Technology

Enhancing subsea testing for Africa’s deepwater greenfield projects

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C-Kore Systems Ltd is providing smart and reliable testing solutions. (Image source: C-Kore)

Africa’s offshore oil and gas sector is rapidly evolving, with operators venturing into deeper waters to tap into new reserves

While these developments present exciting opportunities, they also introduce significant technical challenges – especially with testing and commissioning of the subsea equipment. With subsea umbilicals now incorporating more fiber optic cables for high-speed data transmission and control, the ability to quickly and accurately test these fibres is more crucial than ever. To support the testing of the fibre optics in these complex projects, C-Kore Systems Ltd. is revolutionising subsea testing with its Subsea Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) – a compact, automated testing tool that simplifies operations ensuring reliable testing of the optical fibers in deepwater environments, reducing overall costs.

As offshore fields extend into deeper waters, subsea infrastructure becomes increasingly sophisticated. Umbilicals containing fiber optics play a vital role in transmitting data and maintaining communications between subsea assets and topside facilities. However, testing these critical components is far more challenging at greater depths, where conventional methods are often impractical or too costly.

Traditional cable testing relies on labour-intensive processes that require specialised technicians and extended vessel time. Manual fault-finding in deepwater conditions can cause delays, increasing operational expenses and disrupting project timelines. To ensure reliability from the outset, operators need automated, efficient solutions that streamline the testing process while reducing costs.

C-Kore’s Subsea OTDR is transforming fiber optic cable testing by bringing topside Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) technology to subsea applications. Operators can now verify cable integrity directly on the seabed without complex setups or specialized personnel. Unlike traditional methods that require trained technicians and lengthy troubleshooting, this automated solution delivers instant, accurate results, reducing vessel time and cutting costs. By simplifying operations while ensuring reliable performance from day one, subsea OTDR is making deepwater commissioning faster, more efficient, and cost-effective.

African offshore operators are already seeing the advantages of integrating C-Kore’s Subsea OTDR. As the industry expands into deeper waters, the ability to verify fiber optic integrity quickly and accurately is becoming a key factor in maintaining efficient operations.

With Africa’s offshore industry moving into deeper waters, subsea testing is becoming more critical than ever. Traditional methods are struggling to keep pace with the increasing complexity of modern greenfield projects, making automation a necessity. More operators are turning to C-Kore’s Subsea OTDR to streamline commissioning, cut costs, and reduce vessel time, ensuring projects stay on schedule. As offshore developments continue to evolve, C-Kore Systems Ltd. is driving change—providing smart, reliable testing solutions that make subsea operations more efficient, cost-effective, and ready for the future.

For more information on C-Kore's innovative subsea testing technology, visit www.c-kore.com.

Sercel launches three component nodal solution

The model addresses high-end seismic applications for today's energy and mineral E&P market. (Image source; Sercel)

Subsurface technology provider, Sercel's WiNG land seismic nodal solution now has a new three component version with the launch of the WiNG DFU-3C

Addressing the high-end seismic applications for today's energy and mineral E&P market, the integrated three-component node acquires the most comprehensive and high-definition data for outstanding imaging, characterisation and monitoring of the subsurface. As part of the WiNG range, it comes complete with unique advanced features as standard, such as the ultra-sensitive QuietSeis broadband digital sensor and Pathfinder transmission management technology. Combined with its market-leading compact and lightweight design, the DFU-3C offers unprecedented precision, efficiency and portability.

Jerome Denigot, CEO, Sercel said, "The WiNG DFU-3C is an excellent example of Sercel’s commitment to providing innovative and high-performance solutions to our customers. Building on the success of our widely used WiNG single-component node, this three-component version brings greater survey accuracy and flexibility. Its vector fidelity, sensor stability and low-frequency capabilities make the WiNG DFU-3C ideal for the most demanding E&P subsurface challenges, meeting the needs of our customers in both the energy and mining markets."

Nigeria prioritises brownfield developments to boost production

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Nigeria witnessing increased intervention operations. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Nigeria is increasingly looking towards developing its brownfield assets to boost production

This can be achieved with the right technological interventions, giving way to enhanced oil recovery that can substantially meet the region's refining capacity. Compared to greenfield projects that require considerable investments from scratch, brownfield developments cuts down on carbon footprints, thus allowing operators to meet their sustainability requirements. Ideal technological interventions comprise a package offering e-line, slick line, coiled tubing services, well remediation, well control, and idle well management services. Well intervention operations can range from well conversion, casing run operation on a wild cat well, slot recovery, installation of emergency casing head housing slip, well work-over, and drilling and completion, to name a few.

To facilitate more brownfield developments, the Nigerian administration is working to increase collaboration between the local communities, government and the private sector.

Recently, Nigeria-based offshore construction company called Intrepid Energy Limited joined hands with United Kingdom's Aquaterra Energy to deliver a bespoke subsea well intervention equipment package for a project in Nigeria.

“Working with Aquaterra Energy marks a significant step forward for our intervention operations in Nigeria. Their specialised technology enhances our ability to execute intervention programmes efficiently, maximising performance across our assets. By combining Aquaterra’s technical expertise with our deep understanding of the local operating environment, we’re confident this collaboration will enhance production outcomes and create lasting value for our operations in the region,” said Seun Alonge, CEO at Intrepid Energy Limited.

Sulzer launches new standards for centrifugal pumps

The service will address the growing demand for industrial energy efficiency. (Image source: Sulzer)

Sulzer has launched an energy efficiency and carbon reduction service called Sulzer Energy Optimisation Service to upgrade the standards of centrifugal pumps across their lifecycle for energy intensive industries such as power generation, oil and gas, chemicals and water desalination

This service will address the growing demand for industrial energy efficiency with access to digital analysis, machine learning and ongoing monitoring to reduce carbon emissions, enhance reliability, and reduce energy costs. A 1% increase in global pump efficiency would save around 59TWh of electricity – equivalent to New Zealand’s annual power needs; some pumps’ efficiency could be increased by as much as 20-30%.

Ravin Pillay-Ramsamy, services division president at Sulzer said, “Inefficient and unreliable pumps cost operators in the industrial sectors millions of dollars in unnecessary downtime, energy costs and carbon emissions every year. Sulzer Energy Optimisation Service offers a comprehensive solution that tackles this inefficiency – from identification through to improvement and monitoring.

“A pilot customer in Spain will now save €1 million in energy costs and over 2,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year as a result of energy optimisation improvements identified by the Service. By rerating five pumps, energy efficiency increased from 72% to 83% saving the operator 5,000MWh in electricity every year.”

Consisting of four steps, an initial pump energy audit identifies areas of inefficiency with Sulzer’s proprietary calculator – PumpWise – outlining the potential energy, carbon and monetary savings.

A tailored proposal is generated by Sulzer’s expert team presenting a range of options to return the pump to run at its best efficiency point through an engineered retrofit, with varying techniques such as hydraulic re-rates, specialised coatings, wear clearances and more. Each option weighs operational costs, investment, downtime, payback and efficiency guarantees. The upgrades are then implemented with support from Sulzer’s established retrofit team which has delivered more than 4,000 retrofit projects globally since its setup in 2010. The team is supported by a network of more than 120 service locations globally.

Following retrofit, Sulzer offers a performance agreement to maintain optimised reliability and efficiency. This includes access to Blue Box, Sulzer’s proprietary machine learning technology which turns pump performance data into actionable insights.

Pillay-Ramsamy said, “For operators who are constantly challenged to do more with less, making energy efficiency improvements is a win-win. With pumps accounting for 20% of the world’s electricity demand, we want to offer a streamlined, futureproofed way for customers to improve their energy efficiency regardless of their pump OEM.

“To do so, we’ve combined the competence of our people and longstanding engineering expertise with our proprietary innovations and wrapped them in a collaborative and customer-centric approach. Altogether we believe this solution creates a new best practice standard for pump operation that goes above and beyond in supporting operators to remain future-ready.”

Enteq launches advanced drilling solution

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Andrew Law, CEO at Enteq. (Image source: Enteq Technology)

Energy services engineering and technology company, Enteq Technologies, has launched Saber Vertical, an advanced drilling solution designed to enhance efficiency and reduce operational complexity for vertical and top-hole drilling

Saber Vertical extends the existing advantages of Enteq’s directional drilling rotary steerable system (RSS), the Saber Tool, to vertical drilling, offering a low-service requirement and modular design that minimises both equipment needs and overall costs.

In regions such as the Middle East and Africa, vertical wells are often drilled in remote and demanding environments, making traditional methods expensive and logistically complex. Engineered in response to market demand and industry challenges, this innovative solution provides operators with greater accuracy, control and wellbore stability, helping to deliver a lower total cost of ownership than other systems available today.

The modular design enables adaptability to multiple hole sizes, reducing equipment requirements and enhancing operational flexibility. Its optimised wellbore stability improves drilling accuracy and control, ensuring greater precision throughout the process. The solution is also low-risk and can be deployed globally in a variety of environments, making it a practical and scalable option for operators worldwide.

Andrew Law, CEO at Enteq, said, "Saber Vertical is the result of listening to our customers and understanding the unique challenges of the market. It is inevitable that incumbent solutions for these applications are expensive due to the required large tool size, limiting commercially suitable options available to the market. With its compact design and cost-effective nature, Saber Vertical delivers a much-needed alternative, helping operators improve efficiency without compromising on performance."

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