Energy burst issue 5 issue

SUMMER 2015

this issueq FROM STOKESLEY TO SANTIAGO 06q TECHNOLOGY FEATURE 11q MEMBER NEWS 36q MEET THE BOARD 40q ENERGY: A BALANCED FUTURE 2015 41q EXHIBITION TOP TIPS 48

Issue #05

Technology:Unlock theInnovationPotential

www.nofenergy.co.uk

The official membership magazine of NOF Energy

NOF EnergyAnnual Conference

www.energyburstmagazine.com

Energy: A Balanced Future 2015

OFFSHORE & MARINE

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05 Welcome06 From Stokesley to Santiago

Technology Feature11 Unlocking the Innovation Potential12 Reasons to be Chearful14 Asset Maintenence17 Maximising the Value of your Innovation20 Engineering Excellence22 Optimisation: Design of a Subsea Trencher Manifold24 Business Without Barriers26 Queens Award28 Award for Innovation

Leadership 30 Power Safety System for Wind Farms 32 Member News 36 NOF Energy Team 38 Meeet the Board 40 Energy: A Balanced Future 2015 41 Exhibition Top Tips 48

NOF Energy Events 50

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Introduction to ValvesWednesday, 4th NovemberHeld at KMD Business Centre, Aberdeen Members Price: £260.00 Non Members Price: £390.00

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5ENERGY BURST EDITION 5

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Energy Burst is a great way for members to communicate with each other by providing a platform to highlight the broad range of skills and

technology-led innovations that exist within the membership and will play a key role in the evolution of the energy sector.

More than ever, improved co-operation is essential to delivering upon the oil & gas sector’s ambitions to create a more sustainable and efficient industry; this also applies to the other energy sectors including offshore renewables and nuclear.

NOF Energy, through all its services and activities, including Energy Burst, is committed to supporting the ambitions set out in Sir Ian Wood’s report to create stronger, more engaging relationships through every tier of the oil and gas supply chain community.

This was clear at our recent national conference and exhibition, Energy: A Balanced Future, which is reviewed later in this issue. The event has grown substantially in recent years because industry has recognised its importance in terms of providing a platform where suppliers, operators and contractors can interact and develop relationships.

We are also developing our new Smarter Supply Chains initiative, which will bring

operators and the supply chain closer together to work towards common goals. We will be communicating more about Smarter Supply Chains in the coming months and I would urge members to take advantage of the opportunities it will present.

Also in this edition of Energy Burst are informative articles from members including Armstrong Consultancy Services [ACSL] and Osbit Power alongside articles about innovation and leadership, all of which demonstrate the growing prominence and knowledge base of the NOF Energy network.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Energy Burst and the NOF Energy team and I look forward to seeing you at a future event, details of which can be found on our website, www.nofenergy.co.uk/events. We’re also keen to hear your feedback or any suggestions for the content of Energy Burst, which you can do by contacting Business Development Manager Caroline Lofthouse on [email protected]

George Rafferty

Energy Burst introduction

Welcome from George RaffertyChief Executive, NOF Energy

NOF ENERGY TEAM

George RaffertyChief Executive

Joanne Leng MBEDeputy Chief Executive

Clare WeirsDirector Business Services

Paul LivingstoneBusiness Development Manager

Caroline LofthouseBusiness Development Manager

Kristie LengTrainee Events Manager

Jenna SpencerBusiness Relationships Executive

Jennifer SmithEvents and Marketing Coordinator

Jenna SmithBusiness Development Assistant

Nicola SmilesAssistant Accountant

Marie AllanGeneral Administrator

Nicola SmithEvents & Marketing Administrator

The official membership magazine of NOF Energy

WELCOME TO THE LATEST EDITION OF ENERGY BURST. THIS PUBLICATION IS PROVING TO BE AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE FOR OUR MEMBERS AND THE WIDER ENERGY SUPPLY CHAIN COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY AS WE ENTER WHAT IS ANOTHER INTERESTING PERIOD IN THE HISTORY OF THE UK’S ENERGY INDUSTRY.

6 ENERGY BURST EDITION 5

NETWORKING IS WHAT NOF ENERGY IS ALL ABOUT AND LONG SERVING NOF ENERGY NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DAVE ARMSTRONG HAS A REAL LIFE EXAMPLE THAT DEMONSTRATES THE VALUE OF IT.

Dave has transferred some of the experience gained from 30 year in oil and gas into renewables and taken him from the fabrication yards of North

East England and offices in Stokesley and Leeds to Santiago and the Andes in South America.

Dave is a Director of Armstrong Consultancy Services [ACSL] who provide niche commercial and contracts management consultancy support to a diverse range of companies in the energy supply chain. They are based in the Wynyard Business Park on Teesside.

From Stokesley to Santiago, oil and gas to hydro.

Teesside in the 1990’s

DAVE ARMSTRONG,DIRECTOR,ARMSTRONG CONSULTANCY SERVICES (ACSL)

What does that mean you may well ask?Engineering and construction projects are complex and risky and the contracts that specify who provides what and when and the quality required, not to mention how much they are paid for doing it are also complex. Dave’s background as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with 35+ years of experience however means that he is well versed in managing such projects, particularly when things get difficult.

But back to the networking... Dave attended a conference in London and following a chat with one of the speakers an assignment with a major Norwegian engineering contractor ensued a few weeks later to evaluate the losses arising in an Insurance claim relating to some defective subsea equipment installed in the North Sea.

Further assignments followed on a variety of FPSO and subsea projects.

Confirming the old marketing adage that ‘people do business with people they know, like and trust‘, one of his contacts moved into the world of Hydropower and remembering how Dave and his team had helped previously asked Dave to visit Santiago in Chile to provide strategic support and advice on several Hydro projects there.

Hydropower accounts for approximately 40% of Chile’s energy with the balance coming from thermal sources whilst Chile only has minimal domestic oil or natural gas reserves.

Hydropower is the most common form of renewable energy in the world providing 16% of the world’s electricity production in 2008. This equates to 3,288 TWh per annum. The projects that Dave has worked on involve ‘run of river’ hydro schemes in the Chilean Andes each around 160 MW.

Run of River hydropower schemes use the natural downward flow of rivers to capture the kinetic energy carried by the water. Typically water is taken at a high point and gravity fed to a lower point where it runs through a turbine generator and then re enters the river. These schemes are relatively inexpensive and have little environmental impact in contrast to the larger hydro schemes with extensive dams associated. There are run of river schemes in the UK but here they are much smaller micro hydro types.

Over the last 5 years Dave has undertaken many visits to Chile and word soon gets around such that a Chilean civil engineering contractor learning of the skills that ACSL


Santiago , Chile

Hydropower accounts for approximately 40% of Chile’s energy with the balance coming from thermal sources whilst Chile only has minimal

domestic oil or natural gas reserves.

have to offer has also since tapped into their expertise on other conventional energy related power projects .

So how are the skills learnt on North Sea oil and Gas Projects transferable to run of river hydro projects?

Hydro projects are also complex but there are some elements that are similar to oil and gas projects but of particular relevance to Dave and his role, there is at its core a contract to be managed incorporating detailed Owners Requirements ,specifications , programme and pricing.

There are of course some obvious differences that had to be addressed... tunnelling and transmission line construction (neither of which are common in offshore oil and gas projects) are key features of run of river hydro projects. This is where Dave’s adaptable background as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor of 35 + years came to the fore and his ability to grasp technical issues quickly and to integrate with the project team also kicked in. By their nature run of river Hydro projects involve working in difficult, remote locations often in and around mountainous regions. Issues such as unforeseen ground conditions, land access problems for transmission line construction, irrigation rights with local farmers, earthquakes, landslides and flooding are also not unusual. Their impact on the parties as well as on Lenders and Insurers are

something that have to be managed from a commercial and contractual perspective.

Dave, also an accredited Adjudicator and Mediator is also involved along with his wife and fellow Director, Lindsey – a qualified solicitor and Teesside University MBA graduate in providing mentoring and ‘commercial awareness’ training for engineers and by so doing pass on their ‘lessons learned’ experiences. After the initial assignment in Chile, Dave gave several such training workshops on new run of river hydro projects in Peru and Panama.

Dave is bound by confidentiality in respect of the majority of the work he and his associates undertake therefore he can’t ‘name names’ but client satisfaction is reflected in the repeat business and referrals which are the foundations of ACSL’s business model.

Where will the next 5 years take Dave and his team? “Dave says... I enjoy meeting the challenges posed by our clients and there is nothing better than helping them to achieve positive outcomes for the particular commercial problems they face... as long as that continues we will keep doing what we do!’

[email protected] 028 044

Tinguiririca River - the Andes location of hydro plants La Confluencia and La Higuera

I enjoy meeting the challenges posed by our clients and there

is nothing better than helping them to achieve positive outcomes for

the particular commercial problems they face... as long as that continues

we will keep doing what we do!


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Unlocking theInnovation Potential

The ability to consistently deliver innovative technology-led solutions to the energy industry has always been a key differentiator of the UK supply chain. However, now, more

than ever, disruptive and game-changing technology will be the key to helping the energy sectors, and particularly, the oil & gas market, achieve its ambitions for more sustainable operations.

Many NOF Energy members have, and continue to, introduce new solutions, new technologies and new innovative ways of working that address industry challenges. The Energy Burst Technology Feature highlights just a handful of our members that are activating ideas, commercialising their innovations and delivering solutions to market.

NOF Energy is keen to support more members in this challenge. Through our Technology Commercialisation Workshops we aim to help companies that have ideas for creative solutions transform them into a product or service that can be taken to market.

This collaborative approach will better support the ambition to improve communication between the supply chain community and end users through the application of technology. The value of collaboration can never be underestimated is an essential component in members’ objectives of translating innovation and technology into a commercial, income generating solution.

The success of the UK supply chain, highlighted by the companies on the following pages, demonstrates it is well-positioned to deliver the technology solutions that meet and exceed industry requirements. It is also clear that the supply chain cannot stand still and NOF Energy will continue to support its members’ drive to deliver innovative and effective technology.

JOANNE LENG MBE, DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE, NOF ENERGY


The NE offshore industry has made very impressive progress over the past five years; major investments have been made in people, facilities and businesses, with the predominant offshore

markets being oil & gas and offshore wind. Although these markets are focusing on cost reduction at the moment, this obliges us to look at new ways of thinking about all aspects of the business. How we construct contracts, how we carry out our engineering, and how solutions can be elegantly simple to build, operate and maintain. Achieving success requires clever engineers who think in innovative ways, with enough experience to produce safe and practical solutions.

There is now a clear requirement to be competitive in all elements of offshore energy and North East England is very well placed to flourish based on energetic businesses creating new technology and new ways of doing things. To build on the strength in the region we must attract and retain the best talent at all levels. OP offers student placements to university undergraduates and this provides a great opportunity to be involved in real commercial engineering and assume significant responsibility. It also enables the business to assess and attract top talent. Many of our students become permanent members of staff after graduating. We are determined to provide the best engineering value by using clever and experienced engineers working in a structured but low bureaucracy environment. We believe

Reasons tobe CheerfulTHE CURRENT OIL PRICE CHALLENGE PROVIDES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR VERSATILE AND INNOVATIVE BUSINESSES TO BUILD FOR THE NEXT MARKET BOOM

DR TONY TRAPP,MANAGING DIRECTOR, OSBIT POWER


”Brent crude averaged $110/bbl until July 2014 and then dropped to a low of $46/bbl in

January with little improvement now. We must adapt and learn to live with this new reality.”

that the benefits of creating a successful business should be shared with all who help to create it. We are fortunate that the UK tax regime is favourable to entrepreneurial businesses and to the owners of these businesses. 20% of the OP business value is allocated to staff using an EMI scheme. At the moment gains in wealth by owners and staff are only taxed at 10% in most circumstances. The result is highly incentivised staff and owners working together to create success for all. People are capable of wonderful things when they are in the right environment. There is huge under-utilised resource everywhere – particularly in the NE. Activity that is world class will always create prosperity and success. Greater aspiration, more confidence and more self-reliance are essential. ”Brent crude averaged $110/bbl until July 2014 and then dropped to a low of $46/bbl in January with little improvement now. We must adapt and learn to live with this new reality.”


The energy industry is undergoing a period of evolution stimulated by the substantial drop in the oil price and the recent economic challenges, particularly in the UK offshore oil & gas sector, as it aims to deliver a

programme of cost control and an improved relationship with government through the creation of the Oil & Gas Authority. The focus of the industry is on maintaining good levels of production delivered through cost-effective processes and systems. However, it is essential the eye of the industry is not drawn away from the important issues surrounding the integrity of offshore assets. In our experience, there are many mature assets currently struggling with integrity, and with the current reduced investment in maintenance there is a danger these assets will face serious integrity issues in the future. Of course, effective fabric maintenance has to be a core element of asset operations in order to meet required levels of production. Therefore, employing a technology-led asset management strategy will enable asset operators to make informed decisions that can deliver cost savings and productivity gains. Strategic Corrosion Management (SCM) is a world leader in all aspects of corrosion management and control, corrosion prevention techniques including coatings selection, insulation and passive fire protection. We deploy a ‘unique’ set of tools and technologies designed to minimise risk, enhance safety and prove integrity and corrosion compliance on all types of

Asset Maintenance Must Support the Need to Maximise Oil & Gas Productivity

IAN CORDINGLEY,MANAGING DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC CORROSION MANAGEMENT

ENERGY BURST EDITION 4 15

process plant, all whilst minimising the cost of maintenance. Through our specialist toolset ‘RISCm’ (Risk, Integrity & Strategic Corrosion Management), underpinned by extensive knowledge of material corrosion and degradation in harsh industrial environments, we support clients’ asset management programmes and safety protocols around the world. SCM can provide detailed analysis across offshore installations, which generate an on-going corrosion management and maintenance programme monitored and managed through the cloud-based RISCm software package; currently deployed on more than 140 assets across the globe. RISCm has proven to be a hugely effective system, evidenced by Maersk Oil selecting the solution as its preferred system of External Corrosion Management. However, to maximise the RISCm benefits, there has to be a shift in the culture of asset management and a more encompassing view of integrity and fabric maintenance. It is commonplace for maintenance and integrity to be dealt with in isolation from

each other, because of differing data formats and competing aims and objectives. For most operators, tying the two together has been difficult at best or hugely error prone at worst. For this very reason we created the 360integrity concept, which addresses the requirements for a transparent, easily implemented and robust, integrated component, corrosion and fabric maintenance and integrity management system. With 360integrity, every aspect of an asset is considered in accordance with ISO55000 and the HSE-KP series of recommendations, offering an integrated solution to asset managers with a comprehensive view of their facility and the opportunity to influence its potential to be corrosion-risk-free.It supports better and more timely decisions

there are many mature assets currently struggling with integrity, and with the current reduced investment in maintenance there is a danger these assets will face serious integrity

issues in the future


about critical and non-critical situations, flexible planning, budgeting and prioritised scheduling of works to achieve best value from maintenance expenditure. 360integrity is facilitated by the use of our RISCm toolkit. While this system is designed to maintain the traditional disciplines of Integrity and Fabric as separate entities, no one needs to ‘know it all’. Integrity and Inspection personnel can carry on as before looking after their own aspects of the facility and the Fabric personnel can look after theirs, RISCm does all the linking and presentation so, from a management stand point, it’s all in one usable ‘box of data’. However, plant operations and infrastructure are deeply integrated in a practical sense; therefore each element of their monitoring and maintenance systems should also be deeply integrated. This is why RISCm is so effective; its dashboards offer access to data from diverse areas of a facility, integrating the information in a useful and easily understood manner. 360integrity adds two significant benefits to the management process. First, we are able to manage many other aspects of plant that might otherwise be considered separate or difficult to control. For example, Transitions & Penetrations, Temporary Repair Solutions, Flanges and

Bolting, Valves, Pipe Saddles, Hangers and Spring Hangers. These elements are often not properly understood in terms of the maintenance ‘big-picture’, managed as an ad-hoc add-on to some other activity and sometimes not even considered at all. In 360integrity these can all be part of the entire management programme handled as an integrated system. Secondly, 360integrity allows outside suppliers to operate a specialist area of RISCm as their own in-house tool. For example, where an operator has deployed RISCm as their hub system, the specialist supplier can plug-in directly to the hub and deliver their service, often in ‘real-time’ as if they were part of the operators own crew. If the industry wants to effectively reinvent itself for a new-age of oil & gas production, the implementation and operation of an integrated integrity control and management tool-set is imperative. Rather than being a distraction from maximising production levels, it clearly demonstrates a real synergy with the industry’s objectives to become leaner and more productive while maintaining its commitment to safety. +44 (0) 1670 736662 www.stratcorrman.com


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Staff engagement

Any novel technology is highly likely to embody, and/or be capable of protection by way of, intellectual property rights (IPRs). These IPRs can provide the means to prevent competitors from providing products/services representing the same or similar technology.

Broadly speaking, IPRs created by an employee in the course of their employment will belong to their employer. It is probable that an innovative business acquires new and valuable IPRs regularly on this basis; some of which (for example, copyright, database right and design rights) subsist, and become enforceable against later rights, automatically upon fixation.

With a view to ensuring that your business takes full advantage of this, all staff involved

in development work should be familiar with the kinds of IPRs that they may generate and what to do when they are generated. Individuals charged with overseeing research into and/or commercialisation of new technology will readily identify items of benefit to the business. However, they are reliant on details of those items being provided to them by those directly involved in their production.

Confidentiality

It is understandable that you would want to tell the marketplace about your novel product or process as soon as possible. However, bear in mind that disclosing an invention without a clear obligation of confidence could undermine your ability to subsequently obtain a patent for that invention; a potentially wide form of protection that, by virtue of the Patent Box (see https://www.gov.uk/corporation-tax-the-patent-box for more details), may also provide a significant tax benefit.

Of course, protecting inventions by way of patents is not appropriate for all businesses. Indeed, some will value the opportunity to

Maximising the Value of your Innovation


SOMEONE WITHIN YOUR BUSINESS HAS DEVELOPED TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SET YOU APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS. HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT YOU REALISE AND MAINTAIN THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE THAT THE TECHNOLOGY OFFERS?

ANDREW HALL, ASSOCIATE, BOND DICKINSON LLP, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TEAM

guarantee first entry into the market with an invention above anything else. Nevertheless, until you decide how to commercialise your new technology, keep it confidential and keep your options open. This will provide you with time to properly consider the relative costs, timescales and other factors that will determine which protection and/or exploitation strategy is right for your business.

If you do wish to discuss your new technology with a third party during this period, ensure that the recipient of your confidential information signs an appropriate non-disclosure agreement. An obligation of confidence may be imposed on the third party in certain circumstances where you do not, but it is better to have them commit to the obligation in writing.

Explore all relevant IPRs

Be sure to consider all IPRs that may be relevant to your new technology. For example:• Technology consisting of a new product that takes, in whole or in part, a unique shape may be the subject of design rights. As well as any unregistered design rights that may arise as a matter of course, registered design rights can also be obtained and provide an extended period of protection. Broadly speaking, design rights can be used to prevent the sale of an article whose shape

produces the same overall impression on a customer.

• Copyright is likely to subsist in original software. An owner of such copyright can prevent a third party from copying the whole or a substantial part of the software. Remember that the copyright protection afforded to software only covers the particular form in which it is written; not its functionality. However, it may be possible to obtain a patent covering this if the software has a novel technical effect.

Make the most of available resources

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) website is a useful source of information for any business looking to establish if their technology is protected/protectable by way of IPRs (see https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ip-for-business-events-guidance-tools-and-case-studies for example). Investigate whether there is any funding/grant available through the IPO or elsewhere that could assist your business in this process. The IPO has been known to cover the cost of formal audits.

Whether you are looking to use your technology to cement your place in the market, or to attract investment, identifying any IPRs that you could rely on to prevent competitors encroaching on your activities is vital.


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At the British Engineering Excellence Awards in London Royal IHC’s Hi-Traq trenching machine and tooling platform won the award

for ‘Mechanical Engineering Product of the Year’. Hi-Traq is the first 4-tracked subsea vehicle with fully independent suspension and steering. This gives unrivalled maneuverability and ability to cope with

the full range of shallow-water terrain. The vehicle was originally conceived as a dedicated trencher for cable burial in offshore windfarms but is also being developed as a multi-purpose tooling platform for a wide variety of subsea installation, IRM and decommissioning works.

Ralph Manchester, Chief Engineer for Subsea Vehicles at Royal IHC’s UK subsidiary - IHC Engineering Business (IHC EB), commenting on the award said “We are enormously proud of the Hi-Traq project; in testing our development machine has proved that the technology works and we look forward to seeing the vehicle in operation”.

ROYAL IHC’S HI-TRAQ WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE

Engineering Excellence

”We are enormously proud of the Hi-Traq project; in testing our development machine has proved

that the technology works and we look forward to seeing the vehicle in operation.”


The project was internally funded by Royal IHC with support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Charlotte Pugh, Hi-Traq Project Manager at IHC EB, said at the awards ceremony “The design and build of Hi-Traq was a real team effort; everyone involved will take great satisfaction from this fantastic award”.

For IHC EB, this award follows on from winning the BEEA ‘Design Team of the Year’ in 2011, for the Saipem FDS 2 J-lay system. The equipment is one of the offshore industry’s most versatile pipelay systems, capable of installing large diameter subsea pipelines in water depths of up to 3,000m.

Winning these awards is a major accomplishment for both the business and every employee; working together to achieve something great, the future for this Northumberland based business has never been more exciting.

Profile Royal IHC Royal IHC (IHC) is focussed on the continuous development of design and construction activities for the specialist maritime sector. It is the global market leader for efficient dredging and mining vessels and equipment – with vast experience accumulated over decades – and a reliable supplier of innovative ships and supplies for offshore construction.

IHC has in-house expertise for engineering and manufacturing integrated standard and custom-built vessels, advanced equipment and also providing life-cycle support. This integrated systematic approach has helped to develop optimum product performance and long-term business partnerships. The company’s broad customer base includes dredging operators, oil and gas corporations, offshore contractors and government authorities.

IHC is based at various locations in The Netherlands, Brazil, China, Croatia, France, India, Malaysia, the Middle East, Nigeria, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Technological innovation will remain the company’s underlying strength through its continuous investment in research and development. Moreover, it helps to safeguard a sustainable environment.


NOF Energy member Forum Energy Technologies has worked with fellow member Wilde Analysis to optimise the design of their new XT1500 subsea

trenching vehicle, significantly improving fluid performance efficiency while maintaining robustness through use of advanced engineering simulation.

A global oilfield products company providing services to the subsea, drilling, completion, production and infrastructure sectors, Forum was tasked with the design and construction of a new vehicle based upon a smaller XT1200 model currently in operation in the North

Sea. A key objective for the XT1500 was to improve the performance of the forward tooling assembly in order to more efficiently fluidise the seabed. This would guarantee that any product could be accurately laid into the trench.

Forum engaged the consulting team from Wilde Analysis to assist with the redesign of the assembly, including optimisation of:

• Internal flow characteristics• Structural performance• Strength-to-weight ratio• Spatial design envelope and operational functionality

Optimisation: Design of a Subsea Trencher Manifold

XT1500 Seabed Trenching System Photo Courtesy: Forum Energy Technologies and Helix Canyon Offshore

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods were used to improve the internal flow characteristics and finite element analysis (FEA) was then undertaken to assess the structural significance of any internal alterations. The team used ANSYS software throughout the project as the ANSYS Workbench user environment provides an ideal platform for geometry editing, meshing and solving for both FEA and CFD. During the project, Wilde Analysis fine-tuned the manifold using CFD, exploiting the optimisation capabilities of the ANSYS Fluent Adjoint Solver. By allowing the mesh to adapt, an optimised shape was produced for the internals of the manifold to minimise pressure loss.

An initial structural analysis of the manifold indicated a weakness in the welded regions. Forum had already identified this area as a potential problem; structural simulation by Wilde reinforced their idea to switch from a welded to a machined manifold. Through the use of FEA, Wilde engineers were able to reduce the weight of the machined design to within acceptable limits while mitigating the

”Wilde quickly understood the analysis that needed to be done on the Forward Tooling Assembly and used their FEA and CFD expertise to develop a new design

to optimise the efficiency of the new vehicle within the required time scales.” Paul Marshall, Project Engineer - Forum Energy Technologies

risk of crack propagation.

The simulation-based consultancy provided by Wilde enabled Forum to improve the forward tooling well in excess of what could have been achieved through more traditional engineering methods. The efficiency of the fluid performance was improved by 26 percent. Furthermore, by changing the structural design and manufacturing process without significantly increasing weight, any concerns over robustness were eliminated.

This was a highly collaborative project between Wilde, Forum and their analysis tools. Wilde’s engineers were placed on-site, embedded into the design department. This gave Forum guaranteed full-time access to the skilled analysts they required and facilitated direct and immediate communication across the combined team, to the benefit of all. Beyond enabling the team to deliver a demonstrably improved design within time and budget, Forum also experienced first-hand the benefits of advanced interoperable simulation and optimisation tools in driving design. For further information, visit: http://wildeanalysis.co.uk/casestudies

Assembly modelImage Courtesy: Forum Energy Technologies and Helix Canyon Offshore

Forward tooling assembly of XT1500 Seabed Trenching SystemPhoto Courtesy: Forum Energy Technologies and Helix Canyon Offshore


Part of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., one of the world’s largest Insurance Brokers and Risk Management Advisors employing over 20,000 people

worldwide, Arthur J. Gallagher is a leading UK Insurance Broker placing in excess of £1bn in premium.

The Newcastle office was established in 2005 and is one of the largest National Insurance Brokers in the North East of England, employing over 40 staff who provide Insurance Broking and Risk Management services locally, nationally and globally.

Aaron Strange, Development Executive at Arthur J. Gallagher commented ‘having been invited as guests to some of the NOF Energy events we realised that many of our clients were already members and were convinced that many others could benefit from our

understanding of the sector. We, therefore, became a member of NOF Energy and have worked with the team and key insurers using our leverage in the insurance market to create an insurance facility for NOF Energy members which will guarantee savings on existing premium spend.’

Partner insurers were carefully selected because of their:• Financial standing rated AA from Standard and Poor’s and AA++ from A.M. Best.

• Knowledge of the Offshore/Onshore and Energy Risk Arena and appetite to write more business for NOF Energy members.

• Ability to arrange insurance cover for all type and size of business, provide market leading service and deliver specialist risk management resource when required.

Business without barriers


ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER AND NOF ENERGY HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO CREATE AN INSURANCE SERVICE THAT WILL FULLY MEET THE NEEDS OF NOF MEMBERS AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE.

AARON STRANGE, DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE, ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER & CO.


The benefits of using Arthur J. Gallagher:• They are a company with a strong regional presence combined with a global reach. They have client servicing capabilities in 140 countries giving them the technical knowledge and ability required for your sector.

• They are a highly experienced team with the capacity to advise on and handle any risk or challenge around the world to ensure that their clients’ business and reputation are protected.

• They have the knowledge and expertise to review contracts from an insurance perspective and the insurance facility will ensure broad coverage and high limits of indemnity which in addition to giving better protection will enhance the tender process for contracts.

• The claims process is an integral part of an insurance programme and is the measure of a good broker. They have a dedicated claims team in Newcastle office with experience of major and complex claims. They will ensure that claims are handled in such a wa that your business suffers minimal disruption.

• As an international organisation they work with integrity and in an ethical manner. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., has been named as one of the ‘World’s Most Ethical Companies’ by the Ethisphere Institute for the fourth consecutive year.

• The emphasis placed on service is reflected in a high client retention rate and the fact that business is often won by personal connection or professional recommendation.

• Arthur J. Gallagher believes in helping the local community and their charitable giving scheme supports local and national charities as well as community projects. The insurance solutions that Arthur J. Gallagher can engineer for NOF Energy members will benefit your business. As a first step a free audit of your existing insurance arrangements would be undertaken without the need to contact any of your current insurance providers. The audit would benchmark you against similar businesses to provide ideas on cover and cost improvements.

”SMD have worked with the team at Arthur J. Gallagher for a number of years now so they know our business very well. This has enabled them to design and negotiate a robust and cost-effective insurance programme precisely suited to our needs. It also enables them to deal effectively and efficiently with any claims or queries we may have.”Richard HowarthSMD

”The Port of Blyth has utilised the services of the Arthur J. Gallagher team in Newcastle for several years with their understanding of our business and requirements a key to the high level of service delivery we receive. Working with them and accessing the value added services which they readily offer has allowed the Port to develop excellent long term partnerships with its insurers and the obvious benefits this brings not only financially but also in a very constructive working relationship when insurance services are called upon.”John DaviesPort of Blyth


A IS received the award for International Trade in recognition of its phenomenal business success in the UK and overseas. Over the

past three years the North Tyneside company has grown by 120% - creating more than 100 new jobs, including several senior level appointments - and has established additional presence in the Caribbean, Aberdeen, Middle East, Kazakhstan and Humberside.

AIS works closely with the global energy, maritime and heavy industry sectors to find innovative solutions to common problems such as how to reduce costs, improve safety and competence and overcome skills shortages. From designing, manufacturing and installing world-class insulation and fire protection systems to providing maintenance programmes, skills training, software solutions and online industrial products, AIS boasts a diverse business portfolio.

The company’s innovative insulation and passive fire protection jacketing systems are amongst the most technologically advanced on the market today. Years of research have gone into the jackets, which are comprised of materials developed by NASA, to create the thinnest and most effective systems available.

These technical systems are used to protect pipework and offshore structures against corrosion, weather and the temperature extremes of jet fires and are a safety critical component in high risk processes like oil and gas extraction.

AIS designs and manufactures these systems at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in North Tyneside and they are then exported all over the world.

The company has also invested heavily to create a £10m world-renowned training village which delivers more than 120 industry courses to 17,500 delegates annually in skills such as sea survival, working at height, wind industry training, rigging and lifting, rope access, painting and blasting and CompEx electrical.

Managing director of AIS, Paul Stonebanks, said: “It is a huge honour to receive a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, which is widely recognised as the world’s most prestigious business title. At AIS we are constantly striving for innovative and better ways to solve industrial challenges and work closely with clients to develop bespoke solutions. This has helped us to create an extensive and diverse range of world-class products and services all aimed at helping improve safety and competency, as well as profitability and productivity. Our exceptionally customer-focussed approach, combined with a solid business strategy to set up and build new market territories, has helped us to significantly grow the business year-on-year.

“Having our achievements recognised at the highest levels of business is fantastic news. This Award is also testament to our extremely talented and hard-working team who have helped make AIS the phenomenal success story it is today.”

For more information on AIS contact 0844 800 1810 or visit www.aisgroup.co.uk

AIS Wins Prestigious Queen’s Award

PAUL STONEBANKS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, AIS

LEADING OFFSHORE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIALIST, AIS, IS CELEBRATING AFTER BEING NAMED WINNER OF THE QUEEN’S AWARD FOR ENTERPRISE – THE UK’S HIGHEST ACCOLADE FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS.

The AIS Jet Fire Pro PFP Jacket during rigorous testing

e: [email protected]

www.asdmetalservices.co.uk

ENTRUSTED TO DELIVER METAL SOLUTIONS

klöckner & co multi metal distribution

ASD metal services

SUPPLIERS OF AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

TO THE ENERGY SECTOR

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In May 2015 IMG Composites Ltd were named as winners of the “Award for Innovation in Offshore Asset Integrity” at the 2015 Offshore

Excellence Awards for their composite repair and reinforcement technology. At the awards IMG Composites unique composite repair brand CompoSol® was also honoured with the award for “Best Repair Systems Product: CompoSol”.

The prestigious Offshore Excellence Awards recognise firms from all spectrums of the offshore industry, from the smallest local companies to the international heavy-hitters, celebrating the endeavours, accomplishments and ambitions in their specialist field.

Based in Aberdeen, IMG Composites is a composite engineering specialist company that provides high quality composite pipe repair and structural repair solutions to the Oil & Gas industry. They were awarded for their innovation and experience in the composite repair industry, which spans over 10 years.

For IMG Composites the double award in 2015 comes on the back of an award win last year. Commercial Manager, Ian Taylor, stated:

“The two awards represent both a commendation of our composite repair product CompoSol® and our industry leading innovations in non-metallic engineering. In the current climate of the Oil & Gas industry there is a lot of negativity so it is good to be able to help Operators maximise output and limit costs with our very cost effective repair capabilities. Acknowledgement with these awards represents not just independent recognition from Acquisition International but also from our clients who nominated us for these awards.”

Innovation

IMG Composites have always taken pride in providing innovative solutions to asset integrity problems, achieved through composite technology. Below Ian elaborates on the

IMG Composites Ltd Secure Award for Innovation


companies history of innovation.

Back in 2005, when IMG Composites were set us as a separate business, composite pipe repairs were a cutting edge innovation. The unique CompoSol® composite pipe repair system was qualified as a very high performance system in line with the ISO/TS 24817 Standard for composite pipe repairs, which published in 2005 with the assistance of IMG Composites.

However, 10 years on the innovation of solutions has spread to many other areas of asset integrity. Caisson repair as a distinction from less structurally loaded pipes was one of IMG Composites early successes, with the development of structural engineering capabilities in-house to assess the loads involved. These capabilities included supplementing our technical team, various material testing and the procurement of a Finite Element Analysis system.

In the late 2000s CompoSol® deck repair systems began to be utilised widely, with ever increasing sophistication in the design and implementation of the refurbishment technology. Large and complex deck reinforcement projects are now easily planned by the experienced team at IMG Composites. By 2015 multiple offshore assets in the UK North Sea and further afield have deck refurbishments that not only seal the remaining deck plate from further corrosion and leaks but also provide quantified structural reinforcement.

Years of research into the composite repair and reinforcement of various structural members means that the CompoSol® Structure service has long been able to offer a convenient solution to degraded box sections, beams and tubulars. One business case assessment of such a reinforcement, put together by an Oil & Gas Operator, revealed that the innovative repair was very attractive compared with the traditional alternative.

The flexibility of a wet lay-up composite, which is both very durable and adaptive to different geometries, results in a material that can pleasantly surprise those who utilise it. Often a client will employ a CompoSol® composite solution as a short term measure, only to discover that it is an excellent long term solution. This occurred recently with a bulkhead repair which was in a very poor condition, where the completed CompoSol® Flat solution that had been applied was met with almost shocked appreciation from the Oil & Gas platform, with top scores on the FPal form. Satisfied client feedback like that mentioned above has been what has led to IMG Composites’ recognition in this year’s award.

In the current climate of the Oil & Gas industry there is a lot of negativity so it is good to be able

to help Operators maximise output and limit costs with our very cost effective repair capabilities


Bulkhead after coating Bulkhead before coating

P eople are an organisation’s greatest asset. Workforce costs have a significant impact on an organisation’s operating

expenditure. Over the past decade remuneration across the global Energy sector has soared. Unfortunately, loyalty, contribution and good old fashioned hard work, appear to be on the decline.

When production and profits are high, less attention is paid to underperforming employees and inefficient operating processes. Organisations procure additional skills rather than seek ways to improve efficiency and output. The current climate provides an opportunity for organisations to eliminate bad practice and make significant improvements. It also presents each of us with an opportunity to eliminate what isn’t working for us and make a personal commitment to contribute at a higher level – to develop a personal leadership approach.

Leadership – but not as you know it!

”If you think you are too small to be effective, you have

never been in the dark with a mosquito.”

- Anonymous


CLARE FENWICK,WATSON LILY

I’ve been working within the recruitment and career development sector for almost two decades. This is a career where you truly are only as good as your last sale! There is nowhere to hide, coast or play the blame game. If I didn’t put the work in, then I wouldn’t get the results. And then I wouldn’t get paid….

After the initial shock following the dramatic fall in the price of oil, many within the industry feel that it is a welcome ‘gift’. The UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) in particular is a high cost operating environment. A substantial part of operating expenditure corresponds to workforce costs. As such, it’s time for each individual employed by an organisation to consider how they may have contributed to the current economic climate faced by our industry. It’s far too easy to look externally and blame the fall in oil price, decline in investment or high taxation. This is the climate we have. The question is; What

Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

- The Bible, Galatians 6:7


are you going to do about it?I’m an advocate for personal responsibility and self-reliance. I believe that we all have a part to play in ensuring that the Oil & Gas sector emerges stronger, fitter, healthier The concept of Personal Leadership advocates that we can all follow the principles of good leadership, whatever our role within an organisation.

You don’t need a title to be a leader. Multiple Attributions

Personal leadership is shown through our everyday actions and the way we influence the lives of those around us. It embodies the principles of accomplishment and contribution in everything we do, as well as promoting relationships and community. It begins with a decision to be the very best version of yourself at every given moment. I understand that this is a high ideal – particularly when expectations are running at an all-time low. However, it does present you with an opportunity to re-commit and to emerge as indispensable when organisations may be forced to look at further reductions in headcount.

According to Forbes, there are ten top qualities that make a good leader:

1 Honesty2 Ability to delegate3 Communication4 Sense of humour5 Confidence6 Commitment7 Positive attitude8 Creativity9 Ability to inspire10 Intuition


BackgroundGSE Systems have a longstanding pedigree in providing engineering services covering electrical, instrumentation, automation and control, simulation and training. This includes core expertise in power systems analysis for all manner of applications in most market sectors worldwide.

Alongside offshore and onshore wind energy growth in the UK and beyond, it is imperative that the associated power distribution systems are safely designed, installed and maintained considering all risks in electrical safety.

One such risk which applies to all power systems at high and low voltage (HV and LV) respectively is the hazard presented by arc flash during live working, operation and switching. GSE Systems have been undertaking arc flash analysis and mitigation projects for over 20 years and are experts in the initial assessment but more importantly, practical measures to mitigate the risk and protect electrical operators from the hazard.

This article describes the work already undertaken for a major wind farm operator with installations both offshore and onshore in the UK. It outlines the requirements and benefits

Power System Safety for Wind Farms

PAUL WELFORD, MANAGING DIRECTOR,GSE ENGINEERING


which should be considered by all operators and asset owners in the wind energy sector.

ChallengeThe initial challenges with electrical safety are ensuring that clients understand the potential hazards within their electrical systems and the appropriate legislation to which they must comply.

Many operators in the UK and Europe apply best practise in the application of NFPA70E ‘Standard for Electrical safety in the Workplace’. In the UK, the Health & Safety at Work Regulations (1999) call for a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of employees. Since the risks posed by electric arc faults are well-known and recognised, it is necessary to conduct a Risk Assessment and mitigate these risks in order to ensure compliance.

Arc flash hazard is clearly identified in the Memorandum of Guidance (HSG25) in the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, under Regulation 2.

There are many aspects to delivering a complete compliance package as part of a comprehensive arc flash analysis exercise. Some common misunderstandings include that the magnitude of the hazard is solely based on system fault levels, and that arc flash risk only applies to HV systems. GSE Systems have completed approximately

200 studies on all types of industrial applications and find many cases of high incident energy at LV. Often at lower voltages, procedural protection is less stringent than at HV although LV operations are generally more frequent thereby increasing the potential risk to workers.

Other challenges which feature in the analysis of arc flash in a wind application are to properly understand the worst case scenario for fault level and arc flash calculations. This needs to take into account the configuration of the distribution system since all turbines contribute to the power generation for the farm. Incident energy needs to be calculated for individual turbines and the farm as a collective influence. Further challenges presented for a wind application are the comparative long distances between turbines and the main substation arrangement with protection clearance issues.

SolutionIn this case, the initial solution to the client was to undertake a detailed arc flash analysis exercise in accordance with the standard IEEE 1584 “Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations” allied to NFPA 70E.

The calculations which were undertaken included 690V generation and 33kV/132kV distribution systems for numerous offshore turbines. Due to potential generation contribution

permutations, system configurations which were considered included;

• Stand-alone wind turbine running at full capacity.• All turbines connected together at full capacity.

Calculations included short circuit levels in accordance with IEC 60909.

In order to accurately model the system for all configurations, a comprehensive understanding of the calculation software as applied to this type of generation system was required. This included directional trip configuration to ensure that the correct sequence of operation is modelled.

The findings of the study were presented with recommendations for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), appropriate labelling and outline mitigation measures to allow the client to manage the risk.

Since the risks posed by electric arc faults are well known and recognised, it is necessary to conduct a Risk Assessment and mitigate these risks in

order to ensure compliance.


Services provided• Evaluation of distribution system records• Power system Modelling of distribution system• Fault level and protection analysis• Arc flash calculations• Recommendations report including minimum PPE requirements and outline mitigation measures• Arc flash label provision

Outcome and Client BenefitsFollowing the study, the main benefit to the client was a full understanding of the arc flash hazards in the form of incident energy levels for the full distribution system as well as verification that relevant protection is appropriately co-ordinated. Labelling was also provided such that switchgear could be designated with hazard risk categories in accordance with NFPA70E with clearly identified PPE requirements.

The results of the study clearly showed some high value incident energy for stand alone

turbine analysis but more importantly some very high ‘dangerous’ levels of incident energy for the combined turbine calculations. Such a level of hazard cannot be protected against by the use of PPE. These results highlight the potential danger from arc flash for such installations and measures to protect operators must be planned and implemented accordingly.

The results for analysis performed for the full system with all turbines connected together, each running at capacity show the worst case dangerous levels of incident energy. Modelling this configuration accurately demonstrates energy stress on the each node; it will increase the calculated fault levels and could potentially cause non-sequential tripping of protective devices. Subsequent stages which GSE undertake in typical arc flash studies following initial analysis are mitigation studies where the system model is re-evaluated and protection adjusted to better manage the incident energy levels present through improved fault clearance. Further remedial measures might include design and implementation of revised protection arrangements, the introduction of arc flash detection relays, remote operation of switchgear or alternative procedural amendments for improved safe systems of work. To further manage the arc flash hazard, it is important that operational staff are made aware of the risks and GSE Systems also provide awareness training in arc flash, mitigation, PPE and labelling.

The results of the study clearly showed some high value incident energy for

stand alone turbine analysis but more importantly some very high ‘dangerous’

levels of incident energy for the combined turbine calculations.

Over several years Datalink has established itself as an expert in the design and manufacture of electronics for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX).

ATEX Design & Manufacture

• In-House Design Consultancy

• Highly Qualified Design Engineers

• Support for ATEX Electronic Design Certification

• We offer a Full Turn-Key Solution

• Manufacture small-to-medium volumes

• Accredited to ISO9001:2008 standard

• Product testing to ensure 100% functionality

• Product compliance to regulatory standards (ATEX, EMC, LVD, etc)

www.datalink-electronics.co.uk

For more details contact:Dr Jim AllenE: [email protected] T: +44 (0)1509 231023

China Slows as OPEC Grows Douglas Westwood

China’s stock markets have been suffering considerable volatility, sending the central government scrambling in an attempt to pick up the pieces to support the crashing market. http://tinyurl.com/oy5txkz

Best of British Wessington Cryogenics

Wessington Cryogenics are enviably positioned as global preferred supplier of cryogenic pressure vessels to some of the world’s blue chip oil and gas giants, industrial gas suppliers, scientific users and leading research laboratories such as CERN.

In collaboration with these industrial and scientific partners , Wessington has invested intensively in Research and Development to broaden the supply offer to meet industry demand for a suite of acid and chemical tanks for offshore use, laboratory format vessels, increasing the range and capacity of our helium dewars and new bulk static storage tanks. http://tinyurl.com/pn8aosb

OSBIT Power’s Double Helix of Deliveries Osbit Power

OSBIT Power, a leading North East England offshore and subsea engineering company, has successfully delivered two well intervention equipment projects, totalling several million pounds, to Helix Well Ops U.K. for installation on the Q7000, currently in-build in Singapore.

Each of the two projects is a bespoke, custom-made system; a set of twin Cursor type ROV Launch and Recovery Systems (ROV LARS), forming OP’s largest contract to date, while its Umbilical & Guide-wire Handling System (UGHS) is

Newsa design first for the company. http://tinyurl.com/qfbqn4o

Altec Engineering secures £6m investment to support continued growth Altec Engineering Ltd

Engineering solutions provider Altec Engineering, based in County Durham, has become the latest company to secure investment from BGF (Business Growth Fund). Altec Engineering designs and manufactures special purpose equipment and manufactures high precision CNC components for the automotive, aerospace, mining, defence and oil & gas sectors. The company has received a £6m investment to support its buy and build strategy and organic growth. The first investment is the acquisition of neighbouring business Ronco Engineering. http://tinyurl.com/pnzjvb2

New Oil & Gas Regional Segment Manager strengthens Dräger team Drager

Dräger, an international leader in the fields of safety and medical technology, has strengthened its North Sea team with the appointment of Michail Tzouvelekis as Regional Segment Manager, Oil & Gas for the Europe North region. http://tinyurl.com/o3q6hot

Teesside businessman Paul Booth to take over as chair of Tees Valley Unlimited Tees Valley Unlimited

A leading Teesside businessman is taking over as chairman of the area’s key regeneration body.


Sabic chairman Paul Booth is the new head of the Tees Valley Unlimited Local Enterprise Partnership, replacing Sandy Anderson, who has been in the role for the last five years. http://tinyurl.com/njf48j9

Rosewood Packaging expands nationally after acquiring Scott Packaging operations in the Midlands Muckle LLP

Rosewood Packaging, a family-owned manufacturer of timber and corrugated packaging, was established in 1953 and is based on Tyneside. The firm has now developed into being a leading, award-winning, designer & manufacturer of innovative packaging solutions for industrial applications – particularly in the packaging mediums of timber & performance corrugated. With the latest acquisition, Rosewood has acquired its fifth manufacturing facility to complement the four production sites across Tyneside and takes employee numbers up to 140. http://tinyurl.com/nzjy3r6

Powerhouse report backs united stance Wardhadaway

The findings of a report into business attitudes to the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ agenda back calls for a united approach to boosting the North’s economies, according to a leading law firm. http://tinyurl.com/qbx3b3b

AIS first globally to deliver new standards in offshore fireproofing AIS Training

AIS Training is raising offshore safety standards by becoming the first in the


world to offer a revised fireproofing qualification approved by the oil and gas industry.

The three-day OPITO (the oil and gas industry’s training body) fireproofing course, trains workers in how to apply passive fire protection (PFP) to offshore structures. PFP protects steelwork from the extreme heat generated by a hydrocarbon fire and is a statutory safety-critical requirement for offshore assets. http://tinyurl.com/prlpuzf

GSE Systems Moves Glasgow Office to New Strathclyde University Technology & Innovation Centre GSE Systems

Global performance improvement company GSE Systems, Inc. (NYSE MKT: GVP) (“GSE”) today announced that it has moved its office and

simulation centre in Glasgow, UK to the new £90 million ($140 million) Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC) at the University of Strathclyde. GSE will dedicate its new, larger office space to servicing and supporting simulation, training and engineering solutions for its UK and European clients. http://tinyurl.com/pbhppsu

Evolution LLP adds six to its team as it continues to grow Evolution LLP

North East accountancy practice, Evolution LLP has added six new team members as it continues to grow its client base and service offering.

All from the region, recent graduate Ryan Hall has joined the firm as a trainee accountant, James Emberson, Nichola Donnelly and Helen Cole have been appointed as audit and accounts seniors, and Ella Wilson and Samantha Marley are both apprentices

Equalizer International innovation recognised Equalizer Group

Equalizer International, a world leading innovator of flange maintenance tools for the energy industry, has been awarded a Diploma of Distinction for Innovation at the 8th Gas Engineering Fair EXPO-GAS held in Kielce, Poland.

The organisers of the event particularly singled out Equalizer’s Secure-Grip (SG) tools for pipe flange spreading which they highlighted as one the most innovative products on show during the two-day exhibition. The Diploma was collected by Michael Machnik, Equalizer’s Sales Manager – Europe at a gala dinner during the Fair.

The SG range of tools uses a unique expandable-sleeve technology in

both mechanical and hydraulic tools which can be used across a wide spectrum of bolted flange sizes.

John Morgan, MD of Equalizer International, said they were delighted with the award.

“Equalizer International tools are attracting considerable interest right across Europe and we see this as

working in the payroll bureau. http://tinyurl.com/phzgj2w

Delighted Students Achieve Industrial Cadet Silver Awards with Jacobs Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC) has awarded a further five local students their Industrial Cadet Silver Awards after they recently completed the Jacobs Workplace Experience programme at the Company’s nuclear centre of excellence on Westlakes Science & Technology Park. At the end of the week-long programme, students from Lakes College, Keswick School and St Benedict’s School had the opportunity to meet and deliver presentations to a distinguished audience including representatives from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Sellafield Limited. http://tinyurl.com/pjl6bql

an important market for growth for us. We appointed Michael as our first Sales Manager in Europe last year and since then have exhibited at a number of exhibitions and conferences across the continent. We are delighted that our tools have been singled out for an award which recognises innovation, particularly at such an important exhibition as this.”

Equalizer International tools are attracting considerable interest right across Europe and we see this as an important market for growth for us

The national organisation has seen membership grow substantially in the past 12 months to almost 500 businesses.

NOF Energy has bolstered its team with three new appointments across business development, events and administration departments. Joining the team are Jenna Smith, Business Development Assistant; Marie Allan, General Administrator and Nicola Smith, Events & Marketing Administrator. Now employing 12, NOF Energy provides a suite of specialist services to support members’ ambitions to secure new work in established and emerging energy sector and growing the team is key to ensuring members have access to the best possible business development support available in the market. Despite the fluctuations in the industry, including the drop in the oil price and uncertainty in the offshore wind sector, demand for NOF Energy’s business support remains exceptionally high with members utilising the organisation’s extensive experience to navigate the evolving energy markets.

Central to its services is a comprehensive programme of networking events, country briefings and conferences. Its recent national conference, Energy: A Balanced Future, held at Sage Gateshead, was attended by more than 600 delegates and more than 80 exhibitors. The events provide invaluable networking opportunities along with access to key industry figures.

NOF Energy Grows Team to Serve Increasing Membership


NOF ENERGY, THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION FOR OIL, GAS, NUCLEAR AND OFFSHORE RENEWABLES, HAS STRENGTHENED ITS TEAM TO MEET GROWTH IN ITS MEMBERSHIP AND ITS INCREASED ACTIVITY ACROSS THE UK AND INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INDUSTRY.

”We have built a talented and experienced team and our new additions share our passion for our members and our industry”

NOF Energy also provides marketing support, industry intelligence and a personalised introduction service to encourage the development of new relationships and inter-member trading. The newest service offering is ‘Smarter Supply Chains’, which brings together operators, contractors and the wider supply chain to address challenges in the industry at present and to look at ways of collaborating and bringing new ideas to fruition. Its highly-proactive services have, over recent years, generated in excess of £167 million worth of new contracts for members demonstrating the impact NOF Energy has on members’ businesses. George Rafferty, Chief Executive of NOF Energy, said: “Operating in increasingly competitive and evolving markets, our members are increasingly turning to NOF Energy for support and industry intelligence. The growth in our team enables us to better serve our members through existing and new services that are focused on maximising opportunities across the energy sectors. Times may be challenging in the industry at present, but demand for our support is at an all-time high because we can make a crucial difference to members’ businesses.

“We have built a talented and experienced team and our new additions share our passion for our members and our industry. They will follow a similar path of development and exposure to the industry to enable them to deliver the NOF Energy’s member-first ethos through our range of services and networking events.”


George Rafferty Joanne Leng MBE Clare Weirs

Caroline Lofthouse Paul Livingstone Kristie Leng

Jenna SpencerNicola Smiles Jenna Smith

Marie AllanNicola SmithJennifer Smith

The NOF Energy Board is made up of senior executives from key businesses within our network.

The Executive Directors tap into the skills and knowledge of the Non-Executive Directors to help shape our strategy and guarantee that our business objectives are realistic and focused to meet the needs of our members.

The Board also ensures that our corporate governance structures are robust and that we meet all statutory and regulatory requirements.

As a not for profit organisation, we have a commitment to reinvest any surpluses for the benefit of our members at the same time ensuring we have a sound financial base that secures the long term financial

Meet the Board

George RaffertyChief Executive

NOF Energy

Joanne Leng MBEDeputy Chief Executive

NOF Energy

Clare WeirsDirector Business Services

NOF Energy

Dennis Clark OBEHonorary President

NOF EnergyChairman, OGN Group

Paul CharltonChairman

NOF EnergyChief Executive,

PDL Solutions (Europe)

Colin HewittCompany Secretary

NOF EnergyPartner, Head of

Commercial,Ward Hadaway

Neil KirkbrideChief Executive Officer,

BEL Valves

Robert BowlesChairman, Barrier

David ArmstrongDirector, Armstrong

Consultancy Services(ACSL)

viability of the organisation.

The Board takes a keen interest in the business and supports our events and activities.

Jamie BrownManaging Director,

Francis Brown

Alex HaywardManaging Director,

Phusion IM

Andrew EssonManaging Director,

Quick Hydraulics



The place where the energy sectors meets to network and do business

600 delegates 80+

exhibitors

Internationalattendees

Hot topicsOil & GasNuclear

Offshore RenewablesEnergy Futures

A BALANCED FUTUREENERGY:

NOF ENERGYAnnual Conference Brand visuals

HUNDREDS OF ENERGY SECTOR PROFESSIONALS

DESCENDED ON NORTH EAST ENGLAND FOR

ONE OF THE INDUSTRY’S MOST ANTICIPATED

EVENTS, ENERGY: A BALANCED FUTURE.

NOF Energy’s annual conference and exhibition delivered the perfect arena for debate and networking for businesses and individuals with an interest in supporting the sector supply chain’s ambition to play an integral role in a balanced energy future.

George Rafferty, Chief Executive of NOF Energy, said: “The supply chain, which includes around 500 NOF Energy members, is united in supporting the drive for a balanced energy mix and making sure we do not have a situation where the lights go out.

“Energy: A Balanced Future was a fantastic forum to debate, discuss and engage with the issues facing the industry across the established oil and gas sector through to emerging and future resources that will all have a role to play in ensuring a balanced energy future.”

With more than 600 delegates from across the UK and from around the world in attendance, the conference featured a strong line-up of speakers who covered the key energy sectors, oil and gas, nuclear and renewables, which form the key elements of the energy mix.


Opening with discussions on the significant role of the oil and gas sector, and in particular the evolving landscape in the North Sea with presentations from BP’s Head of Energy Economics, Paul Appleby and Wood Group PSN’s Regional Director- Strategy & Growth, Nigel Lees, the conference also heard from Brent Cheshire, Country Chairman DONG Energy in the UK and Managing Director of DONG Energy Wind Power and Keith Parker, CEO of the Nuclear Industry Association, on offshore wind and the New Nuclear industry.

“Companies, including those from within the NOF Energy network, are in a strong position to support the industry, particularly in relation to its drive for improved efficiency, with innovative and technology-led solutions,” said George. “The UK supply chain has a tremendous reputation, both domestically and around the world, for its skills, products and services that not only assist with the successful recovery and generation of resources, but, through the creation of new and often disruptive solutions, to enable the delivery of more cost effective projects.“Of course, this is not confined to the traditional energy

resources and Energy: A Balanced Future excellently showcased the depth and breadth of companies that are serving sectors including offshore renewables and new nuclear.” “The exhibition area has more than doubled in size on previous years, demonstrating the growing prominence of Energy: A Balanced Future in the industry’s calendar and the importance companies place on the event in their business development activities,” said George. “Networking is at the heart of the NOF Energy ethos and the exhibition area acted as a real magnet for delegates keen to meet new and existing contacts to develop their relationships and do business. “That is what makes NOF Energy events unique; in addition to providing delegates with an insight into industry developments and future trends, they are actively encouraged to interact and develop mutually beneficial opportunities.”






Below I’ve outlined my top five tips to successfully implementing trade shows or exhibitions.

For AIS; a global offshore solutions provider, events are a crucial part of our marketing mix. It’s not just about lead generation; its increasing brand recognition in key sectors or regions and a chance to engage with our existing customer base.

Tip One: The Build UpCommunicate your attendance to customers; banners on email signatures, social media and newsletters work well. Build up a buzz and give people a reason to visit – even if it’s just the latest widget trends.

Tip Two: Stand Out, with your stand, less is more.Avoid cramming every key message and unique selling point into your graphics. The stand should draw people in and communicate what you do and how you can help them in an instant. After that it’s down to your team to build the relationship.

Tip Three: Your PeopleAside from looking professional, avoid the two unforgiveable sins; ban mobile phones on-stand and leave seating out. There’s

Top 5 tips to exhibition success

nothing less inviting than a salesperson on their backside answering emails! Ensure you have enough people to allow one person to leave the stand and sit in the café with their beloved inbox.

Tip Four: Everyone loves a freebieWhether or not you have freebies is up to you. They can be costly and rarely can you get common agreement on what they should be. However, they’re great for reinforcing your brand post-event. A well-chosen freebie should be functional, quality notebooks have worked well for us. Being the first to bring something different is good too and can sometimes become the talk of the exhibition.

Tip Five: What next?Events are a significant investment, don’t just walk away. Follow-up every contact and be sensitive, tread the fine line between communicating and intrusion. Like you, they’ve just got back to a mountain of work and bulging inbox. Leave it 48 hours then send a short succinct email jogging their memory of how you met and re-introduce what you do and how it solves a problem for them. Finally, manage their expectations, you won’t bombard them, but encourage a follow-up meeting.

Above all, enjoy exhibitions. Enjoy the time out of the office, doing something different, meeting old colleagues and networking with other industry professionals. Take the opportunity to see what’s going on outside the four walls of your office.

There’s nothing less inviting than a salesperson on their backside answering emails!

CHARLIE GUTHRIE, MARKETING MANAGER, AIS

YOU’VE DECIDED TRADE SHOWS SHOULD BE A PART OF YOUR MARKETING MIX AND WHICH TO ATTEND, BUT WHAT NEXT?

For more information about membership, please contact Paul Livingstone, Business Development Manager [email protected]

NOF Energy has opened doors we couldn’t on our own. We are now looking at record turnover and profits we never thought possible 10 years ago

Robert Bowles, Chairman, Barrier Group

Join today...

The team at NOF Energy is excellent and clearly understand what they need to provide to its membership. We joined 2 years ago not quite too sure what to expect. What we have encountered has more than exceeded our expectations and has enabled us as a business to forge relationships with others in the industry

Richard Bradley, Finance Director, Dyer Engineering

It is the old adage - big enough to cope, small enough to care

Matt Smith, Business Development Manager, Beck Prosper

The biggest industry challenge for members is being able to gain access to

key decision-makers

Business won through NOF Energy

support…£167 million

in the last 12 months!

NOF Energy is a great organisation for putting businesses together. The information they provide to all members of our team is timely and of high quality. Their team is professional, knowledgeable, honest and friendly. The leads we get, whether from member introductions or their many events are extremely high quality

Charlie Guthrie, Marketing Manager, AIS Group

Another challenge for members working in the

energy sector is raising awareness of their products and services

to the target market

In a recent survey of NOF Energy members, over 60% of respondents said they gained

valuable business through using our services in the last 12 months

Identify potential new business opportunitiesBuild new networks and meet energy specific contactsTargeted marketing opportunities to raise your business profileAccess to up-to-date project information and industry intelligenceHear what our members have said…


MEET THE NOF ENERGY TEAM AT: SPE OFFSHORE EUROPE 2015 STAND NUMBER 1G111WHEN 8th to 11th September WHERE AECC, Aberdeen

INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY HOURS AT SPE OFFSHORE EUROPE: INC. MEXICO & BRAZIL WHEN 8-11 September 2015WHERE NOF Energy Stand, AECC, Aberdeen

INWARD VISIT TO SPE OFFSHORE EUROPE FROM MALAYSIAONE TO ONE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLEWHEN 8-11 September 2015WHERE MATRADE Stand 1C119, AECC, Aberdeen

NETWORKING LUNCH: ABLE UK, CENTRICA ENERGY & OSBIT POWER, DECOMMISSIONING FOCUS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DECOM NORTH SEAWHEN 16 SeptemberWHERE Wynyard Hall Hotel, North East England

NOF ENERGY MEMBERS ONLYSMARTER SUPPLY CHAINS WORKSHOP WITH APACHE NORTH SEASPONSORED BY NORTECH SOLUTIONS, GUEST SPEAKER APACHE NORTH SEAWHEN 22 SeptemberWHERE AIS Innovation and Competency Hub, Aberdeen

NORTHERN POWERHOUSE TRADE MISSION TO MEXICO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UK TRADE & INVESTMENTWHEN 28 September-2 October 2015WHERE Mexico City, Ciudad del Casment, Villahermosa, Mexico

NETWORKING LUNCH: DONG ENERGY, OFFSHORE RENEWABLES FOCUSWHEN 29 September WHERE Hardwick Hall Hotel, North East England

NORTHERN POWERHOUSE TRADE MISSION TO COLOMBIAIN PARTNERSHIP WITH UK COLOMBIA AND FOLLOWS ON FROM VISIT TO MEXICO WHEN 5-8 October 2015WHERE Cartagena and Bogota

MARKET BRIEFING: AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND OIL & GAS FOCUSIN ASSOCIATION WITH UK TRADE & INVESTMENT – RUGBY WORLD CUP ACTIVITY WHEN 7 October 2015 (tentative)WHERE North East England

HOUSTON NETWORK: SIMPLY NETWORKING WHEN 8 October 2015 (evening) WHERE The Tasting Room, Houston, USA

NETWORKING LUNCH: LOCKHEED MARTINWHEN 20 OctoberWHERE North East England

NORTHERN POWERHOUSE TRADE MISSION TO BRAZIL TO COINCIDE WITH OTC BRAZIL WHEN 26-30 October 2015WHERE Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

EXPO VISIT: UAE TO COINCIDE WITH ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL PETROLEUM EXHIBITION & CONFERENCE (ADIPEC) WHEN 9-13 November 2015WHERE Abu Dhabi


TO BOOKCall: +44(0) 191 384 6464Email: [email protected]: www.nofenergy.co.uk/events

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS VISIT: DENMARK, OIL, GAS AND OFFSHORE RENEWABLES FOCUS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UK TRADE& INVESTMENT WHEN 16-19 November 2015WHERE Esbjerg & Copenhagen

NETWORKING LUNCH: JACOBS, NUCLEAR FOCUSWHEN 17 NovemberWHERE North East England

UK & IRELAND OIL & GAS SUPPLY CHAIN EXCHANGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ENTERPRISE IRELAND WHEN 24-25 November 2015 WHERE Enterprise Ireland Offices, Dublin

WEST END MEETS BROADWAYNOF ENERGY ANNUAL DINNER DIAMOND SPONSOR: NORTECH SOLUTIONS WHEN 3 December (18.30-01.00)WHERE Wynyard Marquee, North East England

NOF ENERGY MEMBERS ONLYSMARTER SUPPLY CHAINS: OPERATOR TBCSPONSORED BY NORTECH SOLUTIONSWHEN 8th or 9th December (tentative)WHERE TBC, Aberdeen

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS VISIT: USA WHEN 25-29 January 2016 WHERE Houston & Pittsburgh, USA

NORTHERN POWERHOUSE TRADE MISSION TO SINGAPORE WHEN 17- 19 February 2016 WHERE Singapore

NORTHERN POWERHOUSE TRADE MISSION TO AUSTRALIA TO COINCIDE WITH AUSTRALASIAN OIL & GAS EXHIBITIONS & CONFERENCE (AOG) WHEN 22 - 25 February 2016WHERE Perth, Western Australia

EXHIBITION & SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLENOF ENERGY NATIONAL CONFERENCE ENERGY: A BALANCED FUTURECONFERENCE & EXHIBITIONWHEN 8/9 March WHERE Sage Gateshead, North East England

L-R CAROLINE LOFTHOUSE, KRISTIE LENG, JENNIFER SMITH AND NICOLA SMITH

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the Port of Tyne is the ideal partner to help businesses grow stronger and leaner.

Let’s talk opportunities now.Call us on 0330 024 0965

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Energy burst issue 5 issue