Offshore Fresh Water Deluge Test

Abstract

As per NFPA standard, every offshore platform is required to test the deluge system 3-yearly. Use of seawater to test the deluge system introduces multiple issues with materials offshore due to direct impingement of seawater coupled with chloride ingestion in instruments and other electrical items. This was experienced[SP(L1] by more senior engineers and operators working on other platforms commissioning and hence KBB was tasked to test the deluge system using freshwater. On the KBB platform, freshwater system was never designed to be used for the deluge, and retrofitting or modifying the platform proved to have major obstacles. KBB investigated use of a barge or standby vessel to conduct this test, but the standby vessel pipeline header did not have sufficient capacity for the required test. KBB then designed an external system using water tanks, rented firewater pump, flexible hoses and pre-fabricated spools for use of fresh water on the deluge system. KBB was not successful on inquiries sent on similar test being conducted on other offshore facilities in the region. The deluge test work pack was developed with due consideration given towards safe execution of work. This paper will present the details of how this was achieved safely offshore, bringing in fundamental innovations to ensure value is safeguarded while ensuring the regulatory requirement is met[SP(L2] which is to test the deluge valve dry yearly or wet test the system 3-yearly. Some of the findings from the deluge test will also be presented.