API RP 2A - Section 17 Structural Assessments

Inspection Planning and Engineering Evaluation

Fixed platforms can operate into the indefinite future if they are properly maintained and are inspected to ensure that any flaws or damage are identified early before they become a larger problem.  Energo develops inspection programs for API Level II, III and IV type inspections, including node for CVI and NDE, as required by the MMS or other regulator.  We can also help you identify the overall approach to your platform "fleet", using a Risk Based Inspection (RBI) approach based upon our in-depth experience and structural reliability.  The RBI approach is gaining popularity and is a more efficient approach compared to prescriptive techniques (e.g., API).  Once the inspection is complete, we review the inspection results/reports and perform an engineering evaluation to determine if further inspection or repair of anomalies is required.

Inspection Planning

Damage Assessments and Repair

Following the recent Gulf of Mexico hurricanes, Energo was one of the leading engineers for underwater and above repairs to the jacket or deck framing.  These designs included long bolt clamps (stressed and grouted), underwater wet and dry welding of stiffeners and new efficient bracing, grouting of the leg-pile annulus or bracing, repair of cracked conductor guides, bracing for bend deck beams and design of doublers for underwater cracks.  We focus on working closely with the owner, the repair fabricator and the construction company (especially underwater) to ensure that the repair can be safely and easily fabricated and installed.  

Earthquake Analysis and Design

Earthquake assessment of fixed steel platform requires specialized expertise, including detailed knowledge of earthquake criteria, API and ISO 19901-2 code requirements, soil-structure interaction, platform dynamics and platform linear and nonlinear response. Energo is one of the few offshore structural engineering firms that has these capabilities, especially in Houston. We have several California PEs on staff with particular seismic expertise.  We can perform SLE response spectra and/or DLE time-history analysis (now termed ELE and ALE per ISO).  We provide support directly to operators or to EPC companies as the seismic specialist.  We also provide guidance on dewing of topsides equipment and systems tie-down for seismic regions.  Energo typically uses CAP (an INTRA derivative) for seismic analysis for jackets, but can also use SACS (linear parts), ABAQUS or ANSYS. 

Rapid Response Damage Assessment (RRDA)

Energo maintains 3-D models for several clients on a 24-7 basis in the event of an incident so that an RRDA can be performed as soon as possible.  This approach should be considered by operators for their most critical structures.  If there is an incident, the Energo team can have the computer models running with the damage included in order to provide guidance for next actions.