Geo Oceans has completed the first inspection of cargo oil tanks on a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel solely using remote robotic methods without any manned entry.
Working with Shell and sister companies Sonomatic and AUAV, Geo Oceans has successfully delivered full Special Survey inspections of four cargo oil tanks on an FPSO unit in the Gulf of Mexico. This project, recognized and signed off by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), marks the first completion of an entire Cargo Oil Tank Special Survey using entirely remote robotic methods without any manned entry.
This milestone is monumental for the global FPSO industry. Traditionally, cargo oil tank inspections have required human confined space entry, and previous attempts at robotic inspections always necessitated some level of human involvement within the tanks to fulfill survey requirements. This survey, however, was conducted entirely using robotic methods for all gauging requirements and visual inspections, with the result that no personnel had to enter the tanks.
The implications extend beyond this project. The ability to conduct high-quality, remote inspections paves the way for safer, more-efficient operations across all industries. This achievement demonstrates that remote robotic inspections can meet and even exceed the stringent requirements of major class societies such as ABS.