Risk Assessment of Delays During Deep Water Pipe-Laying. V. M. Trbojevic, EQE International Ltd., 18 Mansell Street, London E1 8AA, telephone +44 (0)171 357 2426, fax +44 (0)171 357 2015, e-mail vmt@eqe.co.uk; and W. H. Vervest, Heerema Marine Contractors, Vondellaan 47, 2332 AA Leiden
The methodology for minimising risk of delays during deep water pipe-laying operations has been developed within the framework of Quantitative Risk Assessment, and applied to pipe-laying project in the Gulf of Mexico. The approach adopted for hazard identification and classification differs from a standard method used in the offshore industry which typically deals with ‘major’ hazards. The approach in this study is based the following classification of hazards:
Vessel related, background, hazards - these hazards are related either to the vessel or the location, and not to pipe laying, for example, passing vessel collision, flooding of compartments, loss of power, etc. Most of these hazards are so called ‘major’ hazards in the North Sea safety regime.
Pipe laying hazards are related to pipeline laying operations, for example, J-lay system failure, A&R wire failure, loss of station keeping, etc. These are operation specific hazards.
It is shown that hazards specific to pipe-laying operations, contribute more to the overall risk profile of delays than the major or pipe-laying vessel related hazards. The approach offers the insight into the main contributors to risk and the measures that can minimise or control these risks. The management of operations and improved personnel training can significantly reduce the risk of small delays, while the reliable extreme weather forecast reduces the risk of long delays due to vessel and/or pipeline damage.
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