Page 31 - The ROV Manual - A User Guide for Remotely Operated Vehicles 2nd edition
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drill-rig-located ROV with a 7-function hydraulic manipulator along with a second 5-function manip- ulator/grabber for steadying the vehicle during work. As the heavy-lifting functions are mostly han- dled from the surface, the vehicle does not require the muscle of a construction project, thus allowing the vehicle to be in the 50100 hp range.
1.4.7 Inspection, repair, and maintenance
Industry description: The inspection, repair, and maintenance (IRM) market (also referred to as “IMR,” or inspection, maintenance, and repair) broadly comprises the IRM of subsea fixed or float- ing structures for various industries. These industries include offshore wind farms, fish farms (although this is considered under Section 1.4.2), civil engineering projects (marine deepwater intakes, outfalls, tidal energy production structures, etc.), ship husbandry, and IMR of various off- shore O&G industry support structures.
Typical mission: The typical mission for inspection of subsea structures involves the visual and nondestructive testing/evaluation of various man-made items for safety, security, structural integ- rity, and functionality of the fixture as well as primary and supporting systems. The repair and maintenance functions are carried out during the course of the asset’s life through various tech- niques for supporting the life of the project.
Typical vehicle type and configuration: The ROV need during the inspection phase varies depending upon the operating environment (depth, currents, surface conditions, etc.) and the type of inspection being conducted (e.g., high-bandwidth acoustic mapping, structural flooded member detection, and cathodic potential measurement). For basic visual shallow water inspections, a small OCROV will be sufficient, but for higher-bandwidth sensor delivery and/or deepwater operations in harsh conditions, an MSROV will be required. For the repair and maintenance functions, most operations can be accomplished with an MSROV with light intervention and tooling capabilities. As the need for further mechanical tasks becomes heavier, the project may have periodic need for a WCROV, but in most cases the MSROV will suffice.
1.4.8 Construction (O&G as well as civil)
Industry description: The marine subsea construction industry encompasses the full gamut of heavy-lift ROV needs for the setting and assembling of subsea structures.
Typical mission: ROVs for use in this mission typically are tasked with setting and pulling rigging, guiding large construction pieces into place, moving heavy pieces from location to location, laying and burying cables and pipelines and setting mattresses as well as the various tasks outlined in Section 1.2.2.
Typical vehicle type and configuration: Vehicles in use for the subsea construction tasking are typically higher powered (.150 hydraulic hp) and specification WCROVs with dual 7-function manipulators and high pressure/flow remote tooling delivery capabilities.
1.5 CONCLUSIONS
The business aspect of the ROV service industry can be just as challenging as the technical aspect. It is quite daunting to the un-indoctrinated. Like the aviation and maritime counterparts to the ROV business, the support structure requires not only a deep equipment and spares pool, it also requires
1.5 Conclusions 19
