Industry Guide - ROV Sector

Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) perform a variety of important functions offshore, particularly throughout the exploration and production phases of oil and gas development.

These underwater robotic vehicles are connected to a support vessel, from which they are 'flown' by their operator by some form of umbilical which supplies them with power and provides communication and control links. ROVs are very complex pieces of equipment, often weighing several tons when out of water and the technological and engineering challenges in operating them are considerable.

On a successful exploration well, for example, they can be used to connect up the flowlines and control umbilicals, as well as to operate valves. ROVs are in increasing demand around the globe as more and more of the world’s mineral resources are extracted in harsh environments, in water depths beyond the reach of divers (sometimes as far as 3,000 metres below sea level) or with equipment already designed to interface with ROVs.

IMCA Remote Systems & ROV Division members use these ROVs and related systems to perform tasks such as: drill support; inspection of pipelines, subsea structures and cables; operating and maintaining valves and other moving parts on subsea manifolds; and enabling video observation of both divers and underwater equipment or operations. ROVs are also used to survey the seabed before and during the installation of production facilities, to monitor pipeline touchdown and to perform many other subsea installation tasks. During the production phase ROVs have further applications in both inspection and maintenance tasks.

As well as the contractors who own and operate ROVs, IMCA members include system manufacturers, those involved in production and maintenance of launch systems and support vessels, those providing consultancy, training and freelance personnel services and oil company clients too.