Next Generation SWIMMER
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Next Generation SWIMMER

Statoil, FMC Kongsberg Subsea (FKS) and Cybernétix have joined forces to take the Swimmer concept one step further. The Swimmer is an AUV/ROV Hybrid for inspection, maintenance and repair activities in deepwater sub-sea fields.
A three-party study is at present going on to define and cost the basic design of a Swimmer autonomous intervention system able to operate in accordance with Statoil functional requirements and fully compatible and integrated with future sub-sea field developments. The original Swimmer concept is based on using an AUV to transport a WorkClass ROV to sub-sea field and connect this to the production control umbilical at the sub-sea production system. The ROV then uses the power and control from the umbilical and can be operated ‘like a normal ROV’ from the surface facility, e.g. an FPSO.
One of the main advantages of the Swimmer concept is that it does not require an expensive DP vessel to support the IMR activities. Successful offshore trials with a Swimmer prototype were carried out at the end of 2001.
In this study, solutions will be identified to address some existing concerns with this approach to IMR and intervention. Solutions are expected to be found for:

  • Reducing on-site power requirements to power the system through conventional umbilicals
  • Reducing docking station requirements so that it can be incorporated directly into the sub-sea structure
  • Rationalising intervention interfaces to allow the system to perform the majority of the intervention and IMR tasks associated with the production phase of a sub-sea field
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