Since EM&I Group launched the LIMPET™ system as an extension of their ODIN® diverless UWILD (Under Water Inspection in Lieu of Drydocking) technology, they have made continuous improvements to the service.

They have succeeded in installing more than two LIMPET blanking plates over sea chest inlets simultaneously and have installed cameras to facilitate monitoring of each winch remotely and concurrently. They have even managed to develop a system that enables them to safely remove, collect and dispose of harmful Sun Coral from the area of the sea chests to exclude cross species contamination.

Following the recent success of works carried out on an FPSO offshore Brazil, where seven LIMPET sea chest blanks were installed, and four sea chests were successfully isolated, a few lessons have been learned.

First, the importance of having good visibility cannot be underestimated; this is essential for the winches as the blanks are being installed. EM&I is now designing a bespoke subsea surveillance system that will be able them to watch the spooling of each winch as it is being installed.

Additional upgrades include the LIMPET quick release systems to handle the upgraded (and more powerful) winches, and the electrical glands, These upgraded glands are now far more robust and use deepsea gland potting technology.

Danny Constantinis (Executive Chairman & CEO) of the EM&I Group commented: “This is a major development of our ODIN diverless UWILD technology, which will enable the isolation for inspection and repair or replacement of critical valves while the vessels are on hire, on station, and in operation”.