Page 61: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Aug/Sep 2013)

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Subsea – Risers Monitoring is only the beginning

Sophisticated monitoring systems on foating production systems can provide real time information for operational support and to improve performance, but a holistic approach is needed to be fully benefcial.

Louise Ledgard, head of oil and gas business development, BMT Group explains.

ecent severe storms in the UK wind, and currents at the site location damage this could have on the riser, a

North Sea have resulted in a provides a valuable insight into the number of Joint Industry Partnership number of foating production, performance and possible extension of (JIP) initiatives have concluded that

R storage and offoading vessels (FPSOs) the integrity life of the asset. the management and audit of the FPSO being shut down in order to assess and As new technology is introduced, integrity is required. repair the damage caused. As an attractive and fexible option, riser design becomes more sophisticated

Notwithstanding the possible safety which eliminates the need to lay and extension of design life is required, implications for operations crew, oil expensive long-distance pipelines, it becomes increasingly important to and gas production companies are the number of FPSOs being put into monitor an asset’s performance to assist facing weeks, if not months, with- service in remote locations is rising. with operational decisions, forensic out a critical asset, which in turn is As such, the complexities of under- investigation of marine incidents and having a signifcant impact on future standing the performance of the vessel the evaluation of design codes.

production. Over the last few years, an increase in given sea-states and the interaction

The design and operation of an in the number of offshore incidents of the FPSO with the subsea infrastruc-

FPSO in remote locations requires related to FPSOs in the North Sea ture, becomes imperative.

detailed information on the structural during extreme storm conditions has Marine monitoring systems have response of the vessel within the local resulted in focused attention on the primarily been used to provide real- environment offshore. verifcation of design codes and a time information for operational

Monitoring of critical components review of inspection procedures. support during production with typi- including the risers, hull, and moor- With an average mooring failure cal examples of its use being: vessel ing lines simultaneously with the projected at 8.8 years for an FPSO in position (particularly in storm condi- local environmental forcing of waves, the North Sea and the consequential tions); information on the metocean oedigital.com August 2013 | OE 63 063_OE0813_Subsea1-Risers.indd 63 7/22/13 12:50 AM