zoomPhoto: Eni

Clean Sea, proprietary technology designed by Eni’s research laboratories, will be used for the first time for marine environmental monitoring and offshore asset inspection in the Mediterranean region and West Africa.

Clean Sea is the result of one of Eni’s most recent R&D projects, focusing on environmental characterization and protection.

According to the company, this technology should ensure improved marine environmental protection by enhancing the quality and quantity of monitored data, and it can be operated from conventional supply vessels. Clean Sea can be used in marine environments whenever inspection and monitoring of water quality is required, extending its application beyond the Oil & Gas industry.

The Clean Sea is an underwater vehicle characterized by multi-tasking interchangeable sensors optimized in a single integrated assembly. In addition, it has the capability to change its mission strategy in real time, as a function of sensor response.

Clean Sea can be operated in either AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) or ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle: surface controlled) mode.

Eni will establish two logistics bases, one in Angola for West Africa and the other in Sicily for the Mediterranean region, with a dedicated operative team to cover worldwide routine activity.

In the Mediterranean basin, Clean Sea will be operated by Enimed in Gela. Starting from the first quarter of 2016, two teams will be in charge of the maintenance and operation of the vehicle to provide underwater support services across the Mediterranean Sea. Planned operations include routine sealine inspections and seabed and seawater samplings for environmental monitoring.