OGRepublic August Edition

INDUSTRY NEWS
Forth Develops World-First Oil Pipeline Robotics, Seeks
Investor to Bring Prototype into Commercial Stage
AN EXCITING opportunity has become
available to help bring to market
world pioneering robotics to repair
oil pipelines from a safe, remote distance
without the need to stop production.
A team led by engineering firm Forth has
worked for the past two-and-a-half years on
the creation of FSWBot, an innovative
friction stir welding robotic crawler devised
for internal repair and refurbishment of
pipelines, and they are now looking for
assistance to help bring the working
prototype to the commercial stage.
The FSWBot is being developed to travel
hundreds of miles down an oil pipeline to
scan for any defects in the structure, and
carry out subsequent repairs - all while oil
continues to flow. The robot is controlled
remotely by engineers at a safe distance
from the pipeline.
This process will remove the need for divers
to work on pipelines and for oil production
to be halted, therefore saving significant
time, money and, by removing humans from
hazardous environments, potentially saving
lives.
The FSWBot has innovative technology
which allows the robot to ‘walk’ to the exact
point of defect, place a milling patch in place
and then weld the problem area.
Forth has produced a concept model of the
FSWBot and successfully demonstrated the
prototype to a consortium of partners at its
headquarters in Cumbria in July. The
Innovate UK-backed project has also been
supported by partners TWI, Joining 4.0
Innovation Centre (J4IC, a partnership
between TWI and Lancaster University),
Innvotek and London South Bank University
(LSBU).
Now that the pilot system has been
demonstrated successfully, Forth is seeking
further partners for full commercial deployment
of the equipment.
Chris Downham, programme manager at Forth,
said: “An exciting opportunity to bring such a
pioneering piece of kit to the commercial stage
now exists, and we’re keen to hear from anyone
who may be interested in helping us get to the
final stage.
“Our team has worked tirelessly to design and
construct the prototype, and we are extremely
proud of how well the new technology works.
“In order to improve on the working prototype
and assist with the commissioning process, we
would like to work with partners who would be
interested in helping develop such innovative
technology.
“This technology is a world-first piece of
equipment and it will have a major, positive
impact on the oil and gas industry, ensuring oil
pipeline repairs are carried out more safely,
quicker and without restricting production.
“It is a great opportunity for partners to be
involved in something which will change the way
the industry works across the world.”
The FSWBot integrates several state-of-the-art
technologies, including friction stir welding,
milling, patch deployment and ultrasonic NDT,
onto a robotic system which can be deployed to
conduct repairs on pipelines without the need for
the pipeline to be closed down for the duration of
the repair.
Friction stir welding is a solid state welding
process which generates enough frictional heat
to soften or plasticise the metal without melting
it, allowing metal components to be forged at the
joint line.
The FSWBot will be a five or six-segment PIG type
which will be inserted at the production end of
the pipeline and will flow with the oil to a predesignated
area, where it will stop and perform
the repair work.
One segment will carry the FSW machine and a
steel patch dispenser, with other segments
carrying the navigation, control system,
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , N D T a n d p o w e r
storage/generation payloads.
An FSWBot2 is also under consideration for
multipurpose repairs and inspections. This
innovation would be a very different robot but
would build on the learning from the initial
development. It would be able to inspect and
repair fatigue and corrosion in offshore assets as
well as other subsea infrastructure and
applications in other industries. It will be able to
climb and walk and will be deployed from a
system which has the ability to lock onto a
structure.
Founded more than 20 years ago, Forth
specialises in providing engineering solutions
across all sectors and provides management of oil
and gas and subsea industries to nuclear
standards.
The company is able to test its prototypes at its
main base in Cumbria which also boasts a
bespoke Deep Recovery Facility which, at 22.5
metres long and six metres deep allowing it to
hold 1.2 million litres of water, is one of the largest
wet test facilities in the UK. This facility allows the
company to test underwater technology and
innovations.
Forth can be contacted at:
01900 816000
Website: www.forth.uk.com
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