Northumberland-based Osbit Ltd, the offshore engineering and technology company, has won the Health Safety and Environmental (HSE) Innovation Award at the 32nd SPE Aberdeen Offshore Achievement Awards (OAA).
The company, which has its headquarters in Riding Mill, scooped the accolade for its commitment to health and safety, through the design and manufacture of three bespoke Intervention Tension Frames (ITFs) for Helix Well Ops.
Presented at a special ceremony held at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, the OAA Awards, is the biggest and longest established oil, gas and renewables industry awards for the UK offshore energy sector, covering all aspects from supply to upstream operations and offshore renewables.
The HSE Innovation Award recognises outstanding HSE technology, process of system developed for the offshore gas or renewables industry, notably those that have either reduced the environmental impact of the sector or improved individual, plant or operational safety.
The ITF systems, which stand at over 20m high and weigh around 100t were developed to suit a trio of state of the art new-build vessels. The systems secure a tensile connection between the well riser and the vessel’s handling equipment during well intervention operations, while also facilitating safe access into the riser.
The systems also deliver safe, integrated access and maintenance where none has existed before. Each ITF features three platform access levels, supported by Osbit-supplied BOP Maintenance & Storage Towers and Moveable Decks. The access offered enhances cost-effectiveness, by reducing maintenance-related downtime and streamlining operational changeover. It is also a significant advancement in safe operations, removing the need to use man-riding winches.
Brendon Hayward, Managing Director of Osbit Ltd, said: “This award is testament to the commitment and dedication of our skilled engineers to deliver solutions that are not only effective and improve operational efficiency, but also are inherently safe.
“It is essential that we can instil confidence in our customers, such as Helix Well Ops, to demonstrate that safety is at the heart of what we do and how we deliver innovative solutions professionally, and with care. Winning this award is a further endorsement of that commitment.”