Bennex supplies subsea technology to the oil and gas industry

Image of Bennex’s subsea distribution system.

The company’s products and solutions cover the complete range of subsea technologies, from electrical, fiber optic and hydraulic jumpers and flying leads, to ocean bottom seismic cables and nodes, towed seismic airgun umbilicals and electromagnetic (EM) products, and solutions for the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) business, renewable energy and modular wireless controls for the aquaculture industry.

Innovative subsea power, communication systems

The company’s products for the offshore oil and gas industry as well as for marine research and defense agencies range from high voltage switches to pressure compensated electrical or fiber optic systems.

The company sharpened its teeth in the subsea distribution industry in one of the world’s first offshore markets, the North Sea, when it developed its first Anguila subsea power and distribution system for the Snorre B platform in 1993. About 10,000 assemblies are installed worldwide.

With its MK2 interface, the Anguila system has become the industry standard for distribution of electric signals subsea. Since then, Bennex has gained a unique competence in the development and manufacture of electrical, fiber optic, and hydraulic jumpers.

Bennex also supplies umbilical terminations with up to three barriers, which, like all of its umbilicals, are pressure compensated for extreme water depths.

The company’s advanced cable termination (ACT) is an oil-filled, pressure and temperature compensated system with at least one double barrier, meaning there are at least two barriers between the electrical or fiber optic connection point and the water. This protection and the potential for a third barrier provides a 25-year life for the termination.

Bennex has been providing advanced fiber optic terminations (AFT) for subsea applications for over 15 years, and can be designed for either long or short life cycles. The terminations are pressure compensated and tested for specific water depths.

The company’s high power changeover switch (HPCS) can be used in electrical subsea pumps, subsea separation, compressors, and pipe heating systems among many other applications. Since these systems often require high voltage and need to be controlled from the surface, the HPCS eliminates the necessity of using ROVs or diver intervention to switch from one application to another.

Seismic systems and components

Bennex supplies components and systems to the seismic industry as well as for marine research, environmental monitoring, and military applications.

The company’s products include multiple barriers for electrical and fiber optic cables, mechanical terminations and buoy loading systems. Bennex has supplied more than 20,000 ocean bottom cables to the global seismic industry since the mid-90s. Additionally, the company assembles and tests various ocean bottom nodes.

The company developed its own Airgun Umbilical Termination, and also provides lead-in terminations and deck leads, along with service personnel.

Electromagnetics (EM) is a new segment for the seismic market. Bennex supplies a wide range of self-manufactured products to the main players in the EM market. The company also designs and manufactures high current solutions for the source system and molding of various sensors.

ROV solutions and service

In 1979, Bennex introduced the ROV to the North Sea oil and gas industry. Since then, the company has maintained its status as the leading supplier of equipment for ROVs, and it manufactures, supplies, leases, and services ROVs with a wide range of parts, tools, and work packages.

Bennex also is an agent for various manufacturers of underwater equipment and the company can provide service and maintenance required to maintain the ROVs.

Bennex’s strength in the ROV industry lies in its manufacturing and the supply of equipment and cable systems as well as servicing and rebuilding. Bennex supplies a wide range of cables and connectors produced by other manufacturers in addition to its own specially designed connectors and penetrators that are adapted to its customers’ requirements.

The company can service and repair all Titan manipulator systems, which is carried out by fully trained service engineers backed by a stock of spare parts for a quick turnaround of the repair and equipment.

During the repair or rebuild, an assessment is conducted to establish what is necessary to bring the Titan manipulator system back to an operational standard. The unit is fully tested and a witnessed factory acceptance test is performed with all procedures documented during the rebuild.

Bennex also operates a fleet of ROV manipulators that can be rented or leased to support customers’ contracts. The systems are fully prepared and include spare parts suitable for remote or local operations.

Complete service provider

Bennex offers service agreements on all of its products and provides servicing and overhauling of electrical, fiber optic and hydraulic equipment for the oil and gas industry that is manufactured by other companies. The company not only stocks ample parts for its own products but also stocks connectors and cables for other manufacturers’ applications.

The company also provides installation services for its systems and products for its customers who want to deal with only one equipment provider.