Statoil has since 1985 installed, commissioned and operated approximately 8000 km of pipelines in the North Sea area. Among these pipelines are several of the world’s largest offshore gas trunk lines with the onshore parts relatively short in length but often with complex landfalls, fjord and land crossings. Since 2002 Gassco has been the Operator for transporting Norwegian gas to continental Europe and the UK. Gassco is a fully state owned company. Statoil is now TSP (Technical Service Provider) for most of the trunk lines. Operating these pipelines represents several challenges, and the accumulated experience gained through successful operations of these pipelines has brought Statoil to the forefront within the pipeline industry. Through comprehensive research and development Statoil has improved pipeline technology within areas as inspection, maintenance and repair. Together with the development of risk based condition (integrity) assessment, inspection and monitoring planning tools and work processes, these technology achievements have significantly improved Statoil’s knowledge and understanding of the pipeline condition and associated risk levels. A significant reduction in operating cost has also been experienced. Together with its collaborating partners Statoil has among others improved internal inspection technology by improving the MFL technology to a level of extra high resolution (XHR-technology) making metal loss measurements more reliable and accurate. Multi diameter inspection tools (28”–42”) (MDPT) and optical laser tool (Optopig) have also been developed and put into operation. Sub sea pipeline survey by use of ROV has been significantly improved with regard to instrumentation and survey speed. A unique remote pipeline repair contingency system (PRS) with well defined response times (10–21 days), has also been developed. To get the full benefit of these developments a risk based pipeline condition (integrity) management system (PCMS/PIMS) has been developed with the development of DnV’s Orbit Pipeline as a key element. ORBIT Pipeline consists principally of data storage and administration and various risk based integrity assessment modules. This paper will discuss several topics related to these technology developments and development of risk based condition (integrity) assessment.
Quantitative analysis of the <i>Arkhangelskiella cymbiformis</i> Group and Biostratigraphic usefulness in the North Sea Area
