ABB secures offshore automation contract in the North Sea

Switzerland-based power and automation technology group ABB has secured a contract from Statoil to upgrade safety and automation systems at the Heimdal platform in the North Sea, off the coast of Norway.
Under the contract signed with Statoil in the second quarter of 2013, ABB will provide a new human-machine interface (HMI) for the control system and control room modifications.

The company will also deliver a simulator, fire and gas detectors, as well as integrating telecommunication in the control room and information management systems (IMS).
Once the upgrade is complete, the Heimdal platform will feature ABB's modern 800xA Extended Automation platform as the main control system.
The system has been adapted to comply with Statoil's guidelines for workstations layout and design of process graphics.
As part of the agreement, ABB will hold the complete engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) responsibility for the project.
"ABB will provide a new human-machine interface (HMI) for the control system and control room modifications."
ABB Norway Process Automation division manager, Per Erik Holsten, said that the upgrade of the safety and automation system on Heimdal is expected to result in profitable and safe operation of the platform."
"ABB's maintenance and modification service solutions extend the life span of installations that have been in operations for a significant amount of time," Holsten added.
The Heimdal field has currently lowered its own production and is now a hub in the central North Sea for the processing and distribution of gas.
The platform receives gas from the Huldra, Oseberg, Skirne and Vale fields and exports it through Vesterled or Statpipe pipelines for processing.
Heimdal field, at its peak, can process gas up to 15% to 20% of the total Norwegian gas production.
Image: The Heimdal platform will feature ABB's new Human-Machine Interface (HMI) system. Photo: courtesy of ABB.


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Offshore drilling services market to reach $121.1bn by 2018, says report

The offshore drilling services market is expected to grow from $73.1bn in 2013 to $121.1bn by 2018, growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.6%, according to a new report published by market research and consulting firm, MarketsandMarkets.
The report said that the market will grow primarily due to new offshore discoveries and exponential rise in demand for energy worldwide.
The offshore drilling services market, which is growing after the slump following the oil spill in the US Gulf of Mexico in 2010, includes contract drilling services, as well as directional and logging while drilling services and various submarkets.
The report analysed offshore drilling services market share, value chain, Porters five force analysis, and market metrics, such as drivers, restraints, burning issues, winning imperative and opportunities.
MarketsandMarkets noted that the golden triangle, which includes Brazil, US Gulf of Mexico and West Africa, are the key markets for offshore activities.
"The market will grow primarily due to new offshore discoveries and exponential rise in demand for energy worldwide."
The report, which analyses offshore drilling activities on the basis of shallow, deep and ultra-deepwater activities, estimates that offshore oilfield operators, said that Asia-Pacific is the emerging market in terms of demand for energy and offshore drilling activities.
The report will also look to re-develop current fields and explore ultra-deep water reserve potentials.
Offshore oilfield operators will focus on developing new technologies through research and development and incorporate their existing technologies to reduce high risk and associated cost.
The research firm projects shallow water activities, and deepwater and ultra-deepwater activities to rise in the near future.
The report divided the offshore drilling services market into two areas, contract drilling service providers that consist of Transocean (Switzerland), Ensco (UK), Seadrill (Bermuda), and oilfield services companies that consist of Baker Hughes (US), Schlumberger (US), Halliburton Energy Services (US), and Weatherford (Switzerland).
Image: Offshore oil rig. Photo: courtesy of freedigitalphotos.com.


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