Inspection Repair and Maintenance (IRM) services have traditionally in the subsea environment been vessel based relying on remotely operated vehicles (ROV) or Diver operations. The global industry challenge to reduce costs has driven incremental savings; increasing inspection intervals, optimizing the supply chain and contracting methods. Continuing to identify significant incremental savings is not sustainable in the long-term; a more innovative approach is required that eliminates the need forthe support vessel, whilst managing the risk in continued operations. Statoil engaged i-Tech Services, a Subsea 7 company, to investigate and report on the use of an underwater vehicle system concept to deliver a new method of providing field wide IRM services. The concept and investigation named as "Underwater Intervention Drone" (UID~®) study. This paper presents a description of the UID~® approach to IRM, the equipment needed and the technologies (both existing and to be developed) required to make this concept operationally feasible. For Statoil, the Snorre Expansion Project (SEP), a future field in the North Sea has been selected as the Pilot for the UID~® system. An overview of the specific deployment method and services provided by the infrastructure to support the UID~® will also be commented upon. The UID~® is a new way of providing IRM services, driven by Statoil to reduce cost and CO_2 emission while maintaining a high level of IRM service capability. The UID~® encompasses Statoil's and many of the current industry drivers Cost reduction. Digitisation and reduced Environmental impact.
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