DNV GL has kicked off a joint industry project (JIP) with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Company (DSME) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) that will establish a new international standard for offshore oil and gas projects. The results could potentially cut project costs by 15%, or approximately USD 500M for a typical TLP (tension leg platform) project, for example.
The JIP aims to develop common and global best practices for components and equipment to reduce the number of, and variations in, requirements to the minimum necessary. The JIP is also supported by Korea Offshore and Shipbuilding Association (KOSHIPA) and the Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI) to address this issue. Other oil companies and engineering firms are still welcome to join the project.
According to the JIP partners, standardizing even the simplest components at this early stage will deliver huge cost savings. The JIP will initially focus on simple components and equipment, such as tertiary structures and bulk materials for construction, piping and E&I (electrical and instrumentation) engineering. Next year, the scope will be extended to complete modules and equipment packages. The project will consider industry standards, company standards as well as maritime rules and approaches for standardization, as all methodologies will be reviewed to ensure the most effective and efficient means are applied.
