GE Oil & Gas has further expanded its subsea portfolio capabilities with today's official opening of the new GE Oil & Gas, Drilling and Production business 'Subsea Monitoring and Remote Technology Center' (or SmartCenter) in Nailsea, near Bristol in the UK.

The center was officially opened today with a ribbon cutting performed by Ove Magne Kallestad, Vice President of Subsea Technology & Operations, StatoilHydro -- a company of long-standing partnership and collaboration with GE on the next generation of solutions for subsea architecture including remote monitoring and diagnostics, subsea power and processing.

Located within the GE Oil & Gas, Drilling and Production business' world-class VetcoGray subsea controls manufacturing site in Nailsea, the new SmartCenter is a remote-access data hub connected to subsea field control and instrumentation facilities around the world. The new state-of-the-art facility will offer assistance and services to the field at every stage of development -- from installation and commissioning, through field start up and onwards into routine operation for operational support, condition monitoring, diagnostics, and production optimization.

Ove Magne Kallestad, Vice President of Subsea Technology & Operations, StatoilHydro said, "I am delighted to be here today to inaugurate the GE Oil & Gas subsea SmartCenter which will help shape the future of the global subsea drilling and production industry, enabling oil companies to drive optimum performance and efficiency, and helping maintain world-class standards in environmental, health and safety management."

Welcoming around fifty GE Oil & Gas customers from around the world to the opening event, Manuel Terranova, senior vice president, Subsea Product Platform, GE Oil & Gas said, "The opening of the new SmartCenter further strengthens GE’s position as a technology leadership company dedicated to the subsea segment. We are delighted to be able to offer our global customers the latest advanced technology equipment and services monitoring support to ensure that they can manage subsea operations more efficiently and boost profitability."

Tags: GE Oil & Gas