Life Extension of Ageing Offshore Structures: the Challenge of Managing Structural Integrity

A comprehensive overview of managing and assessing safety and functionality of ageing offshore structures and pipelines

A significant proportion, estimated at over 50%, of the worldwide infrastructure of offshore structures and pipelines is in a life extension phase and is vulnerable to ageing processes. This book captures the central elements of the management of ageing offshore structures and pipelines in the life extension phase. The book gives an overview of: the relevant ageing processes and hazards; how ageing processes are managed through the life cycle, including an overview of structural integrity management; how an engineer should go about assessing a structure that is to be operated beyond its original design life, and how ageing can be mitigated for safe and effective continued operation.

Key Features:

• Provides an understanding of ageing processes and how these can be mitigated.
• Applies engineering methods to ensure that existing structures can be operated longer rather than decommissioned unduly prematurely.
• Helps engineers performing these tasks in both evaluating the existing structures and maintaining ageing structures in a safe manner.

The book gives an updated summary of current practice and research on the topic of the management of ageing structures and pipelines in the life extension phase but also meets the needs of structural engineering students and practicing offshore and structural engineers in oil & gas and engineering companies. In addition, it should be of value to regulators of the offshore industry.

Gerhard Ersdal has had an interest in existing structures and especially the safety of older structures for most of his engineering career. He received his MSc in structural engineering in 1991 and then worked for eight years in a major engineering company in Norway, (Multiconsult) designing primarily offshore structures and bridges and also working on the restoration of many historic buildings in Norway. In 1999, he joined the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate and conducted research on the safety of older offshore structures in a PhD programme at the University of Stavanger. He received his PhD on life extension of ageing offshore structures in 2005. He is the project manager for the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority's Ageing and Life Extension research programme, with responsibility for several workshops, conferences and papers on the topic. In 2013, he was awarded a professorship at the University in Stavanger on ageing and life extension of structures.

Prof. John V. Sharp has over 35 years' experience in offshore & marine engineering, with particular interests in offshore technology, safety, life extension, structural integrity, risk management and renewable energy. He was responsible for the UK Health & Safety Executive's £6M offshore health & safety research programme between 1993 and 1996, with particular interests in structural integrity and risk management. He has been a Visiting Professor at Cranfield University since 1996, which includes lecturing and teaching on Master's Courses on offshore engineering and renewables (offshore wind, wave and tidal). Sharp is also a Commissioner for Alderney Commission for Renewable Energy (since 2010), with specific interests in tidal energy. He has also undertaken consultancy work for a number of organisations, which has included assessment and management of ageing offshore installations, life extension, performance indicator measures for organisational capability for both structural integrity and asset maintenance.

Dr. Alexander Stacey is a Structural Integrity Specialist Inspector in the Energy Division of the Hazardous Installations Directorate of the UK Health & Safety Executive. He graduated from the University of London's Imperial College with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. on research in fatigue and fracture mechanics. He was subsequently employed as a Fracture Mechanics Specialist in the Offshore Division of Lloyd's Register. In his current role as a Structural Integrity Specialist in the Energy Division of the Health and Safety Executive, his primary interest is the structural integrity management of offshore installations throughout the lifecycle. Principal activities include the inspection of duty holders' structural integrity management systems, the assessment of safety cases, the development of guidance, codes and standards and supporting R&D. A key area of interest is the management of ageing and life extension of the UK's offshore infrastructure.