SWEDEN: Swedish technology profiles

The Cap Jet ROV features a titanium frame and auxiliary equipment manufactured by Permascand.

Permascand delivers customized titanium products where corrosion resistance or high strength/low weight ratio is crucial. Based on 30 years' experience of working with titanium, it can offer designs or manufactured solutions in titanium for pipe spools for firefighting and exhaust systems, lightweight and flexible clamps, frames for subsea vehicles, electronic pods, subsea intervention tools, and titanium nitrided hydraulic pistons. Some products are guaranteed to withstand corrosion for 30 years. The company's services include FEA calculation and manufacturing including cold and hot forming, laser, plasma and TIG welding and assembly, and testing of diverse titanium alloyed products. (Website: www.permascand.com)

Early project philosophy

Gotaverken Arendal, GVA, based in Gothenburg, is a modern management company with roots in the shipbuilding and offshore industry. It offers expertise to support an offshore project, in part or in its entirety, from financing up to delivery - including design, engineering, procurement, construction, project management and legal services. The GVA EEP is a philosophy aimed at reducing overall project risks and shortening delivery times. By carrying out pre-contracted activities, the contractor should have a well planned and verified project at the contract signing stage.

HE communication

For more than 50 years, Peltor has been developing and supplying communication headsets for noisy or harsh environments (HE). The new Peltor H10 headset features a unique double shell construction and a built-in, noise-compensated microphone. This enables its users to undertake clear and reliable communication even under extreme surrounding noise levels, and yet be protected from hearing damage at all times.

Torpedo technology ROV

Torpedo production started in Sweden in 1910, and as a result, Saab Bofors Underwater Systems today possesses wide-ranging experience and know-how in underwater technology. The company is known for its ROVs, which feature a unique control system that gives 360 degrees of freedom in all attitudes. More than 100 such systems have been delivered to customers worldwide for commercial and military applications. The Sea Owl Mk IV was specially developed for the offshore sector in the harsh environment of the North Sea.

Firefighting systems

Svenska Skum, a wholly owned Unitor subsidiary, designs, makes, and sells fixed firefighting systems for marine and industrial applications worldwide. It is based in Gothenburg, with subsidiaries in The Netherlands and Norway. Marine fire fighting is handled from its office in Moss, Norway. The group can supply complete Fi-Fi systems for tugs, fireboats and platform supply vessels, including system design, manufacturing, turnkey delivery, and commissioning. Other marine applications include deck foam systems for tankers, helideck protection and HotFoam systems for protecting enclosed spaces, such as engine rooms. This service is handled by Unitor Ships Equipment.

Plate heat exchangers

The MSS 5000 system installed on a craft operated by the Hellenic Coast Guard.

Thermal equipment for offshore platforms must be able to withstand corrosive media and environments, and must also be extremely compact. SWEP's plate heat exchanger designs, in combination with lightweight, flexible, and corrosion-resistant materials, are well suited to these tough demands. The company has representative service groups for the Norwegian and UK sectors and also for the US market, based in Houston. SWEP is a growing company within the Tranter group with representation in more than 50 countries.

Oil spill surveillance

Swedish Space Corporation, well known for its work on airborne systems for the surveillance of oil spills, introduced the MSS 5000 system. Radar and infra-red images of an oil spill are geo-corrected and overlaid on an electronic map in real time to display the location and extent of the spill. The overview is also translated via a data link to ship or shore for real-time management information.

Gas turbine systems

Volvo Aero Corporation, Land & Marine Gas Turbines (LMGT) develops, manufactures, and sells complete systems based on Volvo Aero's industrial gas turbines - the VT 600, VT 2600, VT 4400 (formerly DR990) - as well as providing maintenance for LM 1600 and Allison 570 gas turbines. LMGT aftermarket activities started in 1990 when it was commissioned to overhaul Phillips' Allison 570K gas turbines on the Ekofisk Field. Current maintenance contacts include two LM 1600 gas turbines, operated by Maersk Contractors in the North Sea. Last December, LMGT, in co-operation with MTU, won a maintenance contract for all of Phillips' gas turbines in the UK and Norwegian sectors.

Heat transfer solutions

Allards Verkstader in Falun, Sweden has wide ranging experience over many years in heat transfer engineering. Its products are used in processes where water and other fluids have to be cooled, vaporized, or filtered, often under great pressure. Users include the offshore, petrochemical, marine, and pulp/paper industries. The company's services range from thermal and mechanical design to complete manufacture of, and support for, heat exchangers, petroleum tanks, and pressure vessels.

Modular seabed processing

An AlphaPRIME system undergoing tests in Malmo.

Alpha Thames is part of Saab Technologies and specializes in the design and manufacture of modular seabed processing systems. The company undertakes the development of offshore fields and offers its AlphaPRIME technology for maximizing hydrocarbon recovery, increasing well production by up to 75% and reducing production costs by $2-3/bbl. The System-Module methods employed in the AlphaPRIME system and use of field-proven components make it a low-risk solution, the company claims. It also believes that valuable new partnerships can be formed with any company aiming for a technological lead in this new area of offshore activity.

Cavotec Eex equipment for offshore duty

The Cavotec Group manufactures a wide variety of equipment for the oil, gas, and energy sectors, with global representation. It specializes in explosion proof environments with products including radio remote controls, slipring assemblies, cable and hose reels, drag chains, industrial controllers, and crane control units (see websites www.cavotec.com and www.flexiblecables.com).

Mud-pit cleaning

Following new environmental legislation reducing rig emissions, Consilium Toftejorg is taking optimization of mud-pit cleaning a step further through development of a simple system that allows recirculation of water, chemicals, and mud. Only a minimal volume of water is required to initiate the cleaning process. Once sufficient volume is in the pit, the water supply can be turned off while the existing water and mud is scavenged from the pit floor and recirculated through a filter and then back to the cleaning head.

Water treatment

ECT Offshore Service offers comprehensive services for the treatment of drinking water offshore. Its systems have operated on more than 250 rigs and platforms, many of which have annual service contracts with ECT. Due to the company's close cooperation with the Norwegian government, it can ensure that the installations fulfill their requirements for this service. ECT also runs courses each year entitled "Drinking Water Treatment for Offshore Personnel."

Offshore living quarters

Emtunga International, with 25 years' experience in the offshore sector, continues to broaden its markets. North Sea standard living quarters are now requested throughout the world, the company claims, to improve the quality, safety, and general living standards for offshore crews. Furthermore, operators of floating installations, such as FPSOs and FSOs, no longer accept marine-standard deckhouses. With planned lifespans of 30-40 years and 10 years between each drydocking, it is essential to have living quarters of the highest standard and with low life cycle costs. Finally, as standardization becomes more widespread, it could cut the costs of living quarters by more than 10%, the company maintains.

Semisubmersible design

GVA Consultants specializes in the design and engineering of semisubmersibles. The company, with its roots in the former GVA shipyard, has more than 20 years of experience with semis for various applications, including accommodation, drilling, and production. It has an extensive background in floating production semisubmersibles, having designed more than 50% of those operating worldwide. Its design reference list includes Norsk Hydro's Visund and Troll C units and Statoil's Åasgard B. Presently GVA-C is designing a production semi for Statoil's Kristin Field.

Winch performance

Hagglunds has been working with manufacturers and operators of winches to optimize applications for 40 years. This experience and knowledge makes the Hagglunds name well known for performance and reliability, particularly with mooring and lifting applications. Typical features of the company's winch drives are: high power (up to 1,200 kW); accurate, constant tension at low and even zero speed with very high mechanical and starting efficiency; no stick-slip effects; strong low-speed performance; and low inertia, providing highly responsive controls.

Largest hydraulic motor

Integrated Drives Sweden developed a module-based hydraulic motor with an almost limitless torque range. The motor is intended for applications where very large torque is required, such as turning of turrets, winches or cable drums. As the system is built up through use of standardized stocked components, it should prove a cost-effective alternative to open gear drives. The motor will be offered with torque from 2,000,000 Nm (1,480,000 lbft) and upwards. Mineral oil as well as water can be used as pressure media.

Tempered eyewashes

Krusman developed a unique blending system for eyewashes that is equipped with a safe thermostat to eliminate the risk of scalding. This is vitally important when there is a need to prolong the flushing time in cases where the victim has been exposed to splashes of corrosive substances that may attack the eyes or skin. If only cold water is accessible, it may be difficult for the victim to endure the required flushing time. Krusman supplies safety blending systems for eye and drench showers.

Economical electrode packaging

New VacPac foil.

The aluminum-laminated New VacPac foil from ESAB stops moisture build-up, while a vacuum indicates that the package is intact and that the electrodes are therefore dry. The New VacPac has a wrapper featuring numerous improvements: storing and re-drying is eliminated; increased protection from accidental piercing; complete marking information directly on the laminate; new package sizes adapted for typical working shifts (0.7 kg, 2.5 kg and 4 kg of electrodes) reduced plastic content in the package.

Hot isostatic processing

Metso Powdermet won major challenging contracts from the offshore industry in recent years. Its near net shape, HIP-ed products are supplied from the world's largest hot isostatic processing (HIP) facility, located in Surahammar, Sweden. Applications for this technique are found mainly among pressure vessel items, such as manifolds for topside or subsea installations, valve bodies, swivels, Wye-pieces and large wall-thickness fittings. The material grades are primarily high strength stainless steel, such as Ferritic 12% Cr., 6 Mo austenitic and 22-25%Cr. duplex Ferritic/austenitic grades with notable corrosion resistance. Metal matrix composites have now been developed for hostile environments with a lifespan five times that of conventional material, the company claims.

Mooring components

Moorlink, founded in 1995, specializes in tailor-made mooring components. It developed a series of fittings, including swivel links, wire clamps, chain clamps and can also provide customized components. Clients are mainly drilling contractors, anchorhandler operators, oil companies, floating production operators and marine equipment companies. One of its newest products is the multi-functional Ball Swivel. This was designed using 3D CAD models and finite element analysis. It combines a wire socket, a swivel and chain connector into one simple unit. MoorLink also offers forged or cast high-grade steel, meeting the material properties of rig chain grade 4.