Fugro is providing wave measurements to support construction operations at an improved oil recovery (IOR) project on the Norwegian continental shelf, around 225km west of Stavanger.
The subsea infrastructure on the Alvheim field (operated by Det norske oljeselskap ASA) is being extended by offshore construction expert Technip and involves four areas that are being tied-in via subsea wells to improve oil production rates. Technip’s subsea operations – the installation and tie-in of spools and protection covers, along with a manifold – are being performed at depths of around 120-130m.
Technip required access to real-time wave measurements in order to estimate the sea state with reliability and confidence. The data will be used to inform safe and efficient operational planning activities, minimize risk and maximize cost-efficiency. Having successfully worked together on similar projects, Technip commissioned Fugro to deploy a Datawell Waverider buoy to monitor wave conditions onsite in real-time over a period of 12 months.
“We used our expertise and capabilities to design a suitable mooring for the conditions expected at the Alvheim field,” said Victoria Jones, tendering project manager at Fugro. “We deployed the Waverider buoy safely in January using a vessel we regularly charter for operations in Norwegian waters and plan to return to service the equipment in July and then redeploy it for a further six months.”
The Waverider buoy is now collecting a range of raw wave data, processing the information and then transmitting summary wave parameters at half-hourly intervals via satellite link. Data including wave period, height and direction are then displayed on a project-specific web page that can be accessed by the client and other interested parties via a secure log-in. The information is presented in real-time on a variety of user-friendly pages, with options including graphic formats and tabular data.
Image: Online display of wave time series graphs at Alvheim field/Fugro
Subscribe
