Automatic tool with adaptive suspension system for high-quality inspection of underwater risers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivian Suzano Medeiros ◽  
Alan Conci Kubrusly ◽  
Raphael Lydia Bertoche ◽  
Miguel Andrade Freitas ◽  
Claudio Camerini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Pipe Wall ◽  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Suspension System ◽  
Inspection System ◽  
High Definition ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The inspection of flexible risers is a critical activity to ensure continuous productivity and safety in oil and gas production. The purpose of this paper is to present the design and development of a novel automatic underwater tool for riser inspection that fits the most commonly used riser diameters and significantly improves inspection quality and reduces its operating costs. Design/methodology/approach The mechanical and electronic design of the inspection system is discussed, as well as its embedded sensors and control system. The tool is equipped with a suspension system that is able to adapt to the riser diameter and negotiate obstacles on the pipe wall. Numerical simulations were carried out to analyze the mechanical design, and a hardware-in-the-loop simulation was developed for tuning the control system. Further, experimental results are presented and discussed. Findings Experimental tests in laboratory tanks and shallow seawater have confirmed the effectiveness of the tool for detailed real-time inspection of underwater pipelines. Practical implications The use of the proposed tool will potentially reduce the time and costs for riser inspection, currently performed by divers or high-cost ROVs. Originality/value The authors present a reliable tool able to perform automatic inspections up to 250 m deep in less than 30 min, equipped with a high-definition visual inspection system, composed of full-HD cameras and lasers and a suspension mechanism that can negotiate sharp obstacles in the pipe wall up to 25 mm high. The tool uses a comprehensive control system that autonomously performs a full inspection, collecting sensors data and returning safely to the surface. Its robust design can be used as basis for several other nondestructive techniques, such as ultrasound and X-ray.

Robotic inspection of ship hull surfaces using a magnetic crawler and a monocular camera

Sensor Review ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalisa Milella ◽  
Rosalia Maglietta ◽  
Massimo Caccia ◽  
Gabriele Bruzzone
Keyword(s):  
Visual Inspection ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Ship Hull ◽  
Inspection System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Monocular Camera ◽  
Mosaic Image ◽  
Automatic Visual Inspection

Purpose Periodic inspection of large tonnage vessels is critical to assess integrity and prevent structural failures that could have catastrophic consequences for people and the environment. Currently, inspection operations are undertaken by human surveyors, often in extreme conditions. This paper aims to present an innovative system for the automatic visual inspection of ship hull surfaces, using a magnetic autonomous robotic crawler (MARC) equipped with a low-cost monocular camera. Design/methodology/approach MARC is provided with magnetic tracks that make it able to climb along the vertical walls of a vessel while acquiring close-up images of the traversed surfaces. A homography-based structure-from-motion algorithm is developed to build a mosaic image and also produce a metric representation of the inspected areas. To overcome low resolution and perspective distortion problems in far field due to the tilted and low camera position, a “near to far” strategy is implemented, which incrementally generates an overhead view of the surface, as long as it is traversed by the robot. Findings This paper demonstrates the use of an innovative robotic inspection system for automatic visual inspection of vessels. It presents and validates through experimental tests a mosaicking strategy to build a global view of the structure under inspection. The use of the mosaic image as input to an automatic corrosion detector is also demonstrated. Practical implications This paper may help to automate the inspection process, making it feasible to collect images from places otherwise difficult or impossible to reach for humans and automatically detect defects, such as corroded areas. Originality/value This paper provides a useful step towards the development of a new technology for automatic visual inspection of large tonnage ships.

There is no easy solution to Cuba’s fuel challenges

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Oil Price ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Generating Capacity ◽  
Major Producer

Subject Cuba's energy troubles. Significance With a previously generous Venezuela facing economic crisis and the United States tightening sanctions, Cuba’s ability to augment its limited domestic oil and gas production is severely constrained. It lacks the export earnings to invest in new technologies and power generating capacity that could ease its fuel supply problems. Russia and China have spoken of offering assistance, but neither is inclined to provide handouts in the absence of commercial returns. Impacts Cuba has tried to trade more with Algeria and Angola but remains vulnerable to international oil price shifts. As a major producer of both sugar and biofuels, Brazil could provide a model for Cuba’s biofuel plans. Cubans are resilient and accustomed to hardship; the country’s looming economic troubles are unlikely to trigger serious unrest.

Economic woes to drive Greenland's hydrocarbons effort

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Economic Ties ◽  
Opening Up ◽  
The Eu

Subject Prospects for the hydrocarbons sector under the new government Significance After three years of GDP contraction, a new government is pursuing increased foreign investment in hydrocarbons, to boost employment and growth and to repair the budget. In the long term, Greenland is likely to emerge as an international shipping, mining and hydrocarbons centre. For now, the fall in the international oil price has seen oil exploration stop. The wish for economic development is leading a new generation of Greenlandic politicians to embark on re-integration with the EU, where a ban on seal products is the greatest obstacle to closer ties. Impacts Infrastructure and climate challenges mean that full-scale oil and gas production is at least 15-20 years away. Emerging Greenland-China economic ties may create a new alignment in the opening up of the Arctic. A relaxation of the EU seal products ban would ease negotiations on Greenland's further integration with the bloc. Enhanced EU-Greenland ties could extend the EU's role in the Arctic.

Oil hopes could distract Bahrain from urgent reforms

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Credit Rating ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
Offshore Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil Wealth ◽  
Offshore Oil

Subject Hydrocarbons in Bahrain’s economy. Significance A potentially game-changing offshore oil and gas discovery could offer fresh hope for Bahrain’s weak public finances and broader economic woes. The find, announced in April, comes at a time when -- although its recent economic performance has been stronger than anticipated -- there has been medium-term stagnation in some of the sectors at the heart of Manama’s diversification efforts. Impacts Renewed gas production could render obsolete the liquefied natural gas import terminal due for completion in 2019. The hope of new oil wealth could support an upgrade in Bahrain’s credit rating and lower borrowing costs. Neighbouring Gulf states may be increasingly less inclined to make valuable grants, after reports of newfound oil wealth.

Zohr brings Egypt closer to energy self-sufficiency

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Sharp Decline ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
Egyptian Government ◽  
Gas Fields ◽  
Oil And Gas Companies

Significance The Zohr field is one of the largest gas fields discovered in Egyptian waters. The launch of production heralds a major new supply of gas for the country as it faces a sharp decline in most of its existing gas fields. Impacts State-owned EGAS will buy Zohr-produced gas, adding to pressure on the government’s outstanding debts to international operators. The discovery of Zohr and its rapid development will increase interest in upstream opportunities from international oil and gas companies. The start of Zohr gas production will put on hold any consideration by the Egyptian government of gas imports from Israel and Cyprus.

Latin America's LNG market faces muted outlook

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Liquefied Natural Gas ◽  
Panama Canal ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Major Producer

Subject The outlook for the LNG market. Significance With major oil and gas reserves, and around 5% of global GDP, South America might in theory be expected to play an important role in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) business. It both produces and consumes LNG, but the factors affecting LNG production and consumption are national and global rather than primarily regional. In global terms, the region is neither a major producer nor a large market. Impacts With no new LNG production or export facilities currently announced, the region will not become a major producer soon. The Panama Canal will play a key role in facilitating LNG trade around the region and globally. For countries lacking material gas production, for example Chile, LNG will continue to be a key energy source. Growing gas production in Brazil and Argentina over the medium to long term may increasingly relegate LNG consumption.

Russia's 2018 GDP mini-surge will not be repeated

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Activity ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
External Shocks ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Private Debt ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consensus Forecasts ◽  
Oil Markets

Subject Russia's economic performance. Significance The GDP growth figure of 2.3% in 2018 announced by the economic development ministry is modest but still diverges enough from consensus forecasts to raise doubts about its veracity. The explanation seems to lie in the inclusion of previously unrecorded Arctic construction, plus high oil and gas production, and strong financial-sector activity, albeit the result of borrowing by hard-pressed consumers. Impacts An unexpectedly strong start to the year for oil prices will support economic activity in Russia. Global oil markets are currently more bullish than bearish thanks to fears about supply from Venezuela and Iran. Russia's state reserves exceed sovereign and private debt together, providing a cushion against external shocks. The nature and scale of further US sanctions will keep investors and government officials on edge.

Herd behaviour may prompt fears of LNG over-supply

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Liquefied Natural Gas ◽  
Import Prices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Spot Prices ◽  
Herd Behaviour ◽  
Hemisphere Winter ◽  
Oil And Gas Companies ◽  
Northern Hemisphere Winter

Subject LNG investment outlook. Significance Spot prices of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have fallen this year, as new supply has collided with a relatively warm Northern Hemisphere winter. Oil and gas companies see a supply shortfall emerging in the mid-2020s and are investing in LNG plants. The deep decarbonisation required to meet 2030 climate change targets means gas is likely to gain market share against coal in power generation and oil in transport. Impacts Low LNG prices will encourage coal-for-gas switching and embolden new importers to enter the market. Higher flows of LNG into Europe as a result of falling domestic gas production will solidify the price cap on pipeline import prices. LNG will continue to make inroads in the shipping and land transport sectors.

scholarly journals Improving the energy efficiency of oil production using identification and prediction of operating modes of production wells based on data analysis methods, machine learning and neural networks

2019 ◽  
Vol 124 ◽  
pp. 05031 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. Sagdatullin
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Neural Networks ◽  
Control System ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Identification System ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
The Neural Network ◽  
And Control

Currently, there is a need to improve the systems and control of pumping equipment in the oil and gas production and oil and gas transport industries. Therefore, an adaptive neural network control system for an electric drive of a production well was developed. The task of expanding the functional capabilities of asynchronous electric motors control of the oil and gas production system using the methods of neural networks is solved. We have developed software modules of the well drive control system based on the neural network, an identification system, and a scheme to adapt the control processes to changing load parameters, that is, to dynamic load, to implement the entire system for real-time control of the highspeed process. In this paper, based on a model of an identification block that includes a multilayered neural network of direct propagation, the control of the well system was implemented. The neural network of the proposed system was trained on the basis of the error back-propagation algorithm, and the identification unit works as a forecaster of system operation modes based on the error prediction. In the initial stage of the model adaptation, some fluctuations of the torque are observed at the output of the neural network, which is associated with new operating conditions and underestimated level of learning. However, the identification object and control system is able to maintain an error at minimum values and adapt the control system to a new conditions, which confirms the reliability of the proposed scheme.

Oil and gas majors are decarbonising their businesses

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Power Sector ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Oil Reserves ◽  
The Us ◽  
New Energy ◽  
Capital Spending

Significance While the US oil majors are adopting strategies primarily based on decarbonising oil and gas production, European companies are also developing new businesses designed to compensate for future demand-led reductions in oil and gas revenues. The European majors’ entry into the power sector and renewable energy markets brings new, well-financed and technologically proficient competitors into a sector made up predominantly of utilities and smaller developers. Impacts Hydrocarbon majors' capital spending on renewables will rise over the next decade. The oil majors will continue to buy into promising new energy transition technologies. These companies will invest in oil output and protect their legacy assets, but their valuations will be less driven by their oil reserves.

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