Neptune Energy announced that it has partnered with 3D technology specialist Eserv as part of ongoing digitalization of Neptune’s assets, including its operated Cygnus gas platform in the UK southern North Sea.
Using 3D and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, a digital map of all three bridge-linked jackets was captured, enabling Neptune to detect asset-integrity issues early and plan fabric maintenance work on Cygnus.
Specialist engineers and integrity experts now can perform a significant amount of their traditional work from onshore, reducing the cost and environmental impacts associated with traveling offshore.
The partnership with Eserv is part of the first phase of Neptune’s strategy to digitize its assets and processes and enables remote subject-matter-expert advice for offshore personnel and virtual visual inspections and site surveys.
“We are excited to be early adopters of such innovative technologies which can enhance the efficiency and safety of our operations, reduce costs and offshore travel, and enable greater collaboration between our onshore and offshore teams,” said Alexandra Thomas, Neptune’s UK managing director. “The use of digital technologies is particularly valuable at this time, given restrictions on travel and the necessity for social distancing offshore.”
The digital mapping of the Cygnus gas-production platform, which is capable of producing approximately 6% of UK domestic gas demand, is one element of the partnership with Aberdeen-based Eserv. As part of an ongoing digital transition, onshore teams can take a virtual walkthrough of the entire platform, plan work, and monitor changes in the physical structure, identifying potential issues early and accurately.
The AI element of the technology is being trained to identify thousands of individual components, valves, and other plant equipment and is learning how to spot potential integrity issues, including corrosion.
“Although remote and digital data solutions have come into their own this year due to travel and logistical restrictions, we have been advancing advocates of using 3D data to revolutionize the offshore maintenance and asset-integrity space for a number of years now,” said Dan Millard, Eserv’s managing director. “In fact, our flagship AS-TEG, that brings new digital applications and work flows together, is the result of 5 years of continuous research and development.”
Watch a digital fly-through of the Cygnus platform here: