Marine Log - April 2008 - (Page 17)

BY NICK BLENKEY OFFSHORESERVICE OFFSHORE VESSELS EVOLVE TO MEET SUBSEA DEMANDS O ffshore drilling continues to push into ever deeper and more distant waters. That, in itself, calls for greater quantities of the supplies traditionally ferried to rigs and platforms by supply boats. But another important aspect of deepwater activity is that fields are mainly developed by using subsea technologies—control of the well at the seabed by subsea well heads. Infield Systems Limited, in the just published fourth edition of its Subsea Market Update forecasts that $106 billion is to be spent on the global subsea market over the next five years, including drilling and completion, subsea equipment and SURF pipelines and control lines. This forecast spend is a 65% increase on the 20032007 five year period. Regionally, Africa will see an increase to $31 billion from $17.5 billion, while Asia and Australasia will see increases from $3.7 billion to $16.8 billion. In Europe and North America the expected increase is 20% to $39.7 billion and finally Latin America will see a 69% increase to $17.6 billion. BOURBON PEERS INTO SUBSEA FUTURE One offshore services provider that has taken the significance of subsea activity on board is Paris-based Bourbon. In February, it extended its strategic plan to 2012. A difference between Bourbon’s new Horizon 2012 plan and the earlier Horizon 2010 is that Bourbon is not only increasing its substantial investment in building up its Offshore Division but has split it into two compo- nents, marine services and subsea services. Both will get more new vessels. Marine services will cover the provision of offshore support vessels, crew boats and salvage tugs. Subsea services (which builds on Bourbon’s substantial experience in this area since 2004 offshore West Africa) will cover engineering and management, IMR vessels and ROV services. IMR (inspection, maintenace and repair) vessels are multipurpose supply vessels (MPSV) whose design and equipment have been adapted to the special requiremens of IMR. Equipped with DP2 and even DP3 dynamic positioning technology and with active heave compensation cranes up to 100 tons at a depth of 3,000 m offshore, the IMR vessels also have a large deck capacity and substantial accommodation capacities, up to 100 persons. The vessels also have all the cargo and logistical support capacities clients need for substantial flexibility of use. Island Constructor, launched recently at Ulstein Verft, will be equipped to handle a broad range of tasks—including well intervention www.marinelog.com APRIL 2008 MARINE LOG 17 http://www.marinelog.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Marine Log - April 2008

Marine Log - April 2008 Contents Editorial Second Thoughts Update Inside Washington Offshore Vessels Evolve to Meet Subsea Demands Picking the Right Floaters for Deepwater Tugs: The Good Times Roll, But for How Long? Interactive TV at Sea Jo-Kell's Suzan Kelly Tugs & Barges Exhibitors Preview Beyond Imagination Tech News Newsmakers Contracts Events Website Directory Infodirect ML Marketplace Last Page

Marine Log - April 2008

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