Remotely Operated Platforms: Fact, Fiction, or Future
Bryce Levett · 2006
Remote operations technology is currently being successfully applied to the finance and transportation industries as well as the military. Closer to home in the oil and gas industry, remote operations have been applied to unmanned platforms, subsea equipment and satellite wells. The potential for remote operations is significant for offshore platforms, but it is imperative to separate fact from fiction. It is a common misconception to believe that all human interactions at offshore platforms can be eliminated. The potential is bigger than can be imagined today but not to that absolute degree. A pilot study was performed to determine what the risks and rewards were for implementing remote operations on several platforms in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Activities such as remote equipment monitoring, use of a centralized control room, specialists serving multiple platforms and campaign maintenance planning were assessed for impact on operating expenses (OPEX), functionality, reliability and safety. Reward potentials included reduction in OPEX, reduction in offshore personnel, less lost production and improved safety.