A group of divers have completed specialist coded welding trials at a leading North-east oil and gas industry support and training facility to prepare them for work in the Norwegian sector.
The Aberdeen-based National Hyperbaric Centre (NHC), is the world’s foremost hyperbaric welding trials and training complex, and 42 divers from a major oil and gas company recently took part in the Subsea 7 dry hyperbaric welding trials.
A number of subsea contractors use the centre’s facilities to pre-qualify divers prior to hyperbaric welding on major assets, and the trials were carried out in a hyperbaric welding environment for seven weeks.
The participants are now working on a contract in the Norwegian sector, where standards for welding are strict.
Scott Graham Operations manager said: “As an indication of the high standards achieved at the NHC some of the world’s largest subsea companies have actually closed their own hyperbaric facilities in preference for the up-to-date ones at the NHC.
“Norwegian standards are very rigid, and it was essential for the divers to complete trials to comply with the criteria. The centre has been providing this type of service to the sector for 25 years and is proud to be one of only two facilities in the world to be able to offer such a high standard of facilities to complete wet and dry welding trials.”
The NHC, which is a privately owned company, has been operating in the North-east for more than 25 years and delivers a range of services including specialised training courses, testing and trial facilities, research and development, auditing, diving medical support, equipment certification, senior consultancy and lifeboat reception.
It is currently the only hyperbaric centre of its kind in the UK and boasts a team of experts with a wealth of knowledge in the oil and gas industry.
[mappress] Press Release, August 06, 2013