WFS Technologies Demonstrates Wireless-Enabled OneSubsea SCM

WFS Technologies demonstrated a wirelessly-enabled OneSubsea SCM (Subsea Control Module) at a recent demonstration at NASAs Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) using Seatooth enabled subsea wireless radio products in conjunction with a Seatooth PipeLogger network system and viewed in real time using a Seatooth Video unit.

NASA Neutral Buoyancy Lab

The wireless sensor network comprising two Seatooth® PipeLoggers and a Seatooth Controller Unit was deployed with one Seatooth PipeLogger measuring the temperature of a jumper, the second transmitting temperature data from a ‘buried’ location. The Seatooth Controller unit used a wireless RS232 module to integrate with the OneSubsea SCM to provide real time data monitoring and control. The OneSubsea SCM was Seatooth Video enabled using a Seatooth wireless Ethernet bridge and the video data transmitted provided real time video streaming through water of the Seatooth PipeLogger demonstration.

Each WFS Technologies Seatooth PipeLogger unit houses two temperature sensors: one measures core temperature of the pipe and the other measures surrounding seawater temperature. The use of wireless, non-penetrating sensors delivers significant cost savings on installation, removing the requirement to ‘hot-tap’ and lay cables. It also delivers operational flexibility – a Seatooth PipeLogger can be attached to a pipe using magnetic clamps in a matter of minutes and removed with ease. In addition, using non-penetrating sensors removes the corrosion, plugging and cleaning problems associated with penetrative sensors.

In addition, the Seatooth PipeLogger systems are integrated with Seatooth Ensure, WFS’s proprietary battery management system technology which enables the battery life of deployed subsea assets to be extended to up to 15 years.

The use of WFS Technologies Seatooth Video and Seatooth PipeLogger products can provide increased subsea production and deliver operating cost saving to the Offshore Oil & Gas industry by improving asset installation, integrity management and flow assurance as well as extending the working life of subsea assets.

When discussing the demonstration, Paul Tooms, advisory board member at WFS Technologies and former Chief Engineer at BP, said “WFS battery management technology is potentially game changing for the subsea industry. It creates the possibility that sensors can be installed subsea to monitor assets for a number of years without the need for expensive ROV intervention. Combined with the ability to retrieve data wirelessly, this would have great implications for monitoring long term issues such as fatigue or corrosion defects.”