James Fisher Subsea (JF Subsea), a division of James Fisher Marine Services (JFMS), has reduced inspection downtime to 2% for Shell UK, through use of asset-based remotely operated vehicles (ABROVs) on oil platform inspection programs in the North Sea.
Traditionally, platform inspections are done using a dedicated remotely operated vehicle (ROV) support vessel, on which an ROV is secured. To remove the need for a ROV support vessel and the hazards involved with securing an ROV deployment system to the offshore platform, JF Subsea provided Shell UK with a gravity-based ABROV system.
This meant the system didn't need to be manually fixed to Shell's facilities and that an ROV support vessel wasn't needed either.
Following focused engagement sessions between both companies’ offshore installation managers, ABROV’s were successfully trialled on a planned riser and structural inspection on Shell’s Brent Bravo platform.
JF Subsea provided inspection equipment, ROVs and personnel as part of a turnkey solution, with the inspection completed and a final report delivered within two weeks. Post project analysis concluded that downtime was reduced to 2% over the four month campaign period.
Tim Welford, operations manager at JF Subsea said: “Following the success of the 2016 ABROV inspection campaign on the Brent Bravo, Shearwater, Curlew, Brent Alpha, Gannet and Nelson platforms, Shell UK is now in discussions with JF Subsea to supply this style of service for the next five years on various platforms in the North Sea. JF Subsea is actively marketing this service globally as the benefits cannot be dismissed,” Welford concluded.
Charles Tiltscher, principle subsea engineer at Shell UK, said: “James Fisher Subsea has consistently provided Shell with innovative and efficient solutions. The use of ABROVs has changed the way riser and structural inspections are performed, making them infinitely more efficient and they will become the norm for fulfilling our future requirements.”