Bergesen Worldwide Offshore has awarded a contract for the installation of mooring and riser systems for the first Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) in the Gulf of Mexico
Bergesen Worldwide offshore has awarded Aker Marine Contractors, in partnership with Sonsub, a contract for installation of mooring and riser system for the first Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) in the Gulf of Mexico. The work comprises installation of the turret buoy, mooring system and risers for the former Ultra Large Crude Carrier BW Enterprise at the Ku-Maloob-Zaap field in Mexico, which is operated by Bergesen Worldwide Offshore. The FPSO will be the largest ever converted, with storage capacity of 2,2 million barrels and a throughput of 600.000 bbls/day.

Bergesen Worldwide Offshore is carrying out the conversion and will operate the FPSO on a 15 year contract with Pemex.

The marine installation is planned to commence in the 1st quarter of 2007, using either the Normand Cutter or the BOA Sub C as main installation vessel.

In addition, a diving vessel will be used for tie-in of the flexible risers.

The project will commence immediately.

Torgeir Ramstad, President of Aker Marine Contractors said, 'We have pursued this key target for a while as we believe this challenging project is a good fit with our joint capabilities with Sonsub.

The focus will now be on delivering this fast track project on time and without incident in close dialogue with our customer.'

There are various ASTM methods used for crude oil distillation in the petrochemicals industry and Pilodist offers manual and fully automatic plants to ASTM D 2892, ASTM D 5236 and ASTM D 1160
There are various ASTM methods used for crude oil distillation in the petrochemicals industry and Pilodist offers manual and fully automatic plants to ASTM D 2892, ASTM D 5236 and ASTM D 1160. ASTM D 2892 provides information up to a boiling point of 400C and ASTM D 5236 the continuing fractionation up to a maximum boiling point of 575C. The standard ASTM D 1160 describes the analysis of samples boiling at high temperatures under vacuum.

Pilodist designs and constructs complete systems including control engineering and software for product feed volumes of 50 litres.

Crude oil distillation according to ASTM.

Petrodist 100 CC - fully automatic, computer controlled distillation according to ASTM D 2892.

The distillation requires no supervision and is carried out without interruption from the initial boiling point to the pre-selected end point.

All required data such as the operational parameters or the TBP curve can be displayed on a PC and/or printed via the Pilodist process control system.

Petrodist 200 CC - for crude distillations to ASTM D 5236 with similar features to Petrodist 100 Petrodist 300 CC - fully automatic, computer controlled mineral oil analysis according to ASTM D 1160.

This test method determines the boiling range of crude oil under vacuum.

The distillation process including boiling points at atmospheric pressure and under vacuum are displayed and can be printed.

The Pilodist Process control system was developed specifically for crude oil analysis and runs under Windows.

The software allows the input of all parameters and creates data tables and graphics which can be exported to Microsoft excel.

This process control system can be retrofitted as an update to existing distillation plants.

Downhole equipment designer ALC has developed a new cable clamp to attach power and instrumentation cabling to downhole tubing, the BossClamp, which realises considerable cost savings]
Downhole equipment designer ALC has developed a new cable clamp to attach power and instrumentation cabling to downhole tubing. Called the BossClamp, it features superior protection to the cable whilst realising considerable cost savings. The rugged composite fitting can accommodate variations of cable types and tubing diameters.

Importantly, it is quick to install and remove.

'There are a number of oil well operations that require the use of downhole equipment such as pumps, well sensors, etc, to maximise well production' said Director Marcus Dixon: 'These downhole systems often necessitate external power, instrumentation and control cabling that must be run outside and connected to the tubing.

It is not only essential to tie the cable and tubing together securely, but offer it protection against the axial stress, radial crush and twisting forces produced as the pipe and cable system is fed into the hole.

This is particularly true when the cables have to pass over the coupling where the two pipes are connected.

'Abrasion is also encountered during installation, the severity of which is governed by well casing cleanliness, joint profiles and deviation.

This also requires protection for the cable.' ALC looked at the demands of its own expanding suite of downhole tools and equipment that it is currently designing, and specifically at the available cable clamping systems on the market.

They quickly realised that in by far the majority of applications, the commonly used steel protectors were over-engineered, cumbersome and unnecessary.

They therefore set about designing their own solution.

Current attachment methods.

Metal banding is historically assumed to be the cheapest way of connecting the cable to the pipe.

The principal drawback is that it pulls in on the cable and the clips can get caught as they pass through the BOPs and the liner hanger.

If they become sheared off, the metal band may cut into and sever the cable.

The metal banding can also corrode, especially in high-brine annulus fluids.

To prevent this, some operators specify banding composition in exotic materials such as Inconel; however this has an impact on price.

For greater protection, the operator can opt for a pressed steel clamp.

More expensive, this does provide adequate protection over couplings for the cables.

A tapered collet pin secures the clamp in place, although it has been known for these to break and become potential hazards and result in costly fishing operations in the hole.

The third main type is a cast clamp which provides the best protection to the cable.

However it is large, relatively heavy and particularly expensive, maybe US$60-100 each compared with US$2-4 for the metal banding.

Installed at points 30ft apart along the typical 5000ft length, these become an expensive addition to overall cost.

They are secured by bolting.

It can be easy getting them on but problematical removing them, impacting on rig time.

They are also tubing size and type-dependent, which may cause logistical nightmares for the end user.

Performance Benefits.

The design objectives of the BossClamp were to combine the functionality of the high cost protectors yet offer a competitively priced improvement to banding.

The initial idea of a one piece moulding that met all requirements soon proved to be a less effective solution to the clamping task than an assembly with specialised components.

After prototyping and initial testing, a small, strong protector moulding with a standard metal band retaining it to the tubing proved the best solution.

The BossClamp is manufactured in composite materials that will provide sufficient mechanical strength and temperature resistance to compete with steel products in most applications.

However, the additional benefits of using advanced composites in the design are not available from conventional clamps.

These include.

* Cost effectiveness.

* Lightweight.

* Immediately suitable for any pipe diameter or joint length.

* Corrosion resistance.

* Low Inventory requirement for manufacturer and end user.

* Rapid installation and removal time.

* Extremely low profile.

* Lower friction during installation.

The key element of the BossClamp design is that it achieves a very low profile which minimises contact with the pipe wall and therefore offers low resistance when running in the hole, yet is substantial enough to offer the cable suitable protection as it lies over the coupling joint outer diameter - the widest part of the tubing.

The design also protects the retaining strap from any abrasion or impacts.

The clamps can be attached using either conventional steel banding or a specialised friction welded plastic strap.

Lightweight and easy to manufacture, these can be transported by airfreight for rapid distribution and use.

In the engineering development, ALC examined a range suitable varieties of composite materials looking at chemical resistance to well bore fluids, abrasion and shock resistance, creep resistance, cost of material, cost of tooling and ease of processing etc, and evaluated them against criteria simulating downhole oil well conditions.

'We built a test rig for simulating the abrasion experienced while running the product into oil well casing,' said Marcus Dixon: 'A wheel was run against the moulding for the equivalent of 21,640ft (or 541 joints) with a constant 2.5 ton sideload, of a sort that would never occur in the field use.

If the product could pass this test, it would meet almost any downhole requirement'.

Hot water was continuously flooded into the rubbing zone during this time.

The testing focused on the protector moulding abrasion resistance and the temperature stability during high service temperature conditions.

The BossClamp is part of a downhole equipment package currently being developed to facilitate artificial lift.

Apart from the BossClamp, ALC are developing novel downhole sensors and a truly innovative downhole motor.

Companies seeking to integrate a bio-fuel capability into their operations could benefit from taking a look at the latest development in fuel blending from Enraf Fluid Technology
Companies seeking to integrate a bio-fuel capability into their operations could benefit from taking a look at the latest development in fuel blending from Enraf Fluid Technology. Enraf is extending the advantages and benefits of Bio-Diesel and Ethanol blending at the load rack with the introduction of the Micro-Blend System. Blending bio-fuel products at the load rack reduces the dependency on multiple storage tanks, maximises flexibility by creating variable product load arms and eliminates many of the issues associated with the storage of bio-fuel based products.

With the Enraf Micro-Blend System, operators have the resources to continuously monitor the Wild Stream and control the Blend Stream to the programmed blend ratio.

Intended as an off-the-shelf package, the system can be engineered and customised for specific applications and installations.

By employing the latest developments in microprocessor technology, Enraf is bringing unparalleled levels of accuracy to blending system applications with a system that is both simple to operate and cost effective.

Drawing on the same proven family of controllers as the Enraf additive injection systems, the Micro-Blender provides advanced level functionality, such as remote configuration via RS communications or infra-red control.

User definable alarm outputs and self-calibrating functionality come as standard.

CE marked for use in a Zone 1 hazardous area (ATEX), the Micro-Blend system can be configured in one of four sizes, allowing for blend ratios from 1% -100% on standard load rack applications.

The inclusion of a purpose designed slotted V-ball actuated control valve gives the system the capability for achieving high accuracy linear control across the complete blend range.

With the Micro-Blend System, Enraf designers have taken into consideration the key issues for adding an Ethanol or Bio-Diesel blending capability to the load rack.

These include.

* The need for a small foot print blender.

* The accurate specification of static and dynamic seals.

* The special requirements for accurate volume measurement of Ethanol and Bio-Diesel.

* The volume growth factor when you mix Ethanol into petroleum.

* The cold flow properties of FAME products.

* The varied communication interfaces into the existing load rack.

* The flexibility of varying blend ratios.

Available for single stream applications and for multiple stream or multiple product applications, the Micro-Blend System addresses all these issues and ensures a smooth installation, accurate blend ratios and the extended equipment life.

A monitoring system from AV Technology is guaranteeing the largest BHP Billiton offshore oil storage installation in Liverpool Bay remains in place and safe
A monitoring system from AV Technology is guaranteeing the largest BHP Billiton offshore oil storage installation in Liverpool Bay remains in place and safe. The development off the North Wales coast includes six offshore oil and gas fields as well as offshore and onshore facilities used for extracting, transporting and processing the reserves. Once the oil is processed and blended it is pumped through a 20km pipeline to the OSI - a double hulled, 870,000 barrel-capacity tanker permanently moored outside shipping lanes in the Irish Sea.

The OSI safety features include the 10 cargo tanks being segregated by 4.8 metre wide seawater ballast tanks.

The vessel is also manned around the clock and is protected by an 800-metre exclusion zone that is patrolled 24 hours a day.

To complement the security system, AVT was asked in 2003, to install a trial system to monitor the strain on the vessel mooring lines and has since introduced a permanent system.

The Mooring Line Monitoring System is fitted to the OSI buoy to measure and record the forces on the nine anchor chains that attach the facility to the seabed.

Neil Parkinson, AVT divisional manager, said the location of the vessel and its cargo presented a number of challenges to the system designers.

'The environment in and around the buoy is classified as a hazardous area and we had to create a micro safe area within the buoy.

But, we are used to solving tricky structural monitoring problems, especially in awkward environments'.

The AVT Monitoring system uses strain gauges to detect the effects of chain load variation by measuring shear force variations in the four vertical spider sheer webs, which are located adjacent to each set of anchor chains.

The 12 sets of strain gauges, which have been installed with nine sections of the lower buoy, have been sealed with three separate layers of environmental protection, cabled into the termination enclosure and connected through the barriers to the CR10X data logger.

Readings from the strain gauge sets are stored in CR10X, which is set to sample every 300 seconds.

Parkinson said AVT was able to implement a simple but effective solution: 'In projects such as this one, the working environment is far from perfect and the space inside the buoy is quite cramped adding to the complexity of the project.

We found from the initial evaluation exercise that we could monitor the integrity of the mooring lines which are in seawater in the hostile splash zone, using simple strain gauges mounted inside a clean, dry environment'.

Once data is downloaded, AVT assess the integrity of the nine mooring lines by comparing the relative load changes as the vessel moves 360degrees twice a day with the tides.

With the results generally consistent abnormal deviations are obvious, however, AVT engineers visit the OSI regularly to perform routine condition monitoring work and an electric report is emailed quarterly to BHP to show results.