Remote Operations Continue to Transform Offshore Project Delivery

Remote operations have moved from innovation to industry standard across many offshore energy projects. As operators continue to balance safety, efficiency, project costs and sustainability, the ability to access specialist expertise without putting additional personnel offshore has become an increasingly valuable part of project execution.

At Ashtead Technology, we’ve continued to invest in remote operations capabilities, enabling customers to access experienced personnel, advanced inspection technologies and real-time decision-making from our dedicated remote operations centres around the world.

What are remote operations?

Remote operations allow offshore activities to be carried out by specialists working from an onshore remote operations centre rather than travelling offshore.

Using secure communications, live video feeds and real-time data transfer, experts can support inspection, survey and asset integrity projects from anywhere in the world.  Combined with technologies including remotely operated vehicles, autonomous systems, machine vision and digital inspection tools, remote operations enable projects to be delivered safely and efficiently while maintaining the highest technical standards.

Why remote operations matter

As offshore projects become more complex, customers are looking for ways to improve operational efficiency without compromising quality or safety. Remote operations provide several key benefits.

Improved safety
Reducing the number of personnel offshore helps minimise exposure to operational risk while allowing experienced specialists to support projects from a controlled onshore environment.

Greater operational efficiency
Remote operations remove the need to mobilise specialist personnel for every project, reducing travel requirements and allowing expertise to be readily available. This helps minimise delays and enables faster decision making throughout the project lifecycle.

Cost savings
By reducing offshore personnel, travel and vessel logistics, remote operations can help lower overall project costs while making specialist expertise available wherever and whenever its needed.

Supporting sustainability
Fewer personnel transfers, reduced vessel movements and minimised travel requirements contribute to reduced project emissions, supporting customers’ environmental objectives without affecting operational performance.

Access to specialist expertise
Remote operations centres allow multidisciplinary teams to collaborate in real-time, bringing together experienced engineers, inspectors and technical specialists regardless of location.

Ashtead Technology’s remote operations capability

Ashtead Technology has extensive experience delivering remote inspection and asset integrity projects for customers across the global offshore energy sector.

Operating from our dedicated remote operations centres in the UK, USA and Canada, our specialist teams utilise advanced machine vision measurement systems, 3D imaging technologies and live data streaming to support offshore inspections around the clock.

Recent projects have demonstrated how remote operations can successfully support a wide range of offshore inspection scopes across multiple regions, including:

• United States: delivering hybrid and fully remote mooring integrity inspection and chain measurement campaigns using Ashtead Technology’s Chain Measurement System (CMS) and digital caliper. Our class-approved mooring integrity specialists provide remote oversight of inspection activities, validate measurements and findings, and direct offshore personnel in real-time, ensuring efficient project execution while reducing offshore headcount requirements.
• Australia: providing fully remote mooring integrity inspection campaigns utilising the CMS as well as fully remote 3D modelling projects utilising the Voyis Discovery Inspection Series cameras. Onshore specialists provide continuous technical oversight and interpretation of inspection data enabling informed decision making throughout the campaign without requiring specialists offshore.
• United Kingdom: successfully executing fully remote and hybrid inspection campaigns including mooring integrity inspections using the CMS and subsea 3D modelling campaigns using the Voyis Discovery Inspection series camera. Both hybrid and fully remote delivery models provide real-time guidance, oversight and support to offshore and fully remote teams to maximise operational efficiency.
  

These projects demonstrate the flexibility of our remote operations model, which can be tailored to suit individual project requirements across inspection, survey and asset integrity campaigns.

We offer both fully remote and hybrid delivery models, combining offshore personnel with onshore technical specialists to provide continuous operational support. Our teams can typically mobilise within 48 hours and deliver 24/7 project coverage where required, ensuring customers have access to specialist expertise wherever and whenever it is needed.

Looking ahead

As digital technologies continue to evolve, remote operations are becoming an integral part of offshore project delivery rather than an alternative approach. Advances in connectivity, automation, AI-assisted analysis and digital inspection technologies will continue to expand what’s possible from onshore locations.

By combining experienced personnel with industry-leading technology, Ashtead Technology helps customers deliver safer, more efficient and more sustainable offshore operations today, while preparing for the future of the offshore energy industry.