Upstream has fallen behind its “poor cousin” downstream in terms of performance, according to Simon Flowers, Chairman, Energy and Chief Analyst, Wood Mackenzie. “Over the last six years (2010-2016), upstream has had shocking performance…
Trondheim, Noway-based Blueye Robotics has developed an underwater drone called Blueye Pioneer, which the company says allows shipowners, vessel crew, and shipyards to perform hull inspections without the need of divers or ROVs (remotely operated vehicles)…
Elaine Maslin examines the market for wave and tidal, and reports on industry efforts to drive down costs and eventually scale up. A Tocardo device, supported on a Damen-built “UFS,” at Hatston Pier…
General Electric’s (GE) investment arm GE Ventures on Tuesday announced the startup of Avitas Systems, which will use predictive data analytics, robotics, and artificial intelligence to deliver advanced inspection services to the oil and gas…
Ocean floor mapping is being completely re-thought, with the help of drones, swarms of underwater vehicles and unmanned surface vehicles. Elaine Maslin reports. Team Tao’s BEM concept. Images from SMD…
Elaine Maslin and Audrey Leon look at how digitalization stands to make a big splash in the offshore industry. Embracing a digital vision. Image from DNV GL. Often when digitalization is mentioned…
BP has launched a 'return to growth' for its North Sea business after marking first oil from the Quad 204 project, west of Shetland on the UK Continental Shelf. Quad 204 is redevelopment of the 1 billion barrel plus Schiehallion and Loyal fields…
Subsea wireless automation provider WFS Technologies, and marine rental equipment specialist Seatronics, demonstrated drone-to-remote operated vehicle (ROV) wireless communications at a Subsea Internet of Things event in Houston. The…
An Ocean Power Technologies' PB3 PowerBuoy has been deployed off the coast of Kozu-shima Island in Japan as part of its first lease agreement with Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding (MES). The PB3 was shipped to Japan in February and arrived in Tokyo on 18 March…
The impact of asset integrity is hard to quantify, but UK North Sea goals to tackle it, including using robots, are being made clear. Elaine Maslin reports. The P100 robot “snake arm” robot is due to be trialed in the North Sea this year…
Sky-Futures has been awarded a three-year contract to inspect Eni facilities globally. This global contract is the first of its kind between a drone-based technology business and an international oil and gas company and represents a significant shift in the oil and gas market…
A new geological analysis of the Rockall area offshore the UK suggests that previous exploration failures in the area have been due to a misunderstanding of the subsurface. Exploration in the Rockall Basin, in the North Atlantic, north and west of Ireland and Scotland…
A new publication to help guide the growing use offshore of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) – also known as drones - has been published by Oil & Gas UK. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations Management Standards and Guidelines were developed by a work group set up by the trade body…
Elaine Maslin examines how virtual reality goggles and augmented reality offshore platforms are quickly becoming part of the 21st century oil and gas industry. Simulation solutions. Photo from Aker Solutions…
Drones can enhance the safety and efficiency of offshore oil and gas operations – but they require a strong, secure communications network to do so. Josh Parker of Rajant Corp. explains. Image…