New board members of Optime Subsea

Our board of directors includes proficient persons with broad competence and experience from different fields and companies.

We are proud to introduce our newest board members; Tone-Marie Amlie Wahlstrøm and Svenn Ivar Fure. They will be valuable contributors to our board.

  • Tone-Marie Amlie Wahlstrøm
  • Svenn Ivar Fure

Bringing innovation and digital competence

Tone-Marie Wahlstrøm is Head of Customer Centric Banking in TietoEVRY and one of our new board members. She occupies a deep professional competence about digitalisation processes. Tone Marie has at impressing short time build up an innovative department at her present employer, by addressing the possibilities and the challenges the digital shift represents.

– Tone Marie complements the board with her digital competence. I hope she can bring new perspectives to the board, based on her experiences from other industries.

Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, CEO at Optime Subsea

– Being an intrepreneur, an entrepreneur in a bigger firm, Tone-Marie has an understanding of what it takes to build and scale up a company like Optime. An effective up scaling requires the ability to digitalize more of the processes which today are done manually or by ineffective systems. We believe Tone-Marie will guide us in this work, Reidar Tveiten, Chair of the Board, says.

An excellent sparring partner

Our new board member Svenn Ivar Fure is CEO at Norsun. He has a considerable relevant strategic and operational experience. As a board member he will be an excellent sparring partner in the phase Optime now is moving into.

– Being CEO in a technology company, Sven Tore has valuable insights from another industry, which may have overlapping issues with Optime. He can provide Optime with valuable insights.

Reidar Tveiten, Chair of the Board

– Working with him at an earlier employer I have competed with Svenn Ivar. He did undoubtedly a very good job selling competing solutions. I therefore look forward to discussing commercial as well as operational issues with him, Jan-Fredrik Carlsen says.

See a complete overview of Optime’s board members here.

/by

Equinor selects Optime Subsea to bridge the gap in All-Electric fields

For over a decade, Optime has been the driver in moving hydraulic energy and control from topside to the seabed. This technology is also proving beneficial for All-Electric fields, where certain valve functions may require hydraulic control. Equinor have selected Optimes Hydraulic Pump for its future All-Electric initiative.

All-Electric solutions are attractive in subsea systems for enabling cost effective and standardised field developments. In traditional systems, hydraulic valves and equipment on the seabed is supplied and controlled from topside via hydraulic piping over long umbilicals. All-Electric fields may eliminate most of these hydraulic elements as well as related cost and risk by actuating all the valves and controls electrically. The last remaining valve to be operated by hydraulics is the Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve (“SCSSV”). This is where Optime’s subsea hydraulic pump (“sHPU”) is providing local hydraulic power and control subea, and as such succesfully enabling the Operators to implement their new All-Electric technology.

“We have worked with Equinor on identifying the most optimized technical and commercial solution for its All- Electric subsea production systems for a while. By leveraging our experience in subsea hydraulic pump technologies, we now have a single unit pump, with redundant pistons and electronics that only requires almost the same amont of power as a lightbulb. This sHPU will contribute to optimizing project implementation cost to assist future operators drive to more electric and potential unmanned subsea production fields”.

Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, CEO Optime Subsea

The implementation of an All-Electric water depth independent system is a big step towards cost effective subsea solutions for the future. It allows for digitalization to increase control, maintenance, and source all the power from cleaner resources. While it is the intent to have all electrical controls and equipment, Equinor has selected Optime to provide this very small, low-cost and robust sHPU to drive all of its SCSSV valves where electric controls is not preferred. Eliminating the hydraulics in the host umbilical will enable new opportunities in field development, as well as making smaller fields safer, greener and financially attractive.

Find a place in our team


“Last year we delivered the subsea electric power and distribution control module for ABB with its partners in Equinor, Total and Chevron. Now, we are providing the sHPU for Equinor – both developments being All-Electric driven. Continuing this path, but with a significantly greater value directed at operators’ mature field and their cost reducing efforts, is our completed fully autonomous subsea battery and software controls system. The subsea industry is continously in the forefront technically and for future innovative, cheap and environmentally friendly solutions – we believe to be positioned as a preferred partner”

Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, CEO Optime Subsea
CTO Tor Øystein Carlsen is pleased to provide innovative technology, now to Equinor.

For further information, please contact:

(Norwegian) Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, CEO Optime, tel: +47 414 60 996 , email: jfc@optimesubsea.com
(International) Thor-Arne Lovland, CCO Optime, tel: +1 832 904 6842, email: tal@optimesubsea.com

/by

Optime delivers two ultra-deep pressure chambers to NUI

As a long leading expert within testing and verification of subsea tools and equipment, NUI makes a new investment in two ultra-deep pressure chambers from Optime Subsea. One 1000 bar named Asterix and one 700 bar named Obelix.

The chambers unique design, with supplied test baskets and parking stands, makes the mobilisation and equipment loading into chambers safe and efficient.

Read more about the delivery on NUI.no, or follow this link: https://www.nui.no/2020/07/02/deepest-and-largest-pressure-chambers-nuis-new-test-facilities/

/by

A beacon in today’s market; Optime’s innovative technology contracted by Aker BP

A beacon in today’s market; Optime’s innovative technology contracted by Aker BP

After years of developing a technology that removes umbilical controlled tubing hanger operations, Optime Subsea have reached the point where they are ready to bring their system into operation. Aker BP will be the first user of a system to increase safety, and reduce operational time, cost, and environmental risk.

The globally dedicated intervention and controls provider Optime Subsea, based in Notodden, Norway, with office in Houston, TX, have established their position as an independent and preferred controls and intervention provider. Their relationship with Aker BP started with Optime’s innovative Subsea Controls & Intervention Light System («SCILS») on the semi-submersible drilling rig, Deepsea Nordkapp, owned and operated by Odfjell Drilling. This collaboration has now been extended with Aker BP bringing Optime’s Remotely Operated Controls System (“ROCS”) onboard this same rig.

“In Aker BP we are continously working on improving our subsea operations, making them safer, simpler and more cost efficient. This contract award will be an important part of this work, as well as acknowledging the continued successful collaboration with Optime. We have identified another breaktthrough technology which will further improve our operations. With ROCS, Aker BP can substantially reduce its completions time and cost by removing the umbilical. We avoid the costly mobilization, increase our weather window, as well avoid unneccessary “Red Zone” work”, acknowledges Mads Rødsjø, Special advisor Aker BP Drilling & Well

Controlling the tubing hanger running tool is currently done through a dedicated umbilical controlled from a large topside hydraulic unit. When deploying, the umbilical is clamped to the riser for increased stabilization. The operation is traditionally time consuming, and the clamping will result in hours of additional higher risk operations. Using the ROCS will significantly reduce the time spent on this operation. Optime’s ROCS offers the same controls functionality to the tubing hanger, without the topside hydraulic unit and without a large, heavy and costly umbilical and controls system.

“Until completing a few runs we will not be able to affirmatively state the total days in savings for subsea well completions, but we are convinced that this system will provide Aker BP and all other operators days, not hours, in savings, for every single well. Although today’s market is hard to predict, we are definitely able to see the future with this system being ready by end of the year – there will be tremendous industry wide cost savings for everyone”, Trond Løkka, Optime’s Business Development Manager confirms.  

Going back to 2015 when the oil and gas industry went through what was at the time one of the worst downturn the market had seen, Optime invested in developing the SCILS, a subsea pump IWOC system being used in various cost reducing subsea intervention applications. This ROCS delivery is now being kicked off in what appears to be the worst downturn in the indusrty to date. Timing for new technology doesn’t seem to be a coincidence for Optime.

“We are a company that grows organically. Although that can be a slower path to success, if we leverage our unique technological controls and intervention expertise, we are able to turn these major industry changing events into an opportunity to help and lead in the new market. Thanks to Aker BP’s focus on technology improving operations, we believe this to be one of those game changing moments for the industry “, Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, Optime´s CEO says.

For further information, please contact:

(Norwegian) Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, CEO Optime, tel: +47 414 60 996 , email: jfc@optimesubsea.com

(International) Thor-Arne Lovland, CCO Optime, tel: +1 832 904 6842, email: tal@optimesubsea.com

/by

Optime Gets New Contracts for Newly Introduced Products

Optime Subsea have secured a large international contracts as a direct result of increasing its product portofolio.

Optime have developed its competence, as well as products and systems, to include topside equipment interfacing to its subsea systems.

In order to control Opime’s existing subsea systems, it will require a cable/umbilical to provide power and communication signals from the topside computer systems, subsea. This cable is spooled on a reel managing both bend and tension, down to 3 000m water depth.

These new systems, the reel and the operator cabin combined with a test hydraulic unit, are now designed and ready for delivery.

Read the full news on Subseanewsworld.com

/by

The design and qualification of ABB, Equinor, Chevron and Total’s subsea control module is complete

Optime Subsea finalizes the design and qualification of the innovative and modular subsea control module as part of ABB’s Joint Industry Program with Equinor, Chevron and Total. Now ABB have completed the 3 000 hour shallow water test successfully.

Any industry change needs a disruptive mindset, technology and culture, someone like … Optime☺️. However, without a champion, someone willing to stick the neck out and actually work with the disruptors, the road is uphill for anyone, large or small.

At Optime we have succeeded trying both and can praise ourselves for the innovation and cost savings brought to the subsea oil and gas industry. But we have to admit there is a world of difference when you have a customer, or phrased in a another word, a partner, who takes that leap of faith. We have proved it several times already, we work with any customer, operators or service providers, delivering lower overall cost, improved technology and in full transparency serve the customer! We are going to be THE PREFERRED independent controls and intervention provider.

Last summer was one of those times, ABB and its JIP partners Equinor, Chevron and Total awarded Optime the contract to qualify a universal control module for their $100M subsea power distribution system; design and qualify the module to requirements within the next 12 months. Of course we succeeded, but through a prosperous partnership with customers and suppliers. ABB have now completed its 3 000hrs shallow water test and we are all ready to take part in another subsea energy transition, one that will significantly reduce the carbon footprint.

“This is a significant collaborative achievement between all the partners of the JIP and everyone in Optime. Now we are looking forward to producing multiple of these control modules to further improve the subsea oil and gas industry” says Trond Løkka, CBDO of Optime Subsea.

/by

Aker BP successfully carries out North Sea decommissioning using cutting edge technology

Aker BP selected Optime Subsea as a provider of well access system and -services on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).

Optime Subsea’s system, Subsea Controls and Intervention Light System (SCILS), have now successfully completed a two well Plug & Abandonment campaign on Jette field, saving rig time, personnel and equipment.

Aker BP is continously improving operations and lowering costs. After signing the new semi-submersible drilling rig Deepsea Nordkapp, a large, stable rig built specifically for the Norwegian climate, Aker BP announced the long-term lease of Optime’s new subsea hydraulic pump Intervention Workover & Controls (IWOC) system.

Traditionally, the IWOC systems typically have consisted of large 20-ft topside containers with equilly large umbilical and reels, carrying all hydraulics and electrical power. These systems may have a total weight of up to 50T.

Optime Subsea’s SCILS moves the hydraulic control from topside to subsea, resulting in no need for topside container and a dramatic reduction in size of the umbilical and reel. The SCILS have a total weight of 3-7T, depending on the reservoir size and configuration.

To illustrate how the SCILS differs from traditional IWOC systems and operations, Aker BP chose to demobilize the SCILS after its two well P&A campaign on Jette field on the Nowegian Continental Shelf in the North Sea. In preparation for its new completions work on Skogul field, Aker BP will perform the complete interface testing towards the Xmas tree at Optime Subsea’s workshop in Notodden, Norway. This simplifies interface challenges, which normally would be discovered on rig and thereby further saving the Norwegian based operator rig cost and time. This can only be carried out because of the small sized SCILS. It mobilizes or demobilizes in a day, compared to traditional systems requiring 5-7 days each.

/by

Optime Subsea Wraps Up Jette Field Campaign for Aker BP

Optime Subsea has completed a two well plug & abandonment campaign on the Jette field for Aker BP, on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).

The work was completed utilizing Optime Subsea’s Subsea Controls and Intervention Light System (SCILS).

Aker BP chose to demobilize the SCILS after its two well P&A campaign on the Jette field in the North Sea.

In preparation for its new completions work on the Skogul field, Aker BP will perform the complete interface testing towards the Xmas tree at Optime Subsea’s workshop in Notodden, Norway.

Optime Subsea’s SCILS moves the hydraulic control from topside to subsea, resulting in no need for topside container and a dramatic reduction in size of the umbilical and reel. The SCILS have a total weight of 3 – 7T, depending on the reservoir size and configuration.

“Aker BP continues to search for value creation by exploring new and innovative ways to optimize its assets and operations. We decided using Optime Subsea’s SCILS because it ties well into our strategy of continuous improvement and simplification of our well access operations. Using new technology always brings some risk associated with it, but the integrated planning resulted in a successful execution,” said Mads Rodsjo, VP D&W Functional Excellence in Aker BP.

“We are very proud of how well the operations and one team relationship with Aker BP developed. We have a few more technology developments up our sleeve, but for the most part, our controls and intervention systems are modular and field proven and truly cutting-edge in the industry. We look forward to grow the global supply of SCILS and similar systems” added Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, CEO of Optime Subsea.

/by

Optime Hyperbaric Chambers for NUI

NUI, the Bergen-based Norwegian independent hyperbaric research and test facility, has agreed to purchase two very large hyperbaric pressure chamber systems, with a working pressure of 700 bar and 1 000 bar from Optime Subsea.

The hyperbaric chambers delivered by Optime Subsea comes with an inner diameter of 1 100mm (43in), a height of 3 500mm (138in) and rated to a pressure of 1000 bar. The second hyperbaric chamber is delivered with an inner diameter of 1 800mm (71in), at the same height of 3 500mm (138in) and a pressure rating of 700 bar.

Both systems will be delivered with Optime’s advanced control system, enabling NUI’s customers the ability to test, monitor and document numerous different environments and scenarios.

“We are very pleased to be able to work with Optime. They have illustrated throughout this process and with its previous deliveries, that their capabilities and systems are of remarkable high quality. Once operational in Q2 2020, these systems will also provide NUI with a unique capability of supporting the European market of testing larger components and systems, for the underwater offshore industry. We decided to procure these high pressure and large size hyperbaric chambers in order to be in the forefront of the technology demanded by our customers. Being an independent provider, we are supporting the most advanced technology developments available, and we see the industry’s focus on exploring technology offshore growing exponentially, whether it is for oil and gas, renewables or other oceanographic research purposes,” says NUI’s CEO Rolf Røssland.

“This is just another significant confirmation that we are able to support our customers in meeting their needs, whether it is subsea or other offshore applications. We are looking forward to continue the relationship with NUI and staying true to our business model, we have already started discussions about more long term support beyond these deliveries,” adds Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, CEO Optime Subsea.

/by

Optime Subsea Supports AKOFS in Equinor LWI Contract

AKOFS Offshore (AKOFS), a company owned by Akastor, has selected Optime Subsea to support the company in delivery of recently secured contract with Equinor.

Optime will support AKOFS in recently received five year light well intervention (LWI) services contract with Equinor on the Norwegian continental shelf.

“We are pleased to award this important part of the delivery to Optime. We see Optime as a new and innovative solutions provider, with the backing of a well-qualified and experienced team,” said Geir Sjøberg, CEO of AKOFS.

“We are a smaller player in the industry, well equipped to challenge traditional solutions to optimize both system and operations, benefiting AKOFS and Equinor. Being a targeted controls and intervention provider, we are very focused in proving our position as the future provider of quality intervention products. We have therefore spent the last couple of years building our own in-house technology to support this growth. Instead of being part of the market changes, we want to drive the changes and therefore find the investment in products such as subsea pumps, small control modules, reservoirs, distribution, umbilical systems, software etc, allows for simpler system solutions to reduce size and cost. AKOFS has been a great partner so far. Through close and detailed iterations, the system we have designed together with AKOFS, will truly optimize the future LWI operations for Equinor,” added Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, CEO of Optime Subsea.

/by