Reach Subsea AS has announced that TotalEnergies will support its qualification pilot program for the Reach Remote Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV), signaling a strong industry commitment to pioneering remote operations in offshore oil and gas. This milestone, following an initial agreement with Equinor earlier this year, marks a significant step toward validating Reach Remote technology, which promises increased safety, cost-efficiency, and environmental benefits.
The Reach Remote USV is a cutting-edge, 24-meter uncrewed vessel, equipped with advanced hull-mounted survey sensors and a Work Class Electric Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Designed to perform complex subsea operations, Reach Remote aims to revolutionize offshore tasks like ROV intervention, Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair (IMR), as well as comprehensive monitoring. By eliminating the need for a crewed vessel, Reach Remote reduces emissions by up to 90%, supporting industry goals for sustainability and carbon neutrality.
TotalEnergies sees the adoption of USVs as instrumental in achieving its carbon neutrality goals by 2050. "Uncrewed Surface Vessels provide valuable opportunities to enhance safety, reduce emissions, and decrease operational costs during IMR activities," said Andy Gower, R&D Subsea Robotics Lead at TotalEnergies. "This pilot allows us to explore safe and efficient operation methods for this emerging technology, aligning with our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint."
The pilot project, involving Equinor, TotalEnergies, and other major energy players, is slated for execution after vessel delivery, targeting active fields in the North Sea and Norwegian Sea, such as Troll, Gullfaks, Snorre, and Åsgard. Jostein Alendal, CEO of Reach Subsea, emphasized the program's strategic importance, stating, “We are thrilled to see strong market interest and active support from major contractors. Full-scale validation of Reach Remote by key industry leaders is a crucial step toward widespread deployment of this transformative technology."
News Source- https://reachsubsea.no/reach-subsea-gains-totalenergies-as-new-collaboration-partner-for-the-reach-remote-usv-qualification-program/