EV Offshore Ltd, a leading provider of downhole and subsea camera inspection systems, has developed a range of custom-designed subsea video cameras for monitoring abrasive cutting operations. The cameras were successfully used by a major oil services company to de-commission one of the largest fixed installations in the North Sea.

EV Offshore’s subsea video cameras played a crucial role in the company’s move to de-commission platforms without the use of divers, thereby substantially enhancing safety standards. The success of a de-commissioning operation can hinge on making sure that all subsea abrasive cutting activity is properly monitored so that the cuts are made accurately and with the greatest of care. “To achieve this, engineers must be able to view the targeted area so that the cuttings will be made precisely,” said Gibson-Ford. “Until now, this level - and flexibility - of monitoring couldn’t be achieved without a diver involved in the cutting operations. However, with a video/cutting system that features strategically placed bespoke-designed SL40 cameras, cutting engineers can now inspect the subsea operation from every desired angle,” he added.

In order to provide comprehensive monitoring during this extensive operation, EVO delivered what can be described as a subsea CCTV system. A total of 17 custom video camera systems, along with subsea Halogen lights, custom subsea cabling and eight LCD video monitors, were supplied for engineers to view the subsea cutting activity in real time. By using the cameras to view the cuttings process, engineers were able to make certain that a) the cuts were clean, and b) that the cuttings had completely separated from the installation so that recovery to surface could be made without an over-pull from the crane.

The complexity of integrating the camera network with the third party subsea and topside equipment, as well as with equipment located onshore, meant that EV Offshore invested a significant amount of time in the planning process.

Tags: EV Offshore Ltd