Hotherma – hyperbaric boiling water systems : a research study to add on demand hyperbaric boiling water systems in saturation diving systems.

Abstract

Saturation diving systems are used in the offshore Oil and Gas industry. These are steel capsules (also called chambers) where divers live under pressure during long periods of time. Due to human physiology, normal air supposes a high risk to be breathe and instead a gas mix of helium and oxygen, called heliox, is used in these systems. The increasingly high price of helium in the planet provides the financial sense to save this gas mix whenever possible.

This thesis explores the feasibility and profitability of implementing a on demand hyperbaric boiling water system to existing saturation diving systems to save helium when hot boiling water is provided to the divers inside the saturation diving system.

The convenient sampling method has been used to collect empirical data, where three individuals in saturation diving managerial position were interviewed to validate this thesis, as well as numerous other sources such as industry manuals and guidelines to be compliant with.

These have furnished a general positive outcome for the possibility of future implementation of the idea, despite a number of challenges including costs of certification and the niche industry market.