Norway: Bowtech Supplies Vision System to Imes for Riser Inspection of BP’s Skarv Project

Bowtech Products Ltd, a global market leader in subsea vision systems, announced that it was awarded a contract by Imes earlier in 2012, to supply cameras and lights for a Riser Visual Inspection System, which has been used on BP Norge’s Skarv development project in the Norwegian Sea.

The contract from Imes involved the supply of the camera and lighting components for a visual inspection system, capable of monitoring the pull-in and hand-off of flexible risers on BP Norge’s Skarv FPSO. The system included four sets of cameras and lights, all of which were certified explosion proof to ATEX regulations and installed at 90° intervals around the i-tube, similar to the riser system already in use on the BP Schiehallion FPSO.

The system also permitted the inspection of the whole circumference of the tube and inspection over a vertical length of around 30 metres, using articulated belts and was designed to operate in air, as well as underwater, in water depths of up to 100 metres.

Mike Winstanley, Sales Director at Bowtech Products said: “We were honoured to work again with Imes and BP on our third Riser Visual Inspection System project, which we have been advised has been a valuable tool for monitoring the pull-in and hang-off of the flexible riser system on the FPSO. This work has led to many other visual monitoring and inspection solutions being designed and delivered by Bowtech Products and we look forward to working together on future projects.”

Reinhardt Fuhrmann, Technology and Services Manager at Imes continued: “The project has been successfully delivered by the very positive partnership between the companies; individual but complimentary skill sets and experiences working together to generate a workable solution.”