Wood, a globally renowned leader in project management, engineering, consulting, and technical services for energy and materials markets, set out to upgrade their offshore asset inspection abilities.

Conventional ROV visual inspection involves an ROV collecting video data of a structure, stopping at key points of interest for inspection personnel to analyze and describe the observed condition, and capture video frame grabs for comparative analysis and reporting. Wood wanted a solution to overcome this time and cost-intensive inspection method. Enter SubC Imaging’s Rayfin camera, featuring Rapid Digital Imaging (RDI), an innovative alternative to conventional ROV visual inspections.

The Challenge

Wood’s path to RDI began with a close look at its existing inspection processes. Wood’s objective was to create a simple and cost-effective inspection approach with greater efficiency than traditional methods, which were labor-intensive, time-consuming and required extensive offshore personnel involvement. Moreover, they needed a responsive provider that could quickly address operational concerns and help optimize their inspection workflows.

The Solution

SubC Imaging’s RDI technology, integrated into its signature Rayfin camera, proved to be the ideal solution for Wood. RDI captures thousands of high-resolution still images of a structure at more than twice the speed of conventional ROV video inspection. Digital still images offer exceptional resolution and zoom capabilities compared to traditional video frame grabs. Inspection personnel can review the images offline (while the ROV is working on other tasks) reducing ROV vessel time and costs. The high-resolution images can also be used to create 3D models for a complete picture of the structure.

Wood rented five RDI-equipped Rayfin cameras exclusively from Ashtead Technology, SubC’s premier rental partner. This strategic decision allowed Wood to utilize RDI’s advanced capabilities for their projects, with the added convenience and support from Ashtead Technology.

RDI vs. Traditional Video Inspections

Rayfin Rapid Digital Imaging (RDI) offers significant advantages over traditional video inspection methodologies and includes features to help clients manage inspection data.

1. Minimal Motion Blur: RDI provides high-resolution digital stills with minimal motion blur, even further reduced when synchronized with an LED strobe, compared to the typical 30FPS video frame grabs with higher exposure times. This allows for faster inspections without the need for optical zoom stops.

2. Data Synchronization: RDI enhances data synchronization by embedding system time and GPS lat and long data into JPEG photos as EXIF metadata in real-time, ensuring accurate time and location stamps.

3. Streamlined Processing: Digital stills streamline processing by directly integrating into reports, eliminating the need for manual frame selection and facilitating better computer vision, AI, and 3D modeling processing.

4. Immediate Data Transfer: The 2Hz topside transfer of digital stills negates the need for post-inspection high-resolution data downloads.

5. Third-Party Software Compatibility: With the Rayfin API and RDI, the system is compatible with industry-standard software tools, and the system seamlessly integrates into existing inspection workflows, maximizing productivity and minimizing downtime.

The Impact

Rayfin RDI allows operators to confidently and accurately identify and address anomalies, reducing the need for frequent inspection stops. Its unique data deliverables, which can be integrated directly into reports, fault-finding tools, and high-resolution 3D models, provide valuable insights for asset analysis. This enables Wood to make quick, informed decisions and optimize their asset management strategies. Overall, RDI has provided Wood with faster inspections, higher quality data, and reduced post-processing time, significantly improving operational efficiency.

“The level of detail captured by RDI has exceeded our expectations. It has enabled us to conduct the inspection of subsea assets more efficiently and cost-effectively than with traditional methods.”

Clinton Jensen, Field Engineering & Inspection Team Lead, Wood

Conclusion

By SubC Imaging and Ashtead Technology offering a comprehensive solution that combines cutting-edge technology with user-centric design principles, RDI is redefining industry standards and paving the way for enhanced operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. For organizations seeking to elevate their inspection capabilities and drive long-term value, RDI represents the ideal choice.