French offshore service provider Bourbon Subsea Services calculates that its seven inspection, maintenance and repair vessels working offshore West Africa have supported hydrocarbon production to the tune of 1.8 million boe/d over an eight-year period…
Trial runPerth-based subsea engineering and remote technology firm Velocious has rolled out a new ‘mock' ROV that the company says can be configured to any industry standard workclass ROV, including the six most widely used ROVs in subsea construction…
Perth-based subsea engineering and remote technology firm Velocious has rolled out a new ‘mock’ ROV that the company says can be configured to any industry standard workclass ROV, including the six most widely used ROVs in subsea construction…
ROV and AUV software developer SeeByte and manufacturer Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) have teamed up to develop advanced control algorithms for ROV systems. The collaboration will build on SMD’s experience with its Distributed Vehicle Control…
The Deepwater Horizon's blowout preventer was a victim of the Macondo disaster, not the perpetrator. So says consultant Ian Fitzsimmons in his latest think piece for OE which takes issue with some of the findings of DNV's forensic study of the…
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…
Subsea equipment specialist Seatools is scheduled to deliver its latest offshore innovation – a remotely operated vehicle system that will combine the functions of a survey ROV with those of a fallpipe rock-dump ROV – this summer.The pioneering…
Exploration and production at greater depths and a heightened emphasis on safety could mean even bigger roles for ROVs in offshore operations. Experts say the machines are not just up for the challenge, but ahead of the game. Russell McCulley reports…
Reservoir isolation rethinkThe newly patented PowerBall from Aberdeen-based Red Spider turns traditional reservoir isolation barrier technology on its head by moving the mechanical parts of the ball mechanism below the closed ball area of the tool…
The old rivalry between ROV pilots and divers appears to be breaking down, as both sides recognize the considerable benefits of working together. Russell McCulley referees.--'When I started, it was taboo to even get near an ROV,' says Michael Johnson…
Each time a hurricane sweeps through the Gulf of Mexico, operators hope for the best – that their infrastructure, from topsides to flowlines to wellheads, remains safe in the face of nature’s fury. Determined to protect its assets, Chevron sought…
Fracturing fluid additivesRelease of the new OpenFrac family of hydraulic fracturing fluid additive systems was announced by Schlumberger last month. The additive systems can be used for fracturing-stimulation treatments, including applications in challenging…
Ultra-deep Perdido pumpsThe Centrilift XP enhanced run-life electrical submersible pump (ESP) systems with which Baker Hughes outfitted the pioneering subsea boosting stations at Shell's Perdido field are being hailed as the only subsea pumping systems qualified for Perdido's 8000ft water depths…
The Underwater Centre in Fort William, Scotland, has been an influential training provider for commercial divers and ROV pilots in the offshore oil & gas sector for many years. Now, with a little more investment, the facility believes it can…
Rotary steerable successBaker Hughes deployed its AutoTrak rotary steerable system to successfully drill four directional wells in the Gulf of Mexico’s South Timbalier area, including one well that reached total depth nearly five days ahead of schedule…