Norwegian ocean services provider DeepOcean has sealed a deal with oil and gas company Aker BP to use an unmanned surface vessel (USV) for subsea inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) and survey work.
The two companies, which already cooperate under a frame agreement for subsea IMR and survey work, share a long-term ambition to move 30% of IMR work from traditional vessels to USVs.
“We have collaborated with DeepOcean for many years on development of remotely controlled subsea operations, and unmanned operations is a natural next step of this development. Our technology strategy is rooted in a desire to reduce both emissions and costs. This is an agenda that DeepOcean shares,” said Torbjørg Opedal, vice president of subsea at Aker BP.
It is estimated that the USV solution can reduce CO2 emissions by more than 90% compared to a conventional offshore vessel when conducting subsea IMR operations.
The first USV is planned to be ready for offshore operations in 2025 when it will go on an eight-year charter agreement with DeepOcean. It will be 24m long and 7.5m wide and be remotely controlled from shore, but it will have many autonomous features to ensure the safety and integrity of the spread.
The unit will be equipped with a newly developed launch and recovery system allowing work-class ROVs to operate from relatively small vessels. It will be powered by a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system and sport a battery package that allows the unmanned vessel to operate offshore for up to 30 days without charging or refuelling.
“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,” added Jarle Marius Solland, Aker BP’s operations manager for subsea execution and survey.
