In the offshore market of the oil and gas industry, monitoring pipelines can present a challenge as most of the equipment is below sea level. But it is not just the pipelines that need to be monitored. Interconnects, machinery, and other expensive equipment around the starting point for a pipeline also need to be inspected regularly. While certain technology like sensors can allow operators to monitor for malfunctions or discrepancies, instrumenting every foot of pipeline with these sensors is not an efficient or cost-effective solution. To provide maintenance to subsea pipelines and machinery, operators need to have a fair understanding of the conditions below sea level. This is where the capability for visual inspection is needed. Visual inspection is the key in maintaining the health of underwater pipelines and machinery. However, it is not as simple as taking a snapshot of what the equipment looks like and calling it a day. Adding the dimension of time to footage can greatly improve monitoring ability. This capability allows operators to compare a fresh image of the pipeline with earlier shots, enabling them to predict when maintenance may be needed or highlight an area of pipeline or a piece of equipment that needs to continue to be monitored closely.
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