Press Release
(Ref: OMS32)
23rd February 2012
OMS manages pipe measurement and fit-up on Sakhalin project
Specialist pipe measurement technology company for the oil and gas industry, Optical
Metrology Services (OMS) Ltd, has successfully completed a pipe measurement and fitup project for McDermott on the ExxonMobil/Neftegas-operated Sakhalin Arkutun-Dagi
oil and gas field project in Russia.
Using its groundbreaking Smart-Fit software, OMS avoided any pipe fit-up problems,
providing McDermott with fast, good pipe fit-ups ready for the welding stage. SmartFit uses pipe measurement data to predict and control fit-up, before the pipes are
brought into the bead stall for welding. This prevents production delays due to poor fitup and manages the assembly of problem pipes to maximise welding productivity.
Sakhalin-1's Arkutun Dagi field is located off the northeastern coast of Sakhalin Island in
the Far East of Russia. Operations and facilities are located on both the island and
mainland Russia. Development of the Arkutun-Dagi field will be carried out in phases;
the first of which is planned to commence in the northernmost portion of the field in
2014.
The Arkutun-Dagi development will employ an offshore, ice-resistant fixed platform
which is expected to become the largest oil and gas production platform in Russia. The
first oil is expected to be produced there in 2014.
Part of McDermott’s work scope for the project was the installation of a 20” Water
Injection line, comprising of 1,978 joints of 20” x 33mm WT linepipe and 21 joints of 20”
x 36.3mm WT linepipe. Prior to OMS’ involvement, portions of this line had already
been installed by McDermott during a ‘Beach Pull’. McDermott contracted OMS to
proactively manage pipe fit-up for the remainder of the project. This was a challenging
project due to the need to achieve stringent fit up for a high pressure line in a
seismically-sensitive region.
OMS deployed four personnel to Sakhalin from 13th September to 10th November 2011.
These personnel used OMS’ PipeCheckerTM laser-based measurement tool to
measure the geometry of the internal walls of more than 3,000 pipe ends. OMS’ SmartFit system was also used to optimise the sequencing of pipes on board the barges
prior to the firing line.
Pipes were measured onshore at Kholmsk and at the pipe lay site, on board the Crest
289 material barge, the Maritime West material barge and the DLB-KP1 laybarge.
Pipe measurement data was made available to a Smart-Fit station onboard the
pipelay barge. This comprised a laptop located prior to the firing line. All pipes brought
on board the laybarge were identified and logged into the software. This enabled the
pipes to be sequenced so that the most closely matched ends were brought together for
welding. Pipes were then loaded into bevelling in the planned sequence.
Rotational positions for each pipe end were also determined, to put adjacent pipes into
the best relative rotational position in order to minimise HiLo. Rotation marks were
added to pipes, allowing the optimal rotation to be achieved when pipes were brought
into the bead stall. Production delays due to mismatched pipes were therefore avoided.
Dr Richard Gooch, Director of Technology at OMS commented: “The arctic conditions in
Sakhalin means that the ocean freezes over in October or November. It was therefore
critical that OMS completed its measurement and fit-up work on time. If we hadn’t, or if
the fit-up was not optimised for McDermott’s welders, the ocean might have frozen over
before the pipe could be laid. Heavy lift vessels had already been booked for Spring
2012 to perform work on the platforms. If the pipeline was unfinished, the window of
opportunity would have been missed for one year. Basically, without using SmartFit to
optimise pipe fit up, a much larger quantity of pipes would have been rejected and it
would have been very difficult to complete the project on time.”
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Robert McLean, Project Quality Manager at McDermott commented: “OMS did an
outstanding job for us on the Sakhalin project. Without doubt, we would not have
managed to complete and lay the pipe water injection line without the valuable
contribution and expertise of OMS engineers.”
This project consolidates OMS’ position as the leading provider of solutions for pipe fitup, including stringent CRA applications.
For more information on OMS, please visit the website at www.omsmeasure.com or
telephone 01279 656038 or email denise.smiles@omsmeasure.com
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[699 words]
Editor’s Notes:
About Optical Metrology Services
Optical Metrology Services Limited (OMS) is a market leader in the provision of pipe measuring products and
services. The company specialises in measuring equipment and consulting services for use within the pipe
manufacturing and pipeline construction sectors, both onshore and offshore. A key focus for OMS is in the
dimensional measurement of oil and gas pipes or other structures such as military gun barrels, processing industry
tubes or manufactured cylindrical objects, where dimensions are critical.
OMS prides itself on finding out what clients require and delivering it. OMS was recently recognised by being
awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation Category, the company’s second award in 2007 (the
first award being the Pipeline Industries Guild Award for Land Based Technology).
The OMS Pipe Checker™ range of tools provides dimensional checks on all aspects of manufactured pipe. These
tools are used throughout the world for onshore and offshore projects and in pipe mills.
Optical Metrology Services Contact Information:
Denise Smiles
Commercial Director
Optical Metrology Services Limited
11 Twyford Business Centre
London Road, Bishop’s Stortford
Hertfordshire CM23 3YT
UK
T: +44 (0) 1279 656038
F: +44 (0) 8700 940014
Mobile: +44 (0) 7943 810118
E: denise.smiles@omsmeasure.com
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W: www.omsmeasure.com
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contacting:
Press Release issued by:
Dean Palmer,
Director,
SilverBullet PR Ltd,
Frith Farm, Ryhall Road, Tolethorpe, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 4BJ
T: +44 (0) 1780 753 000
Mobile: +44 (0) 7703 023771
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