Underwater live streaming comes into its own during COVID era

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According to ROVOP, live video streaming of inspection and repair offshore reduces personnel numbers on-board amidst COVID restrictions.

ROVOP ROV control room can now be anywhere

The provider of cutting-edge subsea remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) recently successfully carried out remote visual and NDT inspections of hull sections, flowlines, umbilicals and risers, along with chain inspection, measurement and cleaning, on the Balmoral floating production vessel for Premier Oil.

Using the latest communications and modelling technology, ROVOP worked closely with Premier Oil to develop a robust live video streaming service back to shore. Two-way open communications allowed the inspection and data recording engineers to run the workscope remotely from onshore, resulting in three less people on board the vessel, where accommodation is limited due to the COVID-imposed restrictions.

The cloud-based viewing platform allowed those working from home to view the inspection work as it unfolded. They were able to see exactly what the ROV and inspection engineers were seeing in real-time. Data, which would once have taken weeks to return from offshore to be analysed, was captured as those watching onshore were able to influence the operation live, making the campaign much more efficient.

Subsea mooring inspection and integrity engineering specialists Welaptega, an Ashtead Technology company, was selected by ROVOP to support the project. Their mooring inspection and 3D modelling photogrammetry equipment was integrated into the ROV to enable accurate and repeatable chain measurement and 3D modelling of the subsea template. The point cloud data produced will be used to assist planning of the template removal.

Paul Hudson, ROVOP’s sales and marketing director, said: “At ROVOP we are always looking to push the operational envelope by deploying the latest technology and the best people to solve problems and deliver results. Reducing numbers of people offshore has clear benefits in terms of risk, cost and overall efficiency and, of course, it is particularly relevant when dealing with the challenges presented to the offshore industry by the coronavirus pandemic. This project underlines how digitalisation and collaboration can address some of our most pressing industry challenges.”

By Jake Frith