First full-scale offshore mission proves UAV capability

UAV-maker Schiebel has demonstrated the capabilities of its S-100 to transport urgent parts to an offshore gas installation. It also hunted down a 'man overboard' dummy in distress.

Schiebel, together with partner Nordic Unmanned, has successfully demonstrated to Norwegian energy company Equinor the cargo delivery capability of its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle CAMCOPTER S-100 to offshore platform Troll A.

The company says this is a world’s first in terms of full-scale offshore UAV delivery from shore to an active oil and gas installation.

The exercise simulated the scenario of an urgent requirement for specific essential spare parts at the gas production platform Troll A. The CAMCOPTER S-100 successfully carried out the long-range delivery flight from Mongstad, where the spare parts were 3D-printed, to the offshore platform Troll A located in the North Sea. The unmanned delivery distance was 100 km (55 nm). After the UAV supplied the spare parts, it carried out a close inspection around the platform before it headed back to Mongstad.

The flight trials also included a successful Search and Rescue mission, where a “man over board” dummy was quickly located by the UAV, transmitting the positioning data and live images using the L3 Harris Wescam real-time Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) camera and an Automatic Identification System.

Hans Georg Schiebel, chairman of the Schiebel Group, says: “This was the perfect trial to show off the exceptional maritime capabilities of the S-100 for the oil and gas industry. We have extensive experience in long-range unmanned flights, especially in the maritime domain and under adverse weather conditions. The S-100 was able to show off its outstanding capabilities and we have proven once again that the S-100 UAV is the superior choice.”