Introduction
A problem in the offshore industry is a lack of training for the industry and a shortage of skills. To address the problem, Rigtech has prepared maintenance strategies for various scenarios.
Rigtech has previously prepared a Maintenance Manual for a major oil operator.
The need for an operational maintenance manual was brought about by the general lack of technical skills in the drilling industry, the lack of any sort of regulated training scheme for those positions and a poor awareness of the regulations.
The manual is in three sections:
- Regulations and Standards
- Mechanical Maintenance
- Electrical Maintenance
The training of new personnel and the transfer of experience is an essential tool in ensuring personnel are better prepared for the work expected of them.
Maintenance also relies on a number of pointers in order to be cost effective.
Such pointers might include for example:
- Vibration analysis
- Thermal imaging of electrical and mechanical equipment.
- Internal Borescope inspections.
- Measurements of clearances, flow, pressures, etc.
- Oil analysis
- And of course the ability and experience of the engineers themselves.
During times of rig inactivity, it is essential to reach the best cost effective maintenance regime.
The term warm stack covers a multitude of opinions, methods and maintenance standards.
Funding will be tight but the rig will need to remain operational for the future.
Rigtech have a maintenance philosophy in place which we believe will deliver the best cost effective solution but at the same time there are numerous variable factors, such as, the state of the industry, the technical ability of personnel, the effectiveness of management and the assessed likelihood of how long a unit is to be idle.
Roving maintenance crews are increasingly common and Rigtech can provide experienced crews and managers working within established systems and philosophies.
Similar to warm stack, there are a number of different opinions and levels of maintenance for cold stack, ranging from a minimal crew onboard or no crew with a limited number of maintenance visits, to complete down-manning of an installation with no crew returning.
Circumstances will dictate which approach is taken and what the balance will be between minimal maintenance or preservation and an urgent cost saving of no maintenance and no preservation.
In some cases where equipment is to be shut down for long periods and will require overhaul in any event prior to the next use there may be no case for intermediate maintenance or preservation
Rigtech have a strategy that is designed to deliver a cost effective balance.
Maintenance Experience
For over ten years, Rigtech have been responsible for reporting the condition of the five CNR platform based drilling units to senior management.
The role has also involved the planning and implementation of maintenance and repair activity.
We have been responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance, conducting PUWER audits, assessing well control against API Standard 53 and ensuring the units are fit for purpose.
For over three years, Rigtech have inspected the cranes and BOP hoists on behalf of Shelf drilling, based in UAE, but operating in worldwide locations.
Plus the company has the experience of inspecting hundreds of rigs worldwide of various types and in numerous countries.
