MultiCam provides high quality visual performance in a compact, low cost camera system. In this case study a North Sea operator used MultiCam to verify an installation in conditions that would defeat an ROV.
The Problem
An operator was engaged in the completion and installation of a subsea Xmas tree and over-trawlable structure on a development well for the Rose field in the Southern North Sea. The completion and Tree were to be deployed from the Galaxy I jack-up rig. Several steps of the operation were planned to be monitored by an ROV, in order to provide positive indication of successful execution.
However:
- High currents and periodically low subsea visibility (sometimes less than 3’) limited the capability of the ROV and risked operational delays in the completion programme
- The tight confines of the pre-installed overtrawlable structure made ROV observation of indicators on the Xmas tree assembly unfeasible.
The Solution
- Unidirectional cameras were mounted on the overtrawlable structure to provide positive confirmation of alignment and landing of the unit on the wellhead, via a retrievable umbilical run with the landing string
- A simple unidirectional camera mounted on the Xmas tree structure to provide positive confirmation of the lock-down mechanism, via a retrievable umbilical.
- Claxton supplied bespoke mounting brackets for each camera and light array to ensure optimum views of the landing procedure.
The Result
- All camera assemblies functioned successfully and provided the expected data
- Both the overtrawlable structure and Xmas tree assembly were installed successfully without delays, despite poor subsea visibility.
MultiCam's compact form factor, high visual clarity, and low cost make it ideal to monitor subsea installation operations, or for applications where recovering a traditional camera would be uneconomic.
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