Unified approach to risk-based inspection planning for offshore production facilities

Based on new methodological developments in the area of risk-based inspection planning (RBI) for structural components subject to fatigue degradation, the present paper presents a unified approach to risk-based inspection planning for offshore facilities comprising components and systems of both the structural and process type. Suggestions are given for the formulation of acceptance criteria on component level based on overall facility acceptance criteria in terms of risk to personnel, environmental risks and economical risks. The methodology facilitates a generic modeling of fatigue and corrosion degradation for both structural and process type components. Furthermore, special considerations are given to the important aspect of updating of inspection plans when degradation has been observed. The different aspects of RBI for steel components subject to fatigue and corrosion degradation are illustrated on an example considering RBI for the components of a tripod well-head platform.