Harnessing and transporting multiphase products from often high temperature/high pressure well environments to the processing plant presents many a technological challenge. Tata Steel’s Derek Bish discusses one of them: how to construct and efficiently insulate pipe-in-pipe bends…
Back from the SEG annual meeting in San Antonio, Andrew McBarnet detects stirrings in the market for ocean bed seismic services.Ten years ago when the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) held its annual meeting in San Antonio, the event…
For all the talk of the intelligent oilfield and smart well-based operations, there are still areas of the reservoir where operators can obtain more knowledge about their subsea operations – in particular, activities further downhole and around the wellbore…
Securing safe, smart, sustainable supply' provided the theme for SPE Offshore Europe, the biennial Aberdeen conference and exhibition that continues to bring in the crowds. A record-setting 32,025 unique visitors attended September's show. OE's Jennifer Pallanich…
Gas is due to start flowing through Nord Stream this month following completion of preparatory works on the first of the twin 1224km-long gas pipelines running through the Baltic Sea between Russia and Germany. Formal inauguration of line one…
A new steel wire rope plant is taking shape for Kiswire on the Malaysian coast with the present and future needs of the offshore industry very much in mind.Of the 130,000t of wire rope the company already produces annually, some 30,000t is…
Aberdeen stalwart Balmoral Offshore Engineering already has a business unit trading under that name in Brazil. Now the company is preparing to take the next major step, setting up a manufacturing facility in the region. Meg Chesshyre reports…
Downhole gauges and ESP bypass systems are among the home-grown, leading edge offerings in the Zenith Oilfield Technology portfolio. Meg Chesshyre met up with managing director Greg Davie to find out what else the company has in the works.Based near Aberdeen…
Serial offshore innovator Fraser Innes, a familiar face from early North Sea days through his stewardship of Petroline, is continuing his technology-stretching ways today as CEO of the Dutch-based Paradigm Group and chairman of its two UK offshoots…
The accurate application of torque in both installation and maintenance of pipeline and wellhead assets is vital to ensuring equipment is fully operational in remote and hostile subsea locations. Norbar Torque Tools' technical manager Mark Woodward discusses recent advances in this sector…
With 107 West African xmas tree jobs to its credit since 2006, Bourbon Subsea Services has built a substantial track record in that region for the maintenance and installation of deepwater trees using vessel cranes. SVP business management Patrick…
An INTECSEA-led joint industry project headed by former Shell subsea specialist Ian Ball is looking to pave the way for increased step-outs, enhanced recovery and improved economics on upcoming subsea developments in arctic and sub-arctic waters…
Earlier this year, Douglas-Westwood forecast † the industry will spend $139 billion on subsea hardware 2011-15, a 23% jump on the previous five years, with the deepwater Golden Triangle inevitably dominating the anticipated spend. Despite the trials and tribulations of the past year…
In 2010, ShawCor picked up an OTC Spotlight on Technology award for its Thermotite Ultra pipe insulation coating system. That summer, two of the company's divisions, Bredero Shaw and Bredero Shaw FJS, put the technology to use on a reeled pipeline…
The season of joint industry projects has dawned, with a handful of announcements being made in the last month or so about subsea efforts. Two of those focus on SURF-type equipment while a third is focused on pipelines. OE highlights some of the newest areas gaining industry attention…