etrobras has named ABS Group Services do Brasil Ltda. (ABS Group), an affiliate of ABSG Consulting Inc., to provide marine engineering management services for 20 offshore units

"Petrobras wants to be ready. The intensive engineering management effort will assist Petrobras to make sure that onboard safety systems respond correctly and efficiently with each modification made," said Paula.

Rufo Belligotti, ABS Group manager for this project, adds that the Company will review and update technical information and documentation upon modifications to the units, including operations and emergency manuals, engineering analyses (motion, mooring, stability, structural, etc.). ABS Group will also provide rapid response engineering services and awareness training to Petrobras staff.

"While operational changes are necessary and are routinely performed on offshore units, modifications may result in new hazards or degrade a unit’s safety system, if not properly managed and coordinated within an integrated program," said Belligotti.

He adds that once unit changes have been made, ABS Group will assist in updating the necessary documents, operating manuals, diagrams, stability calculations and all relevant data for the operation of the unit.

The engineering management contract is part of Petrobras’ company-wide effort to enhance the safety readiness of its entire offshore fleet, which totals some 40 offshore units. Paula reports that ABS Consulting, the parent company of ABS Group is also well-recognized for its global industry contributions. Business Insurance magazine ranked ABS Consulting number one on its 2001 list of Top U.S. Risk Management Consultants. Rankings are based on total company revenues derived from risk-management consulting, with ABS Consulting attributing $108,550,000 in revenue to its risk consulting.

ABS Group will have a core team of 25 in-country personnel providing services to the units, with additional people and contractors to be assigned as needed.

"ABS Group’s Rio de Janeiro office will lead the effort, with an operational office established in Macae and engineering staff assigned full time to a Petrobras facility in Salvador, to serve Petrobras best with in-country, regional experience," said Belligotti.

The contract, entitled "Integrated Management of Marine Engineering Activities," addresses four main areas:

• An extensive as-built verification program
• Numerical modeling for units as applicable
• Rapid response service for each installation
• Awareness training covering subjects such as classification, statutory certificates, and hazardous areas

The verification program will focus on monitoring the safety-related systems, such as progressive flooding or fire fighting systems and the need for any associated as-built drawings.

ABS Group will use sophisticated numerical modeling software for motion, stability, hydrodynamics, structure and mooring analyses for all units, giving Petrobras’ management team a source of class-approved tools that can be readily applied in case of a major alteration or of emergency.

"The numerical models are mathematical copies of real-life problems," said Belligotti. "They are the tools used for engineering calculations on structures, fluid flows and other physical phenomena. With them we can simulate real situations and predict the responses with great accuracy."

With the as-built verification program in place and numerical engineering models developed, ABS Group will help create a complete and ready-to-use rapid response plan for each unit. The plan will include special communications arrangements to expedite quick and safe attendance to the units plus associated rapid response support, including procedures and emergency manuals.

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