Structural Integrity Management Case Studies for FPSOs
1. FPSO hull risk-based inspection program updates
ABL’s scope of work
- Completed major updates of Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) programs for FPSO hulls
- Using available thickness measurement data from inspections, carried out corrosion study to determine corrosion rates and predict remaining thickness of structural members in future operation
- Conducted tri-party workshops with company and Classification Society to obtain early agreements and streamline RBI program approvals
- Reviewed existing anomalies and applied anomaly grouping to simplify and speed up RBI program update
- Identified anomalies planned for repairs
- Conducted comprehensive risk re-assessment for different locations in FPSO hull
- Reduced inspection scopes in tanks
- Updated inspection drivers, justified extended inspection intervals and created summary sheets for inspections
- Updated In-Service Inspection Plan
The key project benefits
- Alignment of inspection programs with FPSO current structural and operating conditions
- Safety improvement by reduction of rope access in tanks
- Inspection cost reduction by eliminating several thousand locations for close visual inspections and thickness measurements
2. Riser Column life extension and RBI
ABL’s scope of work
- Developed structural inspection programs in compliance with Classification Society requirements
- Supervised corrosion rate studies and composite repair designs
- Assessed anomalies and created repair and condition monitoring plans
- Developed Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) program
The key project benefits
- Ensured structural integrity of Riser Column beyond its original design life
- Achieved significant safety and cost benefits through the application of composite repairs inside Riser Column
- Reduced inspection cost and integrity risks
3. Pre-purchase survey and condition assessment for decommissioned FPSO
ABL’s scope of work
- Developed inspection programs for a decommissioned FPSO
- Selected an inspection company
- Provided experienced ABL surveyor and supervised inspectors
- Reviewed inspection results and assessed FPSO condition for prospective buyer
The key project benefits
- Conducted survey on short notice in agreement with client’s schedule
- Achieved inspection cost savings for our client by selecting the most suitable inspection company and negotiating the contact price
- Achieved significant safety and cost benefits through optimisation of inspection scopes, unmanned inspections using drones and ROVs, and 3D photogrammetry
- Delivered comprehensive FPSO condition report for our client
4. Unmanned inspections of FPSO tanks
ABL’s scope of work
- ABL subject matter expert provided ongoing support to the client’s new technology qualification process for unmanned inspections
The key project benefits
- Significant safety and cost benefits using unmanned inspections by drones and ROVs
5. Secondments to asset owner company
ABL’s scope of work
- Seconded ABL naval architects to the client’s FPSO integrity management and technology teams
The key project benefits
- Provided subject matter experts to deliver scopes which reduce asset operational cost while improving safety and integrity