- loading
and offloading occurs far more frequently
- loading
and ballasting sequences occur in a seaway rather than in port
- the sea
moves past an FPSO possibly creating a loading different to
propelled vessels
- weather
vaning leads to sea loading permanently on the bow
- the risers
and complex mooring patterns completely alter the vessel motions
- the frequency
of drydocking differs by a factor as large as six or more
- the FPSO
is predominantly site specific
There
are also novel issues facing the process facilities. On traditional
fixed and onshore platforms the foundation for the process equipment
was taken for granted. An FPSO not only experiences the six degrees
of motion in a seaway but also suffers from torsion, hogging and
sagging. Process engineers have not had to deal with these factors
on such a large scale before.
Costs
of Bringing a Unit Off-line
In
West Africa, several FPSOs have recently undergone repairs to
replace up to 1,600 tonnes of steel. In all but one case, this
involved the installation coming off station and going directly
to drydock in the shipyard. With units often producing revenues
of around $3 million or more per day, downtime could run into
tens of millions of dollars of lost revenue. Even field life considerations
cannot completely take the sting out of an unscheduled drydocking.
This
has led many owners to put additional capital expenditure resources
toward operational issues early in the design phases. Studies
on corrosion rates and fatigue are among the most common design-phase
work that owners are asking for, and the results are often incorporated
into design, with the intention of reducing maintenance issues
once a unit is operating.
But
these kinds of studies are only an element of a larger program
gaining in popularity. Asset Integrity Management, with its special
focus on risk-based inspection, is where real strides can be made,
in
Asset
Integrity Management
AIM
is specific in terms of:
- Asset
- Site
- Mode of
operation
AIM
allows operators to take their own experience as well as the experience
of class regulators to generate their own ideas of what the risks
for a particular installation are going to be. This encompasses
financial and safety risks. This has allowed owners and operators
to plan ahead from a position of knowledge and confidence.
AIMS
is a process that delivers a culture. The process
combines experience with modern tools to create a culture that
can focus management effort on the critical path throughout the
full lifecycle of the asset. The best AIM programs look to the
past and the future for a safety and compliance regimen that takes
into account financial and human factors.
Changing
Regulatory and Commercial Climate
The
offshore oil and gas industry has traditionally maintained a balance
between regulation and production/financial efficiency. The operator
was primarily concerned with financial efficiency while class
verified the compliance of the asset with Rules and regulations.
Today, the issue is far more complex. Today’s organizations
are trying to adapt to the constant advances in technology and
simultaneously keep up with the competition.
Safety
and environmental protection has never been more important than
it is now. Coupled with this is an operation’s need to maintain
its flow targets.
Asset
integrity management has emerged as an important vehicle for gauging
early on where additional design, construction, maintenance and
inspection resources should be spent. Based on both on risk theory
and experience, AIM can give a project better focus for the challenges
it may later face, and help better frame the organizational expectations
for a unit.
The
ABS AIM program offers owners and operators a full roster of programs
from a well-recognized and globally respected partner. Of increasing
importance to many organizations is ABS’ position as an independent
voice that can verify experience or apply new wisdom gained from
work done on every type of unit in every type of environment in
the world.
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