Aberdeen-based inspection technology and service provider for the oil and gas industry, Innospection, Shell Brazil and SENAI CIMATEC technology institute in Salvador, Brazil, have recently signed a partnership agreement to develop a robot-based technology for in-service inspection of cargo oil tanks of FPSOs.

This robot system called MCCR (MEC Combi Crawler Robot) will be deployed externally to the hull of Shell-operated and non-operated FPSOs worldwide. The robot will be able to clean marine fouling on ship hull, detect defect size and depth, among other features. This will allow for a potential increase in tank inspection efficiency, thus improving integrity and increasing safety for FPSOs. This solution is expected to allow for cost savings of 20% to 30% in tank inspections, when used in combination with other robotic inspection tools like aerial drones.

 

Shell Brasil Technology Manager, Jose Ferrari said: “We are very excited with this promising partnership, which will lead to an optimized inspection process for our FPSOs, further contributing to streamlining the structural integrity management of our assets. We also look forward to having two important partners, Innospection and SENAI CIMATEC, who have previously worked for Shell in Brazil and abroad.”

Innospection, CEO, Andreas Boenisch said: “In several aspects this project has already achieved great milestones, from R&D collaboration between an Operator an Institute and a commercial technology company, to the high end robotic integration of various inspection technologies and surface cleaning into an almost autonomous subsea operating system, to a major cost saving aspect ofthe asset deployment and operation. We are excited to work with a great team  on a great industry solution.”

SENAI CIMATEC Technology and Innovation Manager Daniel Motta adds that the project consolidates a partnership with Shell, started with the development of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) FlatFish. "We will be developing one more highly relevant project with Shell to boost its oil and gas exploration to even higher levels. It is a project that strengthens Brazil’s technology capabilities, thanks to a combination of resources from the Brazilian Oil and Gas Agency (ANP), Embrapii and our international partner Innospection.”

The project will cost approximately US$ 9 million, from which US$ 4.5 million will be funded by Shell Brasil through the ANP research levy on oil and gas revenues.

For more information on Innospection visit www.innospection.com