Shell Brasil, ABS, SBM and Coppe/UFRJ team up to develop technology that will maximize the useful life of these units

With a focus on the development of new technologies that allow for increased operational safety, reduced costs, and increased productivity and efficiency of its assets, Shell Brasil signed a partnership agreement with ABS, SBM Offshore and Coppe/UFRJ to develop tools for evaluating, in real time, the impact of operational philosophy and environmental conditions on the degradation of FPSO units.

The project, with an estimated investment of US$1,5 million and developed entirely in Brazil in two years, consists of determining which parameters and information are of vital relevance for assessing the integrity of FPSOs, defining a standard for acquiring and processing data from field. In addition, the project will also develop new techniques for estimating the remaining time for the safe operation of the platform.

This methodology represents a completely different approach from the practice currently adopted, in which the service life of the platform is estimated in the design phase and its degradation due to aging verified only at the end of it. The new techniques will make it possible to rationalize the maintenance costs required to extend the operational life of FPSOs.

In addition to contributing to the optimized management of the integrity of the unit, this new methodology will also increase the safety of workers on board, by minimizing exposure to repair and inspection interventions, reducing the risk of structural incidents and deviations from normal operating conditions. .

“Understanding the current condition and knowing how to predict changes in the structural integrity of FPSO units throughout their useful life is essential to support the decision on the appropriate time for decommissioning or replacement. This partnership with ABS, SBM Offshore and Coppe/UFRJ is crucial to guarantee the delivery of something of value to the offshore industry,” said Shell Brasil Technology Manager, José Ferrari.

“This project is an opportunity for the university to join efforts with industry in the development of advanced techniques and methodologies that reliably guarantee the extension of the operational life of offshore platforms,” said Luis Sagrilo, professor at the Laboratory of Analysis and Reliability of Offshore Structures (LACEO) from Coppe/UFRJ.

Guilherme Pinto, Technology Manager for SBM Offshore in Brazil, added: “We are delighted to be part of this project. SBM believes it can provide significant added value through its technical expertise, built on extensive experience in FPSO decommissioning, life extension and relocation, and its robust asset integrity program.”

“This project with Shell, Coppe/UFRJ and SBM Offshore is an important opportunity to develop and incorporate technological innovations into the ABS Rules and International Regulations applicable to the design and operational management of the structural integrity of Floating Stationary Installations for the Production of Oil and Gas.
It also highlights Brazil as an FPSO technology development center,” said Sidney Bereicoa, ABS Chief Engineer.

The program will be funded by resources from the Research, Development & Innovation (RD&I) clause of the National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP).