Nautronix to Supply NASeBOP on Noble Corporation’s Ultra – Deepwater Drillships

Nautronix secures first multi-million pound order with American BOP supplier for their new safety critical NASeBOP system

Nautronix have been awarded an order worth around $4m from a well known American BOP supplier to supply their NASeBOP (Nautronix Emergency BOP Acoustic Control System) to be used on the four new ultra-deepwater drillships for Noble Corporation. This order comes just after their recent success in securing an order to supply the drillships with their NASDrill RS925 Hydro-acoustic positioning system from a Norwegian DP supplier.

Mark Patterson, CEO comments: ‘We are thrilled with these orders, Noble are the first company to order the new NASeBOP system from us and I am delighted that such a well known company like Noble Corporation are supporting our products. We have invested over £1M in Research and Development last year with a significant amount in the area of our NASCOM product family supporting acoustic switches for BOPs.”

With the important emphasis placed on safety in the drilling industry, Nautronix reviewed their existing acoustic BOP switch product line and developed NASeBOP. This product expanded on the existing EBOP product which provided high integrity control and monitoring of BOP critical functions both as primary or secondary control in conjunction with the standard BOP umbilical.

Top-side, NASeBOP offers unprecedented redundancy in the form of two portable EBOP control systems which are strategically located onboard the drilling unit, typically at either set of lifeboats. Additionally, a portable Emergency Response Unit (ERS) “Red Box” is supplied with the NASeBOP system; this is typically kept at an onshore facility where it can be easily transported to the rig or vessel if the need arose.

The red box has full command and control functionality and in addition can execute an EDS (Emergency Disconnect Sequence) or interrogate the BOP to find out essential information.

Subsea, NASeBOP offers dual redundant Subsea Control Units, with the ability to control up to 16 functions with corresponding solenoid read-backs. Up to 8 analogue sensors can be interfaced providing critical information on system condition. All connectors and end-caps have fully testable dual O-Ring seals (testable to full operating depth of 4000m) enabling NASeBOP to be the only fully compliant acoustic BOP switch with all the relevant requirements of API16D and 17E.

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Offshore Nieuws Staff , December 7, 2011; Image: nautronix