May 2014, Vol. 241, No. 5

Projects

DNV GL Launches Joint Industry Project

Failures of installed pipes, umbilicals and cables during installation can potentially lead to higher costs for the oil and gas industry and delayed start-ups. There are no standards or recommended practices that address analysis methodology related to the laying of such products.

DNV GL has launched a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop best practice guidelines. Twenty industry partners have signed up for the JIP, including Statoil, Petrobras and Woodside, as well as all the major installation contractors.

The overall purpose of the JIP is to present the typical challenges that should be addressed in planning and design of marine operations and to establish a common basis for installation design of pipelines, umbilicals and cables:

– Establish standardized procedures for planning and design of lay operations that may be used in all projects irrespective of operator (oil company);
– Ensure an overall understanding of design requirements arising from installation loads (essential for suppliers);
– Ensure an overall understanding of typical behavior and limitations inherent in pipes, umbilicals and cables (essential for installation contractors);
– Compile the industry’s best practice through workshops, and
– Clarify inconsistencies between codes currently in use.