In response to increasing demand for remote offshore services, Fugro has completed the Middle East’s first fully autonomous geophysical shallow-water route survey on June 23.
Controlled from their remote operations center in Abu Dhabi, an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) captured a full range of geophysical data across a survey area some 40 km out from the coast of Abu Dhabi to support a client’s critical project entirely remotely.
The results of the fully autonomous geophysical shallow-water route survey comprised conductivity, temperature, depth and salinity (CTDS) profiles, bathymetry data, seabed imaging, sub-bottom profiles, and ferrous object detection such as pipes, etc. The efficiency gains and material reductions from using Fugro’s remote and autonomous solution, rather than a conventionally mobilized and crewed survey, included reduced HSSE exposure and significant client cost savings. Fugro’s USVs also have a much lower carbon footprint than a regular survey vessel.
“Witnessing this ambitious concept transformed into reality is a landmark moment in the Middle East that has resulted in the successful delivery of a critical seabed characterization report based solely on our autonomously acquired Geo-data,” Gerard Ferreira, Fugro’s service line director for Marine Geophysics in the Middle East, said.
Recommended Reading
Trump to End Need for Some LNG Export Permit Renewals, Sources Say
2025-01-15 - Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has said he would issue an LNG order on day one that would end the pause on approvals for new LNG projects that outgoing President Joe Biden put in place in January last year.
CEO: TotalEnergies to Expand US LNG Investment Over Next Decade
2025-02-06 - TotalEnergies' investments could include expansion projects at its Cameron LNG and Rio Grande LNG facilities on the Gulf of Mexico, CEO Patrick Pouyanne said.
Court Rejects Activists’ Protest of Woodside LNG Pipeline Project
2025-03-31 - Woodside Energy Group prevailed against environmental groups’ arguments to stop a pipeline to Louisiana LNG in a case that originated before the Australian company bought the project.
DOE Secretary Wright Grants Delfin LNG Extension for Exports
2025-03-10 - Delfin LNG's floating LNG export project in the Gulf of Mexico is authorized to export up to 1.8 Bcf/d, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said at CERAWeek.
DOE Approves Non-FTA Permit Extension for Golden Pass LNG
2025-03-05 - Golden Pass LNG will become the ninth U.S. LNG export facility following the U.S. Department of Energy’s approval for an extension of its non-free trade agreement permit.