Case study

QuickVision® saves 10 rig days on Shell’s drilling operations

North Sea, UK

QuickVision�

Client

Shell UK

Project duration

March 2019 - September 2019

Fugro’s QuickVision® remote-sensing technology enabled real-time conductor well setting from a remotely operated vehicle in the oil and gas field in the UK North Sea. Our vision-based system was used to precisely measure and monitor the height inclination and orientation of nine conductors.

Life cycle

Planning, feasibility, conceptual design

Design

Construction

Operations and maintenance

Decommissioning

Show full process

Remote tracking pattern positioning via QuickVision®

QuickVision®

Patented vision technology for accurate subsea asset positioning

QuickVision®

The QuickVision® is a patented smart camera that provides accurate subsea asset positioning during drilling and construction support operations to reduce overall time, costs and risks for your project.

Project downtime avoided

0

days

Challenge

The initial method for achieving such tight tolerances for Shell’s tophole campaign required a bracket to mount a large sensor package with a combined weight of 310 kg onto the conductor.

This approach had many disadvantages:

  • Required harnessed rig personnel in the moon pool to install the bracket and sensor package onto the conductor

  • Involved heavy manual lifting

  • Necessitated overside cover via a local support vessel

  • Used a heavy sensor package with short battery life

  • Could not be deployed in marginal weather

Solution

QuickVision®’s unique, vision-based, remote-sensing technology overcame all these issues to facilitate real-time conductor positioning, increase spatial awareness and enhance decision-making.

Our QuickVision® augmented-reality solution enabled the efficient and accurate installation and setting of the 30” conductor low-pressure housing in marginal weather. QuickVision® increases weather capability by reducing or eliminating overside cover, depending on the scope of work: efficiencies resulting from our innovative solution saved Shell an estimated 10 rig days.

Using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) equipped with a QuickVision® camera, we tracked a unique QuickVision®-coded pattern affixed to each conductor as it was lowered through the water column and into the seabed. This approach ensured we met Shell’s strict tolerance requirements for height, inclination and orientation.

Case study images for Fugro.com

Multiple QuickVision® targets applied to asset for redundancy

The process

First, we fixed a unique QuickVision®-coded pattern onto the conductor, to be carefully surveyed in, to determine its exact position in relation to the conductor’s diameter, length and master slot. We completed this task offshore, onboard the drilling rig contracted to Shell.

Using the QuickVision® camera mounted on the ROV, we followed the conductor on its journey through the water column to the seafloor. Having automatically ‘locked’ onto the pattern in view, QuickVision® accurately tracked the conductors’ positioning, height, inclination and orientation throughout the lowering and cementing stages, eliminating overside cover, which is usually a requirement in marginal conditions but resulted in 10 rig-days saved over all wells in this project.

On the drilling rig, our three-person team monitored key metrics displayed on the QuickVision® dashboard. Shell then used our real-time data to perform any necessary fine-tuning to achieve the precise tolerances required on the well set.

QuickVision® proves its value

Shell was understandably cautious about swapping traditional methods for our cutting-edge technology, so both methods were used in tandem at the first four sites.

However, the fourth location proved a defining moment. As the conductor landed on the seabed, a pin was dislodged on the sensor bracket, rendering the conventional sensor device unreliable. Fortunately, QuickVision® was unaffected, so the conductor setting process continued uninterrupted, using our real-time data to meet Shell’s strict tolerance requirements.

After this event and additional statistical analysis, Shell approved QuickVision® as the primary method for the remainder of the project.

Collaborating with Fugro to utilise vision technology during drilling operations not only saved time but reduced HSSE exposure among rig personnel. It contributed significantly to Shell’s lift minimisation approach and ensured well set engineering tolerances were achieved.

Chris Leaf

Geomatics Manager, Shell UK

Innovations

  • Unique pattern code system negated need for installation of sensor package onto the asset and unnecessary heavy lifting, therefore lowering HSSE risk during installation

  • Multiple stick-on targets were installed for redundancy on any asset and surveyed in any weather conditions

  • QuickVision® camera calibration was performed during the ROV’s descent to the seabed

  • Had all targets been destroyed, measurements could have been taken onscreen using our six augmented-reality tools

  • Structure position could be tracked in relation to another structure to provide line directions and distance for positioning

  • QuickVision® enhanced Shell’s and the drilling contractor’s lift minimisation initiative

  • Overall Shell saved an estimated 10 days on this project

Impact

  • Reduced HSSE risk; No personnel required in the moonpool or to provide overside cover; No heavy lifting

  • Accuracy; Precise live monitoring and measurement during lowering and cementing; Positioning, height, inclination and orientation measurements; Fast accurate response to vertical and lateral conductor movement

  • Enhanced spatial awareness; Augmented reality tools (Inclinometer, Compass Rose, Level Line, Virtual Box, Structure Model, Virtual Buoys and Pattern Tracking); Key metrics displayed on a user-friendly dashboard, updated in real time

  • Cost-effective approach; All-weather system saved 10 days out of an approximate 120-day campaign; Reduced project complexity;

  • Saved operational time because patterns were installed offline, not during drilling operations

Remote operations inspectors conducting visual inspection of subsea assets

Related services

Positioning and construction support

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