Subsea7 taking steps to eliminate hydraulic leaks with advanced electric tools

Subsea7 has performed what it says is the first offshore trial of an initiative aimed at eliminating hydraulic leaks in subsea diving operations through the development of advanced electric tools.

Subsea7 partnered with Scottish specialist in subsea electric innovation Impaq Technologies, who developed an innovative electrically-powered grinder/cutter tool for divers, designed to replace the traditional hydraulic tool.

The prototype was tested by saturation divers in June, at 141 meters of water depth in the North Sea, demonstrating “excellent performance in setup, handling and power”, Subsea7 said.

The next steps include the finalization of the tool’s development, as well as plans to carry out further testing on other Subsea7’s dive vessels.

In terms of other work in the North Sea, Subsea7 was appointed in May to undertake project management and EPCI of a five-kilometer 8” production pipeline with a 3” piggy-backed gas lift line and an electro-hydraulic controls (EHC) umbilical on the Belinda field for Serica Energy.

Last month, the company won a contract with UK oil & gas company Dana Petroleum for the delivery of subsea services at the Bittern development located in the UK Central North Sea.