Delta, Optime Combine To Offer Subsea System

Delta Subsea LLC and Optime Subsea AS have joined to provide a small and light deepwater Intervention Workover Control (IWOC) system for depths of up to 3,000 m (9,843 ft).

The system moves hydraulics from topside to subsea, which eliminates the need for top-heavy hydraulic umbilical, reel or designated containers. That reduces the expense of mobilization and demobilization, cuts operational time and enhances safety by avoiding handling and clamping topside.

“This IWOC system will potentially free up the drilling rig and allow installation to be carried out by one of our fleet’s IMR [inspection, maintenance and repair] vessels,” said Delta CEO Scott Dingman. “This system can be utilized for installation and testing of subsea trees as well as operating and overriding of the same subsea assets. The IWOC system is supported subsea via the Delta SubSea ROV system(s) and associated intervention tooling as required. By using this system, we estimate that customers can achieve a 60% cost savings directly on installation cost in many of their projects.”

Among the solutions provided by IWOC are christmas tree control for installation, interventions, testing, SCM diagnostics or other subsea XT tests and applications.

ExxonMobil, MagnaBond Partner On Well Integrity Evaluation Technology

ExxonMobil Corp. said Jan. 16 it has formed a new partnership to develop technologies addressing well decommissioning activities.

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co. signed a three-year joint development agreement with MagnaBond LLC to develop new technologies that could enhance cost-effective evaluation of well cementing, casing and tubing. The agreement was facilitated by the Industry Technology Facilitator as part of its initiative to address challenges associated with well-decommissioning activities such as plugging and abandonment.

ExxonMobil and MagnaBond will work toward developing technology that allows for through-tubing cement evaluation prior to the arrival of a costly rig or workover unit.

Current evaluation technology cannot adequately characterize cement quality through multiple strings of casing, according to the company press release. A well’s production tubing must be pulled to inspect the cement, resulting in additional time and expense for decommissioning activities.

“Developing a technology that enables us to see the quality of well casing and cement with a single tool is a major step in determining overall well integrity and could result in significant cost savings,” Jayme Meier, vice president of engineering for ExxonMobil Upstream Research, said in a statement.

Meier added that the agreement will bring together the strengths of each company to jointly develop solutions. The new collaboration combines ExxonMobil’s expertise in developing a wide range of inspection technologies and tools with MagnaBond’s strengths in technology transfer and supply chain design from other industries.

Bourbon, Bureau Veritas Form Vessel Digitalization Partnership

Bourbon and Bureau Veritas have signed a strategic partnership agreement to develop and deploy automation and real-time monitoring fleet applications, developing digital technologies, while mitigating cyber risks, the companies said.

First application of the partnership will be real-time verification of the dynamic positioning (DP) operations of the Bourbon fleet.

The partnership aims to deliver advanced automation of dynamic positioning systems to enable improvement of DP operational safety through real-time advisory tools for bridge operators and remote support for onshore teams; streamlining of onboard organization leading to potential reduction of manning; and a reduction in fuel and DP maintenance costs.

A pilot has been implemented on the Bourbon Explorer 508 operating in Trinidad waters. Developed with Kongsberg Maritime, it is certified by Bureau Veritas. It collects data from the DP system and drives the development of novel decision-making and verification applications for both offshore crew and onshore support teams.

According to Bourbon, another vital element of the project is addressing cybersecurity threats. APSYS, an Airbus company specialized in product security, is helping identify and mitigate risks linked to data collection and communication between Bourbon’s vessels and onshore infrastructure.

Based on this risk assessment relying on best practices from APSYS’s aerospace experience, Bureau Veritas is able to issue cybersecurity certification on products and class notations for ships meeting global industry security standards.

Pendant Detects Trips Or Falls From Equipment On Offshore Rigs

SecuraTrac has released the Mobile Defender-Model S, an mPERS pendant equipped with location technologies and a built-in fall advisory capability.

The Mobile Defender-Model S can detect horizontal and vertical movement and can be used to detect trips or falls from equipment on offshore rigs with cellular signal. Injured employees do not need to place a call for help, the Mobile Defender-Model S will trigger one automatically, or the SOS button on the device can also be used to trigger a call. Wake-on SOS gives this small, mobile PERS device the ability to last over 30 days on a single charge.

SecuraTrac mPERS solutions work in more than 120 countries across North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australia, and are compatible with every major cellular service provider including Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile in addition to foreign carriers.

Web-based tool Enables Live Ship Management, Data Tracking

ChartCo, a global supplier of maritime digital data and compliance services, has released its new FleetManager software, a press release stated. As a web-based tool, FleetManager enables shore-based customers to access live ship management and tracking data in one place at any time and on any popular browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, IE or Edge) as well as via smartphones and tablets.

FleetManager offers a range of highly effective environmental, piracy and regulatory overlays that can highlight potential sources of delay or hazard. It also provides the ability to link with ChartCo’s e-navigation platform PassageManager. This enables shore-based staff to view an active passage plan so that any deviations from the expected track can be interrogated in real time.

FleetManager also helps managers to ensure fleet compliance with the ability to inspect any vessel remotely and to view and instantly audit its navigation and compliance status. Managers also can check software versions installed, connection history and data download volumes. They also can authorize, approve or reject electronic and paper chart and publication orders placed through PassageManager.

McDermott’s First Digital Innovation Center Unveiled in India

McDermott International Inc. has launched its First Digital Innovation Center in Pune, India.

The 5,400-sq-ft center will focus on digital innovation delivery, digital product management and the digital experience, McDermott said in a news release.

“This facility has been developed as an expansion to McDermott’s operations in India,” Akash Khurana, McDermott’s vice president, chief information and digital officer, said in the statement. “The aim of the center is to cater to our current and prospective clients with the best possible digital technology in the EPCI [engineering, procurement, construction and installation] space of offshore facilities and subsea fields.”

The center will serve as a technology epicenter to support India plans for growth and the company’s global digital initiatives, McDermott said.

—Staff Reports

Offshore