autonomous underwater vehicles

As operators look for cost-efficient ways to address the challenges in facility maintenance and deepwater exploration, autonomous underwater vehicles are being developed for complex data gathering and advanced tasks.

Advanced AUVs with early-stage technologies for live streaming, ultrasonic testing, and 3D laser scanning are set to enter inspection trials on North Sea facilities. The aim is to reduce facilities inspection costs by 50%.

Aquabotix’s SwarmDiver technology marks a major milestone in the growing trend toward swarm-deployed underwater vehicles.

The feasibility test conducted offshore Abu Dhabi demonstrated the successful and safe deployment, seismic-data acquisition, and retrieval capabilities of the AMV and 3D sensor array.

WiSub will lead a consortium with Statoil, Kongsberg, Saab, and other companies and universities to develop a standardized interface for AUV docking with subsea structures, as well as bi-directional power transfer to help charge sensor networks.

AUVs aren’t limited to inspections and pipeline surveys. Deployment of a flotilla of AUVs to work on a project, and the communication among them, may someday lead to a subsea Internet of Things.

Developments in the emerging technologies of unmanned vehicles are leading to new land, sea, and air applications in the oil and gas industry.

AUVs have evolved from an emerging technology with niche uses to a viable solution and an established part of operations in various marine sectors. Douglas-Westwood’s AUV Market Forecast considers the prospective demand for AUVs in the commercial, military and research sectors over the next 5 years.

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have demonstrated their capabilities during the search for Malaysian Airlines flight 370 in the Indian Ocean.

As production from mature basins onshore and in shallow water declines, the development of deepwater reserves has become vital. Consequently, production and Capex are expected to rise.