Tritech has developed a system for the real-time integrity monitoring of mooring lines, umbilicals and risers on Floating Production Storage and Offloading Units (FPSOs).
RAMS (Riser and Anchor Monitoring System) is a 360 degree riser and anchor chain monitoring system for FPSOs that is deployed beneath the vessel and monitors the presence, integrity and position of mooring lines and risers 24/7 from a single sonar head.
RAMS has been extensively tested and the accuracy of the system has shown to be 100% effective in its current deployment on Teekay’s Petrojarl Foinaven FPSO, operating on a BP deepwater oil field, within the UKCS (UK Continental Shelf), located approximately 190km (118mi) off the West Coast of Shetland.
RAMS has been developed in conjunction with BP who had a requirement for an automated system able to monitor the series of bend stiffeners, umbilicals and risers on an FPSO. The RAMS technology builds on the leading proprietary multibeam sonar technology developed by SRD prior to its acquisition by Tritech (a Halma company).
RAMS is deployed beneath an FPSO’s turret in the centre of the risers and mooring chains. Through its multibeam sonar array, RAMS can provide simultaneous real-time updates on the status of all lines, with continuous recording and data export. Tritech’s unique RAMS technology has the option to provide the end user with an alarm-based system notifying the operator of any out-of-specification movement without delay, in addition to trend data that allows for more accurate [material] fatigue analysis.
“With an increased focus on mooring and riser integrity to meet defined and implied safety regulations and stricter corporate governance, Tritech has developed a field-proven, real-time monitoring system that provides the FPSO operator with an easy to understand alarm-based system that detects the presence and measures the movement of mooring lines and risers," said Angus Lugsdin, Tritech’s Business Development Manager. "Unlike other technologies RAMS immediately notifies the operator of any movement that is out of specification and records all the data for export which allows long term trend data to be studied; this has the potential to revolutionise mooring and riser integrity studies.”