Woodside and a host of Perth companies have developed a new robotic inspection tool for its offshore platforms expected to halve survey costs, improve safety and avoid supply chain-induced delays.
The global energy giant designed, developed and deployed the caisson cleaning and inspection tool (CCAIT system) in less than one year with the help of Perth-based experts from engineering company Monadelphous, offshore services provider Fugro, industrial equipment supplier WOMA and tech firm Nexxis.
Woodside sought to develop the technology during the height of the COVID pandemic in the face of supply chain risks.
The CCAIT system comprises a robot which is lowered into the caisson to inspect the inside of the vertical 70-metre long carbon steel pipes used to house critical equipment.
The robot has extendable wheels and probe arms to centralise it and allow ultrasound inspection, with the high-definition footage collected and sent back to the asset team.
The ultra high-pressure cleaning tool is also capable of removing marine growth without damaging the coatings applied to protect the pipes.
Woodside technical services executive vice president Daniel Kalms said the system would remove the costs of mobilising tools from international locations, which have accelerated as a result of fractured supply chains.
Nexxis technology chief executive Jason De Silveira said the partnership with Woodside demonstrated the capability of the country’s advanced manufacturing sector to develop cutting-edge robotic technology.
“This collaboration highlights local capability and supports small to medium enterprises, creating jobs in the advanced manufacturing sector and pushing the frontier of robotics globally,” he said.
