Fitness for Purpose of FPSO Pipe Rack

Customer Challenge

During the detailed design phase of a project to upgrade FPSO topsides for redeployed on North Sea field it was identified that existing pipe rack would be required to carry a significantly increased number of flow and return lines and access platforms.
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Customer was looking to identify quickly if existing pipe rack would be fit for purpose or if a replacement would need to be designed and built. Fitness for purpose of existing pipe rack had been not been explored in the FEED so the focus was on getting answers quickly.




 

Key Skills Exhibited

Experience in FPSO topside structural behaviour and quasi static structural analysis was used to develop an analysis model to identify what redundant capacity was present in the existing structure. Analysis results were reviewed in parallel with survey data identifying corrosion, defects and existing member failures.

Experience based engineering was used to build up a complete picture for the client as to the structures condition/ design defects and advise if it would be possible to strengthen/ modify existing structure or if a destruct and replace with new would be the best course of action.
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Leadership and strong Decision-Making Capability were key in advising the client that due to the new demands on the FWD pipe rack, design flaws & poor condition considered, the best course of action would be to destruct existing pipe rack and replace with new build. 

Customer Benefit

• Project was turned around quickly which was key to minimising delays to fast track project.
• All key information, both analysis and condition survey data, was collated into one concise package. Expert advice and commentary on findings were presented clearly to assist client in final decision making.
• Analysis results were presented in plain English to be absorbed by both technical and non-technical project stakeholders.