Integrated Risk-based Inspection Contract

ABS Group Inc. (ABSG), an affiliate of ABS, has secured contract for an integrated, risk-based inspection (RBI) program for an offshore floating structure. The contract comes from Petrobras for its P-35 floating production/offloading and storage facility (FPSO) operating in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil – Marlin Field in 2,788 feet of water. The P-35 is ABS-classed and has a design capacity to process 100,000 barrels of oil per day.

The integrated RBI of the P-35 will include the marine/process systems, structural components, ship hull and turret in a single program. Built in 1974, the P-35 is classed +A1, AMS for machinery and ACCU for automatic control certified for an unattended engine room.

The six-year contract includes the development of a risk-based inspection plan in the first year plus a five-year maintenance of the inspection program.ABSG will execute the project in four phases, beginning with a qualitative review of all P-35 systems and components. The second phase will include a quantitative analysis of all systems, looking at the frequency or likelihood of equipment failure and the consequences of a failure. In the third phase, ABSG will develop a complete set of inspection plans, prioritizing inspections based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis. ABSG will begin the fourth phase—the five-year maintenance program—by October 2001.

An extensive RBI training program will kick off the entire process. All training will be given in Portuguese, in Brazil, beginning with RBI training to senior Petrobras personnel. ABSG will then train Petrobras field personnel in terms of implementing the RBI program on board the P-35.ABSG will implement the RBI program on the Petrobras web Intranet.