IMPROVING THE OPERABILITY OF REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLES

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 849
Author(s):  
A.J. Woods ◽  
J.D. Penrose ◽  
A.J. Duncan ◽  
R. Koch ◽  
D. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Visual Information ◽  
Vision System ◽  
Control Process ◽  
Inertial System ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Stereoscopic Display ◽  
Remotely Operated Vehicles ◽  
Cooperative Research ◽  
North West ◽  
The North

Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV's) have a significant support role to play in offshore petroleum production facilities. The extent to which ROVs can replace diver-based operations depends significantly on ROV capacity and the relative costs of mobilising and implementing the two modes of underwater operation. This paper presents work directed at two aspects of ROV operability: the quality of visual information presented to the ROV pilots and the degree of station keeping control exhibited by the vehicle.Significant improvement in pilot performance of selected maintenance-type tasks has been achieved by the use of a purpose built underwater stereoscopic video camera and associated ship-based stereoscopic display unit. Two generations of cameras have now been built and used on a Perry Triton vehicle in use at the North Rankin A platform on the North West Shelf.In a related program, stereoscopic images of the platform structure are processed to determine the relative position of the ROV. Changes in position are used as inputs to thruster control algorithms, with a view to enabling the vehicle to hold position in fluctuating current fields. The position data from the processed 3D images are linked to output from an on-board inertial system to enable position to be maintained despite periodic loss of visual information.First trials of the combined vision-inertial system indicated some success, notably using the vision system, but indicated difficulties with the inertial package and its integration into the control process. An extension of this project is now being supported by the Australian Maritime Engineering Cooperative Research Centre (AMECRC).

WELL-BORE INSTABILITY IN THE NORTH WEST SHELF OF AUSTRALIA

1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
C.P. Tan ◽  
D.R. Willoughby ◽  
R.R. Hillis ◽  
S. Zhou ◽  
H-B Mühlhaus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Centre ◽  
Well Bore ◽  
Cooperative Research ◽  
Stress Regime ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
In Situ Stresses ◽  
Stress Changes ◽  
Contour Plots

Well-bore instability, experienced mainly in shales, has resulted in significant drilling delays and abandonment of wells in the North West Shelf of Australia. Although these problems may be induced by physico-chemical interactions, there is an increasing awareness that instability in this region is principally associated with in situ stresses that are high relative to the strength of the materials.This paper describes the research undertaken by the Australian Petroleum Cooperative Research Centre to assist industry in understanding and managing stress-induced well-bore instability in this region. To conduct such stability analyses the basic information required includes knowledge of the orientation and magnitude of the principal in situ stresses and the strength and deformation response of the materials to stress changes imposed by drilling. The required data can be determined using welllogging, analytical and laboratory techniques.Analytical methods can be used to examine the relationship between well-bore stability and changes introduced through drilling. Spreadsheets based on the analytical methods have been produced and applied to the assessment of drilling alternatives and/or design of some well-bores in the North West Shelf.The application of the critical mud weight contour plots and mud weight stability profiles produced by the spreadsheets in assessing drilling alternatives, selection of optimum well-bore alignment and mud weight design are demonstrated through examples. The analyses showed that counter to intuitive expectations, an inclined well may be more stable than a vertical well depending on the well-bore direction, deviation angle and stress regime.

Building a world-class Australian decommissioning industry

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kym Bills
Keyword(s):  
Science Research ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Marine Science ◽  
Australian Government ◽  
Cooperative Research ◽  
North West ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
World Class ◽  
The University

Collaboration in decommissioning offshore infrastructure could save both industry and taxpayers billions of dollars and facilitate new industries and exports for Australia, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. At the end of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant construction boom, Australia must not miss out on this major new opportunity. The 2017 bid for Commonwealth funding to establish a Decommissioning Offshore Infrastructure Cooperative Research Centre (DOI-CRC) involved more than 30 participants and many other collaborators. High-level commitments were made by Chevron, Woodside, Shell, BHP, ExxonMobil, Quadrant, The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, the University of New South Wales, Deakin University, Australian Maritime College, CSIRO and Australian Institute of Marine Science. A Perth-based DOI-CRC was supported by National Energy Resources Australia, National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority and other Australian Government bodies and by the Western Australian Government and its Chief Scientist and agencies but did not receive sufficient support from the CRC Advisory Committee. Meeting decommissioning challenges in the North West Shelf, Bass Strait and the Northern Territory in a timely, robust, scientific, efficient and cost-effective manner that contributes to a sustainable marine environment should draw upon and augment international best practice with local capability and expertise. Good science and innovative engineering are needed to support regulatory approval of options such as ‘rigs to reefs’ and commercial opportunities such as in waste management and expanded fishing and tourism. APPEA and operators wish to maintain DOI-CRC’s momentum and learn from UK research arrangements through funding marine science projects. But we must be much broader if we are to build a sustainable world-class Australian decommissioning industry. In particular, we need to work more closely with state and federal regulators and policymakers and undertake more engineering science research and innovation.

THE APPLICATION OF STEREOSCOPIC VIDEO TO UNDERWATER REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLES

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 797 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Woods
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Spatial Relationship ◽  
Video Camera ◽  
Stereoscopic Display ◽  
Stereoscopic Video ◽  
Remotely Operated Vehicles ◽  
Video System ◽  
North West ◽  
Manipulator Arm ◽  
Relationship Of

A stereoscopic video system for use with Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) has been developed by Curtin University's Centre for Marine Science and Technology. The system provides ROV operators with a fully three-dimensional (stereoscopic) view of the ROVs surroundings. This increased perception of depth offers several advantages to both the piloting of ROVs and also to the operation of an ROV manipulator arm.The stereoscopic video system consists of an underwater stereoscopic video camera which fits on the ROV and a stereoscopic display which is installed in the ship-based ROV control room. The system was developed in close cooperation with Woodside Offshore Petroleum which has used the system on their Triton ROV. Three ROVs are currently operated at Woodside's oil fields on Western Australia's North West Shelf.Field use of the system on the Triton ROV has revealed many advantages of stereoscopic video. One of the areas where advantages are particularly evident is in the operation of the manipulator arm. Operators have reported that it is perceptually easier to perform manipulator tasks. This is because the spatial relationship of objects can be immediately identified, making object placement and alignment easier. The system also provides a better understanding of the work site and a perceived improvement in image quality and therefore improved visibility.

Stockholm Agreement—Past, Present, Future (Part 1)

2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (03) ◽  
pp. 137-158
Author(s):  
Dracos Vassalos ◽  
Apostolos Papanikolaou
Keyword(s):  
Status Quo ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
New Developments ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
The Status ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
The University ◽  
North And South ◽  
South Of Europe

April 1, 2001 marked the fourth anniversary of the Stockholm Agreement (SA), a period during which almost 80% of the roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) fleet in North West Europe have been subjected to calculations, model testing and numerical simulations in the struggle to meet these demanding new requirements. The experience gained has been invaluable in understanding better the problem at hand and is being utilized to shape new developments likely to lead to more meaningful requirements. The North-South divide, however, continues to cause unrest, particularly at the European level. Efforts to assess the status quo in North West Europe, and to use the information amassed so far as a means to predict the potential impact of introducing the SA in the South, led to a dedicated call by the Commission and to a contract being awarded to two closely collaborating teams, one at the Ship Stability Research Centre of the University of Strathclyde under the leadership of Professor Vassalos and one at the Ship Design Laboratory of the National Technical University of Athens, under the leadership of Professor Papanikolaou, representing the North and South of Europe, respectively. This background provided the incentive for an introspective look at the SA, with a view to ascertaining its status before embarking into future projections. This forms Part 1 of the SA related research with Part 2 aiming to cover the results of the Commission study itself.

scholarly journals NEW CHRONOSTRATIC SCHEME OF SOUTH-EASTERN FENNOSCANDIA AND ITS USE IN THE PREPARATION OF SMALL-SCALE GEOLOGICAL MAPS OF THE PRECAMBRIAN REGIONS

2017 ◽  
pp. 5-12
Author(s):  
V. S. Kulikov ◽  
V. V. Kulikova ◽  
A. K. Polin
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Geological Maps ◽  
Geological Map ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Academy Of Sciences

A new chronostratic scheme of South-East (SE) Fennoscandia has been developed, based on the International Stratigraphie Scale, taking into account some elements of the Common Stratigraphic Scale of Russia and the regional stratigraphic scheme of the North-West (NW) of Russian Federation. A rank of Archean and Proterozoic stratons has been determined (including supersystems for Riphean and Archean geonotems), compatable in dutation to the Phanerozoic systems (Mesozoic and Paleozoic ones). An original coloring for the geological maps of the newly allocated systems and their analogues in the Precambrian, as well as the digital indexing of all stratons of the rank of systems instead of the traditional alphabetic one, have been proposed. Based on the extensive geological materials of the Institute of Geology of Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in view of the new approaches and reliable geochronological data, an areal geological map of SE Fennoscandia in scale 1: 750 000 has been created, which includes the territory of Karelia and adjacent areas of the Russian Federation and eastern Finland. The proposed chronostratic scheme can serve as a basis for developing legends of small-scale state geological maps of the new generation, especially in the regions of the Precambrian development.

SEM and TEM observations of sperm development in the testis of the freshwater fish Oreochromis mossambicus

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 58-59
Author(s):  
Daryl A. Cornish ◽  
George L. Smit
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Oreochromis Mossambicus ◽  
Breeding Cycle ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Sem And Tem ◽  
Sperm Development ◽  
Ultrastructural Characteristics ◽  
The University

Oreochromis mossambicus is currently receiving much attention as a candidater species for aquaculture programs within Southern Africa. This has stimulated interest in its breeding cycle as well as the morphological characteristics of the gonads. Limited information is available on SEM and TEM observations of the male gonads. It is known that the testis of O. mossambicus is a paired, intra-abdominal structure of the lobular type, although further details of its characteristics are not known. Current investigations have shown that spermatids reach full maturity some two months after the female becomes gravid. Throughout the year, the testes contain spermatids at various stages of development although spermiogenesis appears to be maximal during November when spawning occurs. This paper describes the morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of the testes and spermatids.Specimens of this fish were collected at Syferkuil Dam, 8 km north- west of the University of the North over a twelve month period, sacrificed and the testes excised.

The North West Passage

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roald Amundsen ◽  
Godfred Hansen
Keyword(s):  
North West ◽  
The North
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