Click here to view the embedded video.

This is an excellent high quality video showing Air Diver performing underwater clamp installation.  The waterdepth is about 14 m ( 46 ft).  I believe the video was taken usingROV.  (ROV umbilical – 03:08).  It is possible to perform double operation Diving & ROV as long as in accordance with all the safety requirement.  I’ll share these requirement in future post.

From the video we can observe the following:

What is Riser Clamp?

It is a Structure which is intended to keep the riser in place.  There are various type, size and design of riser clamp.

• Hanger Clamp (Load Bearing Clamp) : a clamp design to handle the vertical loading which capable to takes the weight of the entire riser + horizontal restraint.  The clamp allowed the riser to slide axially.
• Sliding or Guide Clamp :  The clamp installed below after the load bearing clamp towards seabed.  It provide horizontal restraint but again allow the riser to move/slide axially (typically 5mm anulus gap between riser & neoprene pad installed on internal surface of riser clamp shell.

Offshore Riser Installation (Source Flickr)

Pipelay Vessel Aussie 1 (Source Flickr)

Here is the summary of OIC responsibilities during typical shallow water pipelay operations:

Installing a barge real time electronic positioning system onboard the lay barge and onboard the anchor handling vessel. This is a mandatory requirement to ensure safe operation during anchor running & maneuvering of all marine vessels. All anchor handling operations will be suspended if the system on any of the vessels is not operational.

The work will be executed with an approved anchor patterns and catenaries, together with approved barge, trench vessel, tugs and other vessels movements along the entire length of the job. The barge will be set up in lay mode and in the correct position for start-up of pipelaying and carrying out all preparatory work for installation.

Part of the initial activities is to cut loose and remove all tie-down materials used to secure Pipeline material for transportation and offloading as required to maintain pipelay progress. This activities need to be planned properly to ensure no bottlenecking during pipelay operations.

To maintain high quality production, it is mandatory to remove all foreign matter from bevelled ends and inside of pipe including cleaning with power brush prior to welding, brush and clean all finished welds. This activities will be monitored closely by QA/QC personnel.

Pipeline Buoy (Source Flickr)

The linepipes will be properly handled, align using internal line-up clamps, welding and lowering Pipeline to seabed. All welding works will be inspected by radiographic inspection, UT and all other non-destructive inspections and testings including visual inspection. For all AUT & RT requirements for Pipelines, RT equipments will be inspected & approved by the client. There is a complete laboratory set up on the barge for automatic film processing which also including the dry file viewing facilities.

Part of the pipelay operation, is to carry out a post-installation survey of the cable crossings (if any), span rectification, determining and plotting the final position of these items and identifying all unsupported Pipeline spans. These activities can be done with the main work barge or by other work vessel a few days behind the barge operations. Again, this simultaneous operation require a properly planned schedule.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Not to forget; all welded pipe joints will be coated/wrapped and holiday detected and carry out all repairs (should there is any) as necessary for such coating and wrapping.
The pipeline will be cap-off and laid on seabed awaiting for any future spool or PLEM (Pipeline End Manifold) installation.

During laying operation, pipeline profile monitoring by diver and ROV shall be conducted at a minimum frequency of three (3) times per shift. The ROV will also be used for checking of anchor lines over existing pipelines (if any).
Sometimes the client require OIC to install pingers which have a 6 month life period on marker buoys attached to the start-up/ laydown heads to facilitate locating of these heads in future.

A post-lay pre-flood video surveys will be perform to identify an unsupported spans, flowline coating damage areas, etc. and rectify same. Final as-built surveys will be done following hydrotest, dewatering and drying activities.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The above video shows some more explanation on hot tapping. I would like to thank our user ‘pitihkawe’ for his post on the hot tapping.  This is more towards onshore applications & will be different for subsea applications.

Onshore Hot Tapping (Source Flickr)

What Is Hot Tapping

“It’s A safe control entry into a pipe or vessels operating at vacuum,pressured or….without losing product and process interuption.” Hot Tapping applications includes the following :
* Prevent shutdowns
* New construction tie-ins
* Installation of by-pass systems
* Pressure and vacuum gauge installation
* New pipeline construction
* Sight glass installations
* Quality control sample points
* Valve installations
* Thermowell coupling installation
* Orifice taps for flow meters
* Offshore and underwater service
* Pipe inspection
* Temperature indicators
* Sparger installations

14th January 2009 I was assigned to ensure work site preparation are in order and safe for the activity in compliance to the PCSB SHe and work pack requirement.

The challenge of this activity is performing welding on the life 2″ pipe which carries aproximately 40 KB/D liquid (crude, gas and water) at 10000 kpa pressure.To ensure this activity can be perform safely the pipeline flow rate have to be constant, post weld temperature are maintain at 150 degrees C and not exceeding 250 degree C.

Among the tools are use for temperature monitoring are temperature sensors that will disable the welding activities as the temperature reach 230 Degrees C. Thermography Flir P65 camera to study the heat pattern on the welded surface during welding and also the infra red thermometers for spot measurement.

The pipe was finally drilled on January 27th @ 2220 hrs.

See more photo check this link:-

http://pitihkawe.multiply.com/photos/album/53/My_Hot_Tapping_Experience

Due to certain restrictions, i’ve been stop writing about my experiences and all previous content have been removed for further review.  From this point of time, i’ve been given a little bit of Freedom from my employer Sigur Ros Sdn. Bhd. to write and share my experiences.

Lets start with knowing Sigur Ros Sdn. Bhd.  (www.sgrsb.com).  Sigur Ros Sdn. Bhd. is the FIRST Malaysian Offshore Construction Company penetrating Turkmenistan and my be also in Caspian Sea.  Sigur Ros owned a shallow water pipelayer barge Arawana (Specification can be downloaded at www.sgrsb.com).  Currently Sigur Ros is executing a major Offshore Installation contract in Caspian Sea.  One of the major strength of Sigur Ros will be its run by very experience professional (the owner it self start their career as an Offshore Installation Engineer).

Its a very ‘strange’ & interesting life working with Sigur Ros.  Giving FREE meal to all employee @ HQ Office & Sites makes me feel its a ‘People Oriented Company’… To be continued…. (have to rest, weather in Turkmenistan is very ‘extreme’.  9 deg. celcius compare to 30 degree in Malaysia … Spasiva!)

I just got an interesting news related to emergency pipeline repair!  Sources indicates that Petronas is in discussion with all its local (Malaysia) PSC (Production Sharing Contract) to share resources for all pipeline repair jobs.

PSC = Petronas Carigali, Nippon Oil, ExxonMobil, Shell, Newfield Exploration Company, Murphy Oil, Talisman Energy, Hess Corporation and otherss.

The issue was discussed during SEAPOG EPRES (South East Asia Pipeline Operators Group Emergency Pipeline Repair Equipment Sharing) meeting.  The possible emergency pipeline repair equipment to be shared includes:

• Pressure containment clamps.
• Composite repair equipment.
• Mechanical connectors.
• Elbow bends and connectors.
• Line pipes.

I strongly believe that PLIDCO will be one of the items considered in this pool of resources.  So next time should any pipeline repair tender coming out, the methodology will be driven by resources available within the PSC.  As my personal experience in one of the pipeline repair job,  PLIDCO was not considered during that time.  The more ‘primitive’ approach was used since the job does not affecting the production.  The methodology used was, CUT & REPLACE with spool.  Btw, for those who are not very familiar with PLIDCO, here is the video stating their strength in pipeline repair.

Click here to view the embedded video.

OGA (Asian Oil, Gas & Petrochemical Engineering Exhibition) @ KLCC Convention Center; You Been There?  It was the biggest ever OGA exhibition and yes it do provide vast of new products & services and most importantly Verifications & ’Evidence’ to some industry Rumours (Will no write about it).

I personally been assigned to attend my employee booth on the first day & come back on the 3rd day to visit all the booths.  Today, i’m highlighting one of the leading international engineering groups i.e. Mustang Engineering!  & Most importanly they are setting up office here in KL.  Here what Mustang Engineering say about their Business Units.

Upstream
Mustang is ranked among the top five upstream engineering centers worldwide with offices located in strategic hubs around the world providing access to global resources…

Process and Industrial
Mustang’s Process & Industrial business unit is dedicated to providing our clients full-service engineering, procurement and construction management solutions…

Automation and Control
Mustang Automation and Control is a leader in providing engineering, specification, integration and implementation of control automation, and information systems to the process industries….

Pipeline
Mustang’s pipleline business unit offers engineering and field services for onshore pipelines and worldwide basis…

Midstream
Mustang is in the unique position to offer our clients excellence in engineering, cutting-edge LNG technologies, and solid knowledge of gasification and related synthesis gas processes…

Process Plants
Mustang delivers cost and schedule efficient projects with imporved HSE and quality performance…

Here is some of Mustang Engineering Involved projects

• Murphy Oil Kikeh Development, Malaysia.
• NEXUS Crux FPSO FEED Timor Sea, Australia
• ONGC Mumbai High North Platform, India
• Inpex Ichthys Option C Pre-FEED Browse Basin, Australia
• BP China Zhuhai LPG Phase II FEED China
• ENI Blactip Post FEED Study Bonaparte Gulf Western, Australia
• Cairn Energy Mangala Production Facilities, India
• Woodside Sunrise Timor Sea
• Chevron Greater Gorgon/Jansz FEED Northwest Cost, Australia
• BP Kepodang BP, Indonesia
• Conoco Belanak, Indonesia
• PB Terang Sirsun BP, Indonesia
• Command Petroleum/Hyundai Ravva, India
• BP Hai Tach BP, Vietnam
• GSPC Deen Dayal, India
• AGIP Wollybutt, Australia
• AGL Pipeline Mitigation, Australia
• British Gas Panna Brownfield Project West Cost India
• BP Clair Field Development United Kingdom, North Sea/UK
• Mobil Equatorial Guinea, Inc Jade Development Project Equotrial Guinea, West Africa
• Chevron Benguela Belize Angola, West Afrika
• Exxon Mobil Diana Field Development Gulf of Mexico
• BP ThunderHorse Gulf of Mexico
• Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas Boomvang and Nansen USA, GoM North America
• Chevron Texaco Agbami Development FEED Phase 111 Nigeria, West Africa
• Chevron Tahiti USA, Gulf of Mexico
• Chevron Blind Faith USA, Gulf of Mexico

Btw, their office address in Malaysia, as follow:

Wood Group,
Level 11, Menara Perak,
24 Jalan Perak,
50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel : +60 3 2264 5555
Fax : +60 3 2164 3619
Email : AsiaPacificSales@MustangEng.com

With the current oil boom likely to continue into the next decade, many oil companies are desperately hiring workers for offshore employment in exploration and drilling work. In North America, Houston, Tulsa and Alberta have featured in the news in the past year. However, wherever you can find oil and gas, you will find the major players present.

The generous salaries and benefits offered by oil companies are well known. So is the hard physical work. But do you know about the offshore work schedule? Most offshore work is structured so that you work 1 week on/1 week off, or 2 weeks on/2 weeks off, etc. Quite common is 4 weeks on/4 weeks off. You may even find 6 weeks on/6 weeks off.

Not all offshore employment is on an oil rig. Quite a lot of it also happens on ships. Of course, some of the deep sea oil rigs are actually mounted on gigantic ships. You’ll find ocean-going tugs, towboats and pipeline barges deeply involved in the process of oil production.

Many of you grew up with easy communications and access to mobile phones and the internet. You have rarely been isolated from your families and friends in the past. Once you work offshore, this will no longer be the case. You will no longer have easy and unlimited contact with your friends and family for up to 6 weeks at a time. This kind of thing is often overlooked by those seeking offshore employment, but has caused a lot of strain in family relationships.

When you successfully gain offshore employment, you also need to think of your personal logistics – your mortgage payments, car payments, phone bills, etc. You’ll need to set up automatic payment arrangements with your bank, otherwise you could wind up in quite a lot of inconvenience. Don’t forget to settle things like your voluntary military service.

Offshore employment can be very rewarding. If you are willing to learn and work conscientiously, you will find yourself getting fast promotions and advancements. Don’t forget that you’ll probably only work 6 months out of the year. Unlike office workers, you’ll have plenty of time off to pursue your own interests, whether its a hobby or sport or something else. Those of you with an entrepreneurial bent will find a lot of free time to start up and build your own business.

While no one likes to think about taxes, Section 911 of the U.S. tax law permits U.S. taxpayers to earn up to $80,000 per year of tax free income. The intention was to encourage US citizens to work offshore in less hospitable surroundings (namely 3rd-World countries). If your offshore job is overseas, or you think it can count as overseas, remember to consult your accountant and lawyer before you leave home. Who knows, with a little luck, you could take home $80,000 and not have to pay tax. Also don’t forget to set up a way to submit your income tax return in case you have to work in March or April.

These are some of the lesser known facts about offshore employment. Good salary, good benefits, possibly tax-free. Possibly no contact with family, no phone, no internet. Lots of other things to set up like automatic mortgage payments and income tax submissions.

Oil careers are hot right now, and getting hotter with each increase in oil prices. Are you one of those trying to get a piece of the pie, but failing? Veteran job hunters know that the resume is an important part of any job application, alongside the cover letter. If your prospective boss does not read your resume, you will not get your interview. And no interview means no job. Below are 3 common mistakes which cause prospective bosses to toss your resume into the nearest waste basket.

1. Job experience listed in chronological order. This is a very common mistake which many job seekers make. They list all of their previous job experiences, starting with their earliest job and ending with their latest job. This forces the employer to flip through all their previous jobs before finding their most relevant experience, which should be the latest job. Now, do you think any boss is going to take the time and trouble to do this? Don’t you think that the employer is more likely to toss it aside and look at another person’s resume instead? It is far better to list your job experiences in reverse chronological order, placing your latest and most relevant job experience on the first page of your resume.

2. Previous job experience is not related to the job application. Do note that your cover letter and resume are a form of sales letter, meant to sell your skills and experience to your prospective employer. Unless the employer is truly desperate, he will throw your job application out. In your resume, you need to highlight your skills, achievements and attitudes which are most relevant to the job posting. While you should not lie, many job seekers fail to highlight their relevant achievements because they think it is too minor or not an official part of their previous jobs. For example, you may have been an electrician on an oil rig, now applying for the head of the electrical department. Did you ever assist or cover your head of department, perhaps when he was on his annual vacation or on extended sick leave? Perhaps you had a large number of staff, and he often delegated some of his tasks to you. Too many job seekers only describe their official main duties in their resume, failing to mention extra achievements like this in their resume, thinking that “It doesn’t count. I only covered for my boss 3 weeks when he broke his leg.”

3. Not enough details. Some job applicants list down every job they have held in the past, but provide no details. All the boss sees is a list of the job seeker’s 6 or 7 job title, employer and date of employment. This is another fatal mistake. Remember that your prospective boss wants to know what you have done in the past that is similar to what he wants you to do for him now. Writing “Roustabout: Alaskan pipeline; 2003-2004″ does not tell your new boss anything useful. You need to tell him what you actually did during that job that is relevant to him. For example, you were a part of the team rebuilding a damaged section of the pipeline.

These are just 3 mistakes in your resume which could derail your oil career.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source : YouTube.com by gqoniefh

 The above video give a very good technical description about CBM (Coal Bed Meth,ane) Drilling.  But my question is; what is the relation of Aceton to the Coal Bed Methane Drilling operations.  The CBM issue have been highly debated for the past decade.  If human is able to exploit it onshore & it will come to Offshore in near future.  With the current scarce of fuel energy;  my prediction will be, CBM Drilling will goes offshore (or its already executed somewhere?).  Appreciate if anyone can share their experience anything about CBM…

The Video is about An in depth look at surging the well.

• The cavitation process engineer directs the general plan and most surge plans are at the discretion of the company man and then downhole conditions determine how the air tech will build the surge.
• The natural downhole pressure of this well was approximately 500 PSI or 35 Bar
• Coal seams will resist cavitation at first so air and mist pressures will rise quickly
• As the formation starts to fracture and form a cavity, the air tech will pump periodic “Slugs” or “Sweeps” at variable times in variable quantities as the formation becomes more permeable.
• Air techs will always be pumping at least 5 bbls/hour mist added to the compressed air.  The mist has a predetermined mixture of foamer or “soap” added to this and the slugs usually have a much greater soap to water ratio.
• Soap ratios can be much higher when CBM formations produce high quantities of water from the coal seam.
• Air techs can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours to build up a surge
• CBM formations in the San Juan Basin which produce higher amounts of water also produce much higher volumes of methane gas when cavitated
• The coal and gas seen at the initial release of the surge is from above the drill bit in the annulus.
• The surge returns in the opposite order it was pumped into the formation.
• If the gas starts to become less prevalent during the surging process it means the hole is building up too much and needs to be cleaned out or it has “packed off” around the drillstring plugging off the production areas.
• A plugged off hole can be a dangerous situation if the surge has not yet released but it is a common occurence which can be solved by rotating the drillstring and working the pipe up and down.  This can often be achieved without opening the pipe rams.
• A trapped surge can push the drillpipe completely out of the hole so it is important for rig personnel to be experienced and aware of this situation before attempting to move the drillstring.
• Natural Surge
• A natural surge is simple shutting the will in and letting the well build up its own pressure.  The pressure is released when the pressure stops rising.
• It opens up and cleans out the coal seams in preparation for more air/mist surges.

If you have problem viewing the video, here is the alternative links :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbM5evcjed0