Reliability-based management of inspection, maintenance and repair of offshore structures

Abstract

Development of reliability-based management of inspection, monitoring, maintenance and repair (IMMR) of various types of offshore structures is described, with a focus on management of hull damage due to crack growth and corrosion. Operational experiences with respect to degradation of various types of offshore structures are summarized. The interrelation between design criteria and IMMR is emphasized. Explicit design for robustness in terms of an accidental collapse limit state and monitoring by the use of the leak before break principle to identify damage are highlighted. It is shown how design for robustness, choice of inspection method and scheduling as well as repair strategy, need to be implemented to obtain an acceptable risk for various types of offshore structures. Finally, the particular features of reliability based structural reassessment for extension of the service life, are briefly outlined and exemplified.