Subsea 7 Limited

Honuworx, Ltd.

Lee Wilson

James Andrew Jamieson

Wayne Sherry

Christopher Carson Sotzing

Luke Wissmann

Graham Gibbons

A submersible system is provided having a submersible launch vessel that sends instructions from a mission controller to deploy one or more deployable systems for one or more underwater operations. The submersible launch vessel is submerged within a waterbody. A submersible power supply powers the submersible launch vessel and the one or more deployable systems. One or more communication devices is in communication with the mission controller, and the mission controller is located in one of a remote or a local location relative to the submersible launch vessel. The one or more deployable systems, via the one or more communication devices coupled to the submersible launch vessel, are remote controlled by the mission controller to execute the one or more underwater operations. Also, information associated with the one or more underwater operations including telemetry data is transmitted to the mission controller from the submersible launch vessel.

Methods and systems for conveying, deploying and operating subsea robotic systems

A subsea garage for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) has a body having a receptacle for the UUV, an open top providing a transit path for the UUV into and out of the receptacle and a base opposed to the open top, the base being arranged to lie on the seabed. At least one post is movable, subsea, relative to the body into a deployed position extending upwardly from the body above the open top. A lid may also be movable relative to the body between a closed position that closes the open top and an open position that allows the UUV to move along the transit path through the open top. A fixed post may extend upwardly from the body above the open top, in which case the lid may enclose the post when in the closed position and expose the post when in the open position.

Subsea garages for unmanned underwater vehicles

A method provides power to a subsea equipment electrical system underwater, without a wet-mated electrical connection. The method includes temporarily coupling a rotary coupling element of a power source to the subsea equipment and turning that element to generate electric power on board the equipment. Subsea equipment that implements the method comprises: an on-board electric power generator connected to an electrical load such as a rechargeable battery to charge the battery when the generator is driven; and a rotary coupling element that is turned by an external drive to drive the generator. Alternative subsea equipment to implement the method comprises: a stator, but not a rotor, of an on-board electric power generator, which supplies current to the load when an externally-driven rotor is positioned adjacent to the stator and turned relative to the stator. A power source having a generator rotor is docked with the equipment for this purpose.

Transmission of power underwater

A method of hosting an autonomous underwater vehicle ('AUV') at a subsea location lowers at least one AUV basket to a subsea location adjacent at least one preinstalled subsea structure. The subsea structure has provision for electrical power to be provided to it. At the subsea location, the, or each, basket is connected to the, or each, subsea structure to receive electrical power from the subsea structure. Electrical power routed via the subsea structure may be used to charge batteries of an AUV docked with the basket. Provision may also be made to effect data communications with the AUV with data being communicated between the subsea structure and the basket.

Subsea hosting of unmanned underwater vehicles

A subsea payload such as an AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle) or an AUV garage is lifted from an underwater location by flying a latch unit through the water to the payload. The latch unit carries a lift line toward the payload. The latch unit is then attached to the payload and the payload is lifted using tension applied through the lift line via the latch unit. The latch unit can also be used on a lift line to lower a payload and then to release the payload at an underwater location. The lift line is supported by a heave-compensating winch on a surface vessel that effects z-axis movement of the latch unit. The winch maintains tension on the lift line to prevent the lift line falling on the payload. Movement of the latch unit on x- and y-axes is effected by on-board thrusters.

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Insch, United Kingdom

Lee Wilson