NoMan® Cargo Tank Annual Surveys Completed with 90% Man Time Reduction
July 17th, 2018
The EM&I NoMan® remote camera technology has now been used to complete all the annual cargo tank surveys and inspections on an FPSO in the North Sea.
Following a successful trial last year, when a 2-man team inspected 4 cargo oil tanks in 2 days to the satisfaction of the class surveyor, the client decided to carry out all future inspections using this technology.
The tanks for the latest campaign were again completed by a 2-man team in two days, and did not have to be prepared for man entry as rope access teams were not required, so avoiding the risks associated with working at height or in confined spaces.
According to the operator, NoMan delivers major safety benefits and saves significant operational and management man time while getting the tanks back into service far more quickly.
The cameras were inserted into deck openings and using stabilised manipulators, placed remotely to precise locations pre-determined by EM&I’s engineers, to achieve the required coverage agreed with the Class Society.
NoMan technology was developed by EM&I encouraged by the HITS (Hull Inspection Techniques & Strategy) JIP (Joint Industry Project) guidelines, and comprises a high performance optical camera / laser system that meets the class society visual inspection requirements.
According to Pat Lawless (EM&I Group CEO) “The NoMan remote inspection technology is rapidly being adopted by many of the oil majors and drilling companies as the safest and most efficient method for inspecting cargo oil and ballast tanks. The technology is well proven in the nuclear industry and has now been successfully adapted for the oil industry. We expect to announce further widening of the NoMan system capabilities in the next few months”.
