Shell has awarded Australian marine survey company Guardian Geomatics with a large hydrographic project utilising its fleet of unmanned surface vessels. The project is to acquire hydrographic data over an area in excess of 800km2.
The project will utilise up to 3 unmanned surface vessels, Guardian Geomatics said.
American seabed contractor Ocean Infinity will support the project as a partner with its ‘Seabed Constructor’ acting as a mother ship.
By using unmanned surface vessels instead of a conventional vessel, Shell is able to reduce the onsite data acquisition time by a factor of 3. Using Guardian’s Seabed-Cloud technology the data is able to be presented to the users with a much quicker turnaround. The fuel usage on the project is estimated to be reduced by a factor 10,
…explained Steve Duffield, Commercial Director of Guardian Geomatics.
The project is planned to start in June 2019.
In March 2019, Ocean Infinity agreed terms for the acquisition of a 25% stake in Guardian Geomatics.
