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DNV GL: Innovation requires qualification standardisation

Published by , Digital Assistant Editor
World Pipelines,


The current subsea technology qualification (TQ) processes can be inefficient and time consuming, according to the DNV GL, who is calling for a standardised system qualification approach and joint industry effort to drive faster take-up of new technology and value creation in subsea.

A new position paper ‘Subsea system qualification: Towards a standardised approach’ by DNV GL’s Strategic Research & Innovation unit discusses how confidence in new subsea systems can be demonstrated in a faster and more efficient ways, and how already qualified technologies can be re-qualified in an effective manner.

The position paper proposes an industry effort in three steps:

  • Establish common industry principles, and consolidate a common framework for system qualification founded on existing industry procedures.
  • Develop a methodology to standardise system qualification for common use across the upstream oil and gas industry.
  • Pilot and demonstrate the developed methodology and roll-out a Recommended Practice.

“The subsea industry needs to overcome key challenges such as cost reductions, enabling increased recovery, and complex field developments. At the same time, the future trend still points towards more complex systems which require integrating process, power, and control systems subsea. Assuring safety and reliability on a system level is critical when interfaces become more complex and system integration failures are harder to identify,” commented Tore Myhrvold, researcher and lead author of the paper, DNV GL.

“Developing a standardised approach to subsea technology qualification will enable companies to leverage on each other’s qualification efforts and results, reduce the overall development time and ultimately enable faster innovation in the subsea sector,” continued Myhrvold.

DNV GL’s position paper recommends increasing the qualification efforts in the early phases of development.

The position paper suggests that numerical or analytical methods (models) could prove to be cost effective and safe alternatives to current expensive physical testing or be used in conjunction with existing methods.

“The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) reports that subsea tie-back represents the most relevant solution for 68 out of 88 discoveries on the Norwegian continental shelf. To sanction many of these projects, fast and cost effective technology development is vital,” says Elisabeth Tørstad, CEO of DNV GL – Oil & Gas.

“Our efforts to drive standardisation in the subsea sector aim to reduce cost, lead times and to increase confidence in new technologies to enable faster innovation. Our collaboration with the industry on subsea documentation and subsea forging for example have resulted in guidance that is being implemented in projects and now delivering benefits for operators,” added Tørstad.

Edited from press release by

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/equipment-and-safety/06042016/technology-innovation-requires-qualification-standardisation-579/

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