry leaders and come from areas such as commercial vehicles, agricultural, forestry, construction machines, mobile cranes, and forklift trucks; municipal engineering and waste management, as well as from general industry. The main emphasis is the delivery of medium to large series of 50 to 5000 units annual.The product line contains ready-to-install assemblies like valve manifolds, power packs for pressure supply, electro-hydraulic controls and hydrostatic motor drives. At the same time Fluitronics is distribution and service partner for many international suppliers.

Offering horizontal directional drilling

(HDD) technology made in Germany, Prime

Drilling is one of the leading manufacturers

of drill rigs and accessories in this sector.

Established in 1999, Prime Drilling has always

focused on retaining a skilled workforce,

which enables it to tailor every single rig to

meet the client’s specific requirements and the

geographic conditions.

Much of the company’s success has been due

to its ability to respond to particularly technically

challenging requests, as well as to advise on

optimal technology. Above all else though

Prime Drilling recognises that a successful drill

particularly depends on the reliability of the

machinery. Therefore, alongside the technical

characteristics of these systems, the company

attaches the greatest importance to delivering

a low maintenance and robust drill rig with

above-average durability. In total over 130 Prime

Drilling HDD rigs are successfully in operation

around the world.

This range includes various types of drill and

compact drill rigs of up to 6000 kN pull force,

pump aggregates, mixing units, and recycling

units. The company strives to ensure that each

of its machines are mechanically simple, to assist

clients in finding replacement parts in their local

market and undertaking repairs without the

need for too much manufacturer assistance.

Ralf Kiesow, international sales and service

director outlines the design element of Prime

Drilling’s capabilities: “The brain behind our

design is our main shareholder, Werner Wurm,

who designed one of the first HDD rigs in

Europe, and has gone on to develop different

types of machine such as vertical rigs, anchor

boring rigs and auger boring machines. The

majority of our design team have over 15 years

experience in the drilling industry and are

educated to at least bachelor level.

“Our supervising engineers work with the

customers themselves, and are in close contact

with the in-house team so we can bring their

experience right into the design. As such

each new machine is another bit of evolution.

We’re not looking for revolution, but when

our customers buy a rig from us they are

purchasing 30 years of evolution in drilling

techniques,” he continues.

Recent developments have included

production of a new pipe pusher, which grabs

pipes and pushes them into boreholes over a

long distance. It mainly serves for additional

push or pull force with pipe pullback, but also

can work in combination with tunnel boring

machines. Furthermore, last year Prime Drilling

delivered two rigs to a client in Australia that

were specially designed for coal seam gas drilling

– an area outside Prime Drilling’s usual activity.

This was based on the existing rig type PD

100/80 RP-C 45°, which was adapted to meet

the specific requirements, such as a penetration

angle of six to 45 degrees. Another milestone

project was the construction of a drill rig for a

client in Nigeria that doesn’t require a separate

barge to work in the swamps as it is able to sail

natively. It is the first rig of its type that Prime

Drilling has developed, and possibly the first

in the world. The company has also recently

developed and delivered a new type of drilling

rig (Multi Purpose Rig) to Africa, which works

in conjunction with its pipe pusher.

“We have commissioned a design for a new

type of drilling rig for the oil and gas industry,

which works at an eight to 90 degree angle

of inclination. We also have a brand-new rod

loading systems for drilling rigs working at this

eight to 90 degree inclination, and as with all

of our equipment the system is very simple to

handle and control,” highlights Ralf.

“Within the next couple of weeks we will

deliver a PD 400/120 RP – C, which is a crawler

mounted drilling rig with 4000 kN pullback and

120.000 Nm torque. The rig will be driven by a

570 kW Tier 4 engine, which is already ahead of

the new emissions regulations. It can be driven

by either one or two power packs, which means

a total engine capacity of 1140 kW. This will be

the biggest drilling rig in the UK.”

PROFILE PRImE DRILLIng

110

EuRO

PEan

OIL

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k actionPrimed for

Prime Drilling GmbHprime-drilling.de

ServicesBespoke drilling rigs

is when the customer gets more than they

expected. We are also lucky to have many long-

term customers, some of which we have been

working with since the very beginning.

“We are always trying to react to the new

demands of our clients, and to improve day-by-

day. As such, we are ahead of the new emissions

regulations, and our safety standards surpass

many others worldwide. Our order book is very

positive for 2013, and we hope that this will

continue into 2014,” he adds.

In fact, Prime Drilling has seen demand for

its machines increase in most of the countries

it works within. This is partly due to word-of-

mouth regarding the effectiveness of the rigs,

and the continued attention placed on quality

and reliability. “We recently exhibited in Munich

at the biggest show for construction equipment

worldwide, and we received very positive

feedback from the drilling industry. As always

we have an ear for the customer, which helps us

to keep improving, and this will see the rest take

care of itself,” concludes Ralf.

He continues: “Over the course of the year we

have enlarged our production hall to give more

space for test runs and more pleasant working

conditions for our production team. We also

needed more room for the manufacture of our

latest models, including Trinity-HDD brand

pumping equipment.”

Prime Drilling has been a major partner in

Trinity since December 2008 when it purchased

a number of shares from the business. Formerly

known as Trinity Pumpenwerk GmbH, the

company changed its name to Trinity-HDD

GmbH as of the start of 2013 when it became an

official division of Prime Drilling. Together the

two companies design, develop and manufacture

state-of-the-art pumping equipment and

consumables, including a line of reciprocating

piston pumps and packages designed specifically

for the HDD industry.

“Quality and customer satisfaction is what

we are focused on, and as such the company

is well known for these areas,” notes Ralf.

“Our philosophy is that customer satisfaction

PROFILE PRImE DRILLIng

The company strives to ensure that each of its machines are mechanically simple, to assist clients in finding replacement parts in their local market and undertaking repairs without the need for too much manufacturer assistance

111

EuRO

PEan

OIL

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

displacement pumps to be built in 2013. The

portable unit is DNV 2.7-1 certified, has a fuel

capacity of 70 gallons, is 2870 millimetres in

height, 2430 millimetres in width and 6040

millimetres in length. A further two 1000 HP

diesel powered five stage centrifugal pumps

are scheduled to be completed by Q2 2014.

Furthermore, the company has recently

completed seven new air operated hose reels

to its fleet, with ten more under construction.

Built to various sizes, the hose reels are all built

to DNV CN2.7-1/BS12079 standard, are ATEX

approved, CE marked and come complete with

5000 psi live centres.

Having entered its 16th year of trading in 2013,

BTS recently announced the launch of its six

figure investment in subsea hoses, which includes

a new umbilical hose rental division in line with

the company’s ATEX certified hose reel new build

programme. Clients can now hire a fully EU

compliant hose reel for a project, with the added

option of renting new pressure tested umbilical

hoses in a range of sizes. The company’s dedication

to consistently meeting the challenging demands

of a changing market with high performance,

reliable products has led to long-term working

relationships with a number of leading players in

the offshore sector, such as Aker Solutions, Baker

Hughes, Proserv and Weatherford.

Offering maintenance programmes to

clients, Buchan Technical’s new ultra-

modern, state-of-the-art workshop, covers

1000 square metres, offers overhead crane

facilities for customer pre-mobilisation and

de-mobilisation services. On top of this, the

company’s new UK headquarters are designed

to provide the best environment to find

solutions for customer requirements. With

a research and development facility, BTS can

simulate downhole offshore environments for

applications such as de-commissioning tool

testing and various upstream and downstream

technologies. “We use the R&D facility to test

our pumps prior to mobilisation to ensure they

will work 100 per cent in the environments

they will be utilised in,” explains Colin.

With a pool of 30 temporary/contract

personnel available to support oil and gas service

companies during their global operations,

the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001

registered BTS ensures the provision of

competent, certified operators, engineers and

supervisors across a range of disciplines through

its new training suite and practical pumping

facility. “Using our new training suite and

Buchan Technical Services has

announced international expansion, opening a

new equipment rental base in Labaun, Malaysia.

SE Asia. The new facility will support its

client project needs in Southeast Asia, and the

Southern Hemisphere.

Formed in 1997, Aberdeen based Buchan

Technical Services (BTS) has grown to become

a significant provider of offshore equipment

rental and contract personnel to oil and gas

firms. Becoming part of James Fisher & Sons, a

British provider of marine engineering services,

in 2007, the company benefits from access to

more than 150 years of expertise in marine

environments from its parent firm as well as

ongoing investment, as general manager Colin

Cruickshank elaborates: “Revenue exceeded £3

million for the first time in 2012, with growth

continuing at ten per cent plus per annum.

Growth is being driven by our ability to provide

reliable equipment at short notice and a three

year capital investment programme of £3 million

with £1.2 million plus already committed on

new generation ATEX CE hose reels, a new

subsea hose rental division, HT400 PD pumps,

five stage pipeline flooding pumps and DNV

certified break tanks.”

BTS’s product range is complimented by the

Fisher Offshore machine and welding facilities

that are equipped with cutting edge technology

and manned by expert engineers. With skilled

designers, quality paint and finishing shops,

BTS offers the best quality standards for every

product. The most recent addition to its pump

rental fleet, the WP43, is one of two Detroit

diesel Zone II 12V71 powered HT400 positive

112

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

aS

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

optionA reliable

proFilE Buchan TEchnical SErvicES

Buchan Technical Servicesbuchantechnical.co.uk

ServicesEquipment rental and recruitment services

and four new full time employees are recent

developments to support its dynamic asset

rental growth programme. The company will

also be participating at Offshore Europe 2013,

between 3rd and 6th September. Looking further

ahead, BTS aims to generate continual annual

ten per cent growth and also gain more work

overseas, as Colin concludes: “We see demand

in the Middle East, Russia, Europe, North and

West Africa and Norway. A lot of clients we have

been gaining come to us because they have a

skills or equipment shortage and know they can

approach us because we have the knowledge to

best meet project recruitment and equipment

rental requirements. Our clients have been

asking for support in other hydrocarbon regions

of the world, therefore our international facility

in Labaun, Malaysia underpins what BTS stands

for customer service and on the ground, ready-

for-use quality equipment. The new facility will

support our client project needs in Southeast

Asia and the Southern Hemisphere by reducing

their project operational and commercial risks.”

practical pumping facility we can share our

knowledge through various training courses

to nurture ambitious individuals in their own

career development,” says Colin. “We are proud

to retain our people because we offer more;

by training our people on bespoke courses for

diesel engines, zone II equipment, different types

of pumps and applications of pumps, we tailor

make our courses to nurture each individual’s

development. Practical training is also offered so

our personnel can operate, maintain and repair

pumps and equipment. Once the training is

completed, the member of staff is assessed and

it goes on their record for the clients to see. A

further 12 candidates have been trained through

a range of theoretical and practical training

courses at the company base in Oldmeldrum

this year to date.”

Throughout the rest of 2013 BTS will be

focusing on further training, while continuing

with developing equipment for its new

build programme and also growing its staff

number. Internal promotion, redeployment

113

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE Buchan TEchnical sErvicEs

A lot of clients we have been gaining come to us because they have a skills or equipment shortage and know they can approach us because we have the knowledge to best meet project recruitment and equipment rental requirements

114

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

Founded in June 2000, Swift

Energy Sdn Bhd began as a licensed supplier to

Petronas for engineering design, electrical and

instrumentation service. Over the following

13 years the company expanded into the

edible oils and refining industries and began

diversifying into the design, fabrication, wiring

and testing of its own products. It also developed

a strong logistical network, setting up offices in

Kemaman, Singapore, two offices in Johor Bahru

and Chongqing, China, where it first began

mover

exporting its solutions in January 2002. Today,

the integrated solutions provider, which was

awarded MSC status in July 2006 and Pioneer

status for its manufacturing unit in September

2006, exports to 18 countries and aims to

become the dominant player in the Asia Pacific’s

fast growing oil and gas market.

From Swift Energy’s headquarters in

Malaysia, more than 50 per cent of its in-house

engineered solutions are exported to China,

India, South East Asia, Japan, Bangladesh,

Taiwan, Ukraine, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt,

the US, Ecuador, Germany, New Caledonia,

Congo, Vietnam, Iran and Singapore.

Having acquired MSC status, recognition

from the Government of Malaysia through

the Multimedia Development Corporation

(MDeC), for ICT and ICT-facilitated

companies that use or develop multimedia

technologies to enhance and produce their

products and services, Swift Energy is prepared

to target more strategic locations in South East

Asia and across the globe.

With Malaysia as its hub of operations, the

Swift Group is pushing to develop a stronger

foothold in the Asia Pacific region, which it

will do through the building of its overseas

Fast

115

Euro

pEan

oil

& g

as

eur

opea

noila

ndga

s.co

.uk

proFilE swiFt EnErgy sdn Bhd

Swift Energy Sdn Bhdsenergy.com.my

ServicesDesigns and manufactures electrical engineering solutions

expectations are exceeded; Swift Energy also

strives for an embedded culture of excellence

from its personnel and retains an entrepreneurial

spirit. Dedicated to prioritising responsiveness

and versatility, the company merges innovation

and entrepreneurship, thus offering flexibility

and an efficient service to its shareholders,

customers, suppliers, staff, governments and the

community it serves.

This consistent dedication in the pursuit of

corporate excellence over the 13 years since its

inception has resulted in the company receiving

a wide range of awards and certificates from

both local and international organisations. These

include Swift Energy winning the Top CCS

Channel Award in 2010 from GE Intelligent

Platform Asia Pacific and 1st place for the

Enterprise 50 Award in 2010.

Recognised as an innovative, high

quality solutions provider, Swift Energy’s

commitment to excellent service has also led

to it developing an excellent reputation for

building solar power systems for offshore

supply. The solar module type SM-85EX met

the requirements UL1703/IEC61215/IEC61730

in 2010 and is also hazardous area certified

by DEKRA Certification BV according to EN

60079-0 : 2009, EN 60079-7 : 2007 and EN

60079-18 : 2009.

Following the acquisition of 3.8 acres of land

with a factory in Jalan Bukit Kemuning in 2011,

the company moved in and started operations

in its new facility in August the same year. Able

to house all staff under one roof, Swift Energy

now benefits from smoother operations and an

increase in production volume, as well as the

option to explore new products in the future.

This development ensured the company could

continue growing as demand increased; with this

in mind it began exhibiting and participating

at oil and gas exhibitions and conventions

in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. Recent

exhibitions include OGA 2013 from 5th to 7th

June 2013 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention

Centre in Malaysia, where the company

showcased its latest equipment for potential

new customers in the fields of oil, gas and

petrochemical engineering.

With a strong belief that the most exciting

period of growth is yet to come, the future

looks bright for Swift Energy as it continues to

set the foundations for its expansions across

the globe and increased presence in markets

such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China

and Indonesia.

network. This strategic plan began in early 2007,

when its first overseas office was established

in Singapore; operations in Chongqing, China,

were established in 2009 and a Bangkok office

was established in 2011.

Working alongside technology partners such

as AB Pharos Marine, Siemens, Technor and

Brush BEM, Swift Energy has a wide range of

engineered solutions and services available. Its

equipment portfolio includes switchboards,

transformers, remote telemetry unity (RTU)

systems, integrated motor controls systems

(IMCS), industrial information and network

security, helideck lighting solutions and

network solution, manufacturing execution

systems (MES), solar power solutions and ex

control and power solutions for hazardous

areas. Meanwhile, its RTU systems monitor

and control field digital and analog parameters

and transmit all data to the central monitoring

station through a radio modem. Benefits of this

system include extensive programming and

performance capabilities, rugged and reliable

hardware construction and ease of maintenance

and upgradability. This product is suitable for

transportation, mining, oil and gas, industrial

and commercial industries.

Suitable for commercial, marine,

petrochemical, oil and gas and industrial

industries, the company’s low voltage IEC

switchboards are typed tested to international

IEC standards, utilising electrical components

from world-class suppliers and manufacturers.

Furthermore, the company also offers

engineering design, project management,

hardware and software integration, network

and SCADA security and service support to

its customers. Within its engineering design

department, the company designs control

systems that are conceptual to detailed hardware

and software design selection. Swift Energy also

designs plant-wide network systems, DC power

supply systems, power management systems

and navigational aids systems. Meanwhile, staff

within its project management division focuses

on projects within the electrical power facility,

both onshore and offshore, turnkey control

packages and subcontractor management.

The company’s vision to become the

premier total electrical engineering and process

control solutions provider for the oil and gas,

petrochemical, edible oils and marine industries

in the Asia Pacific is supported by its core values.

These include nurturing a culture of continued

learning for its staff to ensure customer

The company’s vision to become the premier total electrical engineering and process control solutions provider for the oil and gas, petrochemical, edible oils and marine industries in the Asia Pacific is supported by its core values

PROFILE SwIFt EnERgy Sdn Bhd

116

EuRO

PEan

OIL

& g

aS

eu

rope

anoi

land

gas.

co.u

k

f r o m e x p l o r a t i o n t o e n d u s e r

Schofield Publishing Ltd10 Cringleford Business Centre Intwood Road Cringleford Norwich NR4 6AU

T: +44 (0) 1603 274130 F: +44 (0) 1603 274131

editor Matt High mhigh@schofieldpublishing.co.uk

sales manager Rob Wagner r wagner@schofieldpublishing.co.uk

europeanoi landgas.co.uk

european