Drone delivers replacement component to North Sea Troll platform

Offshore staff

STAVANGER, Norway – Nordic Unmanned has successfully flown a 3D-printed part onboard a drone to Equinor’s Troll A platform in the Norwegian North Sea.

The flight from the Mongstad base involved delivery of a diesel nozzle for a lifeboat on the platform. According to Equinor, this component is no longer manufactured and can be hard to obtain.

In this case, the part was re-designed and modeled in 3D with a metal 3D printer producing a replica made from Inconel 718.

The Camcopter s-100 drone, supplied by Schiebel, took around one hour to complete the 80-km (49.7-mi) journey, at an altitude of around 5,000 ft (1,524 m).

According to Equinor, the test flight was a world-first involving a freight operation over a lengthy distance to an operating offshore installation.

This type of drone, the company added, had previously completed around 70,000 flying hours for defense and coast guard applications.

It is over 4 m (13 ft) long, weighs more than 100 kg, has a cruising speed of over 150 km/h, and can carry cargo weighing up to 50 kg (110 lb).

Sandnes-based Nordic Unmanned and Equinor co-operated for this flight with the Civil Aviation Authority, Avinor Air Navigation Services, and the Norwegian Communications Authority.

Airborne drones are also used for inspections and observations of the technical condition of offshore installations and onshore facilities.

They can be equipped with camera equipment that can also be used for search and rescue operations offshore of crew members that have fallen into the sea, or for early detection of pollution on the sea surface.

These capabilities were also tested during the flight, Equinor said.

Drones can also inspect wind turbines, deploy equipment to personnel performing maintenance and repairs, and to avoid certain (costlier) vessel lifts, Equinor added.

08/28/2020