Almost a year ago, at Subsea 08, the then chief executive of Subsea UK, David Pridden, announced that the industry body’s vision of the UK becoming a subsea global centre of excellence was taking a step forward with the creation of a national research capability focused on the sector.
This month at Subsea 09, Alistair Birnie, Pridden’s successor, will launch the National Subsea Research Institute (NSRI) in the presence of Scotland’s Secretary of State, Jim Murphy.
Subsea UK and the Northern Research Partnership in Engineering (NRPe) – which comprises Aberdeen, Dundee and The Robert Gordon universities – have been working together over the last 10 months or so to establish the NSRI, setting out its mission and objectives and agreeing the means of delivery.
The overarching aim is to come up with the next generation of subsea technology and skills, so helping to sustain Britain’s leading position around the world in all things subsea.
Taking Subsea UK’s technology strategy as laid out in its 2020 vision, NSRI will deliver a co-ordinated, pan-industry research and development programme that embraces leading oil&gas companies, supply chain and academia.
A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, the NSRI will be governed and directed by a board supported by a group of industry experts in the form of a Subsea Technology Advisory Group (STAG).
Birnie said: “Led by the industry in this way ensures that the strategy will meet the specific subsea needs of companies both in the UKCS and internationally, whether those needs are short, medium or long-term. The aim is to ensure that the UK remains the world centre for subsea technology and that we have the most competent and skilled workforce to deliver on our plans.”
Research will be channelled through projects within the identified themes, which will include Arctic, under-ice activities, platform-less developments, local subsea power generation for extended-reach offshore fields, autonomous systems, long-distance tiebacks, subsea and downhole productions and processing, installation and intervention, cost-effective workover systems, pumping and separation, temperature and ultra-deepwater fluid recovery at economic cost.
Speaking on behalf of the three universities, Professor Albert Rodger, vice principal and head of the College of Physical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, and also chief executive of the NSRI, said: “NSRI is developing its own research focus and core strengths in areas not presently being addressed by other research establishments. We will proactively develop strategic relationships with other R&D providers in the UK and overseas as well as linking in to other national and international research projects.”
Birnie added: “Over the years, the UK subsea sector has increasingly found its place in overseas markets, to the extent that exports represent over half of all its output. However, to secure our long-term position in an increasingly competitive space we need to increase our investment in R&D and to push the boundaries well beyond our current capabilities.
“The NSRI is, therefore, a central pillar of Subsea UK’s strategy in achieving our 2020 vision and beyond, and we see this as playing a vital role in sustaining the North Sea and in extending its life.”
Subsea 09 takes place on February 11-12 at Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre