The Use of Multi Rotor Remotely Operated Aerial Vehicles ROAVs as a Method of Close Visually Inspecting CVI Live and Difficult to Access Assets on Offshore Platforms

Abstract

Abstract There is a continual requirement to carry out close visual inspections of plant and equipment on offshore installations for ongoing maintenance. Accessing structures at height or live systems on a process poses a number of challenges. ‘Traditional’ methods of access to carry out inspection of high or difficult to reach parts of the installation involve using rope access techniques, scaffolding or even full-size helicopters. Rope access inspection can be time-consuming and although it has an excellent safety record is still potentially dangerous as it involves personnel working at height which is statistically the single biggest cause of work place fatalities accounting for 25% of all workplace fatalities(5). Scaffolding as an access method for inspection can be expensive, time-consuming and also involves a significant amount of working at height or manual handling operations. While full-size helicopter inspection can mean that many parts of a rig are simply uninspectable: for example the underdeck of a platform or. These inspections can also put offshore platforms at a huge commercial disadvantage as assets such as flares need to be shutoff or drilling derricks require drilling activities to stop for them to be completed. Over the last 5 yeas a new method of access for inspecting live and difficult to access assets has been developing that allows certain inspection tasks to be performed fatser, safer and more cost effectively than conventional traditional methods. Similar to underwater Remote operated Vehicles (ROV) it involves allying engineering expertise to the use of Remotely Operated Aerial Vehicles (ROAV) for topside and above the waterline inspection. These miniature flying vehicles can carry a variety of visual, thermal and sensors for inspection purposes. ROAVs are operated by highly trained pilots in combination with qualified engineers and plant inspectors to create authoritative technical reports and analysis. Offshore operators now have another method available to them to gather information and understand the condition of their assets without shutting down operations allowing informed decision making. The use of ROAV for the visual and thermal inspection of onshore structures in refineries and chemical plants has become an established technique over the last 4 years and is starting to become adopted as best practice by some operators for visual inspection of certain assets such as flare stacks. The potential of the technique of using ROAV for certain inspection tasks is now being recognised in an offshore context with the first use of this technology in the North Sea January 2012. This paper provides an introduction to the concept of inspection using ROAVs, overview of the technology, the technique, and benefits of the technique, limitations of its application, safety considerations, operational competence, case studies and a look to the future for the industry.