Surveyor Interceptor ROV inspects Knarr gas pipeline

A “completely new subsea technology” developed by companies in Haugesund north of Stavanger has been used by Gassco for inspection of the Knarr gas pipeline during March.

The Surveyor Interceptor Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) had its first commercial outing in the North Sea for the Knarr Gas Pipeline.

Gassco is operator for the gas transport system which delivers Norwegian gas to continental Europe and the UK through more than 8 000 kilometres of pipelines.

 “Most of the gas pipelines lie on the seabed, and ROVs controlled from surface vessels must therefore be used for maintenance and monitoring work,” explains Kristin Kinn Kaste, vice president for the transport network.

 “Such operations are basically expensive. Factors affecting the price include the offshore vessel, the ROV’s efficiency and the choice of inspection technology. Using new, world-leading technology is therefore cost-efficient for us.”

Inspection of the 106-kilometre Knarr gas pipeline took place in the northern North Sea at water depths of 140-400 metres to check the external condition of the pipeline and rockberm protection after laying. That had to be done before beginning to fill the line with gas.

The Knarr inspection job took 17 hours, giving an average speed of 3.33 knots (6.2 kilometres per hour), and the ROV was operated at a top speed of 4.5 knots (8.3/km/h).

According to Gassco, Surveyor Interceptor performed stably during the inspection, and the data acquired was of very good quality. Data was processed and analysed continuously on the Edda Fonn support vessel to be able to provide a field report to Gassco on demobilisation.

Knarr is a gas and oil field located about 100 kilometres north of Brent in the northernmost North Sea. Gassco is operator for the Knarr Gas Pipeline joint venture, which owns the facility.

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