zoomThe Mad Dog field complex in the US Gulf of Mexico, WGK

An industry forum that addresses challenges in subsea integrity management is being extended for a further three years with backing from global oil and gas operators.

Phase II of the The SURF IM Network is led by Wood Group Kenny with support from the Industry Technology Facilitator (ITF). Phase 1 was launched last year, supported by an industry wide group of 14 operators and has been extended to run on an annual subscription basis through to 2018 with an expected project value of around £300,000, ITF informed.

Kieran Kavanagh, Technology Development Director at Wood Group Kenny said: “This successful joint industry project focuses on knowledge sharing and finding solutions to shared challenges in subsea integrity. The Network represents a significant collaboration among its participants to provide solutions that will help to reduce risk, improve reliability and minimize life-of-field costs in the subsea industry and we’re very happy to be working with participant operators to enable this.”

Dr Patrick O’Brien, CEO of ITF added: “Taking a standardised approach to complex subsea integrity issues that are common across the industry can help to drive efficiencies whilst creating a safer operating environment, so the Network is a win-win for all involved. It is a great example in the current climate of operators collaborating to support the development of effective and cost efficient means to inspect subsea facilities that are being installed in continually increasing water depths and longer step-out distances.”

In Phase I, progress was made in understanding the issue of control system module reliability and the outcomes of a comprehensive participant survey was presented to subsea suppliers to highlight integrity challenges and find ways to enhance reliability for the future.

The SURF IM Network follows on from a Wood Group Kenny Joint Industry Project (JIP) facilitated by ITF, on integrity management of subsea, umbilical, riser and flowline systems that identified key failure mechanisms, investigated inspection and monitoring technologies and gaps, and developed best practice guidelines for the integrity management of subsea facilities.