IMR Innovations for Australian Projects
Justin Branner – Regional Manager Asia Pacific
Oceaneering Australia Pty. Ltd.
Agenda
- What is “IMR”?
- What is traditionally required for IMR?
- A look at the Australian IMR Market
- Case Studies of Some Innovative IMR
Solutions
- Q&A
2
What is
“I.M.R.”
3
IMR – What is it?
I:
Inspection
- Planned Structural Inspections
- Routine CP Measurements
- NDT Inspection
- Riser & Pipeline Inspection
- Subsea Sampling
4
IMR – What is it?
M: Maintenance
- Routine Marine growth management
- Scheduled Valve Operations
- Remedial Burial & Dredging
- Routine Subsea Diagnostics
- Anode and Cathode Protection
Replacement
5
IMR – What is it?
R: Repair
- Pipeline Repair
- Mooring Repair/Replacement
- Subsea Hardware Recovery &
Replacement
- Start up/Shut Down Support
6
Common Theme?
“At the end of the day, IMR is predominantly
structured around supporting planned events,
scheduled or routine inspections and
maintenance.”
7
What is traditionally required?
A Vessel....
8
What is traditionally required?
Work Class ROV and/or Dive Spread....
9
What is traditionally required?
Engineering, Planning & Support Equipment....
10
The Australian IMR Market
• Strong vessel coverage
• Diverse range of ROV providers
• Detailed Front End Engineering and Project Planning
• Significant investment in certain emergency response
capabilities
– AMOSC Subsea First Response Toolkit
– Emergency Pipeline Repair Packages
11
What is missing?
“What about unplanned events or unique unforeseen
challenges that require custom or innovative solutions?”
Let’s take a look at a few examples of unplanned
challenges and some of the innovative solutions....
12
“A Pipeline Needing Repair”
• Subsea pipeline identified as
having a leak in Australia.
• Pipeline shut in costing operator
lost production.
• Diverless Solution preferred.
• No readily available Pipeline
Repair Tooling available locally.
• Urgent package required to prep
the pipeline for repair.
• Urgent permanent repair clamp
required in order to resume
production.
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2013
“A Pipeline Needing Repair”
• Diver installable repair clamp
retrofitted to be ROV installable
in 4 weeks.
• Pipeline coating required to be
remove prior to pipeline repair.
• Protective Coating Removal Tool
conception to readiness offshore
required in less than 8 weeks.
• Small offshore project execution
window available to complete
project.
• Successfully executed on IMR
support vessel.
14
2013
“A Tree That Won’t Release”
• Subsea Tree required to be
removed for repairs.
• Tree unlock feature failed to
operate by traditional unlock
measures due to corrosion.
• Work over rig applied significant
over pull on release rods with no
success.
• Rig had to depart the field.
• An innovative approach was
needed to release the tree
without damage.
15
2010
“A Tree That Won’t Release”
• Field Shut in until solution could
be provided.
• Tree Release Intervention Tool
developed:
– 375 Tonnes Linear Pull
– 88 Tonnes Inertial Mass
”Slide Hammer” feature
– Short Timeline for design and
manufacture.
– Successfully used from IMR
Support Vessel.
16
2010
“Risers With a Bad Vibration”
• TLP with Production Risers
• Risers equipped with VIV
supression strakes & fairings
during commissioning.
• Fairing’s fell off over the
years of operation.
• Riser’s experienced Vortex
Induced Vibration (VIV).
• Diverless solution required to
install replacement VIV
Suppression
Strakes/Fairings
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2008
“Risers With a Bad Vibration”
• ROV operable Strake and
Fiaring Installation Tooling
• Successfully used to install
hundreds of strakes and fairings.
• Mitigated the risk of fatigue on
the riser.
18
2008
“A Sheared Valve End Effector”
● Multiple “stuck” ROV Operable
Valves.
● Some valves with sheared Class
1-2 End Effectors.
● Marine Growth limited the valve
from being operated.
● Stuck valve prevented Operator
from producing well.
● Minimally invasive solution to
remotely operate valve required.
19
2013
“A Sheared Valve End Effector”
● Bespoke Drilling Tool and
standard torque tool with a
custom “Spanner” EE developed
● Next best alternative was to pull
the tree.
● Allowed Operator to start
production.
● Conception to completion was 4
weeks.
20
2013
“Pressure in the Annulus”
• High Pressure High Temperature
Wells experiencing pressure
build up within the Annulus
around the production casing.
• Ability to remotely intervene and
vent the pressure required.
• Requirement to maintain the
integrity of the wellhead, monitor
the pressure, and vent in the
future was required.
21
“Pressure in the Annulus”
• Pressure Annulus Relief (PAR)
Drilling solution developed.
• Drilled through casings in order
to vent pressure.
• Monitored Drill Depth, Pressure,
Speed.
• Installed plug with ability to vent
pressure in the future.
22
Final Thoughts...
“Do we (as an industry) underestimate the term IMR and
what will be required to support the market ahead?”
The ability to quickly, efficiently, and safely respond to
unplanned events will certainly increase and test the
rapidly growing Australian subsea market.
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Thank You for Your Time