Offshore staff
STAVANGER, Norway– Aquaterra Energy has unveiled a riser monitoring system (RMS) that combines direct riser strain measurement, subsea data logging, and riser analysis processing algorithms to generate accurate, real-time operational guidance to optimize drilling and workover operations in water depths of up to 100 m (328 ft).
A full scale prototype of the RMS unit was developed by Aquaterra Energy in the structures laboratory of the University Engineering Department at the University of Cambridge. Also in partnership with the university, all elements of the system have been tested and verified to ensure maximum reliability.
The RMS uses pre-processed computationally intensive data which ensures that analysis, including the usually time intensive component fatigue utilization determination, is rapid and that a full range of potential input conditions, tabulated in a multi-dimensional matrix, is provided. Measurement, evaluation and specification of key variables, specific to each strain cycle contained within the measured data, allow an accurate representation of the critical boundary conditions to be produced. This subsequently enables comparison with the pre-processed data, as well as directional fatigue assessment for each constituent component along the full riser length.
The company says the system’s four strain gauge devices facilitate reliability and accuracy. The gauges are protected from accidental damage by a casing which also contains the logging hardware, in combination with modular battery pack expansion slots, which facilitate up to five years logging time.
The RMS is fully compliant with DNV-RP-F206 and ISO 13628-7 specifications and certified to ATEX Ex ib IIB T4.
Eric Doyle, regional director – Europe at Aquaterra Energy, said: “It combines rapid data processing and high fidelity output with proven analysis expertise, to offer our clients a leading edge solution to integrity management. The solution is delivered through the use of a bespoke, standard length, riser joint, which replaces a standard riser joint in the stack up, with pre-installed data acquisition and logging hardware, resulting in virtually zero impact on operations.
“The integration, complexity and practicality of the data handling in the RMS is unique to Aquaterra Energy and the accumulated strain data can either be stored locally or transmitted back to surface for live evaluation.”
