The exploration push in the Barents Sea has fuelled fears of a potential oil spill that could encroach on the Arctic ice edge, making it virtually impossible to clean up, with environmental group Greenpeace seeking to block Statoil’s current drilling campaign in the frontier region.
Statoil, Eni, GdF Suez and OMV, along with the Norwegian Coastal Administration, are participating in the collaborative effort with the aim “to improve safety while reducing costs through improving technologies and utilising offshore assets more effectively”, according to Aptomar chief executive Lars Solberg.
Aptomar aims to develop remote control functionality for its SECurus system to tackle oil spills, enabling onshore personnel to assist offshore crews carrying out spill monitoring and detection.
The firm is also looking to develop a system that integrates different camera sources on remote-operated vessels, platforms, fishing vessels and other assets, as well as geographical information, into the interface of its tactical collaboration and management system.
Further work to be carried out under the project will include developing a local offshore communication network for data sharing between assets engaged in tackling an oil spill to provide a “common operating picture”.
In addition, it aims to integrate a programme to combat oil spills in a maritime simulator, with the project due to be wrapped up by year-end.
05 September 2014, News Wires – Major operators off Norway including Statoil are teaming up with technology firm Aptomar to beef up their technological and communications capability for detection and management of oil spills under a joint industry project.
