The project was to complete a technical assessment of present and future AUV/ROV capabilities relevant to subsea deepwater oil and gas developments. ROVs and AUVs offer considerable promise for subsea development systems in deep and ultra-deep water. The ROV and AUV technology is rapidly evolving in a highly competitive marketplace. The ROV/AUV technology must interface with subsea well and production equipment, which is also rapidly evolving, in order to result in effective subsea development systems. A technical assessment of future ROV/AUV capabilities is needed to promote synergy and integration with subsea production systems. A workshop was held to develop broad, objective assessment of ROV and AUV technology and capabilities relevant to subsea production systems. The assessment included present technology as well as technology and capabilities that could be present / available to industry in the next 5 to 10 years. The workshop included oil and gas operators, subsea engineers, ROV and AUV companies (suppliers and contractors), and subsea equipment manufacturers and additionally addressed the operational and safety issues.
A two-day workshop entitled 'Challenges of Interfacing Remotely Operated Vehicles and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles with Deepwater Subsea Systems' was held at Texas A&M's University facilities in Houston, Tx on April 10-11, 2003.