iSURVEY Group, a leading provider of survey and positioning services to the global oil and gas and telecommunications sectors, has boosted its North Sea presence following a number of contract wins and the appointment of a new business development manager.

Following the recent announcement of a contract extension with Nexans Norway AS, iSURVEY has also been awarded a second contract extension with AGR to provide rig move and positioning services for the company and its clients, Faroe and Engie, during their exploration-drilling campaigns in 2016.

The semisubmersible rig, Transocean Arctic, will be used for the drilling campaigns on these two wells. iSURVEY has provided rig positioning services on board the Transocean Arctic since 2012, working with AGR during the same timeframe.

Stuart Murray, Business Development Manager

Øivind Røegh, group CEO at iSURVEY said: “With the current challenges faced in the offshore industry, iSURVEY continues to build strong, successful relationships with clients in order to further expand our operations. Securing these contracts with such highly regarded companies in the North Sea is testament to the high quality of service iSURVEY provides, and we are delighted that our solutions are being recognised across the industry.”

To continue this North Sea growth is the appointment of business development manager, Stuart Murray. Over his career spanning more than ten years, Mr Murray has undertaken a variety of business development roles within the industry. Mr Murray joins iSURVEY from Bibby Offshore where he held the position of subsea business manager, prior to this managing business development for Subsea7.

Andrew McMurtrie, managing director at iSURVEY said: “With an impressive track record in business development, Stuart brings a wealth of invaluable industry experience to iSURVEY. I have no doubt that he will be an asset to our team, supporting our growth plans which remain ambitious during the current industry environment.“

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Murray said: “I am delighted to join iSURVEY and become part of a company which has such a successful international track record. My previous business development experience will be a valuable asset to the team, allowing me to identify new opportunities for iSURVEY to continue expanding its business.”

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IRM Systems (IRMS), the independent authority in emergency pipeline repairs, announced that it has opened its first office in Aberdeen. The new office is home to “IRMS UKWA,” a new division dedicated to serving clients in the UK and West Africa.

“Our clients in the UK and West Africa now have a much more effective frontline interaction with IRM Systems,” said David Obatolu, General Manager of IRMS UKWA. “With personnel based in the UK and West Africa who are familiar with the specific regulations, processes and policies in these regions, we are in a much better position to provide clients with the same – or higher - quality of service that they’re used to.”

David Obatolu and Lee Dudbrige, IRMS UKWA

In addition to the UK, the company is focusing on Ghana, Nigeria and Angola, where projects will kick off this year. All basic services, including pipeline inspection, repair, maintenance and risk management are available. Plans are in place to introduce specialist services to clients in West Africa, which will provide them with a break-through solution to critical integrity and maintenance issues that are particularly serious in the region. This will be announced in Q2 2016.

With 19 years in the pipeline industry, Lee Dudbridge is the Engineering Manager. He has experience in pipeline pre-commissioning, decommissioning, deep water pigging and flooding, and project management. Dudbridge specializes in pipeline assurance, technical evaluation, inline inspection (ILI) vendor selection, pipeline risk management, and failure investigation.

Ismail Lawal is a Senior Pipeline Engineer with 12 years of experience in subsea and onshore pipelines, risers, subsea manifolds and umbilicals. His areas of expertise include pipeline design, design verification, certification, third party design review, pipeline consultancy services, pipeline integrity and Fitness for Service (FFS) assessment. A Chartered Engineer, Lawal holds a Master’s Degree in Pipeline Engineering from University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Located in Riverside House overlooking the River Dee, the new office in central Aberdeen is easy to access.

Harris CapRock Communications, a premier global provider of managed communications services for remote and harsh environments, launched SafePass™ Pro, an advanced cyber security solution for proactive defense against cyber attacks targeting oil and gas IT infrastructures. The solution also is available for cruise, maritime and other commercial customers.

Industry experts estimate cyber attacks against the global energy industry will cost businesses up to $1.9 billion by 2018. SafePass Pro improves network resources, minimizes malware and spyware, enables centralized control across all sites, enforces acceptable use and security policies (AUP), and provides an opportunity to assess and eliminate network vulnerabilities. SafePass Pro customers also will receive Harris CapRock’s 24/7 monitoring and support, network threat detection and vulnerability scanning.

The new cyber security solution includes Alert Logic threat monitoring services. Alert Logic Threat Manager provides network intrusion monitoring and detection, as well as a vulnerability scanner, while the firewall protection supports URL filtering, application filtering and security.

Customers also will have access to Harris Corporation’s industry-leading cyber security experts to pinpoint system vulnerabilities, monitor insider threats, proactively defend the network and respond to incidents. Harris experts protect networks that move 2 million air passengers a day and manage 150 Department of Defense satellites as well as numerous government installations.

“Security breaches and emerging threats to corporate networks are impacting the oil and gas market with greater cost and frequency as offshore operations rely more heavily on always-on communications networks,” said Tracey Haslam, president, Harris CapRock. “SafePass Pro offers an unparalleled approach to cyber protection with the added ability of working with Harris cyber security experts committed to securing critical government networks.”

Deep Down, Inc. (OTCQX: DPDW) ("Deep Down"), an oilfield services company specializing in deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil production distribution system support services, announces it has received an order from Shell for an umbilical and distribution system to support a production platform mooring line control system.

In addition to supporting platform positioning, the system will provide real time data collection during high seas and platform operations. Due to increasing safety standards for wave zone equipment, it will be designed to survive extreme wave loading conditions and extended design life.

Ron Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Deep Down, Inc. stated, "This order represents another milestone in the relationship between Shell and Deep Down."

Tiburon Subsea announces they are now working with T. Baker Smith to provide AUV systems and support. The company is looking forward to providing the latest technology and support to T. Baker Smiths ongoing Gulf of Mexico and overseas projects. AUV surveys are the perfect solution for modern site clearance and are now being used in water up to 200 meters deep.

Since 1913, T. Baker Smith has provided solutions that have improved the quality of life in the communities they helped build. Today, T. Baker Smith continues to provide tailored solutions through a professional and integrated approach that continue to enhance those same communities.

Tiburon Subsea's provides underwater technology rental, services and support. They equip marine service providers and companies with the latest technologies and engineering support. With a focus on Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) and a strong network of affiliates our technical team trains, supports and services our custom fleet of 100m and 200m AUV’s.

Tekmar Energy Ltd, a leading supplier of subsea cable protection, has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Barry Cooper as Operations Manager.

Bringing more than 15 years of experience in the offshore sector, Barry has served in several senior management and leadership roles in businesses including Technip Umbilicals, GE Wellstream and more recently, DeepOcean.

In his new role, Barry will be responsible for all operations working closely within the Senior Management Team to ensure products are manufactured to the highest quality, processes are efficient, and the history of excellence in quality and safety is further enhanced.

Prior to joining Tekmar, Barry was Capex Manager at Technip Umbilicals and GE Wellstream where he lead major investment programs developing both manufacturing and research & development facilities as part of global strategic growth plans. Locations included Brazil, Angola, Houston, Malaysia and the UK as well as leading process improvement initiatives in those manufacturing environments and subsea installations with DeepOcean.

Barry Cooper commented, “I am delighted to join Tekmar at a time of significant growth and opportunity across renewables and subsea SURF products. Tekmar are strategically well positioned to take advantage of market opportunities in both sectors and have fantastic facilities already in place to support those plans. I look forward to working with the team to maximize the potential of an already successful brand”.

James Ritchie, CEO, commented, “We are pleased to welcome Barry to our team of highly experienced executive managers. Despite the pressures of the market conditions Tekmar is still focused on growth and our future success depends on putting operations safety first, continually improving product quality and reducing the overall cost of production. By appointing Barry as our Operations Manager, with his track record in offshore operations and manufacturing from some of the leading oil and gas players, we hope to capitalize from that experience to make Tekmar the clear market leaders and the supplier of choice”.

Tekmar’s recent growth has seen the company continue to secure multiple renewables contracts, including Race Bank, Rampion and Formosa. In addition to this, Tekmar has experienced consistent growth in the oil & gas subsea sector, despite the recent downturn, and continues to secure work with new and existing customers.

Well management firm, Exceed is pleased to announce that it has been successful in securing a contract to support Fairfield Energy Limited in its forthcoming North Sea well plugging and abandonment campaign.

Fairfield’s program includes 45 platform wells and 16 subsea wells, all of which will be plugged and permanently abandoned. The platform wells decommissioning will commence in the next few months with the operational phase of the subsea wells work due to start in 2017.

John Anderson, Exceed commercial director

John Anderson, Exceed commercial director, said: “This award demonstrates the capacity of Exceed as a multi-disciplined well management organisation capable of providing support to complex well decommissioning activities. This will be a major focus going forward, both in the UKCS and internationally, and Exceed is delighted to be supporting Fairfield in one of the largest single UKCS well abandonment campaigns of this nature to date.”

Exceed provides outsourced well engineering and project management services with its head office in Aberdeen, Scotland. Exceed works for a wide range of operators in the oil and gas business in the UKCS and internationally utilising the company’s multi discipline team of professionals.

Fairfield is a well-established UKCS operator which is now adding decommissioning expertise to its existing capabilities.

LQT Industries, LLC, a full-service provider of high quality accommodation facilities, design-build construction services, and support services to the oil and gas industry, has been awarded projects from five (5) exploration and production companies in the Gulf of Mexico.

LQT’s scope of work includes on-site assessments, work scope development, material procurement, project management, and the provision of skilled labor to clean and repair HVAC systems and refurbish/upgrade the interior and exterior of living quarters of the fixed platforms and drill ships. The projects are scheduled to be completed in the second quarter of 2016.

LQT’s Refurbishment Division, headquartered in Abbeville, LA, specializes in full facility upgrades, asset maintenance, and 24/7 customer support for oil and gas operations.

Blackhawk Specialty Tools LLC has expanded its international operations in Mexico with the opening of a new subsidiary and operating facility in Villahermosa, Mexico, in the heart of the expanding Mexican oil and gas market.

The new facility will be at Cardenas S/N KM 8 R/A. Anacleto Canabal 2da. Seccion, Centro, Villahermosa, Tabasco C.P. 86280 Mexico.

Besides investing in infrastructure within Mexico, Blackhawk will hire and train local employees with a goal to build strong partnerships with both national and independent oil and gas companies. Blackhawk brings the latest technology in well construction, surge reduction and well intervention products and services to the Mexican market.

“As Blackhawk continues to become better known outside the United States and respected throughout the oil and gas industry, the demand for our services continues to grow,” said Billy Brown, Blackhawk’s president and CEO. “I am extremely excited about our new Mexico facility and believe the rapidly growing international market is a perfect complement to our significant market position in the U.S. onshore and offshore Gulf of Mexico markets.

“As the leading provider of cementing tools and products in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, expansion into the Mexican Gulf of Mexico is a natural next step for Blackhawk. The recent efforts to allow exploration to leading operators around the world has opened the door for innovation and new technology and will allow both operators and service companies like Blackhawk to share and gain expertise; invest in the local economy and workforce; and improve safety, efficiency and quality to improve oil and gas operations throughout Mexico.”

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) hosted its annual security analyst meeting in New York where executives reiterated priorities, expressed confidence in the company’s near term outlook and emphasized an advantaged position when markets rebound.

“We’re completing major projects that have been under construction for several years. This enables us to grow production and reduce spending at the same time, which should improve our net cash flow significantly,” said John Watson, Chevron’s chairman and chief executive officer. Watson reiterated the importance of dividend growth and maintaining a strong balance sheet in the company’s financial priorities, noting the company’s record of 28 consecutive years of dividend increases, and plans to limit debt increases beyond 2016.

“Industry conditions are tough right now, with low oil and natural gas prices. We believe markets will improve, and we’ll be well positioned when they do,” Watson continued. “We have an excellent upstream and downstream portfolio, and we are driving operating and administrative efficiencies across the company.”

Jay Johnson, executive vice president, upstream, highlighted key plans. “We’re focused on safe, reliable operations and effective project start-ups and ramp-ups. At Gorgon, we’re producing LNG and the first cargo is expected to ship next week. With an advantaged position in the Permian and a deep portfolio of operating assets, we’re transitioning our spending to more short-cycle, higher-return activity that utilizes existing infrastructure. We have a portfolio of assets that should allow production growth through the end of the decade, even at moderate prices.”

Presentations and a full transcript of the meeting are available on the Investor Relations website at www.chevron.com.

Pulse Structural Monitoring, an Acteon company, has launched a third generation INTEGRIpod™ platform as a new addition to its INTEGRI™ range of structural monitoring sensor systems.

The INTEGRIpod NXT platform has been specifically developed to meet the needs of the offshore oil and gas industry in the current market; offering industry-leading features in a standard, modular format. Along with a range of new features, the new INTEGRIpod platform will support INTEGRIpod’s impressive track record of reliability and robust performance, proved in millions of hours of successful ultra-deepwater subsea operations since the product range launched in 1998.

Typical applications for the INTEGRIpod™ range include linear displacement and static and dynamic inclination of subsea structures such as BOPs, wellheads, conductor systems, mooring lines, and jumpers. With industry-leading on-board processing capabilities, measured data is processed in real-time and transmitted wirelessly or hardwired enabling instantaneous operational decision-making. The new platform also allows for deployments in excess of one year between battery change-outs due to new features such as ‘Smart Logging,’ which enables the device to deploy and only record phenomena over client-defined thresholds; significantly reducing campaign costs and the need for offshore interventions.

Sandip Ukani, technical director, Pulse, said, “At the core of the new platform is a 32-bit ARM™ processor, which offers low power consumption with significant on-board processing capability; delivering best-in-class battery life. The on-board MEMS gyroscopic sensors deliver unrivalled precision and accuracy. The platform allows communication over various connectivity options, including hardwired and acoustic, and can communicate over various industry standard open communication standards, such as RS232/485. Additionally, a multitude of connectors allows direct integration of Pulse’s proven sensor family, including the INTEGRIstick™ (Curvature Sensor), INTEGRIstrain™ (Custom Bonded Strain Gauge Packages) in addition to any third party sensor package.”

The third generation INTEGRIpod™ platform underwent extensive sea trials in the harsh weather of the North Sea, and in deepwater offshore Brazil. It is now ready for deployment as part of Pulse’s extensive fleet of structural monitoring systems.

With just under two weeks until the 2016 Offshore Achievement Awards (OAA) take place, the trophy which will be presented to winners on the night has been revealed.

Last year saw Gray’s School of Art student, Irina Viskanta, win a competition set by the organisers of the awards, the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Aberdeen Section, to design the 2016 trophy.

Ian Phillips, SPE Aberdeen Chairman with trophy designer Irina Viskanta

Alan Dick of SPE Aberdeen, who is set to host the awards ceremony on March 17, said: “Irina has done a fantastic job of designing and producing this year’s trophy, which reflects the themes of the 30th Offshore Achievement Awards – innovation, collaboration and creativity. I would like to thank Irina for all of her hard work, and I have no doubt that the winners will be thrilled to receive a trophy which has been so carefully thought out.”

Sian Mutch, senior corporate communications advisor at principal sponsor TAQA, said: “The trophy design competition has once again been a great way to involve students and the local community in the awards. TAQA is pleased to have been involved in the competition, and I would like to congratulate Irina on a creating such a stand-out trophy.”

The black tie event will take place on Thursday March 17, 2016 at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. For more information or to book a table at this year’s Offshore Achievement Awards please visit www.spe-oaa.org.

Seatronics, an Acteon company, and Norwegian associates RTS, have achieved 100 successful global installations with the Subsea Deflection Monitoring system (SDM).

The SDM system aims to reduce the risk associated with both large and small installations. The system has an extensive history of successful operations in comparison to newer alternatives in the market.

The SDM is a time-saving monitoring solution used for the deployment and installation of subsea structures. Time-stamped data from pressure and attitude sensors are transmitted through an ROV hot stab connection or an acoustic modem. When installing the structure, the operator has full online feedback of its heading and deflection. The hotstab serves as a contingency solution where power and telemetry from an ROV can run the SDM. Additionally, subsea displays provide gyro, pitch and roll data. The SDM also includes remote control of all connected sensors, optional differential pressure monitoring of suction anchors, external sensor capabilities and customized logging intervals for long-time structure surveillance.

Phil Middleton, group managing director, Seatronics, said, “The SDM system has an impeccable track record, setting the industry standard for such deployments. It is the solution of choice for all leading global subsea engineering contractors. It is due to the reliability of the SDM package that we have achieved 100 successful installations. The SDM has been developed by listening to feedback from many key clients. Our 12-year partnership with RTS has been marked with new developments addressing efficiency and timesaving efforts offshore. The next generation is already in development."

Freddy Knutsen, general manager, RTS, said, “The first initiative to develop the SDM system came from one of the oil majors in Norway in 2007. The need for an instrument package that could give them safer, faster and more accurate structure installations was crucial. Since then, the SDM has become the industry standard for structure installations by all the major oil companies.”

The SDM system, manufactured and developed by RTS, is available for rental throughout Seatronics’ global bases, provided with offshore expertise and technical support.

Offshore accommodation and workspace specialist HB Rentals has been awarded a contract with Prosafe worth in excess of £1million.

The project will see the company provide an end-to-end solution for the design, engineering, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning and routine maintenance of a customized temporary living quarter (TLQ) complex on board Prosafe’s semi-submersible accommodation vessel, Safe Boreas, currently located off the coast of Orkney, Scotland.

Prosafe is the world’s leading owner and operator of semi-submersible accommodation vessels. The company currently operates a fleet of 14 vessels globally, with capacity for 306-812 people. Prosafe continues to strengthen its market leading position by adding high specification, technically advanced new build vessels to the existing fleet. The Safe Boreas was constructed in 2015 at Jurong shipyard, Singapore and is considered one of the most technologically advanced and efficient harsh environment accommodation vessels in the world.

The scope of work entails a fully customized accommodation complex for 40 persons on board (POB) based on double occupancy cabins with en-suite wet rooms. The package includes a local equipment room (LER), locker/changing room facilities, A60 stair tower and link corridor connecting the temporary living quarters with the existing permanent living quarters.

Upgrade work will also be carried out including data cabling and installation of Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S) gas detectors, which is not a common requirement in the North Sea where Methane (CH₄) gas tends to be more prevalent.

The modules will be linked and stacked over three levels to form an enclosed living quarter complex, providing increased safety and comfort for offshore workers by reducing time spent on the main deck and offering protection from the elements.

HB Rentals’ responsibility also extends to the delivery of the full package to Safe Boreas at Scapa Flow following trial assembly and customer acceptance onshore at its facility in Sauchen, Aberdeenshire. This will mitigate any potential issues prior to final installation, hook-up and commissioning on the vessel.

Norman Porter, managing director, HB Rentals Limited said: “This year will mark HB Rentals’ 40^th anniversary so we are thrilled to be celebrating with the announcement of this project and look forward to working closely with Prosafe over the coming months. We pride ourselves in our ability to offer tailored solutions for our clients to ensure their requirements are met, and this project is just one example of this.”

HB Rentals was awarded the contract following a detailed technical commercial evaluation, which took place over several months. The HB Rentals TLQ is contracted on the Safe Boreas for work through 2017.

Karl Dickinson, senior manager Client Accounts, Prosafe said: “We would like to thank HB Rentals for responding to the TLQ project in a very timely and professional manner. Working closely with HB Rentals, we were able to provide a technical solution that demonstrates our ongoing commitment to find innovative and cost efficient solutions to our end-client.”

Kongsberg Maritime has expanded its established satellite position reference system portfolio with the introduction of a new system that integrates all available Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and all possible correction services. The new DPS 432 combines full decimeter accuracy with high integrity and availability of GNSS data, supporting the safety and efficiency of offshore operations that rely on advanced Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems.

DPS 432 integrates signals from GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo, and regional correction signals including SBAS (e.g. WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN), in addition to the new G4 services from Fugro, to ensure high flexibility for DP operations globally. Because DPS 432 exploits available combinations of GNSS signals, it is ideally suited to complex operations in challenging environments. The system increases satellite availability, improves integrity monitoring and enables more precision under challenging signal tracking conditions.

The new DPS 432 will be a part of the well-established KONGSBERG DPS range of solutions, a portfolio of products that meets all requirements for operations in any geographical region.

“DPS 432 expands our established and field-proven portfolio of position reference systems for DP operations, ensuring that we can offer a highly reliable solution for any DP vessel or operating region,” said Vidar Bjørkedal, VP Sales & Customer Support, Kongsberg Seatex. “The system is based on the same architecture as other DPS products, which means it features a highly intuitive HMI, while the ability to integrate all available GNSS and corrections provides integrity and availability of the position data needed for safe operations.”

The DPS 432 features the sophisticated DPS NAV Engine^® used in all DPS solutions, which runs critical computations independent from the DPS HMI (operator interface) to ensure continuous and reliable operation. The DPS NAV Engine^® runs in a safe mode, protected from unintended user operations, while several DPS HMIs can be connected to the same DPS NAV Engine® in a networked architecture.

Straightforward operation to enhance DP operations safety further, was a key design goal during development of DPS 432. The system can integrate multiple layers of information, giving the DP operator unmatched opportunities for a customized visual presentation, including i.e., electronic chart, seabed maps, well head positions, static targets and AIS target information.

Seatronics, an Acteon company, and part of its survey, monitoring and data business segment, has announced the appointment of Kevin Strachan as head of finance. The new role will require Strachan to lead the finance function in each of Seatronics’ global bases and divisions.

Strachan holds a masters degree in accounting from Aberdeen University, and a chartered accountant designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. With more than 20 years of experience, he has held a number of managerial roles, including chief financial officer at Chantry Networks in Toronto, Canada, and group financial controller for the Ferguson Group in the UK.

Phil Middleton, group managing director, Seatronics, said, “Seatronics welcomes Kevin to the company in this new role. Kevin has an impressive track record, and we are looking forward to him adding significant value to the management team at Seatronics as we continue to develop our strategic goals in this challenging market.”

Strachan said, “I am excited to join the successful team at Seatronics and look forward to supporting the company's position as the global leader in the rental and sale of marine electronic equipment.”