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World first remote ROV operations claimed
The world’s first commercial ROV operations conducted direct from a newly developed onshore dual control centre at its Norwegian headquarters in Bryne have begun, say subsea specialists IKM Subsea.
Up to three of its Merlin work class ROVs and one observation unit are currently being deployed for automated operations in Statoil’s Snoore B and Visund offshore fields in the North Sea.
One of them has been specifically designed and engineered to permanently remain on the seabed and will only be brought to the surface for periodic maintenance.
The development follows formal acceptance tests in June with Statoil, one of the world’s leading offshore oil and gas concerns operating in over 30 countries. IKM’s Business Development Manager Hans Fjellanger says he foresees significant potential cost savings and operational advantages for the advance which he regards as an important part of future automated ROV technology.
By David Goodfellow
