Subsea Asset Loca-on Technologies (SALT) Ltd Introduc*on to SonarBell and its applica*ons

Transcription

1 Subsea Asset Loca-on Technologies (SALT) Ltd Introduc*on to SonarBell and its applica*ons

2 Agenda Introduc*on to the SonarBell Technology Commercial Markets SALTs Automa*c Detec*on So>ware Case Studies Ques*ons

3 SonarBell an introduc*on to the technology

4 SALT - Introduc*on SonarBell was developed by the UK Ministry of Defence s Science Technology Laboratories (Dstl) to provide: Spin out company from UK MoD Exclusive license for SonarBell technology Core patents owned by MoD Addi*onal patents owned by SALT SALT con*nuing to develop applica*ons / technology Company founded in Feb 2008 Based in Portland, Dorset Product in use across mul*ple sectors Wide range of applica*on across a broad range of market sectors

5 SonarBell - provenance Original Idea Icosahedron Corner reflector (le>). SonarBell Developed by UK MoD Defence Science and technology laboratories (Dstl) to provide: A highly efficient & non magne*c sonar target Easy to handle Cheaper than alterna*ves Have minimal maintenance.

6 Technology What is the SonarBell? The SonarBell works through the construc*ve interference of sound waves when they meet a>er transi*ng the shell and core It is totally passive and omnidirec*onal Maximum target strength varies from - 5 db to - 30 db across the frequency range of 4 khz to 900 khz* Specific frequencies and target strengths are achieved by changing the thickness of the shell and other proper*es The range depends on SonarBell size and frequency of the sonar * For a 200 mm sphere

7 SonarBell Technology (con*nued) The SonarBell also has addi*onal features to detect against: Unique frequency response Two echo's, with an acous*c diameter Phase difference between the two echoes Allowing mul*ple signatures Passive USBL applica*ons Direc*onal response Narrow beam widths, point source

8 SonarBell response Each SonarBell unit can be customised to give the following results: Calibrated to a target strength at a required frequency A broadband frequency response A single / mul*ple frequency response peaks Coated to only respond at certain frequencies Top Image: Indicates the ability to have a general broadband signal response. Bo;om Image: (red- front reflec@on / blue is rear echo) designed to provide peak response.

9 Typical return from a SonarBell SonarBell has two reflec*ons A Front Echo (lower level) B Focused Return (high level) B A SonarBell B A B A Tx/Rx

10 Dis*nguishing between different diameters Dis*nguishing between different SonarBells acous*cally, is made easier by changing the overall diameter of the SonarBell. The acous*c diameter can be found by measuring the *me difference between the front and back echo. The acous*c diameter is larger than the balls physical diameter due to the speed of sound in the core being slower than the speed of sound in water Amplitude (V) E E E E E E mm 200mm Time (s)

11 SonarBell Alachments SonarBell can be alached to almost anything The SonarBell comes with a standard net At manufacture the SonarBell can be modified to take a rigid stanchion that can be screwed into the shell material Alachments Standard net Inline net Float and net alachment Rigid stanchion Magne*c stanchion Any single point stanchion to meet your needs

12 SonarBell compared to exis*ng marking / iden*fica*on op*ons

13 Corner Reflectors Transponders SonarBell Solu-on Low Capex / Opex Cost ü X ü Omni Direc-onal X ü ü Passive ü X ü Small, lightweight ü * ü ü Low Interven-on / Life-me ü / X X / X ü / ü Iden-fica-on of Assets X ü In development Reliability X ü ü Environmentally Friendly ü X ü Low cost, short term, limited effec*veness: Poten*ally highly capable but: Low cost, long life, new installa*on op*ons Suffers from now you see it, now you don t (poor reflec*on from some angles) Baleries have to be changed at regular intervals high cost of ownership Cost of purchase reducing, cost of ownership minimal Cannot differen*ate assets Lithium baleries - high environmental cost Long term fit and forget alterna*ve Comments Easily get fouled with marine life giving degrada*on in performance * Military grade corner reflectors are heavy If Baleries run flat, transponder and equipment it is marking can be lost Widespread use provides risk reduc*on Asset differen*a*on /labeling capability proven

14 SonarBell SAILS SonarBell Automa*c Intelligent Labelling System

15 Detec*on so>ware in use Raw sonar data Detec*on So>ware Raw data turned off; detec*ons le> on

16 SonarBell Intelligent Labelling System Raw Data - SonarBell Returns SonarBell Iden*fica*on

17 Palern Matching Nega*ve match Posi*ve match

18 SonarBell Market Opportuni*es

19 Substan-al Mul-ple Industry Market Opportuni-es Oil & Gas Renewables & Power Marine Industrial Defence & Security Fishing & Aquaculture Archaeological Scien*fic & Environmental

20 SonarBell commercial markets

21 through life use of SonarBell technology Oil and Gas Survey & Installa*on Monitoring & Maintenance Decommissioning can be used to assist a host of installa*on tasks and provide a low cost and re- usable solu*on. Posi*oning subsea structures on the seabed requires accurate reference points. Posi*oning a pipe or cable to ensure accurate touch down in congested areas avoiding collateral damage can necessitate considerable extra programme cost. U*lising SonarBell as part of the posi*oning solu*on could improve the accuracy of such sonar driven opera*ons significantly. SonarBell can be kept in place for future installa*on opera*ons. Alaching a SonarBell along a seabed asset will create a series of bright echoes to guide an ROV or AUV to the target area during its inspec*on procedure. It is possible to create different SonarBell combina*ons to mark different points along the path. Where a cable, pipe or fibre is buried, SonarBell can assist in monitoring the status of the protec*ve covering to ensure it is maintained in accordance with best prac*ce or contractual obliga*ons. Decommissioning is a costly process for an asset that is no longer delivering revenue. If SonarBell units are filed then the *me taken to recover the component parts from the ocean floor can poten*ally be reduced, increasing opera*onal efficiency and reducing costs Where assets are broken up and le> on the seabed for later recovery alaching SonarBell units ensures all parts are recovered. The addi*on of SonarBell to the subsea structures may negate need for removal as they will be clearly iden*fiable.

22 Cable Industry Applica*ons Cable posi*oning Cable monitoring Monitoring cable during lay process Monitoring a laid cable over *me Marking of duct entrances Marking of cable ends Marking of cable crossover/matresses Marking of wet stored cable Cable repair Accurate prepara*on for cable lay Cable scour monitoring

23 Underwater Roadways Do you need to know your posi*on underwater? No you don t Acous*c posi*oning systems are widely used provides posi*on informa*on naviga*on to a new loca*on is supported by moving posi*ons fundamentally change of loca*on is required not posi*onal informa*on, e.g. home to work Underwater Roadways provide an alterna*ve method of suppor*ng movement between loca*ons

24 Underwater Roadways Predefined, safe routes that provide a simple and intui*ve method of movement between loca*ons underwater Actual Each roadway is marked by a trail of SonarBells omni- direc*onal response maintenance free expected life > 20 years limitless endurance accessible to all visible by sonar Roadway networks contain familiar features straights, curves, junc*ons Concept under development by SALT Sonar Response local water demonstra*on test bed future SATNAV type display for ROV pilots (basis of AUV guidance system) User Interface

25 Spool ma*ng Aids final connec*on of spool to flange SonarBells filed onto ma*ng parts allows rela*ve posi*ons to be observed using sonar Extension allows ma*ng trajectories to be es*mated Benefits real- *me monitoring of posi*on and alignment extension supports alignment trajectories no requirements for second monitoring ROV low- risk / low- cost adop*on strategy parallel opera*on with current methods easy removal of SonarBells a>er use

26 a of Defence and Security applica*ons SonarBell Calibra-on System (SCS) Portable system for the calibra*on and alignment of radar and sonar systems, to provide a coherent mari*me picture above and below water. SonarBell Underwater Mine Marking System (SUMMS) A totally passive device, non magne*c high acous*c signature - ideal device for marking mines or other objects for destruc*on. SonarBell Performance and Training System (SPATS) Knowing the effec*ve range of a swimmer detec*on sonar is vital if intercep*on teams are to be effec*ve - SonarBells used as range markers provide that piece of mind. SonarBell Equipment Tracking System - (SETS) Passive tracking of underwater vehicles for in- service posi*on monitoring and asset recovery. SonarBell Entry, Exit And Recovery System - (SEEARS) Suppor*ng combat swimmers during the entry, exit and recovery opera*onal phases and marking the loca*on of equipment.

27 SonarBell Case Studies

28 Applica*on: Installa*on And Construc*on Descrip*on ROVs operated from survey vessel separate to installa*on vessel touch down posi*on and equipment shape in the water column monitor Opera*onal Efficiency Compe**ve Advantage Value Alaching SonarBells to the equipment at regular intervals during installa*on makes the pipe highly visible to the ROV ensuring the operator keeps the ROV clear of the pipe / installa*on vessel Tendering advantage due to cost savings as ROV can be run from installa*on vessel Increased profitability through increased efficiency and less equipment required Poten*al for no second vessel (average North Sea day rate of 50,000 per day)

29 Applica*on: Installa*on And Construc*on So>ware can dis*nguish between different sized SonarBell and give each unit a lat/long or range/bearing Raw Data So>ware output showing bolom lock and SonarBell detec*ons

30 Case Study: Monitoring Subsea Cables & Pipelines Client Project Value Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) Bay of Fundy *dal power genera*on power cable movement monitoring (strong currents, 19.5m *dal range) Standard survey / installa*on equipment (ROV, trenching machines etc) unable to be used in such strong currents SonarBells enable detec*on of cable, monitoring of movement and posi*oning accurately ploled in GIS system Tidal power generator, power cable and SonarBell GIS map with SonarBell co- ordinates ploled Ini*al Survey Subsequent Survey

31 Case Study: Pipeline Marking Demonstra*on Loca-on: Fort William, UK 12 SonarBell units deployed on a downward gradient 11 x 100mm (4 ) & 1 x 200mm (8 ) SonarBell units set 15m apart to simulate a pipeline Underwater centre s ROV deployed with Tritech Seaking ROV able to track SonarBells along seabed to 200mm SonarBell at the end of the string at 60m depth

32 Sonar Gain High Sonar Gain Low Proving SonarBell has a high target strength compared to other reflec*ons on the seabed as they are s*ll visible with a lower gain seung

33 Applica*on: Enabling AUV Opera*ons Descrip*on Opera*onal Efficiency Compe**ve Advantage Value AUVs require naviga*on control and beacons to track assets and find docking/ charging/data download sta*ons Exis*ng naviga*on solu*ons lose posi*on and need regular calibra*on Using SonarBells to mark areas of interest enables permanent and accurate naviga*on and posi*oning Enables prolonged AUV opera*ons Cost and *me effec*ve, ac*ve devices / beacons not suitable / too costly for long- term development Enables reliable AUV opera*ons in a broader opera*ng environment e.g. garaging opera*ons which were not previously possible

34 Aiding AUV/ROV Docking Output from SALT s labelling so>ware Crosses indicate false targets Plus signs indicate SonarBell posi*ons The colours denote different sized SonarBells + = 200mm SonarBell + = 150mm SonarBell + = 100mm SonarBell

35 SALT Customer Por^olio Defence Oil & Gas Sonar Manufacture

36 SALT Customer Por^olio Environmental Fisheries Offshore Power

37 Operational SonarBells in the world

38 Subsea Asset Loca-on Technologies (SALT) Ltd. 19 Portland Marina Osprey Quay Hamm Beach Road Portland Dorset DT5 1DX Tel: +44 (0)