Technology Center

Schlumberger Expands Global Drilling Tech Center

Schlumberger commemorated the opening of a new 53,000-sq. ft. building at its Global Drilling Technology Center located in Stonehouse, Stroud District, Gloucestershire, U.K. The ribbon-cutting event, celebrating the expansion of the facility and the addition of 100 jobs over the past two years, was held on November 11, 2005. “We congratulate our neighbors Schlumberger and we are honored to have their prestigious Global Drilling Technology Center in our midst,” said Mrs. Sylvie Bruce, Stroud District Council Chair. “Schlumberger’s presence in our community has provided professional, technical and support services jobs. Their continued development and expansion of this facility have provided opportunity for construction and trades people as well. We wish Schlumberger continued success and we are delighted to participate in today’s festivities.” The new center is responsible for the manufacturing and assembly of all Schlumberger drilling tools used worldwide. The new building houses the center’s, product development engineering, commercial product support, manufacturing and management teams. In Stonehouse, new advanced drilling system prototypes for use in oil exploration and production drilling are taken from the drawing board and built into functional tools for field testing. “I’m pleased to be a part of Schlumberger’s strategic vision to bring together in one place the best and brightest minds to improve the process of drilling for hydrocarbons around the world

Bollinger Opens Satellite Engineering Office

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., has opened its new satellite marine engineering and naval architecture office in Slidell, La., on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans. The ceremonial ribbon was cut by Boysie Bollinger, chairman and CEO of the company, Rhinehart Dearing, chief of staff for the city of Slidell, and officials from the city, parish (county) and state. Scott Theriot, executive vice-president of new construction for Bollinger said the office was opened

Fortrum Acquires Icebreaker Duo

Fortrum Shipping has attained a pair of icebreaking 106,000-tdw crude oil carriers from Sumitomo Heavy Industries. The contract, which was signed on June 30 in Helsinki, marks a major breakthrough for the Kvaerner Masa- Yards-developed double-acting tanker (DAT) concept. While this idea has been previously adapted in two supply icebreakers deployed by Royal Wagenborg Group in the Caspian Sea, the Sumitomo newbuildings will be the premiere tanker newbuildings based on Kvaerner's patented

ABS Strengthens Presence in Korea

ABS is strengthening its ties to the Korean maritime industry by establishing the ABS Korea Energy Technology Center (KETC) in Busan in early 2012. This is ABS’ first energy center and will focus on applied research to a broad range of current and future technology challenges. In a related move, the society is creating the role of Vice President of Global Korean Technology Development. Dr. Hoseong Lee, a veteran of ABS and respected professional in the Korean maritime industry is being

ABS, SCUT to Coordinate Research Projects

Signed letter of intent lays the groundwork for collaboration on educational, outreach activities related to shipbuilding, offshore and marine engineering.    ABS has signed a letter of intent for cooperative research and development projects with the South China University of Technology (SCUT) through the ABS China Offshore Technology Center (COTC) in Shanghai.  ABS Vice President of Corporate Offshore Technology Bret Montaruli and Vice President of SCUT Zhu Min

Lloyd’s Register Holds Offshore Technical Committee

Lloyd’s Register’s Global Technology Center in Singapore held its inaugural Offshore Technical Committee last week with representatives from national and international oil companies, EPC contractors, owners, operators, fabricators, shipbuilders, equipment vendors and representatives from a number of academic and research organizations. The members took part in a series of networking opportunities and technical workshops but also crucially approved two Lloyd’s Register

'Boat School' Trains Students in Use of Composites

By Bret Blanchard Washington County Technical College There's been a lot of disposable income produced in the country during the past few years. This is one of the reasons the boatbuilding industry is enjoying a strong market. A majority of the industry is utilizing composite technology to construct high-quality boats. This has caused a real labor shortage of quality hires. Quality products require quality employees

Cal Maritime Installs Massive Ship Propeller Display

On August 26 Cal Maritime received and installed a massive 18-ton, 18-ft wide brass ship’s propeller which for many years was a landmark of San Francisco’s downtown business district. For several decades, the entrance to the San Francisco office building at 100 Spear Street has been graced by an eye-catching display … a highly-polished brass ship propeller.  This 18-ton piece of “commercial art” was a natural

New CADCAM Solution

Working in cooperation, Napa Ltd and DRS Defense Solutions, LLC, Advanced Marine Technology Center (DRS DS AMTC) have created a new interface between NAPA and MAESTRO software. Interfacing these two products will increase efficiency in the early stage of ship structural design, analysis and evaluation process by allowing the designer to leverage one 3D model from start to finish within the scope of structural design and direct analysis

GE Improves Propulsion Systems Efficiency

GE’s Power Conversion business unveiled a new power and propulsion system at OTC that they say reduces fuel consumption by controlling engine speed on platform support vessels. The Variable Frequency Active Front-End power and propulsion system, or VF-AFE, enables ship owners using conventional power system components to lower engine speeds when feasible, cut fuel consumption and reduce emissions and maintenance requirements, the manufacturer claims.