Belzona Releases New Coating To Protect Against Corrosion

Belzona has released the encapsulating membrane Belzona 3412. This coating can be brush or spray applied onto complex surfaces to protect them from corrosion.

When used in conjunction with Belzona 8411, a release agent/corrosion inhibitor, Belzona 3412 can be cut and peeled back during required maintenance or to check the status of the substrate, before being fully resealed with an extra layer.

Belzona 3412 provides protection to a range of machinery and equipment, from the smallest bearings to the risers of offshore platforms. Its elasticity and adhesion properties allow it to encapsulate and bond effectively to many types of metallic and painted surfaces. Belzona 3412 provides a durable layer of protection against many types of corrosion, such as galvanic and crevice.

Belzona 3412 has the additional advantage of protection against aggressive environmental factors, including UV resistance, which furthers its protection capabilities.

Petrobras Aims To Improve BOPs, Subsea Safety Valves

Petrobras recently released results of its collaboration with Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company, aimed at improving BOP and subsea safety valves.

Among the innovations developed is an improved valve design made by a BOP manufacture, Petrobras said in a news release. “The new valve leads to increased reliability, ensuring fewer BOP failures, increasing operating safety and reducing the likelihood of project delays.”

The two also worked on improving safety index calculations, such as the likelihood of completing the well phase without a BOP failure; system reliability in drilling and completion activities; identifying the most critical component to increase BOP system reliability; and pinpointing opportunities and conceptual design developments for a new regulating valve with a focus on reliability.

Petrobras also presented initiatives in progress related to subsurface safety valves (SSSV). The initiatives draw on knowledge gained from the Embraer partnership and aim to increase critical system reliability and safety in the construction and operation of subsea wells.

Improving the reliability of SSSV will not only boost well safety and integrity, Petrobras said, it also will lower costs associated with interventions to correct faults.

The update was shared during meetings in May with offshore operators and representatives of the International Association of Drilling Companies in Houston.

ABB Lands Subsea Research Grant From Research Council Of Norway

The Research Council of Norway has awarded ABB a three-year $1.2 million research grant to develop subsea technology for use on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and the Barents Sea, according to a news release.

The award marks the third for ABB under the council’s DEMO2000 initiative.

“ABB is currently engaged in a five-year joint industry program [JIP], which commenced in 2013, to develop pressure-compensated electrical and control equipment as part of a drive to move oil production systems from surface platforms to the sea bed,” the release said.

Per-Erik Holsten, managing director of ABB’s oil, gas and chemicals business, said the award recognizes ABB’s innovation in subsea technologies.

“The research result will contribute to the creation of a complete subsea factory—turning the vision of leading oil and gas companies into reality,” Holsten said in the release.

ABB entered the JIP, along with other oil companies, in 2013 with a goal to advance Statoil’s vision for an autonomous subsea factory that can be powered and controlled from shore.

“The program aims to develop equipment that can transmit electrical power up to 100 MW, delivered over a distance of 600 km [373 miles], and which can operate at a water depth of 3 km [2 miles] for 30 years with little or no maintenance,” the release said. “ABB has moved from laboratory testing of physical principles to manufacturing sub-assemblies and prototypes. The first installation of the subsea power products in the real offshore production site is expected to begin in 2020.”

Cloud-based Technology To Digitize Offshore Field Development

Xvision Software has release FieldAP, the first 100% cloud-based technology for the energy industry providing offshore project managers with an online tool for visual field development, digital planning and cost containment, a press release stated.

The online tool is capable of accelerating project timelines by up to 80%, especially during the early concept and FEED phases. These time savings can drive cost savings as high as 70% across the life of the project.

FieldAP brings all offshore field development project data—assets and activities, both subsea and topside—into plain sight through easy-to-understand online 2-D/3-D visualizations. The tool’s digital working environment also provides the power of real-time multilocation collaboration, allowing users a lower risk of communications errors, reduced costs in the design process for the whole value chain by quickly finding the best solution and accelerated timelines across the life of a project.

—Staff Reports

Offshore