Sparrows Group has secured an initial five-year contract to deliver cranes and maintenance services at one of the North Sea’s largest and most prestigious new developments in over a decade.

The firm will supply Statoil’s Mariner development on the UK Continental Shelf with crane operator personnel to support drilling, operations, maintenance and logistics, and will deliver maintenance and engineering services to ensure the availability and reliability of the Mariner A platform’s two pedestal cranes.

Options to extend the contract mean it could potentially run for a total of nine years.

Stewart Mitchell, chief executive officer at Sparrows Group, said: “As the longest-established North Sea crane engineering company, it is an honor to be involved as work begins on one of the most high profile projects the region has seen in many years. We hope Mariner has a long and successful life ahead of it.

“The platform will be subject to high levels of lifting activity with both the north and south cranes working to support the drilling operations, so our experienced operators and maintenance personnel will be integral to ensuring optimal operational performance.”

Statoil has already engaged Sparrows Group’s engineering team to support them with the integration of the cranes’ and mechanical handling equipment during the platform’s construction phase which is currently ongoing in South Korea.

Mariner A will be equipped with A-frame, lattice boom cranes mounted on fixed pedestals. The two crane capacities are 50 ton capacity at 40 meter radius and 17 ton capacity at maximum radius of 60m.

Full provision of training and competency services is included in the contract, along with equipment modification, upgrade and replacement components, as well as repair and maintenance of equipment onshore.

The Mariner Field is located approximately 150 kilometers east of the Shetland Isles and consists of two shallow reservoir sections. The Maureen Formation sits at 1492 meters with the Heimdal reservoir at 1227 meters.

Due to begin operation in 2018, it is expected that the field will contribute more than 250 mmbbls reserves with average plateau production of around 55,000 barrels per day. Mariner is expected to have a 30-year field life.

Conductor Installation Services Ltd (CIS), an Acteon company that provides hammer services to install conductors and drive piles, announced that James Chadd has been appointed Managing Director. As of 1 April 2016, Chadd will be responsible for overseeing the fulfilment of all strategic initiatives, as well as driving day-to-day execution of business globally.

“Having worked with James since founding the company in 2005, I am extremely confident that he will continue to build upon CIS’s solid track record of achievement and service excellence,” said Andy Penman, outgoing Group Managing Director of CIS. “In addition to his valuable skill set and in-depth knowledge of the global conductor- and pile installation industry, his commitment to the growth and development of CIS makes him the ideal choice for this leadership position.”

Prior to his promotion, Chadd served as Group Technical Sales Manager for the past eight years. During this time he carried out business development and technical sales outreach in Europe, Sub Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Previously, he worked as Offshore Conductor Installation Supervisor before being promoted to the post of Technical Sales Engineer in 2006. Before joining CIS, Chadd worked as a Conductor Installation Engineer in the field – both onshore and offshore - installing conductors and piles around the world for nearly four years for BJ Tubular Services.

CIS, a member of Acteon’s Conductors, Risers and Flowlines group, provides conductor and pile installation services associated with construction projects carried out in the global oil and gas industry. These services are carried out both onshore and offshore to, for example, create foundations for new wells, platforms, bridges and jetties.

The range of services provided by CIS supports the Acteon Group’s commitment to defining subsea services across a range of interconnected disciplines.

Tritech International Ltd, [Tritech], A Moog Inc. Company, announces that Seatronics, an Acteon Company, is the first rental company to choose its next generation Gemini 720is multibeam imaging sonar.

Seatronics will offer the Gemini 720is for rental as prompted by customer demand to provide high-quality, new and innovative rental products to the subsea market. Additionally, the multibeam imaging sonar will be used on Predator, a portable inspection class Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).

The new Gemini 720is combines the benefits of high-definition imaging with long-range target detection making it ideal for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) and ROV platforms, including installation on pan and tilt units. With a new body shape and enhanced electronics, the Gemini 720is continues to offer real-time visualization and a fast update rate of 30 Hz across a 120 degree field-of-view. Familiar features such as an integrated velocity of sound (VOS) sensor and near-range focus remain and the sonar is now integrated with Ethernet communications as standard (VDSL and dual communication units are also available).

To support the new model, Tritech’s standalone Gemini software package now enables operation of all Tritech multibeam Gemini imagers (from the 720i series to the NBI) and the Gemini profiler (620pd), from one dedicated software platform. New features include basic target tracking, (including SeeByte advanced target tracking), a distance marker tool and enhanced data recording/ playback and screen capture options. The introduction of an annotate function has also been added so that users can output depth, time and data screenshots for reporting.


Phil Middleton, Group Managing Director, Seatronics commented:

“The Tritech purchase provides our customers with the latest multibeam imaging technology from our rental pool. We are proud to be the first rental company to offer the new Gemini 720is from a successful and experienced sonar manufacturer.”

Scott McLay, Tritech Sales Director, commented:


“The anticipated launch of the new Gemini model has been welcomed by the market’s early adoption; first by Van Oord and now Seatronics. Tritech has performance at the heart of its sensor technology and the decision by Seatronics to choose the Gemini 720is for their Predator vehicle signals their confidence in its high-performance imagery and reliability.”

Subsea IMR provider, N-Sea, has won the Safety Innovations award at this year’s SPE Aberdeen Offshore Achievement Awards. Winners were announced at a prestigious awards ceremony last night at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC).

The Safety Innovations Award recognises excellence in innovative technology and products that have been developed in the UK and which contribute to offshore safety. N-Sea has received the accolade by demonstrating an on-going commitment to safety by upgrading its already-revolutionary TUP Diving System® (TUP).

Roddy James, Chief Operating Officer of N-Sea, accepts the award

Originally developed in 2005, the TUP’s main objective is to provide a safe way to increase workable bottom time, relative to other surface-oriented diving techniques, which is achieved through the combination of unique safety and technical features. N-Sea has taken diver safety to the next level, with a significant system upgrade, taking place in 2014/15. The TUP now provides even further improved diver safety and efficiency through the upgrade of its safety features and the introduction of Nitrox diving from a closed bell.

N-Sea’s chief operating officer, Roddy James, said: “We are delighted to have won the Offshore Achievement Safety Innovations Award, which is testament to the hard work and commitment of the entire N-Sea team.

“Whilst the TUP Diving System® has always been unique in the service it provides clients, this most recent upgrade launches it – and N-Sea - into a new league in terms of diver safety and client cost efficiency. Whilst the N-Sea philosophy has always been to produce a “safe, sound and swift” service, at no time in recent years has this been more pertinent to our client relationships than during the past 18 months.”

The SPE Aberdeen Offshore Achievement Awards (OAA) is the biggest and longest established industry awards for the UK offshore energy sector, covering all aspects from supply to upstream operations and offshore renewables.

For thirty years, the awards have been celebrating and encouraging innovation and collaboration in the North Sea.

N-Sea is known for its innovative work as an independent offshore subsea contractor, specialising in IMR services for the oil and gas, renewable and telecom/utility industries, as well as for civil contracting communities. N-Sea provides near shore, offshore and survey services to major operators and service companies alike.

Turner Designs now offers a C6P Submersible Sensor package enabling up to six sensors in a corrosion resistant, highly durable, Delrin plastic housing able to withstand even the harshest of environments.

Modeled after the popular C3, the C6P can be configured with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 optical sensors ranging from deep UV to IR. An antifouling copper plate and a mechanical wiper are available as options to minimize bio-fouling on and around the sensors.

Each C6P comes with a factory installed temperature sensor; factory-installed depth sensors are available. A large internal data storage capacity, low power requirements, and a high capacity external submersible lithium ion battery allow for long-term deployments. Specialized firmware is available when integrating the C6P with continuous sampling systems that require 24/7 data collection via data streaming.

Standard optical kits are available for detecting: in vivo Chlorophyll (blue or red), Crude Oil, Refined Fuels, CDOM/FDOM (dissolved organic material), Blue/Green Algae, Fluorescein Dye, Rhodamine Dye, PTSA Dye, Optical Brighteners, Tryptophan, and Turbidity. The C6P can also be configured with custom optics for specific applications. The C6P is rated to a depth of 600m.

Prysmian Group, a world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, appointed Cristiano Tortelli, who joined the Group as Senior Vice President, to lead the newly created Oil & Gas Business Area that incorporates all of the Group’s activities in the industry, including umbilicals and flexible systems, down-hole technologies and core cables.

“The new Business Area will operate across the entire Oil & Gas supply chain. Technology will play a key role in meeting the new industry challenges, supported by a strong project management organization”, stated Cristiano Tortelli. “In the context of today’s oil prices, collaboration with Oil Companies and Industrial Service providers will be a key strategy in redefining the new industry standards, as well as a means to simplify the way capital projects are executed”, he added.

Cristiano Tortelli has a long international experience in the Oil & Gas industry. During his career he covered several key roles in GE Oil & Gas. Later he joined Air Liquide Group leading globally the Engineering & Solution organization.

Subsea technology company Sonardyne International Ltd., has announced that it is making available to hire its new deep water hydrostatic pressure testing chamber, one of the largest in the UK. Located at its headquarters in Yateley, 40 miles south-west of London, the facility is now open to third party companies and organizations to test the integrity of their underwater components and instruments by simulating water depths up to 6,300 meters (20,670 feet).

Sonardyne’s deep water pressure chamber is able to test the integrity of underwater components and instruments by simulating water depths up to 6,300 meters (20,670 feet).

Hydrostatic testing is the most reliable and cost-effective way to validate the integrity of subsea equipment before it is deployed in the field. With an internal diameter of 0.76 meters and internal length of 2 meters, Sonardyne’s chamber is able to accommodate large single instruments or multiples of smaller instruments and components at the same time. It can be programmed to meet the requirements of specific industry standards including pressure cycling, ramping and holding.

A dedicated Test Engineer supervises all testing activities, providing clients with full reports which include applied pressure graphs, test certificates and photographic records. Full technical and custom engineering support is also available on-site.

UTEC Survey, an Acteon company, announce a key appointment to head up its new branch office in Abu Dhabi as it seeks to broaden support to its growing client base in the Middle East region.

Noel Cowley, with the UTEC group since 2007 in various operational and senior management positions, will head up the Abu Dhabi office as General Manager. UTEC is currently supporting several high-profile projects in the Middle East region.

“Having participated the company’s phenomenal growth in international markets I look forward to playing a key role in expanding UTEC’s quality services into the Middle East region” commented Noel, who brings 30 years’ experience ranging from the Royal Australian Navy to upstream energy management roles.

Sean Fowler, UTEC’s Regional Manager remarked “We are delighted to have Noel Cowley leading our continued growth in the Middle East region. His track record of creating value for our clients is indisputable. He solidly represents UTEC’s mission to support customers who have come to expect excellence as a hallmark of UTEC’s service offering.”

Aker Solutions secured a global framework agreement to deliver engineering and project management services at BP-operated subsea oil and gas fields.

The contract has a fixed period of five years and may be extended by two years. It covers subsea engineering services, asset integrity management and operations support.

"We are delighted to partner with BP in finding cost-effective solutions to boost productivity and optimize the infrastructure of the company's subsea fields," said Luis Araujo, Aker Solutions' chief executive officer. "We have provided subsea operations support to BP in the UK for more than 15 years and look forward to building on this partnership with a global agreement."

Aker Solutions will execute the work through a global delivery model.

Both parties agreed not to disclose the contract value.

Fugro is to supply ROV drilling support services on board the Ocean Guardian MODU under a new contract awarded by Dana Petroleum (E&P) Ltd.

Operating one of its fleet of FCV 600 ROVs, specifically designed for North Sea drill support activities, Fugro will carry out drilling and completions projects at the Dana-operated Western Isles developments in the northern North Sea.

Ocean Guardian. Photo Credit: Diamond Offshore

The scope of work covers standard drilling support, which begins this month, and intervention tooling support, with all ROV tooling designed and supplied by Fugro. This ensures 100% compatibility with the FCV 600 class of ROV and American Petroleum Institute (API) tooling standard 17D.

“This award from Dana Petroleum strengthens Fugro’s North Sea drill support business in the current challenging market,” said Mark Ward, Drill Support and ROV Project Manager at Fugro Subsea Services Limited. “It also recognises our objective to minimise operational costs without impacting on efficiency or safety standards. We are looking forward to assisting Dana Petroleum in meeting its targets.”

Fugro has been operational on board the Ocean Guardian since the summer of 2012 and completed a number of successful projects in the North Sea, Western Isles and West of Ireland, achieving a high level of productivity and receiving positive client feedback.

BMT ARGOSS (BMT), a subsidiary of BMT Group, the leading international maritime design, engineering and risk management consultancy, has been appointed by Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd. (Sakhalin Energy) to deliver weather forecasting services to support their onshore and offshore operations in the Sakhalin region, off the east coast of Russia.

As part of a long-term contract, BMT’s 18 strong team will provide weather, wave and current forecasts, as well as tidal information to help support offshore drilling operations. Marie-Jette Wierbos, Forecast Manager at BMT ARGOSS explains: “The conditions are very harsh in Sakhalin and forecasting the weather can be extremely challenging. Topography, shallow boundary layers, sea ice and large differences in temperatures between land surface and sea create strong local effects. By running high resolution models we are able to capture more effectively these local effects such as ice that can cover the water around the offshore platforms in winter time.”

BMT will deliver twice daily updates on weather and wave conditions and once daily update on the current and tides. This information is presented in an easy to use and understandable format which is bespoke to the customer and its specific requirements.

Feddo Vollema, Account Manager at BMT ARGOSS comments: “We have a proven track record of delivering weather forecast services in this region which fully meet the customer requirements. Accurate, real-time forecasting is a prerequisite to planning and carrying out day to day operations. We help customers utilise the full potential of available weather windows, allowing them to reduce operational risk and save time.”

Aquatic Engineering & Construction Ltd, an Acteon company, has expanded its team based in Houston. Bob Terrell joined Aquatic last month as regional manager, while Andrew Blaquiere has moved permanently from the Acteon group to Aquatic as proposals and project engineer. Both will focus on growing Aquatic’s business in the Americas.

Bob Terrell(left) joins Aquatic with more than 30 years’ experience in the onshore and offshore oil and gas industry, with a substantial focus on subsea operations, having held roles in business development, sales and operational management. He has operational experience working in West Africa, the UK, Brazil, Canada and the US. Terrell holds a degree in international management from Louisiana Tech University, and joins Aquatic’s leadership team reporting to Martin Charles, managing director.

Terrell said, “I am looking forward to developing and enhancing Aquatic’s global footprint through capital growth and personnel development in North and South America, as well as supporting the development of new and existing client relationships in the region.”

Andrew Blaquiere(right) has eight years of experience in the offshore oil and gas industry, and holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri. Blaquiere was seconded from the Acteon group to work with Aquatic in early 2015, where he has been providing local key customer support for projects in Houston. He has been successful in securing a number of recent project wins in the Gulf of Mexico.

Blaquiere said, “I am looking forward to working closely alongside Aquatic’s new regional manager, Bob Terrell. With a large range of modular equipment at Aquatic’s Morgan City facility, our aim is to deliver the complete flex-lay solution across the Americas region.”

Martin Charles, managing director, Aquatic, said, “With two highly experienced personnel leading our business activities in the Americas, customers can be confident in Aquatic’s commercial offering for their flexible product operations. Our global footprint continues to grow, and our investment in the Americas region remains an area of strategic focus for Aquatic.”

UTEC Survey, an Acteon company, has appointed Zamil Group as its partner agent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The appointment allows UTEC Survey to support projects undertaken by its clients actively involved with ARAMCO ‘LTA’ contracting agreements. These contracts include significant offshore brownfield support projects involving pipeline and platform infrastructure upgrades over a seven-year cycle.

UTEC Survey Regional Manager, Sean Fowler commented that: “We were extremely selective in choosing the correct partner to work with in Saudi Arabia. Since 1930, Zamil have created Saudi Arabia’s largest and most diversified trading organizations. Their core values and innovative spirt are aligned with UTEC. Additionally, Zamil provide us with enhanced capabilities through their vessel fleet and marine services division.”

Commenting on the agreement, Zamil Group said: “We are delighted to represent UTEC in Saudi Arabia providing gateway services into the world’s largest oil producer, ARAMCO. We look forward to developing new opportunities and a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

For further information, click here.

Okeanus Science and Technology (Okeanus) announced the addition of the POS MV Surfmaster (POS MV) by Applanix, a Trimble Company, to their portfolio of positioning equipment available for rent. The POS MV brings Okeanus clients georeferencing capabilities with acute accuracy in difficult conditions.

The POS MV produces accurate altitude, heading, heave, position, and velocity data of marine vessels and onboard sensors. Alongside compatibility with multibeam sonar systems, the POS MV offers georeferencing for both manned and unmanned platforms. The POS MV system provides accurate results in challenging settings for harbor mapping, seafloor mapping, dredging, wreck and salvage charting, and surface mapping. A full six degrees-of-freedom position and orientation is achieved through its combination of GNSS data with angular rate and acceleration data from an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and heading from GPS Azimuth Measurement System (GAMS).

The POS MV enhances the current positioning equipment offerings to track underwater assets with the highest level of precision. Equipment rental packages from Okeanus can be completed by integrating the POS MV with the Kongsberg M3 Multi-beam Sonar; USV sonar applications with RTK water level; vessel mount ADCP surveys; and vessels of opportunity, single beam and multi-beam. Okeanus’ portfolio available for rent includes metocean, water collection, geophysical, hydrographic, flotation, positioning, launch and recovery, and sediment sampling equipment.

"We are extremely excited to add this new POS MV system to our fleet of rental equipment,” said Benton LeBlanc, President and General Manager of Okeanus. “This system adds a new dimension to our growing line of marine positioning equipment, and it is a great compliment to some of our other remote sensing product offerings. Being able to provide all of the necessary components to our customers who are actively engaged in performing single beam and multi-beam surveys allows us to offer turnkey solutions in a rental capacity which gives our customers more flexibility in this economic climate by eliminating the need to invest valuable capital into the acquisition of these highly technical assets."

Aberdeen-based Ashtead Technology has become the first subsea services company to be accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) for its state-of-the-art calibration laboratory.

This official seal of approval from UKAS demonstrates that Ashtead delivers professional and technically competent calibration of survey, positioning and oceanographic sensors crucial to their customers’ subsea operations.

UKAS assesses a laboratory’s calibration and measurement capability to produce precise and accurate test results by scrutinizing the technical competence of staff, the validity of the test methods, and equipment used through a vigorous audit and validation process.

A global leader in specialist subsea technology and services, Ashtead which also has a calibration facility in Singapore calibrates equipment for both its customers and its own rental fleet.

Allan Pirie, chief executive of Ashtead Technology said: “The achievement of UKAS accreditation is a further endorsement of the high quality, value adding service which Ashtead is delivering to reduce customers’ operational risk. The calibration of subsea instruments is of critical importance in subsea operations and this accreditation gives our customers absolute confidence that this is being carried out to the highest standard.”

UKAS is the national accreditation body for the United Kingdom, appointed by government, to assess organizations that provide inspection, testing and calibration services.

With the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) expected to soon make a final decision on which areas will be included in its proposed 2017-2022 offshore oil and gas-leasing plan, Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) has released a comprehensive analysis that debunks assertions by anti-energy groups suggesting widespread opposition to U.S. offshore energy development.



This is particularly the case in Alaska and in key Atlantic coastal states where BOEM is considering opening up leases for exploration and production, the report, titled “A Hollow Groundswell: Debunking the Myth of Widespread Opposition to Offshore Energy,” says.



A few vocal anti-energy organizations have highlighted that communities in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia – at the urging of anti-energy groups using incomplete or inaccurate data – have adopted anti-drilling and/or anti-seismic resolutions. Despite claims that these resolutions show widespread opposition to offshore energy, they in truth represent just 3.8 percent of all four states’ combined populations, according to CEA’s analysis. 

And, in each instance, the decisions were based on incomplete or inaccurate information. 

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Image courtesy: CEA

Business community leaders – from chambers of commerce to farm bureaus to manufacturing have repeatedly stressed the economic, job creation, and long-term energy security benefits that offshore energy development could bring to the Atlantic coast states, CEA President David Holt said. “Despite attempts by anti-energy groups to convey the false appearance of widespread opposition to these much-needed activities, our findings show that significant majorities overwhelmingly support the opportunity associated with the future development of our offshore energy resources.”

“

And in the wake of what Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has called the most aggressive and comprehensive offshore oil and gas regulatory reforms in the nation’s history, we can be assured of developing our natural resources in a way that also safeguards our environment, Holt added.



Democratic polling firm Hickman Analytics found last year that voter support for expanded drilling stood at 61 percent in Virginia and 55 percent in North Carolina, the CEA report finds. A Harris Poll conducted in 2015 also found that 77 percent of registered voters in Georgia support offshore oil and gas drilling.



Earlier this month, a new Harris Poll found that support among registered voters for offshore drilling stood at 65%in Virginia , 64% in North Carolina and 67% in South Carolina.

In Alaska in 2014 and 2015, Hickman Analytics similarly found extremely high levels of support for offshore drilling, with 73% of registered voters voicing support for drilling in the Arctic and 72% in support of expanded offshore drilling in general. Support for Arctic offshore drilling extends to Louisiana 66%. Georgia 59% Iowa 52%, New Hampshire 54% and South Carolina 63%.

About Consumer Energy Alliance


Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together consumers, producers and manufacturers to engage in a meaningful dialogue about America's energy future. With more than 400,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices for consumers and energy security. We believe energy development is something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary for all consumers to actively engage in the conversation about how we develop and diversify our energy resources and energy's importance to the economy. CEA promotes a thoughtful dialogue to help produce our abundant energy supply, and balance our energy needs with our nation's environmental and conservation goals. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.