The very first subsea cable ever was a copper cable that stretched from England to France installed on 29 August 1850. It was laid by a small paddle-driven steam tug and marked the advent of using water crossings for telecommunications infrastructure. Unfortunately, by the next morning the cable was no longer working, and appeared to have been pulled up at the shore end by the anchor of a French fishing vessel.

Subsea cable connection expertise

The history of subsea cable connection is both interesting and colorful, and Global Marine Systems has been involved in that history since the 1850s. Today, in addition to its continued work in telecommunications, Global Marine Systems specialises in offshore data network installations to address the offshore communications and remote facilities management requirements of oil and gas fields.

No longer are crews stationed offshore cut off from the rest of the world, and no longer are daily reports provided by two-way radio. Now, data capabilities at offshore fields are helping to reduce risks and offshore staff and better manage drilling and production data.

Fibre-based data networks

Fibre-based data networks provide a high-speed connection between shore-based offices and offshore operations. Data networks allow for remote equipment monitoring and control, off-site maintenance and diagnostics, live video monitoring and surveillance, and drilling and production data management. Crews can be remotely trained, and also benefit personally by being able to keep in touch with families onshore using high-speed internet and video connections.

Cable Innovator is a multirole DP2 vessel managing subsea tasks for oil and gas, telecommunications and deep sea research. It is equipped to deploy Global Marine ploughs and ROVs.

Sovereign is a multirole DP2 vessel for subsea cable installation and repair. Equipped with powerful trenching / work class ROV, A-frame and two 2,200 tonne turntables, the vessel performs a wide range of subsea tasks.

One of the largest purpose-build cable-working barges of her kind, Cable Networker provides shallow water and narrow corridor cable installation in the Asia Pacific region.

Rocksaw is a unique rock trenching tool. The system is capable of excavation in a wide range of bedrock types and is capable of subsea cable burial to a depth of four metres in rock.

Injector is a deep burial installation jetting tool for burial from two – 12 metres. The package is able to fluidise seabed soil, enabling deep cable and flexible pipe burial with minimal residual tension.

Companies who have installed data networks have reported operational efficiencies that have led to a reduction in offshore staff by up to 25% (to date) and a significant reduction in offshore operational costs. To maximise the benefits of offshore communications network installation, Global Marine also offers engineering of cable routes and installation requirements to effectively manage costs and to support long-term network security.

Permanent reservoir monitoring

High-speed data isn’t the only new technology Global Marine is assisting in providing for offshore facilities. Permanent reservoir monitoring (PRM) is a relatively new method for enhancing oil recovery from offshore fields. Several of the oil majors, including BP, Conoco Phillips, Petrobras, Shell and Statoil have already installed PRM systems at their fields, with the expectation of both enhanced production and an extended recovery period.

The investment in PRM is significant; and Global Marine’s experience in handling the small-diameter cable types that are used in PRM is crucial to the success of system installations. As with offshore communications networks, Global Marine supports the capital outlay for PRM systems with cable route engineering. Clear identification of seabed obstacles and full evaluation of all installation considerations help to promote sound economics and long-term system security for your offshore data projects.