Opsealog and Identec Solutions join forces to provide accurate, reliable tracking of support vessels, achieving unprecedented precision during a pilot project with Shell’s fleet in Nigeria

French performance management company Opsealog and Austrian wireless solutions provider Identec Solutions have announced a partnership to enhance their services to the offshore oil and gas sector. This will help companies further optimize the operations of their support fleets, reducing their emissions and maximizing safety and security in harsh environments.

The partnership combines Identec Solutions GPS trackers with Opsealog’s data integration and analysis service, Marinsights. The GPS trackers collect precise and real-time data on the positioning of each vessel, which is processed and analyzed by the Marinsights platform to provide meaningful insights that can improve safety, optimize operations, and reduce fuel consumption.

The combined solution was successfully tested during a pilot project which was completed in collaboration with Shell companies Nigeria. Nine vessels were equipped with an i-Q350LX GPS-SAT removable transponder of Identec Solutions. These were configured to send the vessel position automatically every 30 minutes through the Globalstar network. This helped Shell overcome the challenges related to the tracking of its support vessel fleet in the winding rivers of the Niger delta, where in addition to the unavailability of the Automatic Identification System (AIS), bad weather conditions can pose a challenge for satellite reception.

The data was then analyzed by Opsealog’s marine consultants and presented on the Marinsights platform, which enabled the company to visualize its fleet on a map in real time, with specific information for each vessel. The software also generated reports on routes and position quality, as well as alerts when a vessel was immobilized for a certain duration or when it crossed a geofenced area.

Opsealog’s founder and managing director Arnaud Dianoux said: “The remarkable results of this pilot project with Identec Solutions for Shell Nigeria demonstrate the power of digital solutions and illustrate what can be achieved when a wealth of high-quality data combines with state-of-the-art performance management service. Having a comprehensive portrait of support vessels operations is an essential component of a strong security strategy, and can also unlock efficiencies that support companies’ decarbonization efforts.”

Dr. Urban Siller, CEO at Identec Solutions stated: “We strongly believe that good visibility of onshore and offshore operations delivers safety and productivity. As the industry seeks to become safer, greener and more efficient, having a precise understanding of the activities of each vessel is vital. This is where our cutting-edge technology comes into play, and we are proud to partner with Opsealog on this journey that will support the offshore oil and gas sector as it moves towards sustainability.”