DEEPWATER TECHNOLOGY BREAKTHROUGH

In early august 2007 ODIM secured a contract from Aker Oilfield Services to deliver a 125­tonne ODIM CTCU™ system. This is part of a joint industry project (JIP) supported by Norway’s Demo 2000 research programme.  This contract also opened the way for a contract in November 2007 with  Aker Oilfield Services for delivery of a tower and module handling system  for deepwater installation.

‘‘This is an important breakthrough for our deepwater technology ODIM CTCU™,” says Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jogeir Romestrand at ODIM ASA. The contract on the 125-tonne ODIM CTCU™ system primarily ensures full financing for ODIM’s fabrica-tion and on-field testing of a system with a twofall configuration, which allows players pursuing demanding deepwater projects to install structures weighing up to 250 tonnes. The system is due for delivery in April 2009.

FIBRE ROPE

The JIP now being joined by Aker Oilfield Services is partly funded through Demo 2000. This programme has been estab-lished by the Research Council of Norway for project-oriented technology development in the petroleum industry. It has proved an important instrument for generating the  kind of project involved here. The JIP is  also joined by Shell and Statoil. With fewer large discoveries and more pe-troleum exploration in deep water, a strong growth in deepwater installation is expected from 2008-09. The ODIM CTCU™ technology makes it possible to use fibre rope instead  of steel wire cables for installation work in deep water, which provides major benefits  in terms of weight. That in turn permits the use of smaller and lower cost  vessels.

OPERATIONAL EFFIENCY

‘‘Our unique handling systems for deep water enhance operational efficiency for Aker Oilfield Services, and fit well with that company’s aggressive strategy,’’ says Jogeir Romestrand. ‘‘The steady expansion in demand for deep-water technology means that this project  is perfectly timed for us. It will further  demonstrate the unique qualities of the ODIM CTCU™ technology, with the capacity  to lift the heaviest subsea modules in the deepest water. ODIM CTCU™ has proved a very cost-effective solution for developing  oil and gas fields in deep water.’’

BEST AVAILABLE SOLUTION             

‘‘The Demo 2000 project in which Aker  Oilfield Services has decided to participate confirms that the industry embraces the ODIM CTCU™ technology and its capacity,’’ says Per Ingeberg, Senior Vice President Research & Development ODIM.‘‘This is a big leap for the installation industry. With a 250-tonne lifting capacity, we’re  raising ODIM CTCU™ up a step and into a market with great potential both immediately and in the longer term. The installation market is now seeking systems which can handle modules weighing up to 250 tonnes in water depths of more than 1 500 metres. ODIM CTCU™ represents the best available solution for such conditions. We see that operators want to secure this core technology in order to have a total solution for the aft deck in  the future.’’