The Middle East’s first remotely operated subsea inspection, using a low-carbon emission uncrewed surface vessel (USV), has been undertaken by geo data specialist, Fugro. The site survey and inspection of an offshore gas platform in UAE waters was executed entirely from an onshore remote operations centre (ROC), using Fugro’s Blue Essence technology, without sending personnel offshore.
The USV Fugro Pegasus was mobilised for Chinese operator Atlantis in early June to perform a subsea survey and inspection of the UAQ3 platform within the Umm Al Quwain gas field.
This pioneering operation was executed from Fugro’s ROC in Dubai using a specialist team of mariners and surveyors. The Fugro Pegasus USV was equipped with a Blue Volta electric remotely operated vehicle (eROV), which was used to inspect the integrity of the platform’s structure and generate a detailed map of the surrounding seabed. The data collected was streamed to the ROC, allowing Atlantis to review the data in real-time during the operation. This enabled the team to quickly identify and investigate areas of further interest to develop a comprehensive risk assessment for the client’s upcoming decommissioning programme.
Hannes Swiegers, Fugro’s Director of IRM Services & Remote Operations for the Middle East and India, said: “This is a significant milestone for our Middle East business and demonstrates how novel technologies can play a key part in delivering our clients’ long-term safety, sustainability and in-country value ambitions.”
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