The paper, entitled “Mooring System Life Extension using Subsea Inspection Technologies,” will be presented by Welaptega Business Development Lead Engineer Tyler de Gier who co-authored the paper with business development engineer Scott Allan and CEO Tony Hall.

The paper covers aging infrastructure, mooring failures, and risk based inspection techniques.

Life extension requires progressive inspection strategy

Determining the potential for life extension of an asset requires a comprehensive understanding of the current state of a mooring system. This is achieved by executing a well-planned inspection strategy followed by engineering analysis of quantifiable results.

The paper will discuss Welaptega’s Progressive Inspection techniques using 3D and 2D imaging technologies and dimensional technologies for measuring chain and rope mooring systems. Progressive Inspection identifies potential risks on moorings and underwater assets and then takes action to quantify anomalies to gauge their seriousness.

Advances in mooring systems

The Welaptega paper will be presented as part of an OTC technical session on Advances in Mooring Systems. The session will take Place on Thursday May 9,  9:30-noon in Room 600 of the Reliant Park Conference Centre. The session will be be chaired by Tomasz Matlak of Schlumberger and Subir Bhattacharjee of ExxonMobil Production.

Welaptega is part of the Nova Scotia OTC delegation lead by the Maritime Energy Association and the Nova Scotia Department of Energy.

Founded in 1969, the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) is the world’s foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection.

Welaptega has sent a team of specialist engineers to the facility to conduct a Progressive Inspection program using its Rope Measurement System (RMS) and 3D-modeling system (3DM).

“Our Progressive inspection philosophy is a guided examination of mooring systems that focuses on known problems and failure modes,” says Tony Hall, President and CEO of Welaptega Marine.

“When anomalies, wear or damage is identified, progressive inspection technologies are used to zero in on the problem and identify its characteristics and operational implications.”

Nganhurra FPSO is operated by Woodside Energy Ltd., and is the first oil production facility in the deep waters off the North West Cape.

The vessel operates in water depths of approximately 2000 feet and can process 100,000 barrels of oil per day. It has a storage capacity of one million barrels.

We develop and deploy advanced technologies to assess the condition of underwater assets on offshore facilities. Our technologies are deployed in extreme marine environments for a global clientele which includes oil and gas supermajors such as Shell, ExxonMobil and BP.

In 2010, our 3D-imaging technologies were used to help resolve the oil spill in the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

We currently have an opening for a Project Engineer. Working with the Engineering team, the Project Engineer is responsible for developing and introducing new systems and services into the Welaptega portfolio, and monitoring and improving existing services.  The role is a multi-function role involving Research and Development, mechanical design, with some offshore project management and execution.

Key Responsibilities:

Engineering

Working within the Engineering Team to develop and release new products/services

• Lead projects, involving inter-disciplined team
• Understanding business and target market
  requirements
• Project planning and budgeting
• Mechanical Design
• Procurement and assembly
• Development and execution of test plans
• Development of operational documentation
• Operational/Safety Training on new tooling
• Continuous monitoring and refinement
  of the operational solution

Marketing and Business Development

Working with the Marketing and Business Development team to develop:

• Understanding of solution requirements 
  from customer base
• Marketing materials and technical
  documentation

Operations

The role will carry some offshore responsibilities.  This includes:

• Pre-Job Planning:  including testing,
  equipment calibration
• and offshore workscope writing
• Execution: Equipment Assembly
  and ROV Interfacing,
  Data Acquisition, Demobilization
• Results: Data Processing and Reviewing

Skills and Capabilities

• 3D CAD – SolidWorks or similar
• Technical writing
• Solid Communication skills – written, oral
• Capable of achieving offshore certification
• Capable of international travel

This position requires significant independent judgment, self-starting and interpersonal skills. The position will require some out of hours’ work and some offshore work. Previous experience in the Oil & Gas industry considered to be an asset.

Closing Date: Friday March 1^st 2013

To become a part of this dynamic team, email us at careers@welaptega.com. Please include a resume and a covering letter stating how you would make a difference to Welaptega Marine. Please quote competition number PE0220-WB when applying.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however please note that only those considered for an interview will be contacted.

We develop and deploy advanced technologies to assess the condition of underwater assets on offshore facilities. Our technologies are deployed in extreme marine environments for a global clientele which includes oil and gas supermajors such as Shell, ExxonMobil and BP.

In 2010, our 3D-imaging technologies were used to help resolve the oil spill in the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

We currently have an opening for an Offshore Technician to join our team. Working as part of the Operations team, the Offshore Technician is responsible for executing all stages of offshore projects including equipment testing, ROV interfacing, data collection, data processing and reporting. In addition, Working with the Engineering team, the Offshore Technician is responsible for supporting Research and Development activities through mechanical and electrical design and drafting.

Key Responsibilities:

Operations

Responsible for executing individual offshore projects within the operations team

• Pre-Job Planning:  including testing,
  equipment calibration and offshore workscope writing
• Execution: Equipment Assembly and ROV Interfacing,
  Data Acquisition, Demobilization
• Results: Data Processing and Reviewing

Engineering

Working within the Engineering Team to develop and release new products/services

• Mechanical Design
• Component Procurement and assembly
• Execution of test plans
• Development of operational documentation

Skills and Capabilities

• 3D CAD – SolidWorks or similar
• Communication – written, oral
• Capable of achieving offshore certification
• Capable of international travel
• Offshore certification considered an asset

This position requires significant independent judgment, self-starting and interpersonal skills. The position will require significant offshore work and some out of hours’ work. Previous experience in the Oil & Gas industry considered to be an asset.

Closing Date: Friday March 1^st 2013

To become a part of this dynamic team, email us at careers@welaptega.com. Please include a resume and a covering letter stating how you would make a difference to Welaptega Marine. Please quote competition number OT0220-WB when applying.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however please note that only those considered for an interview will be contacted.

Beijing Safetech Pipeline Co. LTD is a high-tech enterprise with core  business  on  pipeline and offshore oil and gas projects, engineering projects. The company is headed by Professor Minxu Lu, a world authority on materials corrosion.

“In order to engage CNOOC and other offshore players as customers it is necessary to have a relationship with an established China-based supplier,” said Welaptega CEO Tony Hall. “Safetech’s reputation, infrastructure and business relationships, make them the ideal choice for a company like Welaptega to expand into this region.”

The agreement will enable Welaptega to move forward a number of pending opportunities that are currently under discussion with CNOOC, the largest offshore operator in the region.

Download Fitness for Purpose Evaluation Service sheet

Halifax, Canada, Dec 4, 2012 – Welaptega Marine Limited, world leader in mooring integrity verification,is pleased to announce that it has formed an alliance with UK engineering firm BPP-TECH to offer the highest-quality Fitness for Purpose Evaluations for offshore mooring systems.

“Together we offer something unique to the offshore industry,” said Tony Hall, CEO of Welaptega
Marine. “By integrating Welaptegaʼs top-quality inspection data with world-class engineering
analysis from BPP-TECH, we now have the capability to deliver a comprehensive fitness for
purpose evaluation of mooring assets. Our combined experience and knowledge of best
practice will help operators manage risk and save money.”

Mooring failure is a Class 1 Hazard according to UK HSE

Moorings are safety critical systems subject to immense environmental and structural forces.

Mooring failure is a Class 1 Hazard, the highest rating given by the UK Health and Safety
Executive (HSE). Failure can compromise operational safety, production and reputation.

BPP-TECH will interpret data collected with Welaptegaʼs accredited inspection technologies to
create the highest quality intelligence available of a mooring systemʼs condition and its fitness
for purpose.

This information can be used to satisfy certifiers, regulators and insurance companies.

With a combined experience of more than 40 years in the offshore oil and gas sector, BPP-TECH
and Welaptega share a common focus on technology, innovation and best-practice in
offshore inspection and analysis.

Fitness for Purpose Evaluations deliverables include:

• Identification of most probable mooring failure modes.

• Quantification of degraded mooring components using Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

• Assessment of fatigue based on known environmental factors such as load cycles,

metocean predictions and component degradation

• Establishment of present-day operational Fitness for Purpose of mooring systems

including maximum survival conditions

• Mooring system design reassessment based on API, IACS member classification society

standards, or client requirements using present day mooring condition as input

• Assessment of remaining life of mooring system

For more information on the Welaptega-BPP-TECH Moorings Fitness for Purpose Evaluation

please contact:

Welaptega will inspect a riser chain attached to a buoyancy tank on an FPSO

Halifax, Nova Scotia - Welaptega Marine, world leader in mooring integrity verification, has been awarded a contract to inspect riser moorings on the high-profile Petrobras Cascade Chinook development in the Gulf of Mexico.

Welaptega will measure mooring chains that connect four vertical risers to buoyancy tanks on the the BW Pioneer FPSO. The Pioneer is the world’s deepest FPSO, operating in 2600 meters of water 180 miles off the coast of Louisiana.

“This is part of a longterm life cycle mooring integrity inspection,” said Tony Hall, CEO of Welaptega Marine. “Petrobras and the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) recognize the importance of regular inspection as part of a wider integrity strategy.”

A team of Welaptega engineers will deploy the Chain Measurement System (CMS), a Welaptega patented technology, to measure the length of each chain link and inter-grip zones on four riser mooring systems.

It is part of an on-going program of mooring inspection carried out by Welaptega on a six-monthly interval.

The Pioneer is the first FPSO production development approved in the Gulf of Mexico.

The job deploys in November. This is the fifth inspection conducted by Welaptega on this project. The contact was awarded to Welaptega by Veolia Water special services division.

“It is mission critical that we do the detective work up front on these ageing systems,” according to Tony Hall, CEO of Welaptega Marine. “It’s imperative that we identify any phenomenon that could put a facility at risk of failure.”

Hall, whose company specializes in risk-based mooring integrity verification, was speaking to a group of offshore integrity experts attending a seminar on ageing infrastructure. It was convened by the Oil, Petrochemical and Energy Risk Association (OPERA).

“It’s not good enough to do the postmortem on a failure. That’s too late. We need to be on the lookout for deteriorative mechanisms that put the system at risk of failure so preventive action can be taken.”

He said risk-based inspection must be guided by experience of mooring systems and industry best practice. This means looking for risky areas where a deteriorative phenomenon is known to have occurred before.

“Industry has already identified many of these phenomena through operational experience which has been captured in the Oil & Gas UK guidelines on mooring integrity management , and the various Joint Industry Projects on mooring integrity (JIP).”

He said it’s also important to identify other types of deterioration which may not have been associated with failure in the past but that could still lead to failure.

He pointed to mechanisms such as sulfate reducing bacteria, heavy wear and corrosion at the turret, and bird-caging of wire rope.

He said this issue is more important than ever now that offshore reservoirs are being extended for further oil and gas extraction. There is greater demand for older assets like FPSOs to function as tiebacks and gatherings.

Welaptega has built up an in-depth knowledge of moorings after 15 years in the subsea inspection industry. It has participated in industry JIPs and developed its own technologies to identify and quantify subsea damage caused by age-related deterioration and impact.

Halifax, Nova Scotia _ Tony Hall, CEO of Welaptega Marine, will be a featured speaker at a seminar of asset integrity experts examining the impact of ageing infrastructure in the offshore oil and gas sector.

The seminar, entitled “Insuring ageing facilities for better or worse”, is sponsored by the London-based Oil Petrochemical and Energy Risk Association (OPERA).

Participants will explore the challenges of offshore facilities being considered for subsea tie backs and gathering operations.

“We have to know that these ageing assets are still fit for purpose,” said Hall, who will speak on the topic of mooring integrity verification on offshore assets. “It’s a balance between safety, profitability and risk.”

Seminar topics include:

• Contribution of age factors to loss profile
• Regional aspects of aging
• Life extensions

Other speakers include Szen Ong of BPP-Tech who will speak on Ageing Subsea Assets – Riser and Umbilical Case Studies and Judith Hackitt CBE of the UK HSE who will deliver the  Keynote Address.

The day-long seminar will be held October 30, 2012 at the Swiss Re Lecture Theatre in London.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 17, 2012 _ A new sense of urgency is emerging around ageing offshore infrastructure as facilities reach the end of their design lives and major incidents cost millions -  in some cases billions, a group of integrity management experts heard during a Petronas seminar on Managing Risk on Ageing Offshore Infrastructure.

“Major incidents are leading to loss of life, environmental damage and huge costs in damage and lost production,” said guest presenter Tony Hall, CEO of mooring integrity leader Welaptega Marine. “If we don’t take care of these ageing offshore facilities, significant loss of assets is inevitable.”

Hall, whose company is world leader in risk-based integrity verification in the floating production sector, says moorings are an example of “safety critical systems” which are subject to immense environmental forces including waves, currents, abrasion and hurricanes.

Age-related wear of materials

When you consider age-related wear and degradation of materials, and add to that the problem of unpredictable damage due to impacts, mooring systems are vulnerable and at risk of failure.

“We have to know that these aging assets are still fit for purpose,” said Hall told the group. “It≠s a balance between safety, profitability and risk.”

Hall said offshore oil and gas operators can no longer afford to neglect ageing offshore infrastructure because the costs and consequences are potentially catastrophic. Companies can realize huge savings through proactive integrity management which not only reduce risk but also extend the working life of older facilities for functions such as subsea tiebacks and gathering operations.

Mooring failure is a Class 1 Hazard according to UK HSE

“Mooring failure is classified as a Class 1 Hazard, the highest ranking given by the UK Health and Safety Executive,” said Hall. “In most cases moorings are the primary and only station-keeping system.”

High-profile mooring failures such as the Maersk Gryphon Alpha highlight the potential costs. During a storm in the North Sea in February 2011,  four of ten mooring chains broke putting the facility out of commission and resulting in estimated insured losses of between $900 million and $1.5 billion

In January 2012 the Premier Oil Banff FPSO broke its anchors in the North Sea causing damage to risers and putting the facility out of production. Insured losses are estimated at $300 million.

Operators can save money by extending life of facilities

Hall told the group that operators and contractors will realize savings through lifecycle inspection strategies which begin with a risk-based review of the mooring design and continue with inspections before installation of a mooring system and on a regular cycle post-installation.

Working in the oil and gas offshore inspection sector for the past 20 years, Mr. Hall has witnessed the progress of age-related wear on mooring systems in floating production.

His company has developed imaging and measuring technologies such as high-definition 3D video and 3D modeling to inspect underwater components such as mooring chains and wire rope.

Hall praised companies like Petronas for organizing the seminar and taking a lead in proactive integrity management of offshore assets. He also praised companies such as Woodside, Chevron, Marathon and Petrobras that have used lifecycle inspection approach to integrity monitoring.