Astrimar welcomes two Graduate Engineers

Euan McGowan and Shaun McCabe join Astrimar as Graduate Engineers

To further support our increasing projects and client portfolio, we have welcomed two graduate engineers to the Astrimar team.  Delighted to be nurturing young talented individuals, Euan and Shaun will be working with senior engineers and consultants and will be involved in delivering engineering design and analysis for clients and developing and delivering innovative solutions to address our clients' challenges and ideas.

Astrimar are proud to run a graduate professional development scheme which is aligned to the requirements of IMechE and encourages and supports professional development whilst working towards chartered engineer status.  We are looking forward to coaching and supporting Euan and Shaun on their professional journeys.

Astrimar presenting at SPE Aberdeen Well Decommissioning 2023

Astrimar's Senior Engineer Brian Willis to present on 6th June 2023 at the SPE Aberdeen Well Decommissioning conference

Brian Willis is delighted to again be presenting at the SPE Well Decommissioning conference on Tuesday 6th June and Wednesday 7th June at Aberdeen's P&J Live. Brian will be presenting on 'Quality, Not the Quantity - Long Term Monitoring and Confidence in New Well Barrier Technologies' at the afternoon session of Day 1, Tuesday 6th June 2023.

To find out more about the SPE Well Decommissioning conference 2023 please click here.

To view the slides from Brian's presentation please click here. 

Astrimar participate in Showcase event at MSIP

Astrimar ran an interactive "Innovation & Qualification" workshop at the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc event on 9 March 2023

It was fantastic to participate in such an important event at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc in Dundee, Scotland, organised to help innovators, collaborators, and businesses with a focus on green energy, sustainable mobility and decarbonisation. Running our own interactive workshop on 'Efficient Technology Innovation and Qualification', we showcased best practice for effective innovation and technology qualification. Participants also enjoyed finding out about Astrimar's Innovation Management Tool, RAPAT.

To find out more about Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, please click here.  Full details of the event and participants who joined can be found here. 

If you would like to learn more about RAPAT, our Innovation Management and Guidance Tool, click here.

Astrimar to present and exhibit at Subsea Expo 2023

Astrimar to return to Europe's largest annual subsea exhibition and conference taking place at P&J Live, Aberdeen 21st-23rd February 2023

We are delighted to announce that Astrimar Director Caroline Roberts-Haritonov will also present at the conference on 'The Power of "Engineering Insight" to Unlock the Value of Data Analytics'.

The presentation will take place on Tuesday 21st February at 14:20 as part of the Data and Digital session in the Blue Conference Room.

You can view the full presentation here - 'The Power of "Engineering Insight" to Unlock the Value of Data Analytics'.

Astrimar will also be exhibiting at the event at Stand 127 during Subsea Expo. Come and meet our growing team and find out about all the things we are doing to support the subsea sector as we transition to Net Zero. We look forward to seeing you there!

www.subseaexpo.com

Alasdair Crawford joins Astrimar Team

Astrimar continues to grow by welcoming Alasdair as another new Engineer to the team.

Alasdair joins the Astrimar team with more than three years' experience in leading edge Subsea engineering design and analysis, preceded by a PhD from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. Alasdair's track record includes supporting engineered solutions, subsea equipment design, technology qualification and life of field extension projects and advanced engineering analysis. Alongside his experience in data analysis and reliability-based methods, this means Alasdair brings skills, experience, and innovative approaches of value to the breadth of Astrimar's business and our clients.

With an increasing number and range of client opportunities ahead, we are delighted to welcome Alasdair and the technical strengths and capabilities he brings to the team. 

Steve Walls joins Astrimar Team

Joining as Lead Engineer, Steve's experience and skills grow our capability in innovative engineering design and advanced analysis.

Steve brings to the Astrimar team, over 10 years' experience in leading-edge engineering design, analysis and project management, primarily focused on the oil, gas and renewable energies sectors. In his previous role, Steve has built up a track record of successfully supporting key energy operators in engineered solutions, new equipment design, life of field extension projects and reliability assurance.

Having previously worked together in past roles, Steve will again be working alongside Chief Engineer, Lev Roberts Haritonov, developing and delivering innovative solutions to address our clients' challenges and ideas.

We are excited by the opportunity to further support both our existing and future client base. Our long-standing clients including operators, equipment manufacturers and technology developers within the traditional oil & gas, utility and offshore renewable sectors. Increasingly our clients are also made up of innovators developing new energy transition technologies, requiring specialised engineering and technology qualification support through the technology development process.

Astrimar to exhibit at Subsea Expo 2023

Astrimar are delighted to be returning once again to exhibit at the world's largest Subsea Exhibition and Conference taking place at P&J Live, Aberdeen from 21-23rd February 2023.

Astrimar will exhibit at Stand 127.

Hear about our new Engineered Innovations Capabilities for engineering design & advanced analysis as well as RAPAT, our unique tool supporting innovation management!

We look forward to seeing you there.

https://www.subseaexpo.com

Lev Roberts joins Astrimar Team

Joining as Engineering Innovations Lead, Lev extends Astrimar's consultancy services to include advanced engineering design and analysis expertise.

Lev brings to the Astrimar team, over 30 years' experience in leading-edge engineering design and analysis, primarily focused on the oil and gas, renewable energies, turbomachinery and process industry sectors. In previous roles, Lev has supported key energy operators in engineered solutions, new equipment design, life of field extension projects, technology qualification and reliability assurance.

Lev is a Professional Chartered Engineer with extensive experience of engineering innovation, direction and management, business group leadership and growth. His experience and skills in innovative engineering design and advanced analysis bring a new dimension of capability and support to our wide range of clients.

We are excited by the opportunities this brings for our existing and future client base, increasingly made up of innovators developing new energy transition technologies, as well as our long-standing clients including operators, equipment manufacturers and technology developers within the traditional oil & gas, utility and offshore wind sectors. 

Astrimar presenting at SPE Well Decommissioning 2022

Astrimar's Senior Engineer Brian Willis to present on 20th April 2022 at the SPE Aberdeen Well Decommissioning Conference

Brian Willis is delighted to be attending the in-person Well Decommissioning conference on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st April and will also present at the conference. Brian will present on 'Risk-based Well Decommissioning and the Qualification of New Technologies' at the afternoon session of Day 1, Wednesday 20th April 2022.

The slides from the presentation are available here.

Release of RAPAT V3

Astrimar are delighted to announce that the full commercial version of RAPAT is now available for purchase

We are excited to be launching the full enhanced commercial version 3 of our easy-to-use Excel-based Innovation Management and Guidance Tool RAPAT. The comprehensive tool, designed to help innovators better understand and efficiently navigate the technical and commercial barriers to product development, qualification and deployment, has several new features including

• Market need assessment

• Competitor analysis

• TRL assessment at a high level or more detailed component level

• Detailed costing worksheet to support funding applications

The new functionality enables RAPAT to support the full innovation life cycle from developing an idea, understanding market and regulatory requirements, getting funding/investment in place, and understanding commercial and technical risks, through design and manufacture, testing and analysis, to generate the assurance evidence for product acceptance and certification.

RAPAT provides technology developers with essential industry best practice guidance for product success at a fraction of the cost of engaging expert consultants. Licences can be purchased for as little as £100 with additional training and support also available. For more details or to download a 7 day free trial, please go to www.astrimar.com/RAPAT.

Astrimar presenting at 3rd Decommissioning of Offshore and Subsea Structures Conference

Astrimar is delighted to be talking about risk based well decommissioning at this international event

Astrimar is presenting at the 3rd International Conference on the Decommissioning of Offshore & Subsea Structures on the topic of Risk-based Well Decommissioning. In this presentation, Brian Willis, a senior engineer, will consider how a risk based approach can allow for innovative and alternative well barrier designs – and how the associated risks of these can be identified and assessed for using various techniques. This approach can be used to support decision making and provide the necessary justification for a risk-managed solution. 

Astrimar is happy to add that Paul Dawson, who recently joined Astrimar as a graduate, will also be presenting at the conference. His presentation is based on his Masters thesis – A Feasibility Study and Process Modelling of Green and Blue Hydrogen - Production, Transportation and Storage in Depleted Reservoirs.

Brian’s presentation will be on 21st Feb and Paul’s is the following day. The conference will be online and details can be accessed here: https://asranet.co.uk/Content/Files/DECOM2022-call-for-papers.pdf

Astrimar to exhibit at Subsea Expo 2022

Astrimar are delighted to be returning once again to exhibit at the world's largest Subsea Exhibition and Conference taking place at P&J Live, Aberdeen from 22nd - 24th February 2022.

Astrimar will exhibit at Stand 133.

We are excited to showcase our Innovation Management and Guidance software tool, RAPAT and highlight how it can support innovation for the energy transition!

We look forward to seeing you there.

https://www.subseaexpo.com/

Astrimar present at 'Smart Asset Integrity & Reliability Management'

Astrimar Director Elizabeth Garry presents at Online Seminar event hosted by the Institute of Asset Integrity & Reliability Management & Scottish Development International.

Astrimar's Elizabeth Garry was delighted to support and present at the 'Smart Asset Integrity & Reliability Management' online seminar on 25th August 2021. Organised by the Institute of Asset Integrity & Reliability Management and Scottish Development International's Ketan Pednekar, this fantastic event was host to over 125 reliability and maintenance professionals. Elizabeth presented 'Data-Driven Future-Predictive RBI and AIM' and enjoyed a lively, interactive question & answer session afterwards. Other presentations enjoyed at the event were from OPEX Group, Add Energy and Arnlea Systems. The seminar was a success and was a fantastic opportunity to network with other like-minded professionals.

OGUK publish RAPAT Case Study

Industry body, OGUK, has published a case study highlighting the success and impact of Astrimar's RAPAT tool supporting innovation and technology acceptance with particular relevance for net zero technologies.

Industry body, OGUK, and its members are committed to working collaboratively towards the aims of Roadmap 2035, the pathway set out to lead the way through our energy transition and support the UK in achieving its net zero targets. OGUK champion the work of their members through industry case studies that demonstrate how their businesses support the five themes of OGUK's industry Roadmap:

• Developing people and skills

• Driving technology and innovation

• Growing the economy and exports

• Helping meet UK energy needs

• Supporting net ZERO

Astrimar's RAPAT tool provides guidance to technology developers, building their skills in innovation, technology development, qualification and certification, supporting successful innovation outcomes for market leadership particularly for net zero technologies.  The Excel-based software provides step by step guidance for innovation process management, facilitating a step-change in UK capability to design and rapidly deploy innovation and, in particular, advanced manufactured goods and net zero technologies for UK and global use. In this context, it can help establish UK developers as market leaders and innovate to recovery.

To read the OGUK case study on RAPAT visit https://stories.oilandgasuk.co.uk/an-engaging-way-to-promote-safety/index.html.

More details about RAPAT are available here

Case Study on RAPAT published by NMIS

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland has published a case study highlighting their support for Astrimar's RAPAT Innovation Management and Guidance Tool

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, operated by the University of Strathclyde, was instrumental in forming the project team that was awarded Business response to COVID funding from Innovate UK, the UK's Innovation Agency, for the development of the RAPAT tool.  RAPAT (Rapid Acceptance of Products and Technologies), was developed by Astrimar as an easy-to-use Excel-based tool, to help technology developers meet the urgent need for emergency product acceptance.  

NMIS engineers from the Design Engineering team provided feedback together with insight and advice for the development of the tool, ensuring it represents cross-sector best practice in product realisation. 

The Excel-based tool guides users through an efficient risk-based process. It includes:

• Understanding user/regulatory requirements

• Planning to meet these requirements while managing commercial/technical risks

• Defining/undertaking required testing and assurance activities

• Documenting evidence to support certification, end-user approval and acceptance.

RAPAT incorporates focused worksheets, help sheets and tutorial videos, reflecting industry-leading experience and expertise in product development, technology qualification and product certification. 

Aimed particularly at small and micro enterprises, start-ups and organisations stepping into new sectors, such as energy transition and net-zero technologies, RAPAT helps product/technology developers to understand what they need to do to achieve market/product acceptance and to plan and implement those requirements to maximise their chances of successful commercialisation with minimum wasted effort/cost.

The NMIS Case Study about RAPAT can be seen on their website here: https://www.nmis.scot/case-studies/astrimar/

More details about RAPAT are available here

Astrimar article published in SPE London Review

Senior Engineer, Brian Willis discusses the challenges to deployment of new plugging technologies

As Astrimar approaches nearly a decade supporting well plugging and abandonment technologies, Brian looks at some of the challenges still faced by plug technology developers and how moving to risk-based approaches can help overcome some of these. 

Brian's article  "The barriers to deployment of new plugging technologies", is available from SPE at SPE Review London (Page 26)

Astrimar Senior Engineer Brian Willis shortlisted as finalist in Decom North Sea Awards

Astrimar are delighted to announce our Brian Willis has been nominated as a finalist in the Decom North Sea Rising Star in Decommissioning award

We are over the moon for our Senior Engineer Brian Willis after being shortlisted as a finalist in the Decom North Sea Rising Star in Decommissioning Award at Decom Week 2021. It is fantastic that he has been recognised for his contribution to Risk-Based Decision Making for Well P&A, supporting both new approaches for cost reduction and new barrier technologies.  Brian has been instrumental in this area supporting technology developers, operators and industry bodies, both in the development and application of risk-based best practices.  

https://www.decomnorthsea.com/news/2021/may/decom-rising-star-hoping-to-revolutionise-well-plug-and-abandonment/

Other short listed finalists in the category are 

• Aaron Tung from University of Aberdeen & Curtin University

• Lindsay Wylie from Aubin

Huge congratulations to Lindsay Wylie from Aubin who won the award. 

Astrimar to exhibit and present at Decom North Sea’s Decom Week 2021

Astrimar are delighted to be exhibiting and presenting at Decom Week 2021 from 17th-21st May

Astrimar are exhibiting and presenting at Decom Week 2021, a global gathering of decommissioning professionals. The fully-virtual week-long event, is set to bring industry together with insight into all aspects of energy decommissioning, oil & gas, renewables, circular economy, marine salvage, and nuclear.  

Astrimar’s Senior Engineer, Brian Willis will be presenting on 18th May on our approaches to “Risk-based Well Decommissioning Decision Making” and Director, Caroline Roberts Haritonov will be presenting on 19th May on the work of the DNS Decom Leadership Group Special Interest Project on “Risk-based approaches to Well Decom”. 

For more information visit: Decom Week 2021 

Astrimar presenting at SPE Well Decommissioning Symposium

Astrimar are giving presentations on 10th and 11th May 2021 at the SPE Aberdeen Well Decommissioning Symposium

We are delighted to be presenting in the opening session of this year’s Well Decommissioning Symposium conference, and also participating in the panel discussion alongside OGA, OGUK and Repsol Sinopec. Astrimar Director Caroline Roberts-Haritonov and Intervention Engineering Ltd’s Gavin Bell will present “P&A or Plug and Wait, what are the options and how do you decide?” on Day 1 of the conference. Please click here to view the presentation.
 
Brian Willis will also present at the conference. Brian’s Techbyte session on “Method to directly compare well P&A designs and enable risk-based selection of barrier technologies” takes place on Day 2, Tuesday 11th May 2021. Please click here to view the presentation.

Astrimar to present to PACE Meeting

Astrimar is presenting our approach to Risk-based Well P&A ALARP Assessments to the PACE General Meeting.

Astrimar’s Brian Willis was delighted to have been invited to present our industry-leading approach to Risk-based Well P&A ALARP Assessments and supporting STEM-flow® modelling approach at the latest general meeting of the Plugging & Abandonment Collaboration Environment (PACE)* on 14th April 2021.

Risk-based Well P&A, supported by quantitative risk-based well barrier integrity prediction allows the operator to move away from the current prescriptive approach and better understand their long term well risks as well as focussing time and resources to reducing the technical risks of challenging well abandonments.  Astrimar’s innovative approach offers operators and service providers the opportunity to reduce the cost of P&A without increasing the short or long term risk.

The approach involves a risk-based decision-making process supported by quantitative risk and uncertainty assessment. This process can be used to support ALARP demonstration of well abandonment designs which do not align with standard industry guidance or for de-risking new abandonment technologies. It allows for the abandonment design to reflect the intrinsic risks and uncertainty of the well, barrier elements, formations, reservoirs and the cross-flow potential from neighbouring wells. These intrinsic risks, if quantified via predictive barrier failure analysis, can allow for simpler designs for single or a series of interconnected neighbouring wells, while re-focussing resources on the more complex wells with technical challenges.  Astrimar’s predictive risk-based well integrity modelling software, STEM-flow, provides a data-driven, statistical approach that directly supports Risk-based well P&A and ALARP demonstration. 

Astrimar’s risk assessment process was designed to quantify the risk of novel cement barrier designs but it can equally apply to alternative barrier technologies. The individual risks of each barrier and new technology are assessed initially using reliability analysis tools, like FMECA (failure mode, effects and criticality analysis). Actual barrier failure probabilities are calculated using traditional reliability analysis tools, such as Fault Trees or Event Trees, or using Astrimar’s bespoke software STEM-flow, which has been created to be able to model individual well barrier failure mechanisms.    

A copy of Brian’s presentation is now available here.

*PACE is an industry network, managed by OTM Consulting, that aims to promote collaboration on plugging & abandonment within the oil and gas industry in order to:

• Increase awareness of the global regulations

• Understand capabilities of current and emerging technology

• Share knowledge and experiences to improve operational best practice

• Collaborate on cost-effective solutions to common technical challenges