Application of Variable Buoyancy Systems with Fraser Pritchard of Smarter Subsea Handling

Abstract

The offshore energies sectors are seeing the need for greater maritime innovation in lifting and handling subsea infrastructure. Cheaper, repeatable, autonomous, and low emissions are the needs of subsea deployment and recovery.

Smarter Subsea Handling’s pioneering variable buoyancy systems exemplifies innovation and automation in the subsea environment that addresses the many challenges of maritime decarbonisation, repetitive deployments, vessel capacity constraints, cost efficiency and the ESG agenda.

This presentation will introduce the ROVAR variable buoyancy products for subsea construction support and infrastructure removal, and provide an overview of the technology, explore the various opportunities it can address in oil & gas and offshore wind, and demonstrate how subsea operations can be automated across multiple offshore energies sectors.

The products address many of the challenges faced by oilgas and offshore wind project developers, subsea contractors, and vessel owners, in being able to repeatably deploy and recover seabed and mid-water infrastructure, such as:

• enabling large vertical loads to be moved laterally

• operating in restricted areas and adverse weather

• enabling parallel operations with vessel cranes

• expanding the use of vessels with more functionality

• enabling infrastructure and project developers to access a wider vessel market

Smarter Subsea Handling will detail how different configurations of the ROVAR variable buoyancy systems can be used for general purpose oil & gas decommissioning, as well as the recovery of pipeline bundles, and how the same ROVAR systems can be deployed in the offshore wind sector for fixed wind jacket removal, and floating wind installation.

Biography

Fraser Dunsmore Pritchard, Interim COO for Smarter Subsea Handling

Fraser’s career has been exclusively energy sector (oil, gas, renewables, capital) with DNV, ExxonMobil, IBM, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and now with Columbus Energy Partners®, where he is a founder director.
Fraser's speciality is commercialising disruptive business models and new energy technologies, and specifically how to build sustainable value and revenue for the long term through effective corporate governance, development of markets diversity, and smart capital structuring.
He possesses unique insights into the challenges facing start-up and underperforming businesses, is a natural trouble-shooter on identifying sustainable improvements to under-performing companies, and is passionate about coaching and mentoring leadership to perform to the demands of their companies and above their peers.
Fraser has operated in a variety of CXO roles worldwide, as Executive, Non-Executive and Independent Director, and has held directorships with public and private companies across Europe and the Americas.