Manager discusses underwater repair and inspection

Some of the key considerations in an effective underwater-maintenance program for subsea production installations, suggests the U.K.'s Tokola Underwater Engineers, are the training of personnel for nondestructive testing, cleaning, platform and pipelines inspection, and structural repairs. Recent progress in these areas points toward the eventual use of remote-control unmanned units and acoustic monitoring of platform structures. Research being conducted n nondestructive testing and inspection radiography and ..gamma..-ray back-scattering. Developments in atmospheric systems and seabed vehicles will create a further need for highly skilled technicians.