Photo Credit: C-CORE
Bergy bit research near Twillingate.

For twenty five years, C-CORE, an applied research and development (R & D) corporation on the campus of Memorial University, has worked closely with the oil and gas industry to find innovative engineering solutions for offshore exploration and development. C-CORE’s expertise in engineering and business, developed for the oil and gas industry, is being applied to other resource industries including mining and fisheries. The 60 plus team of researchers and support staff is committed to the timely delivery of new technologies for industrial application.  

A World Leader in Engineering
C-CORE has generated over $75 million for its activities since 1975, over 90% from outside the Province of Newfoundland. It is recognized as a world leading organization in engineering. Over 45% of its current annual revenue of $5 million originates from international clients.

The largest portion of C-CORE’s R & D activity is conducted for the oil and gas industry, representing some 30% of its work. The growing offshore industry on the East Coast looks to C-CORE to provide skills in offshore engineering. C-CORE’s extensive knowledge in iceberg scouring and interaction with pipelines and seabed installations is a resource used on a regular basis by industry to assess damage risk. Cost-effective solutions to protect pipelines and subsea installations are being developed by C-CORE. This research improves the economics of future offshore developments and is very important for smaller field development. C-CORE’s specialized advisory services in offshore engineering are also being applied to all pipeline projects in ice environments currently under development. The Centre is especially recognized for its expertise in this field.

Research Benefits the Terra Nova Project
The results from C-CORE’s iceberg impact field program, which measures the forces imparted by an iceberg when it hits a structure, has provided critical data to offshore designers. In this research a load panel was used to measure the impact of an iceberg collision. The results indicated that icebergs’ loads were much lower than originally determined from previous small tests and computer modelling. This has important implications for reducing the costs of future offshore structures. The findings were integrated into the design for Terra Nova and will be used for future offshore structures.

Photo Credit: C-CORE Iceberg tow line installation.

C-CORE’s major program in Ice Management, initiated in 1999 to reduce the risk of impact of an iceberg on an offshore structure, will also influence future offshore developments. The long term objective of the program is to implement an efficient iceberg management system through detection, tracking and towing that will reduce the risk of iceberg impact and lower design costs.

Natural Gas
C-CORE is also working closely with the pipeline industry abroad and at home. The Centre has contracts from two international gas consortiums for the application of remote sensing technologies for pipeline monitoring. In this province, work with the private sector has identified a potential route for bringing gas ashore to the Island that minimizes the risk of iceberg contact. Research such as this gives rise to more and better development options for the industry.

Mining
The mining industry is one of C-CORE’s major growth areas. The application of the Centre’s skills in automation, robotics and intelligent systems is enhanced by its program with the European Space Agency (ESA). This work explores value-added technical development of existing harsh environment space technologies and their transfer into terrestrial and marine operations. Over $6 million has been invested by ESA and industrial partners in C-CORE’s Harsh Environment activities.

Fisheries
In the fisheries sector, C-CORE’s work with scientists has resulted in an efficient stock assessment tool. This new device reduces by-catch and provides for better resource management. Working with the crab industry, engineers have developed a technological process that safeguards the natural flavour and appearance of crab salad meats and boosts yields.