Earlier this year, on June 21, Reach Subsea entered into an agreement with Equinor to conduct a technology qualification program. This commitment is further reinforced with the addition of TotalEnergies and several other major energy companies.
The pilot project with Equinor, TotalEnergies, and others includes a variety of relevant surveys, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) interventions, IMR, and monitoring-related work scope, which will demonstrate the full capacity of the Reach Remote spread.
Reach Remote is a 24-meter USV equipped with hull-mounted survey sensors and a Work Class Electric ROV. Unlike traditional crewed subsea vessels, Reach Remote represents a groundbreaking approach to conducting subsea work scopes, with positive impacts on efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability with an objective to reduce emissions by 90%.
For TotalEnergies, USVs present opportunities to increase safety, reduce emissions, and reduce cost when performing IMR operations. In support of the ambition of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, together with society, USVs are expected to form part of the suite of tools to support Asset Integrity across the subsea portfolio. The aim is to demonstrate safe methods of operation and to prepare for this emerging technology, said Andy Gower, R&D Subsea Robotics Lead of TotalEnergies.
Reach Subsea has witnessed significant market interest in their USVs.
“We are pleased that major energy contractors are actively supporting the validation process, which is crucial to ensuring the USVs can be effectively deployed. Conducting the pilot qualification program at full scale for prospective clients who are considering the future use of USVs represents the highest level of validation for our technology,” said Jostein Alendal, CEO of Reach Subsea.
The pilot program with Equinor, TotalEnergies, and others is planned to be executed directly after the vessel is delivered. The scope of work is part of a full-scale operation and will be executed offshore in the North Sea and Norwegian Sea on production fields such as Troll, Gullfaks, Snorre, and Åsgard.
