Maintenance requirements of offshore platform/installation systems
Authors: Christie R.M. 
Published: December 2007

INTRODUCTION

The starting point for the maintenance project must be seen as a finite stage in the overall ten year project of North Sea exploration and evaluation followed by the design, construction, floatout and commissioning of production platforms.

This finite stage occurred towards the end of 1975 with the Auk 'A' platform and its remote mooring loading buoy already installed on location and virtually ready to flow, with four further very large platforms due to float out a few months later and a further series of large platforms already committed in the design construction floatout programme.

In getting this vast programme under way no decision had been made to resource an offshore maintenance project until December, 1975. But at that point top priority was allocated to the establishment of comprehensive planned maintenance procedures for all offshore installations.

The lack of Shell resources due to heavy commitment to construction and hook-up activities meant that in order to commence the project an outside agency would be required. A search followed by normal contract tendering and evaluation procedures was carried out and a firm of consultants appointed to assist in the task ahead. The task at this stage was defined in general terms as follows:To design and implement a maintenance control and administration system for the Auk Alpha production platform. The system must be capable of use on other platforms in the Northern North Sea; manually operated but be capable of transfer to computers at minimum cost and time.Maintenance of structures, cranes, mechanical equipment both rotary and stationary, electrics, instrumentation, safety equipment, galley, heating and venting is to be developed. Excluded is subsea work and drilling rigs aboard the platform.

PART I - IN THE BEGINNING

A team comprising of four Shell engineers, four consultants, a draughtsman and typist was assembled on the 4th January, 1976 and commenced work developing the project. During the following months the composition of the team altered from time to time depending on the work load and degree of expertise required at each stage. The team spent some time discussing the problem in general terms and presented their objectives.

The objectives of the maintenance project established and agreed were to examine, make recommendations and implement the agreed policy on:The appropriate maintenance management structure, resources and relationships with production and control engineering functionsA maintenance policy for all items of plant on the platform including the details of condition monitoring, statutory and safety examinations, preventive maintenance routines and sparesThe means of servicing the platform with men and materials taking into account the offshore limitations of space, accommodation, transport and facilitiesThe costing philosophy and procedures necessary to permit management control of expenditure, provide a basis for budgets and the evaluation of maintenance cost effectivenessManagement information and control data at various levels to permit the efficient utilization of plant, labour and materials and the future application of systems effectiveness analysis techniquesClerical procedures onshore and offshore required to support the above components.The potential for future computerization of procedures as the scope increases as more platforms are established.Full documentation of the technical and administrative material and procedures evolved throughout the project.

Work programme - preparation

Having agreed the objectives the problem was then to transpose the objectives into a coherent detailed work programme. Basically the work programme could be broken down into technical and administration phases.

Work programme - preparation

Having agreed the objectives the problem was then to transpose the objectives into a coherent detailed work programme. Basically the work programme could be broken down into technical and administration phases.