Trials, Training and Simulation

JFN has extensive rig hall facilities with a wide and an enviable track record in practical research and development, operational trials and training and simulation of hazardous environments.

Practical Research and Development and Trials Support

Whilst desk-based studies and modelling give a useful insight to the general approach, practical work to mock-up or functionally test an idea can be less expensive in time and money for validating the detailed design. Trials can be carried out which substantially reduce the risks to the project and, if a minor modification is required, JFN has the skills and resources for these to be rapidly implemented and tested with minimal impact on the programme. This approach, developed in the extensive rig hall facilities owned by JFN, is supported by an experienced multi-disciplined staff with years of practical experience and a track record of success.

Examples of this type of trial and development have covered many different types of technologies and subject areas including:

  • Waste management and sorting technologies, involving life size plant mock-ups.
  • Remote size reduction tooling, from hydraulic shears, water jet cutting, and 1MW oxy-propane cutting torches.
  • Mechanical handling systems, most recently the Heavy Duty Master Slave Manipulator (HDMSM).
  • Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), including Brokks, submersible ROVs and bespoke task specific platforms.
  • Constructing simulated environments and realistic mock-ups of the task in hand, often incorporating the equipment to be deployed. The rigs are then used to train operators and carry out rehearsals of challenging tasks in a benign environment prior to the work being carried out in a hostile environment.
  • Use of virtual environments and computer aided simulations to practise ROV piloting and system deployment.
  • Training operators to work in air-fed suits in a C5 environment. The air-fed suit training facility allows operators to practice decommissioning operations including hot cutting whilst working in a realistic mock-up of a plant.

Rig hall services supporting this service include responsive design and manufacture capabilities and provision of technician/engineering support and tie-ins to several academic institutions.


Training and Simulation

The operation of any new equipment requires a period of familiarisation and practice before mastery is achieved. For operations in a hostile environment, it is particularly critical that operators are thoroughly trained and practiced before the equipment is deployed. Realistic mock-ups of the task in hand, often the same rig which is used for the development of the equipment, can be used to train operators and carry out rehearsals of challenging tasks in a benign environment prior to the work being carried out in a hostile environment. The effective development of skills and techniques requires realistic simulations of the working environment. JFN specialises in the provision and support of training and simulation environments; working closely with clients and drawing upon our own experience to provide cost effective simulation solutions.


Facilities

JFN has three rig halls in Egremont, Cumbria. Each of the rig halls has design and general office space which allows for co-location of teams for development or training projects. The rig-halls share a mechanical and an electrical workshop for small-scale fabrications and repairs, as well as skilled support staff including fork-lift truck drivers, crane operators, electrical, mechanical and CE&I technicians. A responsive local supply chain supplements in-house resources for fabrications and manufacturing, as well as additional plant, scaffolding and other engineering materials and support services.