ABERDEEN, UK – Forum Energy Technologies (UK) has opened a deepwater indoor test facility, dedicated to testing subsea tooling, survey sensors, and ROVs.This and the company’s calibration laboratory are designed to provide full control, certification and faster turnaround in preparing Forum’s rental inventory for hire.The fresh water tank, measuring 5 x 6 x 4.5 m (16.4 x 19.7 x 14.8 ft), is equipped with an overhead 10-ton crane, lighting, cameras, and a viewing platform.

Valeport has accredited the laboratory as conforming to traceable procedures for recalibration of the company’s conductivity, temperature, density, and sound velocity sensors for installation on current meters, tide gauges, wave recorders, and loggers.

In addition, Forum claims to operate one of Europe’s largest hyperbaric testing vessels at Moffat, northeast England, measuring 9.7 m (31.8 ft) long and 2.4 m (7.8 ft) in diameter. It is rated to 241 bar (3,495 psi) and 2,400 m (7,874 ft) depth.

To the south in Yorkshire, the company’s ROV manufacturing facility has a dedicated system integration test facility. This includes an 11 x 9 x 6-m (36 x 29.5 x 19.7-ft) tank which is capable of fully submerging and flying multiple ROV systems or complete trenchers.