Page 88: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Oct/Nov 2013)

87 89

Championing pipe-in-pipe technology

By Audrey Leon “The ability to insulate pipes drops as you go deeper,” he said. “Pipe-in-

McDermott International’s director pipe becomes independent of water of global subsea engineering, Mark depth to achieve high performance,

Dixon, made the case for pipe-in-pipe

Offshore Europe although it comes at a high cost.

technology during at a presentation “The materials are more expensive, on Emerging Technologies in the along with a second pipe,” he said.

Subsea Sector at SPE Offshore Europe “You have to weld that up, it’s heavier. 2013.

While pipe-in-pipe is not a new This is where cost increases come from, technology, having been introduced but you get performance benefts.” nearly 20 years ago, many in the indus- Dixon said that the number of try remain skeptical, Dixon said. projects have steadily increased, with “It has a great track record...it is 3-8 occurring per year. The areas with seen as too new or too costly,” he said. the highest incidence of pipe-in-pipe “It’s about creating value proposition. are the North Sea and North America.

The value is enhanced lifecycle of the Dixon said the Asian market is not as project.” familiar with this type of technology.

Pipe-in-pipe technology consists of In addition to advocating for pipe-in- a fowline in center with installation pipe, Dixon argued for greater commu- in annulus between pipe. Use of space nication within the industry to safely age materials, Dixon said, which can introduce new technologies.

be thin and compact, can minimize the “If we can overcome skepticism, we size of the product. can progress technology at an appro- priate pace,” he said. “Communication needs to be open enough to see what’s

Mark Dixon, McDermott International's coming down the line, without opera- director of global subsea engineering speaks at a presentation on Emerging tors disclosing things they aren’t com-

Technologies.

fortable with.” “A mature relationship with any-

Step up and be counted one, whether it is two businesses,

By Audrey Leon or a business and a regulator, it is

A ditching incident in the North Sea about working in partnership, but that killed four offshore workers on recognizing that there will be a point

August 23 set a somber tone at SPE in that process where tough chal-

Offshore Europe 2013 with many lenge is what that relationship is all sessions beginning with a moment of about,” said Judith Hackitt of HSE. silence for the fallen. “It’s about knowing how to strike a

Ken Robertson, production balance. If we were to adopt a stand services manager for Shell UK Ltd, off approach (as a regulator), I don’t stressed the importance of participa- think we would make as much prog- tion among UK workers in order to ress as we have.

Ken Robertson, production services improve safety conditions, during “What makes us unique in the UK manager for Shell UK Ltd.

the Step Change in Safety panel is that relationship between regula- discussion. tor and industry enables us to work

Robertson, who serves as Step What are you doing to be personally both in partnership, but recognize

Change in Safety leadership team involved? Step up or step back.” when we’re able to be the enforcer,” co-chair, said one current challenge Robertson advocated for improved she said.

is employee participation in the communication not only between regu- Ian Sharp of Fairfeld Energy said: workforce-elected safety representa- lators and industry, but also among “It may seem cozy, but it is a respect- tives program, as required by the UK stakeholders. ful relationship. When you have

Heath and Safety Executive (HSE). When asked if too cozy a relationship a respectful relationship you can “We all need to step up and be exists between regulators and drilling engage in the diffcult conversations. counted,” he said. “Ask yourself companies, panelists from Fairfeld I know for a fact (the relationship) is what is your level of involvement? Energy and HSE denied the charge. not cozy.”

OE | October 2013 oedigital.com 90 086_OE1013_Offshore EuropeReview.indd 90 9/29/13 4:30 PM