The operational evaluation of an inertial navigation technique for the provision of underwater metrology surveys

摘要

Total Exploration and Production Congo placed an operational survey contract in 2008 for the detailed evaluation of the use of inertial navigation systems (INS) for the provision of subsea metrology surveys. The inertial system was used offshore in parallel with conventional acoustic positioning systems commonly used for metrology surveys. This paper presents multiple datasets from this work, as well as operational timing discussions reviewing the efficiency of these operations, and compares inertial techniques with conventional methods. The paper concludes that inertial systems can provide the required survey accuracy while consuming significantly less operational time and resources than conventional techniques. This paper discusses the last three years of field operations and compares the results and operational benefits of the conventional and inertial techniques.