The Route to Remote Inspections
Authors: Peter Flockhart and Lisa McCrory
While the COVID-19 pandemic forced many industries around the world to adopt remote ways of working, this capability has been steadily improving for the onshore and offshore energy industry for many years.
The development of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) systems to support offshore exploration was a step-change in the energy industry when developments began to move to deeper and more remote waters. ROVs were able to go where it is simply not safe to send human divers. Similarly, unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, have had a role to play in gathering inspection data for both onshore and offshore asset integrity campaigns.
Removing personnel from hazardous environments has been a key focus area new technology development. Advances in high data and communications available offshore has allowed the industry to keep crews onshore, running operations from remote command centers. The benefits are immediate: reduced personnel on board (POB); a dramatic reduction in CO2 emissions; reduced health, safety, and environment (HSE) risks for workers; optimized efficiency, and the opportunity for real-time global collaboration.
According to Oil and Gas UK’s 2020 Data and Digital Maturity Survey, approximately 60% of participating organizations had a digital transformation program in place, with most less than three years old.
The Journey to Remote
Oceaneering remains focused on bringing innovative technologies and practices to market to support remote inspection and monitoring of topside assets. The remote work culture that has become the norm during 2020 and 2021 has demonstrated the potential of what can be completed remotely – including some work scopes that have conventionally identified on-site personnel as essential components.
Pre-COVID, Oceaneering recognized the energy industry was changing and therefore our approach to how we effectively support it would need to change. We implemented an initiative to develop our roadmap of digital developments to support the “Route to Remote” for integrity management services.
One of the main objectives is to support with a reduction of POB to reduce HSE risks and cost while maintaining a high-quality service delivered by remote subject matter experts across various engineering disciplines. The challenges provided by COVID-19 reaffirmed to both Oceaneering and the energy industry that this approach was essential to deal with the reduced travel, reduced POB available, and various additional restrictions brought by COVID. However, this roadmap has benefits that extend past the pandemic.
Utilizing Available Technologies and Services
As members of HOIS Joint Industry Project, which seeks continuous improvement of NDT and inspection technology, Oceaneering has championed the use of wearable ATEX Tablet devices that enable real time video communication and information sharing with field personnel in hazardous environments.
An Oceaneering technician examining piece of pipe in Houston, Texas, while receiving direction from subject matter experts the U.K.
Oceaneering has also developed a piping vibration measurement system that allows field personnel to make measurements on critical piping systems with full remote support from our vibration experts who have instant access to the data via cloud-based storage. When this system is combined with the wearable tablet device, it gives customers instant access to world class expertise in a faster timescale.
These solutions overcome the challenges of managing the risks of fatigue with the right balance of field personnel engagement and remote expert support. The goal is to minimize the risk of vibration induced fatigue failures that would result in hydrocarbon releases.
Case History
Oceaneering implemented remote expert support on a UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) platform by upskilling our core inspection personnel to make piping vibration measurements across critical systems with full remote expert support via our wearable ATEX tablet.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we deployed the technology after remote training sessions and the field personnel were able to start using the kit immediately after basic training. Our vibration experts guided our field personnel to optimize the scope of the measurements and once an issue was identified they were able to solve the problem remotely.
Our team identified several piping connections that were at risk of fatigue, our experts had immediate access to the cloud-based measurement data and were able to complete detailed analysis tasks remotely. Our experts used Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to extract stress values from the vibration measurement data and this confirmed the risk of fatigue was high. Using this information our experts developed a solution for reducing the stress levels and after this was implemented our field personnel gathered additional data to confirm the solution was effective.
Our remote support solution is in place on this asset, and we continue to use it as part of our overall integrity management strategy.
In the summer of 2020, Oceaneering successfully completed a recertification exercise with a prominent auditing body. We enabled a system where the national accreditors were able to complete offshore witness inspections covering NDT and pressure vessel assessment using advanced technology and an already-on-site Oceaneering technician.
The technician used hands-free video technology to relay real-time inspection findings to the onshore auditor. The experience validated the competence of our procedures, systems, and people.
An Oceaneering technician uses wearable, hands-free technology to relay real-time findings.
The advantages of remote technology for inspection data gathering are clear. Adoption by accreditation bodies and confidence of operators paves the way for a wider range of competent offshore crew members to do the on-site work, with a real-time link to onshore technicians who can offer supervisory and mentoring support, as well as to clients for instant discussion and feedback.
Oceaneering’s full range of advanced NDT services are ISO 17020 UKAS accredited.
Overcoming Challenges
As with the adoption of any new technology, there are challenges that must be addressed when considering remote inspection operations. Connectivity at plant sites and complex inspection methodologies must address the manual collection and transmission of data onshore.
For equipment that requires monitoring over time, permanent installation of sensors, or the introduction of remotely triggered robotic technology, must be considered. The latter could in effect be a “garaged” solution that is prompted from onshore to perform a set inspection routine and upload the data for evaluation.
Asset integrity management is about assuring the client their plant is fit-for-purpose. If we can facilitate the delivery of robust data to them using real-time connectivity, we are equipping them to make better and faster decisions in relation to their maintenance regime. That not only supports their efficiency goals but increases safety performance and reduces environmental risks.
Contact us for more information: oceaneering.com/contact-us