The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) : A Cost-Effective Alternative To Deep-Towed Technology
The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) : A Cost-Effective Alternative To Deep-Towed Technology
The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) : A Cost-Effective Alternative To Deep-Towed Technology
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ABSTRACT
Figure 1
A Two-Vessel USBL deep-towed
positioning scenario with chaseboat transmitting towfish positions
to the tow-vessel
INTRODUCTION
As the technology applied to energy exploration and
production advances to meet the deepwater challenges
beyond the continental shelf, Autonomous Underwater
Vehicles (AUVs) will be increasingly employed. AUV
technology has just reached a milestone as the result of
the first commercial purchase of an AUV by C&C
Technologies, Inc. of Lafayette, Louisiana.
The deep-towed system, the conventional deepwater
mapping tool, suffers from chronic waste and inefficiency.
To rectify this problem, Kongsberg Simrad, in conjunction with C&C Technologies, is developing the HUGIN
3000. The HUGIN has evolved from an AUV programme
amassing more than one hundred missions since 1995.
The HUGIN will be integrated with an acoustic tether to
monitor data acquisition and optimise system performance.
D EEP-TO WE D S YS TEMS
The deep-towed system originated as a mapping tool to
accommodate large-scale academic surveying projects
comprising multiple traverses of lengthy, straight lines.
It was later adapted to similar applications, such as pipeline
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= 3,000 metres
Survey Speed
= 4 knots
Length
= 5.3 metres
Diameter
= 1.0 metres
Figure 2 (top)
A HUGIN vehicle begins a
routine dive for the Norwegian Underwater Intervention (NUI)
Figure 3 (left)
The HUGIN launch and retrieval system, which is housed in a 20
foot cargo container and can be air freighted throughout the world
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COST SAV I N G S
Efforts to curb deepwater survey costs have spawned
the recent interest in AUV technology. Cost savings result
from the following:
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TA B L E 1.
1. 45-MILE GULF OF MEXICO PIPELINE HAZARD SURVEY
This pipeline route includes 15 PCs, each precipitating a 4 to 6 hour line-turn for a deeptowed system.
Specifications of this proposed pipeline route survey include:
Depths
Total line-distance
= 600 kilometres
Line spacing
= 300 metres
DEEP-TOWED SYSTEM WITH
TWO-VESSEL USBL
$26,000
$55,000
SURVEY ECONOMY
$707,200
$291,325
$425,875 or 59%
= 1,500 metres
Total line-distance
= 6,274 kilometres
Line spacing
$54,000
$55,000
SURVEY ECONOMY
$5,184,000
$3,190,000
$1,994,000 or 39%
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CONCLUSION
Jay
G.
Northcutt,
C&C recognises the need for a more efficient and costeffective approach to high-resolution deepwater surveying.
Kongsberg Simrad, in conjunction with C&C, is developing the HUGIN 3000 AUV to provide industry with
an alternative to the standard of costly and inefficient
deep-towed systems. Kongsberg Simrad is developing
the vehicle and vehicle control system. C&C is developing the payload system.
The HUGIN 3000 will provide engineering quality
data to aid in the development of deepwater oil leases
and be employed for MMS Block Surveys and Pipeline
Hazard Surveys. It will be integrated with an acoustic
tether to monitor data acquisition and optimise system
performance. Manufacturing of the new HUGIN 3000
is currently underway and sea trials begin in May of 2000.
One major oil and gas company has already committed
to HUGIN 3000 survey work and C&C is offering
discounts for other early commitments.
Projects
Manager
Art Kleiner
REFERENCE
Geophysical
at
C&C
I F Y O U H AV E A N Y E N Q U I R I E S R E G A R D I N G T H E
C O N T E N T O F T H I S A RT I C L E , P L E A S E C O N TA C T:
C & C Technologies Inc.
Lafayette
Louisiana 70508
USA
Tel: +1 (318) 261 0662
E-mail: aak@cctechnol.com
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