CHASING X ROV finds severe scour at one Caroní River pile

INMARVENCO used a CHASING X industrial ROV to inspect two adjacent piles in Venezuela’s Caroní River and found severe scour at one foundation but no comparable damage at the other. The May 2026 inspection showed how sonar and close-range video can guide underwater infrastructure reviews in fast, low-visibility currents.

Why it matters: - The inspection showed that two piles in the same river section can face very different foundation risks. - The findings give engineers a clearer basis for priority review, repair planning and future monitoring. - The work also shows how industrial ROVs can reduce early-stage dive exposure in strong-current, low-visibility water.

What happened: - INMARVENCO C.A. completed the inspection in May 2026 in the Lado B area of Venezuela’s Caroní River. - The team used a CHASING X industrial ROV to inspect two adjacent piles, identified as Pile 0 and Pile -1. - The inspection found severe scour around Pile 0 and no comparable scour or foundation exposure around Pile -1 in the area examined.

The details: - Riverbed material had been swept away around Pile 0, leaving the pile core exposed. - The collected imagery marked key locations including “Núcleo Expuesto” and “Lecho Caroní.” - The project found no similar level of scour or foundation exposure around Pile -1. - The operation was planned around currents of about 3.0 knots. - On-site telemetry later recorded peak currents of 4.5 knots. - Stronger current increased the risk of vehicle drift, tether movement and camera-angle changes. - Turbulent flow developed around the piles during the inspection. - Suspended sediment reduced optical visibility and limited the usefulness of video alone. - INMARVENCO used an Oculus 750d multibeam imaging sonar to map pile outlines, riverbed features and nearby obstacles. - CHASING X then moved closer for 4K video confirmation after sonar identified areas of interest. - CHASING X uses an OctoDrive eight-thruster vectored propulsion system and AnchorX omni-directional current resistance. - DVL-assisted positioning and attitude control supported the inspection under the 4.5-knot current conditions. - Live video, telemetry and vehicle status were sent to the surface control station. - Operators adjusted route, viewing distance and camera angle in real time while recording sonar scans, 4K footage and annotated images.

Between the lines: - The project shows why surface observation can miss serious underwater foundation damage. - The contrast between Pile 0 and Pile -1 provides a nearby comparison point instead of assuming equal risk across one waterway. - Sonar-first workflows can establish context before close-range imaging documents the defect. - The data set does more than confirm scour; it shows location, extent and the surrounding conditions that shaped the damage.

What's next: - Data collected around Pile 0 can support follow-up assessment and possible repair planning. - The sonar scans, 4K footage and annotated images can serve as a baseline for future inspections. - Teams can revisit the same locations to check whether the scour expands, stabilizes or changes after repair work. - The inspection model may also be used for initial screening before commercial diving or another intervention is considered.

The bottom line: - The Caroní River inspection found that proximity did not equal risk: one pile showed severe scour, while the neighboring pile did not.