Nautronix wins order for NASeBOP for Rowan drillships

Equipment & Technology - June 13, 2012

Nautronix has secured an order from a major BOP supplier to supply their NASeBOP (Emergency BOP Acoustic Control System), which is to be installed on Rowan’s two new ultra-deepwater drillships.

Nautronix’ NASeBOP control system provides a method of back-up control of critical BOP functions in the event of failure of primary communication and control.

At the heart of the system is Nautronix’ ADS² (Acoustic Digital Spread Spectrum) signalling technology.

The system achieves a highly reliable communications link from a surface vessel to a subsea isolation device, such as a full BOP, or a simple isolation device such as which would be used during surface BOP drilling.

The NASeBOP subsea system consists of two Subsea Control Units (SCU) connected to remote transducers. Each SCU is capable of controlling and monitoring up to eight functions. This includes control of an Emergency Disconnect Sequence (EDS).

A 10 meter cable allows remote transducers to be positioned away from the SCUs, thus reducing the risk of shading or multi path effects caused by adjacent structures or subsea objects. Two SCUs provide system redundancy as each can be used independently for control and monitoring.

Mark Patterson, CEO of Nautronix comments: “We have invested more than £1 million in R&D over the past year with a significant amount in the area of our NASCOM product family supporting acoustic switches for BOPs.

"We are very pleased to have been awarded these contracts only a few weeks after the NASDrill RS925 orders for these drillships."

The company claims that the Nautronix system is the only system in the world that is fully compliant with API 16D and 17E standards and all test ports are testable to full operating depth (4000msw/5800psi). The two NASeBOP systems will be delivered in 2013.