On RAM performance of production facilities operating under the Barents Sea harsh environmental conditions

Abstract

Oil and gas (O&G) industry is expanding its activities into Arctic offshore, where is characterised with severe operating conditions and less-developed infrastructure. Such conditions affect the reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) of offshore O&G plants, operations, and activities through different scenarios. Plant RAM analysis provides key information for decision-making on, for instance, life-cycle cost management, inventory management, future investments, establishing maintenance policies, and safety-barrier management. Such decisions are of crucial value in Arctic offshore applications due to higher initial and operation costs. Therefore, a thorough evaluation and quantification of the effects of operating conditions on plant RAM performance play a significant role in such decision-making processes. In this regard, the aim of this paper is to broadly review and discuss different elements of Arctic offshore operating conditions specific to the Barents Sea, and further investigate various effects of such conditions on plant RAM. The present study provides fundamental information to academic and industrial sectors involved in the research and development of Arctic offshore O&G facilities and operations