Subsea leak detection powered by renewable energy

Industry context

Steel casing and cement plugs are traditional methods for creating permanent barriers in offshore wells, requiring periodic inspections. Despite their effectiveness, they pose challenges like high logistical costs, regulatory compliance, complex installations, and significant emissions. With 200suspended wells projected in the North Sea by 2030and stricter regulations, operators are seeking innovative solutions to improve plug and abandonment (P&A) techniques.

Project overview

WellSentinel by Sentinel Subsea passively detects subsea gas or fluid leaks. Upon detection, it releases a coded alert beacon to the surface, which transmits a satellite signal to notify the well owner. This enables early leak detection, reduces operational costs by minimising vessel-based inspections, and lowers the carbon footprint compared to traditional monitoring methods.​

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The project aimed to assess the feasibility of using renewable energy sources to power subsea equipment. The nine-month RSP trial, which concluded in 2024, integrated Mocean’s Blue X wave turbine with Aberdeen-based Verlume’s Halo underwater battery. ​

​The trial effectively demonstrated the feasibility of using wave power to operate subsea equipment with 100% renewable energy. This trial also showcased the integration of multiple technologies into a cohesive system solution. ​

Blue X provided superior performance, achieving up to a300% improvement in efficiency compared to traditional hinged rafts. If widely deployed, this technology has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 450,000 tonnes of CO2e annually. 

​Outcome

Lowers operating costs by decreasing the need for frequent vessel-based inspections​

Reduces emissions and gives an early warning on unwanted loss of containment ​

Technology successfully commercialised in 2022​

Lowers operating costs by decreasing the need for frequent vessel-based inspections​

Reduces emissions and gives an early warning on unwanted loss of containment ​

Technology successfully commercialised in 2022​

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