Located miles off the coastline, offshore platforms are huge steel structures equipped with the resources to drill wells and extract oil and natural gas from the ocean floor. Offshore platforms may be floating or fixed, and they contain facilities to store and process oil and gas, as well as pipeline systems that connect the wells to these storage and processing components. Offshore platforms are continuously threatened by corrosive forces. The rate of corrosion in marine environments can be accelerated by variations in water composition and velocity, as well as oxygen concentration cells associated with algae and other marine growth.
Sacrificial galvanic anode and impressed current cathodic protection systems are two of the most common and effective ways to protect offshore platforms from the aggressive marine environment.
Remote monitoring is an integral part of ensuring the CP system is functioning correctly to effectively keep corrosion at bay, especially as many offshore platforms and their associated pipelines have cathodic protection systems that are reaching the end of their original specified lifecycle in a very hostile environment. In addition, in-field inspection of these difficult to reach offshore structures is infrequent, costly and often cannot provide a complete picture of the condition and performance of the entire cathodic protection system.
Remote monitoring solves these challenges by allowing for real-time data collecting and the sharing of data without conducting in-field surveys. Once remote monitoring devices are installed, they transmit information by cellular or satellite networks to technicians, who are in turn, able monitor and analyze the performance data from anywhere in the world. Remote monitoring systems allow for remote synchronized interruption of rectifiers and notify inspectors and technicians when a CP system has failed, is experiencing operational issues or is not optimally performing. Technicians can also remotely modify device configurations, thus eliminating the need to travel to distant offshore platforms except for regularly scheduled physical inspections or when specific repairs are needed.
The Solution: Effective Cathodic Protection
and Asset Integrity Remote Monitoring
Remote monitoring of corrosion and integrity sensors leverages the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in any location to deliver a platform with near real-time collection, analysis, and collaboration tools. MOBILTEX remote monitoring platform solutions enable our clients to easily and effectively realize higher safety and operational efficiencies, transformational digital capabilities, and increased infrastructure integrity.
This is effectively achieved through:
- Being able to quickly identify and assess aversive operational conditions and/or corrosion damage occurring – before it becomes widespread and disruptive.
- Ensuring remote cathodic protection systems are always operating in the optimal range for asset protection, and integrity sensors are accurately capturing valuable data, in even the most challenging locations or environments
- Streamlining data gathering, inspection and reporting for regulatory compliance – and delivering advanced analysis for trending and identifying issues before they occur
- Eliminating the extremely high-cost and safety risks associated with in-field inspection, particularly in remote or difficult to access locations
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