The Advent of the Autonomous Submarine Work Base

Reasons leading up to the introduction of the commercial submarine into the offshore market place; difference between the autonomous submarine and surface supported submersibles; platform stability and power requirements; life support and payload capability. Description of the 28.5m, 168 tonne submarine AUGUSTE PICCARD with reference to geophysical investigations off the coasts of B.C. and Southern California; utilization of high resolution subbottom profiling; side scan sonar; precision echo sounding; long baseline acoustic navigation; and computer interface. Description of the second generation autonomous submarine ARGYRONETE; the subsea work base concept; manned subsea intervention to 1,000 feet; pipeline repair, wellhead, and subsea completion activity. Future developments in autonomous submarine technology during the 1980's; the BEN FRANKLIN; interface with wellhead cellars; ocean mining exploration.