Corrosion challenges at facilities can be demanding when it comes to maintenance. Now preventive surface treatment and maintenance work can be carried out with new and efficient robotic solutions performing pre-treatment and application of Stopaq.
The new climbing robot for automatic application of corrosion protection makes maintenance work more efficient and reduces challenging and burdensome tasks.
- We continue to develop our maintenance services in accordance with our customers' expectations and in line with our strategy, says CEO of Beerenberg, Arild Apelthun.
Beerenberg's expertise from the oil and gas industry is an important key to sustainable development.
With the acquisition of the technology company Remotion, Beerenberg has further strengthened its competitiveness in order to meet the environmental challenges.
- The use of robotics and modern technologies in industrial insulation and surface maintenance are just a few examples of how we work to reduce our carbon footprint, he adds.
Demanding maintenance work
One example of demanding maintenance work that now can be solved effectively with robotic assistance are the risers on Troll B. The risers require access to the underside of the platform and all the way down to the sea surface – and would normally require a large scaffolding to be able to provide satisfactory access for contractors to perform surface treatment.
The scaffolding, or parts of it, must be covered well to avoid emissions of blown sand and waste containing microplastics. Covering of scaffolding in areas which is exposed to external influences, for example wind and waves, often has to be removed and refitted when the weather conditions changes. Maintenance in areas with demanding access and increased exposure to weather conditions is therefore often postponed as the cost of conventional construction becomes too great.
Short process from idea to solution
Beerenberg is the first to come up with a solution for applying the corrosion protection Stopaq with robotic solutions, and the process is in accordance with both NORSOK and customer requirements (Equinor).
- The idea of finding a better solution for the manual "wrapping" operation was discussed in January, the project started in February and now in July we have put the robot into operation. That shows that we can quickly deliver good and effective solutions, says managing director in Remotion, Morten Urrang.
Cost-effective and sustainable maintenance
The Stopaq system, which ensures corrosion protection and preservation, also reduces the need for maintenance by extending the lifetime of the surface protection. The properties and possibilities with use of Stopaq in combination with automated solutions are thus an important key to cut the maintenance backlog in demanding areas.
- The risers on Troll B, which have been maintained and applied with a preservation system, should basically not need maintenance for the next 30 years. This is two to three times longer than the expected lifetime of painted surfaces in a similar environment, says engineer and TMR in Beerenberg, Kristian Henriksen.
The combination of own expertise from the ISO industry together with the technology expertise in Remotion gives many opportunities.
- Such a multidisciplinary environment will contribute to solve far more maintenance challenges in the future, and at the same time also directly contribute to a reduced burden on our personnel and the external environment.
A basic prerequisite for a new technology solution is that it helps to remove or reduce the impact the task would normally have on personnel and the external environment. For example, all waste produced in a work operation must be collected to ensure zero emissions into the sea.
- Even in the splash zone, where the water moves up and down, we now can develop good solutions together with Remotion on the team, says Kristiansen.