OceanAlpha’s M40P USV (unmanned surface vessel) has been used by Malaysian geo-solutions provider HGIS to complete an entirely remote nearshore inspection of a subsea pipeline in Tali Field for Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP).
The 5.5 metre long USV acquired seabed data from offshore, nearshore, and onshore fields to provide continuous geo-data support for the construction, operation, and maintenance of pipeline routing and subsea infrastructure. The USV was remotely controlled and monitored using OceanAlpha’s independently developed control system from a station near Shell Crude Oil Terminal, approximately 4-5km from the Tali Field pipelines. While the USV autonomously executed accurate surveys with minimal human intervention, surveyors were able to allocate more effort towards critical data analysis and hazard pin-pointing.
Ran Zhang, General Manager of OceanAlpha, commented: “Due to a variety of factors, including workforce shortage caused by COVID and the industry’s shared goal for sustainable development, we see increasing interest in our USVs. M40P is a platform developed to empower the transition of the offshore industry by digitizing workflows and cutting down carbon footprints.”
Alexis Wan Ullok, Executive Director of HGIS, said: “Conducting surveys remotely from shore is a unique and inspiring experience for us. The introduction of unmanned technology undoubtedly reduces HSSE exposure and survey duration. With less human activity on the sea and cut-downed fuel consumption, it’s a down-to-earth fulfillment of our goal to support sustainable economic development.”
