Schlumberger gets into unmanned marine vehicles
Friday, June 22, 2012
Schlumberger has formed a partnership with Liquid Robotics Inc to develop services for the oil and gas industry using "Wave Gliders", unmanned marine vehicles.
The "Wave Gliders" are like surfboards with no people onboard, which can travel across the oceans collecting data, powered by solar panels and wave energy. They are developed by Liquid Robotics.
Schlumberger and Liquid Robotics are developing a joint venture company they will have equal ownership in, to develop solutions for the oil and gas industry using the Gliders, perhaps in seismic recording, and subsea / environmental monitoring.
They can operate autonomously for up to a year without fuel, crew or a dedicated support vehicle.
'By teaming with Schlumberger, we can greatly accelerate the availability and worldwide deployment of innovative oil and gas solutions," says Bill Vass, chief executive officer, Liquid Robotics. "Together, we are changing the economic and risk profile of worldwide ocean measurement.'