BPTT Bombax Pipeline System: World-Class HSE Management
Authors: Byrne M.G. , Johnson D.P. , Graham E.C. , Smith K.L. 
Published: October 2008

The BP Bombax Pipeline Project involved designing and installing one of the largest diameter subsea pipelines in the world to support gas expansion in Trinidad and Tobago. This paper and accompanying presentation will go into the challenges to achieving a world class HSE performance with a number of high-risk activities and multiple Contracting companies performing the work.

Specific topics that will be addressed include: Maintaining alignment with corporate HSE policies while developing and implementing HSE programs that are appropriate for project work activities; Effective HSE influence including defining the HSE boundaries and focusing on inputs; Managing HSE performance of Contractors using contract language; and HSE assurance processes for Contractors and the Project.

Introduction

In response to the increasing demand for energy in the form of natural gas, BP Trinidad and Tobago has started expanding its offshore fields and gas transportation system to supply new LNG trains at Point Fortin on the West side of Trinidad as well as the increased local domestic market. The Bombax Pipeline Project was part of this expansion plan and includes 64 km of 48-inch offshore pipeline from a new platform hub, Cassia 'B' to landfall at Rustville, on the East Coast of Trinidad. From the landfall, the pipeline extends 1.8 km cross country to the existing Beachfield slug catcher and production facility for onward transportation of gas to the LNG facilities on the West Coast. The 48-inch pipeline is connected via a 20-inch Subsea jumper to the existing 40-inch pipeline as part of a long-term expansion plan. Additional gas production is supported by a new wellhead platform located at the Kapok field, linked to the Cassia 'B' production hub by a 26-inch, multi-phase pipeline.

The design and execution of the Bombax Pipeline Project involved a number of very challenging operations some of which had not been attempted before:

Over 5,000 lengths of 48-inch diameter pipes were produced in Japan, shipped to the USA for anti-corrosion coating and concrete weight coating with individual pipe weights reaching over 32 tons. During this process and the following subsea installation of the 48-inch pipeline, each pipe was handled more than 20 times which equates to over one hundred thousand large diameter pipe handling operations, many of them offshore.

The worlds largest (and heaviest at over 30 tons) subsea check valve was manufactured along with over 30 large diameter ball valves that were installed into a 430 ton Subsea manifold. Add to this individual 48-inch, 26-inch and 20-inch tie-in spools of up to 300 feet long and 270 tons. Collectively, the Bombax Pipeline Project presented an interesting and challenging undertaking.

Figure 1Bombax Field Layout(AVAILABLE IN FULL PAPER)

Getting HSE Right

BP's HSE goals are simply stated: no accidents, no harm to people, and no damage to the environment. In an effort to achieve these goals, BP has defined an HSE Management System Framework entitled getting HSE right. This framework encompasses the complete spectrum of health, safety and environmental risk management including personal security, technical/operational integrity of facilities and equipment and product stewardship. getting HSE right provides a broad-based set of expectations integrated into thirteen elements of accountability.