Subsea Crude Oil Spill Detection Using Robotic Systems

Abstract

Underwater Robotic Oil Spill Surveillance (UROSS) system provides constant and autonomous spill surveillance for subsea pipelines. M900 embedded Radio Frequency Identification tags and readers are used to identify pipeline section for surveillance. GY-521 gyrometer and XL-MaxSonar-WR1 ultrasound sensor are used for autonomous navigation. Spills are detected using a METS methane sensor. After spill detection, images of spill site are captured with a L3C-400 Micro Ultras-Miniature Color Camera and spill location is obtained using GPS. Spill Images and location are transmitted to a remote PC on the nearest off shore platform using an Xbee Pro 900HP wireless connection. An Ocean Signal rescueME Personal Beacon Locator transmits a 406 MHz distress signal via satellite to emergency services communicating the identification of a spill. Power analysis showed the system’s ability to remain submerged and to provide surveillance for 100 m sections of a subsea pipeline once every 24 hrs for a month, and can be increased to every hour for 51 months.