Delivery of a bespoke virtual management system to aid platform decommissioning

A leap forward in efficiency and proven cost reductions through low footprint innovation, iSite is driving change within the oil and gas, telecommunications, heritage, energy and civil engineering sectors.

Scope

Fairfield Energy, an experienced, late-life asset and decommissioning operator approached UTEC to find new alternatives to conventional methods of workflow management for the multi-year, multi-phase Greater Dunlin Area decommissioning project. In particular, Fairfield wanted a tool to define, monitor and control the decommissioning, disconnection and separation of Dunlin Alpha topside modules.

Solution

UTEC developed iSite – a ‘first’ in decommissioning management with a task execution database for Dunlin Alpha topside decommissioning.

iSite is based on coincident photographic and high definition laser scanning data, acquired by UTEC Starnet personnel, combined with existing asset databases.

iSite is a proprietary, collaborative asset management tool which allows users to perform a virtual visit to their asset using their desktop or VR headset. Users at the worksite can use iSite, individually or collaboratively, via intrinsically safe mobile devices to access work plans, record tasks and report progress.

Based on cloud storage, all inspection, reporting and certification processes are managed through a paperless approach.

An intuitive interface combined with an innovative workflow ensures all users are interacting with the same synchronised database information, whether it be at onshore offices or the offshore worksite – without the need for specialist knowledge in CAD, 3D modelling or laser-based point clouds.

UTEC provided Fairfield with an iSite platform, via an encrypted web portal, with a central repository for all non-structural module separation activities (including certification) providing highly visualised work instructions and certification, negating the need for the costly creation of work packs and paper-based certification/closeout.

Smart reporting and gated procedures provided the necessary control mechanisms to ensure progress was constantly being monitored and tracked in real-time.

Graphical outputs ensured Fairfield were aware of the current status of every wall within every module.

Using iSite, decommissioning activities can be planned with 360° visualisation of the worksite including accurate measurements for access and clash studies. The worksite user can match the on-screen visualisation with the actual work site and access all the certification, task plans, and reporting requirements developed during the planning.

Result

UTEC Starnet experts were involved at every stage of the project and were able to provide Fairfield with the precision, accuracy and control of information crucial to the decommissioning. iSite is wholly transferable to maintenance, upgrade and plant replacement at onshore and offshore worksites in all industries.

The ability to have virtual site meetings with multiple users ‘standing’ at the worksite viewing the same images and associated data – facilitating project planning, risk assessments, safety and site inductions whilst reducing personnel exposure to worksite hazards.

iSite customer feedback:

“Since we started using iSite on our platforms, we have had a significant reduction in offshore helicopter trips for site survey scopes, reducing our safety risk and saving considerable sums of money, currently estimated to be 40% savings over two years.”

“A survey which previously required 48 hours out of the office can now take place in 15 minutes from my desktop.”

Download a copy of this case study