Structures monitored in North Sea

Journal Article · Mon Dec 22 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5959781

Klimo, P

One of the most difficult, dangerous, and costly offshore maintenance tasks is the underwater structural inspection of fixed production platforms. A visual examination by divers represents the major part of a routine survey, along with selective non-destructive testing techniques such as ultrasonic wall-thickness measurement and magnetic-particle-inspection (MPI) crack detection. Cleaning the layer of weeds and marine shell animals off the underwater structure is the lengthiest task, requiring up to 80% of the available underwater time. In addition to diving examinations, a generation of simple, versatile submersibles is now available for general inspection and maintenance of subsea completions, pipelines, and risers. The offshore service industry's preoccupation with the diving aspect of inspection, however, has diverted innovative efforts away from improving nonmanned instruments. BP is now designing and constructing a remotely controlled vehicle (RCV) type of submersible intended solely for underwater platform inspection.

• Research Organization: BP Trading Ltd., England
• OSTI ID: 5959781
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 78; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ATLANTIC OCEAN
DESIGN
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
LEVELS
MAINTENANCE
MATERIALS TESTING
MONITORING
NATURAL GAS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NORTH SEA
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
SEAS
SHIPS
SUBMARINES
SURFACE WATERS
TESTING
UNDERWATER