Technology

Subsea Optical Time Domain Reflectometer. (Image source: C-Kore Systems)

C-Kore Systems, a leading provider of innovative subsea testing solutions, has seen remarkable growth in Africa, emerging as one of the company’s largest markets

C-Kore’s patented technology simplifies and speeds up subsea testing processes, ensuring reliability and efficiency in both electrical fault-finding and new (umbilical) installation markets. This growth is fuelled by the region’s increasing demand for reliable and efficient subsea testing solutions. C-Kore’s technology has found a receptive audience among African operators, who appreciate the ease and accuracy it brings to their operations.

The cornerstone of C-Kore’s success in Africa has been its fault-finding mobilisations, which have become the largest contributor to the company’s turnover in the region. By swiftly identifying and addressing electrical issues in subsea infrastructure, C-Kore helps operators minimise downtime and maintain optimal performance. This capability is crucial in an industry where operational efficiency directly impacts profitability.

While fault-finding remains significant, the market for new installations is also growing. African operators are increasingly investing in new subsea projects and turning to C-Kore for their advanced testing needs. The company’s latest technology, the subsea Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR), is set to play a pivotal role in these new installations. C-Kore has simplified the task of performing OTDR measurements on subsea equipment. Using C-Kore’s new Subsea OTDR, operators can easily test optical fibers on the seabed without mobilising highly specialised personnel.

Supporting subsea infrastructure 

Cynthia Pikaar, sales and marketing director for C-Kore, says, “Our customers love how easy our tools are to use and appreciate that no extra personnel are needed to accompany the C-Kore equipment. The African market’s acceptance of C-Kore’s technology shows our strong reputation for innovation, service and quality. As the region builds more subsea infrastructure, we are ready to support this growth with our great service and tools that meet our customers’ needs.”

C-Kore Systems’ expansion in Africa highlights the region’s growing importance in the global subsea industry. With a strong focus on fault-finding mobilisations and a promising future in new installations, C-Kore is set to continue its success story in Africa.

For further information on the company's innovative subsea testing technology, visit: www.c-kore.com

ADIPEC 2024 unveiled AI Zone. (Image source: ADIPEC)

The potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform the energy industry and accelerate decarbonisation has emerged as a critical topic of conversation amongst energy ministers and business leaders at ADIPEC 2024 

On the opening day, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC managing director and Group CEO, emphasised the critical need for industry leaders to come together and support era-defining breakthroughs such as AI.

In a session titled 'The power of AI for the energy transition', top executives from the private sector - including Tayba Al Hashemi, CEO, ADNOC Offshore, ADIPEC 2024 chairperson; Michel Lutz, chief data officer and digital factory head of Data & AI, TotalEnergies, and Magzhan Kenesbai, acting managing director, AIQ - explored how AI is transforming business operations, and offered their expert insights on the long-term implications of wide-scale AI implementation.

Speaking to his company’s experience with AI, Lutz said, “We are using AI to improve operational efficiency, which supports our company's development in the renewables space. This allows us to better assist our clients in understanding their behaviour and what they need.”

Building on this sustained focus on AI’s role in the energy industry, speakers across ADIPEC’s 10 different conferences emphasised the pressing need to address the challenges and opportunities surrounding this transformative technology. Alongside other top CEOs and energy executives, Tengku Muhammad Taufik, president and Group CEO, PETRONAS, urged industry players to adopt a measured and holistic approach to AI, saying,“Before we perfect artificial intelligence, we need to address fundamental issues. AI can initiate either a virtuous or vicious cycle, depending on how we utilise this technology and how we feed it. While AI consumes a significant amount of energy and its production requires vast resources, it nonetheless helps economies and societies grow. It is up to us to respond wisely to the fork in the road ahead.”

Anima Anandkumar, Bren professor of computing and mathematical Sciences, Caltech, highlighted the evolving impact of AI on both the energy industry and the environment, saying, “We should consider not just the energy reduction achieved using AI, but also the time and money saved by employing these AI models. AI is helping us take corrective action in response to natural disasters and other climate-related issues, and the more data we have available, the better our AI models will become. The impact that AI can have in designing from scratch and creating simulations enhances our work in energy and technology.”

ADIPEC’s commitment to accelerating AI-enabled energy solutions and projects was reflected in the event’s inaugural AI Zone, which featured AI studios and demo pods that showcased transformative solutions from leading energy and AI businesses. This dynamic space provided attendees with a comprehensive view of the innovations shaping the future energy system.

The space also played host to the dedicated AI Conference, where leaders from the energy, technology, and government sectors worked together to develop a strategic roadmap for integrating AI into the energy landscape.

The newly launched Digitalisation & Technology Conference delved into how next-generation technologies, including AI, can unlock decarbonisation and efficiency opportunities presented by Industry 4.0. Sessions covered advancements in new materials, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), with a focus on sustainable scaling of these technologies.

The work involved training a local Nigerian crew. (Image source: CRC Evans)

Welding, technology and coating services provider, CRC Evans, has completed wide-ranging welding services for First E&P’s Alpha Project offshore Nigeria

Contracted by Westfield Energy Resources for CRC's welding services to its pipelay barge, the S-lay vessel DLB Kenenna, the work involved the completion of more than 3,800 welds on two 20.8km and one 5.5 km pipelines in association with the company's regional partner, Ripen Marine Contractors. 

The full work scope of the multiple-million contract also included project management and engineering, associated services and requirements.

An integral element of completing the work was training a local Nigerian crew at the company’s onshore facility in Nigeria, prior to vessel deployment. The company set up a training facility, which saw 20 welders and two bevel operators trained over the course of the month, to use welding equipment and adhere to company and project safety standards.

“With support from Ripen, we established the training facility and had it up and running in less than a week,” said Tom Feteris, offshore director, Zeewolde at CRC Evans. “This demonstrates our commitment and capability to quickly and efficiently set up a training facility in whichever country we work, to support the skills development of the local workforce. 

“Aside from the successful completion of the work scope, this part of the story is just as important. We are absolutely committed to meeting local requirements and helping countries grow by expanding the knowledge base of local talent.

“We are proud of our contribution to this project and the opportunities we had to support and enhance the skills of the local workforce.” 

Last year, CRC Evans underwent major consolidation to launch world-class welding services. 

Doubling production capacity

The work was carried out with the help of CRC's flagship Dual Torch P-625 external welding equipment. Specifically designed for large, demanding projects or where high production is required, the dual-torch external welding system can double the production capacity compared with a single torch system. An onboard computer ensures precise control of welding parameters enabling storage of a real-time log of essential weld data for future processing.

Project Alpha is a greenfield development that includes the Anyala and Madu fields which lie 45km off the Niger Delta, with production being tied back to a floating production, storage and offloading facility (FPSO). The platforms for the Anyala and Madu deposits were designed by Aquaterra Energy with its modular, cost-effective Sea Swift system.

The M4 Inflow Control System will be showcased at ADIPEC 2024. (Image source: TAQA)

TAQA, an international company offering leading well solutions for the energy industry, has revealed the next-generation inflow control system

The M4 Inflow Control System dictates the flow of undesired fluid (such as water and gas) and avoids any binary (open/close) effect that can result in instability or even stop production. Enabling operators to optimise their reservoir performance while sustainability managing fluid production, the new system excels in controlling water in ultra-light and light applications and enhances gas production control, providing stability and flexibility in diverse reservoir conditions.

Supercharging reservoir performance

“With the largest portfolio of inflow control systems more than 20 years of inflow control devices expertise, the M4 Inflow Control System represents the pinnacle of our innovation so far,” remarked Mojtaba Moradi, subsurface engineering manager of TAQA. “This new generation offers water control by gradually reducing inflow as water production increases, avoiding premature well shut in.
“Its main benefit is precision control based on reservoir production. The device allows operators to maximise output without risking shutting wells in, so they can manage production continuously and efficiently, which translates into obvious financial benefits.”

According to TAQA, the M4 Inflow Control System technology incorporates an advanced pilot control system that is super sensitive to density, making it suitable for a wide range of oil types, including ultra-light, light, medium, and heavy oils. It also features advanced multi-phase control, allowing the device to perform independently of its orientation in the wellbore.

TAQA also offers a ‘plug and play’ integration with its full portfolio of inflow systems and has been built to optimise performance in all types of wells in all reservoir types. Additional operational features such as last-minute capacity change, and the ability to circulate to the bottom have also been incorporated into the design.

Although not limited to any oil viscosity, so far, the system has demonstrated excellent performance with oil viscosities as low as 0.5cP tested together with water to define the operating and control points at various water cuts. A full qualification matrix of debris, erosion and cycle testing has also been completed.