Viper Director, Max Nodder explains the tried and tested technology behind CableGuardian.
GROUNDED IN INNOVATION.
We have an extensive track record in developing innovative technologies for the subsea oil and gas industry. In 2016 we celebrated winning a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation for our ground-breaking V-LIFE Electrical Insulation Resistance Improvement System.
V-LIFE has enjoyed spectacular global success since it was launched in 2013 and has become established as a key component in helping operators extending the life of their offshore fields. The system has been deployed as far afield as Indonesia and Australia. The Queen’s Award in Innovation is awarded following recommendation from the Prime Minister and was conferred on 21 April 2016, Her Majesty’s birthday.
The enabling technology required to provide electrical integrity data at a cable section level within a distributed power network was developed by us initially for monitoring subsea oil and gas control systems as part of a Joint Industry Project (JIP) with Oil & Gas supermajor operators including BP, Shell, Chevron and Total. The V-IR product delivered by the JIP comprised the V-LIM sensor module which is located on the oil rig and the V-SLIM sensor modules that are installed at strategic points within the electrical network on the seabed. The V-SLIM modules take the measurements and communicate them back to a central anaytics software package and the user is provided with live detailed integrity information at a cable section level allowing for maintenance and remedial works to be planned rather than reactive.
In 2016 we were approached by Network Rail who were also experiencing similar electrical integrity issues in their signalling power supplies as those in the subsea oil and gas control systems. As a result we developed CableGuardian for the railways. It was a cause of great pride when this transfer of innovative technology was recognised as we were named the winner of the 2018 Intelligent Systems Innovation Award by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).