Risk reduction through advanced leak management

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 593
Author(s):  
Silvio Stojic ◽  
Antoine Hanekom ◽  
Russell Colman
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Leak Detection ◽  
Product Loss ◽  
Remedial Actions ◽  
Offshore Oil And Gas ◽  
Leak Management ◽  
Component Failures

Leaks of hydrocarbon to the atmosphere can be a major facility safety risk and personnel occupational health and safety (OHS) risk for oil and gas producing and processing facilities. Normally closed valves that pass or leak in-line are also a major contributor to product loss and facility risk. Component failures of these types have two common and challenging features: they are hard to find among the tens of thousands of potential leak sources, and the leakage rates either to the atmosphere or in-line can vary from minor to potentially catastrophic. In the past seven to eight years, advanced methods for finding and managing leaks resulting from poor component integrity have been developed. This paper covers some of ATMECO’s accumulated knowledge developed over many leak surveys of both onshore and offshore oil and gas facilities. Typical statistical profiles of leaks from uncontrolled facilities are presented. The types of component failure that lead to leaks are discussed along with probabilistic analyses relating to the next likely failure. Technologies of leak detection are reviewed, highlighting benefits and problems. Also discussed are the prerequisite data capture and management systems needed for a competent, robust and auditable system to manage component integrity. Gas imaging technology is becoming one of the core hydrocarbon leak detection tools and also assists greatly in the analyses of leaks and in providing valuable input to remedial actions. Survey design requirements for continuing and cost-effective component leak risk management are reviewed. Recommendations are provided about the preferred methods and management structures for programs designed to minimise component integrity risks.

Pipeline Bundle: A Smart Solution for Infield Transportation—Part 1: Overview and Engineering Design

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Song ◽  
Z. Kang ◽  
Yuanlong Qin ◽  
Chunrun Li
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Transportation Engineering ◽  
Innovative Solution ◽  
Water Pipeline ◽  
Protection Potential ◽  
Offshore Oil And Gas

Pipeline bundle system consisting of carrier pipe, sleeve pipe and internal flowlines offers innovative solution for the infield transportation of oil and gas. Due to its features, pipeline bundle offers a couple of advantages over conventional pipeline in particular for cases where multi-flowlines and high thermal performance are of great interests. The main benefits and advantages of such system include excellent thermal performance to prevent wax formation and hydrates, multiple bundled flowlines, mechanical and corrosion protection, potential reuse, etc. With the developments of offshore oil and gas industries, more and more hydrocarbon resources are being explored and discovered from shallow to deep water. Pipeline bundle system can be a smart solution for certain applications, which can be safe and cost effective solution. The objective of this paper is to overview pipeline bundle technology, outline detailed engineering design issue and procedure. Focus is given to its potential application in offshore for infield transportation. Engineering design principles and procedures for pipeline bundle system has been highlighted. A companion paper addressed the details of the construction and installation of pipeline bundle system. An example is given at the end of this paper to demonstrate the pipeline bundle system concept and its application.

scholarly journals A New Tool for Airborne Gravimetry Survey Simulation

Geosciences ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Sampietro ◽  
Ahmed Mansi ◽  
Martina Capponi
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite Systems ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Airborne Gravimetry ◽  
Satellite Systems ◽  
Observation Noise ◽  
Airborne Survey

Airborne gravimetry represents nowadays probably the most efficient technique to collect gravity observations close to the Earth’s surface. In the 1990s, thanks to the development of the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), which has made accurate navigational data available, this technique started to spread worldwide because of its capability to provide measurements in a fast and cost-effective way. Differently from other techniques such as shipborne gravimetry, it has the advantage to provide gravity measurements also in challenging environments which can be difficult to access otherwise, like mountainous areas, rain forests and polar regions. For such reasons, airborne gravimetry is used for various applications related to the regional gravity field modelling: from the computation of high accurate local geoid for geodetic applications to geophysical ones, specifically related to oil and gas exploration activities or more in general for regional geological studies. Depending on the different kinds of application and the final required accuracy, the definition of the main characteristics of the airborne survey, e.g., the planar distance between consecutive flight tracks, the aircraft velocity, etc., can be a difficult task. In this work, we present a new software package, which would help in properly accomplishing the survey design task. Basically, the developed software solution allows for generating a realistic (from the observation noise point of view) gravimetric signal, and, after that, to predict the accuracy and spatial resolution of the final retrievable gravimetric field, in terms of gravity disturbances, given the flight main characteristics. The proposed procedure is suited for airborne survey planning in order to be able to optimize the design of the survey according to the required final accuracy. With the aim to evaluate the influence of the various survey parameters on the expected accuracy of the airborne survey, different numerical tests have been performed on simulated and real datasets. For instance, it has been shown that if the observation noise is not properly modeled in the data filtering step, the survey results degrade about 25%, while not acquiring control lines during the survey will basically reduce the final accuracy by a factor of two.

Is Australia Prepared for the Decommissioning Challenge? A Regulator's Perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Christensen ◽  
Andrew Re
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Regulatory Reform ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Independent Expert ◽  
Offshore Oil And Gas ◽  
Offshore Petroleum

Abstract The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) is Australia's independent expert regulator for health and safety, structural (well) integrity and environmental management for all offshore oil and gas operations and greenhouse gas storage activities in Australian waters, and in coastal waters where regulatory powers and functions have been conferred. The Australian offshore petroleum industry has been in operation since the early 1960s and currently has approximately 57 platforms, 11 floating facilities, 3,500km of pipelines and 1000 wells in operation. Many offshore facilities are now approaching the end of their operational lives and it is estimated that over the next 50 years decommissioning of this infrastructure will cost more than US$40.5 billion. Decommissioning is a normal and inevitable stage in the lifetime of an offshore petroleum project that should be planned from the outset and matured throughout the life of operations. While only a few facilities have been decommissioned in Australian waters, most of Australia's offshore infrastructure is now more than 20 years old and entering a phase where they require extra attention and close maintenance prior to decommissioning. When the NOGA group of companies entered liquidation in 2020 and the Australian Government took control of decommissioning the Laminaria and Corallina field development it became evident that there were some fundamental gaps in relation to decommissioning in the Australian offshore petroleum industry. There are two key focus areas that require attention. Firstly, regulatory reform including policy change and modification to regulatory practice. Secondly, the development of visible and robust decommissioning plans by Industry titleholders. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance and benefit of adopting good practice when planning for decommissioning throughout the life cycle of a petroleum project. Whilst not insurmountable, the closing of these gaps will ensure that Australia is well placed to deal with the decommissioning challenge facing the industry in the next 50 years.

Long Pile Upending Lifting Study for Fixed Platform on Offshore Oil and Gas Field

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yandong Zhou ◽  
Facheng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Water Developments ◽  
Oil And Gas Field ◽  
Offshore Oil And Gas ◽  
Offshore Oil

Fixed platform have been widely employed in the offshore oil and gas reservoirs development. Pile foundation reliability is critical for these platforms where drilling, production and other functions are integrated. The lifting operation for the long pile, being a key step in the jacket installation, has been considered for further developments. With deep water developments, the sizes and weights of long piles are reasonably bigger. The corresponding process and equipment employed are subsequently altered, which brings challenges to developing a cost-effective, easy-operable approach for lifting operation. In this paper, the technology for the offshore long pile upending lifting operation including pile feature, installation methodology, lifting rigging and analysis model, covering water depths ranging from shallow to near deep water zone (60–300 m water depth) has been suggested. In addition, the applicability of the adoptable novel approaches has been discussed considering the practical project experience.

scholarly journals Health and safety in the offshore oil and gas industry

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (65) ◽  
pp. 25-27
Author(s):  
Liz Mackie
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Safety Information ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Offshore Oil And Gas ◽  
Offshore Oil ◽  
Safety And Environment

Since the 'Piper Alpha' disaster in 1988 the system of regulating occupational health and safety in the offshore oil and gas industry has been the subject of radical reorganization. During vacation employment in the Safety and Environment Department of a North Sea oil producer during 1993 the difficulties that can arise in identifying a particular regulation or in obtaining a specific document were experienced at first hand. Standard bibliographic tools do not identify sources of health and safety information specific to the industry and it was felt that further guidance would be beneficial.

scholarly journals Methodological recommendations on safety decision making for offshore oil & gas platforms

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (394) ◽  
pp. 147-157
Author(s):  
Nikolay A. Valdman ◽  
Nina L. Malyarenko
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Theoretical Studies ◽  
Safe Operation ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Management Standards ◽  
Offshore Oil And Gas ◽  
Offshore Oil ◽  
Oil Gas

Object and purpose of research. This paper discusses offshore oil & gas platforms as complex social and technical systems. The purpose is to consider the results of the research on development of recommendations aimed at improving the methodological apparatus for making management decisions to insure the offshore oil & gas field structures safety operations. Materials and methods. This work followed common methods of theoretical studies and was based on KSRC guidelines, risk management standards, as well as relevant publications, both Russian and foreign. Main results. Existing methodological recommendations on safety decision-making for offshore oil and gas facilities were systematized. The task of describing the implementation of decision-making methodology intended to ensure safe operation of offshore facilities and their equipment has been successfully accomplished. Conclusion. Methodological recommendations on decision making suggested in this paper with reference to the operation of offshore oil and gas facilities are intended to improve their safety, as well as to prevent or mitigate their possible accidents (failures) and justify the choice of optimal cost-effective solutions.

SmartBall™: A New Approach in Pipeline Leak Detection

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Fletcher ◽  
Muthu Chandrasekaran
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Detection Threshold ◽  
Leak Detection ◽  
Acoustic Sensor ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Loss And Damage ◽  
Product Loss ◽  
Awareness Programs ◽  
Noise Signature

Early detection of leaks in hazardous materials pipelines is essential to reduce product loss and damage to the environment. Small undetected leaks can result in very high clean-up costs and have the potential to grow to more serious failures. There are a variety of methods that can detect leaks in pipelines, ranging from manual inspection to advanced satellite based imaging. Typically, most operators opt for a combination of CPM where available, and direct observation methodologies including aerial patrols, ground patrols and public awareness programs that are designed to encourage and facilitate the reporting of suspected leaks. Permanent monitoring sensors based on acoustic or other technologies are also available. These methods can be costly, and none can reliably detect small leaks regardless of their location in the line. SmartBall is a radical new approach that combines the sensitivity of acoustic leak detection with the 100% coverage capability of in-line inspection. The free-swimming device is spherical and smaller than the pipe bore allowing it to roll silently through the line and achieve the highest responsiveness to small leaks. It can be launched and retrieved using conventional pig traps, but its size and shape allow it to negotiate obstacles that could otherwise render a pipeline unpiggable. The SmartBall technology was originally developed and successfully implemented for the water industry, and now refined for oil and gas pipelines over 4-inches in diameter. SmartBall has been proven capable of detecting leaks in liquid lines of less than 0.1 gallons per minute where conventional CPM methods can detect leaks no smaller than 1% of throughput. Development work is continuing to reduce the detection threshold still further. Whereas traditional acoustic monitoring techniques have focused on longitudinal deployment and spacing of acoustic sensors, the SmartBall uses only a single acoustic sensor that is deployed inside the pipeline. Propelled by the flow of product in the pipeline, the device will record all noise events as it traverses the length of the pipeline. This allows the acoustic sensor to pass in very close proximity to any leak whereby the sensor can detect very small leaks, whose noise signature can be clearly distinguished from any background noise.

Changes in labour and safety regulation offshore: the productivity implications

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 539
Author(s):  
Eleanor Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Trade Unions ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Safety Regulation ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Offshore Industry ◽  
Offshore Oil And Gas ◽  
The Impact

In recent years there have been ongoing tussles regarding the regulation of employment in the offshore oil and gas industry. Much of this conflict relates to the extent of union involvement in the industry, and the impact increased union activity may have on cost and productivity. This conflict has played out in the courts, legislature and the media. It is evidenced in the debate over the application of Australian migration laws to foreign workers offshore. This has involved lobbying by a number of organisations and Federal and High Court challenges to parliamentary intervention. Whether these laws apply has important implications for industry, as they include the practicalities and cost of engaging adequately skilled contractors for specialist tasks on major projects. Another recent example is the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) advocating for the application of the harmonised workplace health and safety regulations to the offshore industry. The application of these regulations would likely affect the extent of union involvement in the workplace, and have consequent cost and efficiency implications. In this extended abstract the author examines the impacts on industry of: recent and upcoming changes in employment regulation; uncertainties around the application of employment laws offshore; proposed changes to safety regulation; and, areas where industry is seeing advocacy for change.

Offshore Wind Turbine and Substructure Modelling for a Float Over Installation Design

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Marc Cholley ◽  
M. Cahay
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbine ◽  
Heavy Lift ◽  
Offshore Oil And Gas ◽  
Turbine Installation

We can learn from the offshore oil and gas experience for the future offshore wind turbine installation. For the offshore ‘wind farm’ developments, the installation of wind turbines onto preinstalled foundations using the heavy lift vessel method or stabilized vessel is now well established, though, for large units, this requires multiple lifts and hence extensive offshore assembling. As demand for lift vessels increases, their availability to match a future large specific project’s schedule cannot be guaranteed. Consequently, an alternative wind turbine installation vessel design has been developed for not only installing simultaneously two wind turbines in a single piece, but also with a high air gap (up to 70 ft). This paper presents this new design. The new vessel design consists of a catamaran shaped vessel with dimensions that permit it to go around variety of substructures (piles foundation, tripod, concrete foundation or floating substructure) for float-over installation of wind turbines. For the float-over operation, a thorough understanding of dynamic behavior and environmental conditions are necessary to allow the design load to be assessed, with the objective to minimize the risk and maximize the operating sea states. This paper gives a description of how the substructure / Wind turbine / transition piece / floating unit can be modeled. This new vessel design greatly extends the geographical range for offshore wind turbine installation using the float-over method and offers a cost effective alternative to relying on crane vessels.

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