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Shell Brasil, ABS, SBM, and Coppe/UFRJ Unite for Technology Development That Will Maximize the Lifespan of These Units
Focusing on the development of new technologies that allow for increased operational safety, reduced costs, and enhanced productivity and efficiency of their assets, Shell Brasil has formed a partnership agreement with ABS, SBM Offshore, and Coppe/UFRJ to develop tools for real-time assessment of 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 over two years entirely in Brazil, aims to determine which parameters and information are of vital relevance for the integrity assessment of FPSOs, define a standard for the acquisition and treatment of field data. Additionally, 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 current practice, where the service life of the platform is estimated during the design phase and its degradation due to aging assessed only at the end of its life. The new techniques will enable the rationalization of maintenance costs required for extending the operational life of FPSOs.
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Besides contributing to the optimized management of unit integrity, this new methodology will also enhance the safety of onboard workers by minimizing exposure to repair and inspection interventions, reducing the risk of structural incidents and deviations from normal operational conditions.
“Understanding the current condition and being able to predict changes in the structural integrity of FPSO units over their lifespan is crucial to support the decision on the appropriate timing for decommissioning or replacement. This partnership with ABS, SBM Offshore, and Coppe/UFRJ is essential to ensure the delivery of something valuable to the offshore industry,” stated Shell Brasil’s Technology Manager, José Ferrari.
“This project is an opportunity for the university to join forces with the industry in developing advanced techniques and methodologies that reliably ensure the extension of the operational life of offshore platforms,” said Luis Sagrilo, professor at the Offshore Structures Analysis and Reliability Laboratory (LACEO) at Coppe/UFRJ.
Guilherme Pinto, Technology Manager at SBM Offshore in Brazil, added: “We are very pleased to be part of this project. SBM believes it can provide significant added value through its technical expertise, built on extensive experience in decommissioning, lifespan extension, and relocation of FPSOs and its robust asset integrity program.”
“This project with Shell, Coppe/UFRJ, and SBM Offshore is an important opportunity for development and for incorporating technological innovations into ABS Rules and the applicable International Regulations for the design and operational management of the structural integrity of Floating Production Storage and Offloading Facilities.
It also highlights Brazil as a center for technological development of FPSOs,” said Sidney Bereicoa, Chief Engineer at ABS.
The program will be funded by resources from the Research, Development & Innovation (PD&I) clause of the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).
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