Feature

New offshore drilling technology is a design engineering ‘first’

To meet the evolving demands of the geotechnical drilling and subsea operations industries, design engineers at Cornwall-based specialist engineer, MintMech, have developed a new heave compensation system.

01/12/2025 12:07:09

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Active Heave Assist (AHA) offers heave compensation for vessel motion within less than 10cm, ensuring the drill bit remains stable relative to the seabed, even in challenging conditions.

Traditionally, offshore geotechnical drilling operations have relied on passive heave compensation systems which, although effective in some conditions, come with limitations, due to friction and vessel motion. Passive systems are often unable to maintain drill string stability in soft-ground conditions, during delicate downhole logging, or when working off-bottom, such as during tool changes.

"Active Heave Assist fundamentally changes the way we can work offshore," said Jack Berryman, co-founder of MintMech.

Read the full article in DPA's December 2025 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.