Effective Asset Integrity in a $50 a Barrel World

摘要

With current market conditions keeping the price of oil below; $100 a barrel for the foreseeable future, offshore asset owners and operators have become increasingly focused on cost reductions for maintenance and inspection. In turn, the emphasis on cost reductions has presented an even bigger challenge: ensuring that asset integrity is maintained at satisfactory levels that reduce the risk of safety while still benefiting from cost savings. Traditional methods of inspection and maintenance offered at a lower cost has proven to be the wrong solution as the value in these services has been significantly reduced. By implementing disruptive inspection and maintenance technologies, asset integrity can be effectively managed in a way that is safer and provides better data than traditional methods; all while providing long-term cost savings by minimizing POB (personnel on-board) and reducing major maintenance. These technologies and methods include: 1. Utilization of high definition cameras, laser scanners and ROVs (remote operated vehicles) for tank inspections which significantly reduces, and in many cases, eliminates the need for personnel entry into tanks (i.e. cargo oil, ballast water, potable water tanks). 2. Hot-tapping into live sea water systems and hull plating (while vessels are still in operation) in order to deploy cameras, pipe plugs and anodes which eliminate or significantly reduce the need for divers or ROVs (remote operated vehicles) in the following applications: external hull bottom surveys, isolation valve repair, and ICCP (impressed current cathodic protection) anode maintenance. 3. Utilization of ROVs and crawlers with cleaning and measuring tools (callipers, photogrammetry tools) for class required mooring chain inspections which eliminates the use of divers. 4. Utilization of non-evasive tools such as Real Time Radiography, Digital Radiography and Backscatter Computed Tomography to inspect composite wrap repairs and corrosion under insulation for insulated piping and pressure systems, eliminating the requirement to removal & reinstallation of insulation.