In the construction of a subsea project, one challenge is the long delivery time of large steel forgings used for key components. DNV now invites the subsea industry to jointly obtain synergies by developing a best-practice approach.
Large steel forgings require so much time due to compliance with oil companies’ individual requirements. The aim of the new Joint Industry Project (JIP) is to reduce delivery time and production costs and improve material quality, thus reducing the risk throughout the supply chain.
Delivery Time Can Be Shortened
Due to quality concerns, the end users of subsea systems are stipulating company-specific requirements for subsea forgings, such as those used for X-mas trees. 'This has made the stocking of prefabricated forgings and thereby shorter lead times difficult for the vendor industry. The typical delivery time can be in excess of seven months, and has a high potential for being shortened,' says Bjørn Søgård, business development manager at DNV’s Well, Pipelines and Subsea Section.
'One pre-requisite for shortening the lead times and effective project execution is the timely availability of forgings that meet all likely end users’ quality requirements. A unified set of requirements across the industry would be a solution with a synergetic effect, make procurement easier and help reduce quality challenges,' he points out.
Forging-Material JIP
On this basis, and in response to requests from key stakeholders in the subsea industry, DNV has now established a Forging-material JIP. It will run for fourteen months and include valuable contributions from major oil companies, subsea contractors and manufacturers of steel forgings. The conclusions will be presented in a Recommended Practice available to the industry.
Repeatable Quality
The adoption of a unified material standard with a consistent methodology to manage all steps in the supply chain processes will help ensure consistently high and repeatable quality across the industry and geographical regions and build confidence into the final product. The JIP will be run with participation from the industry based in both Houston, USA and Oslo, Norway.
