Maximising Safety + Minimising Risk: The Essential Benefits of Underwater ROVs
3 May 2024
The million dollar question
Even though there is no shortage of innovative technology in the offshore sector, it is our responsibility to assist you in making an informed decision regarding which solutions best serve your vessel inspection needs. Underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROV’s) or divers? That’s the million dollar question.
That last part isn’t an exaggeration either, since there’s significant million-dollar cost-savings related to using underwater ROV’s. Although it may come across as biased, we acknowledge that there are certain situations where operators may still require the services of divers or traditional on-land inspection. Finding the ideal balance necessitates a return to understanding the foundation and ascent of ROVs.
The role of underwater ROVs in oil and gas operations
The first underwater ROV’s can be traced back to the 1960's and were used by the US Navy to retrieve sunken data. A missing atomic bomb was recovered in 1966 off the coast of Spain by the Navy's Cable-controlled Underwater Recovery Vehicle (CURV). Their use in the oil and gas sector goes all the way back to the 1980s. Ever since Westerton Access was established in 2015, we have been at the forefront of developing and implementing protocols, inspection programmes, and certified by American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for underwater ROVs in the oil and gas sector.
Traditionally, rig operators used divers from the subsea support vessel, or the unit was taken into the harbour or shipyard and the vessel would be inspected on land. When divers are in the water, they are restricted by currents and visibility, and are exposed to a host of other unknowable variables or unanticipated risks. ROVs provide a viable alternative to sending divers underwater for urgent or routine inspections. Immediately, we know the largest benefit is preserving life.
Ultimately, the ROV replaces the diver, where all the risk elements are reduced and no life is exposed. The rig can carry on its drilling and production efforts, while the ROV inspection is happening in the background.
Summarised, the benefits include:
Quick deployment
Minimal maintenance
Extended dive times
Increased personnel safety
Zero disruptions
Easy-to-use
Cost-effective
Less resource required
Reduced environmental impact
Increased compliance
“Another significant cost-saving is by looking at the personnel required. By using underwater ROV’s, only a 3 or 4-man team is needed v.s. an entire diving team, which can be double the amount of personnel required per project. The equipment is about ¼ of a tonne of weight, whereas a diver spread is much larger than that. It’s a very slim operation when using underwater technology, and the fact that we can operate autonomously while the rig can continue its operations, we just carry on doing what we need to do, the operators get to remain productive, and it’s a win-win for everyone.” Robin Porter, CEO, Westerton Access
Traditional deployments vs divers or underwater ROV’s
One could ask why, in any part of the globe, an operator would ever want to send divers or return to land-based work for an inspection when this method maximises safety, reduces risks, and offers so many other benefits.
Put simply, if the seabed is very hard or muddy in any way, it can be hard and challenging to inspect the rig. Or, if the rig sinks 30 or 40 feet, it can’t be inspected because the underwater ROV can’t clean everything, therefore, the vessel does have to go onshore. Another major reason an operator would abandon the use of ROVs or divers is when the current is too high. Divers can only operate at 1 knot of tide and ROVs can operate at 3.5 knots of tides or currents.
This feeds into the safety concerns when measured against efficiency. Collisions, instability, and equipment damage are all more likely to occur at faster speeds, for instance. To guarantee dependable operation, safety concerns often cap the maximum speed of an ROV. Ultimately, as technology evolves and pressure mounts over safety and environmental concerns, there’s an increasing appetite and desire for forward-thinking solutions and more recent techniques.
An innovative and thoughtful approach to offshore inspection technology
With over a decade of experience in providing underwater ROV inspection schedules and general offshore inspection services across the globe, Westerton Access collaborates closely with each client to establish the right solution for each specific project. And since there’s an evolution towards autonomous ROVs geared to reach USD $1219 million by 2030, we’re able to help your teams with all of your inspection, maintenance, and repair needs.
Westerton Access is an award-winning, ABS and DNV verified service provider committed to providing, innovative, reliable, and cost-effective inspection solutions. With locations across the UK, UAE, and US, contact our teams to find out more.
