Aquatec, recently shortlisted for Best Small Company in the prestigious Subsea Expo Awards, will be unveiling its two latest technologies at the renowned trade fair on Stand 114. Subsea Expo 2022 will be held 22-24 February at P&J Live in Aberdeen.

The two pioneering technologies form part of Aquatec’s newly developed Subsea IntegrityTM division, which focuses on creating world-leading products and solutions to improve efficiency and cut costs in subsea integrity management. The division is also steered towards the needs of marine renewables and other sustainable technologies as the Energy Transition progresses.

The KINEKtron®

The KINEKtron® will make its first official virtual appearance at Aquatec’s stand and will be complemented with a special presentation from Aquatec's CEO, Andy Smerdon, who will be featured in the Subsea Integrity conference session on 23 February.

The KINEKtron® Subsea Strain Monitoring Clamp is the world's first fully functional, tested and deployed retrofit subsea strain monitoring system capable of measuring strain on structural tubular members. It combines many of Aquatec's existing innovative underwater instrumentation and communications technologies with a new and unique patent-pending method for measuring strain in a robust ROV-installable package. 

Key Features:

Robust permanent magnet attachment technology, first developed by Aquatec for acoustic-linked cathodic protection monitor units on an FPU hull in 2018, providing > 1-ton attachment force;
Unique multi-point strain transfer mechanism facilitating high dynamic range measurement with microstrain resolution, developed and tested with Aquatec designed test equipment.
Dual through-water communications developed by Aquatec over the past decade, providing status updates via AQUAmodem® 500 acoustic comms link and high-speed optical data via ROV using AQUAmodem® Op2;
Ultra-low-power design based on Aquatec's longstanding AQUAlogger® technology, providing up to 3 years' continuous strain data;
ROV interface developed by Aquatec for safe and effective system deployment on the structural member

Temperature Monitoring System

• Aquatec has helped a leading transnational pipeline operator to better understand the thermal performance of their pipeline design.  Aquatec’s new Temperature Monitoring System is a clamp that provides long-term monitoring of pipeline skin temperature.  Detailed theoretical modelling and a comprehensive experimental underwater thermodynamic programme were used to develop the precise relationship between skin temperature, ambient water temperature, and pipeline fluid temperature.  
• The magnetically attached retrofit clamp can be installed by divers in shallow water and in all water depths with ROV assistance. Data can be downloaded without disturbing the installation using the built-in optical communications link provided by Aquatec’s AQUAmodem® Op2.  The temperature data is used to calibrate the operator’s pipeline digital twin to ensure optimum flow integrity and manage thermal fatigue.

Key Features:

• Three-year battery operating life
• Configurable logging interval, also adjustable after installation
• Hardened for H2S environment
• 2000m depth rated
• ROV installable – ROV removable for repositioning if required
• Monitor pipeline and ambient temperatures to determine internal pipeline temperature without penetration
• Six temperature channels
• Pipe probe contact assurance
• Three-year battery life
• Optical communications
• Magnetic mounting with single point ROV installation
• Heat and water flow and icing management
• Backed by extensive thermal simulation and real-world characterisations
• 2000m depth rating
• Custom software for extrapolating interior pipe temperatures
• Can be repositioned and recovered

Tony Mekky, Engineering Manager at Aquatec, has commented: 
“We are very excited to present these ground-breaking technologies to the public. The KINEKtron® represents the next evolution in retrofit strain monitoring for subsea structures. This device allows the collection of long duration, high-speed data to validate structural models and aid in decisions related to maintenance and demanning. Also, our newly developed Temperature Monitoring System is a great step towards understanding thermal changes in subsea structures. Through modelling and profiling, the system allows customers to extract pipeline internal temperature. Aquatec is delighted to present these breakthroughs at Subsea Expo 2022.” 

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Aquatec