Grand Opening of Asterix and Obelix
NUI held a grand official opening of their two new ultra deep hyperbaric chambers: Asterix and Obelix this week.
NUI’s new hyperbaric chambers offer pressure testing down to ultra deep depths of 10.000 metres and are located at their venue in Gravdal in Bergen.
A limited number of guests were invited to take part of the grand opening.
Learn how your company can use the hyperbaric chambers.
Ultra Deep Test Facilities for the Industry
– NUI will now be able to offer independent testing and verification of tools and equipment that will operate at great depths to both Norwegian and foreign players. We see today that oil extraction takes place at depths around 3000 metre water depths, said Owe Hagesæther, CEO of GCE Ocean Technology who got the pleasure of officially naming the two chambers.
–Now, the industry does not have to move their activities and development work out of Norway due to a lack of independent test facilities. This could potentially also attract investments to Norway, Hagesæther continued.
Live Demonstration
Both chambers were pressurized to maximum depth, and as Hagesæther pressed the the emergency stop to mark the opening of the facilities; the guests witnessed the decompression of Asterix on a monitor, being taken from a simulated 10.000 metres depths; to the surface within seconds.
Rolf Røssland, Managing Director of NUI introduced the chambers to the guests and provided for a guided tour of the facilities after the opening.
Asterix and Obelix
The chambers are to NUI’s knowledge; the world's largest hyperbaric chambers and can reach up up 700 and 1000 bar. This equals up to 7000 and 10.000 metres depths at sea.
The smallest chamber, Asterix, 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.
The largest chamber, Obelix, 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.
Both chambers can be used for tests in both wet medium and with gas.
The hyperbaric chambers; Asterix and Obelix
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.
The fact that NUI has now established their ultra deep test facilities, with what will be the world's largest chambers in its pressure classes, will be a valuable contribution to the further development of Norwegian underwater technology and Norwegian industry, Owe Hagesæther, GCE Ocean Technology
Lucky winners
Earlier this year NUI, in collaboration with GCE Ocean Technology, held a contest to win two hyperbaric tests in their new chambers – the winners were cluster members; Develogic Gmbh – subsea systems and iDROP.
We congratulate NUI with their expertise and the test center, and for contributing to consolidate Norway as a leading nation in underwater technology.
Contact Information
Kjersti Boge Christensen
Communication Manager
• 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.
