Remotely controlled robot to be used in Kazakh Kashagan field

ASTANA. July 1. KAZINFORM SensaBot, the remotely controlled robot will be used at the Kashagan field in Kazakhstan, the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC) international consortium developing the field, said today.

'Taking into account the high pressure in the field, as well as the toxic nature of Kashagan fluids, the consortium is developing a SensaBot, designed under a special order at the National Robotics Centre in Pittsburgh (USA) in collaboration with Shell Global Solutions', a statement said.

At present, NCOC has concluded a contract with Nazarbayev University to lay the wireless network for the project's implementation.

According to the report, the development of a SensaBot, the first its kind in oil projects, took two and a half years.

SensaBot has been designed for operations on the islands of the Kashagan project, with no permanent service and operational personnel. It ensures a more rapid and effective response to any emergency situations, as well as regular monitoring over the production activity, a statement said.

According to the information, at the first stage, SensaBot will be equipped with gas sensors and vibration, as well as eight cameras. This part of the project will be ready for implementation by the end of 2014, Kazinform refers to trend.az.

'At the second stage, SensaBot will be ready to perform hazardous tasks such as sampling, opening and closing of valves by the end of 2015', the report says.