Four big oil firms
have teamed up with the Norwegian Coastal Administration and oilfield technology company Aptomar to improve the way industry manages spills.
The multimillion kroner joint industry project (JIP) is expected to lead to better systems and communications infrastructure for spill management offshore.
The oil firms taking part in the initiative are Eni Norge, Statoil, GDF Suez Exploration and Production Norge and OMV Norge.
Aptomar chief executive Lars Solberg said: “Traditionally, the oil spill segment has been somewhat product focused.
“This joint industry project takes a broader system approach to oil spill detection and management.
“The objective is to improve safety, while reducing costs through improving technologies and utilising offshore assets more effectively.”
Aptomar will develop functionality to provide remote control of the SECurus system – a highly advanced technology used to detect and combat oil spills.
One aim is to allow onshore staff to help offshore crews performing oil spill monitoring and detection.
It is hoped the JIP will also lead to the easier integration of monitoring systems and information, including remotely operated vehicles, platform support vessels and fishing boats, into Aptomar’s tactical collaboration and management technology.
In addition, the JIP’s key players aim to develop an offshore communication network which allows data to be shared between all assets involved in combating a spill, including vessels, installations and aircraft, without using base stations or satellites.
Mr Solberg said: “Through utilizing existing camera sources and allowing all offshore vessels to tap into the same common operating picture we will keep costs down, while also improving safety.
“We are confident that this system approach will take marine surveillance, oil spill detection and combating to a new level.”
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