Framework Enables Evaluation of Aging Offshore Platforms for CCS

Vollständiger Abstract

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_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 225805, “Evaluating Aging Offshore Platforms for Next CCS: Path to Sustainable Decommissioning,” by Nur D.B. Alias, Bak S. Wong, and Ahmad R.A. Rahman, Petronas, et al. The paper has not been peer-reviewed. _ A series of structural-integrity evaluations were conducted to assess an aging offshore complex for the largest carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) project in southeast Asia. These evaluations were combined with a sacrificial anode requalification study to check corrosion status as the platform nears the end of its design life. The complete paper uses the structural-integrity-management (SIM) framework to evaluate the current structural integrity of the chosen platforms, highlighting their potential and limitations for CCUS purposes based on in-service assessments. SIM Process for Life Extension SIM is the systematic, ongoing process applied throughout a structure’s life cycle to ensure that it remains fit for its intended purpose by managing risks associated with structural failure. For life extension, the SIM process provides the framework for demonstrating continued safety and reliability beyond the original design envelope. Industry standards typically structure the SIM process into the following distinct, yet interconnected, phases: 1. Data Management: This initial phase involves the systematic collection, organization, and review of all pertinent information related to the platform. 2. Evaluation: This phase involves the engineering assessment of the collected data to understand the platform’s current structural condition, identify potential or existing degradation mechanisms (corrosion, fatigue), quantify risks, and compare the platform’s status with defined performance criteria. 3. Strategy Development: Based on the evaluation phase, a forward-looking strategy is developed to manage the platform’s integrity over the desired period (a 25- to 30-year extension). 4. Program Implementation: This phase involves executing the defined strategy through planned activities such as inspections, structural health monitoring, preventative and corrective maintenance, and implementation of necessary repairs or upgrades. SIM is not a static, one-time assessment performed at the beginning of the life-extension period. Rather, it functions as a dynamic, iterative loop. For a 30-year extension, justifying existing integrity is insufficient. The initial justification must present a credible, long-term management plan that anticipates future degradation and incorporates mechanisms for ongoing verification and adaptation. Assessment of Existing Platform Condition and Degradation A thorough understanding of the platform’s current condition and the cumulative effect of past degradation is the essential starting point for any life-extension assessment. This requires meticulous data gathering and a systematic evaluation of potential failure mechanisms.