Offshore staff
STAVANGER, Norway –Four Norwegian research institutes have joined to cooperate on R&D of field life extension programs offshore Norway.
Marintek, Sintef, IFE, and Iris are collaborating with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the University of Stavanger (UiS) to form The Centre for Petroleum Production Facilities. This will work closely with the oil and gas industry, focusing on five main themes:
- Extending field life
- Avoiding major accidents
- Improving operating and asset integrity
- Managing ageing and new petroleum facilities efficiently
- Helping to increase potential value.
Norway’s offshore infrastructure comprises around 100 fixed platforms, more than 20 floating installations, more than 250 subsea installations, and thousands of kilometers of pipelines.
Most of these facilities were designed for a lifespan of 20-25 years, but many of the fields now look set to achieve production of up to 40 years or more.
The institutes will also examine associated issues of risk and barrier management; human and organizational factors; residual life and life extension; and support for safe operation. All, they claim, require improved understanding, better solutions, and more effective and safer work processes.
9/4/2012
