S18 ORME 7 2016 Adipec 02_Layout 1 26/10/2016 11:43 Page 87
DNV GL “RENEW” notation for ageing jack up rigs – ready to take off the rules will be assigned RENEW (Year, STRUCTURE) and with THE DOWNTURN IN OIL prices and reduced revenues of oil System requirement RENEW (Year, SYSTEM), where “Year” is the companies resulted in very low charter rates for rigs and year when notation is assigned. The new notation will be placed increased competition due to oversupply. The phasing out of old after the main class notation and a new class certificate will be jack ups would reduce the strain on supply. However some rig issued to reflect the changes. The owners are spending millions of notation defines a baseline to which dollars to maintain their units with upgrade projects should comply. This particular focus on safety in new class notation will be supporting operations. These major an owner in making clear the result of refurbishments are imperative to their upgrade investments. extend the life of aged jack ups, For jack ups older than 15 years of which shows the commitment from age, some oil companies require the the top management of rig owners. legs, spud-cans and jack-houses (legThe prospect of getting a contract to-hull interface) to be reassessed for well-maintained ageing jack ups with respect to fatigue and ultimate has increased with DNV GL’s new strength in the elevated survival class notation “RENEW”. condition, taking into account the The rule for RENEW notation for current condition of the unit. ageing self-elevating units has been The rule requirement for the RENEW developed based on customer notation partly meets the requirements feedback and DNV GL internal of asset Integrity assurance discussions to adequately address programmes of some oil companies the challenges with old units, and to and drilling contractors. This means develop systematic guidelines for that the unit with RENEW notation will the industry to maintain the required assure the operators/contractors that safety level. Classification service as their requirement of asset integrity per today lacks follow up of life time which is beyond normal class extension / system upgrades of requirements have been already offshore units. Owners making a assessed and approved by the class. considerable investment in the To take advantage of new notation, upgrade of their units have a some drilling contractors in the challenge in demonstrating the result to oil companies who charter Bijali Nair, regional offshore manager for Southeast Europe, Middle East Middle East region have requested and India, DNV GL. (Photo: DNV GL) RENEW class notation for their units. the units. The approval of the documents on When these units that underwent these units is given by the DNV GL Jack Up Service Centre and major refurbishments go for a competitive tender with units of notation will be assigned if it is found to be in compliance with the similar age, they are not obtaining an advantage. “RENEW” rules. RENEW notation will clearly give the benefit of the notation will differentiate these units from units that have not been refurbishment work rig owners have carried out on their jack ups. well maintained. The class notation “RENEW” is split into two parts, Structure and Systems. The units complying with structural requirement of Stand: 9150
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