By far the greatest use of ROVs around the globe is in their application to the oil and gas industry in the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons. Since the mid-1970s, ROV technology has aided man in his relentless search for energy beneath the sea. Today’s highly sophisticated, capable and reliable work class systems are routinely undertaking operations in water depths greater than 7,000 ft (2,134 m).

Although regulations vary internationally, generally saturation diving techniques are prohibited in water depths greater than 850 ft (259 m) of water. As a considerable percentage of offshore oil and gas reserves are located in water depths in excess of diver depths, the importance of ROV technology is significant.

Man has adapted several standard means of extracting hydrocarbons in various water depths from jackup drilling production rigs in very shallow water to subsea completion, tension leg platforms (TLPs) and spars in deep and ultra deep water, over 5,000 ft (1,524 m). ROV technologies support operations for services such as drilling and completion, installation/construction, inspection/maintenance and repair and other activities from installations such as that shown to the below.

Over 60 percent of the world’s ROV systems supporting oil and gas exploitation are engaged in drilling support operations. Systems are utilized in water depths as shallow as 100 ft (30 m) on jackup rigs and as deep as 10,000 ft (3,048 m) on semi-submersibles and drillships. This means that the full range of ROV systems are engaged worldwide to support these activities. Observation ROV systems are typically used in shallow water and when surface trees are utilized. Work class ROV systems are used in deeper water, areas of high current, and when intervention tasks require the use of manipulators, fluid transfer or load bearing capabilities.

If drilling support is a walk in the park for ROV contractors, then installation and construction support is the triathlon of all the support services in the oil and gas ROV industry. These activities are the most demanding, require the most capable equipment and the greatest experience and skill of the ROV crew. Installation and construction support is the realm of the work class ROV. Operating on the critical path as a key element in the development program, ROV systems are used before, during and after the installation of platforms, subsea production systems and others, and the installation, laying, hook-up and commissioning of flowlines, trunklines, export lines, cables and umbilicals.