Materials technology and engineering specialists Aubin has completed the first operational trial of its liquid gel lifting technology system LiquiBuoy.
The company conducted rigorous testing of its liquid gel technology at The Underwater Centre in Fort William, Scotland, to prove its capabilities in a number of real-life operational scenarios.
Head of the firm’s subsea division, Serena Arif, believes the solution offers a safer and more efficient way of placing, moving and recovering structures on the seabed.
She said: “The introduction of gel-lifting into subsea operations has given engineers a tool to complete projects. The trial showed that our invention demonstrates precision which is second to none. It is both environmentally responsible and cost effective and can even be deployed using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).
“We hope the success of this trial helps us gain support and acceptance. As an industry we cannot be averse to change. Aberdeen is a hub of ingenuity and collaboration. We want the industry to sit up and take notice and hope that interested parties take the opportunity to consider how they can use the technology in their existing and future projects.”
LiquiBuoy is an alternative to traditional buoyancy systems currently on the market, such as syntactic foam. Its liquid form allows it to be delivered accurately onto the seabed using an ROV to control a subsea lift.
“This product will enable subsea operations to be designed entirely differently to the way they are now”, says Arif. “One of its most significant benefits is its controllability. The neutral buoyancy it has, in any water depth, will remain constant through the water column from 10-30m."
Aubin focuses on research and development and has invested more than £1million in the last four years developing patented products to address subsea challenges.