WFS Technologies, a supplier of radio and acoustic solutions for underwater communication, navigation and power transfer, and MCS Kenny, aspecialist in compliant riser design have announced the delivery of a wireless riser monitoring system for use in deep water environments.
Donogh Lang, senior riser software consultant, MCS Kenny said “Optima-Wireless is to be offered jointly by MCS Kenny and Fugro, with wireless capability from WFS and the riser management tools for planning and monitoring operations from MCS Kenny and Fugro; this will enable riser response to be monitored in real-time to predict signs of early failure and to improve future design.”
Interest in monitoring motions and strains on risers has grown exponentially with the migration of exploration and production to deeper waters. Designs have become increasingly more complex to allow operators to drill into these new pockets in reservoirs. During the equipment design phase, a system’s estimated lifetime is based on an assumed load during its operational lifetime. If the actual system loading exceeds design assumptions, then operational life and system safety can be compromised.
Lang says that “Monitoring of data using Optima-Wireless allows a real-time evaluation of load on the system, helping to more accurately predict a “safe working lifetime” for equipment. This can help to improve safety as well as extend equipment life, which in turn means higher levels of hydrocarbon extraction.”
The delivery of real-time riser sensor data allows the fatigue impact of riser motion to be accurately determined.
Crowther points out “The benefit of wireless transmission of data in deep water is that cabling to the riser sensors is not required, making retrofit as well as installation more simple.”
[mappress] Offshore Energy Today Staff , November 25, 2011; Image: WFS Technologies