Two new Calls for Ideas have been launched to identify, support and fund robotics-based solutions to reduce inspection costs, and to unlock marginal resources on UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).
Some ca.£1 million in funding is available for each area from the the Aberdeen-based, UK and Scottish government supported Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC), which was set up earlier this year.
As part of a drive to improve and reduce the cost of asset integrity, the OGTC is looking at using robotics for non-intrusive inspection of pressure vessels and tanks; and using robotics for confined space entry to pressure vessels and tanks.
Read more: Putting robots to work on asset integrity
To help develop the 225 small pools on the UKCS, the OGTC is looking at standardizing the subsea development life-cycle approach to support: rapid engineering and delivery of a project; full interconnectivity between modular subsea components; the re-use of subsea equipment from one field to another; interoperability with present and future systems; and the use of a range of key supplier specific subsea components.
Read more: Operating in the margins and subsea efficiency
Submissions to the call for ideas are welcome from today to 30 July.
Rebecca Allison, the OGTC's Asset Integrity Solution Centre Manager, said: “Our goal is to eliminate the impact of asset integrity on operational uptime by 2026. We’re looking for deployable robotic technologies for pressure vessel and tank inspections that reduce cost, improve quality, increase efficiency and enhance safety.
“The use of robotics for inspection is developing rapidly across several industries and has the potential to transform the asset integrity performance of oil and gas facilities across the UKCS.
Chris Pearson, Small Pools Solution Centre Manager, said: “Designing plug and play subsea equipment for developing marginal oil and gas fields is an opportunity recognized by all exploration and production companies. Industries such as nuclear and automotive have proven that plug and play technology can significantly reduce life-cycle costs and help create new business models.
“Simplifying our methods to support plug and play solutions could significantly lower the cost of developing UKCS fields and help maximize economic recovery of the 10-20 billion barrels of oil and gas that remain.
Submissions will be evaluated against a range of criteria including value creation, sound scientific principles, time, cost and risk reduction. Successful organizations will receive professional guidance, funding, and support to develop their ideas towards the next stage of development.
The Call for Ideas process is part of the Oil & Gas Technology Centre’s Open Innovation Program, which looks to identify, accelerate and rapidly deploy innovative technologies to unlock the full potential of the UK North Sea.
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