Aker Kvaerner receives two technical awards at OTC.05

Aker Kvaerner has been awarded two out of the 14 Spotlight on New Technology awards at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). The Spotlight on New Technology, first introduced last year, is a program that serves as a stage to highlight the most innovative and significant offshore developments during the year. "These recipients demonstrate the increasing technical edge that is required to explore and produce in ever-increasing water depths, and more remote and hostile environments. The products recognized in this year's Spotlight program will help bring offshore development to new depths - depths that just a few years ago seemed impossible." Says Rod Allen, OTC .05 Chairman Aker Kvaerner Engineering and Technology in Oslo, Norway, has received an award for the technology design of the patented Stepped Diameter Tendon. The tendon provides the answer to many years of searching for how to extend the commercial application of Tension Leg Platforms (TLPs) to water depths beyond 1 200 meters. The challenge lies in that conventional steel tendons become heavy in the deeper waters and thereby consume the platform's payload capacity. The Stepped Diameter Tendon technology applies well proven components in a new fashion. The lower sections are made up of small diameter, thick wall pipe that can withstand the hydrostatic head. The upper sections are made up of large diameter, thin wall pipe that has excess buoyancy to carry to the lower sections." ConocoPhillips and Aker Kvaerner have entered a license agreement for the application of the Stepped Diameter Tendon concept for the Magnolia TLP. Kvaerner Oilfield Products has received an award for their design of the patent-pending Carbon Fibre Reinforced Steel Tube Umbilical. The carbon fibre technology opens the door to cost effective dynamic applications and has been introduced to be used in umbilicals in water depths greater than 2 000 meters. The carbon fibre rods are used to enhance the axial stiffness of the cross section in the umbilical. Significant weight savings and improved axial stiffness to weight ratio are the key characteristics of this new product. The technology is a spin-off from composite riser and tether technology that was previously developed by Aker Kvaerner and ConocoPhillips. The umbilical is the power and control lifeline in every subsea production system, connecting the topside and subsea systems with required utilities as hydraulic, electric, fibre optic and chemicals. Aker Kvaerner has earlier this week announced the first order for the Carbon Fibre Reinforced Steel Tube Umbilical, which will be used by Anandarko Petroleum and Dominion Oil and Gas in their Independence Hub development in the Gulf of Mexico. "These awards reflect Aker Kvaerner's strong focus on technology and are excellent examples of how we can create value for our customers and, together with them, rapidly commercialise new technologies" says President and CEO of Aker Kvaerner, Inge K. Hansen.