Project Case Study

Offshore Platform - Skimmer Pile Cleaning

"Our careful planning of the work, including the logistics of an offshore campaign, saw us successfully complete the 'first of its type' cleaning program. This successful venture was then repeated on other platforms."

Sean Fitzgerald
Technical Director

Operations

Offshore Oil & Gas

8 Weeks

$ Confidential

Scope of Work

Our scope was to develop and deploy a new vacuuming process to safely and efficiently clean-up an offshore Oil Platform skimmer pile.

Background

A skimmer pile is an oil platform jacket leg used as a holding vessel for hydrocarbon and water discharges from drain collection headers. Over time, debris can inadvertently enter an open pile via deck drains used to collect rainwater run-off. Debris can accumulate at and below the liquid surface, causing periodic pump blockage. Pump removal typically requires a costly platform shutdown. Our client had previously attempted pile vacuuming, without success, taking weeks of platform shutdown time and tying-up resources.

What We Did

Our personnel worked with the client to implemented a fresh approach to cleaning piles

Key activities included:

Process design of a new nitrogen gas-lift system, to enhance performance of vacuuming operation.
Deployment of a camera system to enable more accurate positioning of the vacuum and inspection for submerged debris in the pile.
Execution planing inclusive:
- Roles and responsibilities (team of 18 personnel).
- Detailing operation sequence and procedures inclusive an emergency stop plan.
- Equipment layout plans for unloading and positioning with consideration to deck structural load limits.
Sourcing equipment, including:
- Liquid Nitrogen for lift gas
- Mud-pump and driver for returns to pipeline
- Inspection camera to verify pile cleanliness
- Vacuum interceptors
- Settler and rock catcher
- ISO tanks for collection and separation of oil / water
Communication and team engagement prior to each operation, through
- Weekly management stewardship sessions
- Pre-job site visits
- HAZID sessions
- Work permitting and approvals
Technical supervision and general co-ordination during vacuuming operation.
Report out and capturing lessons learned.

Project Outcome

Process Consultants' personnel oversaw the entire pile vacuuming operation including planning, vendor engagement, procurement, coordination and offshore execution.
The operation was completed without incident within two days, with some ~24m³ of waste removed and new submersible pumps installed. Further operations were completed on two other platforms.

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