The Aberdeen-based National Hyperbaric Centre (NHC), is a state-of-the-art hyperbaric welding trials and training complex, and 42 divers from a major oil and gas company recently took part in the Subsea 7 dry hyperbaric welding trials.
A number of subsea contractors use the center’s facilities to pre-qualify divers prior to hyperbaric welding on major assets, and the trials were carried out in a hyperbaric welding environment for seven weeks.
The participants are now working on a contract in the Norwegian sector, where standards for welding are strict.
Scott Graham, operations manager said: “As an indication of the high standards achieved at the NHC some of the world’s largest subsea companies have actually closed their own hyperbaric facilities in preference for the up-to-date ones at the NHC.
The NHC, which is a privately owned company, has been operating in the northeast for more than 25 years and delivers a range of services including specialized training courses, testing and trial facilities, research and development, auditing, diving medical support, equipment certification, senior consultancy, and lifeboat reception.
It is currently the only hyperbaric centre of its kind in the UK and boasts a team of experts with a wealth of knowledge in the oil and gas industry.