Precision Matters – DP2 and the Unpredictable Ocean
Precision matters, especially when you are operating an $30 million dollar offshore platform project. That is no easy task when the environment in which you are required such precision for is in a constant state of flux and change. The solution? Dynamic positioning.
Dynamic positioning (DP) technology emerged alongside the offshore oil industry in the 1960s as ships needed to keep stable positions in exact locations; improvements to components and the added use of wireless global positioning systems (GPS) further enhanced the geopositional capabilities of industry vessels. DP2-rated vessels provide state of the art DP while also offering critical redundancy in mechanical systems to prevent loss of accuracy even in the event of component failure.
While necessary, certified DP2 vessels have high daily run costs which pose a considerable operational challenge to large offshore operators such as PETRONAS, a dynamic global energy group based in Malaysia. To trial a new approach to offshore inspections with a focus on reducing both inspection costs and carbon emissions, Cornerstone Offshore was employed to pilot an innovative inspection initiative. The two selected locations in Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, would require operating at depths of up to 150 meters in moderately turbulent tides with low visibility due to muddy seabed turbidity. The range of environmental conditions between these two locations would ensure that the results of a successful pilot would prove transferable platforms at other sites across the globe.
Rapid Deployment & Maximum Modularity
Both the SEAMOR Chinook and Mako ROV models were deployed as part of a dual-unit mobilization by Cornerstone Offshore Project Manager Farhan Hamid and his team. Hamid noted the deployability, compact design, and modular capabilities of these ROVs as key factors in their selection. By conducting subsea surveys often carried out by work-class ROVs, which can be as long as 4 meters and weigh more than 5000 lbs, the Mako and Chinook immediately reduced the operational costs of deployment with quick auxiliary change-outs and greatly reduced crew costs.
In addition to the rapid mobilization afforded by their compact size, the powerful modular thrusters of the Chinook and Mako models provided the exceptional stability required for the wide array of tooling employed by Hamid and his team. Auxiliary equipment included a variety of sensors, scanners, and manipulators such as an Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement (UT) probe, a Cathodic Potential Survey (CP) probe, a Field Gradient Survey (FG) sensor, an Ultrasonic Flooded Member Detection (FMD) system, a survey beacon, and a selection of spot cleaning tooling. Add to this an expert team of ROV operators, a comprehensive supply of spare parts, and a proactive preventative maintenance routine, and Hamid and were set to achieve maximum efficiency over the five month window of their offshore inspection project.
Efficiency Achieved – A 40% Reduction in Costs
Hamid and his team at Cornerstone Offshore actualized a staggering 40% reduction in operational costs using SEAMOR Marine’s Chinook and Mako ROVs compared to conventional inspection spreads that utilize bulkier work-class ROVs, keenly highlighting proven advantages including faster mobilization and reduced offshore personnel exposure. By employing more compact ROVs, operators could potentially achieve significant efficiencies both in terms of project cost and carbon usage, both of which were primary priorities for PETRONAS. Hamid suggests a similar optimization could be implemented for inspections involving offshore wind foundations, subsea cable inspection, and brownfield asset integrity campaigns.
The future is ripe with possibilities and SEAMOR Marine will proudly continue to adapt and refine our ROVs to further enhance and optimize offshore inspections. To discover how you might augment your offshore fleet with a SEAMOR Marine ROV, visit seamor.com.