Succorfish transitions from maritime to oil and gas sectors, adapting technology for deeper waters.
- The North Tyneside-based company spent six months on R&D to ensure its device functions hundreds of metres under the sea.
- Partnerships with Eastern Seals and IKM facilitated the successful adaptation of MyGearTag for subsea operations.
- Founder Chad Hooper highlights the versatility and cost-effectiveness of their device compared to existing technologies.
- MyGearTag is crafted from recycled materials, supporting environmental sustainability while providing innovative solutions.
Succorfish, a technology firm from North Tyneside, is extending its expertise beyond maritime applications by venturing into the oil and gas industry. After conducting a six-month research and development project, the company adapted its flagship device, MyGearTag, to operate successfully in extreme underwater environments hundreds of metres deep.
MyGearTag, originally designed to locate lost fishing equipment, utilises acoustic modem technology and can cover distances of up to three kilometres. The device’s casing, made from recycled fishing nets and weighing 500g, has been tested to withstand the high-pressure conditions found near oil and gas rigs, thanks to collaborations with Eastern Seals and the Cramlington-based IKM testing facility.
Founder Chad Hooper sees significant potential for MyGearTag within the oil and gas sector. He stated, ‘While the commercial fishing industry was our primary consideration, we recognised that MyGearTag also has a wide range of potential uses in the oil and gas sector, and we’re now moving to see how we can take advantage of these opportunities.’ He emphasised the smaller size, cost efficiency, and low power usage of this technology compared to the conventional, bulkier equipment currently in use.
The device was developed with support from Newcastle University’s Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the pan-European NETTAG+ project, receiving funding from UK Research & Innovation and the European Union. Originally aimed at reducing the environmental impacts and financial losses from abandoned ghost nets, which cost fisheries approximately $2.6 billion annually, the technology is now manufactured in the UK and assembled at Succorfish’s facility in North Tyneside.
Currently, Succorfish is in discussions with several service providers in the oil and gas industry to explore practical implementations of the technology. Potential applications include seabed storage identification, monitoring moving rig anchors, and marking lost equipment. ‘There’s been a very positive response from potential customers across the fisheries industry over the last few months, and we’re confident that we’ll see a similar reaction from the global oil and gas sector,’ Hooper added enthusiastically.
Succorfish’s strategic expansion exemplifies forward-thinking innovation, harnessing adaptable technology for diverse industry needs.
