The success of this phase prompted further weight-reduction solutions throughout the platform, with NOV suggesting a redesign of handrails as the next step. Approximately 4.2 km (2.6 miles) of the NORSOK-compliant MARRS® OFFSHORE handrail system, developed by engineers in NOV’s Pipex px® group, were designed for the platform. In addition to meeting the required strength, toughness, and fire-resistance performance and safety standards for offshore oil and gas installations as dictated by NORSOK, the nature of phenolic FRP materials enabled weight reductions over standard steel railing systems.
With an extremely limited timeframe, NOV also designed, qualified, fabricated, tested, and delivered 290 composite pressure vessels to BP. Two unique computer numerical control (CNC) machines, built from the ground up in a dedicated facility, assisted engineers in meeting the tight schedule by automatically performing various manufacturing-related tasks. More than 700 tonnes of weight was saved throughout the Clair Ridge platform as a result of installing the various composite systems, and BP was given confidence that the materials would not corrode for the entire lifecycle of the development.
Composite pressure vessels were designed, qualified, fabricated, tested, and delivered to BP in an extremely short timeframe.