Welding Robot Repairing Subsea Pipelines

Abstract

Abstract Offshore oil and gas pipelines are important assets for maintaining stable energy supply as well as being critical for maintaining cash flow to the owners and shippers. Emergency repair response time is in focus by all major pipeline operators, and the need for remote repair technology has been addressed since the mid 1990s. Statoil have, on behalf of the Pipeline Repair and Subsea Intervention (PRSI) Pool in Norway, developed new technology allowing remote controlled repair by hyperbaric welding of large diameter subsea pipelines in water depths down to 1300 meters. The new Remote Welding System consist of three main modules; a habitat providing a dry gas filled work location at the tie-in location, a power and control unit launched separately providing all essential services needed for the job and the remote welding tool performing the welding operation itself. The system is built and qualified for pipelines from 30" to 42" diameter, but may be expanded to smaller diameters and deeper waters.