Development of an Emergency Pipeline Repair System (EPRS) for a shallow-water platform
Nigeria
INTRODUCTION
The Bonga Field began producing petroleum and natural gas in November 2005. Located 120 kilometres offshore from the Niger Delta, the deep-water field has an average water depth of 1,000 metres. 16 wells were connected to a FPSO vessel for oil offloading. Natural gas was piped from the FPSO to Bonny Island via a shallow-water platform. In 2012 IRM Systems as an independent pipeline services contractor provided an EPRS concept and manual to the operator, Shell Nigeria.
PROJECT CHALLENGES
At the time, there were no support bases for deep-water operations in Nigeria. IRM Systems had to provide an EPRS that could work with limited local capacity and a small vendor base. Furthermore, flowlines to the FPSO were challenging because they were pipe-in-pipe systems, having an inner pipe in isolation. This non-standard issue required specialist concept studies, and any pipeline repair solutions were framed within the local context.
ADDED VALUE
IRM Systems works as an independent specialist, linking all the capabilities of local and international vendors to a specific solution for the client. We are relevant if you want to try to use as much local content as possible.
We came up with creative solutions linking multiple technologies, without the pitfalls of trying to sell our own products.
YEAR
2012