Development of a Robot for In-service Radiography Inspection of Subsea Flexible Risers

The extreme operational environmental conditions and aging of subsea structures pose a risk to their structural integrity is critical safety. Nondestructive testing essential identify defects developing within the structure, allowing repair in timely manner mitigate against failures that cause damage environment hazard human operators. However, be cost effective, inspections must carried out without taking risers service. This poses significant safety risks if undertaken manually. paper presents development an automated inspection system for flexible are used connect wellheads on seafloor offshore production storage facility. Due complex structure risers, radiography considered as best technique inspect multiple layers risers. inspection, turn, requires robotic in-situ with higher payload capacity, precise movement source detector which able withstand environment. deployment has been achieved by customized called RiserSure can provide scanning motion gamma ray digital moving alignment. prototype tested riser during shallow water sea trials placed around remotely operated vehicle. results from show internal inner outer tensile armor layer successfully imaged real conditions.