QinetiQ and OTG's three-hull ship design turns turbulent seas
into calmer waters for North Sea oil industry

-QinetiQ signs agreement with Norway's Oilfield Technology Group AS (OTG) to
develop innovative, cost-effective vessel for well operations


QinetiQ and Norwegian exploration and production technology company, Oilfield Technology Group AS (OTG) have signed a Heads of Agreement for the build and operation of a Tri/SWATH Riserless Light Well Intervention (RLWI) vessel for use in North Sea well interventions and workovers.

The agreement between the two companies follows a two-year joint development programme and the establishment of OTG Interventions AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of OTG, which will build and own the vessel. OTG Interventions AS is currently evaluating several ship operators and will soon announce who will be selected to operate the unique Tri/SWATH RLWI vessel in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

The initials S.W.A.T.H. stand for Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull. A SWATH vessel normally consists of two parallel torpedo like hulls attached to which are two or more streamlined struts, which pierce the water surface and support an above water platform. The advantage to such a design is that they are more stable, less prone to pitching and rolling and requiring less power for propulsion than conventional designs.

QinetiQ's unique approach to SWATH design is to develop vessels with a tri hull configuration, which provides even greater stability - a vitally important feature for vessels commanding complex work in often very stormy seas.

Currently, oil companies have 15 - 20% lower oil recovery rates from subsea wells compared to platform wells in the North Sea and other offshore basins. This is because there is currently no cost effective solution to performing subsea well interventions and workovers (for repair and maintenance) on the growing number of subsea wells. The Tri/SWATH RLWI vessel should allow well interventions and workovers to be performed at one fifth the cost of traditional approaches such as (anchored) semi-submersible vessels, and less than half of the cost of dynamically positioned semi-submersibles. The Tri/SWATH vessel will outperform DP3 semi-submersibles on a number of parameters, including transit speed, build and operating costs. The Tri/SWATH vessel also has an impressive 5 splash-free moonpools solution that allow for more flexible, controlled and safe operations.

OTG Interventions AS and QinetiQ expect to complete the final stages of vessel design early in 2005 for operation in mid 2007. QinetiQ's role will be to assist in achieving type approval from the necessary classification societies and to support the owner to ensure the vessel is built to the required design specifications.

The two companies have also started to evaluate this concept for other oil & gas applications, including an ultra optimised drilling vessel that can operate at a lower day rate than conventional drillships and drilling rigs.

Chris Ross, QinetiQ's Chief Naval Architect described the agreement as "lighting the touchpaper" for a potentially "very exciting" next stage development for QinetiQ's maritime design capability.

"The Tri/SWATH RLWI vessel is a novel approach to solving a high value need for the oil & gas industry. For QinetiQ the prestige and showcase opportunities for us in the design of such complex ships are enormous," said Mr Ross.

QinetiQ, Europe's largest science and technology solutions provider, has an eminent background in tri hull design. RV Triton - QinetiQ's trimaran warship demonstrator -was launched in August 2000. From late 2000, Triton embarked on a two-year risk reduction trial programme on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence. Her main remit was to look for storms so that the trials could be carried out in real and testing conditions. In the early Autumn of 2002, Triton sailed to Stavanger, Norway to participate in the oil industry trade show, Offshore Northern Seas. It was there that QinetiQ and OTG came together, with OTG greatly impressed by Triton's performance and potential as a service vessel in the oil industry

Ståle Fjelland, Chairman of OTG Interventions AS recalled "when we witnessed the performance RV Triton and its ability to operate in a variety of sea states and at differing speeds we were keen to engage with QinetiQ. Now in 2005 we are proud to see the vision and results of the joint development effort being realised".