STL Recognised as Scottish Nominee for Technological Innovation Award

Aberdeen-based Subsea Technologies (STL) has been recognised as the Scottish nominee for the Technological Innovation Award at the PWC Private Business Awards.

The company’s managing director Drummond Lawson was presented with a commemorative award at a celebratory dinner at Hotel du Vin, One Devonshire Gardens in Glasgow.

STL was chosen as the Scottish nominee for its class-leading XR Connector. The XR Connector is the only emergency disconnect package available globally, which is based on a face to face engagement and has no maximum disconnect angle.

Drummond Lawson said, “The whole STL team is delighted with the commemorative award, which recognises our ongoing commitment to developing market leading technologies.

“It is a real honour that the XR is considered to be one of the most innovative technologies being developed in Scotland.”

STL is currently developing an 18 3/4” version of the XR Connector for the drilling riser market. The drilling riser XR will offer the same safety, environmental and operational benefits provided by the 7 3/8” XR, but on a much larger scale. Its development has been endorsed by key industry figures, including Ian Fitzsimmons who has stated that the XR “would pass the Macondo test”.

Lawson said, “The 18 ¾” XR could potentially protect the industry and environment from another disaster akin to the Macondo incident. We have received widespread industry support for its development and are currently seeking sponsorship from an Oil & Gas major to take the project to its next stage.”

Last year, STL was awarded the Subsea 2013 award for ‘New Enterprise’ and the ‘Grampian Award for Innovation’ at the ENET Awards. In 2014, the company was named a finalist at both the Scottish Business Awards and the Scottish Export Awards.