4DX Bronze Level Manager Certification 2010

Marketing Communications

Marketing Communications provides support to the Marketing & Sales, Product & Technology Development, and Project Development departments via illustrations, animations, printed materials, advertising, event planning and coordination, and a myriad of other services.  Additionally, the Houston Marketing Communications team lends support to the Corporate Communications Department in Monaco by providing graphics and, as in the case with OTC, coordination for tradeshows. 

 

---

 Leslie Wilson, Marketing Communications Manager

 

How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

 I was hired by Atlantia Offshore in May of 2004, so I have been with the company for a little over six years.  I typically do not have a typical day!  During the course of a day, I work on anything from an ad campaign, to website content, and working with our Graphic Artist on tradeshow graphics, collecting drawings for a model maker in Singapore, and anything in between.  The broad range of activities that my job encompasses serves to keep things interesting.  There really is hardly ever a dull moment. 

What are your hobbies?

I don’t have any traditional hobbies per se.  What I really enjoy doing are home projects that require a bit of creativity.  My latest projects include stripping a metal chandelier, stripping/sanding/refinishing a credenza, and one that has almost gotten me in too deep – staining the concrete floor in my son’s room.  In writing this, I’ve just noted a common theme running through these projects – sanding.  Sanding requires patience and attention to detail, and at times a bit of detective work.  Some of my projects cannot be completed with sanding in the traditional sense of the word.  I’ve gotten to know my drill (and the various attachments available for it) quite well.  I recently added an angle grinder to the host of tools acquired for my hobby!

Are you involved in charity work or activities that give back to the community?

 About five years ago, I served as a counselor at Camp for All, a camp/retreat for children and adults with challenging illnesses and special needs.  I can honestly say that I’ve never been through a more personally rewarding experience than the weekend I acted as counselor to six and seven year old HIV positive girls.  This camp is truly inspiring and gives children a chance to do things they might not otherwise have an opportunity to experience.  Just by chance, I’ve had opportunity to continue my support of Camp for All via my son’s swim team.  Every year, the swim team has a swim-a-thon, and the recipient of all funds raised is none other than Camp for All.

To relax, I like to…?

Work in the yard or spend time with my sons.

Do you have family members that you would like to brag about?

Yes, 'My Three Sons'!  My son Jackson (6), who truly never ceases to amaze me with his insight, wit and wisdom.  He is just a cool kid, and makes/has friends wherever he goes.  He is absolutely oblivious to the effect he has on people – a fact that makes him that much more appealing to be around.  My stepson Austin (15, almost 16), the all-around athlete, is gearing up with Summer workout sessions to start on the Varsity football team at Spring High School  (Go Lions!).  He will play left tackle (LT) on the offensive line.  My stepson Justin (18), currently studying and working hours in a hospital, will attend firefighter school in the Fall, and ultimately become a paramedic/firefighter .

 Any pets?

A black Lab named Dixie, and a brand new addition to the family, a kitten.  We are in the process of introducing Dixie and the kitten.  The Lab is ready to play, but the kitten, not so much.

My favorite travel location is…?

I had opportunity to travel in Italy many years ago, and I would love to go back – Rome, Florence, Portofino, Lake Como…

My favorite travel location stateside would have to be Port Aransas, TX.  We love to fish, so we typically go out with a guide, and then enjoy the seaside town of Port ‘A’ - heaven.

People would be surprised to know that …?

 That I’m an avid fisherman.

If I could change one thing in this world, I would ….?

I would change the fact that people judge others without knowing them.  I’ve seen this work to the detriment of so many people, as something is assumed about them based on appearances, or conjecture, and they are never given the chance to show what they can do.

What is an aspect of your job that you enjoy? 

 One of the things I enjoy most about my job is getting to meet, and work with people from other SBMO offices.  OTC is a particularly good time to meet people from our sister locations, as I get to meet people not just from Marketing & Sales, but also from engineering, procurement, R&D, etc.  I really get a varied sampling of the range of people working at SBMO.

 

---

Lynda Ingram, 3D Animator

 

 How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

I’m the 3D Animator for the Houston office and have been with SBM Atlantia for 4-1/2 years. I work with Sales, Research and Development, and new product development to promote the company’s product line. I take the ideas and designs for new projects or techniques and I create them in 3D and make them look realistic. A realistic representation of the new project or procedure makes it easier for the client to see what we have designed as a viable solution.  The more realistic a new product looks the more the client can visualize our solutions as one that will work for their needs.

Looking at a 3D image our client can:

A. See that we have put a lot of research and thought into solving their problem, and

B. A 3D image shows a more polished idea than what a technical drawing can show. Hopefully, the 3D image or animation will help the client in his decision making process.

For projects that we already have been awarded I create a very detailed and realistic image of the project so we can use it in advertising. For product that hasn’t been constructed yet, the 3D image or animation makes tangible, products that for right now are intangible, and also allows us to put all our products next to each other in an ocean setting to display our whole or part of product line.

What are your hobbies?

I love movies, cross stitching, gardening, playing with my 2 year old little girl, traveling (short weekend trips), and swimming.

Are you involved in charity work or activities that give back to the community?

I give back to the community when I see a need. I do give to the Ronald McDonald House. When my daughter was in NICU for the first 5 weeks of her life, we stayed at the Ronald McDonald House located in the Texas Children’s Hospital so that we could be just down the hall from our daughter, see her all the time, and check on her in the middle of the night. I never knew all the things that this organization does to help parents with sick children until I had this experience with my daughter. Now, I support them as much as I can. They are a great organization.

To relax, I like to…?

I like to read and relax by a pool

Do you have family members that you would like to brag about?

I am married and my husband, Ryan, works in the oil industry also. He works for Noble Drilling offshore as a DPO on a drilling oil rig. We have a beautiful 2 year old little girl, Isabella, who is just the sweetest little girl ever. She smiles and laughs all the time. She has the sweetest disposition of any 2 year old I have ever seen and I love playing with her.

Any pets?

I have one cat, whose name is Shady, which is short for Shadow. She is all black, has long hair, and she is a very sweet and beautiful cat.

My favorite travel location is…?

I like going to tropical locations like, Jamaica, Cozumel, and Cancun for long vacations. But I do a lot of weekend travel to short distances like San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Kemah, College Station, and Spring (splash town). My family and I do not take many long vacations, so instead we take a lot of weekend trips, this way we have a break every month or so.

People would be surprised to know that …?

People would be surprised to know that I actually have my degree in 3D Animation. I graduated from college in 1995 with a dual degree in 3D Animation and Graphic Design. I also used to be the head of the animation department at the Art Institute of Houston.

 

---

Donald Bleyl, Graphics Coordinator

 

How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

This is my fifth year at SBMA. Each day is a little different here. I can be involved in so many different types of projects that I never, never get bored. At any given time I might be working on the company website, doing photography, doing a 3D illustration for our next great product or project, helping with a slide show, working on a display for a trade show or producing a logo or printed piece.

What are your hobbies?

Music is my main hobby. I play a variety of instruments but guitar is my main thing. I play in the Worship Team at my church and do small venue performances from time to time. I love to read and am also involved in the study of comparative cultural worldviews and the politics that revolve around them.

Are you involved in charity work or activities that gives back to the community?

I have played music at church for 25 years, taught Bible Studies, and played at various community charity events. I am fortunate that I can mix music with my giving.

To relax, I like to…?

I enjoy action movies but often end up seeing chick flicks because of the female population of my household. I also play about once a month with the locals at the Kenney Store, a venue where musical talent from the surrounding communities gathers.

Do you have family members that you would like to brag about?

More than I can write about here…  My oldest daughter Anna was Texas Teacher of the Year two years ago for the grade level she taught. She and her husband Mike have given me the blessings of two wonderful grandkids, Lydia and Jake. My next oldest daughter Wendy and her husband Kevin are building a beautiful home not far from us. Then there is Kirsty, my brilliant philosopher / writer who has been going to Kings College in Manhattan and is now back home with us. Finally there is my youngest, Katy who is a dancer / musician / artist and will be going into 11^th grade this fall. My wife, Lee Ann, manages to hold this clan together with her love and wisdom.

Any pets?

We just have one – a feral cat that took up residence under our house and earns her keep by reducing the gopher and rabbit population on the property. Her name is Butterscotch.

My favorite travel location is…?

I’m not much of a traveler, but long ago I spent some time in France and would like to go back someday.  Locally, I love exploring the Hill Country of Central Texas.

People would be surprised to know that …?

Not many surprises here. I can cook a great stir fry and love the kitchen, but you can probably tell that…

If I could change one thing in this world, I would …?

I’ve come to realize that every day each of us changes the world in a small or large way. We can’t help it. It’s the butterfly effect on a grand scale. So I would wish that everyone would spend more time trying to measure their words and actions by their possible detrimental or beneficial effects on those they come in contact with.

What benefits do you see in having a Spotlight page like this on our company website?

Working at a company as large as SBMA makes it difficult to meet and build relationships with our fellow workers. We see each other; we sit in each other’s offices and go to meetings together, but that is usually the extent of our knowledge of each other. The Spotlight page gives the opportunity to gain just a little more insight into each other in a fun and non-threatening way.

2010 Golf Tournament

Weight Management Group

  The Weight Control Department is tasked with the actions required to assure that the final weight and center are within the limits established by the Naval Architects. It is also a technical metric for a project that can be used where design decisions and the configuration is controlled well enough to assure the performance of the system.

---

Carlos Canedo, Structural Engineer

 

How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

I've been with SBM Atlantia for almost 9 years. I'm an "early bird" and start my day at the office at 6:30 AM. Most of my days are spent compiling data to provide good, solid input for proposals to help achieve profitable projects. We are currently looking at developing tools for preparing proposals.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy playing Chess and photography.

Are you involved in charity work or activities that gives back to the community?

Although I’m not involved in charity work, I do donate to St. Jude’s.  I’ve chosen to support St. Jude’s because it’s an organization that helps children.

To relax, I like to……?

To relax I like to play Chess.  I join 3 other SBMA colleagues in The Galley during lunch 2 to 3 times a week for some friendly competition.  When I first joined that group, I often was able to capture Jay’s king.  Alas, Jay is now mowing down my King ….. but not to worry …… my stealthy hoard WILL be successful with a surprise return attack!

Do you have family members that you would like to brag about?

My 10 month old grandson, Adrian, gives me great joy.  I love getting down on the floor and playing with him.   During this precious playtime I feel like it’s roll reversal and I’m the kid, and he’s the Grandpa.

My favorite travel location is…?

I love traveling to Europe.  I recently returned from an incredible vacation in Isreal…….and have 500 beautiful pictures to prove it!

If I could change one thing in this world, I would …..?

Eliminate discrimination.

 

---

Jeff Froemming, Weight Control Engineer

 

 How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

I have been with SBM Atlantia for the past 1 1/2 years.  I’m currently working in the DeepDraft command center, as my boss likes to call it, because both my office mate and I are working on managing weight for the DeepDraft Semi-submersibles.  I spend my time reviewing documents, crunching spreadsheets, and going to meetings.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy being on or near the water.  Some of my favorite hobbies are surfing, fishing, and boating. 

Are you involved in charity work or activities that gives back to the community?

Prior to having children, I volunteered as an IT support person at my church.  I also participated in a program where I visited nursing homes with my dog.  I’m so busy with family commitments now that I have not had been able to volunteer much of my time.

To relax, I like to……?

I enjoy spending time with my family on our patio, reading suspense novels, and barbecuing with my neighbors.

Do you have family members that you would like to brag about?

I have a 3 year old daughter and a 9 week old son

Any pets?

A laid-back beagle named Bailey . 

My favorite travel location is…?

The north Pacific coast of Costa Rica

People would be surprised to know that ……?

I was involved in the Columbia Accident investigation.

 

---

Ruben Martinez II, Weight Control Specialist

 

How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

I started working for Gusto for 4 years ago. My days vary in the type of work I do. I could be diving head first into a pile of weight reports one day, or running to meetings all over the building the next day.

What are your hobbies?

I have many hobbies such as carpentry, art painting, writing poetry, singing, strumming the guitar, and doing all these things with my daughters.

Are you involved in charity work or activities that gives back to the community?

Although I am not involved with any charitable work, I try to contribute to society by donating blood every quarter of the year. It is not much but may lead to saving someone’s life one day.

To relax, I like to……?

I normally work on my hobbies to relax but I guess the greatest thing that calms me consistently is putting my girls, Hannah and Emmah to bed and watching them sleep. Just listening to them breathe in deeply and exhale fills me with joy and tranquility.

Do you have family members that you would like to brag about?

I would like to brag about my wife. My life would be a nightmare without this woman. I have a wicked sense of humor that not too many people close to me may accept, and I give kudos to Grace for putting up with me all these years. Its not often I tell her how important she is for being in my life. She is, an exceptional woman.

Any pets?

Yeah, I have this dog named Nacho and he is a Yorky-mixed with I do not know what. That dog and I absolutely do not get along! 

My favorite travel location is…?

Anywhere there are pines trees is a good travel place for me. There is something about being in the woods that I find medicinal and relaxing.

 People would be surprised to know that ……?

That I am easily distracted by the thought and sight of ice cream and blueberry muffins. Although, those whom know me personally in reality would not be so surprised.

If I could change one thing in this world, I would …..?

It is a difficult question to answer because the possibilities are infinite. However, I think one thing I would really like to see more of in this world is good humor. I think people are excessively involved with things that are beyond their control and over time, I see many lose their sense of humor. I think memories become measurable by the laughter shared by friends rather than remorse of one rotten moment.

My personal motto is….

“Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam” that is in Latin and it translates to, “I will either find a way or I will make one”. 

 

---

Alfred Munoz, Weight Control Engineer

 

How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

I was hired by Gusto MSC in 2006. A typical day for me is performing those activities related to creating weight reports. These activities include making sure I receive updates, assemble all the data, create a weight report, and present the weight status and recommendations to the client.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies included aquariums, bicycling, gardening, sketching, and watching movies.

Are you involved in charity work or activities that give back to the community? 

Unfortunately, because of my busy schedule, I have not participated in any charity work in the recent years.  I do make donations at the grocery store check and participate in canned food drives.

To relax, I like to…?

Take a walk, talk with friends and family, do some sketching, work on landscaping, cook, and my favorite is to get on the couch and watch movies.

Do you have family members that you would like to brag about?

Yes, my wife Sandra is a really creative, intelligent, calm, and happy person. She has a great eye for interior design and home decor. She is a great school teacher, loves music and choir, and has an amazing singing voice. My Mom loves cooking and she enjoys it even more when we do it together. My Dad and I love to go fishing and work on cars. My brother and sister have a great sense of humor and are always making me laugh.

Any pets?

Yes, we have a small white poodle named Chloe who is extremely smart. We also have a couple of tropical fish and a bottom feeder named Uncle Bob.

My favorite travel location is…?

Hawaii

People would be surprised to know that …?

I do like to shop and I enjoy watching romantic comedies with my wife.

If I could change one thing in this world, I would …?

Make sure that everyone had their basic needs met.

How do you think the world could most benefit from you?

I think that the world could benefit from me the most by me being a team player in whichever situation destiny may take me. I will always keep trying and never give up no matter what.

 

---

Binh Nguyen, Structural Engineer

 

How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

I started with SBM in 2006 as an intern student, and returned after graduation on January, 2007.

What are your hobbies?

Martial Arts and Meditation.

Are you involved in charity work or activities that give back to the community?

I am a Leader of the Buddhist Youth Group Association in United States to mentor young kids in several activities such as understanding moral standards and being confident.  At least once per year I take the youth group to visit a nursing home.

I coordinated a fundraising event to help hurricane, typhoon, and earthquake victims all over the World.

To relax, I like to……?

...have a cup of coffee and listen to some old Vietnamese and English songs with my friends. I also like to play guitar, sing, and watch Sooners Football.

Do you have family members that you would like to brag about?

My parents have 9 kids and I am the 8^th. Five of them are still living in Viet Nam. Of course I am missing them very much…

My favorite travel location is…?

Vietnam, where I grew up and have a lot of childhood memories, and parts of Europe where I once traveled.

People would be surprised to know that ……?

I have no surprises for anybody today.

If I could change one thing in this world, I would …..?

Have no war!

 

---

Andy Schuster, Weight Control Manager

 

How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

I’ve been with SBM Atlantia for 3 years.  Supporting several projects at a time there are lots of meetings and documents to review each day. It is not unusual to get involved with 6 different SBMA products (DDS, TDS, DR, Buoy) in one day.  

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy reading; I even have one of those Personal Digital Readers.  My wife and I travel a lot because her employer (Continental Airlines) encourages her to learn more about their product.   I have sail boats in Texas and Virginia, where we keep a second home, and get really get nervous whenever a hurricane makes land fall!  During the winter we go skiing one or twice for a long week end.

Are you involved in charity work or activities that gives back to the community?

Currently, I’m involved with the Professional Society for Weight Engineers (SAWE.org). It is non-profit organization that is focused on improving the state of art for Weight Control.  I have several roles at the local and International level as an Officer, member of the Board of Directors, Offshore Standards Committee co-chair, Instructor, and author of books and standards and papers.  The local chapter is planning to host a regional conference in September, and an international conference in May 2011.  Much of my free time will be working with other weight engineers in Houston in the Offshore and Aerospace (NASA JSC) industries to make this a success.

To relax, I like to……?

I enjoy reading  novels and history of different cultures.  My wife and I enjoy simple meals at the many ethnic restaurants in Houston.

Any pets?

None since our miniature schnauzer passed, and since we travel so much. 

My favorite travel location is…?

I’ve visited 6 continents including Antarctica, so it’s really hard to say one favorite location. Obviously, it must be a place where I can go with my wife.  However, my short list would be the west side of the south island of New Zealand, Antibes in the south of France, Switzerland, my family’s ancestral home, and the San Francisco Bay area.

People would be surprised to know that ……?

I varsity lettered for 4 years on a NCAA ranked No 1 sports team in college.  The Maritime College Sailing Team was in the top 10 for f0ur years and ranked No. 1 for one year. 

If I could change one thing in this world, I would …..?

That we could listen to hear each other.

 

---

Kristine Wood, Weight Control Engineer

 

How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

I’ve been with SBM Atlantia just under 1 year.  On a typical day, I split my time between being the lead on one project, going to meetings, compiling weight calculations, and odds and ends structural work for another project.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy geocaching, it’s like a treasure hunt.  I also enjoy sewing when I can find the time.

Are you involved in charity work or activities that gives back to the community?

I’m a Girl Scout leader for my niece’s troop (7^th graders) and have been with them since they were in Kindergarten.  I really enjoy the girls and helping them learn new skills.

To relax, I like to……?

I like swimming; although my pool and I do not always get along (I want it clean, it seems to have other ideas.)  I also like reading, both fiction and non-fiction.

Do you have family members that you would like to brag about?

I have a 3.5 year old son who is my world.

Any pets?

I have 2 boxers (Scarlett O’Hara and Princess Fiona) who are like my first (albeit furry) children.  I also have 2 cats (Alexander the Great and Ivan the Terrible).

My favorite travel location is…?

I really love Cozumel.  I went right after I graduated from college with a friend of mine.  It was really beautiful and I loved seeing the Iguanas running around everywhere like the squirrels do here.  I can’t wait to go back again.

People would be surprised to know that ……?

My sister also works at SBM Atlantia and we have anniversary dates just one year apart. 

In-house Legal Team

Our in-house legal team handles the many business tasks which require a trained lawyer and also acts as the first line of defense for SBM Atlantia’s legal liability.  Ordinary legal transactions include drafting various contracts and agreements, technology licensing, trademarks, corporation entity house-keeping, setting copyright statements, and overseeing our corporate insurance policies.   

 

 

---

Gayle Carson, Legal Assistant

 

How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

I was hired by SBM-Imodco (now SBMA) in 2006. I oversee the Legal Library where all SBMA original signed contracts, confidentiality agreements, patent and trademark files, corporate insurance policies, litigation documents, and corporate entity legal papers are stored. A typical day consists of keeping track of all these documents, and assisting our attorneys in their work.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy riding my bicycle at Brazos Bend State Park, SBMA league golfing, bowling with the “Helifino” team, and visiting my local library.

Are you involved in charity work or activities that give back to the community? 

I used to volunteer at the Terrace Nursing Home when they had their weekly bingo games. My job was to break up the fights that inevitably broke out when the money pot got up to 80 cents or more (I’m not kidding). We all had a good time and I should do this more often. I also actively support the Avon Walk for Life with my sister who is a cancer survivor.

To relax, I like to……?

Cook dinner, turn off all machines, and eat outside on the patio with my neighbors.

Do you have family members that you would like to brag about?

I have 3 children, a son (Jason) and two daughters (Shannon and Stephanie). I am very proud of all of them.

Any pets?

I am owned by a fierce 6 lb. Chiwienerdog named Dixie.

My favorite travel location is…?

I love Mexico. I have been many times, but one of the best vacations I ever had was driving the Pacific coast of Mexico from Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa down to  Acapulco, and then driving through the Sierra Madre mountains over to Oaxaca.

People would be surprised to know that ……?

My legal last name is now Carson instead of Carpenter.

If I could change one thing in this world, I would …..?

Make sure everyone and everything that needs it has a clean supply of water.

---

 

Tim Colvin, Legal Counsel

 

How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

I’m brand new to SBM, my first day was the 29th of March (previously worked for J. Ray McDermott in Dubai and Baku). It’s hard to say yet what my typical day will be like since I’m so new and have spent much of my time in orientation and meeting people in Monaco, where I’m currently stuck because of the Iceland volcano.

What are your hobbies?

I love scuba diving, sailing, photography, camping and off-roading, especially when I get to enjoy those activities with my wife and kids.

Are you involved in charity work or activities that gives back to the community?

Not enough. I’ve recently sponsored my youngest brother (who is a cancer survivor) in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life

To relax, I like to……?

Read

Do you have family members that you would like to brag about?

My three children: Jacob age 10, Sofia age 5, and George age 2

Any pets?

Three dogs (a chocolate lab named Layla, an English Bulldog named Jelly, a mutt named JP, and a three-legged cat named Otis.

My favorite travel location is…?

A tie between Thailand and the British Virgin Islands

People would be surprised to know that ……?

I am easily stumped by that question.

If I could change one thing in this world, I would …..?

Stop starvation  

---

Lee Fitzjerrells, Legal Counsel

 

How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

I started work with Atlantia Corporation in 1997 as corporate counsel, transferring to the SBM Monaco office in 2002 and returning to the Houston office in 2007. My primary role is to provide legal support to the Marketing and Sales Department in relation to contracts (small and large) with clients from the bid stage thru signing of the contract. Generally this consists of a never-ending cycle of preparing qualifications to client contracts, participating in the negotiation of same (usually intense and demanding), followed by either crushing disappointment (if the effort is unsuccessful) or temporary euphoria (if we are awarded the contract). That said, the experience is never the same twice which keeps things interesting, and a personality quirk/defect allows me to derive some odd pleasure in the attempt to bring some order to the chaos of the initial draft contract.

What are your hobbies?

Travel to places of historical interest, cycling, tennis, competitive games of all kinds and, a somewhat embarrassing carryover from childhood, collecting vintage baseball cards.

Are you involved in charity work or activities that give back to the community?

With 3 children under the age of 6, I am afraid charity begins at home as time and resource are already stretched to the breaking point.

To relax, I like to……?

My pleasures are simple. Again, with three young children, relaxing in and of itself is a joy and regardless of the activity. Given a few peaceful hours though, I find people-watching from a table in the sun, with spirited company, and a favorite beverage hard to beat.

Do you have family members that you would like to brag about?

My three children Gabriel age 5, Thomas age 3, and Elise age 3 months, are a source of constant pride and joy. I expect the trouble comes later.

Any pets?

None. The family clamors periodically for a dog but I fear this would be the straw that would break Dad’s back.

My favorite travel location is…?

For history, Istanbul; for pure relaxation and pleasure, the south of France.

People would be surprised to know that ……?

I was for a very brief time employed as a constable with the London Metropolitan Police – it’s a long story.

If I could change one thing in this world, I would …..?

Outlaw bad lawyer jokes.

---

Earl Horne, Corporate Counsel

 

How long have you been with SBM Atlantia (or affiliates) and what does a typical day at work look like for you?

I came to work for Atlantia Corporation in November 1997 as a TLP project manager. My typical day now is much different than it was then. These days I spend most of my time dealing with people that are trying to sue us for one reason or another. These range from a guy who fell out of a bunk bed on a platform Atlantia built 17 years ago to a company suing us for infringing their patent by using our new telepresence system.

What are your hobbies?

Tinkering with cars and motorcycles, reading trash detective novels, working on home improvement projects.

Are you involved in charity work or activities that gives back to the community?

I don’t do nearly as much of this as I should. I was on the Board of Directors of the Houston Audubon Society for 3 years . I do weekend construction work for Habitat for Humanity. And I do some pro bono legal work for different organizations in town.

To relax, I like to……?

Read those trashy novels (probably most of the donated books in the cafeteria “library” are mine), go to the movies, walk the dog(s), and go to a cabin I have on Lake Livingston.

Do you have family members that you would like to brag about?

My son Josh, the smartest one in our family, who has been able to get on the dean’s list in three separate Universities without getting a degree (yet) and my daughter Sarah. Sarah was an all district soccer player and valedictorian at Memorial High School and is about to graduate at the top of her class from U.T. Austin with degrees in both mechanical engineering and liberal arts.

Any pets?

I have two antique cats and a big dog named Harlan that I adopted from the SPCA. It doesn’t really matter what his name is because he won’t come when I call him anyway. I recently bought an auxillary backup dog; a mastiff puppy that I plan to give Sarah for her birthday.

My favorite travel location is…?

Sandpoint, Idaho.

People would be surprised to know that ……?

Most SBM Atlantia people would be surprised to know that I have a masters degree in engineering and ran my own E&C business and some of Atlantia’s more successful projects before I lost my way and went over to the dark side.

If I could change one thing in this world, I would …..?

 I think I’ll leave changing the world up to others. You never know what unintended consequences a change might have. I do think Andy Rooney should retire though.  

Spotlight ON…

Periodically we shine the Spotlight on a new department or person here at SBM Atlantia in an effort to let everyone get to know each other a little better and understand what we do and what our interests are.

 

2010 MS150

Earth Day

Each year SBM Atlantia celebrates Earth Day (April 22) by holding a nature photo contest and sponsoring the a recycling project that includes the collection of "ewaste" (cell phones, TVs computers, etc.)  See the photo Gallery for past winners of the photography competition.

2010 Chili Cook-off

2009 Children’s Christmas Party

The 2009 Children's Christmas Party was held at the Omni Hotel, and did not disappoint.  Children had opportunity to sit on Santa's lap, take in a magic show, have their face painted, watch one of Santa's elves twist balloons into something decidedly un-balloon like, and eat sweets from a selection bigger than you can imagine.  A good time was had by all!

Christmas Celebrations

SBM Atlantia employees ring in the Christmas season with the annual company Christmas Party.  This event features a seated dinner, followed by music and dancing.  The Christmas party is a great time for employees to get to know one another, on a personal level, outside the work environment.  The party also allows spouses the opportunity to meet the people their mate spends time with away from home.  Over time, relationships are built both in the workplace, and externally as families interact with one another at company events.  Interaction between co-workers, and their families is extended to the youngest members of the SBM Atlantia family via the company picnic, and the Children's Christmas Party.  The Children's Christmas Party is an annual event featuring kid friendly food, and activities including face painting, a balloon artist, and a magic show.    

2009 Chili Cook-off

Gas Link™

The Gas Link™ arrangement patented by SBM Offshore is specifically designed to supply LNG to small and isolated markets. It allows energy users currently running on diesel or fuel to use cheaper and cleaner LNG without the need for large upfront investments.

 The challenge of controlling the project economics for the smaller size terminals is basically achieved through the use of the Ambient Air Vaporisers. Due to the simplicity of the regasification system, the supporting utilities can be kept to a minimum and all can be fitted on a conventional steel barge. The LNG is then stored separately onboard a chartered and permanently moored LNG Carrier, lowering the investment hurdles for new terminals in the smaller LNG markets.  

Offshore LNG Regasification

   A generic new-build FSRU concept has been developed for a wide range of LNG storage and regasification requirements to meet the higher range of gas send out demand. For smaller gas send out requirements the Company would propose an FSRU based on the conversion of an existing LNG Carrier.

Subsea LNG Pipeline

In contrast to oil terminals where there are numerous pipeline suppliers, there are only a limited number of companies active on sub-sea LNG pipeline development.  One of the leading technology players is ITP from France which is the only company so far to have achieved the fitness for service certificates from a Class Authority.

 The cooperation agreement signed with ITP in 2007 has been strengthened with the execution, during 2008, by SBM Offshore and ITP of the FEED contract for a Nigerian LNG project which may lead to the formal bid for the facilities. Furthermore, various other projects have shown interest in an offshore LNG terminal using such a subsea LNG pipeline rather than traditional jetty-type near shore LNG offloading arrangements, usually driven by concerns related to the damage to the environment of the latter arrangement.  

Offshore LNG Offloading

The LNG industry has reached its critical mass over recent years to the extent that it can be referred to as a global industry. The next step is now for the industry to grow the LNG markets further and increase the destination flexibility for LNG cargoes leading ultimately to a ‘spot’ LNG market.  It is here where the industry expects offshore LNG terminals to play an important role, just as SPM-type terminals did for the oil industry decades ago.

Rather than spending a lot of development efforts on a single offshore LNG terminal design, SBM Offshore has concentrated its efforts to develop and control the key enabling technologies to be used in a wide range of LNG terminal component designs i.e.Subsea LNG pipeline, toroidal LNG swivel, LNG Hose with connector and Soft Quay Mooring system (SQM).

Based on these technologies, a suite of offloading terminal designs, which are well known and proven in oil applications, have been developed.

Offshore LNG Production

The most important project and the one which should significantly impact the future profile of SBM Offshore is the LNG FPSO; a means to develop, in a cost effective manner, gas reserves that were previously perceived as being either stranded (remotely offshore) or impractical or uneconomic for development by means of traditional schemes (pipeline export or onshore liquefaction). The significance of providing a solution for floating liquefaction of natural gas is that the industry may re-look and rethink the way it values gas assets.  As such the LNG FPSO is considered a strategic asset with a lot of inherent value, yet at the same time it is technically complex and capital intensive. A partnership has been established early 2007 with Linde A.G., a major German-based public listed company with a leading position in gas processing and liquefaction technology and having significant ‘build, own and operate’ experience in cryogenic gas plants. Linde is one of the global leaders in the process of hydrocarbon gases.

The companies have formed a partnership to develop a business for the design, construction and subsequent sale or lease and operation of LNG FPSOs.

A very significant technical effort was started in 2007, and extended and consolidated in 2008 to design an LNG FPSO that is robust, safe, uses only proven components and is economically feasible. Additionally the design is generic, meaning that the same, or very similar design, will be suitable for many different applications such that it is flexible enough to enable deployment at the majority of fields with different gas compositions. It is envisaged that this generic approach will allow a series of very similar LNG FPSOs to be developed in a relatively short time scale, thereby taking advantage of the business prospects that are expected to flourish with this ‘enabling technology’. The design’s robustness, reliability and safety are obtained by a combination of the following features:

• using a proven liquefaction process and an experienced LNG plant designer and operator as a partner;
• providing the Company’s design and operation experience for offshore facilities;
• a LNG containment system that is designed to accommodate sloshing loads;
• a safe topsides layout.

The LNG FPSO has been designed as a fully stand-alone system for field development and as such has extensive pre-treatment facilities that can handle untreated well fluids, making it independent of any infrastructure and eliminating the need for new pipelines, platforms, etc. The FPSO facility will be able to treat, fractionate, liquefy, store and export the LNG as well as any by-products from the gas field production such as LPG and condensates. The nominal size of the developed facility provides an output of 2.5 million tonnes per year of LNG, which therefore, is typically suitable for fields in excess of 1 trillion cubic feet (tcf) recoverable gas reserves. The generic topside design concept will enable processing of most conventional natural gas compositions.

For the hull, which is a major critical component of the LNG FPSO, SPB LNG tank technology has been retained for the storage of liquefied gas. The choice was driven by considerations such as accessibility for maintenance, robustness and therefore long-term offshore life availability and redeployability.

The objective of this LNG FPSO initiative, complemented by other products, is to provide the industry with a solution to monetize energy resources that otherwise would be untapped and by doing so, to place the Company as a pioneer in this market and to maintain a leading position in the long term.

A detailed market research exercise has been carried out which had identified a significant number of prospective projects on which the LNG FPSO could be deployed.  Some of these are near term prospects, while others are medium and long term. Overall, this gives confidence of a long-term business of LNG FPSOs.

During 2008, in addition to finalizing the basic design of the facility, the project execution plan has been developed in detail with relevant shipyard building slots for the hull that would permit a four year time schedule to first LNG production. Concurrently, extensive marketing activities have continued with the development of a short list of realistic project opportunities. In parallel, discussions were held with several banks to anticipate financing issues and
identify potential lease and operate structures should such an opportunity develop.

SBM Offshore/Linde’s objectives during 2009 are to develop a business opportunity with the start and execution of a field/project specific front end engineering design study (FEED) for a client, being one of the major steps in the route to the sanction of an LNG FPSO.

PRA-1 CALM Buoys

The PRA-1 buoys are two Identical turntable type Catenery Anchor Leg Mooring (CALM) Buoys and were built for Petrobras.

The buoys have mooring systems consisting of 9 95mm R3S mooring legs, four 12” production risers four 42” I-Tubes and one umbilical.

Each buoy has an 18m dia x 7m high body that weighs 890 tons with a draft of 4.73m and each has a 25 year design life. The buoys' flow rates are 250,000m3/day (per buoy) to accommodate an export tanker of up to 322,000 dwt.

The first PRA-1 CALM Buoy has been installed in 85m of water. Stabilized oil from the Marlim Sul, Roncador, and Marlim Leste fields is sent to the PRA-1 platform which then pumps the oil to the FSO (Floating Storage and Offloading) and the PRA-1 CALM Buoy for tanker loading.  

Belanak CALM Buoy

The Belanak CALM Buoy was installed as a permanently moored terminal for an LPG FSO off the coast of Indonesia in the Belanak Field for ConocoPhillips. The FSO has a 78,000m³ capacity. The buoy operates in a water depth of 100 meters and uses a hose system consisting of two 6" hoses.

FPSO Kuito

   

2009 Christmas Party

This year our 2009 Christmas Party was held at the Omni Hotel.  SBM Atlantia surprised employees by giving out 25 $500 cash door prizes this year!

Chili Cook-off

SBM Atlantia kicks of the rodeo season with our annual chili cook-off, and best dressed cowboy/cowgirl contest.  Dust off your best western wear, and that award winning chili recipe passed down through generations of the family, and join us! 

2009 Golf Tournament

Event Photos

Industry Firsts

More than 50 years ago, SBM’s first CALM Buoy marked the beginning of a technological revolution in the offshore oil and gas industry. The CALM Buoy was an industry first as well as a first for SBM Group Companies, but certainly not the last of many technology “firsts”. The following is a partial list of our many innovations and noteworthy achievements over the years.  Those specifically performed by SBM Atlantia are indicated with *.

A Track Record of Innovation

• First CALM Buoy
• First deepwater CALM Buoy
• First turnkey FPSO (Castellon)
• First leased FPSO (Cadlao)
• First FPSO installed in the United States (Hondo)
• First disconnectable FPSO (Jabiru)
• First bottom turret mooring (China)
• First turret moored FPSO using SCRs for fluid transfer (Espirito Santos)
• Deepest gas production platform (Independence HUB)*
• First semisubmersible PHA (Thunder Hawk)*
• First mono-column TLP (Morpeth)*
• First EPCi TLP (Morpeth)*
• First classed TLP (Morpeth)*
• First TLP fabricated in the United States (Morpeth)*
• First TLP with wet trees (Morpeth)*
• First floating pipeline (GAP/Trelline)
• First DP drillship (Pelican)
• First jackup drilling rig (Seashell)

Golf League and Tournament

SBM Atlantia believes that team building outside of the company walls is key to building strong working relationships within the office setting. One of our longest standing team building activities is golf. SBMA has a Golf League and the Annual Golf Classic tournament. Both were established in 2002.

The SBMA Golf League plays 7-8 times a year in various golf courses throughout Houston and surrounding areas. These golf outings are individually scored and an overall League Champion is crowned each year. Therefore, a certain level of golf skill is required to participate.

The SBMA Annual Golf Classic is one of the largest team building events of the year. This is played in a traditional 4-man scramble format to encourage golfers and non-golfers to participate and start new relationships outside of the office. In 2009, almost 100 SBMA employees and family members participated in the fun. This event is usually held in March of each year.

Modular and Integrated Offshore Rigs

We provide designs and engineering services for rigs installed on offshore production facilities.  We have designed modular rigs for fixed platforms, TLP and SPARS as well as integrated TLP rigs. 

We provide design and engineering services for arctic rigs, both land  and offshore.   We have designed rigs for service on the Alaskan North Slope, onshore Sakhalin Island, offshore Sakhalin Island, the Caspian Sea, the Beaufort Sea and the Bering Sea.

VRM Portal

This web portal is specially designed for our Vendors and Contractors, in order to provide a place to register your products and build-up a long-lasting relationship with us.

In order to receive Requests for Quotation (RFQ) you will need to ensure that all required documentation is provided and uploaded under your account. The VRM website is your business tool to check and support the qualification process.

Through the portal, you will be able to:

• Register and update, at any time, all your company information and data,
• Enter the list of products that you wish to supply us, selected from our official products database
• Publish or provide links to your documentation

Please ensure that following documents are provided:

• The Qualification Questionnaire (Required questionnaire format is available online and to upload in the “Questionnaire” section).
• A valid ISO certificate (to be uploaded in the “Documentation” section), if available
• An internationally recognized and valid design/manufacturing license (ASME, API, TEMA, IEC, NEC etc.)
• A Table of contents of the Quality and HSE Manual (to be uploaded in the “Documentation” section).
• A list of products that you wish to supply us, selected from our official products database (available in the “Vendor card” section)

We will be notified each time you make a change in your VRM account.

Access to the VRM
VRM is accessible through the Single Buoy Moorings, Inc. website http://www.singlebuoy.com/vrm/logon.aspx

Just visit our portal, create your login name and password and start your qualification process!

SBM Offshore Group subsidiaries
The VRM is used by all major subsidiaries of the SBM Offshore Group, including:

• Single Buoy Moorings, Inc., Monaco
• GustoMSC, Schiedam, The Netherlands
• SBM Atlantia, Inc., Houston, USA
• SBM Malaysia SDN BHD, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Your qualification records are accessible to all these offices, thus qualification is valid for all SBM Offshore subsidiaries as well as our shore bases and most of our construction sites.

Please feel free to contact our Vendor Relationship Coordinator in Houston, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Data Confidentiality:
SBM certifies that all information provided via the VRM application, including but not limited to names, addresses, contacts, products or documentation is strictly confidential and accessible solely to you and SBM authorized personnel.

SBM Offshore trusts you will appreciate the opportunity this portal presents for sharing information with us and we look forward receiving your input, comments and suggestions.

Employee Tools

SBM Corporate Intranet System

Click here to access the CIS from the World Wide Web. You will be asked to provide your network security credentials.

SBM Outlook Web Access (OWA)

Click here to access your mailbox from the World Wide Web. You will be asked to provide your network security credentials.

Citrix Web Client

The NADIA and Loader applications can be accessed using the Citrix Web Client at http://remote.atlantia.com/

Sitemap

Contact

Available Positions

SBM Atlantia strives to be the acknowledged partner of choice for our employees, clients and suppliers. We aim for excellence through innovative technologies, well executed projects, superior supply chain relations, team work, communication, and professional development of our employees.  

At SBM Atlantia, our employees are the foundation of our success. The professionalism, passion for technology and commitment to excellence of our employees has enabled SBM Atlantia to become a recognized leader in the offshore industry. We have a diverse team with backgrounds covering a wide range of disciplines and expertise and seek to recruit candidates with education and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Engineering
• Operations
• Project Management
• Sales and Marketing
• Accounting
• Human Resources
• Information Technology and Information Systems
• QA/HSE

While the scope and nature of the projects we undertake continue to attract the brightest people in our industry, the Company also offers one of the most competitive compensation and benefits packages in our industry.

If you are driven to be part of an exciting and challenging team that works on innovative projects with energy and enthusiasm, we encourage you to consider joining our team. If you are interested in learning more about current career opportunities at SBM Atlantia, please click on the link below.

Current career opportunities

Recruiting Events Calendar

SBM Atlantia participates in recruitment and career fairs at various universities in the southeast United States as well as local career fairs held in Houston, Texas. You can also meet us at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) held each year in May in Houston.

We also host Info-Sessions and present papers at various universities. While on campus, we are able to meet students and inform them of various career opportunities and paths offered at SBM Atlantia. Notifications of these events are posted at the relevant institutions.

Come see us at the career fairs and info sessions held in 2010 at the following Universities:

• Texas A&M, College Station            
• Texas A&M, Galveston                           
• Texas Tech University
• University of Michigan
• University of New Orleans
• University of Texas at Austin

Benefits

SBM Atlantia is a leader in competitive compensation and benefit programs.  Our benefits are designed to meet your and your family’s needs now and in the future.  We strive to provide the best benefits in the industry. These programs are reviewed on an annual basis to ensure our benefits serve our employees with excellence in benefit selection and coverage.

Medical Insurance – we offer security through a variety of plans to meet your needs that include PPO, HMO and a High Deductible Health Plan.

Dental Insurance – we provide you choices of a Dental PPO and a Dental Maintenance Organization.

Short Term Disability and Long Term Disability -  these plans provide continued income when you need it most, and is provided as security for you and your family.

Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holidays –  we offer a generous personal time off package in addition to paid time off for recognized public holidays.

Sick Leave – we offer days off for sick time in addition to our generous PTO personal time off program.  

Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance - the company covers the cost of this important benefit for each employee and their dependents.  

Flexible Spending Accounts – employees may elect to participate in the flexible spending accounts for dependent and medical expenses.  The maximum allowable amount annually is $5,000 for each account.

Health Savings Account – Health Savings Account (HSA) can only be contributed to if you enroll in the High Deductible PPO medical plan.  

401(k) and Retirement Plans – as saving for your future has never been more important, we offer a 401(k) plan with matching funds and our company contributes towards your retirement, regardless of your participation in the plan.

Education and Self Improvement – SBM Atlantia encourages its employees to further their development and effectiveness on the job by reimbursing tuition for approved work-related study programs.

Additional Benefits Include:

• Vision Coverage
• Additional Voluntary Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse and Children
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• ESOP

Outstanding Work Environment:

• Four and ½ day work week
• Flexible start and end times for your work day
• Talent Scout Program (we appreciate referrals)
• Service Award Compensation Program
• On-Site Fitness Center
• Patent reward and recognition
• Community contributions through various projects throughout the year

MS-150

The BP MS 150 is a two-day fundraising cycling ride from Houston to Austin, Texas, organized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This ride is the largest event of its kind in North America. In 2009, the event raised more than $17 million for multiple sclerosis.

An SBM Atlantia team has participated in the MS150 since 2005 and our riders will be back at it again in April.  We wish them a safe, successful ride as they cycle their way to erase Multiple Sclerosis.

Charity Events

We encourage our people to get involved as a team to support their local causes. Food drives, fundraisers and fun runs are just a few of the activities our people embrace enthusiastically.

Giving Back

Whether it’s through team participation or donation matching, SBM Atlantia people are generous with their time, efforts and donations. Heartily encouraged by the company to support worthy local causes, this kind of civic awareness and charitable mindset is typical of our people. SBM Atlantia people care and we show it in a number of different ways.

Professional Development

SBM Atlantia actively promotes a joint responsibility approach between SBM Atlantia and employee so that there is a win-win for both parties – we ensure we have the best qualified and skilled professionals in the industry so you are provided with the opportunities to achieve your career aspirations.

In order to achieve this, SBM Atlantia provides an ever-increasing range of developmental opportunities:

• Wide range of internal/external workshops led by various subject matter experts
• Leadership and Change Management development
• Planned Project, Discipline and Departmental development experiences including cross-training
• Development through regional and international work experience.

In addition, SBM Atlantia provides specific Professional Development benefits to its employees including:

• Tuition assistance for work-related study programs
• Reimbursement for work-related certifications and licenses.

Recognized as a pioneer in specific technologies in the Oil & Gas industry, SBM Atlantia is committed to making professional development a priority for the Company. SBM Atlantia is focused on ensuring organizational success through its people.

Internships

Internships that Develop Future Career Opportunities

SBM Atlantia provides professional paid internships to students seeking opportunities to engage in relevant work experiences providing the necessary advantage in today’s competitive job market. We partner with our interns to provide real work experiences that help launch future careers. SBM Atlantia is committed to hiring annually from relationships developed from our internship program. Our internship program actively recruits from local resources, as well as throughout the United States and internationally.

SBM Atlantia offers internships to individuals who are obtaining a bachelors degree and have reached junior status with the university. In addition, we offer higher level internships and co-ops to individuals who are obtaining their Master’s and PhD’s.

Internships are offered throughout the year for those whose schedules will permit.

Benefits of our internship program include:

• Enhancing your resume with experience within your related discipline.   
• Building industry contacts for your future job search.
• Learning more about deepwater technologies and the offshore industry.
• Applying academic learning to hands-on situations.
• Experience working in professional office environment and increased knowledge of engineering software.  
• Learning career-related skills such as, public speaking, report-writing and customer relations.
• Enhancing communication skills needed in the workplace.

As a leader in deepwater technologies our work experiences provide our interns the advantage of marketability as a job candidate, while gaining a greater understanding about your chosen field. By participating in an internship program you will have an opportunity to find out many of the positive aspects of your chosen career path in advance, and truly enter your field with opportunities to succeed. Many of the mentors that work with interns are industry leaders and have doctorate degrees in addition to years of practical experience. This provides the intern with unique perspective on the link between Academia and Industry. Interns are typically introduced to a number of industry leaders during their internship, both inside and outside SBM Atlantia.

Our internship program provides students professional experience in many disciplines:

Engineering

• Mechanical
• Marine
• Hydrodynamics
• Electrical
• Instrumentation
• Naval Architecture
• Structural
• Weight Control
• Systems
• Drilling
• Piping
• Process

Other Professions

• Finance/Accounting
• Information Services / Information Technology
• Office Services
• Human Resources
• QA/HSE
• Marketing

These disciplines are applied to a range of real world projects in advanced deepwater technology and renewable energy. Interns can work at the frontiers of offshore technology and in some cases we have named interns as co-inventors on patent applications at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Internship opportunities are also available in the Operations and Administration Fields.

Light the Night Walk

Each year in communities all across the United States and Canada, families, friends, neighbors and teams from local businesses and national companies come together for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS's) Light The Night Walk events to bring help and hope to people battling blood cancers. Light The Night Walk events are evenings filled with inspiration. Carrying illuminated balloons – white for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer – thousands of walkers form a community of caring, bringing light to the dark world of cancer.

SBM Atlantia is proud to have participated in this event since 2008.

Wind & Wave

A new, promising development direction is the generation of electricity in an environmentally friendly manner. Offshore waters contain an enormous amount of potential energy and so leveraging on the Company’s extensive knowledge and experience in providing systems in the offshore wave and current environment, it was decided late 2006 to explore ways of capturing a portion of that energy in a sustainable manner: green power.

After reviewing various energy potential sources (current energy, thermal/density, solar, etc) it was found that Wave Energy Conversion systems (WEC), have a good application potential both from a technical feasibility and commercial viability perspective. A creative team of engineers has therefore been working on a range of WEC concepts.

Donation Matching

SBM Atlantia offers a Charitable Contributions Matching Program to employees. Individual contributions made by employees that equal at least .25% of their annual income will be matched 50 cents on the dollar by SBM Atlantia. The maximum Company contribution per employee is $2,000.

Matching payments will be made at the end of the year. The closing date for contributing is December 15th.

The following is a list of organizations that benefitted from SBM Atlantia’s Charitable Contributions Matching in 2009:

• Arkansas Baptist Children's Homes
• Children's Homes, Inc.
• Crossroads School Inc.
• Cypress Bible Church
• Epiphany Lutheran Church and School
• First Baptist Church of Katy
• Houston SPCA
• Malayalee Engineers' Association Inc.
• Miniature Schnauzer Rescue od Houston, Inc.
• St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church
• The 100 Club
• Unity Church of Christianity
• YMCA of Greater Houston

Steel Catenary Riser (SCR) Studies

In ultra-deep water, beyond 2,000 m (6,600 ft), riser systems become increasingly technically challenging and comprise a major part of the overall field development costs. Large external pressures and high production temperatures in these great depths cause traditional flexible solutions to run into weight, temperature and cost problems. Steel pipes do not have these temperature limits.

The great depths enable steel pipe configurations to remain within acceptable bending tolerances when following floater movements and thus makes them suitable for deepwater riser use. The FPSO with its large displacement is ideally suited to carry a large number of such deepwater SCRs. SCR bending fatigue concerns in this use have been addressed and shown not to be a problem in moderate environments, and deepwater SCRs are to be deployed in 2009 on the 'Normand Installer' with the J-Lay system for SCR installation Company’s leased FPSO Espirito Santo.

Traditional installation of SCRs is done with welded pipe using expensive S or J-lay vessels. The normal weld procedures used with these vessels limit the pipe steel strength. In deep to ultra-deep water with high pressure / high temperature wells this pipe strength limits the use of these welded SCRs.  Internal R&D studies have been focusing on means to reduce the expensive offshore time required for SCR laying and also increase the pipe strength that can be used. This will be accomplished with the use of fatigue resistant threaded mechanical connectors to connect the SCR joints rather than with the traditional use of field welded joints. A qualification program for this type of connector was started in 2007. Twelve of these connectors were built in 2008, and have undergone a series of fatigue and strength tests per the ISO/DIS 21329 standard, test reports are available.  The connector is now available in sizes ranging between 8 and 20 inch, a larger size connector is possible.

A separate program is developing a high speed, efficient J-lay system for the installation of these mechanically connected SCRs. This lay system will be modular and able to be used on vessels such as the Company’s ‘Normand Installer’, or cantilevered over the side of a deepwater FPSO. When the SCRs are J-layed from the FPSO, anchor handling type tugs will be used to pull out the SCR to subsea wells or manifolds.

The above described threaded pipe installation method is also suitable for use in the installation of mid-water Oil Offloading Lines (OOLs). These large OOLs are suspended mid-water between an FPSO and export buoy and suffer bending fatigue due to the wave induced floater movements.  The use of the mechanical connectors in the OOLs improves their fatigue life and allows for the use of larger diameter lines thus reducing oil export pumping costs.

SCR analytical studies have been completed for the development of clamp on, buoyant and non-buoyant, added mass and damping devices. These devices are used to make slight SCR configuration changes, which greatly reduce dynamic bending response at the SCR touchdown point.

This development shows significant improvement of the SCR fatigue life and model tests will be carried out to confirm these findings in 2009. Additionally, analytic studies of low stress steel flex-joints for SCRs suitable for high pressure, high temperature and sour (H2S) service were completed in 2008. A prototype will be built of this steel flex-joint for confirmatory testing during 2009.

The objective of the various SCR developments described above is to enable the use of SCRs on semi-submersibles and FPSOs for service conditions found in virtually any deep to ultra-deep development area.  To further enhance understanding of riser response, the Company continues its research into Vortex Induced Vibrations (VIV) of risers and tendons.

This work continues to deliver better solutions for suppression of VIV loads and motions in deepwater, high current areas. Recent work includes development and testing of a new and improved fairing with a fairing/strake supplier, and continual update of the MIT/SBM-Atlantia Shear7 software for the more than 40 industry users that currently subscribe to this industry standard software.

Dry-tree Semi

In ultra-deep water beyond the traditional range of application of TLP technology, dry-tree semisubmersibles (DTS) provide an attractive field development option by facilitating quayside hull-topside integration, hook-up and commissioning. This effectively eliminates project risk caused by dependence on deepwater heavy-lift construction equipment.

SBM Atlantia’s DTS concept is based on the FourStar hull concept and exhibits motion characteristics that allow the use of existing long-stroke tensioner technology to support the riser systems.

Dry-tree semisubmersible systems have been configured for a wide range of payloads and applications worldwide and the designs have been validated by several wave basin model tests.

Liquified Natural Gas

Anticipating the future growth of energy consumption and also the importance of gas as a world energy source, a ‘Gas and Power’ division was created in January 2004 to develop technologies, in particular for the offshore production of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and the infrastructures to handle the liquid gases from the production sites to the delivery points. Since then, several development projects have been ongoing on themes related to: 1) Offshore LNG Production, 2) Offshore LNG Offloading, 3) Offshore LNG Regasification and 4) Green Energy Production.

As the new products reach technical maturity they will be proposed to the gas industry. They will play a major role in the future growth of the Company, in much the same way as the products developed in the past for the oil business have been the fuel for growth over the last 30 years.

Industry Leadership

SBM Atlantia has a visible role within the greater offshore industry, both in participating in industry committees, and developing and providing technology to the industry at large.  We can be found in many committees, at most offshore oil and gas conferences world wide, and have extensive publications of research and project descriptions.

Fatigue Resistent Pipe Connector

SBM Atlantia has developed a pipe connector in conjunction with GMC. This connector can be used to make up Oil Offloading Lines (OOL), Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs) and other elements make up of pipe sections. There are three key advantages of using these connectors.  First is a much better fatigue life because the welding is done under controlled conditions, rather than in the field. The second advantage is that the make up of an OOL or SCR can be done at about half the time of a traditional field weld. The third advantage is that it can be done from a much smaller vessel. These three advantages make the connector a viable candidate to improve on the installation cost of an OOL or SCR.

A 20 inch connector has undergone a series of fatigue and strength tests per ISO 21329. The testing was witnessed by DNV who have certified the connector for pipeline and riser use. The connector can be used to connect piping ranging from 8 inches and larger.


 

Research & Development

SBM Atlantia is active in the development of new technology and new systems and components to enable safe and economic energy recovery from offshore oil and gas fields.  The major focus of the present R&D effort remains on deepwater floating production.

Development of new products and technology remains at the heart of the Company’s growth strategy. The focus is on delivering solutions to meet the known and anticipated needs of the energy sector in deep water and ultra deep water. By placing high emphasis on the development of new technologies, the Company adds to their product line the necessary pieces of technology to deliver innovative, robust, reliable and cost effective solutions for deep water and ultra deep water applications. Cooperation with SBM Offshore sister companies utilizes additional expertise to maximize the quality of new and innovative technologies.

Current R&D activities in the SBM Offshore group include Deepwater Systems, LNG Production, transfer and storage systems, and Renewable energy systems.  The deepwater systems initiatives/efforts are managed by the SBM Atlantia Product and Technology Development group.  

Community Support

Social and Community

A long time before sustainable development was familiar, as it is today, SBM Offshore focused on the social and economic benefits it could bring to client countries, in particular the developing ones. This was not only consistent with the company’s ethical business principles, but it often provided the additional benefit of obtaining more business in the countries in question. Our responsibilities towards society and local Communities are to support and promote human rights and contribute to social welfare in the communities where we operate.

Community Engagements

The Company operates offshore facilities in a large number of countries worldwide under long-term contracts and it frequently undertakes construction activities in the fabrication yards of developing countries. Wherever SBM Offshore operates in the world, its goal is to be responsive to community needs and to maximize local content by utilizing as much as possible in-country resources and products and by making the maximum use of local manpower. Skill-development and technology-transfer is pursued through training programs to improve the technical capabilities of the local labor force. In this matter, SBM Offshore hereby confirms the policy it has established for several years.

The Company has taken a number of initiatives to support social programs in countries where we have business activities. Regular meetings with these organizations and review of their programs continue to affirm both the legitimacy and the effectiveness of the Company’s sponsorship.

For specific information about how SBM Offshore supports the communities in which it operates, click here.

Ultra-deep TLP

A TLP in ever increasing water depths requires longer tendons, and the axial stiffness of the tendon system decreases resulting in an increase of the heave, roll and pitch natural periods. Traditional TLP structures can be installed in water depth up to approximately 5000 ft while maintaining these resonant periods below the wave frequency range. For water depths greater than 5000 ft there will be sufficient wave energy at the resonant frequencies causing significant tendon fatigue and thus making the TLP concept less attractive.

Increasing tendon size to reduce periods adds weight to the structure and cost to the tendons, thus making the TLP less competitive in deep water.  A passive air damping system has been developed that can be placed on the TLP columns to damp out the dynamics caused by the longer periods on the tendons. Work has progressed to incorporate this air damping system in the TLP to enable the economic use of this product in water depths up to 10,000 feet. Tests carried out previously have provided essential information for design of these systems. Work in 2007 developed numerical methods for simulating and designing these TLP systems. In 2008 a preliminary design of a 8,000 foot depth TLP was produced.

Strategic Alliances

SBM Atlantia has developed both formal and informal strategic alliances with several key suppliers and contractors over the years. These are companies which match our philosophy of quality and safety at a fair price, and who have proven their ability, on past SBM Atlantia projects, to successfully deliver their goods and services on time.

The list of companies with whom we have strategic alliances includes shipyards, module fabrication contractors, bulk material suppliers, and vendors of major equipment.  The names of these companies can be made available to SBM Atlantia clients upon request.

We continuously review our alliances and are always interested in expanding the list where it would be in the best interest of both companies.

Alternative Energy / Technology Systems

The Company is running several initiatives to leverage its in-house expertise to develop large scale equipment for the offshore renewables sector that is complementary to existing marine based business. The Company continues to focus on helping reverse the negative impact of fossil fuel emissions through the supply of clean fuels - a strategy to help sustain and grow the supply of clean and “green” (or “blue” marine) energy.

The sectors of the renewables market, which are expected to have the largest near term potential offshore are the wind and wave energy generation sectors. The Company sees opportunities to provide support to the rapidly growing wind sector through the provision of vessels both for transportation, and for the installation and maintenance of wind turbines. Wave energy conversion is very much a nascent industry, with no commercial farms in place at all so far. The Company is working on a prototype wave energy generator based on breakthrough technologies.

Shear 7

SBM Atlantia is the purveyor to the industry and maintainer of the SHEAR7 VIV program.  SHEAR7 is a program which performs Vortex Induced Vibration (VIV) analysis of riser-like members in sheared flow.  It was developed at MIT under joint industry sponsorship.  We work closely with MIT in providing this program to the industry, and maintain a user group of over 40 companies world-wide who are active users. 

For information on licensing please contact:

Liz Alexander
+1 281-899-4520
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

 

Technical questions should be directed to:

Steve Leverette                                   or         Christopher Wajnikonis

+1 281-899-4431                                            +1 281-899-4439
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)                .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

 

 

SHEAR7 Description

With over 15 years of industry use and continuous development, SHEAR7 is one of the leading modeling tools for the prediction of vortex-induced vibration (VIV). The program’s forte is the VIV response prediction of offshore structures subjected to spatially varying currents; realistic of ocean environments. The program enables users to estimate structural responses, mean drag force amplification factors and predict fatigue damage. It is simple and fast to run with all the results summarized in a convenient standard output file. The new release allows for more accurate modeling of Strakes.

SHEAR7 is a mode superposition program, which evaluates which modes are likely to be excited by vortex shedding and estimates the steady state, cross-flow, VIV response in uniform or sheared flows. It is capable of evaluating multi-mode, non-lock-in response, as well as single mode lock-in response.

The program evaluates natural frequencies and mode shapes of cables and beams with linearly varying or slowly varying tension and with a variety of boundary conditions, including cantilevers and free hanging risers. The program is capable of evaluating the natural frequencies and mode shapes and VIV response of horizontal catenary cables and uses an approximate structural model for inclined catenary cables.

The user may choose to compute natural frequencies and mode shapes in a separate program, such as a finite element program and provide them as input to SHEAR7. In this way, structures which are not in the standard solution set of SHEAR7 may be evaluated.

SHEAR7 can be used to predict the cross flow RMS displacement and stress; as well as fatigue damage rate and local drag amplification coefficients.

Structures are not required to be of constant cross-section. The user may also model sections of risers with VIV suppression devices (strakes and fairings) as well as staggered buoyancy modules.

The basic solution technique used is modal analysis and iteration (to account for the non-linear relationship between response and lift coefficient.) The physical assumption is that the power input (by lift force) and power output (through damping) for each mode should be in balance in a steady state. From initial values of lift and damping coefficients, the program finds the lift and damping coefficients in a balanced state through iteration. The converged lift and damping coefficients are used to compute cylinder response.

Throughout the years of development, SHEAR7 has remained a very simple to use program, that can quickly be run.

Recent version updates have provided the following improvements:

Version 4.3

• Much improved modeling of the behavior of Strakes.  Added formula description of lift coefficient.
• Incorporate your user lift coefficient and damping data from experiments to predict behavior of long flexible structures.
• The ability to define the lift and damping behavior separately for each zone on the structure.
• Results can be produced in the time domain for rainflow fatigue calculations or incorporation with other modeling programs.

Version 4.4

• Modification of lift coefficient formulations.
• New iteration scheme for Positive/Negative Lift power – increased accuracy of the solution resulting in a dramatic improvement of program accuracy and reliability for very small hydrodynamic diameters (< 1 inch) & single mode excitations.

Version 4.5 

• SHEAR7 is similar to that of versions 4.0-4.4 but the way in which the program works has been changed considerably. This reflects the findings of recent research; in particular that of the MIT/DEEPSTAR program involving towing slender pipes in the Gulf Stream offshore Miami. The most significant modification introduced in version 4.5 involves a change in the way power-in regions are apportioned in time and space.
• All earlier versions of the program utilized a ‘competing modes’ model of VIV, whereas all potentially responding modes competed among each other for power-in length on the riser. Whenever response in more than one mode was feasible, the whole power-in region was subdivided into individual power-in regions, one per mode. Any overlaps between modal power-in regions were removed. The greater the number of modes left above the cutoff power level, the smaller the individual power-in regions became. This had the effect of reducing the response of each mode. Recent research has shown that this in not seen on typical risers. Rather, each mode appears one at a time. Over a long period several modes may come and go, sharing the time that VIV is experienced. Each mode has a much larger power-in region than would be permitted by removing spatial overlap in power-in regions. Each mode has more power-in and responds with larger amplitude than would be predicted in the old method of response computation

For a more in-depth description of Shear7, please visit: http://web.mit.edu/shear7/shear7.html

Conference Papers

2010

•  Riser VIM Fatigue Induced by Deep-Draft Semisubmersible, Xiang, Sherry, OMAE 2010, Shanghai, China.
• Extreme Response Estimate of Steel Catenary Risers Using L-Moments, Cheng, Jingyun, OMAE 2010, Shanghai, China.
• A TLP Solution for 8000 ft Water Depth, Bian, Sean, OMAE 2010, Shanghai, China.
• FourStar Dry-Tree Semisubmersible Development, Williams, Neil, OMAE 2010, Shanghai, China.
• Thunder Hawk Riser System Design: An Integrated Experience, Cao, Peimin, OMAE 2010, Shanghai, China.
• Vibration Absorber technology and Conceptual Design of Vibration Absorber for TLP in Ultradeep Water, Leverette, Steve, OMAE 2010, Shanghai China.

2009

• Time Trace Window Based Approach for SCR Strength Analysis in Ultra Deepwater of Gulf of Mexico, Author(s): Chen, Jack, J P Kenny; Cao, Peimin, SBM Atlantia; Zhu, Huadong, J P Kenny; Jukes, Paul, J P Kenny, OMAE 2009, Honolulu, HI.
• Field Measurements of Vortex Induced Motions of a Deep Draft Semisubmersible, Rijken, Oriol, OMAE 2009, Honolulu, HI.
• Wave measurements at Eastern Green Canyon during Hurricane Ike, Rijken, Oriol, OMAE 2009, Honolulu, HI.
• Novel TLP Concept for Ultra Deep Water Field Development, Heidari, A.H., OMAE 2009, Honolulu, HI.
• Novel TLP Concept for Ultra Deep Water Field Development, Heidari, A.H., DOT 2009, New Orleans, LA, 2009.
• Improvements in Dynamic Loading of Ultra Deepwater Catenary Risers, Wajnikonis, C.J., and Leverette, S.J. OTC 20180, Houston, Texas, May 2009.
• Three Column TLP for Marginal Field Development, Williams, A.N., OMAE 2009, Honolulu, HI
• Dry-Tree Semisubmersible Field Development Solution for Ultra-Deepwater Applications, Williams, A.N., DOT 2009, Monte Carlo, Monaco
• Development of a Dry-Tree Semisubmersible Concept for Ultra-Deepwater Offshore Brazil, Williams, A.N., IWAOH, Rio de Janeiro, BR
• Steel Catenary Riser Feasibility Prediction for Ultra Deep WaterFPSO Applications, Connault, X., Lavagna, P., Schuurmans, S., DOT 2009, Monte Carlo, Monaco

2008

• Experimental study into Vortex Induced Motion Response of Semisubmersibles with Square Columns, Rijken, Oriol, OMAE 2008, Estoril, Portugal.
• Development of a new Self-Stable Dry-Tree GoM TLP with Full Drilling Capabilities, Heidari, A.H., Williams, A.N., Large, S., Byrne, J., OMAE 2008, Estoril, Portugal
• A Deepwater Dry-Tree GoM Solution: The FourStar TLP, Williams, A.N., Heidari, A.H., Large, S., Byrne, J., ISOPE 2008, Vancouver, Canada
• Benchmarking of 2 Classes of VIV Suppression Device based on High Reynolds Number and High-Mode Number Tests, Schaudt, K.J., Wajnikonis, C., Spencer, D., Leverette, S., Masters, R., DOT 2008, Houston, Texas.
• Benchmarking of VIV Suppression Systems, K.J.  Schaudt, C. Wajnikonis, D. Spencer,  J. Xiu, S. Leverette, R. Masters, OMAE 2008-57065, Estoril, Portugal.
• Ultra-Deepwater TLP Vibration Absorbers, Spillane, Michael, Leverette, S., Rijken, O., DOT 2008, Perth Australia
• A Combined TLWP - FPSO Field Development Solution, Williams, A.N., Offshore Asia 2008, Kuala Lumpur, MY
• Integrated TLWP-FPSO Solution for Deepwater Field Development Offshore Brazil, Williams, A.N., Rio Oil & Gas 2008, Rio de Janeiro, BR
• Battered Column TLP & Semisubmersible Solutions for Deepwater Applications Offshore Australia, Williams, A.N., DOT 2008, Perth AU
• A Disconnectable FPSO with SCR's, Williams, A.N., DOT 2008, Perth, AU
• Three Column TLP for Marginal Fields, Williams, A.N., DeepGulf 2008, New Orleans, LA
• Weather Window Statistical Analysis for Offshore Marine Operations, Yongjun Chen, Peimin Cao, Pabitra Mukerj, Ocean Engineering Department, SBM Atlantia, ISOPE 2008

2007

• Tension Leg Platform Response to Earthquake in Gulf of Mexico, Rijken, Oriol, ISOPE 2007, Lisbon, Portugal
• Development of a Battered Four-Column TLP Concept for Deepwater Applications, Heidari A.H., Williams A.N., Large S., Byrne J., DOT 2007, Stavanger, Norway.
• Development of a Battered Four-Column TLP Concept, Heidari, A.H., Williams, A.N., Large, S., Nagaraju, R., Byrne, J.,. OMAE 2007, San Diego, CA..
• FOURSTAR: A Novel Battered Column TLP Concept, Williams, A.N., Heidari, A.H., Large, S., Nagaraju, R., Byrne, J., ISOPE 2007, Lisbon, Portugal.
• "Vibration Absorbers for Deepwater TLP's", Spillane, Michael, Leverette, S., Rijken, O., ISOPE 2007, Lisbon, Portugal
• Battered Column TLWP for Deepwater West Africa Applications, Williams, A.N., DOWAC 2007, Luanda, AO
• Development of a Battered Four-Column TLP for Deepwater Applications, Williams, A.N., DeepGulf 2007, New Orleans, LA
• Independence Hub – Turnkey Delivery of Ultra Deepwater Hull and Mooring System, C. Kindel, O. Rijken, R. Khodhr, p. Cao, SBM Atlantia; and C. Galvin, MCS; T. van Hofslot, Dockwise; and P. Barnett, Enterprise, OTC 2007 – OTC 18587, Houston, TX.

DOT	Deep Offshore Technology
DOWAC	Deepwater Offshore West Africa Exploration & Production Conference & Exhibition
ISOPE	International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference
IWAOH	International Workshop on Applied Offshore Hydrodynamics
OMAE	Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering

Thunder Hawk

SBM Atlantia used its extensive project experience to supply a second DeepDraft Semi® FPU for the ultra-deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  In October 2006, a Production Handling Contract (PHA) was signed by the SBM Offshore Group with field Operator Murphy Exploration & Production Company USA and its co-producers Eni Petroleum US L.L.C., StatoilHydro USA E&P, Inc., and Marubeni Offshore Production Company (USA) Inc. for the provision of a new build semisubmersible Floating Production Unit (FPU) for the Thunder Hawk field and surrounding acreage.

The Thunder Hawk facility has been installed offshore Louisiana in Mississippi Canyon (MC) 736 and is processing production from the Thunder Hawk field located in MC 734.  The Thunder Hawk project has many firsts for the SBM Offshore Group, including the first PHA contract and the first SBM-owned FPU in the Gulf of Mexico.

Thunder Hawk is SBMA’s second DeepDraft Semi® FPU in the ultra-deep GOM. SBM Atlantia and SBM GustoMSC previously teamed up to supply the worlds first DeepDraft Semi® for Enterprise Products Partners’ Independence Hub project located in a record setting 8,050-ft. water depth in MC 920.  SBM Atlantia has now fully merged with SBM GustoMSC and SBM Imodco, all three of which contributed to the Thunder Hawk effort.  The Thunder Hawk project scope included providing full Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) services for the Topsides, Hull, Moorings, Installation and offshore commissioning.  SBM Atlantia also provided the detailed Riser Analysis.

Thunder Hawk was the first project to use the full range of SBM capabilities in the Houston office. The topsides were jointly designed by the SBM Imodco/Atlantia team, which was formally merged during the course of the project.  SBM GustoMSC and SBM Atlantia, working as an integrated inter-company project team, supplied the hull design, analysis, and construction services for the fast-track development.

The Thunder Hawk field is located in approximately 6,060 ft of water.  The DeepDraft Semi® is anchored with a polyester spread mooring system and is connected to the subsea trees and infrastructure with steel catenary riser (SCR) flowlines, SCR export risers, and multiple control umbilicals.  Provisions have been made to accommodate future subsea tiebacks and associated production from other fields/blocks in the area, including processing production from third party producers.

The Thunder Hawk FPU is initially connected to four (4) subsea trees, two (2) 8” diameter flowlines, one (1) control umbilical, two (2) 12” dia. export SCRs (oil and gas), with an option for a future gas lift umbilical.  In addition, the platform has the capability to accommodate future subsea tie-backs, which may consist of up to six (6) 8” diameter flowlines and six (6) umbilicals.

Industry Committee Work

SBM Atlantia prides itself on being active in the various industry research and standard setting activities that help define our industry.  Our people are knowledgeable – some of the best minds in the industry, and not just in our opinion. The same minds that keep SBM Atlantia ahead of the competition, participate in development of industry standards and joint industry research programs.   This participation ensures we have input to the development of API standards. It also keeps us in touch with the latest technologies and ideas in the industry, which allows us to share ideas and information, rather than operating from a vacuum. Exposure to other ideas/thoughts broadens the horizon, opens up the possibilities.

Industry committees and activities that we participate in include:

• API Subcommittee on Offshore Structures (SC2)
• API Workgroup for RP2T  (Tension Leg Platforms) (chairman)
• API Workgroup for RP2FPS  (Floating Production Systems)
• ISO Artic Standards
• SNAME Publications Committee
• OTC Program Committee
• DOT Program Committee
• Deepstar Program Committees (Various) 
• RPSEA

Vendor Relationships

Sustainable Business

The SBM Offshore Group of Companies recognize that maintaining excellent relationships with our Vendors and Contractors is vital to ensuring sustainable business.

The following are key factors in achieving sustainable business:

• Fair and unambiguous supply and services agreements.
• Due consideration of health, safety and environment by all contractual parties and subcontractors.
• Display of a high level of ownership by all contractual parties.
• Open and clear communications between contractual parties to avoid hidden challenges.
• Focus on added value and long-term relationships.
• Focus on manufacturing sources to eliminate obsolete and costly intermediaries whenever feasible.
• Properly trained and capable field service resources.
• Long-term product support facilities.

Production Handling Agreements

In Production Handling Agreements, or PHAs, we retain ownership of the processing facility. Processing of all production is covered by either:

• A Demand Fee, which is a commitment from operators for a set term lease that covers a portion of the total facility cost;
• A Commodity Fee that is a per barrel processing charge.

The PHA contract structure provides for third-party processing, facilitates multiple partner alliances and reduces the complexity of contractual negotiations.

Lease & Operate

SBM Atlantia, with our parent SBM Offshore, provides the offshore oil and gas industry with high quality production services through the leasing and operation of Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) units, Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) units, Mobile Production Units (MOPU) and Semi-Submersible Production units (Semi-sub).

SBM Offshore provides tailor-made solutions for both short term and life-of-field needs based on:

• Cumulative vessel operating experience of more than 145 years, during which in excess of 2,200,000,000 barrels of oil were exported;
• Financial strength enabling attractive financing of large capital intensive units;
• A large pool of experienced project managers;
• In-house availability of all engineering disciplines required for the design of total integrated production and storage facilities.

This specific approach to leasing and operating fit-for-purpose production and storage facilities has proved to be most successful in addressing the field development needs of the oil and gas industry throughout the world.

Oil Offloading Lines (OOL)

For large offshore fields in benign environments such as West Africa, a common field-development option is a large spread-moored FPSO with high production
rates and regular offloading operations which, for safety and availability reasons, are usually performed via a Single Point Mooring (SPM) terminal.

Until recently, two types of Oil Offloading Lines (OOL) were used for the ransfer of stabilized crude oil between the FPSO and the SPM: steel pipe or unbonded flexible pipe. SBM Offshore and Trelleborg have jointly developed and qualified an attractive alternative: a new type of OOL, the TRELLINE™.

The TRELLINE™ is made of a new generation of bonded rubber hoses, developed for a specific deepwater offloading application where the OOL is hanging, either in a U or lazy-W configuration, from the FPSO to the Single Point Mooring (SPM) offloading terminal. The OOL is of large ID to enable an offloading rate of 7,500 m3/hrwhich corresponds to the export of 1,000,000 barrels within 24 hours. The main objective of this development was an OOL type that could be installed by a lighter and more flexible installation vessel spread than the existing OOL types (i.e. un-bonded flexible or steel pipes).

The successful application of this OOL at the Bonga field (installed in December 2006) illustrates the flexibility in project execution offered by an OOL made of bolted flexible sections. This anticipated flexibility in offshore execution was a key factor in the TRELLINE™ selection. Performing the assembly of the individually bolted hose sections offshore allowed for the full capacity and uninterrupted production and crude oil export from the Bonga FPSO system (1,000,000 bbl offloading every 4-5 days) to the crude oil export tanker via the SBM Offshore-supplied SPM terminal.

Key Features:

• Lower pressure drop, therefore less pumping power needed on the FPSO
• Superior fatigue performance Significantly lower suspended weight and horizontal pull on the SPM, reducing its size and cost
• Repairable on site by changing one hose section, unlike the conventional OOL types

The TRELLINE™ is a bonded hose made of rubber, steel rings and reinforcement layers, end-fitted with a unique integrated gasket flange system. The TRELLINE™ comes in sections of (usually) 40 ft, which are bolted together in situ to make an OOL of the required length.

The (FPSO and SPM) end connections of the OOL are achieved through gimbal tables (double articulated uni-joints decoupling tension and bending and allowing free rotation). The export line is typically arranged in lazy wave configuration thanks to the installation of distributed buoyancy modules.

The TRELLINE™ has been developed for a typical 25-year design life. The need for gimbal tables at each extremity is a consequence of the following facts:

• The range of content specific gravity (from sea water to light oil) gives
• large variations of departure angles at the attachment points.
• The combination of the high tension and large bending at the attachment is not compatible with a service life of 25 years.

To demonstrate the 250 years fatigue life of the system, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools developed during the TRELLINE™ qualification program have been used to calculate the stress in any steel wires or bonding rubber layers. This FEA tool was also used to optimize the bonded structure for its service.

Deepwater Buoy

As oil production moves into more remote fields in deeper waters, the challenges are significantly greater — to production costs, the technology required to reach the oil and transportation of the oil once it is reached.

Larger distances from shore and deeper water depths (>1000 m) preclude traditional transportation methods such as via pipeline or smaller shuttle tankers. In such cases, deepwater CALM buoys connected through fluid transfer systems or OOLs (Oil Offloading Lines) to the FPSOs are increasingly used. These CALM buoys are located typically at a distance of approximately 2 kms from the FPSO.

SBM Atlantia is a world leader in design of deepwater CALM systems. We also offer patented fluid transfer systems (GAP^TM and Trelline^TM). Our depth of experience helps us better understand the challenges of designing such complex systems in which the CALM buoy, the fluid transfer system and FPSO are mechanically and hydrodynamically coupled, with the entire system subject to changing layers of seawater environment.

Financial Partnerships

SBM Atlantia capitalizes on the financial resources of our parent company, SBM Offshore, to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective solutions for offshore oil field development needs, minimizing capital expenditure and exposure for our clients.

Maintenance, Parts & Repair

We support the after sales service for Maintenance, Parts & Repair with a dedicated group of professionals supported by a qualified and experienced engineering team. We support our clients on our products for their needs on operation, maintenance and upgrades.

AFTER SALES, PARTS & SERVICES is comprised of a specialized group of highly experienced personnel that is responsible for the support function on these products supplied by SBM Atlantia:

• CALM Buoys
• Turrets and Swivels

Our typical support activities include:

• Inspection services
• Supply of original equipment from qualified manufacturers
• On-site overhaul and commissioning
• Dry-dock maintenance support
• Site installation and commissioning
• Training for operation & maintenance personnel
• Engineering studies
• Service agreements covering troubleshooting, storage of critical spare parts and engineering support

For any services and support enquiries, please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

 

Engineering & Design

GustoMSC is a full-service engineering and design company for all aspects of the drilling business. From conceptual layouts to fabrication support, drilling equipment specifications to Finite Element Analysis, life extensions to water depth upgrades, we have the  experience and capability.

 

Experienced, drilling oriented Engineering Disciplines available include:

• Naval Architecture
• Structural Engineering
• Piping Design
• Drilling Equipment Eningeering
• Electrical and Instrumentation
• Weight Control

Arctic Technology

We provide design and engineering services for arctic rigs, both land  and offshore.   We have designed rigs for service on the Alaskan North Slope, onshore Sakhalin Island, offshore Sakhalin Island, the Caspian Sea, the Beaufort Sea and the Bering Sea 

 

 

Upgrades

Typical upgrade projects we can provide include:

• Life extensions
• Water depth upgrades for semisubmersibles
• Variable Load Capacity upgrades for semisubmersibles
• Cantilever reach and/or capacity upgrades for jackups
• Mooring system upgrades for semisubmersible and drillships
• Moored to DP conversion for semisubmersibles
• Leg extensions and/or jacking system upgrades for jackups
• Solids Control modules for jackups

Risers - SCRs

Steel Catenary Risers, or SCRs, have become the standard deepwater choice for production lines from subsea trees and for export.

Gravity Actuated Pipe or GAP™

With oil and gas field developments moving into ever-deeper water, SBM Offshore strategically expanded their core FPSO business to include Dry Tree Unit (DTU) technology, and identified at the end of the 1990’s a need to develop a compact fluid transfer system to provide a near-surface link between two floating production systems. This type of near-surface fluid transfer system would enable the use of a DTU to be located near an FPSO in deep water.

Unstabilized crude oil transfer options in the past were either free-hanging flexible or rigid steel risers in single or multiple waves; or flexible or steel risers or riser towers via the seabed. The problems encountered with these options were: limitations in length and diameter; flow assurance concerns due to low temperatures in deeper water; strength and fatigue problems; as well as prohibitive cost of materials and installation. These problems or drawbacks made such fluid transfer systems technically unfeasible or economically unattractive. The challenge was to develop a fluid transfer system that could meet the following requirements:

• Suitable for very deep water (independent of depth);
• Suitable to span several kilometers;
• Suitable to provide adequate flow assurance;
• To increase local fabrication content as much as possible.

This challenge has resulted in the development of the Gravity Actuated Pipe or GAP™.

The GAP Principle

The GAP principle is based on a large diameter carrier pipe supporting a number of flow lines and umbilical(s). The carrier pipe serves as a structural support for the flow lines and umbilical(s). The flow lines are attached to the carrier pipe by supports allowing movement in the axial direction. The carrier pipe terminates at each end with a towhead, which channels the forces into the carrier pipe and supports flexible jumpers between the flow lines and the floating facilities. Tether chains are suspended from floaters to support each end of the carrier pipe. Clump weights or buoyancy are mounted at the ends of the carrier pipe to maintain the proper depth and horizontal tension. The action of the clump weights or buoyancy on the angled chains keeps the carrier pipe under the design tension. This tension minimizes the hog and sag deflections of the pipe bundle and keeps the system within acceptable operating limits.

A typical average suspension depth is around 200 m. The GAP sag stay (when flow lines are flooded) and the hog (when most flow lines are filled with gas or empty) is around 100 m. The sag limit is to avoid too much cooling in the deeper water and to guarantee flow assurance. In addition the flow lines can be insulated to further improve flow assurance. The hog limit is to avoid any interference with surface activities and to minimize direct wave action.

The GAP™ configuration is designed to stay within the required depth envelope for the field duration. However, if required, the configuration could be adjusted in two ways. First, by adding or cutting the trimming chains along the bundle, which will increase or decrease the bundle submerged weight. Second, by increasing or decreasing the clump weights at the towhead end, which will increase or decrease the pre-tension in the bundle and therefore the deflections. Two supporting tether chains are used at both ends to provide redundancy. These tether chains are connected to floaters and towheads using uni-joints, allowing rotation in two directions.

Agbami Buoy

Installed alongside spread moored FPSO Agbami off West Coast Nigeria in 1370m water depth, this deepwater CALM Buoy was engineered, designed and supplied by SBM Atlantia.

The Agbami Field, located approximately 70 miles off the Nigerian coast, was first discovered in 1998. The $6 billion development is located in water depths of 4,800 feet (1,500 meters).

SBM Atlantia’s involvement began in 1999. Our scope included EPCI for the piles and mooring system for the FPSO and the first deepwater buoy executed from Houston. SBM led the consortium with Acergy for the complete Oil Offloading System (OOL).

The oil production rate for the FPSO was 250,000 BOPD to be offloaded in 1 million barrel parcels approximately every four days.

The buoy, the buoy piles, and the FPSO piles were fabricated by Nigerdock in Lagos, Nigeria. The FPSO piles, the largest installed by SBM Altantia to date, are up to 29 meters in height and weigh 104 tons each. The deepwater buoy is 23 meters in diameter and weighs 1050 tons.

The very taut mooring system was installed with the new SBM installation vessel the Normand Installer. During the vessel’s sea trials the vessel completed a record-setting 308-ton bollard pull.

Initially, it was a challenge to convince the client to execute the project from Houston. The major issue was the experience with the DWBs in Monaco that would be difficult to capture in a different office. The preparation, the strength of the project team and the Lessons Learned from Monaco helped convince the client to accept. Resources for the project were mobilized early to aid project setup. This endeavor continued to have a positive impact on the project.

Numerous hurdles challenged the project team: an increasingly challenging Security situation in Nigeria; labor strikes; an extended rainy season, and quality problems with mooring components.

The largest threat to on-line completion of the project was the discovery of defective shackles, H-links and tri-plates from our usual suppliers in France and Spain. In order for Agbami to execute on schedule, it was necessary to appropriate equipment that was purchased for other SBM projects.

The hook-up of the FPSO was completed on January 12^th in 2008. The loadout and launch of the buoy took place in the third week of January. First oil was July 28^th and the first offload was successfully done on September 12^th.

CJ Series

The CJ series of jackups are state of the art drilling rigs, with designs ranging from 100 meters water depth tropical service to harsh  environment units suitable for 150 meters water depth North Sea year-round service.  All of the CJ series include X leg bracing for superior performance and  GustoMSC’s patented X-Y cantilever skidding for increased drilling capacity.

For more information on the GustoMSC CJ series Jackup designs please click here[d1]

CALM

A CALM consists of a floating buoy anchored to the seabed by catenary chain legs, which are secured to anchors or piles. One or more elastic mooring hawsers hold the tanker captive to a turntable which is mounted on top of the buoy by means of a slewing bearing. This bearing allows the turntable to freely weathervane so that a tanker can take up the position of least resistance to the prevailing weather at all times. Fluid product is transferred via the CALM to or from the tanker by floating and subsea hose systems.

When the tanker moves off station, due to the effects of wind, wave and current, certain anchor legs are lifted. This generates a restoring force and returns the system to an equilibrium position, thus limiting the tanker’s excursion.

CALMs are usually located in water depths between 20 to 100 meters and are connected to a shore storage facility (tank farm) or to offshore production platforms by means of a subsea pipeline. Since early 2000, the CALM design has been used and adapted to deepwater conditions, greater than 1, 000 meters. For this application, the CALM is used as an offloading system for a deepwater Floating Production Storage and Offloading unit (FPSO). SBM is currently the market leader of deepwater CALMs having supplied eight out of ten deepwater CALM systems to date.

When SBM Offshore invented the turret concept, its application to CALM buoys was considered. This idea was rejected, however, in favor of continued use of the turntable configuration for the following reasons that still hold true today, even for deepwater.

The most prominent advantages of the turntable-type buoy are as follows:

• A naturally ventilated turntable and center well offer safe and easy access to maintenance personnel. The entire piping path is open to air and there is no enclosed area, which could potentially trap explosive gases.
• The working area for maintenance operations is unobstructed.
• The safe and easy re-tensioning of moorings is accomplished through the use of automatic ratchet type chain stoppers positioned at the periphery of the buoy.
• The main bearing is mounted above the upper deck and supports an above-water turntable. This dry turntable arrangement offers free and easy rotation with minimum break-out and running torque requirement.
• The main bearing is only loaded when a tanker is attached and is not directly affected by wave loading, impact from workboats or from tankers riding up.
• The main bearing is easily accessible in a dry and open environment and can be fully maintained or even replaced offshore in case of damage by collision.

Long Life

Recently, the life span of SBM CALMs was increased to 30 years. Based on offshore platform standards, the paint system and corrosion allowance of the CALM were updated permitting the buoy to remain in the water for such a significant period of time. Additionally, the SBM CALM Buoy does not need to be brought to shore for overhaul and repair during this period. Special tooling and procedures are now available for the removal of the main bearing on site in the event of a failure due to a vessel collision with the turntable.

All mechanical components, Central Pipe Unit bearing, seals and valves, can be overhauled in-situ by using either the lifting equipment available on the CALM buoy, or replaced using much smaller lifting means such as the “A” frame of a workboat. This feature represents a significant advantage over other designs, which require regular in-shore overhauls, resulting in associated costs for the removal of the buoy body, overhaul and re-installation. These associated costs include the following:

• Direct Costs - Mobilization and work costs of the barge needed to disconnect the buoy from the chains and the hoses, the shipyard bill and the barge cost of reconnecting the buoy to the chains and the hoses, plus the barge demobilization cost.
• Indirect or Additional Direct Costs - The indirect costs associated with the unavailability of the terminal, or the direct cost of hiring a replacement buoy, plus its related installation and uninstalling.

The Turntable design and outfitting are adapted to the specific requirements of the project and Client. Product flow dictates buoy piping requirements and on-deck equipment can either be simple and manually operated, or more complex with remote control from shore station or ship by the use of telemetry.

Multi-Product Systems

CALM terminals are typically designed for the transfer of one product, e.g. for delivery of crude oil to a refinery. However, they can be used for the transfer of multiple products. CALMs have been designed to handle as many as five products simultaneously and discretely without co-mingling.

These products include:

• Crude oil or condensates
• Refined Petroleum products (e.g. fuel oil, diesel, aviation spirits, etc.)
• Chemicals and fertilizers in liquid form  
• LPG
• Fresh water
• Minerals in slurry form (e.g. iron, sand, or coal)

Benefits for the Operator

CALM terminals do not usually require tugs for berthing or un-berthing, only a small rope handling boat. The tanker turn-around times are generally less than 24 hours (i.e. no demurrage charges).

Other advantages to Clients include:

• Capital cost and lead time to system commissioning are significantly less than for a fixed-jetty facility
• Operating costs are lower due to the “no tug” requirement
• CALM systems are designed to comply with the rules and regulations of all of the leading Classification Societies such as: the American Bureau of Shipping, Lloyd’s Register, Det Norske Veritas and Bureau Veritas, among others.

Additional Equipment

While the original concept remains the same, a number of safety features and special equipment have been developed, which can be made available for all multi-purpose buoys, including the following:

• Telemetry and Berthing Aids - to provide the Master and Operators with information on process and ancillary equipment, together with berthing data
• Load Monitoring Systems - to provide a constant display of the tension in the hawser
• Breakaway Couplings - to provide the means to prevent overstretching of the floating hoses in the event of overload (broken hawsers) or pressure surges, thus avoiding any risk of significant pollution
• Electric Swivels - to enable power and instrument signals to be transferred between the fixed and rotating parts of the buoy
• Hydraulic Power Units and Hydraulic Swivels - to provide hydraulic power supplies for sub-sea applications, i.e. PLEM control valve(s)
• Solar and Wind Power Systems - to power the navigation aids, telemetry and berthing aids
• Outboard Product Swivels - to limit the stress on the offloading hoses and thereby increase hose life
• Surge Relief Systems - to provide a means to contain any fluids that may be relieved due to pressure surges during loading/offloading operations
• Subsea Wave, Tide, and Current Sensors - to monitor the long-term tide height, significant wave height and wave period.

Drillships

GustoMSC’s highly successful Pelican series of vessels, introduced in the early ‘70’s,  were the first purpose built DP drillships in the industry.  Continuing that legacy, today GustoMSC offers the 6^th generation P10,000 and PRD12,000 series of vessels.  

GustoMSC drillships are fit-for-purpose drilling vessels, designed from the keel up with drilling operations in mind.  They are characterized by integral riser holds, large workable deck areas and optimized motions to provide environmental integrity, personnel safety, efficient drilling operations and cost effective fabrication.

For more information on GustoMSC Drillships please click here.

Ocean 850

The Ocean Series of Semisubmersibles  are four column, integrated deck box vessels developed specifically to address environmental integrity, personnel safety, efficient drilling operations and cost effective fabrication. 

The cornerstone of the of the Ocean Series is the Ocean850 which is designed for the ultra deep waters worldwide.

NG Series

The NG series of four legged, jackups are self-propelled, full DP vessels, widely utilized in offshore installation and maintenance roles and the emerging wind turbine installation market. 

 

 

 

For more information on the GustoMSC NG series Jackup designs please click here.

Rig Solutions

GustoMSC offers complete rig solutions for rigs of all types.  We are recognized in the industry as leaders in designing and engineering rigs for offshore production facilities and arctic rig technology.

Jackups

GustoMSC designed and built their first drilling jackup, the “Seashell” in 1959.  Today’s product line includes the CJ series of drilling jackups and the NG series of support jackups.  In addition to design services, GustoMSC also provides jackup related hardware including complete jacking systems, leg fixation systems and our patented X-Y cantilever skidding system.

For more information on the GustoMSC Jackup designs please click here.

PRD12,000

The GustoMSC P12,000 is a 6^th generation, compact drillship designed for worldwide operations in ultra-deep waters.  The flexible layout can be configured for single or one-and-a-half operations.  The large workable deck areas and dedicated subsea and tree handling areas make it highly efficient for either exploration or development drilling.  The compact size makes it a very cost effective solution.

 

P10,000NG

The GustoMSC P10,000NG is a 6^th generation drillship designed for worldwide operations in ultra-deep waters.  The flexible layout can be configured for single, one-and-a-half, dual or triple operations.  The large workable deck areas and dedicated subsea and tree handling areas make it highly efficient for either exploration or development drilling.

 

 

TDS Series

The TDS Series of Semisubmersibles are four column, truss deck vessels developed specifically to address environmental integrity, personnel safety, efficient drilling operations and cost effective fabrication.  These designs are especially well suited to fabrication at yards experienced with truss type construction.

 

 

TDS2500, designed for the ultra deep waters worldwide, is a typical example of this series.

Semisubmersibles

GustoMSC’s Drilling Semisubmersibles are based on four column designs, typically focused on deepwater and ultra-deepwater applications.  Our highly successful Semi-submersible solutions include the Ocean Series of rigs, the TDS Series of rigs and the DSS series of rigs (DSS series is a joint development with Keppel Offshore Marine DTG). 

 Each design series is based on the concept of scalable design to maintain a consistent design philosophy and optimized solutions.

 For more information on GustoMSC Drilling Semi-submersibles please click here.

Riser Turret Mooring

The Riser Turret Mooring (RTM) system comprises two main components: a disconnectable riser column and a fixed arm, which is attached outside the bow of the tanker.

The riser column is fixed to the seabed by catenary anchor legs, supports the fluid risers, and is connected by means of a structural connector to the fixed arm. The fixed arm is located on the bow of the tanker and contains the weather-vaning bearing, reconnection winch, flow lines, control manifolds and fluid swivels.
Disconnection is achieved automatically in two stages; first, the fluid risers are isolated, then the riser column is disengaged utilizing large hydraulically operated collet-type connectors.

When disconnected, the disconnectable riser column remains floating on location and the tanker sails away.

External Mooring Systems

The concept of an External Turret Mooring System became a reality when the stern of the 140,000 DWT Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel, the Alba Marina, was fitted with an external turret in 1985.

An External Turret Mooring system comprises of a steel box-type structure that can be either close to or extended some distance from the bow or stern of the vessel, providing a foundation for a rotating bearing arrangement and a turret located above water. The bearing accommodates a fixed chaintable to which mooring chains and fluid transfer hoses are attached. The chain legs are fastened to the seabed either by anchors or piles.

Product and utility connections are made between the facilities on the vessel and the seabed via a swivel stack in the turret, allowing the vessel to weather vane around the fixed part whilst continuing production. An alternative design is the clamped bow turret where the rotating bearing arrangement is split between an above and below water section.

MoorSpar™ Disconnectable Mooring System

For environments where hurricanes, cyclones or other severe weather threaten operations, SBM Atlantia has pioneered a disconnectable FPSO mooring system that makes possible the use of lower-cost, efficient steel catenary risers (SCRs) in the development of deep and ultra-deepwater reserves.

The MoorSpar™ system combines several proven technologies to overcome the fatigue issues inherent with utilizing SCRs with FPSOs. The system consists of a truss-like structure set atop a long, slender buoy, known as the hard tank, moored to the seafloor by a combination of lateral polyester lines and vertical tethers. The FPSO is connected to the facility through a standard articulated yoke system linked to a main roller bearing situated below a gimbal table at the top of the MoorSpar™ unit.

This arrangement accommodates the vessel roll and pitch motions, while allowing the FPSO to weathervane. SCRs are, in turn, connected to the MoorSpar™ facility at riser porches located along the keel of the buoy. The riser is then linked to internal piping, which is routed up through the central column and then across hard piping and swivels to the FPSO.

The MoorSpar™ system is also suitable for high pressure and high temperature reservoirs as it avoids the use of flexible jumpers and risers.

Advantages of the MoorSpar™ buoy:

• Capable of utilizing low cost, efficient SCRs with FPSOs
• Applicable for water depths up to 10,000 ft
• Allows for FPSO disconnection in the event of a hurricane, cyclone or typhoon
• Significant mooring and riser cost savings compared to hybrid systems
• Suitable for high temperature and high pressure reservoirs
• Utilizes field proven technology
• Design confirmed through wave basin model testing

Buoyant Turret Mooring

The Buoyant Turret Mooring (BTM) system consists of a disconnectable mooring buoy and a fixed turret structure located inside the forepeak of the tanker.

The mooring buoy is fixed to the seabed by catenary anchor legs and anchor points. The mooring buoy, located below the tanker keel, supports the fluid risers and is connected by means of a structural connector to the fixed turret structure. The fixed turret structure extends up through the tanker and is supported from a roller bearing. At the top, it contains the reconnection winch, flow lines, control manifolds and fluid swivels.

When disconnected the mooring buoy sinks to a neutral buoyancy position under water, out of harm’s way, and the FPSO sails away to safer waters.

Murphy “Thunder Hawk” DeepDraft Semi®

Designed with a very similar hull to the Independence Hub DeepDraft Semi FPU, the Thunder Hawk facility also incorporates the latest industry-accepted metocean criteria. Equipped to process both oil and gas from the Thunder Hawk field, this facility is the first unit deployed in the Gulf of Mexico is owned by an SBM Group Company,  and operated by Murphy Oil Corporation under a production handling agreement. SBM Atlantia’s scope of work was EPCI.

 

 

Field Facts
Location	Mississippi Canyon, Block 736
Water Depth:	6,050 ft
Oil throughput:	45,000 bpod (60,000 bopd future)
Gas throughput:	70 MMcfd
Water throughput:	30,000 bwpd
# of production wells:	4 (sub-sea)
Production Risers:	2 8-in SCRs (6 8-in SCRs future)
Export Risers:	12-in SCR (oil), 12-in SCR (gas)
DeepDraft Semi® Specifications
Payload (deck/facilities/risers – including future):	13,800 tons
Mooring:	12-leg mooring system, 9-in polyester rope
Hull dimensions:	232 ft x 232 ft x 170 ft
Hull Column dimensions:	46 ft x 46 ft
Draft:	105 ft
Pontoon dimensions:	38 ft x 26 ft
Topsides Specifications
Operating Weight (deck/facilities):	10,250 tons
Deck Dimensions:	140 by 140 ft (2 levels) 140 ft x 40 ft (future module)
Schedule Milestones
Project Award:	September 2006
Platform Installation:	2008
First Gas:	2009

Enterprise Independence Hub

In 2007, the industry’s first DeepDraft Semi® was installed in a world record 8,000 ft of water on the Independence Hub project in the Gulf of Mexico. This facility is equipped to process gas from 10 anchor fields with excess payload capacity to tie back as many as 10 additional fields.

Field Facts
Location	Mississippi Canyon, Block 920
Water Depth:	8,000 ft
Processing Pipeline:	Spec gas
Gas throughput:	1 bcfd
Condensate throughput:	5,000 bpd
Produced water throughput:	2,960 bwpd
# of production fields (subsea):	9
Production Risers:	12 10-in SCRs, 4 8-in SCRs
Control Umbilicals:	12
Gas Export:	20-in SCR
DeepDraft Semi® Specifications
Payload (deck/facilities/risers):	13,800 tons
Displacement:	45,800 tons
Mooring:	12-leg mooring system, 9-in polyester rope
Hull dimensions:	232 ft x 232 ft x 170 ft
Hull Column dimensions:	46 ft x 46 ft
Draft:	105 ft
Pontoon dimensions:	38 ft x 26 ft
Design Life:	20 yrs
Classification:	ABS classed and certified
Topsides Specifications
Operating Weight (deck/facilities):	10,250 tons
Deck Dimensions:	140 by 220 ft (2 levels)
Quarters:	16 occupants + 12 temporary
Helideck:	Bell 214
Schedule Milestones
Project Award:	July 2004
Platform Installation:	2006
First Gas:	2007

Matterhorn SeaStar® TLP

The Matterhorn SeaStar® TLP  was the first dry tree SeaStar hull and the largest one built to date, measuring more than twice the size of the previous three SeaStar projects.  The hull was fabricated in only 12 months at the Keppel FELS yard in Singapore.  SBM Atlantia’s scope of work was EPCI.

Field Facts
Location	Mississippi Canyon, Block 243
Water Depth:	2,820 ft
Oil throughput:	33,000 bpod
Gas throughput:	55 MMcfd
Water Injection:	20,000 bwpd
# of production wells:	5 spare (sub-sea), 7 + 2 spare (surface)
Production Risers:	10 ¾-in, 9 5/8-in, 9 7/8-in
Export Risers:	18-in SCR (oil), 10-in SCR (gas)
SeaStar® TLP Specifications
Payload (deck/facilities/risers):	8,425 tons
Tendons:	6 32-in
Main column dimensions:	584 ft (dia) x 125 ft (ht)
Pontoon dimensions:	179 ft (r) x 42 ft (ht)
Draft:	104 ft
Deck Dimensions:	140 x 140 ft (3 levels)
Schedule Milestones
Project Sanction:	September 2001
Platform Installation:	July 2003
First Oil:	November 2003

Internal Mooring Systems

The Internal Turret Mooring system is integrated into the forward end of a vessel and is supported on a large roller arrangement, located either inside a moonpool towards the keel of the vessel, or at deck level.

Breakthroughs in Internal Mooring Systems

In 1994, SBM Offshore was awarded the first turnkey FPSO project for a North Sea location. The Anasuria FPSO consisted of a newly built turret-moored monohull vessel with a storage capacity of 850,000 barrels, capable of a continuous operation for the design service life of twenty years in the unforgiving North Sea environment. The special tailor-made turret mooring system was designed to moor the FPSO vessel in all weather conditions up to and including the survival sea state of 12.8m significant wave height.

An internal turret consists of a chaintable structure anchored to the seabed via an array of mooring anchor lines. The chaintable structure is suspended from a heavy-duty roller bearing, which is located several meters above the keel of the FPSO. A radial assembly is used at the vessel main deck level to absorb the radial loads caused by the accelerations of the upper turret structural mass. The turret cylinder houses the riser i-tubes and supports the turret main deck, the manifold platform, the swivel stack, riser winches, and all of the fixed portions of the rigid piping. The Anasuria-type turret was designed to accommodate up to 14 risers of various diameters.

Another breakthrough in turret technology came in the late 1990s when SBM Offshore was called to moor two large, deepwater FPSOs for Petrobas, Brazil. The challenge was to accommodate 35 and 47 risers respectively in two weather vaning FPSOs for various functions. The swivel stacks used were among the largest in the industry, with up to 12 individual passes for hydrocarbons. This same technology was later applied to the Espadarte FPSO (285,000 DWT). The Espadarte‘s turret system accommodates 45 risers, servicing up to 15 production and 9 water injection wells.

Typhoon SeaStar® TLP

The Typhoon SeaStar® TLP established production 37 days ahead of schedule and more than five months ahead of the industry average for similar projects, thus achieving a “pacesetter” status within Chevron.  Following damage incurred during Hurricane Rita in September 2005, the Typhoon TLP was redeployed as a reef in shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. SBM Atlantia’s scope of work was EPCi.

Field Facts
Location	Green Canyon, Block 237
Water Depth:	2,100 ft
Oil throughput:	40,000 bpod
Gas throughput:	65 MMcfd
Water Injection:	15,000 bwpd
# of production wells:	4 + 3 spare (sub-sea)
Production Risers:	4.5-in, 5.3-in flexible insulated
Export Risers:	10.75-in SCR (oil), 18-in SCR (gas)
SeaStar® TLP Specifications
Payload (deck/facilities/risers):	4,008 tons
Tendons:	6 26-in
Main column dimensions:	58 ft (dial) x 112 ft (ht)
Pontoon dimensions:	115 ft (r) x 25 ft (ht)
Draft:	91 ft
Deck Dimensions:	110 x 110 ft (2 levels)
Schedule Milestones
Project Sanction:	January 2000
Platform Installation:	May 2001
First Oil:	July 2001

Allegheny SeaStar® TLP

The Allegheny SeaStar® TLP is based on the same hull geometry and payload characteristics as Morpeth, but is installed in twice the water depth, demonstrating the water depth flexibility of TLP’s.  Fabrication began on this second SeaStar TLP as the construction of the first neared completion. The field was initially expected to produce approximately 30,000 bopd and 40 MMscf/d of gas, but was later increased to 190 MMscf/d to process and accommodate production from other area subsea tiebacks. SBM Atlantia’s scope of work was EPCi.

Field Facts
Location	Green Canyon, Block 254
Water Depth:	3,300 ft
Oil throughput:	30,000 bopd
Gas throughput:	190 MMcfd
Water Injection:	15,000 bwpd
# of production wells:	5 (sub-sea)
Production Risers:	5 5-in SCRs
Export Risers:	12-in SCR (oil), 12-in SCR (gas)
SeaStar® TLP Specifications
Payload (deck/facilities/risers):	3,750 tons
Tendons:	6 28-in
Main column dimensions:	58 ft (dial) x 112 ft (ht)
Pontoon dimensions:	115 ft (r) x 25 ft (ht)
Draft:	91 ft
Deck Dimensions:	110 x 110 ft (2 levels)
Schedule Milestones
Project Sanction:	January 1998
Platform Installation:	June 1999
First Oil:	August 1999

Neptune SeaStar® TLP

Neptune, the newest SeaStar® mono-column TLP, was installed in June 2007 on BHP Billiton’s Neptune field in 4,300 ft of water.  It is the deepest SeaStar deployment to date. Total payload, including risers, is 8,000 tons with processing capacity of 50,000 bpod and 50 MMcfd. SBM Atlantia’s scope of work was EPCI.

Field Facts
Location	Green Canyon, Block 613
Water Depth:	4,300 ft
Oil throughput:	50,000 bpod
Gas throughput:	50 MMcfd
Water Injection:	28,000 bwpd
# of production wells:	7 (subsea)
Production Risers:	2 4-in SCRs, 4 8-in SCRs (future)
Export Risers:	20-in SCR (oil), 12-in SCR (gas)
SeaStar® TLP Specifications
Payload (deck/facilities/risers):	8,077 tons
Tendons:	6 36-in
Main column dimensions:	76 ft (dia) x 128 ft (ht)
Pontoon dimensions:	176 ft (r) x 48 ft (ht)
Draft:	91 ft
Deck Dimensions:	120 x 120 ft (3 levels)
Schedule Milestones
Project Sanction:	July 2005
Platform Installation:	June 2007
First Oil:	2008

Morpeth SeaStar® TLP

The Morpeth SeaStar® TLP was the world’s first mini-TLP, and represented a new generation of TLP. It was developed through a strategic alliance with British-Borneo (now ENI) to develop small deepwater oil and gas fields. It was also the first TLP in the world to be classed and certified by ABS. SBM Atlantia’s scope of work was EPCi. 

Field Facts
Location	Ewing Bank, Block 921
Water Depth:	1,700 ft
Oil throughput:	40,000 bpod
Gas throughput:	50 MMcfd
Water Injection:	28,000 bwpd
# of production wells:	3 + spare, 1 water injection (subsea)
Production Risers:	4-in flexible insulated
Export Risers:	12-in SCR (oil), 8-in SCR (gas)
SeaStar® TLP Specifications
Payload (deck/facilities/risers):	3,500 tons
Tendons:	6 26-in
Main column dimensions:	58 ft (dial) x 112 ft (ht)
Pontoon dimensions:	115 ft (r) x 25 ft (ht)
Draft:	91 ft
Deck Dimensions:	110 x 110 ft (2 levels)
Schedule Milestones
Project Sanction:	January 1997
Platform Installation:	August 1998
First Oil:	October 1998

Spread Mooring Systems

In the case of a spread-moored FPSO/FSO, the tanker or process barge is moored in a fixed heading with anchor lines distributed over the bow and stern of the vessel, to anchor points situated on the seabed. The heading is determined by the prevailing sea and weather conditions. The spread-moored FPSO/FSO can only be used on locations where currents, waves and winds are very moderate or normally come from a prevailing direction.

With this type of FPSO/FSO no turret or swivel stack is required, as the vessel does not change heading in relation to the risers connecting the tanker with the wells on the seabed. To offload crude from a spread-moored FPSO/FSO, a separate tanker loading facility should be provided as the shuttle tanker cannot safely moor in tandem to the FPSO/FSO due to changing current, wind and wave direction, possible interference with anchor lines and high risk of collision.

SBM Offshore’s deepwater CALM buoys have been designed as offloading facilities for deepwater spread-moored FPSOs.

Disconnectable Mooring Systems

SBM Offshore launched the concept of disconnectable turret mooring systems in the early 1980s. These types of turret moorings allow the exploitation of reserves in locations where severe weather conditions such as typhoons, hurricanes, or ice packs might threaten the safe operation of the facility. With a disconnectable mooring system, the FPSO can sail away from the field when threatened by hazardous conditions without external assistance, leaving the mooring system behind. Another advantage of the disconnectable mooring system is that the FPSO is easily sailed to a shipyard for upgrading or routine inspections and stationary surveys.

An Evolving Solution

The concept evolved in 1985 when SBM Offshore supplied an external disconnectable Riser Turret Mooring system for the FPSO Jabiru Venture, located in the cyclone-prone region off the northwest coast of Australia.

An internal disconnectable Buoyant Turret Mooring (BTM) system was developed a few years later for the Nan Hai Fa Xian, an FPSO deployed off Hong Kong in the typhoon-affected environment of the South China Seas. In 2002, the newly built Sea Rose FPSO, located offshore the eastern coast of Canada, was also furnished with a BTM.

Since those early days, SBM Offshore has continued to develop this technology in response to industry demands for innovative turret mooring systems capable of handling ever-larger vessels with significant numbers of risers, in various water depths and environments worldwide.

DeepDraft Semi® Floating Production Unit

In 2002, responding to the emerging trend of discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico at depths nearly double that of the deepest installed TLP, SBM Atlantia embarked on a strategic initiative to expand our portfolio with a new FPU design that could economically develop ultra-deep reserves. The result was the DeepDraft Semi®, a four-column semisubmersible production facility.  Our first application— the world record-holding Independence Hub— now serves as the linchpin for the industry’s most significant projects to date.

Conventional semisubmersibles are designed primarily to accommodate specific payloads. Our DeepDraft Semi® design focused on optimizing vessel motion to maximize the fatigue life of steel catenary risers (SCRs) and minimizing integration cost and risk.

The SBM Atlantia Deep Draft Semi design was developed in collaboration with an alliance of our sister companies, GustoMSC, which is an industry leader in semisubmersible hull systems.  The breakthrough design deepened the draft of the facility, extending it well below the wave zone. This feature not only reduced wave-induced motion, but also allowed for additional ballast capacity to increase the mass of the hull, which, in turn, increased the structure’s natural period beyond wave periods. This design also lowers the structure’s center of gravity, further mitigating pitch and roll motion.

An added key feature of the DeepDraft Semi design is its optimization for quayside integration of the topsides facility. This capability not only reduces the high risk and expense of an offshore heavy lift, but it allows the hookup and commissioning of all facilities to take place using efficient, safe and cost-effective onshore resources. The fully integrated facility can then be towed to the field location and installed using smaller, less expensive vessels.

SeaStar

The SBM Atlantia SeaStar TLP is an ideal deepwater development structure. It minimizes project cost and risk. It has optimum motion properties. And it can be scaled and configured for a wide range of deepwater field sizes, water depths and development strategies.

SBM Atlantia’s turnkey project experience, along with the standardized SeaStar hull design, fabrication and installation procedures, ensures a low-risk project approach that minimizes, if not eliminates, project delays or cost overruns. A SeaStar structure can be configured to suit your development project and still deliver the economical advantages of a fast-track fabrication/installation schedule. Development options include: dry trees, wet trees, TLWP with FPSO and dry tree with drilling tender.

Key Features of a SeaStar® Mono-Column TLP

• Applicable for both wet and dry trees
• Capable of supporting payloads up to 11,000 tons
• Supports economical steel catenary risers in hurricane environments in water depths from 450m to 2000m (1500 ft to 6500 ft)
• Short installation phases minimize weather exposure
• Minimal platform motion maximizes facility operating uptime
• Design, analysis and testing confirmed by five installed systems

In short, we can manage and execute your entire TLP project on a timely, turnkey EPC or EPCI basis. This allows you and your team to focus on the important things — platform functionality.

FPSO Frade

FPSO Frade is owned by Chevron Frade LLC and operated by SBM Offshore. Its maximum throughput is 100,000 bopd. Currently deployed offshore Brazil, its date of first oil was June 2009.

Unit Type:	FPSO/Converted
Mooring Type:	Internal Turret
Client:	Chevron
Field:	Frade
Water Depth (meters):	1,080
Number of Risers:	33
Vessel Size:	DWT 274,000
Storage Capacity (bbls):	1,550,000
Topsides:	Crude Oil – 100,000 bpd Gas compression – 106 mmcfd Water Injection – 150,000 bwpd
Scope of Work:	Tanker – PTC Topsides – EPC Mooring – EPC Installation – EE (SBM) Contract – Fixed Lump Sum

Semisubmersible

As exploration and production activities expanded world wide to deeper and deeper waters, the semisubmersible floating production unit (FPU) has been a mainstay floating production solution for wet tree developments where pipeline infrastructure was available.  Our parent company has provided semisubmersible solutions for both drilling and production dating back to some of the industry’s earliest units. The standard industry semisubmersible FPU provides reasonable motions and is scalable to handle very large payloads.  But these FPUs couldn’t meet the challenge of supporting SCR’s in ultra-deep water. That’s where SBM Atlantia stepped in.

FPSO

Our tailor-made FPSO solutions for both short-term and life-of-field needs are based upon a track record of successes.

We, along with the SBM Group Companies,  offer our clients:

• SBM Group Companies have a cumulative vessel operating experience of 160+ years and export of 2.4+ billion barrels of oil
• Financial strength enabling attractive financing of substantial capital intensive units
• A vast pool of experienced project managers
• In-house engineering expertise in all disciplines required for the design of integrated production and storage facilities

Feedback from the day-to-day operations is integrated into the design of new vessels. During the design and construction phases, the marine, maintenance and production superintendants who will operate the unit are mobilized early in the project to participate actively as an integral part of the execution team. Their task is to ensure that the design will meet and exceed their requirements as operator.

Permanent Mooring Systems

SBM Atlantia offers a family of turrets designed to permanently moor the vessels in survival conditions. These include internal turrets for harsh environments, internal turrets for a large number of flow lines and risers, and external turrets for mild to medium environments.

• Home

• 

  About

  SBM Atlantia is one of a group of multinational companies, known as SBM Offshore N.V., which sells systems and services to the global oil and gas industry. We provide…

  Read more

• Products & Services

  Capitalizing on the resources of our parent company, SBM Atlantia provides safe, reliable and cost-effective solutions for offshore oil and gas field development needs,…

  Read more

• Partnerships

  SBM Atlantia participates in a wide variety of partnership relationships as required by the needs and dictates of the global oil and gas industry. As a committed partner in a…

  Read more

• Innovation

  SBM Atlantia has a long record of innovative successes. From dramatically advancing exploration and production technology, to the introduction of new designs, products,…

  Read more

• 

  Our People

  "Teaming” is an important activity at SBM Atlantia, and plays an important part in our success both at work and in our communities.

  …

  Read more

• 

  Careers

  Are you ready to ride the offshore technology wave?

  SBM Atlantia is a leading global provider of innovative floating production and drilling solutions. We are an…

  Read more

• Contact

• Glossary

• Sitemap

• 

  Employee Tools

  SBM Corporate Intranet System

  Click here to access the CIS from the World Wide Web. You will be asked to provide your network security credentials.

  SBM Outlook Web…

  Read more