Sonardyne International Ltd has received an order valued at over £1.3 million from the Swiss-based Allseas Group SA for 6G (Sixth Generation) acoustic positioning equipment. The order will allow Allseas, which is a global leader in offshore pipeline installation and subsea construction, to take advantage of the performance and operational benefits available from Sonardyne’s most advanced technology platform.
The 6G equipment bought by Allseas will be deployed in the Gorgon and Jansz gas fields, located some 130 kilometres off the Western Australian coast. The $43 billion Gorgon Project is the biggest resources venture in Australia’s history, as well as the largest single investment of its kind in the world. Allseas is responsible for the installation of the offshore pipelines from Barrow Island to the drill centres as well as for the infield lines.
6G products utilise Sonardyne’s ultra-wideband width, digital ranging and telemetry protocols. Not only does this make subsea acoustic systems more reliable and easier to operate, the technology has been proven to deliver significant operational savings and lower ownership cost through greater equipment utilisation.
Allseas’ vessels and their ROVs will be equipped with Dunker 6 and RovNav 6 positioning and telemetry transceivers that will be used to command the company’s existing stock of Sonardyne products and the new 6G hardware. Seabed arrays comprising a mix of Compatt 5 and Compatt 6 transponders will be deployed to create wide area, high precision subsea positioning networks during the construction phases of the field’s development.
Commenting on the order, Sonardyne’s Sales Manager, Alan MacDonald said, “ We are delighted that Allseas has shown its commitment to 6G. The company has been a major user of Sonardyne products for many years and this latest order is recognition of the major cost savings and versatility 6G will bring to its field development projects like Gorgon. 6G’s compatibility with previous generation equipment ensures that Allseas’ investment in Sonardyne is fully protected.”
[mappress] Subsea World News Staff , November 29, 2011; Image: Sonardyne