Model tests or mathematical simulation?

Transcription

1 Annual Report 2001

2 Model tests or mathematical simulation? Centres of expertise capable of combining mathematical and physical laboratory modelling will be the winners in the struggle to serve shipping operators and deepwater oil-field developers in the future.

3 Yes please, both of them! Safe petroleum production at great depths demands first-class preparation in the shape of models of the different technical solutions proposed. Physical modelling involves recreating the forces of nature in the laboratory in such a way that models of installations can be exposed to loads that correspond to extreme natural forces. This is currently done at scales of down to 1:100, in ocean laboratories. Techniques of this sort bring us safely down to depths of about 1000 m, equivalent to the depth of the Ormen Lange field off the coast of Norway. However, oil companies are already planning production from oil-fields at depths of as much as 3000 m, for example in the CFD-norway Gulf of Mexico or offshore West Africa, as well as in deepwater regions west of Shetland and the Norwegian Sea, which have the additional hazard of extreme weather conditions. In these deepwater regions, deepwater currents that affect pipelines and mooring systems present major challenges, making it difficult to install and service subsea installations. Verifications of the resistance of such structures and simulations of critical operations are performed in laboratories in order to reduce the probability of unexpected incidents during the phases of installation and operation. At such great depths we need to combine physical and mathematical modelling. We face similar challenges, where we need to look at the relationship between tests of ship models and mathematical modelling procedures, when we are designing new types of vessel. Complex logistics challenges are another area in which mastery of advanced mathematical modelling techniques is essential to enable us to make appropriate strategic choices. MARINTEK is at the leading edge in carrying out laboratory tests for members of the shipping and petroleum industries. We also put our best efforts into being the best knowledge partner in combined experiments, where we have to find ways of integrating physical and mathematical modelling. We also intend to be in the front line in performing advanced operational analysis techniques in maritime logistics. MARINTEK - your partner - combining industrial knowhow with the very best of theoretical knowledge. Oddvar Aam President

4 Safe and efficient operation FerryCat - High-speed commuter ferry Azipull Rolls Royce High-speed surveillance vessel Thruster interaction on offshore platform Simulators for design, operation and training European maritime transport will prioritise (quote from EU s Sixth Framework Programme): Increased safety and efficiency at sea and in the harbours through integration of innovative electronics and software solutions and by means of advanced satellite navigation systems and telematic solutions. In cooperation with NTNU, MARINTEK, with its combination of top-level expertise in hydro-/aerodynamics and cybernetics, will develop and apply these technologies in various sectors of maritime transport, marine resources exploitation and of coastal and ocean monitoring. In 2001, we started to collaborate with Rolls-Royce Marine on the development of a control system for the FerryCat commuter ferry which is being built by Fjellstrand. The ferry will operate at a speed of knots, using a newly developed propulsion system that consists of four propellers, one at each corner of the ferry. With the aid of numerical simulation tools, CFD-norway has calculated wind and current forces, while wave forces have been determined through laboratory tests that have been performed at MARINTEK. These models are subsequently used in a simulator in order to represent the effects on the real vessel. The simulator is thus an important tool for the development of a robust control system which will provide precise manoeuvring and operation both under way and during docking. The simulator can also be used during the design phase and to identify and document the consequences of faults, a facility which will be extremely useful in the early stages of design of control systems. Another important priority area in maritime transport is the reduction of vessel motions in order to improve comfort and minimise sea loads. In cooperation with Nigel Gee in the UK, we have developed and tested a new concept and damping system for a high-speed surveillance vessel, 60 m long and capable of speeds of knots. This project was supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in Washington, DC. MARINTEK has tested models with complete control systems and fins and water-jet steering at full speed in the Ocean Basin. Motions and loads were reduced by 50-60%. The damping system was developed by MARINTEK and is based on a joint machine and software platform developed in collaboration with NTNU. Vessel resistance/propulsion - new knowhow and methods The turn of the year saw the completion of our five-year Strategic Institute Programme SKIPRO 2001, which focused on vessel resistance, propulsion and manoeuvring. SKIPRO comprised some 20 projects and had a total budget of about MNOK 33, of which MNOK 23 came from the Research Council of Norway and the remainder from the EU and industrial participants in the projects. We have developed a number of new software tools in the fields of resistance, propulsion and manoeuvring, upgraded our correlation and scaling methods for performance tests and introduced new measurement techniques for such tests, including new software for data acquisition, analysis and

5 reporting. The programme has issued 48 MARINTEK reports, published 26 scientific papers and given 15 presentations and lectures. One important goal of the project was the recruitment of young research staff in collaboration with NTNU. We have engaged and trained young scientists, including one with a doctorate. Three dr.ing. students and one post-doc have also been given training via SKIPRO. We have also contributed in various ways to several project and diploma dissertations at NTNU. In the course of the programme, more than 50 projects and diploma projects have been performed within the disciplines covered by SKIPRO. We have significantly raised our level of expertise in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) by forging close links with CFD-norway, entering the company as its major shareholder. Loading oil and gas Off the coasts of Brazil and West Africa, shuttle tankers are loaded offshore using simple dynamic positioning systems. The production vessels (FSPOs) lie to spread moorings, i.e., they do not turn with the wind and tide. This can make connecting, loading and disconnecting the shuttle tankers more difficult. MARINTEK has carried out a series of studies of such operations for Petrobras and other companies. A shuttle tanker was manoeuvred close up to a production vessel in order to lie in tandem or alongside it during loading. Weather limitations and corrections were varied in order to determine the capacity of the system and to map potentially hazardous situations involving collisions and abandonment of operations. Similar operations were also studied via theoretical simulations using MARINTEK s simulation software SIMO after the physical tests. During such operations as offshore loading of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the loading hoses are of critical importance. A major study of these was carried out in Model trials using an FSPO moored close to an LNG shuttle were performed, so that a relatively stiff LNG loading hose could be used. These studies demonstrated that margins are small when two large vessels are positioned close to one another. Subsea system installation is a major challenge as the offshore industry moves out to greater depths. An offshore research programme, initiated by Norsk Hydro and in cooperation with Statoil, was launched in The work of this programme has concerned the development of good, robust models capable of simulating installation operations of this sort. At great depths, current-imposed loads can be important, particularly when the current varies in time, place and direction. MARINTEK has developed its model simulation packages SIMO and RIFLEX into the most advanced of their type on the market for dealing with such complex operations.

6 Sea loads VIV suppression device being mounted on model pipeline Pipelines in long, free spans During 2000, and to an even greater extent in 2001, MARINTEK carried out a number of projects on pipelines for the Ormen Lange field, which is due to be developed by Norsk Hydro. One of the greatest challenges offered by this development project is that the seabed in the area of the field is extremely uneven. A gas transportation pipeline will have to hang in several long free spans, unless the seabed is expensively filled in and evened out. In such free spans, the pipeline will be highly exposed to current-induced vibrations and fatigue, a condition that limits the acceptable lengths of such spans. Current regulations permit free spans of up to about 50 m for a typical gas pipeline. The main objective of MARINTEK s projects has been to obtain data and knowhow that will enable us to design pipelines with much longer spans, a factor of great importance for the cost of the Ormen Lange development. Most of the work done by MARINTEK has consisted of 1:17-scale model tests in the Ocean Laboratory. In some tests, the model pipeline was towed across the basin in order to simulate the current, while in others the tank s own current generating system was used. Fatigue stresses in the pipeline were measured at a total of 20 positions and directions. The tests were done with a series of systematic variations in span length, pretension end stiffness, current velocity and direction. Various remedies mounted on the pipeline for reducing vibration were also tested. A total of about 250 tests were performed. The results were analysed and compared with numerical simulations, and now form the basis of new guidelines for design of pipelines in much longer free spans than has been possible until now. Numerical models for riser/seabed interactions In the course of routine inspections of steel risers and cables on existing fields, surprisingly deep and narrow trenches in the seabed around structures of this sort have been observed. These observations have led to a focus on the significance of such trenches for the safety of these structures, both in terms of total lifetime and in the context of extreme situations. In the CARISIMA project, MARINTEK and Statoil have developed numerical models that provide better descriptions of how risers interact with the seabed. This work has looked in particular at the use of steel risers as a concept for well transportation in deepwater fields, where the seabed largely consists of soft clay. The new numerical models for vertical (suction) and horizontal resistance have been calibrated and verified by means of small- and full-scale tests of the interaction between pipe and clay, and have also been implemented in MARINTEK s

7 Water Water Clay Interaction between riser and seabed Lockheed Martin Sea Shadow Container vessel of the future software system for slender marine structures - RIFLEX. The project will be terminated within spring Monitoring stresses on ships hulls MARINTEK is continuing its development of decision-support systems for the optimal operation of vessels with respect to motions, sea-loads and strength. We are moving our hydrodynamic and design programmes on board the ship, so that calculations can be continuously performed and updated on the basis of input from vessels own instrumentation, and calibrated with actual measurements and observations. The systems measure various vessel responses and let the captain know where he stands relative to predefined criteria such as comfort, cargo damage, overloading or fatigue. The systems offer advice and guidance regarding how to handle the vessel for improved response, and if required, to maintain it within the predefined range of response criteria. For vessels under way, the system provides advice on the basis of their speed and direction. For stationary ships (supply and FPSO vessels), advice is given on the basis of heading and ballast conditions. The system is integrated with other onboard systems, and requires little or no manual input. The main inputs comprise measured sea conditions, motions and cargo distribution. Sea condition is fetched from a dedicated onboard wave radar, or by communicating with buoys or other instrumentation on nearby fixed installations. Motion data are acquired from an MRU or accelerometers, and cargo distribution from the vessel s own load computer. The project is being carried out in collaboration with important members of the industry, including end-users, classification societies, suppliers of ship instrumentation and insurance companies. Participants in the project include Lockheed Martin, Stena Rederi, Navion, Ugland, UECC, ACL, DNV, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd s Register, HSE, MIROS, Telenor Fiber/Safety One, SIR- ENHA, BMT SeaTech, W.S. Atkins, Moss Maritime and CEFOR. Dynamic loads on vessel hulls In 2001, MARINTEK carried out a number of wide-ranging tests on segmented ship models, i.e. measurements of bending moments and shear forces on hull beams. Several different types of vessel have been studied, including container ships, passenger, cruise and RoRo vessels. The results show that extremely high dynamic loads and responses can be excited, in particular as a result of skewing in the fore and after sections of hulls. Dynamic loads of the order of 40-80% of wave-induced loads have been observed. This suggests that class societies, designers and shipbuilders ought to re-evaluate their rules and methods.

8 Logistics and value chains Analysis of logistics chains A growing amount of attention is being paid to logistics as a competitive factor. In the course of a number of projects, MARINTEK has developed methods and tools for analysing and comparing alternative supply and distribution chains. The focus of these analyses has been alternative technology platforms, how these are organised and how they influence cost structure and lead times in such chains. MARINTEK has recently carried out a study of a number of logistics concepts for the distribution of paper from Norske Skog s Norwegian paper mills. Norske Skog is one of the largest paper manufacturers in the world. The project forms part of Norske Skog s process of continuous development and improvement, in line with changes in patterns of demand and in the competitive interface between different methods of distribution. An example is the evaluation of sea-borne transport vis-à-vis the railways as the principal means of distribution in the European market. In order to be able to obtain a complete picture of the competitive interface between different distribution solutions, it is necessary to analyse the total logistics chain between the producer and the customer, including all modes of transport and terminal points. Methods and tools for the analysis and evaluation of alternative logistics chains are also of great importance for Norwegian shipping companies, in order to enable them to understand the competitive interface between different segments of the shipping industry, such as container traffic, RoRo, Open Hatch, Break Bulk and Multipurpose. One important reason for this is that the container segment has been experiencing annual growth rates of 7-9% for the past 20 years, compared with only 2% growth in the other segments of this industry. The main question concerns whether this development is based on cost advantages, subsidies or simply on better performance throughout the logistics chain. It is both necessary and natural to ask this sort of question if Norwegian shipping companies are to put their strategic development on a solid basis by evaluating well-integrated connections and perspectives in the development of intermodal logistics chains. Good decision-support tools are a decisive factor in making correct strategic choices. MARINTEK helps improve shipping company profitability The efficient scheduling of vessels operated by shipping companies is of great importance for their revenue and cost figures. Shipping companies often have a combination of long-term contracts and spot-market cargoes, making scheduling a complex challenge. The potential ways in which vessels can be utilised are many, as are the possibilities of increasing earnings by efficient scheduling. Good scheduling allows more cargoes to be carried in a given period of time, thus achieving better capacity utilisation and improved earnings per vessel. MARINTEK has developed an operational tool called TurboRouter, which provides valuable decision support for vessel scheduling operations. TurboRouter has a well-designed user interface based on digital charts. The vessels current positions are given via a commercial Internet service called PurpleFinder, based on their standard equipment and instru- Norwegian industry is focusing on intermodal solutions

9 Efficient barge concepts Buoy loader in operation Photo: Husmo-foto/megapix.no Faster fitting out in sea-hall (Langsten) mentation. Once it has been fed with information on what has to be transported during the planning period, TurboRouter gives the operator decision support regarding which vessels should carry which cargoes in order to optimise the vessels or shipping company s earnings during the period in question. TurboRouter has aroused a great deal of interest in the market, as it complements the ship-management systems already utilised by shipping companies. TurboRouter has been implemented by several shipping companies, which have reported increased earnings as a direct consequence of using TurboRouter for decision support in their day-to-day operations. One specific example concerns a company in the offshore shuttle market, which was able to accept two extra spot cargoes during the first few weeks in which it used the system, thus considerably improving its profitability. MARINTEK has now formalised a cooperative agreement for marketing and sales with Shipnet, a leading world-wide supplier of shipping management systems. We expect this form of cooperation to lead to significant growth in the number of new users of TurboRouter. R&D services. All of this adds up to a complete maritime cluster - the Møre Cluster. The Møre Cluster is currently in the midst of a series of strategic projects aimed at making companies more competitive. The overriding aim of these measures is to increase the ability of companies to innovate, restructure and co-operate in order to improve their competitive advantage. For several years, MARINTEK has been developing highly demanded expertise in strategy and business development. In order to reach the goal of improved competitiveness for the companies in the Møre Cluster, we are now offering this core competence via a multidisciplinary team of industrial personnel and researchers. The industrial companies involved in this cooperative venture include the Aker Brattvaag, Aukra, Fiskerstrand, Kleven, Langsten and Ulstein shipyards. At the core of the cooperation are a number of pilot projects that deal with important elements of the value chain; concrete high-priority projects for improvements in individual companies. By learning from each other we are making a joint effort to develop more rational and industrialised ship-building processes. Business development in the Møre Cluster In spite of gloomy prognoses, we still have a viable maritime industry in Norway. At the end of 2001 the Norwegian shipbuilding industry s order books were full to record levels. In the Møre region, the maritime industry enjoys a special position with its widely ranging network of maritime industries. Ålesund Knowledge Park, for example, is an innovative, powerful centre of maritime expertise with a close relationship to Ålesund Regional College. On the ownership side, there are a number of major maritime industry companies in the region. MARINTEK is a cooperative partner in its role as supplier of knowhow and

10 Report of the Board (excerpts) Activities MARINTEK consists of four departments that perform R & D for industry and public-sector bodies involved in marine activities. MARINTEK operates in an international market, developing new technologies in the fields of floating oil production, vessel development, shipyard technology, the marine equipment industry, shipping and logistics. The company is located in Trondheim and has a subsidiary in Houston, Texas; MARINTEK (USA), Inc. was set up as one aspect of our strategy of focusing on the international market in cooperation with other Norwegian companies that wish to export Norwegian petroleum technology. Annual accounts Profit and loss accounts MARINTEK can point to a good year in terms of profits. With a gross turnover of MNOK and net operating revenues of MNOK 158.8, we made an operating profit of MNOK A positive financial result of MNOK 3.5 produced a profit after finance charges of MNOK Vessel-related activities entered 2001 with a high rate of ongoing activity, particularly related to solving slamming effect problems, which contributed to the positive results obtained by this segment of the market. - The value of offshore verification contracts using the Ocean Basin rose in 2001 and are currently highly profitable. - As in previous years, the work of the Department of Structural Engineering in riser design for the offshore industry have proved to be very profitable. - The Machinery and Technical Operations Department has sharpened the focus of its activities and has divested parts of its work. This year saw the return of this department to profitable operation. Our Houston subsidiary MARINTEK (USA), Inc. is in good contact with customers in new offshore field developments in the Gulf of Mexico. The activities of MARINTEK (USA), Inc., which together with MARINTEK itself makes up the MARINTEK Concern, are largely financed via commissions on laboratory projects that are carried out in Norway. This activity is approaching operating balance and the Board regards its existence as an essential means of profiling our company in the most important centre of petroleum technology in the world. In the course of 2001 MARINTEK began the task of upgrading its ISO-9001 certification to meet the new 2000 standard. This included a full process description of the company, which has now been completed in collaboration with DNV Consulting. Implementation of the new system will take place in the first few months of This will form the basis for the company s management methods at both strategic management level and in the operation of our core and support processes. At the end of 2001 the company had 173 employees. Our order situation is satisfactory, standing as it does at MNOK This is virtually the same level as last year, taking into account the large order reserve of the Ship Performance Department at the beginning of Balance Equity capital comprises MNOK 99.7 of a total capital of MNOK 198.2, equivalent to an equity capital share of 50.3%, i.e. a rise of 6.7% over last year s figure. The profitability of the company is 20.3%. The Board regards the overall liquidity situation as satisfactory, and equity capital is adequate for continued operation, in view of the activities that are being planned by the company. Accounts receivable come to MNOK 65.9, making a reduction in total receivables of MNOK 7.5. Work in progress is valued at MNOK Collaboration with NTNU and with other units in SINTEF NTNU and MARINTEK are actively seeking to coordinate their strategic programmes, and we will actively contribute to the realisation of a Centre of Excellence in Research at the Marine Technology Centre. We are cooperating in such fields as marine cybernetics, sea loads and marine structures. Efforts are being coordinated vis-à-vis industry and the Research Council of Norway; this makes the combination of MARINTEK and NTNU one of the most powerful centres of maritime R & D in the western world. We also cooperate closely with other units of SINTEF such as the Division of Applied Mathematics, whose simulation models we use in maritime applications.

11 Working environment As part of our efforts to ensure a good working environment, we have performed risk evaluations of all our laboratories; the Ocean Basin, the Towing Tank, the Cavitation Laboratory, the Machinery Laboratory and the Marine Structures Laboratory, in the course of the past four years. This was done with the assistance of SINTEF HMS (Health, Safety and Environment). On the basis of the resulting risk assessments, we have implemented measures which will mean better standards of health and safety and of security of assets. In the course of preparation for ISO certification we have also improved our laboratory procedures. This has also sharpened the focus on safety in our laboratories. Future developments Investment in the oil and gas sector has risen significantly in the course of the past year and is expected to remain at a relatively high level for the next few years. In Norway, the focus is on marginal fields, connected up to existing infrastructure. There is also a concentration on down-hole activities, pipeline technology and on prolonging the useful life of existing platforms and infrastructure. We believe that we are in a position to contribute expertise in the field of long slim structures that are exposed to hydrodynamic forces and marine operations. Our participation in Norsk Hydro s Ormen Lange development project is a case in point. On the international scene a great deal of effort is being put into developing deepwater fields in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Brazil and West Africa. Various types of simple floaters are potential concepts for these areas, and these will often be integrated into more complex solutions. We expect to offer the Ocean Laboratory to our international customers for testing and verification of such complex systems, in combination with the expertise that we have developed through our participation in projects on the Norwegian continental shelf. The shift in technology from large platforms to small floaters and subsea solutions is a common feature of all these markets. The EU s Sixth Framework Programme opens up the possibility of more emphasis being placed on maritime transport in order to ease the rapidly growing load on the European highway network. Intermodal chains for efficient goods transfer and systems for safe navigation in busy harbours will be important areas. In this market, MARINTEK will be able to position itself via its expertise in logistics, ICT, hydrodynamics and cybernetics. In the near future, this technology will also be capable of being used in other segments of maritime transport such as the exploitation of marine resources and coastal and harbour monitoring operations. The anticipated reduction in funding from the Research Council of Norway for industrially oriented research will have to be compensated for via a sharper focus on EU research, as well as by direct contact with industry via the general R & D programmes established by the authorities in the shape of tax incentives, etc. Cooperation with NTNU in a possible Centre for Excellence in Research also offers potential benefits for MARINTEK. The increased efforts that are being put into the commercialisation of the R & D results obtained by the SINTEF Group through the development of high-level business areas (see SINTEF Business Areas), will also help to compensate for reductions in public-sector funding. A downturn in the cruise industry has already been registered as one result of the events of September 11, The outlook in other sectors of general shipping activity is also poor. As in previous years, therefore, we must target special tonnage markets that have stringent requirements concerning performance, manoeuvrability, safety, etc. However, Norwegian shipping research is in a special position thanks to the involvement of the Norwegian Shipowners Association in a separate board for research and development. This helps to stabilise the level of involvement of shipping companies in R & D. The Board anticipates a positive financial result for the year to come, but realises that the prospects for the shipping industry are uncertain, which may mean somewhat poorer earnings than we have experienced during the past two years. Thanks to our staff The Board sets great store by the efforts made by everyone in our organisation to stabilise MARINTEK at a profitable level of earnings. We therefore wish to express our sincere thanks to the staff of MARINTEK and to NTNU staff employed on MARINTEK projects for their fine efforts in Trondheim, December 31, 2001 February 12, 2002 Atle Jebsen Chairman of the Board

12 Income statement Income statement for year ending December 31, 2001 (extract). (All figures in thousand NOK) Operating revenues and expenses MARINTEK MARINTEK Concern Revenues Direct project expenses Net operating revenue Salaries, social security and other social costs Other operating expenses Net operating expenses Operating result Financial income and expenses Annual result Balance sheet Balance sheet on December 31, 2001 (extracts). (All figures in thousand NOK) MARINTEK MARINTEK Concern Assets Fixed assets Fixed operating assets Financial long-term assets Current assets Other current assets Cash, bank accounts Equity and liabilities Equity Paid-up equity Earned equity Liabilities Long term liabilities Current liabilities Auditors: Deloitte & Touche

13 Key data NOK 1000 % NOK 1000 % NOK 1000 % NOK 1000 % NOK 1000 % Revenues incl. income for res. councils Operating income Net profit Number of staff Salaries and social expenses Profitability Liquidity ratio Changes in working capital Working captial as of 31 Dec Change of liquidity Liquidity Equity Project-related specification of turnover (mill NOK) 200 Turnover per activity area Shipping and shipbuilding (63%) Offshore (32%) Industry (4%) Others (1%) Foreign trade (33% of total turnover) Europe (39%) North America (20%) Far East (8%) South America (5%) Foreign companies in Norway (28%) Personnel (totally 173 employees) Contract research Strategic projects Basic projects MSc Eng./University graduates (38%) Dr.ing./Ph.D. (22.5%) Engineers (12%) Technical staff (16%) Administration (11.5%)

14 Ownership MARINTEK s shareholders SINTEF 6.5 MNOK 56% Norwegian Shipowners Association 3.0 MNOK 26% Det Norske Veritas 1.0 MNOK 9% Foundation of Shipbuilders Fund for Research and Eduction 0.5 MNOK 4% Directorate of Shipping 0.5 MNOK 4% Federation of Norw. Coastal Shipping 0.1 MNOK 1% Total share capital 11.6 MNOK 100% Board Shipowner Atle Jebsen, chairman Managing director Roar Arntzen Division manager Per Marius Berrefjord Division director K. Magnus Havig Assistant director Anne Grethe Dalane Professor Anders Endal Senior principal research engineer Carl Trygve Stansberg Senior research engineer Sverre Steen Senior research engineer Eivind Dale Management Managing director Oddvar Aam Finance manager Birger Åldstedt Division manager Atle Minsaas Division manager Terje Nedrelid Division manager Kjell O. Holden Division manager Oddvar Eide New management system in MARINTEK MARINTEK is an ISO-certified company according to the ISO-9001:1994 standard. We are currently working on upgrading our certification to meet the ISO-9001:2000 standard, a step which will have to be taken by all certified organisations before the end of This involves a complete process description of our working methods. We have decided to divide our work processes into three categories, which we have designated as core processes, support processes and management processes. This system forms the basis of a complete management philosophy which will help to guarantee our clients repeatable quality in our services. It will also be the basis of improved internal and external communication. The method will lead to the structured development of of our strategic orientation, improve our work processes and focus on maximum customer satisfaction. This is a matter of accumulating knowledge in a structured manner, for the benefit of our clients. MARINTEK - a knowledge supplier you can count on! University cooperation - the basis of our activity The Norwegian authorities have put a great deal of resources into building up the maritime milieu at Tyholt in Trondheim, where there is close cooperation between NTNU s (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) Institute of Marine Technology and MARINTEK. The Institute of Marine Technology takes care of education and basic research while MARINTEK s activity is based on industrial contracts, where the Research Council of Norway provides a limited amount of basic financing for some of our projects. Like the structure of the EU s research programmes, the Research Council also wishes to concentrate its research efforts on those units that have the potential to be centres of excellence in research. Our research organisations should be in an ideal situation to make their mark in such a connection, and the Institute of Marine Technology is putting a great deal of effort into drawing up plans that can be put into effect in the very near future. Success in this area will mean much for the development of our competence, which in turn will benefit our national and international customers.

15 MARINTEK - part of the SINTEF Group The SINTEF Group performs contract research and development for industry and the public sector in technological areas, the natural and social sciences and medicine. With 1600 employees and a turnover of NOK 1.7 billion, the SINTEF Group is one of Europe s largest independent research organizations. Contracts for industry and the public sector account for 90 percent of operating revenues. The SINTEF Group works closely with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Experts in various disciplines collaborate on projects, sharing laboratories and equipment. MARINTEK is a company in the SINTEF Group. The offshore activities of the Group include the following: MARINTEK* - Development and verification of floaters, moorings and risers. Strength calculations of flexible risers, pipelines, ships and platforms. Condition monitoring, diesel and gas engines, logistics. SINTEF Petroleum Research* - Petroleum geology, basin modelling, seismics, formation physics, reservoir technology (IOR), drilling and well technology, multiphase flow, underground CO 2 deposit, formation evaluation SINTEF Energy Research* - Process plant, compressors, rotating turbomachinery, gas turbines, multiphase flow in equipment, thermodynamics, power plants, electricity distribution, VOC, LNG SINTEF Civil and Environmental Engineering - Mooring system foundations, oceanographic measurements, oil-spill protection and the marine environment SINTEF Materials Technology - Choice of materials, jointing, corrosion, wear, coatings, fracture analysis, qualification and verification SINTEF Applied Chemistry - Process plants and environmental technology, separation and purification, flow studies, reactor technology SINTEF Electronics and Cybernetics - Process simulation, dynamic positioning, well instrumentation, sensor development SINTEF Telecom and Informatics - Communications, instrumentation SINTEF Industrial Management - Safety, reliability, maintenance, logistics and delivery reliability, project management SINTEF Applied Mathematics - Modelling, simulator development, production planning and optimisation * Limited company

16 Norwegian Marine Technology Research Institute - POB 4125 Valentinlyst - NO-7450 Trondheim - Norway Visiting address: Otto Nielsens veg 10, 7052 Trondheim - Phone: Fax: marintek@marintek.sintef.no - URL: - Enterprise No.: MVA Graphic design: Bjarne Stenberg - English translation: AMC - Print: Skipnes AS