JIP Focuses on Equipment Reliability in Subsea Production Systems

Abstract

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper OTC 30219, “SEAR JIP: A Success Story of Collaboration and How To Improve Equipment Reliability on Subsea Production Systems,” by Adriana Botto, Wood; Manish Tomar, Chevron; and Stuart Ferrier, ConocoPhillips, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2020 Offshore Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission. The Subsea Equipment Australia Reliability (SEAR) joint industry project (JIP) is a partnership led by Wood with participation from a group of operators including Chevron Australia, ConocoPhillips, Inpex, Santos, Shell Australia, and Woodside. Now delivering Phase 6, the JIP is focused on collaboration and knowledge-sharing to improve the competitiveness of Australia’s oil and gas industry by addressing critical challenges associated with premature subsea-equipment failure. The complete paper provides an overview of the JIP and outlines lessons learned and value created. Background The SEAR JIP was initiated in 2014 with an aim of generating significant cost savings by improving subsea-equipment reliability and design for Australian operations, a goal best achieved through collaboration and knowledge-sharing. A reliability database was developed to collect offshore-operations failure information from SEAR members. The database provides a low-cost/high-value method of capturing lessons learned for subsea-equipment performance in Australia. A complementary test program, Transforming Australian Subsea Equipment Reliability (TASER), is under way to model innovative technologies under variable environments to validate equipment advancements. Phase 6 of the JIP aims to continue populating the reliability database while addressing two major industry challenges: the effect of marine fouling affecting equipment operability, and unwanted gas in subsea controls umbilicals. The outcome of this phase should provide opportunities for standardization, life extension, and development of new technologies. The JIP plans to issue an industry recommended practice in 2022 harnessing the lessons learned. This recommended practice will identify root causes of equipment failure and recommend material selection and mechanical design requirements for different environmental conditions. This will enable an improvement in equipment availability and a reduction in operating expenditures by minimizing offshore intervention to address failed equipment.