The Problem
Ensuring Long-Term Asset Integrity in a Challenging Marine Environment
Subsea infrastructure at offshore wind farms is exposed to dynamic marine environments that can lead to structural wear, environmental damage, and operational inefficiencies. To ensure reliable operation, these structures require regular inspections to detect and address issues such as corrosion, marine growth, and alignment anomalies.
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Key challenges identified during this operation included:
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Marine Growth Accumulation: Thick layers of hard and soft marine growth on monopiles, anodes, and CPS components can interfere with structural assessments, increase hydrodynamic loading, and hinder maintenance activities.
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Scour and Sediment Displacement: Scouring around monopiles and cables may destabilize structures, exposing them to additional stress and potential failure.
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Anode Performance Degradation: Corrosion protection systems, such as sacrificial anodes, may become less effective over time, requiring assessment to ensure they continue to function as designed.
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Operational and Environmental Risks: Unchecked structural or environmental issues can lead to costly repairs, increased downtime, and regulatory non-compliance.
These challenges necessitated a comprehensive visual and sonar inspection to provide actionable data for asset management.
Our Solution
Advanced Inspection and Detailed Assessment
Atlantas Marine deployed a state-of-the-art remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to perform thorough inspections, leveraging high-definition video, SONAR imaging, and specialized tools to collect precise data across all designated assets.
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General Visual Inspection (GVI)
- Conducted high-definition video surveys of monopiles, transition pieces, and CPS components to document overall condition and detect significant structural deviations.
- Assessed scour conditions around monopiles and cable inlets, confirming that no major sediment displacement was observed.
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Close Visual Inspection (CVI)
- Focused on specific areas such as anode connections, grout seals in pile sleeves, and key structural joints. Measurements of marine growth thickness and anode potential were performed to verify integrity and functionality.
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Marine Growth Analysis
- Measured the thickness of hard and soft marine growth at multiple depths across monopiles and jacket structures, providing a comprehensive view of environmental impact on submerged components.
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Anode Performance Evaluation
- Measured protective potential at various depths, confirming that anodes were functioning within acceptable voltage ranges to prevent corrosion effectively.
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Deliverables and Reporting
- Compiled detailed reports with high-resolution imagery, SONAR data, and Spot.On survey files for each asset.
- Delivered actionable insights for addressing anomalies, ensuring compliance, and planning maintenance strategies.
