A 3D visualisation of Sonomatic's Stingray performing a pipeline inspection

SUBSEA TOOLING DEVELOPMENTS

Sonomatic E2i’s subsea inspection tools are engineered through a rigorous design and development process to tackle the challenges of extreme underwater environments. Our multidisciplinary team integrates mechanical, electrical, and software engineering with robotics and advanced NDT techniques to deliver high-performance, custom inspection solutions.

Each tool undergoes iterative design, simulation, and prototyping to optimise structural integrity, hydrodynamics, sensor precision, and remote operability. Extensive in-house testing ensures reliability in deep water, strong currents, and extreme temperatures.

Our advanced subsea tools—including the MAG-Rover, ROV-iT, and Stingray Scanner—enhance efficiency, accuracy, and safety. Using high-precision ultrasonic and electromagnetic technologies, ROV deployment, and automated scanning, they minimise human intervention while delivering high-quality inspection data to support asset integrity management.

STINGRAY SCANNER

The Stingray Scanner was developed as a versatile, automated inspection solution for subsea and topside applications. Designed with a modular chassis, it enables efficient Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) of pipelines, pressure vessels, caissons, and complex structures, including those in the splash zone.

Stingray’s compact, lightweight design allows for deployment via ROV, diver, or rope access, reducing risk and increasing accessibility. With advanced ultrasonic inspection capabilities, including Dynamic Response Spectroscopy (DRS) and Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD), it provides high-quality, real-time data collection, supporting effective asset integrity management.

Gooseneck Bend Scanner

The Gooseneck Bend Scanner was developed to provide high-resolution corrosion mapping for complex geometries, such as duplex steel gooseneck bends and elbows, at water depths of up to 1400m. Designed for ROV deployment, it enables full 360° circumferential and axial inspection along the entire bend length.

Using a bespoke variable-diameter scanning frame and the Sonomatic Nautilus dual-axis scanning system, the scanner ensures precise ultrasonic thickness measurements and accurate positional feedback. Advanced data presentation software corrects for curvature effects, delivering reliable corrosion mapping to support asset integrity assessments.

ROV-iT

The ROV-iT system was developed to provide advanced subsea inspection capabilities without the need for diver intervention, reducing operational risks and costs. Designed for deployment via work-class ROVs, it enables efficient inspection of pipelines, risers, caissons, and structural assets at depths of up to 3000m.

ROV-iT integrates multiple inspection techniques, including corrosion mapping, Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD), Phased Array, and Dynamic Response Spectroscopy (DRS™). With real-time data transmission and minimal dredging requirements, it delivers accurate and reliable integrity assessments, supporting effective asset management and life extension strategies.

MAG-ROVER

The MAG-Rover was developed as a remotely steerable ultrasonic scanner for deep-water subsea inspection and cleaning. Designed for ROV or diver deployment, it enables precise inspection of pipelines, caissons, conductors, and structural welds at depths of up to 1600m.

For a subsea oil storage tank inspection, the MAG-Rover was enhanced with an integrated cleaning system, allowing it to remove marine growth and seabed silt while performing high-accuracy corrosion mapping. This innovation enabled simultaneous cleaning and inspection, ensuring high-quality ultrasonic data collection in challenging environments. With its steerable design, flexible deployment, and real-time data transmission, the MAG-Rover supports efficient and effective asset integrity management.

MEC-Hug™ PipeCrawler

The MEC-Hug™ PipeCrawler was developed as an advanced self-crawling inspection system for flexible risers and pipes, providing reliable detection of defects such as corrosion, cracks, and wire misalignment. Designed for both axial and circumferential scanning, it accommodates varying wire angle structures while ensuring high-accuracy data collection.

Utilising MEC-FIT™ technology, the system combines direct current magnetic and eddy current fields to penetrate multiple wire layers, enabling precise defect identification. Deployable via work-class or inspection-class ROVs, the MEC-Hug™ PipeCrawler operates in both vertical and horizontal orientations, delivering real-time encoded inspection data to support asset integrity assessments.

Nautilus

The Nautilus is a motorised manipulator designed for subsea pipework inspection at depths up to 250 meters. Remotely controlled from the surface, it integrates with a Sonomatic Microplus ultrasonic imaging system and supports various inspection techniques, including corrosion mapping, pulse-echo shear wave, and TOFD. Diver-deployed, it inspects pipewalls, welds, flanges, and complex geometries. Its rigid, hinged collar enables precise transducer positioning, while its low-profile design allows operation with just 120 mm clearance.

MAG-ST

The MAG-ST tool is a magnetic-wheeled, steerable scanner developed by Sonomatic for inspecting deep-water, unpiggable gas pipelines. Deployed by an ROV, it rapidly screens pipelines using SH-EMAT, L-EMAT, and Multiskip techniques. By positioning transducers at 2 and 10 o’clock, it inspects the full pipe circumference in one pass. The tool identifies metal loss greater than 20% of the nominal wall thickness without costly modifications for in-line inspection.

Mini ROViT

The Mini-ROVIT tool was developed to provide cost-effective wall thickness scanning for subsea flowlines. Designed for deployment via small ROVs, it enables corrosion mapping of field joints without requiring large work-class ROVs or dedicated DSVs, significantly reducing costs.

Key features include integrated ROV design, circumferential cleaning, and high-precision scanning for pipelines ranging from 6 to 20 inches. Its compact size allows rapid mobilisation from vessels of opportunity, minimising operational expenses. This innovation has led to cost savings of up to 70% while enhancing the efficiency of subsea pipeline integrity assessments.