The secrets to a long life for energy facilities and equipment

Integrity management and corrosion modelling tools offer operators a systemic approach to ensuring the safe and reliable operation of ageing assets – and helps them squeeze more from mature reservoirs and facilities, writes Intetech’s Dr Liane Smith

Many oil and gas operators today are extending the operational life of old facilities and equipment. Some are looking to get more out of assets developed during the boom of the 1960s and 1970s. Given that these were built when a barrel of oil traded between $10 and $12 rather than the $100 to $120 it trades at today, these assets can still be economically viable even if production is only 10% to 20% of its peak. Managing the integrity of assets such as topside plant and equipment, wells, pipelines, and safety-critical elements (SCE) means ensuring they can perform effectively and safely over the course of their design life. However, it becomes more challenging as fields mature. Around half o