If BP (NYSE:BP) can successfully put a new containment cap on the leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico using underwater robots, they should be able to contain the vast majority of oil spilling into the region.
The robot submarines will take off the old cap and replace with the new, or at least attempt to. There are a number of backup caps to put back on if the attempt fails.
The new cap will fit tighter and keep almost all of the oil from leaking, and would result in capturing up to 80,000 barrels a day, including a new vessel which would be attached to another part of the leak.
"This new sealing cap has not been deployed at these depths or under these conditions, and there can be no assurance that the sealing cap will be successfully installed or installed within the anticipated timeframe," BP said in a statement.
If successful, it will effectively stop the leaking oil well, while waiting for the relief wells to be put into effect, which will be the permanent solution to the leak.
Showing posts with label Underwater Robots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Underwater Robots. Show all posts
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Underwater Robot Sent to Oil Spill
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has launched an underwater robot in the oil spill area of the Gulf of Mexico to gather data to gain more information on the situation.
The robotic submersible will be able to get a clearer picture of what is happening under the waters, in order to complement the surface images and info gained from satellite and aircraft surveillance.
It will especially be able to probe the underwater oil plumes and see how extensive they are and a the nature of the challenge to deal with them.
The robotic vehicle is programmed on the surface before being released into the water, and then travel on their own through the water to gather data as the go.
The robotic submersible will be able to get a clearer picture of what is happening under the waters, in order to complement the surface images and info gained from satellite and aircraft surveillance.
It will especially be able to probe the underwater oil plumes and see how extensive they are and a the nature of the challenge to deal with them.
The robotic vehicle is programmed on the surface before being released into the water, and then travel on their own through the water to gather data as the go.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Underwater Robots to Identify Threats
Underwater Robots
Underwater laser networking and imaging technologies are being created to quickly identify and monitor potential threats in dark coastal waters.
Once finished, the laser imaging networks will be placed onboard a team of small underwater robots to be used for US military operations to find mines and enhance the security of coastal waters and ports. Images of suspicious objects can be transmitted immediately to a command centre for analysis.
“Underwater mines pose a major threat to U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and merchant fleets … using intelligent, adaptive laser imaging and communication techniques with swarms of co-operating underwater robots could provide identification-quality underwater imagery in real-time across much greater regions of seabed than current technology allows,” said Dr Fraser Dalgleish, principal investigator and assistant research professor at the Ocean Visibility and Optics Laboratory, Florida Atlantic University, USA.
Other uses include ecosystem monitoring and environmental assessment.
Underwater Robots
Underwater laser networking and imaging technologies are being created to quickly identify and monitor potential threats in dark coastal waters.
Once finished, the laser imaging networks will be placed onboard a team of small underwater robots to be used for US military operations to find mines and enhance the security of coastal waters and ports. Images of suspicious objects can be transmitted immediately to a command centre for analysis.
“Underwater mines pose a major threat to U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and merchant fleets … using intelligent, adaptive laser imaging and communication techniques with swarms of co-operating underwater robots could provide identification-quality underwater imagery in real-time across much greater regions of seabed than current technology allows,” said Dr Fraser Dalgleish, principal investigator and assistant research professor at the Ocean Visibility and Optics Laboratory, Florida Atlantic University, USA.
Other uses include ecosystem monitoring and environmental assessment.
Underwater Robots
Monday, June 8, 2009
Robot Control System to be Created for Next-generation Automated Drilling and Exploration Platforms
Under WaterRobot Control Systems
Advanced Control Systems Enable Robotic Oil and Natural Gas Drilling
Cambridge, MA /PRNewswire/ -- Seabed Rig AS has licensed technology and contracted with Energid Technologies Corporation to create a robot control system for its next-generation automated drilling and exploration platforms.
Seabed Rig AS is developing a new autonomous drilling rig that operates in ultra deep water and arctic environments. Unlike traditional surface operations, the new rigs will lie on the ocean floor and connect to a surface vessel for power and communication. This breakthrough patented approach will make it possible to explore and tap the estimated 40% of world oil reserves yet to be found that are in these extreme areas.
Practical operation on the hostile ocean floor is only possible using robotics. The robots maintaining the rig must be versatile and able to perform many tasks, from drill pipe insertion to maintenance and repair. They must be mechanically advanced and intelligently controlled.
Energid Technologies will use its premier robotics software, Actin(TM), to simulate and control the complex robots used by Seabed Rig. Actin will be responsible for coordinating the motion of multiple robots, each with many moving parts.
"We developed Actin for NASA robots," said Neil Tardella, COO at Energid, "for the harsh environment of space. With it, we can bring to reality Seabed Rig's startling vision of undersea robots."
Drilling oil wells from the turbulent ocean surface can cost more than $600,000 per day, with progress stopped by bad weather. And it can be very challenging to reach potentially rich resources in arctic and deep water. Seabed Rig has developed the safe, economical technology that will allow wells to be drilled under ice and at the bottom of the sea.
"Our approach is to remotely control the sea-floor drilling system from a surface ship," said Kenneth Mikalsen, Chief Technology Officer of Seabed Rig. "We encapsulate the system to make it environmentally friendly with no discharge to the sea."
Actin will allow the undersea kinematically redundant robot arms to reach around obstacles, optimize for strength, and smoothly avoid joint limits. "Actin will maximize performance and make control from the surface easier by allowing direct control over hand placement," said Mr. Mikalsen.
"Energid is going to help Seabed Rig change the way people think about offshore oil drilling," said David Askey, Chief Business Development Officer at Energid.
For more information, contact Mary Salzman at Energid Technologies, +1.617.401.7090 x 420, or Roald Valen at Seabed Rig, +47.938.31.301.
About Energid Technologies
Energid Technologies develops tools for robotic applications in the aerospace, agriculture, transportation, defense, and medical industries. Energid's Actin(TM) and Selectin(TM) products provide advanced robotics technology in the form of extensible software toolkits. Energid specializes in the sensing, control, and simulation of complex systems. For more information, please visit www.energid.com.
About Seabed Rig
Seabed Rig AS is developing an innovative sea bed drilling rig to carry out cost-effective drilling from a location at the sea bed, in deep waters and in arctic areas. The Seabed Rig is unmanned with automated and robotized working operations that are remotely controlled from an interactive 3D interface. For more information, please visit www.seabedrig.no
Actin, Selectin, and the Energid logo are trademarks of Energid Technologies Corporation.
SOURCE Energid Technologies Corporation
Underwater Robot Control Systems
Advanced Control Systems Enable Robotic Oil and Natural Gas Drilling
Cambridge, MA /PRNewswire/ -- Seabed Rig AS has licensed technology and contracted with Energid Technologies Corporation to create a robot control system for its next-generation automated drilling and exploration platforms.
Seabed Rig AS is developing a new autonomous drilling rig that operates in ultra deep water and arctic environments. Unlike traditional surface operations, the new rigs will lie on the ocean floor and connect to a surface vessel for power and communication. This breakthrough patented approach will make it possible to explore and tap the estimated 40% of world oil reserves yet to be found that are in these extreme areas.
Practical operation on the hostile ocean floor is only possible using robotics. The robots maintaining the rig must be versatile and able to perform many tasks, from drill pipe insertion to maintenance and repair. They must be mechanically advanced and intelligently controlled.
Energid Technologies will use its premier robotics software, Actin(TM), to simulate and control the complex robots used by Seabed Rig. Actin will be responsible for coordinating the motion of multiple robots, each with many moving parts.
"We developed Actin for NASA robots," said Neil Tardella, COO at Energid, "for the harsh environment of space. With it, we can bring to reality Seabed Rig's startling vision of undersea robots."
Drilling oil wells from the turbulent ocean surface can cost more than $600,000 per day, with progress stopped by bad weather. And it can be very challenging to reach potentially rich resources in arctic and deep water. Seabed Rig has developed the safe, economical technology that will allow wells to be drilled under ice and at the bottom of the sea.
"Our approach is to remotely control the sea-floor drilling system from a surface ship," said Kenneth Mikalsen, Chief Technology Officer of Seabed Rig. "We encapsulate the system to make it environmentally friendly with no discharge to the sea."
Actin will allow the undersea kinematically redundant robot arms to reach around obstacles, optimize for strength, and smoothly avoid joint limits. "Actin will maximize performance and make control from the surface easier by allowing direct control over hand placement," said Mr. Mikalsen.
"Energid is going to help Seabed Rig change the way people think about offshore oil drilling," said David Askey, Chief Business Development Officer at Energid.
For more information, contact Mary Salzman at Energid Technologies, +1.617.401.7090 x 420, or Roald Valen at Seabed Rig, +47.938.31.301.
About Energid Technologies
Energid Technologies develops tools for robotic applications in the aerospace, agriculture, transportation, defense, and medical industries. Energid's Actin(TM) and Selectin(TM) products provide advanced robotics technology in the form of extensible software toolkits. Energid specializes in the sensing, control, and simulation of complex systems. For more information, please visit www.energid.com.
About Seabed Rig
Seabed Rig AS is developing an innovative sea bed drilling rig to carry out cost-effective drilling from a location at the sea bed, in deep waters and in arctic areas. The Seabed Rig is unmanned with automated and robotized working operations that are remotely controlled from an interactive 3D interface. For more information, please visit www.seabedrig.no
Actin, Selectin, and the Energid logo are trademarks of Energid Technologies Corporation.
SOURCE Energid Technologies Corporation
Underwater Robot Control Systems
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