Are you putting together your SPM hose plan or revisiting your O&M strategy? Here we discuss examples of marine hose applications, lessons learned and best practices that help you to fulfil your fiduciary duties.
GREENFIELD OR BROWNFIELD SPM Hose plan
It’s never too early or too late to start your SPM Hose plan the right way.
When hoses begin to show symptoms or points of failure we apply the following process:
1. Find Root Cause
Before you hastily begin to treat symptoms such as ruptures, for example, ask yourself why they have occurred in the first place. This will help you identify numerous holistic factors that could be affecting your SPM hose plan.
2. Assumptions vs Facts / Data / History
Don’t let years of experience blind you. No two terminals are exactly the same.
Change is a constant and the sooner you realise this, the sooner you will begin to value data that can guide your SPM hose plan.
3. Analysis / Knowledge + Experience
Once you have obtained the required data, you can begin to cast an analytical eye.
This is where the application of knowledge and experience is pertinent. Derive correlation and explore all known and unknown paths.
4. Proactive Long Term Solutions
When you have successfully identified the root cause and you have taken into account all holistic factors, you can begin to create a more robust SPM hose plan with long term durability, efficiency and sustainability in mind.
Determining the root cause of issues in your SPM Hose Plan
When looking for symptoms of failure in your SPM hose plan, it is paramount that you determine the root cause through holistic analysis.
Here are some pinpoints to look for.
List of Hose Indicator examples
- Wrap-around
- Kinking
- Auto-submergence
- Change in buoyancy
- Contact
- Sheltering & Chafing
- Leak detector activation
- Catastrophic Failures
- Bearing
- Hose Handling
- Contact
- Float Loss
- String Length
- Environment
- Handling
- Exceeding hose life
SPM Hose Plan – Lessons Learned
In this section, we highlight two case studies, each with its own challenges and bespoke solution for the best performing SPM hose plan.
Case study 1: Changing Environment
In this project, our belief that change is constant was yet again proved by the ever-changing environment and its effects on terminal efficiency and longevity.
Project overview
- System Design
- Assumptions
- Regional data vs Site-specific data
- Landscape changes
- Coastline changes
- Operational consequences
What the hoses told us:
Upon inspection of the current hoses in use, we discovered that local conditions have changed from the basis of design. This was clear through the hose misbehaviour and symptoms, or points of failure.
Symptoms:
Rapid abnormal wear of floating hoses and tanker rail components.
Our listening method:
Collected and analysed data
What we heard:
Through SPM hose plan analysis and site experience we identified
- Root Cause
- Cost-Effective Solutions
- Optimum hose life
Case study 2: Design Assumptions
In this project, we investigated the effect that seabed assumptions in modelling can have on hoses, buoys and PLEM loading.
Project overview
- Seabed variations
- Winter and summer positions
- Near and Far Scenarios
- Understanding current direction & magnitude throughout the water column
- Effect on behaviour and integrity
What the hoses told us:
These hoses showed signs of impact that not only required a temporary fix to preserve the current hoses but also long term solutions that would prevent further damage.
Symptoms:
• Subsea hose string to hose string contact
• Subsea hose string to seabed contact
Our listening method:
Collected and analysed data
What we heard:
Through SPM hose plan analysis and site experience we identified
• Chain trenching, affecting chain pretension
• Increased buoy excursion
• Predominant winter & summer buoy position
• Change in hose profile
Fiduciary duties linked to your SPM hose plan
It is your fiduciary duty to make informed decisions regarding your SPM hose plan.
If you listen to your system you will get to know it. Once you know your system intimately any changes in performance or signs of upcoming symptoms will easily be noticed. This will help you adapt to change and maintain the intrinsic value of the facility.
It is your fiduciary duty to avoid interruption in your efficiency by predicting system behaviour. This, in turn, will help you to protect the environment and offer safe operating practices with reduced risk.
When your system is understood holistically you will begin to progress from O&M towards integrity, resulting in all the above-mentioned successes.
Conclusion
It is important to give SPM Hose plan management the tools to make informed decisions regarding hose and system O&M.
At Marsol we strive to share our holistic philosophies that have proven success time and time again.
- Listen to the hoses
- Find the root causes
- Implement optimum solution
These best practices within the SPM hose plan enable design modifications and operational changes that are fit for purpose.
Is your management team equipped with the best tools and processes for the job? Find out today.