TPT January 2012

I ndustry N ews

OMS manages pipe measurement and fit-up logistics for Subsea 7

SPECIALIST pipe measurement technology company for the oil and gas industry, Optical Metrology Services (OMS) Ltd, has completed a pipe measurement and fit-up project for Subsea 7 on the Exxon Mobil- operated Oso gas/condensate field off the coast of Nigeria. Using its Smart-Fit™ software, OMS avoided any pipe fit-up problems, providing Subsea 7 with fast, good pipe fit-ups ready for the welding stage. Smart-Fit uses pipe measurement data to predict and control fit-up, before the pipes are brought into the bead stall for welding. This prevents production delays due to poor fit-up and manages the assembly of problem pipes to maximise welding productivity. Onshore in Nigeria, two OMS engineers used OMS’ PipeChecker™ laser-based measurement tool to measure the geometry of the internal walls of more than 1,500 pipe ends. The pipes were then delivered by barge to Subsea 7’s pipe laying vessel, Polaris. Onboard, OMS engineers used Smart-Fit to sequence the pipes for best fit-up. Pipe measurement data was made available to a Smart-Fit station onboard Polaris. This comprised a laptop located prior to the firing line. Each pipe in turn was identified and logged into the software, which then analysed the fit-up, enabling OMS engineers to mark the best rotational (and datum) position on each pipe end. In the bead stall, these marks were aligned to achieve the best rotational position so that pipe misalignment was minimised. Any problem pipes that would not have fitted at the specified Hi-Lo were also indicated in advance so that they could be re- sequenced or removed. Production delays due to mismatched pipes were therefore avoided.

Dr Richard Gooch, director of technology at OMS said: “In order to meet stringent acceptance criteria for the welds on this project, Subsea 7 asked OMS to manage pipe measurement and fit-up, both onshore and offshore during the pipe laying process. We are very pleased to report that this project was extremely successful. Everything worked perfectly and we managed to avoid any pipe fit-up problems, which resulted in no delays to the pipe welding process or repairs.”

This project consolidates OMS’ position as the leading provider of solutions for pipe fit- up, including stringent CRA applications. The Oso oil field is located offshore in the Bight of Biafra and is Nigeria’s largest offshore gas/ condensate project. Offshore facilities include

eight platforms. A 35-mile seabed pipeline transports the condensate to storage tanks located onshore at the Qua Iboe Terminal. OMS – UK Website: www.omsmeasure.com

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J anuary 2012

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