Paul Boughton
A delegation of Subsea UK companies will be showcasing the skills and technologies honed in the North Sea at the annual Deep Offshore Technology (DOT) conference and exhibition in Australia in December.
The industry body, which champions the UK’s subsea sector, is seeking to promote the internationalisation of UK expertise by helping address the technology issues deepwater operators face and establish collaborative links with other industry bodies focused on the Australasian markets.
“Given the recent deepwater discoveries offshore Australia, there are now very real opportunities for UK companies both in terms of sharing their knowledge and hearing from those operating in this exciting region. Collaboration between industry bodies that will facilitate joint initiatives and help develop relationships between subsea companies in the UK and South-east Asia is the way forward,” says Subsea UK chief executive, Alistair Birnie.
“The fast-emerging subsea sector in Australasia, coupled with the growing global demand for everything subsea means that we need to plan and share all our resources carefully. In doing this, we will ensure the supply of relevant skills and the development of new technology that are needed to get projects delivered, are coordinated for maximum benefit.”
Seven UK companies whose areas of expertise straddle the subsea sector will be exhibiting under the Subsea UK banner at DOT in Perth from December 3-5. They are: Optical Metrology Services, BEL Valves, EProduction Weatherford, BPP-TECH, IHC Engineering Business, Self Energising Coupling Company (SECC) and First Subsea.
The delegation will join other global subsea businesses, many of whom are also members of Subsea UK, to participate in the event.
“The deepwater offshore Australia presents one of the most challenging regions for exploration and production in the world,” said Mr Birnie. “Operators are encountering the full scope of technology from remote field locations, hostile environment, seafloor issues, difficult currents, flow assurance to the long distances from infrastructure, logistical challenges and isolation from heavy lift and installation vessels.”
These challenges have led to a growing base of local expertise in Australia with the capabilities to create solutions. Subsea Energy Australia has been established to promote this expertise on a global arena. Subsea UK hopes the conference will provide the opportunity to build on initial discussions with the new organisation.
Mr Birnie added: “The aims of SEA are closely aligned to our own objectives which we have been working on since our formation in 2004. Both industry bodies recognise the advantages of collaboration, while still promoting the specific interests of our own members. With a significant shift towards subsea oil and gas production around the world in recent years, the subsea industry is now truly global and while we Brits may have been at it a bit longer, there is a growing critical mass of subsea capability in Australia which the industry must exploit.”
With the growing global demand, subsea skills are becoming scarce and Subsea UK warns that the situation could get worse if there is not careful development and deployment of those skills across the globe.
“I believe that both organisations can work together effectively on key areas of engineering, procurement, construction and installation. However, the priority must be looking for collaborative ways of bringing forward new technology and new training initiatives to deliver the necessary skills.”
“Technology now plays a much more significant strategic role and collaboration in terms of raising cash for and gaining industry-wide commitment to its development is vital.”
Subsea UK is working in partnership with industry and academia to deliver a national Subsea Research Institute to provide a co-ordinated framework for research, development and implementation of subsea technology. The aim is to fast-track the development and commercialisation of a new wave of technologies that will take the subsea industry into a new era, ensuring sustainable recovery of the world’s remaining reserves.
As part of the UK delegation to DOT, UK Trade & Industry is holding a reception at the British Consulate in Perth on the evening of 2nd. It is anticipated that a significant proportion of UK and Australian companies will attend to network in advance of the event.
For more information, visit www.subseauk.org
The industry body, which champions the UK’s subsea sector, is seeking to promote the internationalisation of UK expertise by helping address the technology issues deepwater operators face and establish collaborative links with other industry bodies focused on the Australasian markets.
“Given the recent deepwater discoveries offshore Australia, there are now very real opportunities for UK companies both in terms of sharing their knowledge and hearing from those operating in this exciting region. Collaboration between industry bodies that will facilitate joint initiatives and help develop relationships between subsea companies in the UK and South-east Asia is the way forward,” says Subsea UK chief executive, Alistair Birnie.
“The fast-emerging subsea sector in Australasia, coupled with the growing global demand for everything subsea means that we need to plan and share all our resources carefully. In doing this, we will ensure the supply of relevant skills and the development of new technology that are needed to get projects delivered, are coordinated for maximum benefit.”
Seven UK companies whose areas of expertise straddle the subsea sector will be exhibiting under the Subsea UK banner at DOT in Perth from December 3-5. They are: Optical Metrology Services, BEL Valves, EProduction Weatherford, BPP-TECH, IHC Engineering Business, Self Energising Coupling Company (SECC) and First Subsea.
The delegation will join other global subsea businesses, many of whom are also members of Subsea UK, to participate in the event.
“The deepwater offshore Australia presents one of the most challenging regions for exploration and production in the world,” said Mr Birnie. “Operators are encountering the full scope of technology from remote field locations, hostile environment, seafloor issues, difficult currents, flow assurance to the long distances from infrastructure, logistical challenges and isolation from heavy lift and installation vessels.”
These challenges have led to a growing base of local expertise in Australia with the capabilities to create solutions. Subsea Energy Australia has been established to promote this expertise on a global arena. Subsea UK hopes the conference will provide the opportunity to build on initial discussions with the new organisation.
Mr Birnie added: “The aims of SEA are closely aligned to our own objectives which we have been working on since our formation in 2004. Both industry bodies recognise the advantages of collaboration, while still promoting the specific interests of our own members. With a significant shift towards subsea oil and gas production around the world in recent years, the subsea industry is now truly global and while we Brits may have been at it a bit longer, there is a growing critical mass of subsea capability in Australia which the industry must exploit.”
With the growing global demand, subsea skills are becoming scarce and Subsea UK warns that the situation could get worse if there is not careful development and deployment of those skills across the globe.
“I believe that both organisations can work together effectively on key areas of engineering, procurement, construction and installation. However, the priority must be looking for collaborative ways of bringing forward new technology and new training initiatives to deliver the necessary skills.”
“Technology now plays a much more significant strategic role and collaboration in terms of raising cash for and gaining industry-wide commitment to its development is vital.”
Subsea UK is working in partnership with industry and academia to deliver a national Subsea Research Institute to provide a co-ordinated framework for research, development and implementation of subsea technology. The aim is to fast-track the development and commercialisation of a new wave of technologies that will take the subsea industry into a new era, ensuring sustainable recovery of the world’s remaining reserves.
As part of the UK delegation to DOT, UK Trade & Industry is holding a reception at the British Consulate in Perth on the evening of 2nd. It is anticipated that a significant proportion of UK and Australian companies will attend to network in advance of the event.
For more information, visit www.subseauk.org
