Assessing damage and predicting future risks: A study of the Schilling Titan 4 manipulator on work class ROVs in offshore oil and gas industry

Abstract

This article undertakes a comprehensive investigation of the damage incurred by the Schilling-manufactured Titan 4 seven-function manipulator during the period of 2017–2022. This particular manipulator stands as the most widely employed equipment on work class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) globally. The article delves into a detailed discussion of ROVs in general, with a specific focus on those belonging to the work class category. Furthermore, the manipulator is dissected into its constituent elements, as delineated by the manufacturer, and each individual component is subjected to separate evaluation. The damages that were encountered are described in detail, along with the corresponding repair processes.To quantify the likelihood of future damage to the various manipulator elements over the subsequent five-year period, the obtained damage results are inputted into the Geogebra program. This enables the calculation of the probability of damage occurrence for each individual component.The research findings are ultimately summarized and juxtaposed with the real-life experiences of ROV operators, which are captured through a meticulously designed questionnaire. The questionnaire is carefully constructed to elicit valuable insights from the operators regarding the most common faults or defects observed in the Titan 4 manipulator.It is important to note that this manipulator-focused investigation is based on the author's first-hand experience as a ROV Supervisor in the offshore oil and gas industry. The combination of practical expertise and the empirical data gathered from the questionnaire responses ensures a comprehensive and well-rounded examination of the Titan 4 manipulator and its associated operational challenges.