Subsea Systems Institute (SSI)Texas Center of Excellence (RESTORE Act)Overview:A collaboration between the University of Houston, Rice University and NASA-Johnson Space Center. SSI pursues applied science and engineering technology development for hydrocarbon development of deep and ultra-deep water assets in the Gulf of Mexico and other regions

Mission:Positively impact offshore safety and efficiency through engagement with industry to develop the best available technology and risk mitigation practices for the GoM;Support economic and workforce development in partnership with industry.

Ramanan KrishnamoortiChief Energy Officer, University of HoustonDirector, Subsea Systems Instituteramanan@uh.edu713-743-4307

Airica RollinsProgram Manager, Subsea Systems Instituteaarollin@Central.uh.edu713-743-6273

www.subseasystems.institute 11

Subsea Systems Institute (SSI)Texas Center of Excellence (RESTORE Act)Completed Activities:• Subsea Power and Communications: Applicability of Acoustics• Model-Based Real-Time BOP Monitoring System• Drilling and Production Facility Monitoring: Seismic and Sonar Imaging• Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)• Development of Riser Gas Numerical Models• Flange Leak Detection: Piezo – Sensors

Ongoing Activities:• Subsea Power and Communications (HVDC, Long tie-backs & Acoustic)• Converged Riser Gas Modeling and Experimental Validation• Flexible Lightweight Batteries• Flange Leak Detection: Integration and Validation• Robotics and Automation: Smart Touch; Swarms of Drones; Robot Controlled Door Opening

Facilities/Equipment/Resources:• Power Electronics Laboratory including HPHT Facilities• Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) & Integration with Fiber Optics (FBG)• Flange Leak Detection: Non-Destructive Testing for API Specs

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Subsea Systems Institute (SSI)Texas Center of Excellence (RESTORE Act)The Look Ahead:1. RESTORE Act Bucket #1

• Digital Transformation• Workforce Development: Innovation, Training & Certification

2. RESTORE Act Bucket #5• Late Life Management: impact of digital transformation, robotics and automation; ROV and power systems; Impacting

Decommissioning and Abandonment: risk-based strategies for safe and economical D&A• Asset Integrity Management: GOM inventory management, IMR, predictive risk modeling, mitigation strategies and

economic decision-making

3. Subsea Power Consortium (PEMSEC)Members

4. Robotics & AutomationPartners

• Chevron • Typhoon • TechnipFMC

• BHGE • Shell

• Schlumberger • ExxonMobil

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• Total • Oceaneering • Shell

• DNVGL • WoodPLC • Chevron

• Taurob • Mitsubishi • Equinor

• Houston Mechatronics • ABS • ExxonMobil

Subsea Systems Institute (SSI)Texas Center of Excellence (RESTORE Act)

Future Opportunities and Initiatives for Impact:

• Power Systems for Offshore Energy

• Cybersecurity in Oil and Gas

• Digital Transformation

• Further Development of Robotics & Automation

• Riser Redesign & R&D for HPHT Materials

• Spill Detection

• Life Extension / Decommissioning of Offshore Assets• Offshore Asset Integrity

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Key Trends in the Offshore

a. Nominally unmanned facilities

b. Integration of Digital transformation

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Nominally Unmanned Facilities

• Greenfield & Brownfield Applications : Distinct and Unique• End-effectors and Tools (already underway at SSI)• Coordination with Nippon Foundation

• Possible workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in GoM: • Chevron, Oceaneering, Total, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Taurob, MHI, DNVGL,

Houston Mechatronics• Must include BP, Shell, Petrobras, Anadarko, Apache, Woodside, Aker, …• Drillers: Transocean, SeaDrill, Drillquip• Amazon for Inventory Control

• Subsea Inspections: Intersection with Offshore Wind Industry

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Initiatives for Impact: 1. Late Life Management• Impact of Digital Transformation, Robotics and Automation on Late Life

Management including Decommissioning and Abandonment

Background:• ~3,700 active platforms within the OCS; more than 40 % facilities are 25+ years old

• Industry averages >130 platform removals / yr

• Challenges for large platforms of >10,000 tons in deeper waters (BSEE: https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/environmental-focuses/decommissioning )

• Average lifetime of offshore oil and gas field: 25 – 40 yrs.(MarketWatch: https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/offshore-oil-gas-decommissioning-market-report-forecasts-2019-2029-2019-02-20 )

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Initiatives for Impact: 2. Asset Integrity

Asset Integrity of GoM Subsea Structures:• Inventory• Inspection – Maintenance – Repair (IMR)

• Conditional Monitoring, Protocol Employed and Operational State

• Maintenance Surveillance & Non-Destructive Evaluation of Assets

• Predictive Risk Modeling• Mitigation Strategies & Economic Decision Making

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Late Life Management & Asset Integrity Monitoring for GoMAutomation & Digitalization• Robotics – Inspection• Maintenance & Operations

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Continuous, Automated

Optimize and standardize late life maintenance of

critical items

Automate monitoring and maintenance of

critical items

AI/ML

assisted late life management

Fully automate late life

management

Short term Long termMedium term

Digital platform development and data

gatheringExtend life Decomissioning

simulation

AI assisted decommissioning

management

Short term Medium term Long term

Automated Operations

Digital & Virtual

Late Life Management for GoMMonitoring

• Remote or Robot Enhanced• Digitally & Technologically Enhanced

• Condition Based Monitoring

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Short Term Medium Term Long Term

Digital platform development and data

gathering

Autonomous remote surveying

of marine environment

AI enabled Subsea & Platform survey,

monitoring and reporting

Monitoring for Enhancing Late Life Management & Decommissioning

Life Extension for GoM PlatformsLife Extension Focus• Power

• Preservation Tech

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• Renewable Integration• HV DC / Long tie-backs

Short Term Medium Term Long Term

Replacing Diesel and NG based Power : HVDC & Long

tie-backs

Developing Modular Utilities

Eliminate all non-renewable power

IntegratingRenewables

Power & Utilities

Asset Integrity ManagementRisk-Based Inspection & Analytics Detection & Condition based Monitoring• AI/ML Sensors & Communication• Visualization Edge Computing

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Short term Medium term Long term

Risk-based inspection (RBI) Systems

AI/ML assisted asset integrity

Edge Computing Integrity

Improving Sensor & Communication Technologies

Data Analytics Driven Sensor Performance

Autonomous Systems for Monitoring & Remediation

Medium termShort term Long term

Inspection & Analytics

Condition Based Monitoring

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Funding (each project @ ~ 125 K / year)

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

Short TermEach Project for 12 months @

$125 K

ST1 ST3 ST5 ST7 ST9

ST2 ST4 ST6 ST8 ST10

Medium TermEach Project for 30 months @

$310 KStage / Gate after 6, 12 and 18

months

MT1 MT5

MT2 MT6

MT3 MT7

MT4 MT8

Long Term Each Project for 60 months @

$625 KStage / Gate after 12, 24, 36 and

48 months

LT1

LT2

Conclusion:• Late Life Management

• Impact of digital transformation, robotics and automation• Leveraging mature assets, but removing mature assests

• Asset Integrity• Inventory• IMR• Predictive risk modeling• Mitigation strategies & economic decision making

Thank you!

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