Detection From Sub-Sea Crude Oil Pipelines

Crude Oil Spills from subsea pipelines are typically detected after thousands of barrels of oil are spilled into the ocean, affecting marine life, reaching nearby shores and polluting land masses. The Underwater Robotic Oil Spill Surveillance (UROSS) system has been designed to provide constant and autonomous spill surveillance for subsea pipelines. M900 embedded Radio Frequency Identification tags and readers are used to identify pipeline section for surveillance. GY-521 gyrometer and XL-MaxSonar-WR1 ultrasound sensor are used for autonomous navigation beside the crude oil pipeline. Subsea crude oil spills are detected using a METS methane sensor. After spill detection, images of the spill site are captured with a L3C-400 Micro Ultras-Miniature Color Camera and spill location is obtained using Global Positioning System. Spill Images and location are transmitted to a remote PC on the nearest off shore platform using an Xbee Pro 900HP wireless Connection. An Ocean Signal rescueME Personal Beacon Locator also transmits a 406 MHz distress signal via satellite to Emergency Services indicating the identification of a spill. Finite Element Method analysis of the system showed its ability to withstand sea pressures at a depth of 2,250 m. Power analysis showed the system’s ability to remain submerged and to provide surveillance for 100 m section of a subsea pipeline once every 24 hours for over a full month, and this can be increased to once every hour for 51 months with some power modifications.