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For O? shore Engineer September 2014. Sect on: Spotlight. Words: 712 [stand? rst] n/a [Hed]

Audrey Leon

People Eyebrow

Spotlight

By Audrey Leon away from pipeline infrastructure, and an FPSO is a natural transition,” he says.

From fjords to FPSOs “Combining that with the challenge of the reservoir, you will need more power, tein Rasmussen, SBM Offshore’s new help continue SBM Offshore’s growth more topside capacity, and then these

S managing director of the Houston of the last few years. “One thing that other ? oater types become so big that execution center, says he had a natural has changed with SBM Offshore is that the FPSO can be more attractive when af? nity with water since he was a child our products have grown in complexity, compared with a semi.” growing up in Norway. It’s ? tting since he but also in capital value,” he says. “We Currently, SBM Offshore is designing has spent his entire career working with have to be very good at what we do, to be and building the deepest disconnectable ? oaters at companies such as Technip, successful. A small mistake on a small FPSO, Turritella, in the world for Shell’s

Aker Solutions, and Keppel. project is very different from ? ve years Stones project in the Walker Ridge area

His career path was “a natural pro- ago than a small mistake on a much big- of the Gulf of Mexico. And Rasmussen gression,” Rasmussen says. His father ger project today.” says the company is focused on devel- was an engineer, and he followed in his footsteps. Rasmussen pursued a degree “I’ve always been fascinated in marine technology and then set off to

America to work on a master’s degree with FPSOs,” he says. “That’s in ocean engineering at Texas A&M

University. where I started my career and “The option for me was to go to that was a good match for me.”

Trondheim or to go abroad (to major in ocean engineering),” Rasmussen says. “I have always been a bit adventurous.

If I was going to leave my home town, oping technology that will unlock

I might as well go far away to get more potential in the Paleogene and Lower exposure and experience for something Tertiary plays. Having already won an new.” Once Rasmussen graduated, he award at this year’s Offshore Technology went overseas to work for Keppel where Conference for the Very High Pressure he was able to see ? rsthand how FPSOs Fluid Swivel.

are developed from the ground-up. In addition to technology, Rasmussen “It was a very eye-opening experi- says he’s a big believer in developing ence,” Rasmussen says. “It always helps the right company culture. And in his when you’re going to use, or buy a prod- role at SBM, he says the company must uct, to understand how it was built. focus not only on the “Safety” in Health, “The biggest lesson, for me, was the Several aspects attracted Rasmussen to Safety, and the Environment, but also aspect of constructability. Engineers will SBM Offshore including the company’s Health. “A healthy employee is a happy always engineer the best they can, but commitment to technology develop- employee, is a more ef? cient employee,” that may not always be the most cost-ef? - ment, as well as its wide product offering he says, noting that SBM provides cient or ? t-for-purpose,” he says. “In the including semisubmersibles, TLPs, employees with access to gym facilities yard sometimes when you see the ? nal and FPSOs, which he says allows SBM and health screenings. drawings, it’s impossible to build it.” Offshore to span a broad spectrum of When re? ecting on his career learn-

At Aker Solutions, Rasmussen worked the market. However, SBM Offshore is a ings, Rasmussen says in addition to have primarily with semisubmersibles. It was natural ? t because it’s a return to working a focused leadership style, transparency here that he saw the signi? cance of strat- with FPSOs. “I’ve always been fascinated is also important. “Open communica- egy. “It’s important to set a clear path and with FPSOs,” he says. “That’s where I tion, and providing information is key,” have it endorsed within your company,” started my career and that was a good he says. “The more you leave people to he says. “We (SBM Offshore) are work- match for me.” speculate, the more confusion you cre- ing very hard to be a bit more strategic in Rasmussen does see a demand for ate. I want people to be clear about what how we operate.” FPSOs in the Gulf of Mexico. “As you we’re trying to achieve, and how we are

And Rasmussen believes strategy will go deeper and deeper, you go farther going to do it.” oedigital.com September 2014 | OE 117 117_0914_Spotlight.indd 117 8/21/14 3:50 PM