Feature 1 | RISERS AND MOORINGS


relatively short-term early-production system deployments and for FPSOs and FSOs in tropical cyclone areas vulnerable to hurricanes and typhoons; the vessel propulsion and navigation systems are in commission, there is a marine crew onboard, and the SMS is quickly disconnectable. Flow shut-in (via a multipath QCDC) and canister drop can be triggered from the bridge and the dropped canister is designed to float at or below the water surface with the mooring lines and risers suspended from it pending vessel return and pickup. A QCDC SMS can also be used when the vessel itself is also used to export oil. SMS has been approved in principle by Det


Norske Veritas (DNV) following successful tank testing and is the product of 10 years of continuous development. Te design of the mooring system is interesting as the tanker bow location of the SMS cantilever support structure and gimbal minimise deck space impact, avoid hull modifications, reducing costs and modification to the ship’s equipment and saves time. Sigma Offshore believes the system, which


largely uses ‘proven’ technology in a more efficient way, could save clients up to 30% on


installation costs. Earlier in 2010 the company received £4 million of further investment from global oil and gas services company National Oilwell Varco (NOV), Scottish Enterprises’s Scottish Venture Fund (SVF) and venture capital firm, Energy Ventures. President and chief executive officer of


Sigma Offshore, Alistair Dornan, said: “Te patent demonstrates the uniqueness of our SMS. Securing patents is a painstaking but essential process. It is a step that has to be taken to protect our business and its intellectual property. We’re delivering a cost-efficient product in a high-cost sector and it’s that technology that singles us out from our competitors. We can move forward with confidence as we look to bring SMS to the market, safe in the knowledge that we have the legal protection in place.” Sigma Offshore is looking to win business


in the North Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, South America, West Africa, North Africa and South-East Asia – including Australian waters – and predicts more than 140 jobs could be created should the business hit its targets. Although originally developed for FPSOs,


the SMS is suitable for a variety of marine applications including floating storage,


floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG). A bespoke SMS can cost from £10 million


to £30 million or more depending on the complexity and location of the project, while competitive mooring systems can cost £25 million to £50 million. Sigma Offshore’s chief technology


officer, David Galbraith, who led the patent process for the company, said: “Te patent is testimony to the years of hard work by the Sigma team which has included in-house research, development backed up by extensive wave-tank testing undertaken for us by the Danish Hydraulic Institute and liaison with DNV in Oslo as part of the successful approval process.” Sigma Offshore – an independent


provider of turrets, moorings and marine- related engineering services – opened offices in Houston, Texas and Norway at the end of 2009. As well as its mooring and riser solutions,


Sigma Offshore delivers extended well testing systems, floating production export system solutions, subsea architecture design, deepwater subsea solutions, consultancy services and project management. OMT


Smart Mooring System with text explaining the installation and benefits of the system (Credit: Sigma Offshore Ltd).


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Offshore Marine Technology 3rd Quarter 2010


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