External scanning of pipelines traditionally is undertaken by divers who require support vessels. AGR Group's Neptune system, however, provides inspection without diver intervention and associated availability issues and depth limitations. Neptune combines an external state-of- the-art ultrasound scanner with a small ROV. The system can be mobilized anywhere in the world to examine and predict the remaining life of subsea tubulars. The system delivers high-resolution ultrasonic data in real time, which is used to underpin the detailed finite element analysis (FEA) calculations used in industry-standard, fitness-for-service (FFS) determinations. The neutral buoyant Neptune system, weighing 150 kg (331 1b) in air but neutrally buoyant in water, is deployed via an inspection class ROV to the work site. The scanner comprises a hydraulically opening and closing twin collar, 600-mm (23.6-in) wide construction containing a fully automated X-Y scanner. This clamshell construc-tion is self-aligning to allow rapid installation by the ROV.
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