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The ? rst published image of the

UHD Gen II ROV.

Photo from FMC

Technologies Schilling Robotics.

provision, increasing demand

Subsea as operators try to manage risks by using ROVs as a back-up, in case by using ROVs as a back-up, in case

Companies wanted to have a BOP fails. a BOP fails. twin-ROV systems on rigs, and increased twin-ROV systems on rigs, and increased

ROV support capability, he said. But ROV support capability, he said. But they were also looking to ROV opera-they were also looking to ROV opera- tors to meet API Standard 53, which tors to meet API Standard 53, which requires operators to maintain the requires operators to maintain the

ROV and a trained crew on-board ROV and a trained crew on-board rigs, Reid said. rigs, Reid said.

There have been concerns that such There have been concerns that such risks should not be shouldered by ROV risks should not be shouldered by ROV operators. However, the market for the operators. However, the market for the technology appears to exist. technology appears to exist.

UHD Gen IIIUHD Gen III

FMC Schilling Robotics says its UHD Gen FMC Schilling Robotics says its UHD Gen

III is a response to the market for an ROV III is a response to the market for an ROV system able to meet API Standard 53 for secondary intervention on BOPs, which

ROVs take on BOPs mandates 45-second ram closure.

Westwood predicted that the ROV market Developed over the last year, the UHD

Elaine Maslin attended Subsea would increase from US$1.4 billion in Gen III includes an integrated auxiliary

Expo in Aberdeen to view the 2013 to $1.9 billion in 2017. pumping system able to pump 50gal/m latest in ROV technology and

Speaking at Subsea Expo, Marine up to 5000psi.

The 250Hp unit, with 150Hp auxiliary

Richard, associate analyst at In? eld learned of a new model hydraulic output, is currently being pool-

Systems, said there had been a record

FMC Technologies Schilling tested at FMC Schilling Robotics’ manufac- 250 subsea tree contracts awarded in the turing facility in Davis, California. Offshore ? rst three quarters of 2013, with 80% in

Robotics plans to release. trials are due start in the Gulf of Mexico deep water. Three-quarters of those (188 in 2Q 2014, for three months. Commercial contracts) were in Latin America. he waters in which exploration The trend will continue, she predicted, systems will be available after that.

and production ? rms are operat- with an estimated 2000 deepwater subsea FMC Schilling Robotics said the ROV

T ing are getting deeper and subsea equipment installations in the next ? ve will be able to carry 100gal of interven- systems are getting ever more complex. years–doubling that of the previous ? ve tion ? uid, and will be able to provide Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) ven- years. Africa is forecast to dominate enough hydraulic power for BOP inter- dors such as FMC Technologies Schilling the global market, with 37% of subsea vention, as well as the typical range of

Robotics are adapting to meet the grow- equipment spending, followed by Latin ? uid intervention tasks such as connec- ing market and the challenges. America (24%), she said. tor actuation, seal testing, and hydrate

Rising to the demands being placed Following the 2010 Gulf of Mexico remediation.

Macondo disaster, greater empha- on ROV technology, FMC plans to unveil Macondo disaster, greater empha- UHD Gen III will UHD Gen III will sis is being placed on the a new generation ROV, the UHD Gen sis is being placed on the have automation have automation deployment and capa- III, the company told OE during Subsea deployment and capa- capabilities, capabilities,

Expo. The ROV will be revealed at the bility of ROVs for sec-bility of ROVs for sec-

Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) ondary intervention this May in Houston. on blowout preven-

The new HD ROV unit will meet API ters (BOPs) during

Standard 53, which concerns the instal- drilling operations. lation and testing of blowout preven- Last year, Brian Reid, Last year, Brian Reid, th tion equipment systems (4 edition, in Subsea 7’s i-Tech7

December 2012). The ROV will also be division, told Subsea able to perform well intervention tasks, UK’s ROV conference UK’s ROV conference

FMC says. The company will launch the that Macondo had a big that Macondo had a big new ROV in a buoyant market. impact on ROV service impact on ROV service According to the International Marine

Forum Energy

Contractors Association (IMCA), there

Technologies’ XLX Evo. were 640 ROVs operating globally

Photo from Forum Energy in August 2012. Last year, Douglas .

Technologies (FET)

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