ExxonMobil Joins Viper JIP to Develop V-IR

Subsea engineering company Viper Subsea informed that ExxonMobil has joined the joint industry project (JIP) to develop the company’s V-IR system.

ExxonMobil has joined the V-IR project, which has been established through the Industry Technology Facilitator (ITF), at a crucial phase of development and is supporting a shallow water trial currently underway in Portishead Quays marina, Viper said.

The trial runs in phases with a total duration of up to 12 months, during which time the V-IR technology suite will undergo communications and performance testing in a sea water environment.

The development of V-IR has attracted the support of a number of operators, including Total, BP, Shell, and Chevron.

The system will help to identify the location of electrical faults on subsea oil and gas installations, and will enable field operators to better plan for repair or replacement of failed components, the company added.

Neil Douglas, managing director of Viper Subsea said, “We are delighted that ExxonMobil is lending its support to this development programme. The need for such a system is obvious and pressing, as is evidenced by the fact that we have now attracted the support of five supermajor oil companies. The support of our JIP partners will be crucial in getting the V-IR system to market as soon as possible.”