Rebreather development and the implications for the Commercial Offshore Industry

1. Nov 15, 2007 Rebreather development and the implications for the Commercial Offshore Industry John Nortcliffe

2. “Contractor shall implement modern technology in . . . . . . . . Diving spreads and equipment”

3. Main PDE Sub-systems TOPSIDE UNIT & DATA SERVER SUPERVISOR SURFACE SUB-SURFACE DIVER’S HELMET BELL UMBILICAL REBREATHER & MUX DIVER’S UMBILICAL DRY SUIT & HEATED UNDERSUIT BELL 3

4. Main Sub-systems – Rebreather - 1 • Primary and Bail-out breathing system • Dual rebreather core with high safety integrity and reliability of MTBCF > 109 Hours (SIL 4) • Compliant to all relevant standards • Gas efficient: • Works as Closed Circuit Rebreather on 100% O2 OR • Works as Semi Closed Rebreather with surface supplied gas or integral bail-out gas

5. Main Sub-systems – Rebreather - 2 • Automated functions: • Bail-out (50 min at 200m at RMV 62.5 lpm at 200 bar bail-out pressure) • System start up and diagnostics • Loop ppO2 control • Monitoring and logging of all critical parameters for divers in real time on-line • Autonomous on loss of umbilical • Use dual Micropore 5” scrubber cartridges: • Very low Work of Breathing • High endurance (8 hours at RMV 40 lpm) • No dusting • No channelling • Very low risk of caustic cocktail • Quick change

6. Main Sub-systems – Rebreather - 3 • Comprehensive monitoring of loop parameters: • ppO2 • ppCO2 • ppCO • ppHe • pp Hydrocarbons • Pressure (depth) • Humidity • Flood • Loop temperature • Divers Tidal Volume • Divers Breathing Rate • Scrubber Health (temperature profile) • Scrubber fitted (sensor and window) • Supply gas pressure • Bail-out gas pressure

7. Main Sub-systems – Rebreather – 4 • Gas Manifold • Connection for surface supplied umbilical gas • O2 connection • Gas from left and right bail-out gas • Gas to rebreathers • Gas supply to helmet • Helmet Stab Plate – single composite connection for all services • Breathing loop • Helmet gas supply • Cameras (2) • Lighting (2) • Communications

8. Main Sub-systems – MUX • MUX (Multiplexer) integral to rebreather digitizes all signals and provides power and alarms: • Multiple redundant data paths • 2 x optical fibre • 2 x copper pairs • Improved digital communications (24 bit) & Video • Control of lighting and video • Diver alarm • Helmet integrity alarm • Control of diver heating system • Rebreather counter lungs • ECT Under suit (4 zones) • Rebreather power

9. Main Sub-systems – Topside • Topside System to: • Communicate all data to and from rebreather • Monitoring logging and alarming of all critical parameters for divers in real time on-line. Available for immediate action and long term analysis • High reliability server for data • storage and Supervisor interface • management (via web browser) • Stand alone system for fitting to current • DSV’s • Open data format for integrating into • future DSV’s or current logging S/W

10. Main Sub-systems – Dry Suit, Helmet, Umbilical • Dry Suit • Keep the diver dry and protected from the environment (HDS). • Passive thermal protection in the event of loss of heating. • Active heating using Electric Conductive Textiles (ECT). • Helmet • Smaller/lighter – less stress on diver. • Active monitoring of latch mechanisms. • Diver “emergency” alarm. • Heated visor (active de-mist). • Semi-Customised fit. • Umbilical • Single composite of Ø 26 mm • O2 and surface/bell supplied gas • Redundancy on power and communications

11. Ergonomics Comfort and Complexity - Improvements • Improve the divers mobility and vision • The equipment needs to be lighter easier to handle and more comfortable to wear • Gas efficiency • Reduce umbilical size • Clear digital communication to topside • Camera for overview and "portable” camera for Inspection. • Small, reliable adjustable lights • Reduce Complexity • Rebreather on the diver. No reclaim system. • Electrical diver heating - No diver hot water machinery. • Low and simple maintenance with long service intervals. • Self diagnostic.