"The
benefit of properly performed risk studies is that our
frame of reference is moved, often beyond our immediate
perceptions."
--Dave
Jones
EQE Senior Vice President |
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loating
production systems are a key focus area for QRAs, including
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associated
pipelines and/or shuttle tankers.
According to Dave Jones, EQE Senior Vice President and consultant
to oil and gas clients, this is not surprising. "For shallower
water production systems, using fixed platforms, there is a
considerable knowledge base -- representing years of operating
experience -- that can be drawn upon to help make decisions.
Deepwater production is comparatively new. Many of the designs
are prototype. Further, particularly for those installations
where class has not been involved with the production facility,
the potential consequences associated with a major event can
include sinking the floating production system itself. For FPSOs,
the fact that there is a significant volume of oil storage further
adds to the potential risk. What it all means is that we need
better tools for decision-making. |
That
is essentially the driving force behind the more frequent use of QRA.
QRA, if applied smartly, can provide the operator with better information
and a stronger basis for making key decisions."
Topside facilities
are high risk by their very nature, and EQE risk assessments of
topside designs are among the most requested by offshore clients.
For floating production systems, this has led EQE into interesting
territory, according to Jones, including investigations into the
interaction between marine systems and the topsides production systems.
One concern is that an event in one system may have the potential
to compromise critical safety equipment in another. Said Jones,
"Quite appropriately, any risk assessment of a floating production
system will pay close attention to the interface between the marine
and topsides systems." These studies also contribute to synergies
with classification by facilitating assessment of multiple systems
for compliance with ABS Rule requirements.
One of the more
intriguing requests Jones received came from an operator who would
like to investigate the effectiveness of an installation's hurricane
evacuation plan, how long an installation can operate before evacuation
and if, after evacuation and during the hurricane, the platform
could or should be operated remotely.
Said Jones,
"While risk assessment tools have been adapted to a huge variety
of systems and operations, there remain significant opportunities
to utilize these for floating production systems. The challenge
is to creatively apply those tools to deepwater systems in a way
that improves the overall safety. The end product is not a risk
assessment but a safer, more reliable operation. The benefit of
properly performed risk studies is that our frame of reference is
moved, often beyond our immediate perceptions."
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