Flexible Network Forum launches in Norway
A global initiative to promote shared knowledge of flexible pipe issues in the subsea sector makes its Norwegian debut this week.
Set up by the Aberdeen office of advanced subsea technology company MCS in a bid to raise standards and generate cross-company relationships in the subsea engineering community, the popular Flexible Network Forum (FNF) programme has already taken place in Aberdeen and Perth Australia.
The event, at Aker Solutions premises in Stavanger on May 28, sees the initiative taken to the Norwegian market for the first time and the theme will focus on the challenges of integrity management in subsea systems and assets.
Presentations from the MCS vacuum testing partnership company, Aker Qserv will cover current operational issues and technology solutions, with a demonstration of the latest vacuum testing and a knowledge flow workshop focusing on future developments in flow assurance and Integrated Product Modelling (IPM).
“The purpose of the forum is to share and disseminate knowledge, ideas, experience and technology among companies so that the industry can ensure pipe integrity, while also looking at how the life of pipe can be extended,” explains MCS managing director in the UK Michael O’Sullivan.
“The international aspect of the initiative shows that we are achieving true global sharing of lessons learnt. With Norway being the world’s fifth largest oil exporter and third largest gas exporter there is a large volume of experience within that marketplace which should make for an interesting and insightful discussion.”
Graeme Wood of Aker Qserv said: “We are pleased to be able to host such an event and make use of the Aker Solutions infrastructure now available to us. The Aker Qserv and MCS relationship is over two years old, we’ve built a good client base and a vast track record, illustrating vacuum testing is an innovative solution.”
The Flexible Network Forum was set up in Aberdeen three years ago to facilitate open discussion and sharing of lessons learnt in the flexible pipe industry, and has involved operators, contractors, manufacturers, suppliers and regulatory bodies across the North Sea oil and gas industry.
The 2009 programme offers a comprehensive agenda for flexible pipe technology, including updates on current joint industry projects and HSE updates.
MCS has been involved in over 90% of the UK North Sea’s FPSO projects involving flexible pipe. With over ten years experience in developing and implementing integrity management strategies for flexible and rigid pipe subsea systems in the North Sea and internationally, the company has also been involved in writing the industry guidelines on flexible pipe integrity management and is currently running a Flexible Pipe Technology Joint Industry Project which, towards the end of this year, will result in new and significantly improved API standards for the specification, design, testing and manufacture of flexible pipe in the industry.
This will ultimately facilitate much improved integrity and the wider use of flexible pipe into the future. This extensive experience has positioned them as leading experts in integrity management strategies for subsea systems.
MCS, which recently joined the Wood Group of companies, has over 200 people working across offices in, Galway, Aberdeen, Houston, Rio de Janeiro, Perth, Paris and Kuala Lumpur.
