Piping integrity problem of ageing installations located on the NCS under maintenance and modification projects

Abstract

In this master thesis the author carries out the research of the process piping integrity problems on ageing offshore installations located on the NCS in the context of M&M project activity. The author describes briefly conventional M&M projects, which are being performed on platforms and piping discipline’s role on them. The emphasis of this thesis work is placed on corrosion of process piping and pipe supports, so the typical corrosion forms for them in offshore environment are discussed, with more detailed description of corrosion under insulation and pipe support related corrosion as the two most severe and typical mechanisms of corrosion. The author presents material alternatives for process piping systems with different properties and degree of corrosion resistance, analyses performance of stainless steel and GRE piping materials as the most exploited on M&M offshore projects to withstand corrosion. Piping vibration problem is discussed in terms of modification impact on ageing piping systems. Through the case study from one of the ageing platforms the author raises the issue of lack of management attention to piping integrity problems. Then the author discusses piping system integrity barriers to withstand corrosion for all the stages of the piping system life cycle, where he underlines that the role the management is vital for the barriers’ effectiveness. By indicating on excessive focus of senior management of M&M service provider companies on financial indicators and insufficient attention to non-financial ones, the author emphasizes the importance of utilization of proper management systems, like the Balanced Scorecard, in order to achieve balanced performance of all organization’s domains. Achieving of such an organizational level ensures M&M services provider to improve rendering of services so that the effectiveness of piping system integrity barriers, carefully developed and maintained, will provide sustainable work of piping system for years. As the result the operator gets reduced OPEX of piping systems contributing to extension of economic life of the mature field.