New NUI Test Chambers Soon Operational
A few weeks ago, NUI’s new hyperbaric test chambers arrived at the manufacturing facility for assembly.
The manufacturer Optime Subsea is preparing the two test chambers for a factory acceptance test (FAT) early June, before the two systems are dismantled and shipped to Bergen for installation and site acceptance test (SAT). Both systems should be installed and operational in a purpose built chamber hall at NUI by end of July.
NUI is an independent third-party supplier of test, verification and analysing services. A major part of the tests are performed on equipment and tools for subsea usage. For more than 40 years there has been a wide variety of projects performed at their site at Laksevåg, and now they are following the industry to deeper water depths by investing in suitable tools to meet the industry requirements.
New Test Chambers
The idea behind ultradeep testing originated many years ago. Due to cost and complexity, building of the new chambers was put on hold until recently.
The demand and requirements for deeper testing have increased over the past years, and in parallel the design and technology of chamber systems has moved forward since the early ideas. Last year NUI signed a contract with Optime Subsea at Notodden for the delivery of two ultra-deep test chambers NUI believe will be able to cover the demand from the subsea industry for the upcoming years.
The largest chamber has a maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) of 700 bar, equal to approximately 7000 meter depth at sea. Size of this chamber is 1.8 meter inner diameter and 3.5 meter inner height.
The smallest chamber has a maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) of 1000 bar, equal to approximately 10.000 meter depth at sea. Size of this chamber is 1.1 meter inner diameter and 3.5 meter inner height.
Both chambers can be used for tests in both wet medium and with gas.
Supplement to Existing Test Facilities
The location of NUI is ideal for the broad portfolio of services provided today. Located at Laksevåg in Bergen, the facility is in the heart of the innovative and productive west coast of Norway.
In addition to a deep-water quay and connected subsea test areas NUI has both laboratory and pressure chambers up to a decent size of 50 cubic meter.
The services are tailored for testing of equipment and tools used under high pressure and harsh conditions, and the laboratory and test facility are equipped for testing and analysis of gas, chemicals and stress testing of equipment.
Future Services
As an independent supplier of third-party services it is essential for NUI to provide the right services to the market, all the time. This mean NUI focuses on continuously increasing the level of inhouse competence to meet the requirements the customers expect, but also to provide advice to customers when requested.
There are already plans to expand the hyperbaric pressure testing service further and at NUI there may be a possibility to test smaller equipment up to 2500-3000 bar pressure in the future, but only if there is a demand from customers.
Covid-19
The consequences caused by the Covid-19 infection has obviously also affected NUI. NUI is strictly following the advises provided by national and local authorities for their own operation, but the steel mill making the chambers are located in northern Italy causing a more complicated logistics than originally planned for.
Contact Information
Rolf Røssland
Managing Director, NUI
E-mail: rro@nui.no
Phone: +47 950 59 595
- NUI is owned by “The Assosiation Of Operators For Hyperbaric Lifeboat Reception Facilities” (OFHB). The members of OFHB is the major oil operators and subsea contractors on the Norwegian Continental Shelf
- NUI is based in Laksevåg, Bergen in Norway on a harbor site. For more than 40 years, we have built up unique competence, experience and facilities within underwater technology. We work closely with international expertise within a wide range of specialist areas applicable to the varied challenges within underwater operations.
- NUI provides the subsea industry with a great diversity of products and services; ranging from advanced research, hyperbaric contingency and performance testing to engineering, training and pressure/equipment testing.
- NUI’s vision is to be a major contributor to the safety and cost efficiency of manned and unmanned interventions; based on the unique blend of human assets and cutting-edge competence.