Integrity specialist Hydratight has launched a new subsea riser inspection tool at Subsea Expo.
The Aberdeen-based company has formed a research and development partnership with deepwater pipeline specialist Connector Subsea Solutions to design the Subsea Riser Cleaning and Inspection Tool (RCIT).
The first field units have operated successfully offshore Brazil in the last 12 months.
Hydratight global subsea market development manager James Rowley, Global Subsea Market Development Manager, Hydratight, presented his paper on Remote Riser Cleaning and Inspection as part of the Integrity Management conference session.
He explains: “The RCIT can be deployed either near to or onto the riser where it will traverse into position.
“The cleaning heads will then remove all excessive sea growth as the RCIT travels along the riser or pipeline.
“There is no need for ROV or diver intervention, which reduces risk, and the operation can be performed with the support of the most basic of vessels.”
Mr Rowley continued: “In regions of the world closer to the equator, in the likes of Brazil or West Africa, the pressures on the risers and associated pipelines are increased by the weight of significant sea growth.
This is in the form of soft, shell and coral formations and best practice is for subsea professionals to conduct periodic inspections.
“The ability to clean and inspect these risers have previously been limited to ROV tools, making the process operationally expensive.
“This new riser cleaning and inspection service will become a viable alternative to allow flexible risers to maintain their dynamic properties necessary to work with floating rigs and sea currents, while reducing cost and operational risk.”
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