Remote control from onshore operations centres is enabling remote survey operations and reducing the number of manned offshore visits and interventions.
Subsea sand detectors, subsea hydrogen pipelines reported, multibeam echo sounders are improving the quality of pipeline surveys.
There is greater use of advanced analytics and AI in many areas, including automated pipeline feature recognition. Digital tools are helping plan and optimise subsea campaigns.
Subsea systems technologies
Operators are focusing on the design, installation and operational phases of subsea systems.
Advances in pipeline design and more capable subsea processing equipment enable more distant and cost-effective subsea tiebacks for the development of UKCS resources.
Eight operators have at least five subsea technologies in their current plans. Seventeen operators are reporting at least one technology.
More than 40% of subsea technologies in operators’ plans involve early development or late development/pilot of technologies, supporting the view that this is one of the most innovative areas for UKCS technologies.
Operators can rely on vendors to source advanced subsea design and equipment, by drawing on the UK’s world-leading supply chain in this area.
Operator-vendor partnerships are the next largest group to develop specific subsea capabilities to address field specific requirements (for instance for HPHT fields).
Readiness definitions: Early development (TRL 1-4), late development/pilot (TRL 5-7), early commercialisation (TRL 8), proven (TRL 9)
New approaches and solutions reported this year include replacing side scan sonar with multibeam echo sounder technology to enhance pipeline survey quality, and a single intelligent pig which can travel/navigate through a multi-diameter pipeline. Emerging technologies include offshore mapping of pipeline freespans in areas with very strong tidal currents and a proposed 54km hydrogen pipeline.
- Multibeam echo sounder: Replacing side scan sonar to enhance pipeline survey quality. Intention is to deploy on open water sections of pipelines.
- TRL 9 commercially available (New)
- Multi-diameter pig: Single intelligent pig which can travel/navigate through a multi-diameter pipeline, which otherwise cannot be inspected internally without the need for running multiple pigs, reducing production deferment and OPEX.
- TRL 9 commercially available (New)
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PAT is a fully automated tool for integrity testing of the riser annulus of flexible risers either using pressure or vacuum. PAT can also be used as a retrofittable, temporary or permanent riser vent gas monitoring solution. Technology example link |
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- Offshore mapping of pipeline freespans in areas with very strong tidal currents and highly mobile seabed, and for ageing pipelines suffering loss of original coating leading to buoyancy potential.
- TRL 5-7 late development/pilot (New)
- Subsea hydrogen pipeline: Proposed 54km hydrogen pipeline in the Humber Estuary.
- TRL 1-4 early development (New)
Please refer to the overall technology listing – a downloadable file listing all 1,320 technologies, including previously reported entries, which can be found on the home page of this report (no new technologies this year).
Please refer to the overall technology listing – a downloadable file listing all 1,320 technologies, including previously reported entries, which can be found on the home page of this report (no new technologies this year).
New technologies reported this year include a subsea sand detector installed on a subsea manifold, a remote operation centre supporting autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs), and a digital tool for planning and optimising subsea campaigns, scheduling, planning, and costs/budget KPIs.
- Sand detector subsea: Installed on a subsea manifold with updated software for more accurate sand detection.
- TRL 9 commercially available (New)
- Remote operation centre: A remote operation centre supporting autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs).
- TRL 8 early commercialisation (New)
Technology example:
Fitted with a remotely operated vehicle (eROV), the USV mobilised at the end of April and was controlled from the Woodside-operated King Bay supply facility and Fugro’s remote operations centre in Perth, about 1,500km (932mi) south of the trunklines.
Technology example link
- Digital tool for planning and optimising subsea campaigns, scheduling, planning, costs/budget KPIs.
- TRL 1-3 early development (New)
Please refer to the overall technology listing – a downloadable file listing all 1,320 technologies, including previously reported entries, which can be found on the home page of this report (no new technologies this year).
