The use of steel wire rope in offshore lifting operations is to be closely studied in a new Joint Industry Project (JIP) to improve subsea operations.

Classification agency DNV has launched the new JIP, which will seek to improve the integrity assessment of steel wire rope used during subsea lifting operations. The aim is to reduce the lifetime costs of using steel wire using an integrated systems approach, DNV says, and a total of 14 industry participants have already signed up to support the research.

Attention on the safe use of steel wire rope for subsea has grown as the offshore industry has pushed into deep and ultra-deep water, and more use is made of subsea technologies, requiring larger and highly valuable payloads to be deployed subsea, DNV says.

“The rapidly growing number of subsea field developments worldwide will demand greater focus on safe execution of subsea lifting operations, both in the installation phase and throughout the lifetime of the field,” it stated.

Elisabeth Torstad, chief executive of DNV GL Oil and Gas, said the work is now highly relevant to deepwater offshore operations. “Operating in these areas requires leading-edge technologies and new knowledge. Industry collaboration is even more important here where the technical challenges are complex and the risk exposure may be higher. This JIP is therefore very timely,” she said.

Currently there are limited rules, regulations and standards suitable for ensuring and assessing the integrity of steel wire ropes for subsea lifting, particularly larger diameters.

Also, according to DNV, concern has been expressed by industry players about current knowledge, competence and technology related to assessing the condition and integrity of wire rope.

Inger-lise Tanger, a project manager for DNV GL, explained: “This is why DNV GL in cooperation with the industry has established a JIP with the aim of developing a Recommended Practice (RP) for integrity management of steel wire ropes used for subsea lifting applications.”

JIP participants so far are: Bridon, DMT GmbH & Co. KG, DOF Management, Farstad Shipping, GC Rieber Shipping, Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland, Huisman Equipment, National Oilwell Varco, Redaelli, Rolls Royce Marine, Saipem, Technip UK, Teufelberger Seil and W. Giertsen Services.

Offshore