Nauticus Robotics Inc. has secured a contract with Shell plc to provide inspection services for a subsea field development project in the Gulf of Mexico. The contract, the value of which has not been disclosed, has the potential for future inspection service projects.
Nauticus, a developer of ocean robots and artificial intelligence for autonomous services in the offshore industry, successfully qualified for autonomous subsea operations during the inspection services’ qualification phase. This achievement demonstrates the company’s successful transition into a fully operational offshore services provider.
The project will utilize Nauticus’ flagship autonomous subsea robot, Aquanaut, to perform noncontact and contact inspections across an extensive subsea complex. The Aquanaut will employ Nauticus’ first-to-market method for autonomous subsea manipulation on live subsea assets, even at water depths exceeding 3,281 feet (1000 meters). A remote pilot will collaborate with Aquanaut through Nauticus’ acoustic communications link to ensure safe operations.
The project also incorporates a “force multiplier” solution proposed by Shell, allowing multiple scopes of work to be executed simultaneously from a smaller class of service vessel that would not typically engage in inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) services. Aquanaut’s ability to operate without an umbilical connection is a key factor in the project’s success.
Nicolaus Radford, CEO of Nauticus, expressed his excitement at the long-term potential of the contract, stating that it offers visibility for future IMR services work with Shell and the opportunity to become their preferred supplier.
This recent contract with Shell follows Nauticus’ previous agreement with Petrobras to deploy Aquanaut in support of the oil major’s offshore activities. The Aquanaut will be used for infield inspection services in Petrobras’ Deepwater Production Field, further cementing Nauticus’ position as a leader in autonomous robotic technologies.
Nauticus has also been engaged by Equinor ASA for the deployment of their leak detection technology service. This pilot project aims to demonstrate and qualify Nauticus’ leak detection technology using autonomous robots. The project showcases the versatility and effectiveness of Nauticus’ fleet offering in addressing subsea operational challenges globally.
With a focus on data collection, analytics, and subsea manipulation capabilities, Nauticus aims to support asset maintenance while reducing operational footprint, costs, and greenhouse gas emissions. The company is dedicated to improving offshore health, safety, and environmental exposure.
Source(s):
– Shell plc
– Petrobras
– Equinor ASA