Unveiling the Power of Sound for Deepwater Assets

Abstract Most subsea equipment at deepwater assets emit sounds. Knowing how these sounds change can shed new light on system health, potentially improving safety, efficiency, and environmental stewardship. By detecting and localizing sound abnormalities, operators can respond swiftly, implement targeted mitigation strategies, and optimize operational efficiency to extend the lifespan of critical equipment while improving safety and reducing downtime. The Smart Underwater Sound Imager (SUSI) is an innovative solution for Subsea Integrity Monitoring. It consists of a hydrophone array designed for installation onto a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). The system uses smart digital hydrophones to capture and visualize the sounds emitted by the equipment in a subsea field. Sound mapping produces high-resolution visual maps of sound levels which are merged with video imagery. The system is the first known application of sound source mapping for subsea integrity monitoring. The array geometry was optimized for effective sound localization through several iterations of design and testing. Trials conducted in 2022 on existing deepwater assets validate this integrity monitoring approach and help pave the way for broader deployments in the future.