DNV GL Presents New Recommended Practice for Subsea Forgings

A joint industry project, led by DNV GL, has now taken the next step in subsea standardization by harmonizing requirements for quality management of forgings.

The recommended practice (RP) ‘Steel forgings for subsea applications – quality management requirements’, DNVGL-RP-B202, will enable delivery of high quality forgings at reduced delivery times and cost.

Complementing the RP ’Steel forgings for subsea applications’ (DNVGL-RP-0034), the new guideline DNVGL-RP-B202 provides a unified approach to the qualification of manufacturers and the manufacturing procedure, and to perform production oversight.

Kjell Eriksson, regional manager Norway, DNV GL – Oil & Gas, says: “DNV GL is proud to be a trusted partner driving industry collaboration to secure high quality subsea deliveries globally. The latest subsea forgings RP will build trust in the supply chain and enable consistent stocking. The leading roles and valuable contributions from the participants involved in its development make this recommended practice a major step forward to increase subsea standardization.”

Dr. Brian Newbury, ExxonMobil, JIP Steering committee chairman, says: “Achieving alignment from the major independent operators to remove direct oversight of critical forgings manufacturing, coupled with vendors’ and forgemasters’ commitment to provide consistent quality oversight across the industry, enables this industry strategy to reduce lead times.”

According to DNV GL’s seventh annual benchmark study, Short-term agility, long-term resilience, subsea technology is highest ranked area globally for conducting R&D among emerging technologies in 2017. Also, standardization efforts are on the rise to remove complexities: Two thirds of respondents say their organization will seek greater standardization of tools and processes in 2017.

Mons Hauge, chief engineer, Statoil, says: “Standardization is crucial to make subsea solutions even more competitive. We are pleased to see the good results from the joint standardization effort by the oil and gas industry as Statoil applies this new recommended practice for subsea forging in our future field development.”

“We are dependent on a streamlined supply chain to ensure quality, and to cut cost and delivery time. We therefore welcome standardization initiatives that harmonize customer requirements. Together with the operators, we are now implementing the recommended practices in projects,” adds Elisabeth Hauso Skjerven, chief engineer, Aker Solutions.

The following companies have been part of developing the RP in phase two of the JIP: Aker Solutions, BP International Limited, Brück, Celsa, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Det Norske, Dril-Quip, Ellwood Group, Eni, ExxonMobil, Franchini Acciai, Frisa, GE, OneSubsea, Petrobras, Ringmill, Scana Subsea, Statoil, TechnipFMC and Total.

Other subsea standardization initiatives led by DNV GL includes documentation, welding and subsea process equipment.