Case Studies of Testing at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) for Oil & Gas Industry Risk Mitigation

Abstract

Abstract Objectives/Scope Space exploration and operations like Offshore Oil and Gas exploration and production operations is expensive, and inherently risky. NASA's operational tests, executed at the NBL facility, are critical to maintaining safe and effective human spaceflight operations. Likewise, the Oil and Gas industry is using NASA's NBL is to reduce exploration and production operations cost and risk. Methods, Procedures, Process The NBL, once a dedicated pool facility of the U.S. Space Program, with its unique facility, services and capabilities, including availability of a NBL-resident Millennium Work Class Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) hosts underwater testing, training, system integration tests, tool/hardware development, factory acceptance test and verification tests, or rehearsals of processes and procedures for commercial industrial projects prior to offshore deployment, or other commercial operations. Results, Observations, Conclusions Benefits of utilizing the NBL by the Oil & Gas industry will be demonstrated by reviewing and presenting actual space and commercial testing case studies that have been performed at the NBL at various stages of hardware life cycle phases including: concept, design, development, production and operations. Novel/Additive Information This paper will present tests that the Subsea Oil and Gas Indus Industry has executed at the NBL as a means to manage exploration and production operational risks, lower overall operational costs, and improve safety at various phases of product life cycle. Use of the NASA NBL facility is mission critical to maintaining safe and effective human spaceflight operations and is now available to the Oil and Gas industry.