In the latest issue of Ocean News and Technology, Oceaneering’s Simao Silva discusses remote ROV piloting from shore and the first use case in the Gulf of Mexico.
Region: Gulf of Mexico
According to analysts, aging platforms have been decommissioned at the rate of 130 per year for the past 10 years, with asset removals outnumbering the new installations being commissioned. This trend is likely to continue in the US given that more than 40% of the approximately 3,700 active platforms on the outer continental shelf are more than 25 years old.
Back in 2019, Oceaneering won a Spotlight on New Technology Award for its novel Subsea Pumping Technology (SPT) designs. Since then, Oceaneering has built hardware around this concept, and in 2020, started long term underwater system qualification testing in concert with a major operator.
Existing work class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are struggling to keep up with the raging tidal currents found at offshore wind and renewable project development areas. Oceaneering was approached to create an ROV solution that would open operational windows in these geographical areas where harsh currents can cause costly project delays.
Oceaneering continues to advance its capabilities by developing technologies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions for customers and its own operations.