ROVs adapted for Shell North Sea inspections

Nov. 10, 2016
James Fisher Subsea claims to have reduced inspection downtime for Shell UK through innovative use of asset-based remotely operated vehicles on inspection programs in the North Sea.

Offshore staff

SEETHING, UKJames Fisher Subsea (JF Subsea) claims to have reduced inspection downtime for Shell UK through innovative use of asset-based remotely operated vehicles (ABROVs) on inspection programs in the North Sea.

To avoid the hazards of securing an ROV to the offshore platform, JF Subsea provided Shell UK with a gravity-based ABROV system.

Following discussions with offshore installation managers, ABROVs were successfully trialled on a planned riser and structural inspection on the Brent Bravo platform in the UK northern North Sea.

JF Subsea provided inspection equipment, ROVs and personnel as part of a turnkey solution, delivering the final report within two weeks. Post project analysis concluded that downtime was reduced to 2% over the four-month campaign.

Following the 2016 ABROV inspections on the Brent Bravo, Shearwater, Curlew, Brent Alpha, Gannet and Nelson platforms,Shell UK is now in discussions with the contractor on supply this service for the next five years on various North Sea platforms.

11/10/2016