Commentary - 9 Nov 2021

Clients benefit from Balmoral Subsea Test Centre turnkey services

Although the Balmoral Subsea Test Centre is recognised for its hydrostatic testing capabilities, the comprehensive facility also offers wide-ranging mechanical, submersion and offshore wind component testing, with full on-site support services including transportation, fabrication and electrical services.

A wide range of equipment types have been tested at the centre over the years including Christmas trees, subsea control modules, flying leads/jumper cables, ball valves, composite pipes, subsea HPUs, transformers, riser bird cages, acrylic domes and underwater cutting tools.

Testing can be carried out in a variety of liquids including fresh and salt water, dyes, glycol, anti-corrosion and mineral oils.

Frequently we are asked to carry out tests at very short notice and with the scale and variety of our equipment we are well placed to accommodate this

Derek Weir, general manager at the test centre says: “No two days are the same at the facility. One day we can be carrying out long term qualification testing on new foam systems allowing us to exceed client expectations; the next we will be carrying out factory acceptance testing on a new pipe cutting tool for the decommissioning sector.

“Frequently we are asked to carry out tests at very short notice and with the scale and variety of our equipment we are well placed to accommodate this.”

With full support from Balmoral’s in-house fabrication and electrical services clients regularly have their equipment tested, adjusted or repaired on-site avoiding the need to ship the items back and fore to their premises.

Derek continued: “With a full complement of support services available, including the hire of torque tools and associated equipment, clients can monitor their kit being tested via live data links anywhere in the world. A service we believe is unique to the Balmoral Subsea Test Centre.“

An overview of the services on offer is given below:

Hydrostatic testing

Uplift determination
Water ingress
Instrumented buoyancy loss
Hydrostatic compression and creep
Hydrostatic collapse
Bulk modulus
Buckle arrestment performance
Subsea controls testing
Valve testing

Mechanical testing

Axial and lateral slip loads
Static loading and 3-point bending
Bend restrictor/stiffener loading
Bend restrictor locking radius measurement
Compression and shear testing
Tensile testing
Dropped weight and swing arm impact testing
Lifting point/insert load testing

Submersion testing

Product weight in water and air
ROV submersion and functionality
Submersion and gas leakage
Underwater NDT inspection
Flotation
Riser testing
Abandonment and cutting tool trials
Stack up trials

Offshore wind CPS testing

SDU tension, bending and curvature
Bend restrictors
Articulated pipe
FID activation
CPS installation

Click below to view our custom-built cable protection test rig and don’t hesitate to contact our team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.

Our highly experienced team would be delighted to discuss your project.
Please contact us for further information.