The current Fosar system is proven to water depths of 500m. With the extraction of hydrocarbons moving to ever-increasing water depths, Stingray appreciated at an early stage of development that the Fosar system would need to operate successfully in depths of up to 3,000m. Allied to this, Stingray also recognised that installation cost is a major driver in deepwater. Consequently, the FosarDeep programme was initiated in 2008 to address the array components and installation mechanisms of a deepwater system. This programme has been successful in attracting funding in the UK from the Technology Strategy Board and has the objective to develop, build and test seabed array components and compatible installation equipment for use in up to 3,000m water depths.

A further aspect of the programme is to address the increasing trend toward remote subsea tie-backs.  Long distance operation of the Fosar system is being modelled and tested with the aim of being able to communicate successfully over distances of up to 500 km.

The advanced optical architecture of the Fosar system provides benefits for deepwater application, where underwater connections can introduce failure points and signal loss. The high channel count per fibre enabled by the Fosar architecture means that fewer fibres are required, reducing the number of connections to be made. This also allows the seabed layout to be optimised efficiently, saving on installed cable length.

The low fibre count also means that Stingray has been able to develop a small diameter, lightweight array cable which allows easier deployment at the seabed, saving installation time by reducing transits to and from the surface.

The FosarDeep programme is a collaborative effort with leading UK subsea engineering companies and academic institutions.  It is due for completion in 2010 and will allow Stingray to offer a complete seismic PRM package to the growing deepwater production market.