Fugro Completes First Remote USV Inspection for Woodside

Fugro has used their first operational Blue Essence uncrewed surface vehicle (USV), the 12 m Fugro Maali, to complete an entirely remote nearshore inspection of three gas trunklines in the North West of Australia for Woodside’s North West Shelf Project.

Challenge

To complete an inspection project entirely remotely, without the use of traditional large inspection vessel. To reduce personnel HSE risk and reduce carbon emissions.

Solution

The USV remote inspection, the first to be completed by the new USV, comprised a multibeam survey, visual inspection and cathodic protection assessment of the gas trucklines to comply with Woodside and regulatory requirements. Fitted with an electric remotely operated vehicle (eROV), the USV mobilised at the end of April and was controlled from the Woodside-operated King Bay Supply Facility and Fugro's Remote Operations Centre in Perth, approximately 1500 km south of the Woodside trunklines. During the one-month project, Fugro’s remote operations team navigated approximately 1300 nautical miles in the surrounds of Dampier Port, one of the busiest resource ports in Australia, without incident and consuming a total of only 3300 litres of diesel, reducing CO2 emissions by 97% compared to a traditional vessel. Fugro's bespoke remote operations and robotic control architecture allowed the USV and eROV to be operated over large distances with minimal latency and high reliability, ensuring the USV operators maintained control of the vehicles in real time, just as if they were controlling them from a conventional vessel bridge

Topview of USV

Top view of USV

Innovative highlight

Blue Essence USV and e-ROV was used to carry out the inspection work in place of a traditional larger inspection vessel. Reduction of 97% in CO2 emissions due to reduced fuel usage and removal of up to 30 personnel from offshore roles – reduced HSE risk.