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Australian Energy Producers Journal Australian Energy Producers Journal Society
Journal of Australian Energy Producers
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Non peer reviewed)

Reduced manning with improved safety and reliability: how classification societies and digital solutions can support operators

Mark Tipping
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Lloyd’s Register EMEA, Southampton Boldrewood Innovation Campus, Burgess Road, Southampton, SO16 7QF, UK. Email: Mark.Tipping@lr.org

B Presenter only: Jeff Baker. Email: Jeff.Baker@lr.org

The APPEA Journal 59(2) 821-823 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ18283
Submitted: 16 April 2019  Published: 17 June 2019

Abstract

The oil and gas industry is moving steadily towards automation and remote control of processes, which has the added advantage of removing personnel from the immediate danger of the offshore workplace. However, significant challenges remain to be met before the more complex type of offshore facility (especially floating facilities) can be operated fully unmanned, particularly when it comes to maintenance and repair campaigns. In particular, even though human life may be protected, the consequence of a major pollution incident occurring as a result of lack of sufficient manned surveillance is increasingly unacceptable in today’s society, and solutions have to protect these requirements as well. With today’s technologies and the pace of innovation, it is not difficult to envisage facilities in the near future where manned intervention is reduced to a far lower level than currently prevalent, perhaps even eliminated as robotics steadily advance. We can already begin to consider design features and systems that will make new facilities ready for such advances so that projects can absorb benefits from innovation as it occurs. The role of independent bodies such as the classification societies is to assess the design, construction and operation of offshore facilities and issue certification that gives regulators, financiers and insurers alike the confidence to support developments. For floating facilities this includes formal classification and a requirement for detailed knowledge of the state of the structure. This paper explores the methods that the classification society can use to support the aims of the offshore industry for reduced manning with improved safety and reliability.

Keywords: digital health monitoring, digital twin, digitisation, prognostics, risk.

Mark Tipping oversees the development of Lloyd’s Register’s (LR) capabilities and profile around offshore technologies, helping clients and the industry at large to develop maximum value from all connected opportunities. Playing a key role in the development and promotion of LR’s rules for offshore units, Mark ensures continuous engagement of external technology projects, helping to influence and inform future rule developments. Mark is a mechanical engineer with over 20 years’ experience working in the petrochemical and offshore oil and gas industries. He provides a wealth of knowledge and experience for clients and colleagues globally on technical and regulatory issues relating to floating liquefied natural gas concepts and projects.