Development of autonomous underwater vehicles for inspection and loss prevention in subsea oil and gas operations

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) have become increasingly important in the oil and gas industry for performing inspection and loss prevention tasks in deepwater operations. By reducing human involvement in hazardous environments, these vehicles offer significant advantages in cost, safety, data quality, and operational flexibility. This research provides a comprehensive review of the development of AUVs and their application in subsea oil and gas operations. It covers historical milestones, enabling technologies, current industry deployments, challenges, and emerging trends. The review highlights how advancements in battery technology, navigation systems, sensor capabilities, and artificial intelligence have collectively propelled AUVs to become indispensable tools for offshore asset integrity management.