New Partnership to Develop Next Generation of Intelligent Hearing Protection and Communication Technology for Offshore Energy Industry

TRONDHEIM, Norway--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International energy company Statoil has partnered with SINTEF, Scandinavia’s largest independent research organization, and Nacre, developers of award-winning intelligent hearing protection and communication technology, to create the next generation of intelligent hearing protection and communication technologies for use in the offshore oil and gas industry.

“This is a very important step towards gaining full control of noise exposure for our workers on offshore platforms, and providing them with advanced hearing protection and communication solutions that will help keep them safe.”

Noise-induced hearing loss is the world’s most prevalent and permanent occupational disease. Workers on offshore oil platforms and other extreme environments face the risk of not only permanent hearing loss from exposures to high levels of hazardous noise over extended periods of time, but also challenges in maintaining adequate levels of speech communication and situational awareness, which are essential to maintaining safety.

There are two main objectives to the Statoil/SINTEF/Nacre partnership:

• Develop new intelligent hearing protection technologies to eradicate noise-induced hearing loss among workers on offshore oil and gas platforms
• Establish new methods and solutions to facilitate reliable spoken communication and situational awareness in high-noise work environments.

“This project aligns well with Statoil’s commitment to preventing accidents and our goal of zero personal injuries on the job,” said Eli Aamot, Vice President for the research program at Statoil. “This is a very important step towards gaining full control of noise exposure for our workers on offshore platforms, and providing them with advanced hearing protection and communication solutions that will help keep them safe.”

The partnership will harness SINTEF and Nacre’s success in intelligent hearing protection and communication technologies, including the QUIETPRO^® intelligent hearing system. QUIETPRO is deployed operationally around the globe, including U.S., NATO and Scandinavian armed forces.

“SINTEF is committed to technology for a better society, and has a rich history of scientific research and development of intelligent hearing protection and situational awareness solutions,” said Dr. Odd Kr. Pettersen, research director at SINTEF. “This partnership will help solve the challenge workers experience in extreme noise environments and protect them from hazardous noise in a more innovative way.”

“Nacre’s QUIETPRO has been successfully deployed in some of the harshest and most challenging noise environments worldwide,” said Chris Humphrey, Vice President and General Manager for Sperian Hearing Protection, LLC, consisting of Nacre and Howard Leight^®. “We are delighted to be working with Statoil and SINTEF on this important project, and building upon the QUIETPRO hearing protection and communication platform to provide new and innovative hearing safety solutions for the Oil and Gas industry.”

About Statoil

Statoil is an international energy company with operations in 40 countries. Building on more than 35 years of experience from oil and gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf, Statoil is committed to accommodating the world's energy needs in a responsible manner, applying technology and creating innovative business solutions. Statoil operates 39 producing oil and gas fields, and is one of the world's largest net sellers of crude oil. Headquartered in Norway with 30,000 employees worldwide, and are listed on the New York and Oslo stock exchanges.

Contact:

• Heidi Bente Hoel, Statoil ASA, [phone], [e-mail]

About SINTEF

SINTEF is the largest independent research organization in Scandinavia, with about 2.100 employees. SINTEF is a broad-based, multi-disciplinary research company with international top-level expertise in technology, natural science, medicine and social science. Every year, SINTEF supports the development of 2,000 or so Norwegian and overseas companies via research and development activity. www.sintef.com

Contact:

• Dr. Odd Kr. Pettersen, SINTEF, [phone], [e-mail]

About Nacre/Sperian Hearing Protection, LLC

Sperian Hearing Protection, LLC is a leading global provider of passive and intelligent hearing protection solutions with its Howard Leight^® and Nacre brands. Nacre is behind the highly successful QUIETPRO® intelligent hearing protection and communication system, a fully automated hearing preservation and communication system which enhances hearing when needed and protects against temporary and permanent damage. The QUIETPRO system has achieved the highest possible hearing protection rating from ISL. For further details visit www.nacre.no. For over 30 years, its Howard Leight brand has pursued the prevention of occupational noise-induced hearing loss through innovation in hearing protection design, VeriPRO® earplug fit testing technology, QuietDose™ in-ear dosimetry, and the promotion of progressive Hearing Conservation Programs through its HearForever™ initiative.