Steen S. Karstensen joined the Group in 1986 and has had an impressive 30-year-career with the company in procurement, logistics, supply chain, in-house consultancy and other cross-functional areas. Currently Chief Procurement Officer, he is now appointed CEO of Maersk Supply Service with effect from 24 October.

Steen S. Karstensen

”Steen Karstensen is a widely respected leader who has built a strong global procurement organization serving all of Maersk's business units, generating significant savings. Additionally, he has been responsible for Maersk Oil Trading and Maersk Maritime Technology, which has given him in-depth exposure to also the Energy related aspects of the Maersk business model,” says Group Vice CEO Claus V. Hemmingsen who continues:

“In addition, Steen helped in creating Maersk Management Consulting from scratch, which has brought talent and new thinking to our businesses. I’m excited that he will now take on the challenge in heading Maersk Supply Service in their next chapter of the journey.”

Steen Karstensen’s previous role in Group Procurement included overseeing Maersk Maritime Technology, Maersk Oil Trading and Maersk Management Consulting. These areas combine a workforce of over 800 professionals globally, located in 20 different countries.

“I’m excited to take on this new role. Maersk Supply Service is currently operating in very tough markets, but nevertheless is well positioned to broaden its scope of operations,” Steen Karstensen says. “A strong balance sheet gives the business a position of strength, from which it can be part of the consolidation and restructuring that inevitably will take place in the industry.”

Jørn Madsen, former CEO of Maersk Supply Service, was recently announced CEO of Maersk Drilling. He will take on this role with effect 7 November.

Maersk Oil has awarded a long-term contract to Lloyd's Register for a comprehensive suite of asset integrity services to support the development of Maersk Oil’s offshore operations in an efficient, safe and environmentally responsible manner.

Lloyd's Register will provide support in key areas of operational risk – change management, contractor management, inspection plans and reporting, asset optimization, risk-based assessments and written schemes of examination. Additional areas of technical expertise will also be provided on structural and pipeline integrity management systems, and corrosion monitoring.

“Ensuring consistent standards of integrity services across a network of high-value offshore assets is an increasingly complex task. Operators often face challenges that arise from differing operating regimes across different structures, work cultures and levels of asset maturity,” said James Drummond, VP Asset Integrity and Development Solutions from Lloyd’s Register.

Lloyd’s Register has a long standing relationship with Maersk Oil globally for the provision of integrity and compliance services, and has held the Integrity Contract with Maersk Oil UK since 2005, a testament to the quality of service provided and a commitment to improving the performance of its clients’ operations.

Although a key focus of the contract is to mitigate major threats, Lloyd’s Register experts will provide oversight in to the operation of each asset and also address challenging exploration requirements and specific operational needs.

“We are proud to be working with Maersk Oil to help enable their continued focus on safe production and operations to reduce risk. Lloyd’s Register is one of a very few third-party assurance providers with the diversity of technical expertise to fully support multinationals in this area, and we believe this agreement recognizes that,” highlights Drummond.

SapuraKencana Petroleum Berhad (“SapuraKencana”) has been awarded new contracts by clients with a combined value of approximately USD215 million (approximately RM889 million, based on USD/MYR exchange rate of USD1: RM4.14).

Details of each of these contracts are as summarized below:

ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION

Award of Contract in relation to the B127 Cluster Pipeline RTR Project by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited

A consortium of SapuraKencana TL Offshore Sdn. Bhd. and SapuraKencana HL Sdn. Bhd. has been awarded a contract by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) in relation to the B127 Cluster Pipeline RTR Project. The scope of work consists of engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning of 11 pipeline systems and associated topside modifications in B127 and surrounding Mumbai High fields located off the west coast of India. The Contract is for a period of 20 months.

Award of Contract for the Provision of Tender Assist Drilling Rig SKD Pelaut by Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn. Bhd.

SapuraKencana Drilling Asia Limited has been awarded a contract by Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn. Bhd. (“Brunei Shell Petroleum”) for the provision of its Tender Assist Drilling Rig SKD Pelaut. The contract builds on the long term partnership between Brunei Shell Petroleum and SapuraKencana whereby Brunei Shell Petroleum will continue to use SKD Pelaut as a bespoke technical solution for its development drilling campaign offshore Brunei Darussalam. The contract is for a firm period of 2 years with options to extend for an additional 2 years.

Award of Contract for the Provision of Underwater Maintenance Services for Sepat Mobile Offshore Production Unit (“MOPU”) by PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd.

SapuraKencana Subsea Services Sdn. Bhd. (formerly known as SapuraKencana Allied Marine Sdn. Bhd.) has been awarded a project by PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd. (“PCSB”) for the provision of underwater maintenance services for Sepat MOPU.

The scope of work consists of inspection, maintenance, repairs, drilling support and other work for PCSB’s underwater facilities to be executed in the water shore and offshore Peninsular Malaysia at 0-2000 meters water depth, with diver intervention at 0-300 meters water range at the Sepat MOPU Field. The Contract is for a period of approximately 2 months.

Ground breaking optimization and efficiency technology for offshore marine support operations has been developed for the oil and gas industry.

The innovative software, which has been developed by PlanSea Ltd., a spin out company from Robert Gordon University (RGU), has been applied by Nexen to remove significant cost from its North Sea operations.

Working with PlanSea, Nexen was able to simulate 65 weeks of its full North Sea marine operations using different schedules and combinations of its platform supply vessel (PSV) fleet. The results showed that significant reductions in fleet size and improvements in vessel utilisation could be achieved by re-organising its operations.

PSV Frigg Viking in Aberdeen Harbor. Photo credit: Jim Cargill

Nexen’s Managing Director UK and SVP Europe, Ray Riddoch, is delighted with the progress Nexen has made. He said: “In order to live at a low oil price, operators need to make a step change in eliminating waste in the supply chain and this requires a step change in thinking about new modes of operation. Through working with PlanSea, we have been able to enhance vessel utilization and so reduce our North Sea PSV fleet from four vessels to two, resulting in a 2016 saving of some £6.5M.”

Prof. John McCall of RGU whose expert team at the university developed the system, explained: “Our system uses advanced algorithms to optimize vessel utilization while still meeting all operational objectives. We have spent several years working with industry partners to model supply vessel operations so that we can be confident we have captured all of the constraints and delays that make offshore logistics such a complex task.”

PlanSea Managing Director, Jim Cargill, is optimistic about the potential for the newly proven technology. He said: “The ability to accurately identify feasible ways in which reduced fleets can operate and validate that in realistic simulation is a game changer. There is a tremendous opportunity for the industry to collaborate with shared PSV fleets, potentially taking 40% - 50% out of resource costs. In the North Sea that could mean continued viability for assets that are struggling to break even in the current environment. Looking forward to a recovery in price, the value of savings made now will increase - as activity rises the cost base will rise at a slower rate as efficient fleet sizing is maintained.”

Stephen Marcos Jones, Business Excellence Director, Oil & Gas UK, was supportive of the initiative. He added: “Oil & Gas UK launched the Efficiency Task Force in September last year to drive forward efficiency improvement across the industry, as such we are delighted to see this collaboration by PlanSea and Nexen achieving these great results. Their work together shows how taking an innovative approach and harnessing technology can drive efficiency improvements and is another small step in the transformational change required by industry to ensure the sustainability of the UK Continental Shelf.”

Margaret Copland, Senior Wells & Technology Manager, at the Oil & Gas Authority also welcomed the news. She said “As Operators and the Supply Chain work hard to reduce costs there is a recognition that harnessing new technology to help collaboration and reduce costs is essential to allow the industry to prosper. Technologies such as digital have the potential to transform the industry and this example of utilizing algorithms and machine learning to optimize vessel utilization is part of that journey. The progress that Nexen and PlanSea have made in utilizing software technology to make significant savings in offshore supply costs is therefore very encouraging.”

Jon R. Murphy has joined the Delmar Systems, Inc. global business development team. Based out of Delmar’s engineering and subsea office in Houston, Texas, Jon will be focused on strengthening and developing Delmar’s relationship with existing and potential new clients.

Jon R. Murphy

Jon has over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Prior to joining Delmar, Murphy served as Director of Marketing and Contracts for Noble Drilling Corporation subsidiaries. “We are pleased to welcome Jon to Delmar,” said John Bodin, Delmar Director of Global Business Development. “His extensive world-wide experience and knowledge will open new and exciting opportunities for Delmar with both traditional drilling contractor contacts and oil and gas operators.”

Delmar specializes in mooring semi-submersible drilling rigs in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Headquartered in Broussard, LA with engineering and subsea services based in Houston, TX, Delmar System, Inc. has provided mooring and subsea installation services for over 48 years to oil and gas regions around the globe, with offices strategically located to serve the offshore industry.

ELA Container Offshore GmbH ordered several Drying Systems from Pronomar BV to increase stock. By doing this, ELA prepares itself for the cold season in which there is a high demand for Drying Containers. “We always have containers in stock to be able to react to customers’ demands on short notice. Especially within the offshore industry where every second counts”, says Hans Gatzemeier, Managing Director of ELA Container Offshore GmbH. “Since all of our Offshore Drying Containers are leased out, we ordered new drying systems to have some containers available on short notice”, explains Gatzemeier.

The container is equipped with a Pronomar Drying system suitable to dry suits, gloves and boots

The 20 ft ELA Offshore Drying Container is available for rent and sale. It is equipped with a Pronomar Drying System which is suitable to dry suits, boots and gloves for up to 20 people. All drying systems are made from solid stainless steel and are therefore built to last. The drying systems dry the clothes from the inside out by means of a large amount of warm air entering from a powerful blower. Within a maximum time of three hours, all clothing will be dry. “The drying systems prolong the lifetime of the costly work wear. Seen from a health perspective, the amount of sick leave decreases as workers are more likely to get sick when working in wet or damp overalls”, says Jiska Bazuin, Operations Manager at Pronomar BV.

ELA Container has already gained diverse experience in the Offshore-Wind and Offshore Oil & Gas Industry. Whether on pontoons, transformer platforms, rigs or supply vessels - ELA Container is the ideal partner, offering tailor-made concepts for all requirements in the form of Living Quarters, Offices, Dining Rooms, Galleys, Laundries, Recreation or Locker Rooms and all types of Carrying Units. ELA Offshore containers are equipped with all the necessary utilities. This guarantees, in combination with all ELA Offshore features, a long service life, functionality and comfort.

The high quality Containers are “Made in Germany” according to German quality standards and possess all necessary certifications such as DNV 2.7-1 / EN 12079-1, DNV 2.7-2, based on SOLAS, IMO FSS Code and MLC as well as CSC and are approved from several IACS-companies. In terms of fire resistance, an A60 insulation provides high safety standards. Every container will be checked before delivery. Depending on customer requirements, ELA Offshore Containers are individually customized, immediately operational and are available at short notice.

The main features of ELA offshore accommodations include:

• Flexibility on demand
• One base type with various accommodation solutions
• Easy handling thanks to standard 20 ft High-Cube ISO standard dimensions
• Highest quality standards

The Maersk Resolve has finalized the planned work scope for DONG Energy at the Hejre field in the Danish sector of the North Sea, and Maersk Drilling has therefore received a letter of early termination. The original contract was scheduled to end in January 2017. The compensation under the early termination agreement leaves Maersk Drilling financially neutral to the original contract.

“We are all acutely aware of the difficult market situation we are facing in the offshore drilling industry, however, it is gratifying to see a rig like the Maersk Resolve and her crew outperform expectations and complete her work scope several months ahead of schedule for the complex HPHT development at Hejre,” says Head of Global Sales, Michael Reimer Mortensen and continues:

“The Maersk Resolve and her crew has delivered a great performance throughout the duration of the contract, and we aim to secure a new contract for the rig as soon as possible.”

Maersk Resolve is a High Efficiency jack-up built in 2009 and is designed for year-round operation in harsh environments and in water depths of up to 350ft. The rig is fully HPHT capable and prepared for Managed Pressure Drilling technology.

The official signing of the Cat Propulsion Dealer Agreement with Louisiana Cat commenced on August 22, 2016. Louisiana Cat is the first Caterpillar Dealership in the Americas to reach all requirements for training and technical sales and support to become a Gold level dealer for the full line of Cat Propulsion equipment.

Erika Hamrick, Cat Marine Regional Sales Manager Americas officially recognizes Robert “Bobby” Webb, CEO at Louisiana Cat as the first Cat Propulsion Dealer in the Americas (left) Official document signing at the Reserve, La headquarters by Erika Hamrick and Bobby Webb. Also pictured is Mike Jennings, General Manager (right)

“This is truly a milestone for Louisiana Cat! By having a fully integrated Caterpillar propulsion solution available to our customers with the same promise of reliability is a real differentiator in the marketplace. We can now leverage our decades of experience with marine engines and raw horsepower with a very natural extension of our expertise through the shaft and to the propeller. We are excited to be the first dealer in the Americas to achieve this goal through qualification in a rigorous technical sales and support training over the last year and a half,” said Mike Jennings, Louisiana Cat Power Systems Division General Manager.

Louisiana Cat is very excited to add these products to our line of propulsion offerings to more completely meet the customer’s need for a single source for complete propulsion systems. This expansion of the marine product line from the engine and generator to the entire marine propulsion system package will help maximize uptime, while reducing operating costs for offshore platform service and towing vessels, inland river cargo & transportation vessels, fishing & governmental vessels.

Oceaneering International, Inc. (“Oceaneering”) (NYSE:OII) announces that it has acquired the assets of Blue Ocean Technologies, LLC (“Blue Ocean”), a privately held provider of riserless light well intervention (“RLWI”) services, for approximately $30 million in cash. Included in the acquisition are three RLWI systems, two of which are currently under construction, and are expected to be fully functional by mid-2017.

Oceaneering expects to invest approximately $10 million to complete construction of the two RLWI systems.

Subsea well intervention services are intended to maximize production and increase the recovery rate from offshore oil and gas reservoirs or, alternatively, prepare wells to be plugged and abandoned. Blue Ocean’s RLWI systems have the capability to perform a wide variety of cost effective services for well interventions, including well diagnostics, damaged well remediation and workovers, and well plugging and abandonment. Blue Ocean’s leading RLWI technology holds the current depth record for deepwater riserless intervention at 8,200 feet (2,500m).

Kevin McEvoy, Chief Executive Officer of Oceaneering, stated, “We are pleased to complete the acquisition of Blue Ocean, which we believe will enable us to further penetrate the subsea well intervention market and support existing and new customers with additional safe, cost effective subsea solutions. The services offered by Blue Ocean are complementary to our subsea products operations, and Blue Ocean will add talent and expertise that reflects our commitment to provide quality results with an integrated and expanded platform to drive growth. This acquisition fits our strategy on increasing our services and products offerings focus related to the production phase of the offshore field life cycle.”

Oceaneering intends to report the future financial results of Blue Ocean through Oceaneering’s Subsea Products segment, under its Services and Rentals business unit.

Global Maritime Consultancy & Engineering, a provider of marine warranty, dynamic positioning and engineering services to the offshore sector, has appointed Helge Flesland to lead its Mission Critical Systems Group in Norway.

Helge will be responsible for managing and further developing Global Maritime’s mission critical systems, including crane, marine operations and dynamic positioning (DP). Other areas of Helge’s brief will include ensuring that all operations are compliant, actively participating in the company’s future strategic direction, and defining mission critical services and client priorities.

Mikal Grure Eie, Regional Manager for Norway, said: “Global Maritime is an industry leader in the operation and inspection of mission critical and marine control systems and we are delighted that Helge has agreed to head up this vital role. As we move forward, Norwegian customers can look forward to the very highest standards in safety and risk reduction and the effective operation of all their mission critical systems.”

Helge has more than 25 years experience in HSE safety, risk analysis and risk management for both onshore and offshore operators, with his main focus over the last few years being large modification projects on platforms in the North Sea related to oil field life extensions.

Prior to joining Global Maritime in 2015, where he has held a number of roles including managing Global Maritime’s risk and HSE business in Singapore, Helge was Senior Principal Consultant and also Risk Services Manager at Lloyds Register Consulting. In his career at Lloyds Register, Helge managed the company’s risk and safety departments in Australia and Lloyds Register’s involvement in the Johan Sverdrup project, one of Norway’s largest-ever offshore projects. Helge also worked for Statoil as HSE Manager on the Gullfaks project, where he conducted HSE risk management, safety analysis and design reviews among other activities. Helge has a BSc in Petroleum Technology and a Master of Management from the BI Norwegian Business School.

Global Maritime’s Mission Critical Systems Group specializes in risk reduction and assurance for all equipment and systems. Applying the latest industry standards, Global Maritime works closely with clients to identify and control vulnerabilities and hazards, maximizing safety and minimizing downtime. Areas of expertise include audits relating to cranes and other lifting equipment that ensures safe and efficient operation; dynamic positioning (DP); subsea systems; umbilical pipe lay systems; jacking systems; bow loading and cargo handling systems; anchor chain and cable spooling equipment; and more.

Frank’s International N.V. (“Frank’s”) (NYSE:FI) announces that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Blackhawk Group Holdings, Inc., the ultimate parent company of Blackhawk Specialty Tools LLC (“Blackhawk”), a leading provider of well construction and well intervention services and products. Blackhawk is being purchased from Bain Capital Private Equity, a leading global private investment firm which acquired the business together with management in 2013.

Frank’s expects that Blackhawk’s specialty cementation tools will augment its tubular running services business by providing Frank’s the opportunity to diversify its offerings and emerge as a leader in a new business line and a significantly larger addressable market. In addition to what Frank’s believes is a line of well-regarded, market leading, technically differentiated specialty cementation tools, Blackhawk also provides well intervention products through its line of brute packers and related products, and is continuing its development of products for onshore and offshore applications.

Gary Luquette, Frank’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Similar to Frank’s, Blackhawk has a reputation for combining exceptional service with an innovative portfolio of technology that delivers consistent value to customers. Together we will continue to offer the same reliable service customers expect, while furthering customer relationships with new products and services across the Frank’s global footprint. Joining Blackhawk’s cementing tool expertise with Frank’s global tubular running services franchise will allow us to offer customers worldwide a more integrated suite of best-in-class products and services to address their well construction needs across all environments from land to shelf to deepwater.”

Billy Brown, Blackhawk’s Chief Executive Officer and a founder of the company, stated, “Joining the Frank’s global family is the next step in continuing the expansion of Blackhawk’s industry leading specialty products and equipment. Our team is proud of the progress we have made in developing innovative products and strong customer relationships through quality and reliable service, and we appreciate the support we have enjoyed from our partners at Bain Capital. Combining Frank’s and Blackhawk is the right strategic move at the right time, providing customers the same exceptional service with a broader platform to accelerate future growth.”

Todd Cook, a Managing Director at Bain Capital Private Equity, said, “We have been pleased to work with and support the experienced team at Blackhawk in executing a focused and durable strategy in a demanding, sophisticated market. We look forward to participating in the significant growth we believe will flow from combining these two best in class service providers.”

The merger consideration comprises a combination of approximately $150 million of cash on hand and approximately 12.8 million shares of Frank’s common stock, on a cash-free, debt-free basis (with approximately $80 million of Blackhawk debt being repaid at closing with proceeds from the transaction), subject to adjustment. Based on the Frank’s closing price on Thursday, October 6, 2016 the transaction is valued at approximately $321 million.

Frank’s is focused on driving revenue synergies, and expects the acquired products and services to benefit from Frank’s global presence, operating excellence and strong balance sheet, significantly enhancing the growth potential of the business. Additionally, over time, Frank’s expects to realize the benefits of increased cost efficiency by providing a broader set of product offerings through its combined global infrastructure and optimizing supply chain operations to take advantage of the expanded business.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. It is anticipated that the closing of the transaction will occur during the fourth quarter of 2016.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as Frank’s exclusive financial advisor on the transaction, and legal advice was provided by Baker & McKenzie LLP. Blackhawk was advised by Simmons & Company International, the energy specialist unit of Piper Jaffray, and legal advice was provided by Ropes & Gray LLP.

Leading global deck machinery specialist ACE Winches has completed a scope of work [for Technip] as part of a subsea infrastructure project in the Loyal field, west of the Shetland Islands. Quad204 is the redevelopment of the Schiehallion and Loyal fields, located 175 km west of Shetland and 15 km north of the Foinaven field.

The complete project will see an existing floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel replaced with a larger, purpose-built FPSO to accommodate new field tie-ins. The development of additional wells and the installation of new subsea infrastructures in neighbouring fields are also planned.

QUAD204 – Schiehallion. Photo courtesy: BP

The bespoke solution from ACE Winches includes a hydraulic drum winch, overboard system and spooling gear, designed and manufactured at the company’s facilities in Aberdeenshire and developed in collaboration with the end client, in line with its requirements for riser installation on board the FPSO. The system was designed by ACE Winches’ skilled engineering division, which has previous experience of working on large-scale subsea projects.

Challenged by limited deck space, the company developed a package that houses the hydraulic drum winch, with a safe working load of 150te across all layers, an overboard system and spooling gear into the winch base frame. The winch package includes closed loop hydraulic power units, located nearby.

A custom-made compact winch was designed to accommodate the limited space and meet the required performance characteristics for riser installation, while the overboard system provides access to the tower, with ladders and walkways included.

All the equipment was fully tested at ACE Winches’ test bed facility, with testing simulating full operational mode at full performance and brake load holds. All tests were carried out to DNV specifications for lifting appliances. The equipment will shortly be mobilised to the client.

Richard Wilson, Chief Operations Officer, ACE Winches said: “The limited deck space presented us with a challenge, but we overcame it with an innovative design which delivers a high quality solution that obtains maximum use and efficiency from the area available."

Dril-Quip, Inc. (NYSE: DRQ) has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire TIW Corporation, a 100-year old industry-leading manufacturer of consumable downhole products for the global oil and gas market, for approximately $143 million, subject to closing adjustments. TIW provides liner hanger systems and related equipment and services worldwide and is based in Houston, Texas.

Blake DeBerry, Dril-Quip's President and Chief Executive Officer, remarked, "We are pleased to include TIW Corporation as part of the Dril-Quip family, and look forward to significantly expanding our product offerings to our customers. TIW has a long history of success as a family-owned company and we intend to preserve that legacy by continuing to reliably serve our customers with our combined teams around the world. TIW is a market leader in the liner hanger business and we are particularly excited about its expandable liner hanger technology that is frequently utilized in deepwater or high pressure/high temperature environments.

"This acquisition will be the first in Dril-Quip's history and allows us to use our strong balance sheet to increase shareholder value in the long-term. TIW's products and services fit squarely with and complement our current product offerings. In addition to its offshore market, TIW's onshore presence, particularly in the Middle East and South America, will provide Dril-Quip with more market opportunities."

Steve Pearce, President of TIW, commented, "I believe this transaction will positively position our business for further expansion. Both TIW and Dril-Quip have a long and proud tradition of innovation and commitment to the oil and gas industry, along with a shared culture of customer service, quality products and continual product development. Dril-Quip's wider product offering and broader international footprint should allow for long-term growth of our liner hanger business."

TIW is being acquired on a debt-free, cash-free basis and Dril-Quip intends to fund the consideration with cash on hand. Dril-Quip anticipates synergies to be realized from this transaction, primarily driven by cost efficiencies as well as expanded sales opportunities. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. It is anticipated that the closing of the transaction will occur during the fourth quarter of 2016.

TIW reached peak revenues of approximately $140 million in 2014. Revenue is expected to trough between $60 million and $70 million in 2016 and is expected to increase to between $80 million and $100 million by 2018. EBITDA margins are expected to be similar to Dril-Quip's margins once synergies are realized. Additional transaction details are available in the Investor section of Dril-Quip's website at www.dril-quip.com.

Evercore served as Dril-Quip's exclusive financial advisor and PPHB served as TIW's exclusive financial advisor for this transaction.

Ashtead Technology has strengthened its UK team with the appointment of a regional technical support leader, to provide its customers with the most efficient, cost-effective technological solutions.

With a career spanning more than 25 years in the subsea industry, Graeme Booth joins Ashtead from Subsea 7 where he held a number of technical support and offshore operational roles, including survey equipment superintendent.

Mr. Booth will provide customers with technical support covering equipment rentals and custom engineered packages, for survey and ROV operations worldwide.

Based in Aberdeen, Mr. Booth’s role has been created in response to increased customer demand for outsourced integrated technical support from initial pre-bid stage through to offshore execution, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Allan Pirie, chief executive of Ashtead Technology, said: “We understand that selecting the right technological solution, with 24/7 support is critical to the success of our customers’ subsea operations. We will continue to expand our technical support team in response to current market challenges.

“Our customers are increasingly looking to their suppliers for ways to minimize technical and operational risks and drive down costs. Graeme will be integral to driving this forward, supporting our existing customers, developing new business opportunities and growing our service offering. “Graeme’s extensive industry experience, coupled with his in-depth knowledge of survey and ROV equipment, will provide additional value to our customers.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Booth said: “Ashtead is a company with a clear vision and a highly skilled team who have helped shape the company into the industry leader it is today. I look forward to playing my part in the next phase of the company’s growth, as it looks to enhance its range of value-added services to support customer projects globally.”

Founded in 1985, Ashtead Technology is a world-leading, independent subsea equipment solutions specialist providing rental and sale of marine equipment, offshore personnel, calibration, repair and maintenance, asset management, training and custom engineered solutions. Positioned at the forefront of technology and innovative solutions, Ashtead strives to provide a one-stop-shop for cost effective solutions to maximize performance with high quality service and delivery.

Newton Labs has appointed C. A. Richards & Associate, Inc, a leader in the Gulf Coast Subsea market, as its exclusive sales representative. C.A. Richards & Assoc will represent Newton’s Underwater Laser Scanner Line in Houston, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Newton’s underwater laser scanners capture sub millimeter measurements beyond the capabilities of Ultrasound. The Newton subsea laser scanners operate at depths up to 4000 meters and capture raw as-built data to within 0.005 inches. C.A. Richards & Assoc. will include Newton's M210UW, M310UW, M1500UW, M3200UW and M4000UW in their product line.

“The Newton Underwater Laser Scanners capture precision metrology data and meet a growing demand from our customers in the Oil and Gas market,” said Chuck Richards, President C.A. Richards & Associates.

C.A. Richards & Associates is an award winning company that has more than 45 years experience providing technical services and integrated instrumentation solutions for the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry. The company is located in Houston’s West Side Energy Corridor and provides instrumentation and technology consultation and sales to the Offshore Diving, ROV, Drilling, Survey and Geophysical Contractors, Construction, Pipelay, Government and Academia markets.

“Newton is pleased to be working with a company that has such a distinguished longstanding reputation like C.A. Richards and Associates,” said Newton Labs President John W. Bramblet. “They have tremendous experience and are a leading representative in the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry.”

Based in the technology center of Seattle, Newton Labs is a privately held manufacturer of machine vision, robotics, laser scanning and optical automation with significant industry experience. Over its more than 20 year history, Newton Labs has deployed more than 30,000 machine vision, robotic, laser scanning and automation systems worldwide.

Claxton, an Acteon company, has successfully introduced the latest modular versions of its conductor recovery tower and SABRE™ abrasive cutting system to increase efficiency and flexibility in decommissioning and late life projects.

First developed in 1999, SABRE™ has proven to be an invaluable industry tool and has been successfully used in some of the world’s most significant abandonment campaigns. Its abrasive jet exits the tool at transonic speeds – making light work of even composite materials such as cemented casings.

Photo courtesy: Claxton

Using a jet of naturally occurring cutting components (garnet, water and air), SABRE™ has a low environmental impact. The system can be deployed from various vessel types or platforms, allowing the simultaneous abrasive cutting of multiple well casings without impacting adjacent infrastructure.

The latest version is fully NORSOK Z-015 compliant, has a reduced system footprint and is modular in design, making it be adaptable to a wider range of applications and deck layouts and thus minimizing complexity. Its cutting manipulators suit all standard casing sizes down to 6-5/8”; it can operate at pressures of up to 20,000 psi and includes a packer system to improve cutting performance.

The modular approach and philosophy for SABRE™ also influenced new developments for the Claxton conductor recovery tower. The tower can handle and recover tubulars from production tubing to 30” casing during well abandonment. Designed for operational speed and reduced rig-up complexity, the system increases efficiency offshore. By having a small, lightweight yet powerful system, Claxton can also extend the operational window of the unit and move from well to well quickly and effectively.

Matt Marcantonio, R&D Manager, Claxton, said: “The concept for both the new SABRE™ deck spread and conductor recovery tower was to improve efficiency and flexibility. “The systems are now fully modular and can be adapted to a wide variety of deck layouts and locations. The latest version of SABRE™ was first used in July on an 8m x 8m weather deck footprint on the Horne and Wren Platform in the Southern North Sea - where the abrasive cutting system successfully severed two multi-string wells.

“The developments are the result of a great deal of work and innovation across the organization. We are extremely proud to have raised the bar including making the SABRE™ system fully NORSOK compliant to Z-015. This enables us to use SABRE™ on installations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. It is also already booked out for a number of campaigns through 2016 and 2017.”

Claxton has grown significantly over the years in order to respond to clients’ operating needs. The company’s integration strategy means it can offer comprehensive decommissioning packages for the following applications: platform wells (rigless, rig-based or combined simultaneous operations), subsea wells, and casing recovery (drilling support operations).

For a case study on the Horne and Wren project, click here.