Optical Monitoring System
There is an increasing focus on riser integrity management within the offshore flexible pipe industry to ensure that assets and operations are managed in a cost effective, reliable and safe manner. This becomes increasingly important as the offshore industry moves towards deeper and deeper waters where there is limited operational experience.
NKT Flexibles offers riser condition monitoring systems together with processing and analysis of the monitored data, and their interpretation. This includes in-situ measurements of tensile armour strain history, temperature and gas sensing within the pipe annulus based upon optical fibre technology. The monitoring system can be used in riser integrity management with respect to for example:
- Service life assessment
- Flow assurance
- Early detection of possible impending incidents
- Operational anomaly detection
- Life time extension
The monitoring system is based on optical fiber technology. When implemented in grooves of selected tensile armour wires of the riser, real-time dynamic strain levels can be measured during operation. This allows the detection of incidents like wire ruptures and also enables the remaining riser fatigue life to be established with confidence. Furthermore, the temperature may be measured along the riser (or flowline) length as a supplement to the flow assurance assessment, e.g. to avoid hydrate formation during shutdown.
In addition to this, development is ongoing at NKT Flexibles to implement optical sensors that can monitor fluid composition (including H2S, CO2 and H2O constituents) and pressure in the riser annulus. This makes it possible to continuously assess with confidence whether the riser is subjected to acceptable corrosion fatigue; otherwise mitigating measures can be employed in due time, if required.
Read our brochure: Optical Monitoring System for Flexible Risers