Page 51 - Danish Offshore Industry 2020

It took a handful of technicians and engineers from SubC Partner four months to develop the concept for the robotic crawler. Just two years have passed
from the first prototype to what is now the fourth generation.
Photo: Niels Husted

offshore operator is so pleased with the result that the “The crawler replaces a diving team and a vessel. This
robot won Total’s Best Innovators Award in the category makes it cost-effective and safer. The crawler can also
Technical Innovation Solutions in 2019. work in the winter when we have otherwise been unable
to work due to harsh weather. The solution thus creates
“When they first saw the crawler in action using our dia- more time for other tasks during the full summer sea-
mond wire saw, they were really impressed,” said Tonny son,” says Tonny Klein.
Klein.
It is a sought-after tool.
Total’s support has had a high impact on the develop-
ment of the robotic crawler, he emphasises: “It is a product which was designed for Total’s tasks in
connection with the Tyra Redevelopment project, and
“Total deserve full acknowledgement for the support they have been a great ambassador for us. Therefore,
they have given the project. They described their needs we’ve been around to present it to the other Total de-
for a tool, and then basically left us to develop the solu- partments in the group,” says Tonny Klein:
tion freely. In the offshore industry, which can otherwise
be characterised by a conservative mindset, we were “For us, it is an excellent opportunity. We can work all
given room to be innovative. This is a new and positive over the world just for Total, but others need help too.
trend for Total,” says Tonny Klein. The interest is there from several other operators,” says
Tonny Klein.
COST-EFFICIENT AND SAFE
Each robotic crawler is accompanied by a team of up to SCALABLE
five people, and during operations it is guided by a sin- For SubC, the development of the robotic crawler has
gle person. It is a much more cost-effective solution: had a significant impact. The project is “absolutely scal- ▲

49 / SUBC’S INNOVATIVE ROBOT OPENS DOORS TO NEW MARKETS