Data fetching
Coastal Flow Measurement has announced a new leasing program for its BirdDog Remote data Retrieval System, which provides access to information from monitored remote locations through a web interface as well as BirdDog Morning Reports delivered daily via e-mail.
Through the BirdDog lease program, clients can benefit from the data retrieval system without incurring upfront capital investments in communications equipment, software, or other infrastructure components, the company says.
Coastal Flow offers three major BirdDog lease category options: one for which only the communications equipment is provided, a second which adds a 30W solar panel, and a third which also includes an ABB Totalflow microFLO model 6213 flow computer. The monthly lease cost of each equipment configuration includes cellular communications services as well as the standard BirdDog data collection and processing service with four-hour polling. Other options include hourly polling, advanced alarm services and satellite-based communications.
Data is collected and logged according to AGA 14.3 and stored in an API Chapter 21.1 compliant format for downstream review, recalculation, volume reporting, and auditing. The BirdDog system allows scheduling of routine data retrieval polling and automatic updates to reports and graphs for subsequent viewing and analysis.
Shine a light
DeepSea Power & Light has introduced the SeaLite Sphere, an LED replacement for halogen lights on ROVs, submarines and offshore structures. The new light can be fitted with the same variety of connectors as DeepSea's popular 250W halogen Multi-SeaLite and comes standard with the same mounting bracket. The SeaLite Sphere also works with the same power and dimming inputs, making it a ‘plug-and-play' replacement for the Multi-SeaLite and other halogen lights.
The SeaLite Sphere contains 32 high-power LEDs, making it more than twice as bright as a 250W halogen light while using 40% less input power,' DeepSea says.
The spherical, pressuretolerant housing design is rated for performance in 6000ft water depths.
TriggerFish 1.7 in production
Sercel has released a new and enhanced version of TriggerFish, its realtime navigation and data acquisition system for flexible control over a distributed fleet of vessels during acquisition of transition zone, OBC, node and 2D streamer seismic surveys.
Deployed in the field late last year, TriggerFish 1.7's productivity-boosting features include multi shooter/ multi recorder, advanced radio communications and fleet synchronization. The system's multi-vessel function is scalable to allow up to four vessels per radio link. Enhanced mapping functionality includes the zone incursion and proximity alarm system. As well as these safety features, TriggerFish 1.7 also delivers significant operational advantages, says Sercel, adding: ‘The need for fewer operators reduces the cost of operations and longer radio network ranges enable more advanced survey designs using larger seabed receiver patterns, longer streamers, and longer wide-azimuth offsets.'
Hugh Shields, OBC & transition zone manager at Geokinetics, says his company finds the enhanced system ideally suited for its transition zone operations. ‘This is based on the user-friendly nature of the system, the minimal hardware requirements and the cost-effectiveness per unit, which is particularly relevant when considering multi-vessel fleets,' he notes.
BOP testing and certification
Lafayette, Louisiana-based Greene's Energy Group is now offering third-party testing of blow out preventers and associated equipment for the purpose of certification in compliance with the new regulations issued by the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation & Enforcement (BOEMRE).
Greene's has been testing BOPs and associated equipment for more than 50 years and says its work in this area has recently been commended by BOEMRE for thoroughness with submitted reports being promptly approved. Using the latest in digital testing technology, all data and testing results are recorded independently by a technician and a certified PE and compared to ensure accuracy. Once results are verified, the company prepares a comprehensive report for the client to submit to the BOEMRE for approval. These reports include all state-of-the-art data required for certification, as well as basic images, charts and calculations.
‘New regulations have made it even more important to work with a service company that provides accurate and dependable results,' says Shawn Ellis, Greene's Gulf of Mexico director. "Experience, knowledge, quality products and equipment and a commitment to safety contribute to successful BOP testing.' The company can also provide services to certify the entire pressure containing system, as required by BOEMRE regulations, he adds.
AHC winch system
A new active heave compensation winch system developed by Ace Winches was on display at the OSEA 2010 show in Singapore. The Scottish company says it is currently testing an AHC winch system that has been ordered for deployment offshore Angola and the results are promising.
The AHC Control System is designed to ensure the constant deployment or retrieval of the winch hook load and to eliminate or reduce its movement related to external movements of the winch assembly. The system uses a motion reference unit (MRU) to sense change in position of the winch in relation to the movement of the vessel onto which the winch is mounted.
‘To be able to deal with 5m waves within an eight second period wire speeds of 2.4m/s with 1.9m/s/s a high power winch drive system is required,' explains the Scottish company's project team leader George French. ‘The ACE standard gearbox assembly has a high power capability combined with a very high power to weight ratio utilising Hagglunds compact motor and brake assemblies to give a very compact winch drive arrangement. This is ideal for reduction of deck space usage. The gearbox assembly is already performing in demanding marine and offshore environments.'
Ace Winches has worked with Scantrol controls for some 20 years. French adds: ‘Sensing the movement of the vessel is a widely used technology, utilising a six-axis accelerometer to measure the movement. The difficult part is knowing what reaction to provide in relation to the movement sensed. This is where the Ace Scantrol system utilises a dynamic program which works with a figure print system database to carry out predictive analysis providing the operator with information on the extent of working capabilities. This allows the operator to be aware of his working envelope.'
The system also has an active constant load tension function, for safe deployment for splash zone control and seabed intervention along with automatic depth safety function interfacing with a NEMA input from the vessel.
Innovative NDT
Subsea mooring specialist First Subsea is employing innovative non-destructive testing (NDT) technology to inspect the quality of forgings used in the new range of LankoFirst fibre rope connectorsrs for deepwater moorings. Process Compensated Resonance Testing (PCRT) undertaken by Vibrant NDT, is said to be the only NDT technology to correlate to the structural integrity of the inspected component.
The LankoFirst fibre rope mooring connector is designed to simplify the deployment of deepwater fibre mooring lines for rope-rope, rope-wire and rope-chain connections offshore (OE May 2010). Developed specifically for deepwater fibre connections, the connectors are smaller, lighter, stronger and more efficient than current plate links and thimbles for the same MBL, says First Subsea.
Ease of make-up offshore is enabled by splicing the Lankofirst's sub-connector to the rope end during rope manufacture.
It is this donut-shaped subconnector that is being tested using PCRT. OE
Top Marks: ABB's Extended Automation System 800xA passed an extensive technical evaluation conducted by Shell Global Solutions, clearing the path for the integrated automation technology to be used on Shell projects worldwide without further technical review. Shell tested ABB's System 800xA core system as well as its integrated System 800xA High Integrity SIS , or safety instrumented system.
ABB says the evaluation gave high marks to System 800xA for ‘its ability to integrate process and power automation on a single platform with related integration and control of IEC61850 devices. This capability further enhances System 800xA's fully integrated power management capability, and the ability to remotely access and control switchgear. Commissioning timeis also reduced, while allowing for faster online modifications during operation.' The ability to integrate multiple control systems, asset monitoring and engineering tools were also cited in the evaluation, says ABB.
TURBINE TURN: MAN Diesel & Turbo has added the 6-8MW class to its portfolio of industrial gas turbines. ‘Besides high reliability in continuous operation, the main focus of this development was to minimise exhaust gas emissions in order to comply with the most stringent environmental requirements in the world,' explains Dr Markus Beukenberg, who heads the company's gas turbine development activities.
A significant reduction in the emissions of nitrogen oxide (NO x) is ensured by state-of-the-art Dry-Low- NO x combustion chambers while at the same time an efficiency level of 34% guarantees optimum fuel utilisation with regard to CO 2 emissions and operating costs, he adds. ‘This new series also focused on the exhaust gas temperatures of the machines in order to enable optimised steam generation for CHP cogeneration or for process applications.'
Dr Beukenberg says he expects this turbine family will be mainly used as generator drives in energy generation. Further possible applications include driving mechanical components, compressors for example.
CREW COMFORT: Forum Energy Technologies – the Houston-based conglomerate created last year with the merger of Forum Oilfield Technologies, Triton Group, Subsea Services International, Global Flow Technologies, and Allied Technology – has rolled out a control chair system that combines the latest technology with a station that is designed to enhance operator comfort.
Manufactured under the Perry Slingsby and Sub-Atlantic brands, the control console and chair, pictured with equipment rack, is a dual-user station with all commands to the RO V and tether management system implemented using a combination of touch screen controls, pushbuttons, rotary potentiometers, and a single multi-axis joystick at the pilot station. Floor-standing foot pedals allow the operator to control the tether while operating the vehicle.