Brussels, April 24, 2023: Rockwell Automation and TotalEnergies are collaborating on a project to implement a robot fleet management system for autonomous operations on offshore platforms.
According to a press note, the project aims to enable unmanned operations for long periods, reduce employee exposure to hazardous situations, increase safety, and further reduce CAPEX and OPEX. TotalEnergies has been investing in robots and remote operation for a decade, with autonomous surveillance and inspection robots certified to the ATEX explosive atmospheres standard. The new Robotic Supervision System (RSS) will allow onshore operators to remotely supervise and coordinate the robots using IoT technology, autonomously performing activities such as periodic inspection and maintenance tasks, as well as emergency response.
The use of robotics in the oil and gas sector has been a long-standing aspiration due to the difficult working conditions associated with offshore operations. Energy companies are investing in the use of robotics in these facilities to reduce employee exposure on platforms, attract young talent interested in new technologies, and increase safety. TotalEnergies has been investigating the use of ground robots to undertake manual tasks for five years, and the next step was to develop a control system to operate these robots remotely. The RSS will enable the company to achieve this goal.
Matt Graves, director at Kalypso, a Rockwell Automation company, stated that the strategic objective is to minimize employee exposure on offshore platforms. While some tasks have been automated, there are still tasks that require manual observation by operators. The RSS will address this issue by allowing for remote supervision and coordination of the robots using IoT technology, enabling them to perform a range of activities. The project will reach a significant milestone with its first test on an offshore asset scheduled for mid-2023.
The successful implementation of the RSS will bring autonomous cooperation one step closer for oil and gas operators. The knowledge gained from this project is also extendable to wind offshore projects. By using IoT, gamification, and digital twin technologies, Rockwell Automation and TotalEnergies are working towards a future where unmanned operations are the norm in the oil and gas industry.