Fugro takes its uncrewed subsea inspections to the Americas

Brazilian oil and gas giant Petrobras and Dutch geo-data specialist Fugro have signed a 175-day addendum to their current inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) services contract to include fully remote subsea inspection surveys of shallow-water infrastructure in Brazil.

Work will start in January and will use Fugro’s advanced Blue Essence uncrewed surface vessel (USV) and Blue Volta electric remotely operated vehicle (eROV) technology.

The company’s Remote Operations Center (ROC), strategically located in Rio das Ostras near Petrobras’ port of operations, will support the inspection work.

The contract is said to mark Fugro’s first use of these innovations in the Americas, following applications in Australia, the UK, and the Middle East.

According to the company, by eliminating the need for on-site personnel, the uncrewed solution reduces carbon emissions by 95% and significantly lowers the risks associated with traditional offshore operations, as well as provides clients with near real-time access to project data, enabling faster decision-making.

“We’re thrilled to introduce the Blue Essence and Blue Volta technologies to Brazil for Petrobras,” said Felipe Vasconcellos, Fugro’s Brazil Country Manager. “This fully remote solution aligns with our shared commitment to responsible energy development and builds upon recent collaborations to introduce remote survey techniques in the region. Conducting offshore work from the safety and comfort of an onshore office environment, allows us to reduce our environmental impact and enhance our operational safety while delivering high-quality inspections.”

To remind, Petrobras awarded Fugro with a three-year contract for subsea IRM services back in the summer of 2021.

In March last year, Fugro and Petrobras performed what they said was the first-ever remote subsea inspection survey off the coast of Brazil. Fugro used an ROV deployed from the Fugro Aquarius to conduct the survey, which office-based personnel piloted from an operations center in Aberdeen, Scotland, instead of from the vessel.