DODGING DOWNTIME Norgren’s Redundant Valve Manifold system Page 2 Published by vNewsBase Issue Five December 2012 Bringing you the latest innovations in exploration, production and refining ™ FOAMING UP Champion Technologies tackles gas well liquid loading Page 4 SMART THINKING Rotork’s Smart Valve Monitoring system Page 6 SEAL OF APPROVAL Code A Weld’s wealth of weld testing expertise Page 10 NEW in this issue: COMPANY PROFILES See pages 9 &10
SEAL OF APPROVALCode A Weld’s wealth of weld testing expertisePage 10
NEWin this issue: CompanyprofilesSee pages 9 &10
InnovOil by vNewsBase December 2012page 2
Norgren’s Redundant Valve Manifold systems deliver both safety and reliability in the form of a valve system that is easy to install, service and repair without the need for downtime
INteRNatioNal pneumatic motion and fluid control technology firm Norgren’s RVM (Redundant Valve Manifold) is an innovative new valve system for the oil, gas and chemical sectors. the products are designed to replace piped
systems, providing redundancy in the event of valve failure while increasing time intervals between plant turnarounds and delivering a variety of circuit functions without the need for pipework.
One out of two (1oo2), two out of two (2oo2) and – unique to Norgren – two out of three (2oo3) set-ups are available. The compact, modular systems draw on proven valves from Norgren’s Herion and Maxseal product ranges, with options suitable for both standard and high flow applications, and are available in aluminium or stainless steel to suit both upstream and downstream applications.
Why RVM?Norgren stresses simpler installation and maintenance, the elimination of unplanned shutdowns and the ability to be supplied as a complete, certified package are three of the benefits of its new system.
the products also do away with the need to create separate systems that combine valves and pipes by incorporating all safety and availability functions in a low-maintenance integrated valve control unit.
Norgren RVM systems, which are approved to all major industry standards, reduce potential leak paths, and allow for processing to continue while installing, replacing or servicing a valve.
they are suitable for online control, with a manual or electrical bypass function enabling online valve removal – a key benefit for systems operating in remote locations.
Visual indicators and proximity sensors indicate valve position and output status, while integral exhaust guards prevent particle ingress. Operating temperatures range from -55ºC to 90ºC.
The demands of modern processing facilities are unique and highly stringent, placing significant operating demands on process components. Safety cannot be compromised owing to the dangerous nature of the contents being handled by the systems,
Maintenance without downtime
while unscheduled downtime cannot be allowed because of both immediate operational costs and the implications of order deadlines.
Valve control systems and their components are therefore not just a maintenance purchase, but a key business investment – and one which specifiers and system designers cannot afford to get wrong.
Unique selling pointRVM opens up new opportunities to optimise safety and reliability in upstream and downstream oil, gas and chemical processing and power stations. traditionally, delivering uninterrupted operation and immediate shut-off where required has proved difficult, as these functions are generally mutually exclusive.
However, through RVM, options now exist to deliver both safety and availability in the form of a 2oo3 valve system. Being easy to install, service and repair without the need to shut down the entire system is something that gives users of RVM systems a clear advantage.
these systems are set to be further developed with the introduction of additional features, and of hydraulic systems for very high-pressure applications where pneumatic systems are not an option.
RVM products deliver a safety-approved system which requires minimal maintenance and can operate in the most demanding environments while able to be simply and remotely controlled in real time. n
Contact: Phil Keating, Business Development Director, Energy SectorLinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/in/philkeatingEmail: [email protected]: www.norgren.com/rvm
see engineering advantageScan with a QR code reader
See more of our thinking and the advantages it delivers Email [email protected]
www.norgren.com/rvm
IMPROVING SAFETY, RELIABILITY AND PERFORMANCE IN THE ENERGY SECTOR
YOu CAN SEE OuR THINkING
EnginEERing advantagE
introducing norgren’s RvM, a redundant valve system which delivers increased safety and reliability, while reducing operational downtime. designed specifically for the oil, gas and chemical sectors, RvM is a compact and fully SiL approved modular unit with just one inlet and one outlet for easy installation. available in 1oo2, 2oo2 and 2oo3 configurations, RvM is built around tried and trusted norgren products – including Herion and Maxseal – to ensure high performance and reliability in the most challenging environments. demonstrating norgren’s innovation and technical excellence at its best, RvM represents a major step forward for the energy sector.
Champion’s new foamer technology tackles the problem of gas well liquid loading
NatuRal gas’ role as a cleaner burning fuel has undeniably gained in importance for producers and consumers the world over in recent years,. as the world enters what some observers have dubbed the “Golden
age of Gas,” maximising production from marginal or maturing fields has become of ever-greater importance.
However, gas well liquid loading has – and continues to be – a primary cause for loss of volumes and revenue from mature and marginal wells. Well loading occurs when gas velocity decreases to the point where liquids begin to gather in the wellbore, until eventually the hydrostatic pressure in the well exceeds the reservoir’s pressure. at this point the well can no longer maintain natural production and alternative methods for the removal of the fluids must be sought.
With a growing number of wells affected by this phenomenon worldwide, finding new ways to combat the issue has led global chemical specialist Champion Technologies to develop a new foamer technology.
Foam liftWhile chemical foamers have delivered artificial lift to reduce production declines and prevent premature well shut-ins for many years, traditional application has been via batch treatment. Champion’s new foamer, dubbed Foamatron® V-505, differs from such products, as it can be applied continuously because of its compatibility with all elastomer and metallurgy.
Foamers are designed to modify the physical properties of the liquids, such as surface tension, thereby aiding in unloading. A generation of foamers was developed to restore and enhance production to gas wells. these were, however, designed for batch treatment.
Moreover, past foaming methodologies have involved mechanical methods such as swabbing, plunger-lift, and even “blowing” the well to a surface pit to remove water. Such methods, however, must deal with equipment delays, stricter environmental regulations as well as a general desire to sell the gas rather than simply vent it.
Champion’s Netherlands based Technical Centre, seeking to improve treatment efficiency, has worked to apply chemical foamers continuously in order to reduce the downtime, manpower and resources associated with batch treatment methods.
Unique attributesFoamatron V-505, a specially formulated blend of surfactants and solvents, was developed to tolerate high temperatures, moderate amounts of oil, condensate, corrosion inhibitor and clay solids. it is not affected by water salinity, and, at the same time, is compatible with produced water.
Foamer Champion
Foamatron V-505 is non-corrosive to a number of metallurgies at temperatures up to 130ºC, allowing the foamer to be injected continuously through a capillary string or through the annulus.
Moreover, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) has certified it for use in the North Sea.
The benefits of this method were experienced by one Champion client who was experiencing liquid loading across numerous wells. after applying the batch treatment method, the producer changed to continuous application through a capillary string, thereby resulting in constant liquid removal, enhanced gas production and reduced down time.
the client had previously experienced as much as a month’s delay in stabilising production after the well was shut in. Foamatron was recommended and, following its application, delivered stable gas production within 24 hours from the trial well, while no process foaming or produced water issues were encountered. n
Contact: Steven Oude HeuvelTel: +31 74 377 [email protected]: www.champ-tech.com
champ-tech.com
LEADING CHEMISTRY ADVANCING ENERGY
Champion Technologies is the largest company in the world
uniquely focused on solving your specialty oil and gas chemical
challenges. We are the leading chemical specialists in properly
predicting, diagnosing, circumventing, and solving the unique
chemistry issues you face in today’s complex conventional
and unconventional markets. With customer service as our first
consideration, our 3,200+ global employees are armed with
one of the most diverse chemical portfolios, state-of-the-art
technology centers, and are some of the industry’s foremost
chemical experts. Learn more at champ-tech.com.
InnovOil by vNewsBase December 2012page 6
Rotork’s Smart Valve Monitoring delivers a networked solution for increased partial stroke test functionality
THe Rotork SVM (Smart Valve Monitoring) system has been selected to provide a networked solution for digital valve monitoring and partial stroke testing on a large-scale oilfield installation in the Middle East. The system is
designed to deliver predictive maintenance information from widely distributed areas for use by the operators to reduce shutdowns and improve overall plant efficiency.
this is made possible by the ability of the SVM to be integrated into an existing Ethernet and fibre optic infrastructure, enabling over 100 monitored valve actuators on wellheads at numerous locations to be networked over distances of 10 km or more.
The SVM field control units on this project are attached to the ESD circuits for shut-off valves installed in sets of two and four on more than 50 wellheads. Analysis is performed on the SVM server computer in the centralised control room. Communication between the wellhead sites and the computer is fully integrated within the operator’s existing network infrastructure. The SVM field units are incorporated into the Ethernet network that links other equipment and instrumentation at each wellhead site.
A fibre optic link is then used to transmit the data to intermediate engineering and control stations at two manifold sites. From these sites, fibre optic links are again used to transmit data from all the wellheads to the centralised control room.
Partial stroke testing (PST) is a function used in a safety instrumented system (SIS) to enable the operator to identify possible failure modes on a shutdown or emergency shutdown (ESD) valve without the need to close the valve completely and hence disrupt the process. Partial stroke testing is an accepted hydrocarbon industry standard technique that is quantified in detail by regulatory bodies such as the IEC and ISA.
the partial valve stroke prevents unexpected failure on demand of the safety function and demonstrates that certain potential problems that would otherwise go undetected, such as spring fractures in the spring chamber of the pneumatic actuator, are not present. Consequently, the interval for testing for these otherwise undetected errors can be extended.
Unique featuresthe Rotork SVM incorporates several features that are not available from other systems, as well as providing detailed diagnostic data that allow the operator to plan for strategic preventative maintenance. the key to the SVM’s reliable performance is its separation from the valve’s control system. this enables the operator to design the control system exactly to suit the routine and safety requirements without having to compromise for the testing programme.
the SVM system is powered by the control signal to the actuator’s solenoid valve. the monitoring function is then provided by a pressure transmitter located between the solenoid valve and actuator, which records the instrument pressure changes whilst the valve is moving. any change in the valve performance is detected and identified by a change
Smart thinking
in the pressure wave exiting the actuator. The simple, self-contained design of the SVM enables it to be used with the most complex control mechanisms and makes it impossible for the SVM to prevent the valve from closing on demand.
Analysis of the 4-20mA signal from the pressure transmitter during the partial stroke test is performed using SVM software to confirm the correct functioning of the valve or identify a fault. in order to
achieve this, the output pressure curve of the transmitter is compared with the pressure signature of the actuator, obtained during commissioning. Identified faults can include valve obstructed, damaged actuator cylinder, seized valve or failsafe spring failure, stem shear or disconnected valve, stiff valve, increased breakout torque, damaged valve seat, internal cylinder corrosion, exhaust restriction and sticking solenoid valve.
The SVM always tests every final element component of the shutdown system and is therefore capable of detecting all the failure modes of the valve, actuator and controls that are possible during a partial stroke test. it is designed to ensure that operators obtain the maximum safety performance from their systems whilst running their plants at maximum efficiency.
The benefits of using the SVM are thus not limited simply to reducing the probability of valve failure on demand. Gains can also be made in the capital cost and the production performance of a plant. For example, the requirement for costly redundant valves can be reduced or eliminated. Production performance can be enhanced by extending the periods between compulsory plant shutdowns and predicting potential valve failures, enabling the pre-ordering of spare parts and identification of maintenance priorities. n
Contact:Sarah Kellett Tel: +44 (0) 1225 733200Email: [email protected] Web www.rotork.com
InnovOil by vNewsBaseDecember 2012 page 7
Diamond Hard Surfaces increases critical component lifetime and optimises cost of ownership for extreme oil and gas applications
MaNy oil and gas applications experience extreme environmental conditions, whether they are subsea, topside or upstream. Pumps, compressors, valves, mechanical seals and directional drilling tools are all
vulnerable to harsh extremes of temperature, pressure and load, and abrasive media.
Applications need to be designed to be wear-resistant, reliable and durable in order to perform efficiently in tough conditions.
Diamond Hard Surfaces’ Adm™ material has a unique combination of extreme properties, physical, tribological and thermal, which work to extend the lifetime of the components in oil and gas systems.
The patented PA-CVD (Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition) process uses atomised carbon on the nanoscale, producing a unique form of amorphous carbon materials of extreme hardness, thickness and adhesion.
the low process temperature makes it possible to coat a wide variety of substrates with the material, including plastics such as polyetheretherketone, ceramics, and most metals. the coating can be applied in thicknesses of up to 40 microns and beyond. With an extreme hardness of 3500-4000 Hv, any surface coated with the material becomes extremely wear-resistant.
applications operating in downhole environments experience some of the most extreme conditions. adm™ has a combination of hardness and ultra-high abrasive resistance which is ideal for extending the lifetime of applications faced with difficulties such as relative component movement and abrasive media.
Life insuranceComponents typically experience wear at the counterface of
features sealed with elastomers. these elastomers entrap grit and sand and can be very damaging when coming into contact with components. the adm™ material protects these components from wear, extending their lifetime so that downtime is reduced and ultimately cost of ownership is optimised.
the company is continuing to develop new ways of applying its hard surfaces to new materials and geometries. Mechanical seal faces, which are essentially axial plain bearings, are typically manufactured from ceramic materials which, if run dry, can fail within 30 seconds. Multiple trials have proved that coating such components with adm™ materials can prolong lifetime in dry running to many hours.
extending lifetime in these situations would also prevent potential fire hazards and limit damage to the costly equipment, such as compressors and pumps, to which mechanical seal faces are attached.
Diamond Hard Surfaces was founded in 2005, patented its technology in 2008, and established a manufacturing facility in Towcester, Northamptonshire, in 2009 where it now serves major oil and gas original equipment manufacturers and end-users around the globe.
Visit www.foundocean.com to learn moreabout FoundOcean’s experience in subsea grouting services for offshore wind farms
InnovOil by vNewsBaseDecember 2012 page 9
WitH almost five decades of experience in the offshore service sector under its belt, dedicated offshore grouter FoundOcean is looking to pastures green for future growth.
Since 2010, the company has slowly shifted its focus away from providing services to the oil and gas industry and towards offshore wind farms, completing grouting operations for five renewables projects in Northern Europe since 2010. The company, which expects to see revenues from renewables projects overtaking those from the oil and gas industry for the first time this year, predicts that this figure will rise sharply this decade.
Yet despite the rapid growth from the renewables sector, FoundOcean still sees plenty of growth opportunities in the oil and gas sector.
the company’s focus is securing the foundations of oil and gas and renewable structures to the seabed using a variety of structural grouts. Significant projects include grouting the foundations at North Rankin B for the world’s largest topside, and various wind farms, such as Ormonde, Thornton Bank Phases 2 and 3, and Gwynt y Mor, along with Nordsee Ost, Borkum West 2.
in addition, the company also provides options to extend a structure’s design life by fitting grouted repair clamps to weakened members or joints, filling legs or members with grout for additional strength and protection, or a combination of techniques to restabilise structures which have been affected by scour.
FoundOcean’s grouted solutions can also benefit pipelines. The company uses fabric formworks to support and stabilise pipelines when correcting Freespans that occur during installation or following prolonged scour. Grouted clamps can also be used on pipelines to repair damage caused by dropped objects or vessel anchors, allowing the operator to bring the pipeline back up to full operating pressure.
the company prides itself on its communication with its clients, seeking out feedback on its portfolio of products, services and materials. this, in part, has seen demand grow so much that company’s staff has more than doubled since 2010, growing from 40 to 100 people, making it the largest dedicated offshore grouting company in the world.
FoundOcean’s directors are experts in their field, regularly sharing knowledge with an already skilled pool of employees to promote new ideas, improvements and best practice.
the company, which mixes and pumps a range of materials depending on received design specifications, is the principle Licensed Applicator of the high-strength Masterflow® 9500 cementitious material. The equipment it uses to mix grout has been designed and engineered to the company’s exacting standard to guarantee mixing rates and ensure excellent quality grout. The equipment is maintained and operated by fully trained and experienced FoundOcean personnel who are able to react quickly to client requests offshore.
FoundOcean’s future plans include expanding into new and under-represented regions through both organic growth and acquisition. n
Contact:Rebecca Morgan Tel: +44 (0) 1628 567 000Email:[email protected]: www.foundocean.com
FoundOcean leads the way in the provision of offshore grouting services and is tapping into the wind power sector
Wind in its sails
Pan Mixer and RJM
Ormonde offshore wind farm
Companyprofile
InnovOil by vNewsBase December 2012page 10
CODE a Weld provides professional services to support the nuclear, renewable energy, oil & gas, aerospace and rail sectors amongst others.
The company’s independent in-house and on-site services assure clients of absolute compliance with all regulatory and insurance requirements as well as with their own company-specific standards. For individual welders, a re-testing service ensures all-important adherence to the industry’s recertification requirements.
Testing and inspectingCode A Weld’s welding inspection service covers welding procedure and welder approval documentation.
they are appointed by BiS as a Recognised third Party Organisation (RTPO) for the witnessing of weld procedure testing and welder qualification testing for work that falls under the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED). Independent testing of welds and welders are carried out to meet recognised standards such as: BS 4872, BS EN ISO 15614, BS EN 287, BS EN ISO 9606 and aSMe iX.
Code A Weld also witnesses and tests welding to BCAR A8-A10 standards (formerly the Civil Aviation Authority).
In addition, inspections, tests and certification can be carried out to meet specific company standards or to meet DIN, MIL and NORSOK standards. The firm has previously carried out work for Rolls Royce, Westlands and DGS Shipping.
Mechanical testing spans a wide variety of requirements, such as tensile testing of parent material samples and weldments. these tests include transverse and longitudinal tensile testing, 3 point bend testing, Vickers hardness, Micro hardness, ASTM Charpy impact*, BS Charpy impact, fracture testing, ASTM G48 Method A Ferric Chloride pitting corrosion*, weld decay testing*, chemical analysis* and positive material identification*, ASTM E562 Ferrite Point Counting* and failure investigations.
A state-of-the-art, fully equipped laboratory enables advanced macroscopic and microscopic examinations. Included are a 50-tonne tensile machine calibrated for tension and compression; a 5-tonne tensile machine measuring yields, proof stresses and tensile strengths and producing a plotted graph, and a range of polishing equipment for finishes to meet client specification.
All equipment and machines are annually calibrated by a UKAS accredited calibration company, with daily in-house checks performed to ensure continued compliance to the latest standards.
Non-destructive testing to customer specification, with operators approved to PCN Level II, can be carried out both in house and at clients’ premises. Both in-house and on-site testing are covered by Code A Weld UKAS accreditation. Services include visual examination, liquid dye penetrant inspection, magnetic particle inspection and ultrasonic testing. Radiography can be organised by Code A Weld.
operating nationwide, expert inspectors can provide services
Seal of approval Code A Weld has more than 30 years of experience providing in-house and third-party testing and certification services to the energy sector among others
ranging from witnessing and documenting full procedures to supplying welder qualification certificates for individuals. The inspection department takes full advantage of Code A Weld’s in-house laboratory, enabling a fast turnaround and a top-quality delivery.
Quality assuranceCode A Weld is fully accredited by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) as a testing laboratory and inspection body.
The inspection, non-destructive testing and mechanical testing departments hold their own uKaS accreditation, with staff and company operations re-assessed and re-accredited annually. The company’s testing and inspection functions also have their own individual quality systems in place.
Code A Weld is also a member of the UK Conformity and Assessment Bodies Group (UKCAB); The Safety Assessment Federation (SAFED); The British Manufacturing Association (BEMA) and The Association of Weld Distributers (AWD).
Code A Weld has offices in Bristol, London, Manchester and aberdeen. n
03260342a B e R d e e N | B R i S TO L | L O N d O N | M a N c H e S T e R
InnovOil by vNewsBase December 2012page 12
USiNG a camera for visual inspection and support can improve reliability and efficiency for much offshore work – and the Viewtooth wireless model can cut costs and installation time, while removing the need
for additional remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) or autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).
Viewtooth® is an example of the next generation of subsea cameras that use patented wireless technology to stream images. eliminating cables makes the subsea camera more robust in deepwater conditions and supports its use in situations ranging from offshore troubleshooting to monitoring of subsea installations, removing the cost of deploying multiple underwater vehicles.
Viewtooth is compact, portable and easily operated. there is no need for a lengthy installation process or standard electrical connectors and the Viewtooth housing can be used for deepwater applications up to 4,000 metres.
the camera/receiver can be deployed by RoV and can stream live video back to a data collection point (another ROV or hardwired receiver). The unit can achieve a wireless range of up to six metres in high temperatures and can be easily and simply mounted on an RoV, auV or other structure for immediate operation.
the ease of deployment makes the camera suitable for temporary as well as permanent installation. Capable of operating in depths from 100 metres to 4,000 metres, the Viewtooth unit is light enough to attach to a small intervention RoV to carry out a wide range of inspection tasks in deepwater, transmitting visual data wirelessly.
The unit can be recharged in place, if required, for longer deployments and can support standard connections with remote underwater vehicles.
Transmissionthe Viewtooth subsea camera is made possible through the use of an underwater modem from WFS Technologies, called seatooth®. This uses digital technology to transmit data and power through water at short range, enabling highly accurate navigation and location.
Available as a standard-sized modem, as a hybrid solution with camera, acoustic or power transfer capability, or as PCB only for OEM integration, seatooth®. communicates data, power and compressed video reliably in challenging environments where traditional underwater communication methods can suffer poor performance. the modem’s signal is unaffected by an acoustically noisy environment, the presence of contaminants or by the effects of shallow, congested or turbid waters – making it suitable for use in an offshore environment.
From offshore troubleshooting to the monitoring of subsea installations, the integration of wireless technology with a subsea camera cuts retrieval costs by allowing a camera to be deployed for longer periods and thereby reducing expensive RoV work.
Cutting the cordWFS Technologies’ Viewtooth model takes subsea cameras to the next level
Cutting cables, coststhe elimination of cabling to make the camera wireless enhances reliability and flexibility and increases where it can be deployed. Viewtooth can support a number of applications, including: hot stab/intervention operations where “right first time” is critical; spill and containment operations; subsea construction projects; landing manifolds, BOPs; remote monitoring of equipment; and visuals on RoV for safety or to prevent entanglement. nTo find out more how Viewtooth® can provide a new perspective on Subsea Operations, please view the video here http://bit.ly/12kZpt3
Perfecting perforationHalliburton advances perforating technology with opening of flow laboratory
HalliBuRtoN has officially opened its state-of-the-art Advanced Perforating Flow Lab (APFL). The new facility expands Halliburton’s global perforating research, development and testing capabilities with
leading-edge technologies that simulate the most extreme real-world reservoir conditions and provide customers with unique perforating services that help to optimise reservoir performance.
Halliburton’s vice president of wireline and perforating, David topping, said the company was once again stepping ahead and leading the industry in perforating technology. With Halliburton’s new facilities, he added, the company has the capability to reproduce the conditions that would be found downhole, whether in deepwater, in unconventional plays or in mature fields, thereby providing its customers with access to information that will help with the right choice of perforation design to maximise their assets.
the facility includes four independent testing rooms, an integrated command and control centre, a core preparation laboratory and an extensive perforated core analysis laboratory for post-test evaluation.
Among the lab’s game-changing technologies are: flow vessels with the ability to conduct tests that simulate downhole reservoir conditions, including pressures and temperatures with a maximum rating of 50,000 psi and 400°F (204°C); test vessels with the ability to rotate 180 degrees to perform gravity-related sanding studies, and a perforated core analysis laboratory that uses the latest computed tomography (CT) imaging technology to evaluate perforator performance and reservoir inflow.
The APFL is located in Alvarado, Texas, at Halliburton’s Jet Research Centre (JRC), an 800-acre (3.2-square km) campus where Halliburton has provided solutions to the global energy industry for 50 years.
KnoesisSM serviceHalliburton also recently announced the launch of its KnoesisSM
service. this new service provides a family of software applications
for use by Halliburton’s stimulation technical advisers to assist operators in optimising completion efficiency and asset development. the applications provide improved knowledge of the reservoir and its stimulation characteristics. two components of the Knoesis family are being introduced at this time – Foray and Delve.
Foray enables Halliburton’s technical advisers to provide operators with insight into the fracture network created by generating a 3-D representation based on the micro-seismic events observed during the treatment. the representation allows design decisions to be made to control the nature of the fracture network generated in the reservoir. the application generates images
automatically using advanced mathematics that are quick, unbiased, objective and repeatable.
Delve enables Halliburton analysts to access both historic and current job design data and operating experience that can be leveraged to the operators’ advantage through enabling improved stimulation job design and execution. Via Knoesis, Halliburton’s technical advisers can reveal to the operators how their reservoir responds to stimulation treatments and the level of complexity the treatment creates. the result is a stimulation treatment with optimised efficiency, reduced costs and improved production. n
Oil and gas companies are becoming increasingly willing to work with new technologies – and electronics design services A2E aims to help drive this progress. Based in Livingston, Scotland, it was formed in 2002.
Companies in the industry are opening up to technologies that can provide cost savings, shortened time to market for new products, reduced project down times and improved performance. experience gleaned in the last 10 years – along with up-to-date knowledge of state-of-the art hardware/software electronics technology – puts A2E in a position to solve problems in the oil and gas sector.
Whether it is exploration, production, or asset integrity of devices for improved safety, A2E can provide new and better ways to tackle old challenges.
A2E offers design expertise on all aspects of electronics systems development. typical oil and gas applications are for downhole tools, subsea control and monitoring equipment, intrinsically safe instrumentation and imaging devices.
Whether customers have a major headache they need help to resolve, or require a short feasibility study into an idea for a new product, or are developing a proof of concept system through to product qualification and volume production and testing, the company can help.
Most of A2E’s business is based in the UK but it also has customers in continental europe and the uS.
The company prides itself on being able to flesh out customer requirements – whether starting with a rough idea or a detailed specification – and will provide a “no obligation” proposal detailing the specification, the implementation, timescales and costs.
A2E has hundreds of combined man-years in electronics and software engineering, in a wide variety of areas:• The company has designed many ATEX certified products and
A2E can get new ATEX products to market quickly and cost-effectively.
• Downhole tools and subsea electronics have to be able to survive at brutally high temperatures and pressures. the company has developed skills for component selection and qualification, along with design and manufacturing techniques to ensure these demanding conditions are handled.
New solutions to old problemsA2E’s electronics design services are tailored to solve problems in the oil and gas sector
• Safety is the most important factor for oil and gas companies. A2E has experience with designing to Safety Integrity Level 2 (SIL 2) requirements (IEC 61508 standard) to identify and control faults and failures within a system.
• More cameras are being employed in the oil and gas market for surveillance, fault detection and monitoring applications. A2E has developed a number of bespoke imaging devices, including cameras capable of carrying out specific tasks in real time.
A2E is principally focused on growth in the oil and gas sector but will continue working in other areas, believing that it is important to keep abreast of technologies that may be transferable.
One example of this is A2E’s background in telecommunications which allows them to transfer expertise in wireless technologies to oil and gas challenges, with the obvious advantages of avoiding messy, potentially dangerous cables.
the company intends to build on its existing technical strengths, helping the oil and gas industry to do old things in new ways, and is in the process of recruiting more engineers, with the intention of growing the organisation and expanding its customer base and geographical reach.
A2E will be exhibiting at Subsea 2013 at the AECC on 6th and 7th of February. Please visit our stand to discuss how we can assist with your electronics projects. n
A & e Systems’ enviropeel technology provides a new approach to corrosion control in bolted systems, in that it treats the entire system rather than focusing on one particular component. the system excludes corrosion
factors such as oxygen and water, and provides active corrosion protection through the slow release of inhibiting oils over its lifetime.
The system uses a zero-VOC, reusable thermoplastic material which, as it is spray applied, can be used on any size or shape of substrate.
North Sea case studyenviropeel has been successfully applied in the North Sea since 2003 for the protection of prematurely rusting ptfe-coated, zinc-plated low-alloy bolts. The rapid onset of severe corrosion had left bolt replacement as the only obvious solution. However, replacement would have been both disruptive and expensive, and thus the operators chose to try enviropeel.
the product is able to arrest and prevent corrosion without high levels of intervention. Surface preparation requirements for enviropeel are minimal.
as the process was new to the platform, a regular programme of removal and inspection was implemented. an application to a mixed substrate of high-alloy flanges with low-alloy fasteners, executed seven years earlier, was removed in 2011. There was no evidence of any corrosion within the encapsulation, despite the high corrosion potential of such a substrate.
the operators continue to use enviropeel across the platform, and have not needed to replace any bolts as a result of corrosion failure since beginning to use the system. inhibiting oil continues
enviropeel brings innovation by looking at the bigger picture
to be released after seven years, and the coating integrity has been maintained despite heavy contamination.
enviropeel is also extensively used in the australian Mining Industry, where it has increased equipment lifetimes by more than 500%, and is widely used on UK power supply infrastructure for the prevention of damage through water ingress.
Contact:Cathy FrostA & E Systems Limited Tel: +44 (0) 1362 694915Email: [email protected] Web: www.ae-sys.com
Corrosion control
Incorporating:
www.LNGgc-Asia.com
LNGgc Asia Pacifi c Bridges LNG Trading, Infrastructure, Shipping & Supply Chain Innovation
For the latest programme or to register, please visit www.LNGgc-Asia.com. Call +65 6508 2401. Fax: :+65 6508 2407 . Email: [email protected]
Associate Sponsor:Co-Sponsor Exhibitors: Media Partners:Produced by:
Asia Pacific 2013
The 2nd Annual
Wednesday 6th March and Thursday 7th March 2013: LNGgc Asia Pacifi c - Main Conference Tuesday 5th March 2013: LNG Contracts, Trading & Infrastructure Development Workshop Friday 8th March 2013: LNG As A Fuel Focus Day Marriott Hotel, Singapore
3 Events In 1 LNG Trading
LNG ShippingLNG Infrastructure
Special Features for 2013
Networking: Meet and network with 200+ key decision makersChoice: Gain invaluable commercial and strategic knowledge in 65+ sessionsStreams: 3 multi-stream programme that brings together LNG Trading, LNG Infrastructure and LNG ShippingSpeakers: 70+ international speakers will share their expertise Truly International: 25+ countries represented to explore opportunities
65+ Timely Topics
• New and traditional importer strategies
• Spot Market growth & liquidity challenges
• Where Australian, North American, Middle East & East African LNG exports will go
• Investing in LNG infrastructure
• Flexibility in contracts and LNG prices
• Developing FLNG, import and transmission infrastructure
• Singapore as a trading hub
• LNG as a marine fuel
• Shipping market forecasts
• LNG value chain integration
• Future supply of LNG
• Technological innovations
• Regional and country focuses
Friday 8th March 2013• Market Feasibility For Onshore
& Offshore Vehicles?
• Indonesia, Japan & Singapore Case Studies
• Hub & Spoke Developments
• Infrastructure Requirements
• Price Of LNG For LNG Bunkering
• Ship Shapes, Sizes And Engine Compatibility
LNG As A Fuel Focus Day
Tuesday 5th March 2013• Evolving LNG Spot Trade
• Negotiating & Executing MSAs & SPAs
• Gas Off-Take Contract Strategies
• Regulation, Disputes & Resolutions
• LNG Terminal Project Development
• Financing & Allocating Risk For LNG Infrastructure
Subsea Tieback Forum 2013 San Antonio05-07 March 2013
Serious about your subsea business?We’re serious about helping you
develop your business.
If you are interested then please feel free to contact our sales team:e-mail: [email protected]: +44 (0) 131 4477000
www.innovoil.co.uk
“The team at NewsBase and InnovOil clearly understand their industry and customer base. As a direct result of a feature they ran about our mobile software solutions in the second issue of InnovOil, we recieved inquiries from some significant multi-national companies within a week of publication.”
Colin McCreadieBusiness Development Director
PODFather and Valley Technology Limited
“Again, it looks good. Clearly someone did
some good research to make it look this good”
Dave McGeheeProduct Line ManagerCoring, NOV Downhole
“Our recent OMMICA™technology
feature generated interest in a new international
sales territory.”
Emma PerfectManaging director
LUX Assure
Wondering how to promote your latest technologies, design concepts, pioneering innovations and potential improvements to the oil and gas industry? then InnovOil’s established readership of senior
decision-makers across the spectrum of the oil and gas industry makes us the ideal publication to increase your exposure and help generate sales.
InnovOil is sent out to over 20,000 readers on a monthly basis across 82 countries which include senior decision-makers covering the complete spectrum of the upstream, midstream and downstream
oil and gas sectors, including most of the world’s largest e&P and service companies.
The GOD Of Tie-in TechnOlOGyThor’s new solution to an age-old problemPage 9
Published by vNewsBase
Issue Four
November 2012
Bringing you the latest innovations in exploration, production and refining
™
fRAcK TO The fUTUReHalliburton’s new PermStim™ fracturing service Page 2
RAPiD RiSeRRiserTech’s new dynamic software design Page 4
