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and 33.1% in Bergen Group, has been operating that could be served by one But in principle, the underlying classed by ABS, adhering to mobile off- vessel. guidelines and NORSOK standards shore unit code 2008 and other relevant are only one way of ful? lling regula-

Regulations tions. Alternative solutions may be

IMO guidelines.

EPIC

The advent of access solutions such

There are also regulations with which chosen, provided that the operator can as walk-to-work systems could be seen to contend. “In Norway there are chal- demonstrate that these are safe and to be an enabler for this technology, be- lenges in terms of regulations and ful? l the detailed requirements in the cause it means helicopter decks are not meeting all the guidelines in place,” regulations.” required, which come with all manner

Juhl says. “In other areas regulations However, the report suggests a new of support systems, from lighting to are driven more by a safety case [which guideline and/or a NORSOK standard deluge systems and power systems to enables more freedom in the design].” should be developed that provides an

In Norway, regulations and guidelines approach for the design of unmanned support those, increasing facility size,

Juhl says. Indeed, Statoil is planning were drawn up for an industry that had platforms on the NCS. been focused on very large facilities, so There is interest in this concept, to use gangway access systems off sup- port vessels for when staff are needed it is felt they don’t address unmanned not just from Statoil. So far, Ramboll on the Vest? anken 2 facility. facilities. has done 5-10 studies for minimal

Ramboll’s report says that regu- facilities in Norway, including Statoil’s

Just how welcome using motion com- lations do support the concept of

Vest? anken 2, but also for projects for pensated gangways will be offshore unmanned wellhead platforms. But, it

ConocoPhillips and Total.

Norway is yet to be seen. Such technol- says the industry’s “underlying guide-

For Total, Ramboll made a study for ogy has been used in the North Sea for lines and NORSOK standards have an alternative for the Tor ? eld, where a number of years, both in response more focus on mitigation measures the facilities were shut in on 1 January to helicopter groundings in 2013-14, requiring more systems, equipment this year, having reached the end of giving an alternative means to get staff and maintenance, and therefore do their life. Yet, it is thought that there to work in the UK sector, and also as a not support the concept of unmanned are still reserves that could be extracted regular access option for offshore wind wellhead platforms, and most un- if an economic option could be found. farms from smaller vessels. To eco- manned wellhead platform concepts

Ramboll also did studies for unmanned nomically make use of such a system, will be non-compliant with the guide- and not normally manned satellites for ideally you would need 2-3 normally lines and the NORSOK standards. the Johan Sverdrup ? eld. unmanned or minimal facilities

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036_OE0816_Epic1_unmanned.indd 38 7/24/16 11:04 AM