Aberdeenshire-based Savante Subsea Lasers has completed the inspection of a production riser catenary using a new hybrid underwater 3D optical scanner.
The DLS or “dynamic laser series” of underwater laser scanners, combines laser and real-time photogrammetry technologies in a single measurement system to create models of assets in the underwater environment.
Dr. Grant Thomson , Savante managing founder, said: “Whilst 3D subsea laser profiler technology currently offer the highest measurement performance in terms of sub-millimetric precision, speed, resolution and repeatability in the underwater environment; they can be inherently limited in terms of practicality. When capturing 3D models of a subsea asset, a laser profiler may require input from additional sensors to compensate for changes in its attitude and position during the measurement process. The mass, direct cost of this additional sensor payload and it’s integration can be substantial, but can also preclude the cost benefits of small inspection-class ROV deployment.
Savante’s underwater hybrid optical scanner combines the benefits of our highest-precision and fastest 3D underwater laser profiler with the very real-time SLAM (self-localisation and mapping) capabilities of our machine-vision system.
In many close-inspection applications, our SLAM-coupled laser profiler eliminates the need for those external sensors. With these two technologies combined not only can we create a 3D model of an object in motion; such as a riser catenary, we can also plot exactly the location of the ROV during the entire survey process. Critically we compensate for relative movement of the product; eliminating the need for docking solutions. This greatly reduces operational risk, complexity and cost.”
Savante said it will be releasing a research-grade version of the system in the next month and aims to bring the cost of underwater laser measurement down to support a wider marine environmental, archaeological and academic community.