provided. The most
appropriate pod
variant is selected
according to the
specifics of the
project.
Once the pipe
is laid and in
operation
Metocean sensors
continue to provide
real time data
to help support
maintenance
operations once
the pipeline is
in situ, and they
also play a part in
surveys carried out
to determine if
the pipeline is still
where it should
be. Monitoring
seabed conditions along pipeline routes can also provide valuable
information about pipeline performance, giving advance warning of
problems, and this allows cost saving measures to be taken.
In certain parts of the world – commonly the Middle East and
South East Asia – kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHI) are added to
condensate pipelines when seabed temperatures fall below critical
levels, as part of a hydrate management plan. The high cost of
using these KHI chemicals can be greatly reduced by monitoring
the seabed temperature in real time and injecting KHI chemicals
only when conditions are known to require it. Typical monitoring
systems are known to pay for themselves within the first year of
operation.
Fugro’s monitoring system does not require divers for
deployment or recovery, and can be readily retrofitted to an
existing platform. The installation of the system is therefore quick,
and the period of time before seeing cost savings related to the
use of KHI chemicals is short.
Designed, installed and maintained by Fugro, the monitoring
system (designed for the life of the pipeline) is a critical, highly
cost-effective element of a hydrate management plan, providing
real time information to help minimise flow assurance problems in
hydrate-prone areas.
Constant evolution
Fugro’s advancements in measurement and monitoring techniques,
sensor technology and data processing continually evolve to meet
the expectations of an industry that is constantly rising to the
challenges of new and hostile frontiers. In particular, these include
water depth, strong currents and winds, and ranges of temperature.
This development of sensor technology, the associated
communications, system robustness and Fugro’s reputation as
enthusiastic ‘problem solvers’ combine to enable the company’s
engineers to work in partnership with their clients to provide
added value and effective solutions for a wide range of subsea
challenges.
Figure 4.
Deployment of seabed water
temperature sensor.
Advertisers’
Direct
o
ry
Advertiser
Page
ABC
39
American Augers
7
Canusa-CPS
9
CRC-Evans
4, 61
DENSO GmbH
29
Denso North America, Inc.
59
DMI
49
Eisenbau Krämer GmbH
39
EITEP Institute
34
Gulf Interstate Engineering
23
Maats Pipeline Equipment
OBC, 17
Magnatech International
IBC
Mears Group, Inc.
65
MOC 2016
78
NACE International
55
NDT Global
15
OPUS s.r.l
84
Pigs Unlimited International, Inc.
33
Pipeline Inspection Company Ltd
77
Polyguard Products
27
Precision Pigging
OBC
Prime Horizontal
2
Rosen
IFC
Schoenbeck GmbH & Co. KG
87
Seal for Life Industries
37
STATS Group
69
T.D. Williamson
11
Tulsa Rig Iron
84
Vermeer
21
World Pipelines
43, 73, 78, 87
