Three years ago, Chevron's Energy Technology Co. subsea engineers brainstormed on how to inspect subsea pipelines without using divers or remotely operated vehicles. It seemed plausible to use autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) – already deployed for geophysical surveys – to execute manual procedures. Shortly after, Chevron collaborated with Total Energy in developing field tests to determine AUV feasibility and performance quality. The results have been promising. See how this technology – similar to the Mars Exploration Rover – could be a game changer for pipeline inspection.