UK-based Global Marine Systems has secured a contract from Tampnet to enhance inter oil-field communication networks in the North Sea.

The work, which focuses on the installation of a platform to platform fibre optic cable, will be undertaken in 2018 by one of the company’s installation vessels.

It will incorporate the laying and burial of approximately 75 km of fibre optic cable from an existing Branching Unit (BU) to the platform. In addition, a Cable End Module (CEM) and a further three BUs will be installed at selected locations along the route.

Prior to the installation, Global Marine will conduct a detailed marine route survey and burial assessment report.

Subsea assets will be utilized to conduct cable burial to 1 meter below the seabed in a water depth of 75 meters. A CEM will be installed within the platform’s 500 meter zone.

Laying and burial of the fibre optic cable will start upon the installation of the CEM, towards an existing BU where a previously installed cable end will be recovered and the fibre optic cables jointed, the company explained.

Mikkel Gleerup, director, Sales & Commercial at Global Marine said: “Having seen a slowdown in development in the oil and gas market recently, this contract shows the key advantages of investment in fibre to platforms and allows Global Marine to continually demonstrate its expert skills in this type of specialized installation.”

Tampnet’s CEO, Per Helge Svensson, added: “Tampnet is very pleased to enter into a new subsea installation contract with Global Marine. Over the last few years, we have completed several subsea fibre cable projects where Global Marine has been the supplier of the subsea installation work. The previous projects were very successful and we are confident that the current work to be performed by Global Marine will be according to the highest standards, making sure that our extensive quality requirements for continued robustness of our infrastructure is met.”