Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway — Aker BP is working with DeepOcean to pioneer the use of an unmanned surface vessel (USV) for subsea inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) and survey activities on fields offshore Norway.
The first vehicle, provided by USV AS, should be ready for offshore operations from 2025, when it will start an eight-year charter agreement with DeepOcean.
Aker BP and DeepOcean already collaborate under a frame agreement for subsea IMR and survey work, and the Norwegian major has contributed to the development of the USV. The two companies aim to migrate responsibility for 30% of IMR from traditional vessels to USVs, which are said to generate CO2 emissions more than 90% lower compared to a conventional offshore vessel when conducting subsea IMR.
The 24-m-long, 7.5-m-wide vessel will be remotely controlled from shore, although with autonomous features to ensure safety and integrity, and it is designed to work in severe weather conditions. During operations, the USV vessel crew and ROV operators will be co-located at the same remote onshore control center.
The vessel’s launch and recovery system accommodates operation of a work class ROV that will be operable down to 1,500 m water depth, with a tool package to perform subsea operations. The USV can undertake most subsea inspection and survey work and various subsea intervention tasks.
“It is a smart solution that enables us to deploy well-known subsea technologies, but without bringing a large vessel or an unnecessary amount of personnel offshore,” said Jarle Marius Solland, Aker BP’s operations manager – subsea execution and survey.
The USV’s hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system and battery package will allow it to operate offshore for up to 30 days without the need for charging or refueling.
10.10.2023
