Solution Centre

Project summary

Technology developer Ecosse-IP are working to develop and field trial Ambient Lifter, an innovative subsea lifting device.

The Ambient Lifter system can be used to lift, lower or manouevre any subsea object by controlling buoyancy and ballast in low pressure pipes. This new way of lifting subsea assets provides a faster and more cost effective solution, bringing new confidence to subsea lifting challenges.

The use of this technology will help drive significant cost savings for both subsea installation and decommissioning applications.

The first field trial took place at Cullen Harbour at the end of September 2018, with a further trial in March 2019.

Project summary

A 'Phase 1' study has been successfully conducted to examine the potential application of accelerated corrosion to subsea steel, to provide an additional option for disposing or cutting of steel structures during or after decommissioning.

The study has concluded that, in principle, accelerated corrosion may provide some significant benefits in reducing costs and environmental impacts, compared to existing practices.

The wider environmental issues of the proposed approach need to be examined, alongside activity to demonstrate that the technical performance observed so far in workshop studies will be realised on much larger structures. The likely financial costs of introducing the technique need also to be compared to the costs of existing or other emerging techniques.

Accordingly, a 'Phase 2' programme of work is proceeding, involving key stakeholders and specialist engineering providers, to address these issues, which should support subsequent execution of trials at sea.

Project summary

Air Control Entech (ACE) is focused on delivering a step change in the remote inspection of oil and gas facilities, by developing the capability and functionality of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) - specifically drone technology. These advanced drones improve on traditional rope access inspection methods, increasing the speed of inspections by up to 20 times and reducing cost by ~50%. Importantly, this also improves safety by removing the need for offshore personnel to physically inspect. The project has delivered three new UAVs - confined space entry, ultrasonic testing and 3D laser scanning - all fitted with live video streaming capability and enhanced flight control systems.

ACE has already secured early-stage technology trials with a number of major operators, that will see this new technology deployed on North Sea facilities. These trials will provide valuable feedback that will be used to further refine functionality and capability.

Project summary

SMS Oilfield is working in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde to develop an acoustic Sand Monitoring System (SMS) that will detect sand ingress and help minimise production downtime. With around 60% of current production coming from sand-prone wells, the aim of this project is to develop an innovative 'best in class' sand monitoring system to monitor production rates and increase production efficiencies. The sand monitoring system will isolate the acoustic noise associated with sand particles from background noise through the use of a multiple sensor array. By eliminating background noise, the real time data retrieved from the system will be used to determine the volume, shape, size and velocity of sand being produced.

Project summary

This shared research partnership project with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) aims to improve the industry's understanding of corroded flanged joints which have the potential to result in hydrocarbon leaks. Flange joint failures are one of the most frequent causes of failure, with many now in an 'unknown' condition. At present there is a lack of evidence-based guidance on corrosion allowances for these joints or the discard criteria for studs, bolts and nut assemblies. This gap in understanding has resulted in many companies creating their own internal guidance, creating a variance in methods and best practice. This project aims to address this industry issue, minimise failure and improve overall safety and efficiency. By doing so, it has the potential to reduce failures by 10-20%, alongside improvements in early detection and management. This project has the support of 12 Operators.

Project summary

Global Design Innovation (GDi) has two projects which have the potential to transform asset integrity management.

The first project will use cutting edge laser technology to develop a 3D, 360° digital twin model of the asset that will provide a single source of all asset integrity information. It will provide real time updates and allow engineers to enter, view, manipulate and manage all asset integrity information without the need to generate reports.

The second phase of the project will develop a revolutionary hand-held laser scanner that will deliver fast, accurate inspection data, automatically detecting and categorising defects - generating virtual inspection reports.

The use of the digital twin modelling - in combination with a new visual inspection tool - will revolutionise asset integrity and has the potential to save the oil and gas industry £250 million per year.

Project summary

Corrosion Radar have developed a remote sensing technology which acts as a screening method for the onset of Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) and/or for locating CUI prone zones. The key technical innovation behind the system dubbed 'CorrosionRADAR' is a long-thin-flexible sensor that acts as a corrosion coupon to the corrosive environment near it. Specially coded electromagnetic signals are sent through the sensor and the reflected signals are interpreted using proprietary algorithms to locate corrosion. The sensor is permanently installed alongside a pipe or any other complex structure. The aim of the project is to conduct two validation trials at an onshore site(s) to prove that this technology can form part of the overall solution to managing CUI.

Project summary

Maintaining the safety and operational efficiency of subsea pipelines is critical to the offshore industry.

Current risk based inspection (RB) methods for accurately predicting the condition of the pipelines are based on an initial as-built state and physical/chemical models. While these methods are cost-effective, they do not provide accurate pipeline condition data, which means significant resource is spent on inspection methods.

Historically, flow assurance software could not be used to drive or underpin inspection campaigns (capability and cost), which is why Apollo has developed a Pipeline Assurance Simulation Solution (PASS) to address this.

PASS is a new modelling tool that can accurately predict the integrity of a pipeline, providing the opportunity to refine when physical inspection campaigns are actually required.

If applied to just 10% of North Sea pipelines, this could save the industry up to £25million per year.

Project summary

This project aims to develop an automated laser cutting platform with efficient power, electric manipulation, feed-back control and monitoring systems.

Building on initial research conducted through the University of Aberdeen in 2008-2014, the project aims to develop a high power laser cutting system specifically for decommissioning applications in the offshore oil and gas environment. Once proven, the system will reduce operational time and improve decomissioning efficiency.

Claxton are a key partner in the project, providing deployment engineering expertise and a commercial route to market for this technology.

The aim of the project is for the University of Aberdeen and Claxton to take this technology from TRL4 to TRL 5 during this phase of the project.

Project summary

This project will develop a digital 3D representation of an offshore asset, all associated infrastructure and the seabed bathymetry.

The software will define and host inventories, show age status and flag potential risks. The system will generate scopes of work to assist in the planning process for late life asset management and decommissioning.

The outcome of the project will be a prototype version of the full system to be tested in the field, followed by modifications and a testing of the final system in conjunction with industry partners.

Project summary

WasteVu is developing and trialling an innovative system that will simplify and automate end to end management of hazardous materials by applying Artificial Intelligence techniques and mobile technology tools.

The solution will enable the industry to classify, securely capture and track hazardous material throughout its entire lifecycle. Once proven, the system will reduce the risk of exposure to hazardous materials and ensure regulatory compliance.

Project summary

This project with N-ERGISE and TAQA Bratani Limited aims to prove how assets can be dismantled using piece small techniques, within the requirement for a heavy life vessel - reducing overall cost.

This approach has not yet been proven in the UKCS, as it has in the Norwegian sector, due to limited availability of benchmarking data.

Using TAQA's Eider platform as the test installation, this project will include the completion of a detailed baseline scope, schedule and cost analysis study.

Project summary

James Fisher and First Subsea are developing a tool capable of both cutting and lifting, in a safer, more efficient manner, compared to current technologies. It will provide the decommissioning sector with a standardised and efficient methodology for the recovery and removal of offshore structures which have been constructed using steel tubulars, with a potential to save approximately £4,000 per day in comparison to traditional methods. Based on a full year of tubular cutting operations, the savings could be in the region of £2-2.5million per year, based on six days per tubular at an average of 30 tubulars per scope and 3 scopes per year.

Project summary

We are collaborating with Oceaneering and Spier Hunter to develop a new inspection technique for Corrosion Under Insulation. The project aims to adapt existing Stress Concentration Tomography (SCT™) currently used to inspect buried pipelines, to develop a tool capable of rapidly screening insulated pipework with high probability of detecting corrosion defects. It has the potential to lower maintenance costs by up to 60% and reduce the number of hydrocarbon leaks - saving the UKCS up to £130million per annum.

Project summary

New technology is fundamental to creating a viable future for the oil and gas sector, yet the introduction of any new technology, be it product, tool or process, creates uncertainty. Astrimar is a leading consultancy providing assurance in the field of technical risk. Their study will enable us to develop a guidance framework for companies on how to confidently develop and introduce new technologies. This study is split into two distinct phases. The first phase will identify current certification practices, outlining their challenges, barriers and gaps; the second will outline a thorough technical qualification framework which will enable us to develop a faster, more effective technology qualification process.

Project summary

Despite decades of inspection data being gathered across the UK Continental Shelf, at significant cost to the industry, there are low levels of confidence in the quality of this data. Without a step change in approach, this problem is likely to persist.

IMRANDD is developing an innovative software solution, providing advanced data analysis that will enable large volumes of data to be captured, analysed and then 'cleansed' - substantially improving the quality of the data collected.

This system has the potential to reduce manual data analysis by 95% and reduce the need for future inspections by 20%.

Project summary

Pipelines2data have created a unique way to inspect pipelines using their inSonify technology. InSonify uses wideband acoustics to collect quantitative data from the pipeline (i.e. corrosion and debris location etc.), to monitor and to inform the Operator on the internal condition and integrity of the pipeline.

It promises to be a gamechanger, offering a cost effective and low risk solution which maximises system optimisation.

In the first of four trials with major Operators, this three month project will demonstrate the technology in a real-world scenario on a 30" pipeline in the North Sea.

Project summary

Pipelines2data have created a unique way to inspect pipelines using their inSonify technology. InSonify uses wideband acoustics to collect quantitative data from the pipeline (i.e. corrosion and debris location etc.), to monitor and to inform the Operator on the internal condition and integrity of the pipeline.

It promises to be a gamechanger, offering a cost effective and low risk solution which maximises system optimisation.

In the second of four trials with major Operators, this three month project will demonstrate the technology in a real-world scenario on a 16" pipeline in the North Sea. test

Project summary

Pipelines2data have created a unique way to inspect pipelines using their inSonify technology. InSonify uses wideband acoustics to collect quantitative data from the pipeline (i.e. corrosion and debris location etc.), to monitor and to inform the Operator on the internal condition and integrity of the pipeline.

It promises to be a gamechanger, offering a cost effective and low risk solution which maximises system optimisation.

In the third of four trials with major Operators, this three month project will demonstrate the technology in a real-world scenario on a 24" pipeline in the North Sea.

Project summary

Pipelines2data have created a unique way to inspect pipelines using their inSonify technology. InSonify uses wideband acoustics to collect quantitative data from the pipeline (i.e. corrosion and debris location etc.), to monitor and to inform the Operator on the internal condition and integrity of the pipeline.

It promises to be a gamechanger, offering a cost effective and low risk solution which maximises system optimisation.

The final/fourth of four trials with major Operators, this three month project will demonstrate the technology in a real-world scenario on a 20" pipeline in the North Sea.

Project summary

The Centre has worked with TRAC Oil & Gas and ToolTec on a two phase project to first develop and now to field trial an innovative subsea cleaning and inspection tool. The Trac-Tec tool overcomes the challenge of how to carry out inspection and cleaning activities in the splash zone, the area immediately above or below the sea level, one of the most challenging locations on a platform. This new device can be remotely deployed from the platform, to clean and inspect all types, sizes and configurations of caissons and conductors, negating the need for divers, ROVs and DSVs. TRAC will now trial this innovative device on four caissons in the North Sea to prove the tool can be universally adopted. This technological development has the potential to reduce inspection costs by 50%, improve safety, quality and consistency.

Project summary

Global Design Innovation is deliving two projects which have the potential to transform the entire asset integrity management process.

The first project will use the latest laser technology to develop a 3D, 360° digital twin model of the asset which will be the single source of all asset integrity information. This model will provide real time updates and allow the engineers to enter, view, manipulate and manage all asset integrity information without the need to generate reports.

The second project will develop a revolutionary handheld laser scanner which will rapidly obtain accurate inspection data, automatically detect and categorise defects and generate virtual inspection reports.

The use of the digital twin model, in combination with the revolutionary visual inspection tool, will revolutionise asset integrity having the potential to save the oil and gas industry £250million per year.

Project summary

We are supporting Starstream to field trial their Cascade Injection Control technology which optimises gas injection across several subsea wells to increase overall production.

CIC is an online, real-time control scheme which encompasses the productivity of each well and automatically distributes the precise amount of gas required for optimal profit, to gas-lifted wells.

This has the potential to deliver immediate production gains, ensuring every cubic meter of available gas in injected efficiently, reducing lifting costs for an operator.

Project summary

Exnics is developing a low cost, low power, non-intrusive and retrofittable subsea tool for determining multi-phase production flowrates from subsea wells. The system will be trialed and optimised on a North Sea platform in anticipation of marinizing the system for subsea deployment.

Project summary

We are funding the University of Strathclyde to undertake a study to investigate and analyse offshore grid access for 'small pools' in the UKCS. The report will summarise the characterisation of existing small pool power systems, defining future operational requirements and areas of emergent technology.

Project summary

We are funding Cavitas to design, build & test a protoype of their Thermal Heavy Oil Recovery (THOR) system, for use in areas where conventional thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery is not effective. Primary use of the system will be the heating of injection water in heavy oil applications to improve recovery.

The project will be phased and cover THOR prototype design, full field thermal EOR study, build prototype, identify / secure field trial and complete system testing.

Project summary

This project is supporting QL Tech PowerBank to develop a solution that will remove the requirement for subsea umbilicals. The technology aims to help operators unlock marginal fields through a significant reduction in umbilical and chemical injection related capital expenditure, using a novel subsea chemical storage and injection system with local power and control at the 'Christmas Tree'.

The system is modular, allowing for a standard design to be configured for individual fields with little additional engineering and qualification.

Project summary

Raptor Oil is focused on transforming the transmission of downhole drilling data to the surface using innovative through-pipe acoustic telemetry technology.

This could increase the speed and capacity of data communication by up to 10 times, helping to drive efficiency, reduce costs and enable better decision-making. This is a critical component/technology in supporting industry to develop fully automated operations, where data drives the decision-making process.

Project summary

This project is supporting WellSense to develop and deploy a distributed acoustic and temperature log (DAS/DTS) using the company's FibreLine Intervention (FLI).

The system provides a low-cost option to deploy fibreoptic cable into a wellbore to capture distributed temperature and acoustic readings, as well as single point pressure and temperature from the body of the tool.

The project includes a field trial of the distributed temperature technology which, if successful, will provide information that can be used to better manage or optimise production. The data captured may also provide an understanding of the well integrity, which could help reduce decommissioning costs in the future.

Project summary

Robert Gordon University, in collaboration with the Centre, KCA Deutag and Drilling Systems, with technical support from Baker Hughes, a GE Company, established a training simulator for well-plugging and abandonment. The simulator and the associated software is a world-first and will be used to support decommissioning activities in the UK and other parts of the world. It was initially installed to provide onshore rig simulation facilities for research and commercial use for decommissioning activities. This is now enabling crew training prior to offshore execution, software development and new tool deployment simulation, increasing offshore operational efficiency, as well as accelerating new tool and software development.

Project summary

SPEX is developing a technology that removes casing and any associated cement back to the formation, to allow the installation of a permanent barrier.

The will allow casing to be safely left downhole and minimise the number of cuts and pulls to seal off the well, significantly reducing the cost and time of abandonment while increasing the number of rigless abandonment opportunities.

Project summary

We are supporting BiSN to test and verify the company's Wel-Lok M2M technology, which utilises a ground-breaking thermite heater and bismuth-based alloys to form a seal in the wellbore. The technology installs a barrier across tubing and casing and could deliver a step-change in abandonment and well integrity operations.

Project summary

Following consultation through an industry-led workshop, Heriot Watt University is developing a new modelling framework to predict the potential for flow of hydrocarbons to surface as part of well isolation design in well plug and abandonment. The model would help evaluate and manage risk, increase efficiency and enhance decision making. This could deliver cost and time savings through reduced scope, reduced remediation and support the deployment of new technology, such as alternative plugging solutions using fewer barriers, different barrier locations or materials.

Project summary

The University of Strathclyde's project uses enzymes to repair or improve cement barriers to block the migration pathways, preventing the flow of hydrocarbons to surface in wells that have been plugged and abandoned.

The low viscosity and nanoparticle size enables it to penetrate and seal the smallest of spaces, which cement grouts can struggle to achieve. The technology, currently being developed for other industries, will be assessed in typical downhole conditions to gather critical data on its performance and applicability as a well abandonment material.

Project summary

This project is funding Intelligent Drilling Tools (IDT) to develop a revolutionary approach to downhole tool activation, which could deliver significant rig time savings, reduce non-productive time, and improve the efficiency and speed of drilling. The system will help de-risk operations as it removes the possibility of balls or darts jamming in the drill pipe, or not reaching the required landing seat. IDT's technology has already garnered significant interest from major operators, and will be trialled in a live well when the project is successfully completed.

Project summary

Chrysaor is evaluating the potential to accelerate hydraulic fracturing treatments, executed with ball drop activated sleeves, eliminating the risk for over flush and irreparable damage to the fracture near wellbore conductivity. This first phase of the project is to undertake laboratory and flow loop testing of the proposed methodology which will then be combined with computer simulation. If successful, Chrysaor plan to field trial this methodology. The project could deliver a four-fold reduction in the time required for hydraulic fracturing - from one frac every four days to one frac a day. With an average number of five fracs per well in the North Sea and about six wells a year, this offers a potential saving of £20million per year.

Project summary

Robots could soon be working autonomously alongside humans on a North Sea platform, as part of a world-first project from the Centre, Total E&P (Total) and Taurob. The 18-month project will develop and trial a mobile robot for autonomous operational inspection of facilities, on Total's onshore Shetland Gas Plant and offshore Alwyn platform. The robot developed by Taurob is ATEX-certified (certified to work in gas environments without risk of ignition), can perform visual inspections, read dials, level gauges and valve positions, navigate through narrow pathways and up and down stairs, measure temperature and gas concentration, and detect and navigate around obstacles and humans.

Project summary

Non-intrusive inspection (NII) of pressure vessels can deliver significant cost and safety benefits. Sonomatic's idea is to develop the next generation of robotic NII technology, with improved speed, agility and autonomy compared with existing systems. The robot, incorporating advanced inspection technologies, will help increase production uptime, reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Project summary

Sharecat Solutions have, with some of the UKCS's leading operators and contractors, co-developed a concept dubbed 'UK Hub'. The Hub will create business efficiencies and generate cost reductions by the centralisation and standardisation of a single unique set of supplier data to be used by all operators, contractors and suppliers.

The Hub will enable greater collaboration between companies in the UKCS Oil and Gas Industry by collecting, validating and maintaining data and documents for equipment and parts during the procurement process in a standard format. This will create a single source of equipment information that can be shared across the industry.

By enabling the re-use of supplier information, the Hub will dramatically reduce duplication of effort and as standardisation is ensured, information can be used to support many big data industry initiatives including joint inventories, surplus stock trading and maintenance trends etc.

Project summary

We're supporting Tech27 to develop and trial an innovative artificially intelligent solution that reduces non-productive time for drilling operations, with the potential to save the UK oil and gas industry more than £20 million per year. The 'MindSet AI' system will monitor, alert and predict future outcomes to decrease non-productive time in Mobile Offshore Drilling Units. The technology will be delivered as a digital twin that will visually replicate the actual rig operation, providing predictive alerts through a visual interface. The project is also supported by an international drilling contractor who will provide data, personnel and systems during the development phase, with the solution then trialled offshore on their asset to evaluate its ability to detect and predict equipment failure.

Project summary

We are supporting Return to Scene (R2S), in collaboration with a major Operator, to develop an innovative Visual Positioning System which will allow people and machines to identify their location on complex offshore assets via data captured from wearable devices with cameras.

The technology will help overcome the challenge of 'self location' without GPS, a challenge for the mainstream adoption of robotic technology and autonomous vehicles where there is no connectivity. The technology will improve the efficiency and safety of technicians, ROVs, and AUVs while operating in very difficult offshore conditions.

As robotic technology and autonomous vehicles becomes more commonplace, the Visual Positioning Sysytem will enable this technology to be adopted for offshore use.

Project summary

We're working with Spartan Solutions, in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde and a major operator, to develop a machine learning solution that will extend the productive life of oil and gas platforms and help maximise economic recovery from the UKCS.

The project will combine existing equipment sensor data, Spartan's PHALANX mobile application and advanced algorithms, to develop a fully integrated solution for predictive maintenance and lifetime extension of oil and gas equipment.

Spartan will develop and trial the technology using real data provided by the operator.

Project summary

We are supporting Girling McIntosh, in collaboration with Premier Oil and TOTAL, to develop a well risk modelling software to give clear functional visualisation of well barrier elements, barriers and failures.

The application will support objective assessment and management of well risks. An extension to already existing well integrity software packages, the tool is designed to give operators confidence that they are fully in control of the risks associated with their wells.

The well risk modeller will deliver value to the industry by maximising production and eliminating needless well shut-ins resulting from overly conservative well integrity practices.

Project summary

This project applies artifical intelligence technology to legacy data sources and integrates them into a trusted data base platform. The system will then automate petrophysics workflow analysis using unsupervised machine learning models on sample data to extract correlatable features.

Nine operators have contributed data to enable Energective to prepare and compile digital data from the Northern North Sea area. The project team will develop, train and execute machine learning type analytics to identify missed 'pay zones' where additional reserves of hydrocarbons may exist.

The enhanced data in digital format will allow analytics algorithms to be developed to help identify remaining exploration potential in the Northern North Sea area.

Project summary

We are supporting Dataco Ltd in their application of Advanced Machine Learning Methods & Technologies derived from consumer analytics techniques to determine Untapped Hydrocarbon Potential in the Northern North Sea.

With the input of data donated from nine industry sponsors, Dataco plan to automate petrophysical characterisation of well logs and apply advanced analytics (a combination of artificial neural network and component analysis algorithms) to extract geological intervals of interest.

Project summary

We are supporting Merkle Aquila in the application of advanced machine learning methods and technologies. Using data donated from nine industry sponsors, Merkle Aquila will determine untapped Hydrocarbon Potential in the Northern North Sea and propose to automate petrophysical characterisation of well logs and apply advanced analytics (a combination of artificial neural network and component analysis algorithms) to extract geological intervals of interest.

The project will have significant impact to the industry, helping towards Maximise Economic Recovery objectives to revitalise information by producing a list of overlooked hydrocarbon pay zones, demonstrating the capabilities and value of machine learning on raw well data and enhancing the dataset stored in the National Data Repository.

Project summary

We are supporting Ambrit, with support from a major Operator, to develop a small real time measurement tool (gateway computer) that can be fitted to legacy equipment and provide real time flow measurements, analyse the data locally before securely transferring this to enterprise based systems onshore. The overall project objective is to provide a solution to gathering real time data and event reporting by exception from legacy instrumentation in the field. This data will be made available to users across process and enterprise networks, allowing industry to collect and analyse real time data to establish the accuracy of custody transfer flow measurement. The proposed solution has the potential to significantly the number of 'mis-measurements' in joint custody pipelines resulting in significant savings associated with legal disputes and tax corrections.

Project summary

We are supporting Wearable Technologies Limited in the development of the Elesken Connected Worker Platform to re-engineer the existing WTL electronics loom (contained within its smart garments), the external connectors and the personal hub to be ATEX compliant.

Technically feasible, due to the developing of already existing hardware and software base, Wearable Technologies will extend the Connected Worker Platform to be an Oil and Gas ready enterprise solution by focusing on ATEX certification, software platform development and field trials deploying the technology into the industry's more hazardous areas, for example, offshore rigs and platforms.

It is believed that the technology has the potential to generate millions of annual savings in addition to filling a definite need in the UKCS industry for a connected worker hardware and software platform.

Project summary

We are supporting EC-OG to undertake FEED work for a North Sea field trial focusing on the in place Subsea Power Hub (SPH) design, optimised deployment procedure and de-risking the installation and operational phases. The Subsea Power Hub is a ground-breaking turbine system which harnesses the energy within ocean currents to produce autonomous electrical power for multiple applications.

Project summary

International oil and gas firms have joined forces to explore whether a new reusable production buoy concept could help extend North Sea production by unlocking smaller oil and gas reservoirs.

The multi-partner study has been initiated by FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading) and Subsea specialists, Crondall Energy, who developed the technology and will be led and managed by Crondall's subsidiary, Buoyant Production Technologies Ltd. It will explore the feasibility of a floating 'Normally Unattended Installation' (NUI) as a stand-alone oil production facility for marginal fields in a North Sea environment and kicks-off the Technology Centre's recently-announced 'Facility of the Future' initiative.

Project summary

We co-funded a successful project with Ocean Power Technologies and Premier Oil to study the feasibility of using the PB3 PowerBuoy for decommissioning operations in the North Sea.

The project determined the viability of using the PB3 Powerbuoy for monitoring and guarding remaining wells and subsea equipment after removal of a floating production, storage and offloading vessel and prior to subsea decommissioning and/or well plugging & abandonment operations.

The successful study paved the way for a field trial in 2018.

Project summary

We co-funded a successful project with Ocean Power Technologies and Premier Oil to study the feasibility of using the PB3 PowerBuoy for decommissioning operations in the North Sea. The project determined the viability of using the PB3 for monitoring and guarding remaining wells and subsea equipment after removal of a floating production, storage and offloading vessel and prior to subsea decommissioning and/or well plugging & abandonment operations. The successful study paved the way for a field trial in 2018.

Project summary

We are supporting Subsea7, in collaboration with the National Composite Centre (NCC), to develop, prototype and test a composite replacement of a conventional steel part found in subsea applications, that will be tested in situ in another project in the North of Scotland.

Project summary

We are working with Jee to develop MASS (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship) Intrepid - an unmanned hydrographic survey boat which will be deployed for external inspections of existing subsea pipelines, and route surveys for planned pipelines, in the water depths of 3m - 30m.

The project is building on R&D over the past four years by Jee, in collaboration with Dynautics and Swathe Services. Phase 1 of the project will integrate previously field-proven sub-systems, and will expand the endurance capability.

A Southern North Sea proof-of-concept field trial has already been identified with a major operator, with commercialisation of the technology expected within 12 months.

The technology would be the first over-the-horizon seabed survey system for offshore industries and has the potential to halve the cost of equivalent manned surveys.

Project summary

We are working with Jee to develop MASS (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship) Intrepid - an unmanned hydrographic survey boat which will be deployed for external inspections of existing subsea pipelines, and route surveys for planned pipelines, in the water depths of 3m - 30m.

The project is building on R&D over the past four years by Jee, in collaboration with Dynautics and Swathe Services. Phase 1 of the project will integrate previously field-proven sub-systems, and will expand the endurance capability.

A Southern North Sea proof-of-concept field trial has already been identified with a major operator, with commercialisation of the technology expected within 12 months.

The technology would be the first over-the-horizon seabed survey system for offshore industries and has the potential to halve the cost of equivalent manned surveys.

Project summary

We're supporting Pragma Well Technology and Pharis Energy to develop a high temperature downhole safety valve, which could help dramatically increase recovery rates in marginal developments.

Offshore steam injection requires the development of a downhole safety valve which is rated for steam injection temperatures, which are in excess of 300ºC. In order to ensure well integrity and to comply with all necessary regulations, Pragma will design, build and certify a pair of valves.

This work has the potential to unlock the widespread application of steam flooding offshore and enable the development of heavy oil fields, which have so far been deemed too marginal to attract investment.

Project summary

We are supporting the University of Manchester Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) in collaboration with Robert Gordan University (RGU) to analyse and identify the barriers to adopting a plug and play approach to field developments, a key aspect to a subsea circular economy. They will investigate industrial culture and organisational behaviour to help identify ways to foster collaboration within the oil & gas industry.

Project summary

We are funding the trial of Ecosse IP's Ambient Lifter technology in Stonehaven harbour, to demonstrate the lift capabilities in an operational environment. The USP is a controllable, subsea lifting device, which is designed around the Archimedes Principle, that can be used to raise and move heavy subsea infrastructure.

Project summary

We worked with Deepwater Oil Tools to develop, test and certify, ArticuLock, a special articulated joint within the drillpipe running string used when deploying subsea equipment through the drilling rig during well construction.

The technology aims to enable drilling operations to run equipment even in rough weather conditions, resulting in a reduction in waiting on weather time (WOW), a multi-million pound issue annually to the drilling industry.

Independent studies have demonstrated that ArticuLock could increase the operating weather window by 30-35%, having a significant impact on reducing WOW time.

Project summary

We're working with SPEX to develop a technology that removes large sections of casing and any associated cement back to the formation to allow the installation of a permanent barrier for well P&A . The technique may also have applicability for cutting windows for sidetracks and slot recovery.

Project summary

We are supporting Earth Science Analytics in their use of machine learning algorithms to conduct analysis on the Northern North Sea area. The project will use data from approximately 7000 wells, with nine industry sponsors donating appropriate data. Earth Science Analytics will run log-data with core and/or computer processed interpretation data through machine learning models. The result will be enhanced reporting on porosity, permeability, lithology, facies association, porosity and saturation logs as well as reservoir and identification of potential additional hydrocarbon reserves. The project could potentially have significant impact to the industry, helping towards Maximising Economic Recovery objectives.

Project summary

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) developed by Inspection Technologies Ltd and was identified as part of the Lockheed Martin Landscaping Study as an inspection method that has the potential to characterise electrochemical processes such as corrosion and help solve the long term problem of monitoring piping and vessel systems at risk of Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI).

CUI can be difficult to detect due to the insulation masking the corrosion problem, and insulation removal is expensive. CUI can lead to unplanned downtime and raised potential for loss of hydrocarbon containment and associated risks.

As a potential solution to managing the CUI challenge within the Oil & Gas industry the aim of the project is to conduct validation trials at an onshore site to prove that this technology can form part of the overall solution to managing CUI.

Project summary

Lateral wave movement causes impact on conductors, caissons and risers initiating fatigue and fracturing Lateral wave movement causes impact on conductors, caissons and risers initiating fatigue and fracturing which can be both costly, challenging and dangerous. To reduce movement and minimise damage various shim solutions have been developed to varying degrees of success. Many involving significant costs.

AquaTerra have developed a solution to improve on these established techniques which will not only reduce the wave induced damage but increase the guide stability and moderate the vibrations to extend the life of the conductors, caissons and structure with minimal maintenance.

This project is now in Phase 2 and will under go two field trials with major Operators. This project being the first.

Project summary

Fabric maintenance is critical to maintain and extend the life of our ageing offshore infrastructure. Operators are seeking to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of fabric maintenance. Coupled with the move towards normally unmanned platforms, this necessitates the deployment of autonomous fabric maintenance robotic solution.

QL Tech has completed preliminary hardware and software design of a next generation AI system, encompassing the latest developments in machine vision and machine learning to automate fabric maintenance blasting and painting.

The objective of this project is the development of a robotic solution, embedded with pioneering AI software to enable a fully autonomous robot capable of blasting and coating complex structures.

This project will culminate in an onshore field trial, which will prove the technology in an operational environment.

Project summary

The scope of this project is to build a transparent prototype of the Pseudo Dry Gas (PDG) liquid removal unit and test via a flow loop facility. This technology will dramatically improve the efficiency of subsea gas transportation by removing fluids at the earliest point of accumulation, enabling longer subsea tiebacks while significantly increase development economics, as well as enabling current stranded gas fields to be developed with the lowest possible CO2 emissions per unit of gas produced.

Project summary

isol8's vision is to set the new global standard in zero emission wellbore isolation products to maximise client value and radically reduce costs. Their Fusion P&A product aims provide greater long term integrity assurance than 50m of cement. isol8 is undertaking a rigorous qualification testing programme based on the ISO-14310 standard to demonstrate the quality of their unique bonded-alloy barriers. In April 2022, Isol8 invested more than £150,000 in a new manufacturing facility to produce its thermite modules, housed within its Aberdeen headquarters, as it scales up to meet international demand. The company is now looking to scale up to address “significant international demand” for the technology. The company increased its headcount by 30%, and it expects to recruit a further 20-30 staff over the next 12-24 months.

Project summary

The long-term industry vision is for a completely autonomous offshore energy field that is operated, inspected, and maintained remotely. Therefore, the time is right to further develop, integrate and de-risk this approach by providing certifiable evaluation prototypes to address the pressing need to keep UK offshore oil and renewable energy fields economic as part of the energy transition and the drive towards cleaner operations. Hydromea with their expertise in compact and affordable but robust underwater systems are proposing to develop an alternative solution to the traditional type AUVs: Scalable, small autonomous underwater drone platform with swarm intelligence. This proposed solution will provide a game-changing remote solution using robotics and AI that will be ready to integrate with existing and future assets and sensors. Phase 1 aims to develop AUV for confined space inspections underwater, with the key enabling technology of high speed optical communication to enable wireless ROV-operation in confined spaces.