OGTC Targets New Robotic Technologies for UKCS Fields

The Oil & Gas Technology Centre has launched two new ‘Calls for Ideas’ to identify, support and fund solutions which use robotics to reduce inspection costs, and to unlock the 225 marginal discoveries in small pools across the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).

Each call has a fund of approximately £1 million to invest and organisations can grab a slice if they demonstrate their technology concept or idea can deliver a transformation against a specific theme.

Asset Integrity

• Using robotics for non-intrusive inspection of pressure vessels and tanks;
• Using robotics for confined space entry to pressure vessels and tanks;
• Small Pools.

Standardising the subsea development life-cycle approach to support:

• rapid engineering and delivery of a project;
• full interconnectivity between modular subsea components;
• the re-use of subsea equipment from one field to another;
• interoperability with present and future systems; and
• the use of a range of key supplier specific subsea components.

Submissions are welcome from 5 June to 30 July where full technical details and an of overview of the process will be available on the OGTC website.

Rebecca Allison, Asset Integrity Solution Centre Manager, said: “Our goal is to eliminate the impact of asset integrity on operational uptime by 2026. We’re looking for deployable robotic technologies for pressure vessel and tank inspections that reduce cost, improve quality, increase efficiency and enhance safety.

“The use of robotics for inspection is developing rapidly across several industries and has the potential to transform the asset integrity performance of oil and gas facilities across the UKCS.”

Chris Pearson, Small Pools Solution Centre Manager, said: “Designing plug and play subsea equipment for developing marginal oil and gas fields is an opportunity recognised by all exploration and production companies. Industries such as nuclear and automotive have proven that plug and play technology can significantly reduce life-cycle costs and help create new business models.

“Simplifying our methods to support plug and play solutions could significantly lower the cost of developing UKCS fields and help maximise economic recovery of the 10-20 billion barrels of oil and gas that remain.”

Submissions will be evaluated against a range of criteria including value creation, sound scientific principles, time, cost and risk reduction. Successful organisations will receive professional guidance, funding, and support to develop their ideas towards the next stage of development.

The Call for Ideas process is part of the Oil & Gas Technology Centre’s Open Innovation Programme which helps it identify, accelerate and rapidly deploy innovative technologies to unlock the full potential of the UK North Sea.