Self-evaluation is becoming increasingly challenging with the growing complexity of technical standards. DNV’s new rule book aims to simplify things
There are many renowned technical standards available in the market which cover state of the art design solutions to ensure safety and reliability.
Although these standards may be all-encompassing and can help to create a safer oil and gas industry, the increasing complexity of the standards available in the market can sometimes compromise the clarity which designers, yards and owners like to see.
Self-evaluation naturally becomes more difficult as the technical standards become more robust.
In order to help companies navigate the complicated standards-landscape, risk management company Det Norske Veritas (DNV) has recently released a new rule book for the Jack-Up Market.
The Middle East is one of the densest areas for jack up units in operation. Mobile offshore units operating in benign water of the world need focused delivery of services, their specific needs were the reason behind DNV’s jack up drive this year said Bijali Madhavan Nair Presanna, Regional Offshore Manager for Indian subcontinent and Middle East.
Although the new jack-up rules may be formally part of the Offshore Unit regulations and safety standards, DNV believes that the jack-up market deserves its own considerations because there are elements which are more related to fixed platforms.
The rules have also brought in the notion of Enhanced Systems (ES). “We had a clear desire to align ourselves with accepted and proven market standards,” said Bijali. “At the same we do not want to forget those yards and owners looking to improve their unit’s safety and reliability in a cost effective way”.
To cover this need, DNV took its accumulated knowledge and experience and collected the relevant requirements and acceptable design solutions in the voluntary ES notation.
The new Jack Up rules are designed to present an overview for IMO MODU code compliance level in a wide spectrum of operations while including an ES notation for those looking for increased safety and reliability in a cost effective way.
DNV’s guidelines also reflect its over-arching strategic aims. The first of which is to achieve zero-downtime. The company aims to provide class service provision such as surveys and certifications with a minimum of interference in daily operations.
“For example DNV will survey the legs during a transit, while surveying the bottom when on station,” he says. “The second strategic element is being available for the customer. We appoints a rig coordinator to each rig under DNV class, which gives the rig manager/crew a portal to DNV’s worldwide network,” Bijali concludes.
