T
ime is money, and offshore operations are expensive.
The desire therefore, is to increase efficiency through the
condensing of schedules. This inevitably leads to simultaneous
operations of some degree. Acoustically this generally involves the
allocation of frequencies, or codes, to different users. Depending
on the number of users this often then extends into code rationing
– limiting the number of transponders which can be used by
any one vessel.
On a positive note acoustic systems can be managed to
reduce the probability of them interfering with each other, and
preventing positioning. However, the downside is the number
of objects which cannot be positioned, therefore increasing the
number of ‘invisible’ objects subsea. So by reducing one risk,
another is being increased.
This situation is the norm for most projects, to some extent or
another. If limited to only two vessels working in a simultaneous
operation (SIMOPS) situation, the responsibility for management
of acoustics is often passed to the personnel on those vessels. For
greater numbers of vessels this becomes unfeasible and onshore
planning needs to be incorporated, leading to the challenges
CROSSING
WIRES
THOMAS MCCUDDEN, NAUTRONIX, UK,
EXPLORES LIFE OF FIELD CHALLENGES – BOTH
THE EXPECTED AND UNEXPECTED.
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