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With many offshore installations in the UK sector of the North Sea now reaching or being in excess of their original anticipated design life, there is a particular need to evaluate approaches to structural integrity management by offshore operators. Ageing processes can affect the structural integrity of the installation and demonstration of adequate performance beyond its original design life is thus a necessary requirement. This paper addresses the issues relevant to the life extension of ageing installations.

With an ever-increasing population of ageing offshore installations in the North Sea, the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) Offshore Safety Division has focused its front-line operational activity in recent years on the structural integrity management process and establishing the extent of any deterioration in structural integrity. The current phase of work, the Structural Integrity Management Inspection Programme (SIMIP), is described and the findings to date are presented in this paper.Copyright © 2008 by British Crown

In recent years, a significant amount of effort has been expended by HSE and the offshore industry on the development of good practice for structural integrity management in the new code for offshore structures, ISO 19902. However, a review of the structural integrity management of fixed offshore installations operated on the UKCS has indicated that duty holders adopt varying approaches, in terms of both the methods used and effectiveness. The elements of a framework for the management of the structural integrity of fixed jacket structures are presented.Copyright © 2008 by British Crown