Lafayette, LA — C & C Technologies, Inc., specializing in deepwater autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) operations, recently completed an AUV project for BP Exploration Caspian Sea Ltd. The contract scope of work included the acquisition of 5500 kilometers of deepwater seabed data in water depths ranging from 100 to 700 meters. C & C completed the survey on July 12, 2007.
For the mobilization of this project, C & C utilized an Antonov AN-124-100 Jet to transport over 88 metric tons of C-Surveyor II AUV equipment from Lake Charles, LA to Baku, Azerbaijan. Upon arrival, the C-Surveyor II was mobilized aboard M/V Neftegaz-64 located in the Caspian Sea.
C & C’s C-Surveyor II AUV is an untethered vehicle that is deployed from the survey ship in a free-swimming mode. It surveys at four knots for an endurance of up to two days before resurfacing for refueling of the Aluminum Oxygen fuel cell. The C-Surveyor II collects seafloor and sub-bottom data on a predefined route, while sending samples of data back to the mother ship for quality control via acoustic tether. The samples acquired are analyzed by on-board engineers who can order a route change if required by acoustic modem communication with the AUV.
The C-Surveyor II equipment provides data used to produce detailed maps of the seabed. Engineers use these maps to determine the placement of offshore assets and the most efficient route for pipeline installations.
The C-Surveyor II equipment provides data used to produce detailed maps of the seabed. Engineers use these maps to determine the placement of offshore assets and the most efficient route for pipeline installations.
