Offshore Laser Cutting Tool for Rapid Subsea Structure Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing subsea structures are inefficient, unreliable, and pose health, safety, and environmental risks due to slow cutting speeds, incomplete cuts, and hazardous materials used in existing technologies like diamond saws, abrasive water jets, and explosives.
Innovation Solution
The use of high power laser systems to cut and section offshore structures with a high power laser cutting tool, capable of delivering a high power laser beam for precise and controlled cutting, both above and below water surfaces, and within difficult-to-access locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional cutting methods (diamond saws, abrasive water jets, explosives) are used to remove subsea structures, then cutting can be performed on various materials, but the cutting speed is slow and the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical cutting systems (diamond saws, abrasive water jets) with a high-power laser system. The laser beam delivers concentrated thermal energy to rapidly melt and vaporize subsea structure materials, achieving cutting speeds dramatically faster than mechanical methods while eliminating the time-consuming nature of traditional decommissioning processes
2Reliability
If traditional cutting methods are used, then cutting can be performed on thick materials, but the cuts are often incomplete and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a high-power laser system that delivers concentrated thermal energy with controlled parameters (power level, beam focus, scanning speed) to ensure complete penetration through subsea structure materials. The laser's ability to maintain consistent energy delivery and precise beam control ensures reliable, complete cuts every time, eliminating the incomplete cuts and uncertainties associated with traditional mechanical cutting methods
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional cutting methods (explosives, abrasive materials) are used, then cutting power can be achieved, but hazardous materials and environmental risks are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hazardous mechanical and chemical cutting systems (explosives, abrasive water jets) with a non-contact laser system. The high-power laser beam delivers sufficient cutting power to penetrate thick subsea structures without introducing hazardous materials into the marine environment, thereby eliminating environmental contamination risks while maintaining the necessary cutting power
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the laser's intense thermal energy, which could potentially cause unwanted heating, into a beneficial tool for precise material removal. The concentrated beam energy is controlled to melt and vaporize only the targeted material at the cut zone, while the surrounding environment remains unaffected, transforming potential thermal harm into precise cutting power
4Productivity
If high power laser systems are used to achieve rapid cutting, then cutting speed increases, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a high-power laser system that serves multiple functions: cutting through various materials (steel, concrete, rock), heating materials to enable removal, and potentially melting materials for specific disposal methods. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple different equipment systems into a single versatile platform, managing complexity while delivering rapid decommissioning capabilities
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid, complete, and safe cutting of subsea structures with minimal environmental impact, reducing costs and improving operational efficiency in decommissioning and removal processes.
Implementation Method 1
delivering a high power laser beam for precise and controlled cutting
Implementation Method 2
rapid, complete, and safe cutting of subsea structures
Implementation Method 3
rapid, complete, and safe cutting of subsea structures
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided high power laser systems, high power laser tools, and methods of using these tools and systems for cutting, sectioning and removing structures objects, and materials, and in particular, for doing so in difficult to access locations and environments, such as offshore, underwater, or in hazardous environments, such as nuclear and chemical facilities. Thus, there is also provided high power laser systems, high power laser tools, and methods of using these systems and tools for removing structures, objects, and materials located offshore, under bodies of water and under the seafloor.