As a result of increased capability, AUVs
life tracking and subsea-to-satellite gateway
are more frequently being used for daunt-
communications access, to name a few.
ing subsea applications. Missions requir-
All of these applications are critical for the
ing long endurance are best suited for the
oil and gas industry as it designs offshore
technologies and include pipeline moni-
installations, completes construction and
toring, site surveying, environmental sur-
maintains daily operations.
veying, equipment inspection and other applications requiring extensive time at sea. However, AUVs are still not capable enough to replace ROVs. While AUVs offer advantages such as tether-free operations, operating speeds of up to 4 knots and long endurance, according to McLeod the systems lack intervention capability and the ability to transport tons of heavy equipment to underwater worksites. While McLeod an-
“Liquid Robotics is able to go out with a Wave Glider at a reasonable cost and conduct a comprehensive environmental acoustics study which provides an accurate picture of the ocean,” Anderson says. “This information helps the environmental regulators, the scientists and the oil companies by providing hard data for resource management.”
ticipates AUVs could one day be capable
The potential cost effectiveness of AUVs is
of turning valves and accomplishing more
the main reason the oil and gas industry
complicated tasks, for now they will aug-
is gravitating toward the technology. Un-
ment, rather than replace, their remotely
like ROVs that require a vessel to hold sta-
operated counterparts.
tion during operations, AUVs and surface
While AUVs have received increasing attention over the last year due to their operations in the Gulf of Mexico, they aren’t the only autonomous technologies making waves. Unmanned systems are also being used to assist the offshore oil and gas industry on the ocean’s surface. Liquid Robotics,
vehicles such as the Wave Glider are free to roam the ocean; for example, the Wave Glider can be controlled by a Web-based command and control system, making it
other unmanned maritime systems reach
much faster than tethered systems.
the point of vessel-independent operations.
the Marlin AUV will eventually stay at sea
the way for unmanned surface technologies
with home bases that would allow for bat-
in the oil and gas sector with its wave-pow-
tery recharging. For these types of endur-
ered Wave Glider marine robot. The system
ance operations, launch and retrieval ves-
can be deployed for a year or more using
sels would rarely be needed.
According to Brian Anderson, vice president of oil and gas sales at Liquid Robotics, the company is currently working with BP to conduct flourometry analysis, which tests for and analyzes the refined and crude oil products and chlorophyll in the ocean. But this type of analysis is not the only work that the Wave Glider can tackle. Other applications include ocean current monitoring, weather assessment, seismic data acquisition, acoustics monitoring, marine ocean
tion standpoint.
are also able to conduct some missions
quartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., is leading
tal data.
companies from a cost and public percep-
It could be some time before AUVs and
McCloud envisions that systems similar to
sources to collect oceanic and environmen-
efits that would be positive for petroleum
truly a global ocean survey platform. AUVs
an ocean data services company head-
only solar power and waves as energy
AUVs and unmanned surface vehicles, like Liquid Robotics’ Wave Glider, offer an added cost savings since they do not require manned vessel deployment. Photo courtesy Liquid Robotics.
There are still challenges that will have to be overcome. Particularly, improvements in energy and power will have to be achieved to ensure that underwater and surface technologies can carry larger payloads, operate in strong ocean currents and remain on target for extensive periods of time to accomplish
“Ultimately the oil and gas industry is look-
their mission. Once these advancements
ing for vehicles that can live on the seabed
are achieved, few obstacles will stand in
and conduct vessel independent opera-
the way of unmanned surface and subsea
tions,” says McLeod.
technologies being the go-to systems for the
If the systems advance enough, vessel independence would mean significant cost savings for the offshore oil and gas sector, among other important benefits. According to McLeod, a reduction in the number of ships supporting offshore operations would mean fewer people at sea, reduced operational risks, lower energy consumption and
offshore oil and gas sector. With more attention being placed on offshore operations than ever before, petroleum companies will continue to strive to remain competitive, compliant and environmentally conscious. Fortunately, the unmanned systems industry will be prepared with a variety of technologies ready to lead the way.
a cleaner environment, and ultimately less
Lindsay Voss is senior program develop-
cost to the operators. All of these are ben-
ment manager at AUVSI. Mission Critical
•
Winter 2011
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