Qualification To Reduce Subsea Failures

  1. Pages with broken file links
  2. Subsea
  3. Production Facilities
  4. Production Engineering


The methodology for reducing subsea failures is formalized in DNVRP- A203. It provides a systematic risk-based approach for obtaining the goals of the qualification. The qualification process comprises the main activities listed next. At each step of the process there is a need for documentation making the process traceable.

  • Establish an overall plan for the qualification. This is a continuous process and needs updating after each step using the available knowledge on the status of the qualification.
    File:RCDA Process Flow Diagram (13).png
    RCDA Process Flow Diagram (13)
  • Establish a qualification basis comprising requirements, specification, and description. Define the functionality and limiting parameters.
  • Screen the technology based on identification of failure mechanisms and their risk, and classification of the technology according to degree of newness to focus the effort where the related uncertainty is most significant.
  • Assess maintenance, monitor conditions, and review possible modifications for their effect on the qualification basis.
  • Plan and execute reliability data collection. The data are used to analyze the risk involved in not meeting the specifications through experience, numerical analysis, and tests.
  • Analyze the reliability and, thereby, the risk of the failure modes related to the functional requirements.

References

[1] American Petroleum Institute, Recommended Practice for Subsea Production System Reliability and Technical Risk Management, API RP 17N, 2009, March.

[2] R. Cook, Risk Management, England, 2004.

[3] H. Brandt, Reliability Management of Deepwater Subsea Field Developments, OTC 15343, Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 2003.

[4] Det Norsk Veritas, Risk Management in Marine and Subsea Operations, DNV-RPH101, 2003.

[5] J. Wang, Offshore Safety Case Approach and Formal Safety Assessment of Ships, Journal of Safety Research No. 33 (2002) 81–115.

[6] J. Aller, M. Conley, D. Dunlavy, Risk-Based Inspection, API Committee on Refinery Equipment BRD on Risk Based Inspection, 1996, October.

[7] International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, Managing Major Incident Risks Workshop Report, 2008, April.

[8] C. Duell, R. Fleming, J. Strutt, Implementing Deepwater Subsea Reliability Strategy, OTC 12998, Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 2001.

[9] M. Carter, K. Powell, Increasing Reliability in Subsea Systems, E&P Magazine, Hart Energy Publishing, LP, Houston, 2006, February 1.

[10] H.B. Skeels, M. Taylor, F. Wabnitz, Subsea Field Architecture Selection Based on Reliability Considerations, Deep Offshore Technology (DOT), 2003.

[11] F. Wabnitz, Use of Reliability Engineering Tools to Enhance Subsea System Reliability, OTC 12944, Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 2001.

[12] K. Parkes, Human and Organizational Factors in the Achievement of High Reliability, Engineers Australia/SPE, 2009.

[13] M. Morris, Incorporating Reliability Centered Maintenance Principles in Front End Engineering and Design of Deep Water Capital Projects, http://www.reliabilityweb. com/art07/rcm_design.htm, 2007.

[14] Det Norsk Veritas, Qualification Procedures for New Technology, DNV-RP-A203, 2001.

[15] M. Tore, A Qualification Approach to Reduce Subsea Equipment Failures, in: Proc. 13th Int. Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, 2003.


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