Petrofac eliminates need for offshore surveys with digital process

Oilfield services provider Petrofac has collaborated with asset management specialist, James Fisher Asset Information Services (JF AIS), to eliminate the need for offshore surveys ahead of modification scopes, reducing time and cost.

Petrofac said on Monday that the digital process enables the offshore crew to capture detailed visual and measurement data through a process called Self-Capture Point Cloud. Photogrammetric data is collected using intuitive camera equipment, transferred directly to the asset’s Digital Twin and converted into a point cloud, which can be used to design asset modifications to a high level of dimensional accuracy. 

Using this technique, Petrofac was able to undertake a spool piece replacement in the North Sea, avoiding the need to mobilise a survey team – a first for the UK energy industry.

Steve Johnson, Vice President of Digital for Petrofac’s Engineering and Production Services business, commented: “As our industry continues to balance its focus on the maximisation of economic recovery and accelerating towards a lower-carbon future, this type of digital execution provides a means to optimise use of existing infrastructure by extending field life, whilst reducing offshore travel.

“Data is captured at the point of inspection and core teams are empowered to execute modifications without a time-consuming survey process, ultimately unlocking significant value for our clients through increased uptime and cost efficiencies”.

Signalling the future way of working, the solution has proven to present sustainable value and cost savings, by eliminating the requirement for offshore surveys, Petrofac explained.

Johnson concluded: “With all our customers’ assets requiring planned production shutdowns incorporating pipework anomalies and new subsea tiebacks requiring piping tie-ins, this technology will accelerate what is often a critical path activity and allow production to be started earlier than ever before”.

In related news, Petrofac has recently been awarded a three-year contract with ONEgas, an integrated cross-border asset between Shell UK and the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij.

The agreement came with two one-year options to extend and builds on its previously awarded Framework Agreement, enabling delivery of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services across the operator’s Southern North Sea portfolio.