3206 Guidelines for the management of obsolescence in subsea facilities

Overview:

Provides those with an involvement in subsea systems (designers, equipment manufacturers, fabricators, installers, operators, integrity and maintenance engineers) with guidance on how to manage obsolescence in subsea equipment.

Whereas the focus is especially subsea production control and chemical injection systems, the guidance also applies to mechanical equipment which may also be affected, and may become more critical as more complex functions (e.g. separation and processing) are located subsea. It discusses how a clear management policy should be developed to manage the obsolescence lifecycle, assess potential risks and determine the probability of failure whilst alternative components are sought, or modules are redesigned

The document is structured in two parts:

• Part A provides the high level management policy and principles for subsea obsolescence, plus the framework for successful obsolescence management processes. It is recommended reading for all senior managers whose responsibilities are associated with the design or operation of offshore assets.
• Part B contains more detailed guidance for practitioners of obsolescence management, including lifecycle management and strategies, tasks and responsibilities, monitoring, risk assessment, and a review of equipment.

It is recommended that the management of obsolescence, reliability and integrity should run in parallel. The document therefore follows a similar format to the Guidelines for the management of integrity of subsea facilities (2009), and refers to them on several occasions.

Whilst having been instigated by, and produced for the UK offshore industry, these guidelines are applicable to similar industries throughout the world.