Pro-Dive Marine Services has taken delivery of the Cougar-XT remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from manufacturer Saab Seaeye.
David Squires, president of Newfoundland-based Pro-Dive, says the Cougar-XT will bring an important inspection and electric work ROV resource to Canada’s East Coast oil and gas sectors.
It makes an important addition to their existing ROV fleet and its offshore capabilities.
The company has grown since 1983 to become a major operator in the region where they provide ROV and diving services, construction and drill support, concrete mattresses, offshore grouting, subsea markers, offshore project support staff and subsea engineering.
The power of the 2000 metre -rated Cougar-XT means it can operate heavy duty tooling and handle a wide range of work tasks including drill support, salvage, survey and IRM, at a much lower cost than using an hydraulic work ROV.
Also different tooling options are easily added and changed, using the ROV’s modular interface and bolt-on custom skids.
Muscular tooling specified by Pro-Dive for their Cougar-XT includes a dual, five-function heavy duty manipulator. It is also fitted with three cameras including a Kongsberg colour zoom, all of which are mounted on a pan and tilt system.
When flying the ROV, pilots get unrivalled manoeuvrability from four vectored horizontal thrusters and two vertical thrusters, each having velocity feedback for precise control and built with new drive technology that has increased thrust by 70 per cent − giving the Cougar the highest thrust-to-weight ratio in its class.
Each thruster is interfaced to a fast-acting control system and solid-state gyro for enhanced azimuth stability that gives greater control and response than any other ROV on the market, say Saab Seaeye.
The Cougar-XT is deployed from its tether management system (TMS), that itself is launched from an A-frame launch and recovery system (LARS), certified to Zone II specification and fitted with a snubber-rotator to stabilise and rotate the TMS for safe recovery in rough sea states.
The whole system comes with a Zone II certified control cabin and workshop cabin.
David Squires says the operational experience of their existing Saab Seaeye Falcon ROV gave them the confidence to trust the reliability and performance of the Cougar-XT to take on the rigours of work in the oilfields of Canada.
Saab Seaeye is the world’s largest manufacturer of electrically operated ROVs. Its parent, Saab Underwater Systems, is itself a world leader in sensor systems, precision engagement systems, and remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles.
For more information, visit www.seaeye.com or www.prodive.ca
