This is a Joint Industry Project (JIP) and Phase II of Project number 189. Phase I demonstrated that it is feasible to strengthen and repair subsea steel structures using diverless technology, with substantial economic, safety, practical, and technical benefits. Phase II will demonstrate that the ideas and findings of the conceptual/feasibility studies from Phase I are practical and can be relied on to give safe and economic strengthening/repairs. This will be done through full scale trails, onshore and subsea, of enhanced structural strengthening, modifying and repair techniques (member grout filling and clamping) using diverless technology. Underwater trials will identify areas the may have problems; learning about these pitfalls will enable more robust strengthening, modifying and repair schemes to be designed for operational applications.
Complete. Trials were conducted for a group of six sponsoring organizations to show the capabilities and potential of using diverless techniques for strengthening, modification, and repair of offshore structures. Trials were conducted using a work class ROV and an Atmospheric Diving Suit. The demonstrations included underwater trials in a specialist facility recreating the current and poor visibility typically found offshore. Activities included repair of tubular joints and repair/addition of brace members within a steel frame representing elements of an offshore structure. Load capacity tests were undertaken following the demonstration trials.